Falls Church News-Press 5-12-2022

F.C. Ranked 1st

State For Health Outcomes

by Amanda Snead Falls Church

In an announcement last week, the Virginia Department of Health proclaimed the City of Falls Church as “the healthiest locality in Virginia.” It cited a comprehensive new university report that ranks localities in the state by “health outcomes” as well as “underlying factors that influence health.”

This year’s report, published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, is focused on the “importance of economic security for all communities, especially as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic,” it states. “As a result, six new measures were introduced, including a “typical” childcare cost burden across U.S. counties, being “about 25 percent of household income.

Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields cited the report in comments to the Falls Church

Creative Cauldron’s Big Week in Little City

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls

It’s been a huge week for Falls Church’s original theater troupe, Laura Connors Hull’s Creative Cauldron. It started with the formal groundbreaking of the Insight Property Group’s

Spring Health and Wellness

Guide

The Health and Wellness guide is your one stop shop for all things mental health, physical health and more. From practicing self-care to helping your loved ones during hard times, it’s all right here.

See Health and Wellness, Pages 15 — 30

Broad and Washington project that will include a prominent 5,000 square foot space for the Cauldron as its new working and performing space. The Cauldron folks were among those introduced and who performed a number for the Falls Church A-Listers in attendance

at the groundbreaking last week.

The number, the crowd pleasing rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” was sung by performers in the Cauldron’s new version of the Steven Sondheim epic musical, “Into the Woods,” which

New Plays at Nova Nightsky and Creative Cauldron

NOVA Nightsky Theater closed out their production of “Proof” last weekend and Creative Cauldron opened with “Into the Woods.” This will be their last production of the season.

See Reviews, Pages 9 and 12

premiered at the Cauldron’s current digs on S. Maple Ave. last weekend and runs there through the end of May.

Of the current production of “Into the Woods,” Associate Artistic Director Matt Conner

MOST OF THE TALENTED Cast of the Creative Cauldron’s currently running production of Steven Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” musical can be found in this photo. The brilliant production runs through the end of this month at the Cauldron theater, 410 S. Maple in Falls Church. (Photo: William Gallagher).

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F.C. School Board Finalizes

$57.6 Million FY23 Budget

Corporate Supporters

Falls Church City Public Schools School Board unanimously approved a $57.6 million operating budget for the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23) at its meeting this Tuesday. The budget is balanced, provides a wage increase for school employees, and provides additional support for students. For the fourth year in a row, the approved budget falls within Falls Church City Council Budget Guidance.

Omicron sub-variants are driving this increase in cases. “As this virus continues to evolve, we have to remain vigilant,” McKay said. “Stay home if sick, consider masking in populated settings, and most importantly, get vaccinated.”

Early Voting Begins in 8th CD Democratic Primary

Corporate Donors

“The School Board would like to thank the City Council for adopting our budget which has met the City Council guidance for the past four years,” said Board Chair Laura Downs. “We value our partnership with the City Council and look forward to continuing our revenue sharing agreement in the years to come as it provides funding to compensate our talented teachers and staff and enables us to maintain competitive salaries to attract new teachers.”

The budget includes a step increase for eligible employees, a recovery step for employees who were eligible but did not receive one during FY 2021 due to the pandemic, and a 3 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all staff members.

Other expenditures include $3,000 per year stipend for National Board Certified Teachers, and a one-time $1,000 bonus for staff who are at the end of their salary lane, and implements a $15 per hour minimum wage. The budget also includes funding for Career and Technical Education, Math, and Science teachers, a School Nurse, a Psychologist, and a Secondary Campus Parent Liaison among other support.

Fairfax Health Reports Covid-19 Cases Again on Rise

The Fairfax County Health Department is closely monitoring a rise in Covid-19 cases in our community, according to Fairfax Board chair Jeff McKay.

McKay reported that the current community transmission level for Fairfax County has been upgraded from low to medium. Outbreaks in schools are rising. Classroom outbreaks doubled between last week (139) and the week prior (74). This includes public and private schools, as well as childcare facilities.

Early voting has begun for the June 21 Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District of Virginia, where U.S. Rep. Don Beyer has served since 2015. Beyer’s sole opposition in the primary is Victoria Virasingh, an Arlington native and 2015 graduate of Stanford University.

As for Beyer, he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Williams College and has owned automobile dealerships throughout Northern Virginia. He served as lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1998. He served as ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 2009 to 2013.

The GOP nominee to run in the Nov. 8 general election will be selected at a party convention scheduled for Saturday, May 21.

Regional Leaders Comment On New WMATA CEO

Yesterday, Falls Church’s U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, and Reps Gerry Connolly, Eleanor Holmes Norton,, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, Anthony Brown, Jennifer Wexton, and David Trone, who represent the National Capital Region in the House of Representatives, issued the following statement on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors’ selection of Randy Clarke as its new General Manager and CEO:

“Our top priority for WMATA is safe and reliable service. Metro faces major challenges right now, including resolving problems with 7000-series cars, declines in ridership during the pandemic, and long term fiscal issues. We are glad to see Mr. Clarke has past leadership experience in both safety and organizational management at major public transit agencies. We welcome Mr. Clarke to the region, and look forward to meeting with him to discuss how we can overcome these challenges and make a positive difference for Metro riders in our region.”

Sharon Schoeller & Edward Saltzberg

Joan Wodiska & David Quam

Mary & Paul Asel

Jody Acosta, Tom Clinton & Art Cook

June & Mike Beyer

Laura & Christian Downs

Annalisa & Gregg Aldana

Emily & Richard Crespin Barbara & Kieran Sharpe

Edie & Tom Smolinski

Nancy & Steve Sprague Fund

City of Falls Church Ranked Healthiest Locality in Virginia

City Council last week.

Other new measures in the report include Covid-19 deaths in 2020, where Virginia’s rate of 56 deaths per 100,000 people is lower than the national rate of 85 per 100,000. Also added is the “average number of mentally unhealthy days” people reported in the last 30 days, a number that in Virginia ranged from 3.3 to 5.8 days.

Falls Church ranked best in the state in both health factors and outcomes, and Arlington County ranked second in both categories. Petersburg city ranked last in the study published in the university’s County Health Rankings and Roadmaps (CHR&R).

Areas of strength cited include low rates of physical inactivity, high access to exercise opportunities, a high number of health care providers in multiple fields of care, high education levels and a low amount of teen births. Areas in need of improvement include adult obesity, excessive drink -

ing and air pollution.

“The Rankings help us understand what influences how long and how well we live. They provide measures of the current overall health (health outcomes) of each county in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” the CHR&R report stated. “Rankings data include a variety of measures, such as high school graduation rates, access to nutritious foods and the percent of children living in poverty, all of which impact the future health of communities (health factors).”

“We are proud to have earned the ranking as the healthiest locality in Virginia,” said Vice Mayor Letty Hardi. “We strive to be a walkable city with excellent recreational facilities, a hugely popular Farmers Market, and world class schools. This ranking affirms the high quality of life in our community, and we are happy to see all these efforts bear fruit.”

Falls Church City received a 100 percent in the area of access to exercise opportunities, compared to a state average of only

78 percent. This is defined as “percentage of population with adequate access to locations for physical activity.” The Little City is full of parks for outdoor exercise as well as gyms and exercise classes.

Along with health, the study also looks at factors such as education level, poverty and income. While the study does not make any direct links between the two, the report stressed that places with higher education levels have lower rates of poverty, higher median household incomes and lower rates of uninsured people.

The median household income in the City is $160,300 compared to the state average of $79,200 — a difference of $81,100 with an error margin of $142,500 to $178,100. The high school graduation rate in Falls Church is listed as 98 percent— 10 percent higher than the average in Virginia. Unemployment is half of the average in the state and only four percent of people in the City are uninsured. According to information

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published by CHR&R, “economic security enables families to cover basic needs such as housing, education, childcare, food and medical care. Each of these needs has demonstrated ties to health. However, economic security is not equally accessible to all people. When a single household expense consumes the majority of a paycheck, it becomes difficult to meet competing needs and can force households into

tough decisions like choosing between quality childcare, paying rent and purchasing nutritious food. Individuals, households and communities deserve the opportunity to meet basic needs with dignity. Advancing a just recovery from the Covid19 pandemic, and the layered impacts of racism and economic exclusion requires intentional action to ensure all people and places have what they need to thrive.”

Brown’s Hardware and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) are o ering Spring savings on rain barrels.

Brown’s will discount the price of a barrel to $105 and VPIS is o ering $50 grants for up to two barrels for City of Falls Church residents.

A MAP OF VIRGINIA showing rankings of most and least healthy localities by ranking. (Photo: County Health Rankings).

The War Is Getting More Dangerous For America, and Biden Knows It

Thomas L. Friedman

If you just followed news reports on Ukraine, you might think that the war has settled into a long, grinding and somewhat boring slog. You would be wrong.

Things are actually getting more dangerous by the day.

For starters, the longer this war goes on, the more opportunity for catastrophic miscalculations — and the raw material for that is piling up fast and furious. Take the two highprofile leaks from American officials this past week about U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.

First, The New York Times disclosed that “the United States has provided intelligence about Russian units that has allowed Ukrainians to target and kill many of the Russian generals who have died in action in the Ukraine war, according to senior American officials.” Second, the Times, following a report by NBC News and citing U.S. officials, reported that America has “provided intelligence that helped Ukrainian forces locate and strike” the Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. This targeting assistance “contributed to the eventual sinking” of the Moskva by two Ukrainian cruise missiles.

As a journalist, I love a good leak story, and the reporters who broke those stories did powerful digging. At the same time, from everything I have been able to glean from senior U.S. officials, who spoke to me on condition of anonymity, the leaks were not part of any thought-out strategy, and President Joe Biden was livid about them. I’m told that he called the director of national intelligence, the director of the CIA and the secretary of defense to make clear in the strongest and most colorful language that this kind of loose talk is reckless and has got to stop immediately — before we end up in an unintended war with Russia.

The staggering takeaway from these leaks is that they suggest we are no longer in an indirect war with Russia but rather edging toward a direct war — and no one has prepared the American people or Congress for that.

Vladimir Putin surely has no illusions about how much the U.S. and NATO are arming Ukraine with material and intelligence, but when

American officials start to brag in public about playing a role in killing Russian generals and sinking the Russian flagship, killing many sailors, we could be creating an opening for Putin to respond in ways that could dangerously widen this conflict — and drag the U.S. in deeper than it wants to be.

It is doubly dangerous, senior U.S. officials say, because it is increasingly obvious to them that Putin’s behavior is not as predictable as it has been in the past. And Putin is running out of options for some kind of face-saving success on the ground — or even a face-saving off-ramp.

It is hard to exaggerate what a catastrophe this war has been for Putin so far. Indeed, Biden pointed out to his team that Putin was trying to push back on NATO expansion, and he’s ended up laying the groundwork for the expansion of NATO. Both Finland and Sweden are now taking steps toward joining an alliance they’ve stayed out of for seven decades.

But that is why U.S. officials are quite concerned about what Putin might do or announce at the Victory Day celebration in Moscow on Monday, which marks the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany. It is traditionally a day of military parades and celebration of the prowess of the Russian army. Putin could mobilize even more soldiers, make some other provocation or do nothing at all. But no one knows.

Alas, we have to be alive to the fact that it’s not only the Russians who would like to involve us more deeply. Have no illusions: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has been trying to do the same thing from the start — to make Ukraine an immediate member of NATO or get Washington to forge a bilateral security pact with Kyiv. I am in awe of Zelenskyy’s heroism and leadership. If I were him, I’d be trying to get the U.S. as enmeshed on my side as he is.

But I’m an American citizen, and I want us to be careful. Ukraine was and still is a country marbled with corruption. That doesn’t mean we should not be helping it. I am glad we are. I insist we do. But my sense is that the Biden team is walking much more of a tightrope with Zelenskyy than it would appear to

Continued on Page 13

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

The long-feared (by some) invasion of duplexes into Arlington’s single-family enclaves is shaping up as a minor incursion.

The county’s 20-month-old Missing Middle housing initiative, aimed at countering our explosion of luxury home-building to expand opportunities for aspiring middleclass owners, turned a corner last month.

An April 28 draft framework “Missing Middle Housing Study: Expanding Housing Choice” (plus the staff’s follow-up public session via Zoom May 3) set a modest scope for the envisioned loosening of decadesold zoning restrictions.

Yet the critics — defenders of the single-family lifestyle and our threatened trees — are not reassured.

Using models from crowded jurisdictions such as Minneapolis and Portland, Ore., the latest proposal from Housing Arlington is ambitious only in that it would permit multifamily structures nearly countywide. The exceptions are the neighborhoods already containing duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes, plus residential sections within the separate Plan Langston Boulevard initiative.

As laid out with detailed data by Matthew Ladd, Kellie Brown and Richard Tucker, the new zoning freedoms for landowners and builders would allow more reasonably priced structures by encouraging smaller units grouped more densely. Think of families with incomes from $108,000$200,000. One could expect a “gradual pace of growth” that might total 20 lots, 94-108 units, or 150 “new

neighbors” per year, “geographically dispersed.”

Such additions

“can be accommodated with existing infrastructure,” and the net increase in school enrollment likely only 9-13 students per year. “Stormwater runoff would be comparable to current impacts from single-detached redevelopment,” the study asserts, and a “tree canopy of 20 percent to 50 percent is achievable.”

The analysts’ confession acknowledges that “most redevelopment in residential areas would continue to be single-detached” homes. Missing Middle style “has inherent economic disadvantages”— increased costs to build, complexity for ownership and sales, and lack of market familiarity.

But the county should nonetheless proceed, they recommend, in part because of the board’s equity theme— to offset past racial exclusion.

With 70 percent of Arlington zoned single-family, how might those residents benefit? Besides contributing to equity, answered Kellie Brown, they might consider the need to “preserve workforce loyalty” in Arlington and the fact that “their future needs may change”—they might have an aging parent or child who needs less expensive digs.

Peter Rousselot, the longtime skeptic at Arlingtonians for Our Sustainable Future, told me: “The county has not addressed previous concerns about ameliorating the severe fiscal, environmental, and income-inequality metrics of adding roughly 65,000 new residents as projected in 2018.” The new approach would “exacerbate the problem and doesn’t provide new options for anyone earning under $115,000. The

market, not the county, will decide the pace of redevelopment.”

The Arlington Tree Action Group faulted the study for vagueness and for not mentioning climate change. “The canopy is declining while impervious surface is expanding,” it said, “unsustainable” trends that Missing Middle zoning could “accelerate.” ATAG backs a 20 percent tree canopy minimum. “Reducing it to a multi-family standard of 15 percent or a site plan standard of 10 percent reduces the tree replacement rate and will fast-track tree loss.”

Still being negotiated, staff say, are tricky “nitty gritty” issues of parkingspace requirements, design standards and what incentives might prompt builders to pursue Missing Middle.

The public can provide input through May 27, with proposed zoning code amendments for the county board planned for this summer and fall.

***

Arlington references abound in famed Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein’s new book “Chasing History,” describing his adventures as cub at the Evening Star.

In 1960-63, Bernstein and four other aspiring scribes were roommates at 6049 N. 18th St. near Westover. He describes backyard barbecuing, rap sessions and his homemade desk in what seemed like “a mansion”— six bedrooms and a butler’s pantry in the “white-painted brick mock Colonial in an ordinary suburban neighborhood” surrounded by civil servants, merchants and teachers.

I contacted the owners, who were unaware of Bernstein’s book. But they called back to confirm that her family, who built the home, had rented it out during those heady days.

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F.C. Schools’ Post Lockdown Report

Following on the frightening lockdown false alarm that occurred at Falls Church’s Meridian High and adjacent Henderson Middle School last week, Falls Church Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan and Falls Church City Police Chief Mary Gavin held a debriefing this week with results that were swiftly communicated to the entire City schools staff. According to Noonan, the debriefing included F.C. police officers, the school-based administration of the secondary (Meridian/Henderson) campus and leadership from the schools’ central office. Noonan reported the following:

“The conversation was focused around three questions: (1) what went well, (2) what were our challenges and (3) what steps will we take to improve?

“Things that went well included that our staff and students did exactly what they trained to do during drills, the Meridian and Henderson administration kept level heads and followed protocols, the new high school’s emergency systems worked as planned, We were able to deploy staff to the Giant parking lot to ensure the safety of students who were not on campus when the lockdown began, and the police response was swift and intense.”

Proving challenging were, he said: “The response was not approached as a campus response, rather it began as a Meridian response and then Henderson was brought in. Our communications systems across both Henderson and Meridian were not in-sync. Police in plain clothes did not don their emergency vests which created confusion. A coordinated command response between the police, schools, and central office was less than optimal and, during the crisis and in an early video communication about the event, we initially believed the badge that set off the alarm was handed to a parent volunteer by a staff member. Upon further review of video evidence, we have concluded that a parent volunteer unknowingly picked up the “alarm” badge from a desktop.”

Steps now being taken to improve, he said, include “to secure all alarm badges and review badge protocols, develop a safety and security communications plan that clearly delineates and differentiates responsibilities and assignments, develop a coordinated command structure, between the schools, central office, and the police for a critical incident response, ensure the police department has access to our internal cameras so that they can seamlessly have ‘eyes’ in our building, Create internal technological structures that coordinates communication between Meridian and Henderson to ensure a campus approach.”

He concluded, “While this incident was isolated to the secondary campus, it is important for the entire community to know how we are reacting to these events as they impact our response to all of our schools. We are also committed to transparency and know how important it is that all of us have access to accurate information so we can dispel rumors (often propagated by social media) quickly while also learning from these events and making the changes necessary to improve our systems, Noonan stressed.

The News-Press commends the swiftness, thoroughness and transparency of this joint action by the schools and local police.

Praise of Sally

Editor, Members of the Women’s History Group, the working organizers of last Sunday’s very successful Women’s Walk honoring the many women who have played major roles in shaping the Falls Church-area history, want to express our gratitude to the Group’s intrepid leader, Sally Ekfelt.

Sally, for several years, has turned a group of active and independent women into a vibrant, cooperative, and very hard-working team to tackle the research, the event-planning, the logistics and strategies, the coordination, and to execute a very tight timeline of set-up and take-down at sites of note, each with docents and greeters. Signs across the city highlight historic women, and their stories.

No one works harder than Sally. We meet and plan most of the year, but Sally keeps us going. The rest of us are infected with her enthusiasm. The big picture, the details, she works with them all.

We salute Sally Ekfelt and hope the community appreciates, as we do, her incredible drive and dedication to Falls Church.

The Women’s History Group Falls Church

On American Legion Housing

Editor, Charlie Clark reported (“Our Man in Arlington,” May 6) on the opening of the new 160-unit subsidized housing project in Arlington built on land previously used for an American Legion Post on Washington Boulevard. This $77 million project was financed mainly through public funds including $12 million from Arlington County, and an average unit cost nearly $500,000 each.

In addition, the Legion post was paid nearly $9 million for its land and got a large free office on-site. Pretty sweet deal for its charity for vets. How come the Legion post did not give away the land for free to help low income renters and vets?

This project is yet another example of waste of public funds in Arlington County’s failed housing program to enrich private individuals, builders, landowners, and organizations and does very little to help the most desperate and lowest income people in Arlington and does little or nothing to help vets. Homeless vets in Arlington today can get housed and their rents paid through funds provided by the Veterans Administration (VA) to the Arlington County Department of Human Services (DHS) which identifies and helps any homeless vet who will cooperate to get housed. There is no need to build a new apartment building to house homeless vets because there are ample resources to house them in existing units paid for by the VA, and well administered by DHS. This assumes the vet is able and wants to be housed.

It is very true today there are thousands of low-income rental households in Arlington who pay over 50 percent of incomes for rent and need desperately need housing assistance, but the most effective direct way to help them would be to give them a housing voucher to help pay some of their rents. Give each household $300 — $400 a month rental voucher and the renter pays the rest, no free ride but some real help.

without fear or favor of friend or foe.

5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

6. Give “value received” for every dollar you take in.

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

The American Legion group claims that this project will help vets and low-income renters, but only 18 units (11 percent of total) will possibly house the lowest income renters (earning under 30 percent area median income or $30,000 a year, including previously unhoused vets) and 28 units (18 percent) will go to high income renters making 80 percent AMI ($80,000 a year).

Arlington County has its own housing voucher program) but limits it to only 1,200 desperately poor households most of whom are seniors or disabled people earning under $18,000 a year. The $77 million wasted on the Legion complex could have easily funded vouchers for all of the several thousand low-income renters in Arlington, and these include many low-income vets who are housed but struggling to pay monthly rent.

We cannot build our way out of homelessness and lack of affordable rental housing for low income people in Arlington or in Falls Church, but expanding a housing rental voucher program could mostly alleviate the worst problems.

John Reeder Arlington, VA

In

Ekfelt

This is No Time to Be Avoiding Reality

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

It’s come to the point that the American Republican Party, a shadow of its former self, seems incapable of anything but mendacity and disingenuous behavior. One senses the realization by party leaders and their fascist overlords who recognize that they are swimming against the demographic tide and have no choice but to find ways of cheating and deception to stay in power.

It’s not a new challenge. Hateful potentates have had to master such techniques over the eons to stay ahead of their far more populous masses and avoid

the ax. Ancient Roman “bread and circuses,” including the mass distribution of tons of lead-based intoxicants, are examples. Many of the royal universities and other knowledge centers of medieval times to the present have been dedicated to little, honestly, other than divining tools of social engineering, new ways of deceiving the masses to keep them occupied and confused, usually in the name of science or, in the absence of that, a radical pursuit of pleasure that is advanced in the name of fresh new, “enlightened” experiences.

It’s not the merits of the arguments that such methods rely upon, but just shadows of them. Instead, it is the ancient techniques of divide-and-conquer and mental dissembling that are used, counting on an ability to confuse and deflect. For example, the rationale displayed in the leaked U.S. Supreme Court Justice Alito’s majority ruling on overturning Roe Vs. Wade is truly

Commentary

Editor’s Essay Amanda

We live in a country that does not offer universal healthcare, that does not guarantee paid maternity leave, where Black women are over three times more likely to die during or after pregnancy than white women.

In 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.

Last Monday, Politico obtained a leaked draft suggesting that the Supreme Court is prepared to overturn this landmark decision. Abortion is healthcare. It should not be something “political” yet the people making the decisions about the bodies of those with uteruses are often not the people it will affect directly. Banning abortion will not stop abortions from happening but it will make them significantly more dangerous.

I’m 23 years old. I graduated college a year ago and have been in my career less than a year. I live alone in a studio apartment. If I found out I was pregnant tomorrow, I don’t know what I would do. I suppose it would depend on the circumstances but ultimately I would want to have options and the choice should be mine to make.

Women are constantly shamed for their bodies and sexuality. If they have sex, they are seen as promiscuous and if they don’t then they are seen as prudish. Vasectomies are not only much easier to have done than hysterectomies, but they are also reversible. However, the discourse online always falls back to put the blame on the person with a uterus. In order to have a hysterectomy done, many doctors require consent from a person’s husband despite the fact that there are no state mandates requiring spousal consent for the procedure.

Leila Cohan’s tweet puts it perfectly, “If it was about babies, we’d have excellent and free universal maternal care. You wouldn’t be charged a cent to

confounding, and those pushing it are counting on a majority of us not figuring it out, or even caring.

Yes, in Washington Post columns by Dana Milbank (“Alito’s Medieval Court Is Just Getting Started”) and Jill Elaine Hasday (“Alito Cites a Judge Who Treated Women as Property”) this week both make compelling arguments from a rational standpoint trashing Alito’s shockingly inept argument. But are enough people going to hear it, or are going to care?

In fact, one might think that Alito’s argument is so lame, for example depending on the likes of the ancient and overtly misogynist English judges Henry de Bracton (1210-1268) and Matthew Hale (1609-1676) to make his case, that reasonable folks could figure out for themselves how truly baseless it is.

But Alito was not really trying to win an argument, but merely to create an impression of plausibility to be sufficiently persuasive

for the mindless to win the day. He would be veritably slaughtered in a legitimate high school debating competition, but in his old age he’s come to realize that winning isn’t everything, but that just sufficiently muddying the waters will do.

In my view, it is relevant that the advancement of these kinds of pseudo-arguments come in the context of a nation that can’t wait to avoid reality. This is being advanced by a full court press of tempting alternatives to facing reality, including the big push to legalize marijuana these days.

We’re all supposed to think it is cool to be doing this now, without regard for, in particular, how potent weed has become in recent years compared to how it was “back in the day.” The current stuff can literally send a mind off to places where it can take far more to bring it back than it did 40 years ago.

We also now have legalized sports that involve bare knuckled

bashing of the heads of competitors, which was not legal only a few years ago and flies openly in the face of the real danger of “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” (CTE) that has been shown in the case of professional football to cause permanent and debilitating brain damage. We also now have seen betting on sporting events through the TV set to be legalized with only tiny disclaimers included that warn of the real social dangers of betting addictions. We also now have legalized investment options in the purchase of nothing, “all sizzle, no steak” NFT’s (non-fungible tokens). In a world where, as the circusman P.T. Barnam famously put it, “There is a sucker born every minute,” these self-destructive tools are unbelievably dangerous.

This is not the time for reality avoidance, not with the dangers besetting our democracy that only mass mobilizations at the ballot box can correct.

give birth, no matter how complicated your delivery was. If it was about babies, we’d have months and months of paternal leave, for everyone.”

I will believe you are “pro-life” when you start caring about the children kept in cages at our border. I will believe it when you recognize the disproportionate rate that Black people are murdered by police and the people meant to protect us. You are not “pro-life,” you are pro-forced birth and antichoice.

Another viral post from last week was from Jason Selvig on Twitter where he approaches a group of women holding a sign that says “choose adoption.” He asked them all how many children they have adopted. Most of them attempted to avoid the question in some way and it was ultimately found out that none of them had. I also found much of the language used in their responses to be quite telling. One of them answered by saying “I have two of my own.”

To me, this makes it sound as if she would not view a child who was not biologically hers to truly be her child. Another said she was

unable to adopt, yet never stated what the reason why was. Who knows, maybe if paternal leave and healthcare were more readily available in our country she would have been able to.

The way we speak about this issue is also important. It is not only women who will be impacted by this. Not every person who has a uterus is a woman and those marginalized groups would likely be even more impacted by the decision if and when it goes through.

Social media users are currently encouraging a nationwide strike that began on Mother’s Day. According to the official website, this strike is calling for participants to “cease all economic activity, such as, working, attending school, shopping, going to the movies, transactional recreation, etc.”

While some of these options may not work for all people, I encourage you to do what you can— whether that’s donating your time and resources, boycotting or just spreading the word.

In 1975, women in Iceland went on strike “to demonstrate the

indispensable work of women for Iceland’s economy and society” and to “protest wage discrepancy and unfair employment practices” and “did not go to their paid jobs and did not do any housework or child-rearing” for the day. The government soon passed a law guaranteeing equal pay.

The immediate goals of this strike include enacting The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) and ending the filibuster. Short term goals include federally codifying Roe v Wade into law. And long term goals include term limits for Supreme Court Justices, limiting the number of Supreme Court Justices a single administration can appoint.

I encourage you to participate in any way you can. More information can be found at mothersdaystrike.com, including mutual aid resources, trusted organizations and more ways to get involved.

This small space isn’t nearly big enough for me to express all of my feelings. Be aware of what is happening around you because you never know what laws they will come for next.

A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Just when you wonder if generosity has been replaced by selfishness or monetizing everything (as many comments on social media seem to imply), something happens that restores your faith in humanity, and the values treasured by generations preceding us. In recent weeks, multiple examples of philanthropy have reflected that generosity, indeed, is alive and well in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.

The very word “philanthropy” conjures up images of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Jose Andres, or MacKenzie Scott, their foundations, and their largesse that is reported in media around the world. That largesse is deserving of thanks and emulation, as many of those donations are made to improve the lives, health, and education of people they may never know or meet. Smaller donations, like those you and I might make, also are considered philanthropy, but usually without the media interest. Nevertheless, every bit helps, whether a check with lots of zeroes, or a winter coat and package of socks for Ukrainian relief. It all reflects a generosity of spirit and a desire to make a difference in someone’s life.

Last week, on May 4, the INOVA Schar Cancer Institute celebrated a multi-million contribution by Paul and Linda Saville with the opening of the INOVA Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center. In his remarks at the ceremonial ribboncutting, Paul noted that “We’ve all been impacted by cancer. Too many of us know someone who died from cancer due to a late diagnosis. We are humbled to partner with INOVA Schar to bring vital cancer screening and prevention services to more people so that we can reduce the burden of cancer and make our community healthier.” The 26,000 square foot INOVA Saville Center is the first of its kind in the Washington metropolitan region, providing a home for cancer screening and prevention, advocating for those at all levels of cancer risk, eliminating barriers, and maximizing health and well-being in our diverse community. The Saville family may never

know how many people their generous community investment will help over time but, most likely, it will be generations of new families. Thank you, Paul and Linda Saville.

A few weeks ago, I reported that donations for Ukrainian relief deposited at the Mason District Governmental Center totaled 40 giant shipping boxes. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) coordinated donation drop-off sites in NVRC’s membership area and, when all was completed, more than 27 tons of blankets, coats, gloves, and socks were sorted and packed by volunteers at the Oakton Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. About 1800 boxes of donations were filled and packed into six tractor-trailers for the trip to Wilmington, N.C. for shipment to refugee sites in Poland and Ukraine. Factoid: if stacked on top of each other, the boxes would be the equivalent of 6 ½ Washington Monuments! No estimate of the number of donors is available, but the result verifies that small donations can add up to help untold numbers of displaced residents in war-ravaged Ukraine and its neighbors. If you missed the Ukraine donation drive, you can make tax-deductible monetary contributions to the American Red Cross (www. redcross.org), the Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org), Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org), or your favorite charity.

The Art in the Mason District Governmental Center program features photographs by Connor Cummings, a local published artist who also is autistic. Connor uses a camera as a way of communicating through still photography. One of my favorite photos in Connor’s exhibit is “New Orleans Glow,” an indoor arrangement of what looks like an old bar with row upon row of backlight glass bottles that truly impart a “glow.” The artwork will be on display through June 30, 2022.

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

City of Falls Church

CRIME REPORT

Week of May 2 - 8, 2022

Driving Under the Influence, S Washington/E Broad St, May 5, 1:11 AM, a male, 23, of Germantown, MD,

Delegate Kaye Korys Richmond Report

2022 has been an unusual legislative year so far. The General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12 without a final budget and with 70 bills hanging unfinished- which means no final action in the form of a conference report or a floor vote. This is a remarkable incomplete workload.

The Governor called us back into a special session on April 4th. Constitutionally, the Governor has the power to call us back for a special session at his pleasure; however he does not have the power to prescribe our agenda or how long we stay in special session. We recessed on April 4th without a final budget. Technically, we are still in a special session awaiting a call back.

We met on April 27th for what is called “Reconvene Session,’ in which we vote on the Governor’s actions on the bills we passed. The actions we must approve or deny are a veto or an amendment or amendments. A two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House is required to overturn a veto; if one body fails to override a veto, the veto is sustained and the bill is not sent to the other chamber. Frequently vetoes are voted upon along party lines. So, predictably, no vetoes were overriden. Amendments are accepted or rejected by majority vote in both chambers. If amendments are rejected, the bill returns to the Governor in the form it was originally passed. He can veto it, sign it or ignore it--if ignored, it becomes law within 30 days of the adjournment of the reconvened session. Any veto at this point is final.

was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts, Great Falls St, between 5:30 PM, May 6 and 1:30 PM, May 7, unknown suspect(s)

removed the catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, May 8, 11:39 AM, unknown suspect took an item of value from a business

The Governor sent 58 bills with amendments and 10 bills with vetoes to the House. No vetoes were overturned and the acceptance of amendments was a patchwork. The House rejected the amendments to seven bills and the Senate rejected the amendments to ten bills. Many amendments were technical, some were transformative. The most noteworthy of the transforming amendments were on the bill concerning the Loudoun County School Board. This was an outrageous attempt to literally overturn the local school board

election results as punishment for that board’s disagreements with the Governor. This is not just my opinion, this was stated repeatedly during the debate in the Capitol. In summary, we processed a number of petty and partisan actions by our new and disappointingly partisan Governor with a basically partisan response. We have not come any closer to acting on the budget and it is impossible to predict when we will finalize it. Many folks say that a budget is the true outline of policy and moral belief. This chasm of difference in moral belief is very clear when comparing the Senate (Democrat) budget with the House (Republican) budget. My disagreements and concerns with the House budget are too many to go into here. Suffice to say that education and transportation funding suffer serious slashes, criminal justice reform also suffers very problematic funding cuts. This is a year when Virginia can afford to be generous to those in need, to begin to rebuild infrastructure and to undertake major funding increases in education— particularly for teacher salaries and for low-income students for whom English is not the first language. In other words, fairly fund schools like Justice HS, Annandale HS and Falls Church HS and the middle and elementary schools feeding into them. Bluntly speaking, those schools which have not been adequately funded by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors or by the General Assembly. Some say that this under-funding is due to prudent fiscal policy. I say that it is due to lack of vision, compassion and willingness to invest in the future. Some say that this under-funding is due to racism, and some say that it is simply due to political winners and losers. I say that education ought to be funded without regard to politics, race or income and only with regard to equitable and equal resource distribution and outcomes preparing all students for productive lives.

 Delegate Kory represents the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She may be emailed at DelKKory@house.virginia.gov.

Creative Cauldron Ends Season With ‘Into the Woods’

wrote in the program notes that it is made up of stories that “resonate the very meaning of the human journey, a path filled with love, fear, disappointment and hope,” and that includes “the familiar and ageless songs that reflect the complexity of life.”

He thanks “all of the cast, crew, band and artistic staff that helped us find our way through this woods. This dedicated team has moved a few mountains and conquered a few giants to make a little magic happen.”

What follows is a review of the production as presented on its opening night last weekend by the News-Press’ Amanda Snead.

Creative Cauldron opened with its final production of the season last weekend. “Into the Woods” made its original debut in 1986 in San Diego before moving to Broadway and becoming an instant success, winning multiple Tony awards.

I have seen almost every production at Creative Cauldron this season but this was the first production I had any familiarity with so I was excited to see it. In 2014, the play

was adapted into a Disney film with a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and many other well-known actors. However, this was my first time seeing it on stage. This play takes the plots of multiple Grimm fairy tales and intertwines them — including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel, as well as new characters including a baker and his wife and a witch who has cursed their family. The play was cast incredibly well and I enjoyed the performance put on by everyone.

I’m personally a big fan of musicals and this production won a Tony for Best Original Score so it’s no exception. The recently deceased Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for this show as well as “West Side Story” and “Sweeney Todd.” Some of my favorites include the opening of Act One, “Agony” and “It Takes Two,” all of which have been stuck in my head since I saw the play last weekend. The entire cast was composed of very talented singers and their voices meshed well in all of the ensemble songs.

Marcia Ball

One of my favorite parts of the production was Chad Wheeler as the narrator. His voice was able to command the audience and help carry the story along in an engaging way and I also loved the occasional breaking of the fourth wall by the narrator.

Susan Derry’s portrayal of the Witch is also noteworthy. The Witch goes through many transformations throughout the play, both physically and emotionally, and Derry does an amazing job of conveying these.

I also enjoyed Ashley Nguyen as Little Red Riding Hood. This is another complex character as she acts tough and independent but at the end of the day she is just a young girl who is alone and needs guidance.

This tale is one that teaches the audience that sometimes exactly what we think we want isn’t what we truly need. It shows us that friends and family can be found in unexpected situations and that “happily ever after” isn’t always what it seems.

This is a truly timeless tale that will resonate with any audience member, regardless of age, gender, etc. Creative Cauldron

were part of the wider ground breaking last week. They included, l. to r., Gina Caceci. (Insight Property Group’s Maury Stern), Matt Conner, Marty Meserve and Mark Werblood). (P����: I������ P������� G����).

always does an exceptional job with their productions and this might be one of my favorites so far this season.

— Saturday and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays. This show is running now through May 29, 2022. Masks are required for all patrons at all times, and proof of vaccination or a negative CDC approved Covid test is required for all patrons over 5 years of age. MAY 12 - 18, 2022 | PAGE 9

more! Live Music * Family Fun Interactive Villages * Food * Bar Cherry Hill Park Falls Church City 11 AM - 8 PM SATURDAY JUNE 11 Advanced Tickets On Sale Now! Advanced: $30 | At the Gate: $40 Kids 11 & Under: FREE TinnerHill.org SCAN FOR INFO & TICKETS

PRESENTED BY Net proceeds benefit Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Dale and the ZDubs

BY

Rebirth Brass Band SPONSORED

New Week, Same Winning for Mustangs Athletics

by Ryan McCafferty Falls Church News-Press

The Meridian High School Mustangs were on a roll at the end of April with wins aplenty in just about all of their athletic programs, and the hot streak has continued into May. Bringing home the most success was the boys’ varsity baseball team, who went 3-0 on the week and now ride a seven game streak to move to 11-4 this season after a slow start. More impressively was the fact that they won all three games in consecutive days, defeating Rappohannock 8-1 on the road on Monday, and then

defending their turf against William Monroe 11-1 and Warren County

9-2, on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Both tennis teams split their week

1-1, with the boys falling 0-9 to Rock Ridge on Monday (ending a six game win streak) and then flipping the script with a 9-0 victory over Brentsville on Thursday, both on the road, to bring their total record to 7-4. The girls also lost to Rock Ridge, 1-8, and then similarly dominated Brentsville 9-0, with both of their games coming at home and on the same days. They are now 6-4 on the year.

The girls’ softball team saw action in three contests this past week and was able to win only one of them, though it was a dominant 13-1 victory over Sidwell Friends on Monday at home. They lost their following two games, all in consecutive days, as they traveled to William Monroe Tuesday and Warren County Wednesday, the former by a score of 1-7 and the latter 4-8, bringing their record to 5-8 in what has been a struggle this season.

Both soccer teams swept up this week, although they only played in a combined three contests. The girls defeated Seton

4-0 at home on Monday and then conquered William Monroe on the road the next night by a score of 4-3, moving to 6-3-3 on the season and more impressively 6-1 in their last seven games. Meanwhile the boys won their lone matchup of the week, a 3-2 decision Thursday at home against Lightridge. That leaves lacrosse, where both teams faced Culpeper County on Wednesday, the boys at home and the girls on the road, and both took home dominant victories, with the boys winning 24-8 and the girls 16-5.

Additionally, Meridian’s

track and field teams competed at the Skyline Quad Meet on Wednesday this week, and several Mustangs were able to find their way onto the podium in various events. Eli Wildman (boys’ 800m), Grace Crum (girls’ 400m and 800m), and Senya Urbom (long jump) led the way by placing first, while nine others achieved at least one second or third place finish. All in all it was another successful week for Falls Church’s most prominent high school athletics squads, and one that hopefully can continue to carry the momentum forward.

Falls Church Little League: Featured ‘Game of the Week’

by Erika Toman

Despite some hard hit balls by the Candy Canes (Coach Toman, sponsored by Davis Laine), the Hurricanes (Coach Torres, sponsored by NDI Custom Homes) were victorious Wednesday, May 4 with a final score of 4 – 1.

Parker G. was a bulldog for the Hurricanes and pitched the entire game, allowing only one run on three hits. Additionally, he struck out four and impressively had zero walks. Luke T., Will D. and Parker G. all put hits on the board for the

Hurricanes. Manning the hot corner was Aiden O., who made several excellent plays.

Hurricanes catchers Audrey C. and Flynn S. were relentless at the plate. With assistance from 1st baseman Walker M., Flynn S. made an incredible 180-degree tag preventing a run-scoring steal. At first base, Walker M. caught one in the air, and stretched his limits. Nothing gets past the Hurricanes starting 1st baseman. While on 2nd base, Luke T. ended the final inning making an unbelievable catch running into right-center

Falls Church School News & Notes

Chorus and Band Place 1st at Hershey

Last Friday, May 6, the Mary Ellen Henderson choir and band participated in a music festival near Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.

Each group performed three pieces for the judges before spending a rain-filled and funfilled day at the amusement park.

The band received 1st place with excellent ratings from the judges and outstanding section awards for low brass and horns.

The choir also received 1st place with superior ratings and the overall choir award, given to the group with the highest overall score.

The judges’ feedback was positive and will help the groups continue to grow musically.

OSE Chorus Performs Live in Concert

The Oak Street 5th Grade Chorus performed their Spring concert last Wednesday night under the direction of Ms. Kaye Reid. 4th graders interested in singing were invited to sing the song Try Everything along with the 5th graders.

FCCPS Celebration of Excellence Today

A reception will begin at 4:15 p.m. today, Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Meridian High School in the Innovation Commons. The program will start at 4:45 p.m.

All of the nominees and winners of the three FCCPS employ-

field.

The Candy Canes were led defensively by Tommy A. with three assists, including two well-handled plays on hard hit balls to second base. On the mound, Chris C. went the distance for the Canes allowing only two hits and striking out five. Aidan M. and Harrison C. each had one hit for the team with Alex V. crushing a double to the outfield. This was teamwork at its best! A well played nail-biting game with great defensive plays on both sides.

ee awards — FCEF Teacher of the Year, Professional Specialist of the Year, and Support Staff Employee of the Year — will be recognized.

FCCPS invites community members to come and show their support for these employees.

International Night

This Saturday at MHS

International Night promises to be a memorable evening with lots of activities for students.

Be entertained by performances and a unique “fashion walk” showcasing apparel from around the world.

The event will include tables representing over 20 countries, food samples from area restaurants, and homemade food prepared by multi-cultural parents

EDUCATOR RISING CLUB leaders showed their appreciation for staff by signing and hanging a banner to thank the staff for their hard work for Staff Appriciation Week last week.

and families.

The event will take place at Meridian High School from 5 — 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.

Those interested in volunteering can fill out the form at signupgenius.com/

MHS Students Design Personalized Clocks

Students in Mr. Kenny George’s Design 1 class learned about machine manufacturing

and are required to design and fabricate a functional clock for a client at Meridian High School. Teachers (clients) filled out a form to request a wall clock for their classroom, office, or shared space. Then they met with the student to discuss design needs.

The students made the face of the clocks between 10-12” in diameter and constructed them with either hardwood veneer plywoods or colored acrylic. Students used the laser cutter to cut and engrave the design.

(Photo: FCCPS)

‘Proof’ Examines Complicated Family Relationships

BY AMANDA SNEAD FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

NOVA Nightsky Theater closed out its run of David Auburn’s “Proof” this weekend and it might be my favorite production of theirs yet.

According to an update on their website, “Ward Kay, our Artistic Director, chose ‘Proof’ for this season because he is a math guy and has always been fascinated by the story that ‘Proof’ tells. It’s a play with Math geniuses and numbers, but it’s not really a play about math. It’s a play about family, love, and how mental illness can affect your relationships, your genius, and how you love. Everyone should see this show, even those that hate math.” And, as someone who hates math, I couldn’t agree more.

This wasn’t a show I had any familiarity with but immediately found myself drawn in to. As someone who has dealt with mental health struggles many times before, I was incredibly interested in Catherine’s character as she deals with her own

mental health issues while taking care of her father then going through the grieving process.

Set in the 1980s, the story follows Catherine, a mathematical genius who puts aside her education in order to take care of her father as he suffers through his own mental illness and passes away. In his youth, her father, Robert, played by Kevin Dykstra, made groundbreaking work in the mathematics field but became unable to work as he descended deeper into delusion.

Co-founder and producer of NOVA Nightsky, Jaclyn Robertson, took the stage again for the first time since the company’s production of “Picnic” last year. Her role as Catherine in “Proof” is very different from the previous play and shows her range as an actor.

During the five years of his illness, Robert kept many notebooks, most of which contained nothing of importance. However, one of his students, Hal, played by Adam Ressa, decides to go through each of them to see if there is anything

that may be of value.

Catherine points Hal in the direction of a locked drawer containing an additional notebook and inside he finds a very important proof. Catherine’s sister, Claire, played by Caroline Peterson, asks where she found it. Catherine explains that she didn’t find the notebook, she wrote the proof. Neither Claire nor Hal believe she could have come up with the groundbreaking proof on her own considering her own mental health struggles and lack of education since she left college to take care of her father.

Catherine has no way to prove she is the author as the handwriting is eerily similar to that of her late father. With no one to back her up, she ends up in a downward spiral to a depression that leaves her unable to get out of the bed for days and Claire decides to take her back to New York in order to take care of her. Hal takes the notebook to look over with his colleagues and comes rushing back to the house to report his findings before the pair leave

CATHERINE, CLAIRE AND HAL discuss the proof on the back porch of Robert’s old home (C������� �����).

to get on their plane. He tells Catherine that he now believes she had to be the one to write it and that there were no errors.

This play paints an incredibly accurate picture of the struggles of depression and other forms of mental illness. It tells the story of family, reconnecting and love in a beautiful way.

www.FallsChurchChamber.org/events/calendar/

Annual Richmond Report with Delegate Marcus Simon

Annual Rowell Court Block Party & Networking Mixer

“Proof” closed out last weekend but NOVA Nightsky will be back again next month with a production of “The American Plan” by Richard Greenberg. For more information about the play and to purchase tickets, visit novanightskytheater.com and sign up for email updates.

Falls Church Memorial Day Festival

Join

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Christopher Thomas Turner, age 48, of Denver, CO, passed away suddenly on Monday, February 14. He was born in Northern Virginia, and attended George Mason High School (now Meridian High School). He went on to attend Virginia Commonwealth University for one year in Richmond VA.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Frances Sours Turner. He is survived by his daughter Hayley Grace Turner of Boulder, CO and his brother Andrew Greene Turner of Denver, CO.

He moved to Colorado from Richmond, VA in 1997 and never left. He loved the mountains and resided in the small mountain town of Nederland for the majority of his time in Colorado. He worked for many local companies over the years in the service industry, including Eldora Ski Resort, Boulder Country Club, Gold Lake Mountain Resort, Gold Hill Inn, among many other restaurants, bars, and casinos.

Chris found many joys in life during his time here on earth. He had an indescribable love for music, always listening and attending as

many concerts as he could. He loved spending time outdoors, whether it be camping, 4-wheeling, or fishing, he enjoyed every minute spent outside. He was an avid Washington Football Team fan; however his

dishes and bringing people together with food. He always knew how to light up a room and bring a smile to everyone’s face. His positive energy and liveliness was contagious and he shared it with everyone who knew There will be a celebration of life in Northern Virginia and a burial in Clifton Forge, VA, at a later date. We will always carry Chris’ memory in

The War Is Getting More Dangerous

the eye — wanting to do everything possible to make sure he wins this war but doing so in a way that still keeps some distance between us and Ukraine’s leadership. That’s so Kyiv is not calling the shots and so we’ll not be embarrassed by messy Ukrainian politics in the war’s aftermath.

The view of Biden and his team, according to my reporting, is that America needs to help Ukraine restore its sovereignty and beat the Russians back — but not let Ukraine turn itself into an American protectorate on the border of Russia. We need to stay laser-focused on what our national interest is and not stray in ways that lead to exposures and risks we don’t want.

One thing I know about Biden — with whom I traveled to Afghanistan in 2002 when he was a senator heading the Foreign Relations Committee — is that he is not easily romanced by world leaders. He has dealt with too many of them over his career. He’s got a pretty good sense of where U.S. interests stop and start. Ask the Afghans.

So where are we now? Putin’s Plan A — taking Kyiv and install-

which is largely Russian-speaking — is still in doubt. Putin’s freshly reinforced ground forces have made some progress, but it’s still limited. It is springtime in the Donbas, meaning the ground is still sometimes muddy and wet, so Russian armor still has to stay on roads and highways in many areas, making them vulnerable.

As America navigates Ukraine and Russia and tries to avoid being ensnared, one bright spot in the effort to avoid a wider war is the administration’s success at keeping China from providing military aid to Russia. This has been huge.

After all, it was just Feb. 4 when China’s president, Xi Jinping, hosted Putin at the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, where they unveiled all sorts of trade and energy agreements and then issued a joint declaration asserting that the friendship between Russia and China “has no limits.”

That was then. After the war started, Biden personally explained to Xi in a lengthy phone call that China’s economic future rests on access to the American and European markets

— its two largest trading partners — and should China provide military aid to Putin, it would have very negative consequences for China’s trade with both markets. Xi did the math and has been deterred from helping Russia in any military way, which has also made Putin weaker. The Western restrictions on shipping microchips to Russia has begun to really hobble some of his factories — and China has not stepped in so far.

My bottom line echoes my top line — and I can’t underscore it enough: We need to stick as tightly as possible to our original limited and clearly defined aim of helping Ukraine expel Russian forces as much as possible or negotiate for their withdrawal whenever Ukraine’s leaders feel the time is right.

But we are dealing with some incredibly unstable elements — particularly, a politically wounded Putin. Boasting about killing his generals and sinking his ships, or falling in love with Ukraine in ways that will get us enmeshed there forever, is the height of folly.

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN © 2022 The New York Times

Little City is Big on Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability

by Alex Russell Falls Church News-Press

The City of Falls Church, as with any community on the planet. can make a difference in battling climate change, Kate Walker, the City’s Environmental Program Coordinator, told a virtual Earth Day event here last month.

The Falls Church chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV) and Citizens for a Better City (CBC) jointly-sponsored a virtual Earth Day event last month led by Walker.

The focus of the meeting was on environmental protection at the local level, improvement, and how to reflect these efforts in future policymaking “right here, in Falls Church.”

Present for the meeting were Tim Stevens, member of the F.C. Planning Commission and former chair of the Environmental Sustainability Council; Hal Lippman, CBC President; Erica Thomas of the LWV; and Phil Duncan, of Falls Church City Council.

Walker’s presentation, entitled “Environment for Everyone,” stressed the importance of the community playing a “big role” in addressing environmental sustainability as well as the issue’s policy-making implications on the local government level. Walker emphasized that “we need to act and we need to act now… there are things we can do here [in F.C.] that will have an impact.”

Among the main ideas dis-

cussed at the event was the importance of managing consumption — whether that means food or any other packaged, store-bought products.

“It’s not really about managing waste, it’s about managing consumption…one of the biggest problems with food in this country is [that] 40 percent of the food…is thrown out.” Walker touched on how recycling is as vital a practice as ever, but that it has often overshadowed other, equally-important methods that should typically come first. She explained that, ideally, “recycling should be the last step.” From a policy standpoint, “the City needs a zero waste plan,” adding that “reuse, reduce, recycle” is “in that order for a reason.”

Walker’s presentation included the recent, large storms that have hit the City in the past year. “We have to acknowledge that this is, in part, attributable to the changes in the environment,” and, accordingly, sustainable flood mitigation will need to be a major change reflected both in policy and by everyday residents.

“Trees are a thing of beauty, but they are also water pumps” and therefore are “an enormously important part of our stormwater plan.” Lawns, on the other hand, are “not much better than paved areas” in terms of maintaining water. “We don’t need to have lawns…the rest of the yard could be trees and plantings,” with trees supporting flood mitigation and other plants helping to support pollinators.

The Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) operates the RainSmart program with the goal of improving the management of stormwater, conducting public education and outreach in Falls Church and offering grants for rain garden and landscape conservation projects. Funding is provided to help residents make use of rain barrels and rain gardens that help rainwater soak into the ground on-site in the service of flood mitigation and to help protect local streams.

Walker strongly recommends mentioning the implementation of trees and gardens for flood and stormwater mitigation “when writing to local and state legislators.”

Expanding on tree health, Walker extolled the benefits of programs like Tree City USA, a program that provides communities with a four-step framework for the maintenance and growth of their tree cover. In fact, “Falls Church was the first Tree City USA in the state of Virginia.” Additionally, an increase in a community’s tree cover can lead to cooler temperatures, cleaner air, and even increase value in property.

In terms of commercial property, she clarified that “you can’t take a tree down without consulting with the arborist,” and that in the event a tree does get taken down through appropriate means, “a replacement tree is required.”

In addition to trees, flowers, and other plants, Walker illustrated how the City is a prime

In Memoriam: Catherine Livinski

Catherine Livinski, age 82, of Falls Church, VA passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. She was born in Stamford, CT in 1939 to Kalenik and Anne (Bodon) Pilipchuk.

Cathy was married to Joseph R. Livinski for 48 years. She attended

the University of Connecticut where she studied chemistry and math. She took pride in her roles as wife, homemaker and mother. Cathy was an avid gardener and an excellent chef. She also volunteered at the Fairfax Hospital thrift shop in Annandale, VA for 40 years.

Survived by her children: Pamela Livinski, Susan (David) Knox, Cathy (Matt) Jones and Jonathan (Alicia) Livinski; her grandchildren: Libby, Hannah, Tyler and Kenzie; her sisters: Barbara and Nancy. Cathy is predeceased by her husband, Joe.

A funeral service will be held at 1pm on Monday, May 16, 2022 at the Falls Church Anglican, 6565 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042. A reception will be held at the church after the service; followed by the burial at Columbia Gardens Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome or donations can be made to The Lamb Center at www.thelambcenter.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. murphyfuneralhomes.com for the Livinski family.

location for urban agriculture. The Little City’s own Sandy Tarpinian, an Extension Master Gardener with over 22 years of experience, offers container gardening seminars that focus on how to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants with limited space, such as on a balcony or patio.

Organizations like Hands On Harvests — beginning as the Grow a Row F.C. initiative in May of 2020 — that work to support food pantries and help feed those in need with fresh produce grown by people in their own backyards provide a link between environmental responsibility and civic engagement.

Besides growing fresh food, proper composting practices can have positive contributions to a community’s ecology. “There are three composting programs in the city,” with one focusing on “backyard composting,” run by Tarpinian. There is also a curbside compost pickup program “at an extremely discounted price here in the City” and a compositing dropoff station at City Hall.

Walker stressed that “managing our impacts on climate change demands us to change how we use [and manage] our energy,” too. There is “only one LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified building in the City at this point” — the “Flower Building” at 800 W Broad St.

The new Meridian High School building is also “designed for energy-efficiency,” with its “heat-

loss mitigation” and “geothermal heating and cooling system implementation” that make it an extreme help to the environment.

Walker concluded that any practical change that occurs is influenced “through zoning” and policy-making. “Developers are asked to provide concessions” to Falls Church, “letting the City negotiate environmental benefits in new buildings.” There is also the proposed idea of an “energy consultant for the City,” an expert who could help F.C. “get a really substantial energy plan for…the community.” Tim Stevens commented that employing an energy expert is “becoming more common in other localities.”

Going back to citizens reaching out to their leaders in local, county, and state government, Walker highlighted that advocating “for federal and state legislation” in support of “regional and local action” goes a long way and can have lasting benefits. On-going work and new initiatives, however, always begin with concerned citizens who make their voices heard. “Community really counts.”

To learn more about the City’s Environmental Sustainability Council, visit fallschurchva. gov/171/environmental-sustainability-council. More information on the VPIS and their RainSmart program can be found online at vpis.org. To learn more about how to participate in Hands on Harvest, visit handsonharvests.org/about. Visit virginiageneralassembly.gov to find out how to best contact your State government representatives.

Covid-19 Vaccine Recived Totals

Stas, MD

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Put on Your Oxygen Mask First!

by Michael Repie, Ph.D. Dominion Hospital Senior Director of Clinical Services

Have you ever thought “I don’t have time to put myself first, It’s all my fault, I don’t have anyone I can count on or ask for help, or I am ashamed that I can’t get it all together?” Let me ask you another more personal question. Are you living or just existing? Existing is a rut that we can easily fall into.

Moore, MD Brittariy Jackson, MD Sharon Kim, MD Pranavi Vemuri, MD Jan Master, CRNP

Unfortunately, existing is a long survival of doing what you have to do in order to get through the day or week. Living, on the other hand, is taking life as it comes— embracing it and doing as much as possible to feel satisfied. This Mental Health Month of May is the perfect time to commit to change and consistent application of self-care, or “putting on your oxygen mask first.” Self-care is critical in moving beyond merely existing to really living.

Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” Ask yourself this— when was the last time that you did something for just yourself? If you cannot remember, or it’s been longer than a week, you need to change some things. Self-care doesn’t mean “me

first,” it means “me too.” If you run out of oxygen, you can’t help anyone else with their oxygen masks anyway. You have to have the mindset of loving yourself first. When you practice self-care, you may feel calmer, more grounded and more energetic. You may sleep better, eat better and feel more equipped to cope with challenges, just to name a few. Self-care is an important part of building resilience or bouncing back from stress, trauma and burnout. Self-care can help you recognize your emotional responses to stress, and develop skills to manage them.

But what is self-care? As the term became mainstream, we have drifted from its actual meaning. Self-care is not selfindulgence, rather it is self-preservation. Self-care is listening and tending to the needs of our minds and our bodies, and is the key to living a balanced life. Indulgence merely provides short-term escape, while self-care shifts your relationship with yourself and with others for the long-term. Self-care is something that refuels us, rather than takes from us. Selfcare is any activity that we deliberately do in order to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. Each of us have different parts of ourselves that

Make Sure You Are Putting the Self Back in Self-Care

Continued from Page 16

we need to take care of and different methods of carrying out this care. Self-care ensures that you are being cared for by you. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”

If you search “self-care” on Amazon, you will receive over 80,000 results from books, to affirmation cards, to kimonos, to treadmills. Self-care, however, is about what we need to practice, not what we need to purchase. Self-care is certainly not one size fits all. What works for you, may not work for your friend. It is what it does for you that is important. Self-care takes time and requires real commitment.

Remember, research has shown that it takes at least two months to make a behavior a habit. Keep at it too, because that same research shows that if you miss a day, it will not alter making self-care a habit.

“Paying yourself first” is one of the pillars of personal finance, and considered a golden rule by

many financial planners. Selfcare is an investment in you. When you prioritize you, you’re telling yourself that your future is the most important thing to you. Remember, people with large emergency funds tend to have fewer “emergencies” than those with low or zero balances. Self-care works exactly the same way. Paying yourself first means we need to schedule self care. It needs to be something that you plan rather than something that just happens. How do I do this, you ask? Add activities to your calendar. Announce your plans in order to increase your commitment. Wake up a few minutes earlier than normal. Pick one or two activities or areas that are most important to you and focus on those. Plan for big activities such as camping, dates, travel, cooking, etc., or whatever works for you. No time, you say? Look at how you spend your time and see where you waste time doing something that doesn’t benefit your mental, physical or spiritual health and break this habit. When should I seek help? It’s

never too early. Lots of people still have the misconception that therapy is only needed when it’s truly a psychopathology. However, more and more people are willing to take a more active approach by incorporating this into their self-care routine. When paying yourself first has reached its practical limits, it may be time to recognize warning signs. Irritability, anger, catastrophizing, sleep difficulties, change in appetite, addiction issues, poor performance in work or school and increased family conflict are just a few things to be on the lookout for which say it’s time to seek help. Common treatment modalities include individual, group or family/couples psychotherapy, medication and combined therapy plus medication. If you’re already utilizing these, and it’s still not sufficient, Intensive Outpatient Programs (typically 3 hours/day), Partial Hospitalization Programs (typically 6 hours/day), and Inpatient Hospitalization (24/7 care) may be required. Not sure what you might need? Talk to your primary

care provider. After reading this, be honestly reflective. Mental health month is the perfect time to challenge yourself to commit to making some changes in your life. I hate to disappoint you but none of this is rocket science. Most of you know what you should be doing, but you may need to commit to change and consistent application

of these concepts. You need to commit to putting your oxygen mask on first! And if you cannot, help is just a phone call away.

To learn more about Dominion Hospital and direct admission to any of our Intensive Outpatient, Partial Hospitalization, or Inpatient programs, please call (703) 538-2872 for a free, confidential consultation.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW is experiencing feelings of sadness or depression, reaching out and talking with someone is always encouraged. (Courtesy Photo.)

Top Ten Ways to Support Your Family Through Tough Times

by Amanda Sovik-Johnston, Ph.D. owner and CEO of Virginia Family Therapy Services

We all know the last few years have been exceptionally hard. Parents are burnt out, kids are struggling with mental health and we have all experienced more grief and loss than we feel we can bear. Although we can feel alone in our challenges, therapists realize that most folks are struggling with similar themes. Here are our top ten ways to support your family’s mental health at this critical time:

1. Pay attention to how the adults are doing. Adults are the cornerstones of families. We know you all have dealt with a lot over the past few years and that you will continue to work to make sure your children have what they need. This is your reminder to check in with you every now and then make sure you are giving some energy and kindness to yourself. Even five minutes a day will help you stay balanced— and that will help the

whole family.

2. Keep the routine where you can.

We know it’s tough when it seems like something new is thrown at you everyday, especially if you are solo parenting. You and your children will be able to manage the hurdles more easily if you have a routine that you can fall back on. Try focusing on meals and bedtime first

3. Maintain realistic expectations for yourself. Given the challenges you have already faced, it is okay to make mistakes and struggle with parts of family life right now.

4. Prioritize where you put your energy. Identify what parts of your life are most important to you. Is it your children, job, friendships? Put your energy into those spaces and feel okay walking away from areas that are not as fulfilling.

5. Maintain realistic expectations for your children.

Your kids have had a hard few years, as well. We have noticed that they are all about one year behind academically, socially and emotionally. While we can-

not predict the future, we expect that most children will catch up developmentally over the next few years.

6. Talk to the school.

If school has been particularly difficult, you are not alone. If you can, identify someone you trust at the school and talk to them about your child’s experience. Most teachers are overwhelmed with administrative demands right now but welcome opportunities for thoughtful and personal conversations around helping students.

7. Sleep and exercise. Both significantly improve mental health for adults and children. When life gets stressful, increasing both by just twenty minutes a day can offer just enough of an emotional lift to get you all through.

8. Connect with each other. Sometimes it feels like we are always with our children, yet we are never really with them. Spending just five minutes of focused, uninterrupted time with each child can prevent behavior problems down the line. Moreover, making sure we prioritize safe connections with people outside

of our home can boost everyone’s mood and sense of well being.

9. Count your blessings.

Identifying moments of happiness and joy is restorative and healthy for adults and children. Model being thankful for little moments, help your children identify small successes and talk about times they felt happy throughout the day. The more everyone practices, the more it will come naturally.

10. Honor your losses.

We have experienced insurmountable loss over the last few years and it is important to give

you and your family time and space to grieve. Most of us are experiencing loss on multiple levels, including the death of loved ones, missed time with friends and family and drastic changes in the way we thought our lives would look. Increased sadness, anger, and fear are to be expected and allowing space for these feelings may help you move through or alongside these emotions. We are thinking of you and your family and hope you know you are not alone.

Learn more at www.virginiafamilytherapy.com

A FAMILY SHARING quality time (Courtesy Photo)

Mind and Body Health Two Sides of the Same Wellness Coin

by Alex Russell Falls Church News-Press

A person’s physical and mental health are often thought of as being two separate realms of human wellness, but in actuality the two are inextricably linked. Maintaining both at the same time may seem like a challenge, especially in an ever-demanding and fast-paced world, but there are small steps everyone can take to support both their physical self and their emotional well-being.

Speaking with a variety of health care providers in the Falls Church area, from physical therapists to yoga practitioners, it becomes apparent how both the mind and body are sometimes in need of nurture and support for a person to feel all-around better and in control — and this self-care itself can begin in small, sometimes unexpected ways.

Britta Gilbert, a Board Certified Orthopedic Physical Therapist with Focus Physical Therapy and Wellness explained that “it doesn’t have to be super specific as far as movement, but just move: get up,

move around, do some stretches.” When a person gets their joints and muscles moving, “it’s great for our endorphins.”

Gilbert also underscored the significance of being outdoors, as there is a “huge healing benefit to human beings just being outside, just sitting outside in the sun can be really helpful.”

René Willems, owner and operator of Rembrandt Assisted Living is a Residential Assisted Living Specialist with over 30 years’ worth of experience in physical therapy. He has seen first-hand the impact of physical injury on an individual’s general sense of self.

“What is very common to see, when people come to you with an injury — something that is big enough to stop their daily, weekly routine — slowly, they get anxious about getting back. It’s very easy for anxiety to turn into depression.”

Helping a patient through the healing process, however, means establishing a consistent pace and setting realistic goals. “Break it down in little steps. For example, before you start jogging, you

have to achieve a whole range of motion, smaller, achievable goals make recovery more feasible.” And one’s mentality plays a big role throughout.

Willems says that patients often need to “shift their mindset,” as “unrealistic goals” can induce a person to give up early on in their recovery process.

Aside from a manageable path forward, the social aspect is important, too. Doing something together, — for example, an early morning walk — makes it easier to get up at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and getting the planned activity accomplished. Being with others in a group provides motivation for all and at its core, being with others even for an hour fulfills a person’s natural need for communication, socializing, and the exchange and flow of energy.

Essentially, Willems concludes that mental and physical wellbeing are at the same level of importance. Once “everything settles in” and recovery is underway, a person begins to regain control of their life, returning to one’s usual activities.

Amanda Sovik-Johnston, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Virginia Family Therapy ties in physical exercise together with emotional and mental health by outlining how improving one’s “exercise, nutrition, and sleep is the number one strategy towards helping” a person who struggles with depression or anxiety.

“Our bodies are designed to exercise regularly, eat nutritiously every three – four hours and get around eight hours of sleep. The challenge is prioritizing our physical needs when there are so many

other demands for our attention or expectations for how we should be living our lives.” She acknowledges the everyday rush of work and school schedules, as well as the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on everyone, including families.

“It is nearly impossible to get an hour of exercise every day when our kids are at home during a pandemic or we have to work a nine-hour workday. It is almost impossible for our kids

A UNICYCLIST OUT enjoying the WO&D (photo: Sue Johnson)

Wellness A Matter of Total Mind & Body Health

Continued from Page 20

to eat when their bodies are hungry when they are operating on a school schedule. The answer is to look for small improvements in sleep, nutrition and exercise where you can and that will pay you back emotionally.”

Sovik-Johnston underscores that small changes can have big results. “Fifteen minutes of hard exercise may be just enough to improve your attention, which will make you happier at work. An extra half hour of sleep may allow you to be more patient with your family, which will then improve your relationships all around.”

Dr. Gordon Theisz, of Family Medicine in Falls Church supports this with his own suggested regiment. “20 – 30 minutes a day or 40 minutes every other day of cardiovascular exercise,” like walking, running, jogging, cycling, or even swimming “is really important to improve physical and mental health. There is good evidence that this type of effort can prolong life and improve quality of life.”

Mindfulness — the state of being present and aware of one’s surroundings and inner needs — is just as key to mental and emotional health as counseling or physical exercise. It can provide a person with a sense of calm and even optimism, if practiced on a continuous basis.

Olivia Jeffers, a yoga instructor with over a decade of experience and owner of Karma Yoga, agrees that “mindfulness can often feel

like a daunting task,” and so suggests taking it “ten percent” at a time. “A little bit goes a long way. Don’t underestimate the value of a small, consistent effort.” She adds that taking a quick “gap in your day to pause in the present” allows for a longer pause next time, thereby building up one’s inner capacity for mindfulness.

This methodology, stemming from Hinduism and Buddhism, is also wellsuited to coping with stressful situations. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed by thoughts or feelings,” Jeffers suggests tuning into “your body senses by noticing five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can touch, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.” This “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” approach helps a person regain a sense of control and feel more grounded in day-to-day life.

One unexpected tool for mental and emotional health turns out to be boredom.

“A super advanced meditation technique is boredom. If you’re feeling up to the challenge…try being in flow with boredom.” For example, she says a person can try going on a “walk without any podcasts” or doing “the laundry without watching Netflix.” This in turn helps “declutter” one’s mind, too.

For those looking to try out some of these practices outside of the house, the City has a variety of local parks and trails

perfect for jogs, walks, yoga, or even just some outdoor meditation under a tree.

Cavalier Trail Park (600 S Maple Ave, Falls Church), Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave, Falls Church), Howard E. Herman Stream Valley Park (601 W Broad St, Falls Church), and Berman Park (236 Irving St, Falls Church) are some great options for outdoor activity, with a friend or on your own.

For something more in line with physical fitness, Providence Rec Center (7525 Marc Dr, Falls Church) has a fitness room that includes treadmills,

elliptical trainers, and bikes, as well as free weight equipment, a variety of strength training machines, and an indoor pool. The Falls Church City Community Center (the Kenneth R. Burnett Building at 223 Little Falls St, Falls Church) includes a full-size gymnasium with a basketball, volleyball, and shuffleboard court.

To learn more about the City’s parks, visit fallschurchva.gov/511/parks. To find out more about Providence Rec Center, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/reccenter/ providence. To learn more about the Falls Church Community Center, visit fallschurchva. gov/508/community-center.

Mental Health Disorders Are Surging in the Adolescent Age Bracket

by Matt Richtel New York Times

On a rainy Thursday evening last spring, a 15-year-old girl was rushed by her parents to the emergency department at Boston Children’s Hospital. She had marks on both wrists from self-harm and a recent suicide attempt, and earlier that day she confided to her pediatrician that she planned to try again.

At the ER, a doctor examined her and explained to her parents that she was not safe to go home.

“But I need to be honest with you about what’s likely to unfold,” the doctor added. The best place for adolescents in distress was not a hospital but an inpatient treatment center, where individual and group therapy would be provided in a calmer, communal setting, to stabilize the teens and ease them back to real life. But there were no openings in any of the treatment centers in the region, the doctor said.

Indeed, 15 other adolescents — all in precarious mental condition — were already housed in the hospital’s emergency department, sleeping in exam rooms night after night, wait-

ing for an opening. The average wait for a spot in a treatment program was 10 days.

The girl and her family resigned themselves to a stay in the emergency room while she waited. But nearly a month went by before an inpatient bed opened up.

The girl, being identified by her middle initial, G, to protect her privacy, spent the first week of her wait in a “psych-safe” room in the emergency department. Any equipment that might be used for harm had been removed. Her door was kept open night and day so she could be monitored.

It was “padded, insane-asylumlike,” she recalled recently. “Just walls — all you see is walls.”

She grew “catatonic,” her mother recalled. “In this process of boarding we broke her worse than ever.”

Mental health disorders are surging among adolescents: In 2019, 13 percent of adolescents reported having a major depressive episode, a 60 percent increase from 2007. Suicide rates, stable from 2000 to 2007, leaped nearly 60 percent by 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Across the country, hospital emergency departments have become boarding wards for teenagers who pose too great a risk to themselves or others to go home. They have nowhere else to go; even as the crisis has intensified, the medical system has failed to keep up, and options for inpatient and intensive outpatient psychiatric treatment have eroded sharply.

Nationally, the number of residential treatment facilities for people under age 18 fell to 592 in 2020 from 848 in 2012, a 30 percent decline, according to the most recent federal government survey. The decline is partly a result of well-intentioned policy changes that did not foresee a surge in mental-health cases. Socialdistancing rules and labor shortages during the pandemic have eliminated additional treatment centers and beds, experts say.

Absent that option, emergency rooms have taken up the slack. A recent study of 88 pediatric hospitals around the country found that 87 of them regularly board children and adolescents overnight in the ER. On average, any given hospital saw four boarders per day, with an average

stay of 48 hours.

“There is a pediatric pandemic of mental health boarding,” said Dr. JoAnna K. Leyenaar, a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the study’s lead author. She extrapolated from her research and other data to estimate that at least 1,000 young people, and perhaps as many as 5,000, board each night in the nation’s 4,000 emergency departments.

“We have a national crisis,” Leyenaar said.

This trend runs far afoul of the recommended best practices estab-

lished by the Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that helps set national health care policy. According to the standard, adolescents who come to the ER for mental health reasons should stay there no longer than four hours, as an extended stay can risk patient safety, delay treatment and divert resources from other emergencies.

Yet in 2021, the average adolescent boarding in the ER at Boston Children’s Hospital spent nine days waiting for an inpatient bed, up

Before & After

As a dentist and prosthodontist my specialty is in the esthetic and functional rehabilitation of the entire mouth. Whether from decay, accidents, or cancer, I can correct those issues through the use of dental implants, surgical procedures, dentures and orthodontics. I correct problems with the jaw and align the teeth to create an even bite. When needed I will coordinate a treatment plan involving a team of highly specialized dental/medical practitioners from the greater Metro Area. I also care for your entire family’s oral needs, from cleanings to llings and look forward to having you join our dental family.

DR PETERSON HUANG, DMD, MS, FACP

Dr. Peterson Huang is a Dual Board Certi ed Prosthodonitst, dedicating 11 years to honing his craft.  He grew up in Vancouver, Canada. After obtaining his dental degree from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, he received his Certi cate of Specialist in Prosthodontics and a Master of Science from the University of Maryland, where he is a Clinical Assistant Professor on the Dean’s Faculty. Dr. Huang is also a sta member in the Department of Surgery, INOVA Fairfax Hospital and is a member of the Tumor Board as well. Dr. Huang lives in Falls Church, where he also has established his dental practice.

313 Park Ave., #306, Falls Church, VA 22046 novapremierdental.com

AN ADOLESCENT DEALING with school stress. (Courtesy Photo)

Drs. Christopher & Favagehi

Falls Church Periodontics & Dental Implant Surgery

What is a periodontist and when should you see a periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases and in the surgical placement of dental implants. Periodontists go to school for a minimum of 11 years after high school: 4 years of college + 4 years of dental school + 3 years of specialty training. To qualify for the heavily science based curricula, many periodontal residency programs require additional science based education and research as part of a Master of Science or PhD degree. Patients are typically referred by their dentists to see periodontists for treatment of problems due to periodontal diseases (for regeneration of bone around teeth), receding gums (gum grafts), missing teeth (implants), or for surgical procedures that allow for proper tooth restoration or issues related to orthodontics. Periodontics is a surgical specialty with non-surgical and minimally invasive components.

Do I need a referral to see a periodontist?

Periodontists encourage a team-work approach for your dental care and most patients are referred by their dentists. However, a referral is not required to see a periodontist.

About our practice

Our practice was established in Falls Church city over 20 years ago by Drs. Christopher and Favagehi. Over the years, we have renovated and modernized our practice 3 times, and purchased the Falls Church periodontal practices of Dr. John J. Armstrong, and Dr. Charles M. Deutsch. We have been voted as the “BEST” or “TOP” Periodontists in surveys of local dental colleagues conducted by the Washingtonian, Northern Virginia Magazine, Virginia Living and also patient surveys by Angie’s List. Dr. Christopher and Favagehi have been involved in dental education as part time faculty at VCU and University of Maryland. Both doctors have been invited to make presentations at many regional, national and international conferences including many annual meetings of the American Academy of Periodontology. Both Dr. Christopher and Favagehi have received certification in periodontology and implant surgery by the American Board of Periodontology.

Dr. Lourdes Ann Christopher

Dr. Christopher is board certified in periodontology and implant surgery by the American Board of Periodontology. Originally from Chicago, Dr. Christopher received her undergraduate and dental education at Wellesley College and University of IllinoisChicago. She received her Periodontics specialty training and MS degree at Ohio State University. Her research involved PCR (DNA finger printing) of bacteria and dental inflammation around implants. Her professional experiences include serving in the US Public Health Service as a commissioned officer and teaching at 4 different dental schools. She's regarded as a gum graft guru by many periodontists and has presented her work at many dental conferences including 4 of the last 10 annual meetings of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Dr. Mehrdad Favagehi

Like his partner, and wife, Dr. Christopher, Dr. Favagehi is also board certified in periodontology and implant surgery by the American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Favagehi grew up in Iran, Switzerland and California. He received his BS in Biology at George Mason University and DDS from the Medical College of Virginia (VCU Dental School) in 1994. He completed his periodontics specialty training and earned an MS degree in Oral Biology at Ohio State University. He has been a faculty member at VCU school of Dentistry since 1998 and has received a Teaching and Mentorship award from the American Academy of Periodontology. He is a director of the Osseointegration Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of the Academy of Osseointegration newsletter. The osseointegration foundation is a philanthropic arm of the Academy of Osseointegration, the world’s premier dental implant organization. 313 Park Avenue, Suite 103, Falls Church, VA 22046 (703) 237-3700 • www.DrPerio.com

Services Shrink As Needs Are Growing For Adolesents

Continued from Page

from three and a half days in 2019; at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora in 2021, the average wait was eight days, and at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, it was six.

Doctors and hospital officials emphasize that adolescents should absolutely continue to come to the ER in a psychiatric emergency. Still, many emergency room doctors and nurses, trained to treat broken bones, pneumonia and other corporeal challenges, said the ideal solution was more preventive care and community treatment programs.

“Frankly speaking, the ER is one of the worst places for a kid in mental health crisis to be,” said Dr. Kevin Carney, a pediatric emergency room doctor at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “I feel at a loss for how to help these kids.”

The challenge was evident one day in late February when Carney arrived for his shift at 3 p.m. The children’s hospital has 50 exam rooms in its emergency department, which fill with patients who have gone through an initial screening

and need further evaluation. By midafternoon, 43 of the rooms were full, 17 of them with mental health cases.

“It’s breathtaking,” Carney said as he stood in the hallway. “Forty percent.”

On clocking in, Carney had inherited a block of 10 exam rooms from a doctor who was clocking out.

“Seven are mental health issues,” Carney said. “Six are suicidal. Three of them made attempts.”

Throughout the day, staff members at the hospital had called eight inpatient facilities in the region, looking for available slots in treatment centers where the 10 young boarders, as well as 17 other adolescents boarding at three smaller Colorado Children’s Hospital campuses around the state, could be placed.

Colorado is struggling with the same shortage of services that has hit hospitals nationwide. The state has lost 1,000 residential beds serving various adolescent populations since 2012, according to Heidi Baskfield, vice president of population health and advocacy for Children’s Hospital Colorado.

The emergency department “is just a collection of rooms where patients are expected to stay in their rooms and comply with rules,” said Lyndsay Gaffey, director of patient care services at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In the inpatient ward, she said, the aim instead was to stabilize patients by having them work through trauma, receive therapy and interact with peers.

For adolescents like G, who stayed in the emergency room of Boston Children’s Hospital last spring, the experience can be wrenching.

G lives in a Boston suburb with a teenage brother, father and mother. The family has a history of anxiety and depression, the mother said, but G had been a happy and adventurous child. In middle school she started talking back and acting somewhat obsessively, behavior that her mother figured was typical for a teenager.

What G’s mother did not know was that her daughter had been cutting herself for two years, since seventh grade, before the pandemic began.

As the pandemic set in, G with-

drew, and her grades fell. “Then came April 29,” her mother said. “We had a life before April 29 and a life after April 29.”

That day, she picked up G at school for a routine visit to the pediatrician. As G got into the car, her mother saw the marks on her wrists.

At the emergency room, G told the medical team she had tried to overdose a few weeks earlier and had regretted the next morning that she was still alive.

Admitting to her pain and selfharm provided her “with kind of a little bit of relief,” she said. “After two years of cutting and trying to kill myself, I was finally going to get some help. But I didn’t really get help.”

Dr. Patricia Ibeziako, a child psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital, said that adolescents do, in fact, receive some treatment while boarding in the emergency department, including basic counsel aimed at “crisis stabilization” that is “all geared to safety.”

“Boarding is not a great thing, but it’s still care,” Ibeziako said. “We’re not just putting a kid in a bed.”

Finally, 29 days after G arrived, a bed was located for her at an inpatient facility in an outlying suburb. She spent a week there but did not find the experience all that helpful.

“We learned the same coping skills over and over,” she said.

In the fall, she told a counselor at school that she planned to kill herself; she was quickly readmitted to the same inpatient unit, given priority as a former patient, and spent two weeks there. When her stay ended, G went into an intensive outpatient program. But a counselor there told her mother that G needed more intensive care because she had described a plan to kill herself.

“They told me, ‘This kid is on fire; she’s too acute to be here,’” G’s mother recalled. This time, the family went to the emergency room at a different Boston-area hospital, Salem Hospital, where G boarded only one night and, this time, was lucky to get a bed in that hospital’s inpatient unit, where she spent three weeks, until mid-October.

G’s mood these days is “better than it was, but it still sucks,” she said recently. And, she added, “I’m better at covering things up more.”

Drs. Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children. We have created a warm, caring environment that allows our patients to feel comfortable and safe. We take time to listen to our patients so that we can truly understand their individual needs and goals for their dental health.

Both doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years. We are proud to have served the community in ways beyond dental care.

New patients are warmly welcomed in our practice. Dr. Love and Dr. Miller along with our amazing staff are grateful for the trust and support shown by the Falls Church community.

We are appreciative of our patients’ continued con dence in our ability to maintain proper safety measures, allowing us to care for their dental health.

Skin Cancer Awareness: How to Practice Sun Safety this Summer

by Matti Ben-Lev

It’s May and summer is nearly upon us. I can already feel the sand beneath my feet, hear the waves crashing and smell the fresh saltwater in the air. If you’re anything like myself, you spend all year waiting for summer. But unfortunately, with the summer sun comes some potential hazards.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness

Month and what better time to discuss skin cancer than heading into what is expected to be our hottest summer yet. We hear a lot about different types of cancer, but did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States? According to the CDC, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. While skin cancer is not often thought to be as fatal as other cancers, it can still be quite harmful and certain types can be fatal when not addressed quickly enough.

Part of what makes skin cancer so alarming is that anyone can get it, although some people are more predisposed than others. People that have light skin, freckle easily, have blonde or red hair, and have a large

number of moles are at a greater risk for developing skin cancer. Those who have a family or personal history with skin cancer are also at a greater risk. So if that describes you, it might be wise to take some precautions this summer.

The reason that just about anyone can develop skin cancer is because it is caused by the ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun. Other common UV ray sources include tanning beds and sun lamps. Overexposure to UV rays causes damage to our skin cells (which produces sunburns). Repeated damage to skin cells can lead to premature skin aging and cancer.

That all being said, there is no need to panic— there are some easy ways to practice sun safety and have fun this summer. Using broad spectrum sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher is one of the most effective ways to prevent damage to skin cells, as it blocks UVA and UVB rays, which are both emitted by the sun and can both be harmful. So make sure that the sunscreen you use this summer has the words “broad spectrum” on the label. Another easy way to prevent skin cell damage is

to check the UV index if you plan to be outside for an extended period of time that day. You can easily find access to the UV index each day on the EPA website (epa.gov). If the UV index is 3 or higher, make sure to cover up, stay in the shade and use lots of sunscreen. Additionally, you may want to consider limiting your tanning, especially using indoor tanning beds. Remember that what is commonly called a “base tan” is usually a sign of skin damage!

It is also wise to regularly check yourself for any new moles, bumps or skin irritation that seems irregular. If you see any of those signs on yourself, or if you are in doubt, you should make sure to address it with your doctor. While the most common type of skin cancer, non-melanoma, can usually be cured, it can be very expensive to address and can leave you with some ugly scars. If treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers is delayed, it can spread and become much more dangerous. Some signs of non-melanoma include bumps, sores, raised growths, warts and tough skin. Melanoma, on the other hand, can advance very fast and can even spread to other organs. Most

of the skin cancer deaths that occur result from melanoma. The most common sign of melanoma is an irregularly shaped or colored mole. If in doubt about a suspicious mole, the smart move is to get yourself checked.

If this is a topic of importance to you, there are some easy ways to get involved. You can access the Skin Cancer foundation by going to skincancer.org. On their website you can make donations and find opportunities to volunteer. The Skin Cancer Foundation is also hosting the #SkinCheckChallenge this month, which implores you to check your skin from head to toe, create a

social media post with the hashtag “#SkinCheckChallenge,” and tag 2 friends. Their mission is to raise awareness about skin cancer and motivate others to perform these checks themselves.

To wrap up: when you’re outside enjoying the sun this summer, make sure to take the necessary precautions. Check the UV index if you plan to spend the day outside and practice sun safety accordingly. Ensure that you use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Report any unusual skin marks to your doctor. Let’s have our best summer yet! For more information on skin cancer, you can visit cdc.gov.

May is Stroke Awareness Month in F.C. and Everywhere

by Suzanne Coyle Executive Director, Stroke Comeback Center

Falls Church City Council recently issued a proclamation in support of Virginia’s Stroke Smart City campaign. This important state-wide initiative strives to improve awareness of the signs and symptoms of strokes, the recognition of strokes as medical emergencies, and the importance of immediately calling 911 when a symptom of stroke occurs.

Someone in the United States experiences a stroke every 40 seconds. It is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Despite the high rate of stroke, many Americans know little about this medical emergency.

You can learn to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of stroke with the acronym FAST: F - FACE - drooping on one side of the face or an uneven smile,

A - ARMS - sudden weakness or numbness in one arm, S - SPEECH - slurred speech or difficulty using the correct word or thinking of words,

T - TIME - if you notice any of these symptoms, immediately call 911.

Additional warning signs and symptoms include severe headache, confusion, or a sudden change in balance or vision. If a person experiences even one symptom of a stroke, it is important to immediately call 911. Do not wait. Calling 911 allows first responders to begin life-saving treatment before arriving at the hospital.

Immediate medical treatment is essential to minimize the longterm effects of stroke and potentially prevent death. Patients who arrive at the emergency room within three to four hours of the onset of symptoms have the best access to life-saving treatments and better long-term outcomes.

What exactly is a Stroke?

A stroke is an interruption to the blood supply in the brain for any period of time. Ischemic strokes occur when a blood vessel becomes blocked, stopping the flow of blood to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel ruptures, causing

We can see patients within 24-48 hours and we accept most insurance, including Medicaid, Medicare at most clinics.

STROKE SURVIVOR holding her chest in pain. (Courtesy Photo)

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Supporting the well-being of our residents is what we do best! Live the healthy, well-balanced life you love. Join our family and experience

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May is Stroke Awareness Month, Learn Key Signs

Continued on Page 27

a blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain.

A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA or “mini-stroke”) is a temporary blockage of a blood vessel in the brain. Since it does not cause permanent damage they are often ignored. A TIA is a serious medical emergency. Someone who experiences a TIA is ten times more likely to have a major stroke. It is a warning sign that should be carefully addressed by survivors and their physicians.

While stroke risk increases with age, strokes can — and do — happen at any age. Strokes occur in both men and women and all race/ethnic groups. While some risk factors are out of our control, 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

Stroke Prevention

Stroke prevention begins with a healthy lifestyle. You can minimize your risk of stroke by not smoking or using tobacco products, maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol,

and controlling diabetes. Nearly one in four strokes occur in individuals who have had a previous stroke. It is essential for stroke survivors to work closely with their physicians to minimize the risk of future strokes.

Stroke Recovery Recovery from a stroke is possible and can continue for as long as the survivor has

access to meaningful, therapeutic services. Rehabilitation with physical, occupational, and speech therapy may begin in the hospital and continue once a survivor returns home with outpatient therapy at a local hospital or clinic. However, the potential for continued recovery often extends far beyond what is covered by traditional health

insurance.

For survivors in the greater Washington, DC area, the nonprofit organization Stroke Comeback Center provides affordable, ongoing services for stroke survivors and their families throughout their recoveries. Programs are offered at centers in Vienna, Virginia and Rockville, Maryland as well as

the Virtual Stroke Comeback Center. Small group classes address communication, cognitive, and physical changes that can occur as the result of stroke or other brain trauma. Survivors are able to join these programs at any point in their recovery and, most importantly, regardless of their ability to pay for these services.

STROKE COMEBACK CENTER members and families celebrate every birthday, including stroke survivor Herb Moss’s 90TH!

(photo: Suzanne Coyle)

FALLS CHURCH CITY RESIDENT Nancy Rizzo enjoys her weekly art class led by fellow stroke survivor, Kim Dyer.

(photo: Suzanne Coyle)

May is Stroke Awareness Month

therapeutic programs that allow them to live active, healthy, and productive lives. To not only survive — but to thrive.

As many as one-third of stroke survivors have aphasia — a disorder that can impact all aspects of language but does not impact intelligence. Stroke Comeback Center’s core programs address language skills and strategies to improve communication and the survivor’s ability to actively participate in life.

Stroke Comeback Center’s program participants, families, and professionals know that recovery can continue indefinitely with support and determination. They believe that all survivors should have access to the ongoing

Stroke Comeback Center is proudly hosting Thriving with Aphasia, a celebration of the many ways survivors thrive. This celebration will be held at the State Theatre in Falls Church City on Thursday, June 30, 2022. You can learn more about Stroke Comeback Center’s programs and Thriving with Aphasia on their website, strokecomebackcenter.org.

Suzanne Coyle, Executive Director, Stroke Comeback Center. info@strokecomebackcenter.org. 703-255-5221. strokecomebackcenter.org

Back School to

If your child is entering 7th grade they must have the Meningitis, HPV, and Tdap vaccines in order to enroll. Talk to your doctor and vaccinate them now!

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Small Business Grants Close May 13

The City of Falls Church Economic Development Office is now offering a final round of small business grants with updated eligibility requirements. The application will be open until May 13th. Eligible businesses and non-profit organizations may apply for a grant of $5,000 from the City of Falls Church American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund to use for Covid-19 related expenses. Businesses and non-profits may now be eligible if they previously received city, state, or federal financial assistance including Economic Development Authority (EDA) micro grants or PPP loans. The $5,000 grant must be used for expenses directly related to the impacts of Covid-19 such as rent or mortgage payments, retaining and/or supporting employees, restoring financial resiliency, increasing technology capacity to enable alternative work forms, and more! To apply for a grant, visit fallschurchva.gov/Grants.

West Falls Church on track for $1.2 billion transformation

This month, developers are set to break ground on the first of three mixed-use projects near the West Falls Church Metro Station with an investment of about $1.2 billion. Altogether, these pieces will pull together 40 acres of land into an area of more than 3.2 million square feet of residential, business and play space. The plan is designed to ease traffic, increase pedestrian safety and boost the economies of Falls Church and Fairfax County. A presentation in 2020 estimated the projects could generate 3,600 jobs and up to $17.5 million in annual state taxes.

CACT Invites Participation on Transportation Issues

The Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation (CACT) recently welcomed 50 participants in a joint meeting with the Environmental Sustainability Council where they heard from transportation professionals on how Montgomery County and Washington, DC. have ramped up the installation of bike lanes and other infrastructure. CACT is tasked to make recommendations to the City Manager on traffic calming, Traffic Impact Studies for development proposals and make policy recommendations on transportation-related issues. The community is invited to join these conversations on the second Wednesday of each month virtually. The meeting information is available on the City website, http://fallschurchva.gov/cact.

Dog Bars – The New Social Club

A new trend has popped up, dog bars, which is a cross between a dog park and beer garden with an array of variations. Several successful dog bars were highlighted, like Bark Social in North Bethesda, and Barkhaus in Alexandria which features a restaurant. A new one, Snouts and Stouts, is plans to open in Alexandria’s West End this summer. Annual and monthly memberships as well as day passes are offered while dog lovers without dogs can enter all three at no charge. All animals must provide proof of vaccination, according to the Washingtonian article. Both Barkhaus and Bark Social are in expansion mode. Washingtonian Magazine reports that Barkhaus’s cofounder, Alex Benbassat, and his business partner are reportedly looking at Falls Church for a new location.

GDIT Secures $89M EPA Contract for Supercomputing Support

General Dynamics’ Information Technology (GDIT), the Falls Church-based unit, has received a potential sevenyear, $89.5 million award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Under the High-End Scientific Computing II Support Services task order, GDIT is expected to offer technical assistance for scientific computing activities such as the agency’s high-performance computing environment. Vice president Kevin Connell explained that this new order offers the “scientific computing experts and the company’s HPC Center of Excellence the opportunity to meaningfully advance EPA’s critical mission.”

Metro Announces Next General Manager and CEO

The board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which runs Metrorail and Metrobus, announced Tuesday that Randy Clarke will assume the position of general manager and CEO in late summer. Clarke is currently president and CEO of Austin, Texas’ Capital Metro. Metro’s current general manager and CEO, Paul J. Wiedefeld, announced in January that he would retire June 30 after six years with Metro. This comes as Metro efforts are underway with three mixed-use projects near the West Falls Church station that will comprise more than 3.2 million square feet. In April, WMATA released its first-ever strategic plan for joint development that includes creating 26,000 housing units in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

 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@fallschcurchchamber.org.

Community News Notes

McLean Art Society

Sponsoring 3-Day Exhibit

The McLean Art Society will be sponsoring a 3-day art exhibit and sale entitled “ART A FAIR,” fea turing original work in a variety of styles and themes. Many exhibi tors are award winning artists. The opening reception is set for Friday, May 13, from 5 — 8 p.m. at Walker Chapel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall (4102 N. Globe Rd, Arlington). The show continues on Saturday, May 14, between the hours of 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. and on Sunday, May 15, between 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. For more information, call 703-5385200. The McLean Art Society can be found at mcleanartsociety.org.

Black + White Art Show

Opening May 14

Falls Church Arts Gallery is introducing “Black + White,” a new exhibit opening on Saturday, May 14 and running through Sunday, June 26. Featuring forty-four emerging and established artists, the work in this show — whether it is digital collage, traditional paint, pen and ink, or something else — will pre dominantly consist of black, white, and gray color schemes. A Juror’s Choice Award for $100 was awarded to Rosa Vera’s “The Jigsaw Players.”

A People’s Choice award ($50) will be announced at the end of the show based on visitor feedback. The F.C. Arts Gallery is located at 700-B West Broad St. (off Route 7), Falls Church and is open Tuesdays — Fridays, 11 a.m. — 6 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. — 4 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. Admission is free. There will also be an online version of this exhibit at fallschurcharts.org/blackwhite. The awards were made possible by a donation from Cuates Grill (502 W. Broad St, #5, Falls Church).

Solarize VA Helps Residents with Solar Power

Adding solar power to a home has become easier and more affordable, due in part to initiatives like Solarize NOVA, a program that reduces the cost and complexity of going solar by providing a one-stop shop for education and installation. Interested participants can also sign up to join an upcoming virtual infor-

with live music, casino games, silent and live auctions, food and drinks, and more. The auction will feature a variety of items, many of them donated from local Falls Church businesses (local delivery only for those items won by virtual attendees). Bidding will begin on Friday, May 13 at 12 p.m., a week before the in-person Gala and Auction. For more information and details on the event, visit fcedf.org.

McLean Day: Celebrating Our Hometown Set for May 21

Local businesses, organizations and artisans will have a unique chance to attract new customers and show their community spirit by participating in McLean Day 2022 this

CONGRESSMAN DON BEYER’S SIXTH ANNUAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE, which took place this past Saturday at George Mason University’s Arlington Campus, featured a panel discussion with Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Jamie Lockhart, Tahirih Justice Center CEO Archi Pyati, and Alexandria Health Department Deputy Director Dr. Anne Gaddy. Rep. Beyer presented the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award to Dr. Tahera Ahmadi, saying that she had shown “remarkable resilience in the face of hardship few of us can imagine, and through it all she has remained committed to working for a better world.” (Courtesy photo.)

Rd, McLean. Admission is free for patrons; the cost of exhibitor booths varies. Exhibitor spaces are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; several sponsorship opportunities are also available. Produced by the McLean Community Center (MCC), McLean Day draws people from all areas of the DMV for carnival rides, gourmet food trucks, games, and other family-friendly activities. Visit mcleancenter.org/special-events for information or call the MCC at 703790-0123. The McLean Community Center is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean.

New Falls Church Arts Show Calls for Entries

F.C. Arts is inviting community

in the work, conveying juror results to their collaborator, dropping off and picking up work and equitable distribution of any proceeds to their collaborator. Deadline for submissions is Sunday, June 5. “Collab: Conversations in Art,” spotlighting a variety of media and styles, will begin Saturday, July 2 and end on Sunday, Aug. 14. F.C. Arts Gallery (700-B W. Broad St, Falls Church). Visit fallschurcharts.org/collab-conversations-in-art-call-for-entries for more details.

St. James Catholic Church to Hold St. Lucy Food Drive

To help families living on the margin cope with rising inflation and gas prices, the Social Outreach

rest. Food items needed: rice and dried beans; canned fruit; canned meat; cooking oil, flour; sugar; pasta; shelf stable milk; jam and jelly; canned veggies; and other dry and non-perishable goods. Hygiene items needed: shampoo; liquid dish soap; bars of soap; deodorant; toothbrushes and toothpaste; laundry detergent; and other everyday hygiene items. St. James asks that donations not include trial or economy size items and that food and hygiene donations be separated before drop-off.

VPIS and Brown’s Hardware

Join Forces for RainSmart

Brown’s Hardware and the RainSmart Program are teaming up to offer rain barrels at a discount to

help residents fight stormwater and reduce flooding in the City of Falls Church. Brown’s Hardware is selling rain barrels, normally priced at $125, for $105. Residents are eligible to apply for a grant from the RainSmart program for $50 for each of up to two rain barrels, bringing the price of a barrel down to $55.

The RainSmart program is managed by the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and is intended to help residents implement practices that help rainwater soak into the ground where it falls to prevent local flooding and to protect water quality locally and in the wider Chesapeake Bay watershed. Applications for rain barrel grants will be considered on a continuing basis until available funds for the year are committed. For more information about the RainSmart Program and for rain barrel applications, visit vpis.org/environment/ rainsmart-program.

Support for the People of Ukraine Via UMCOR

The United Methodist community in Ukraine is actively engaging in assisting families in need. Contributing to this United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) fund will help provide

direct assistance to Ukrainians who are fleeing to neighboring countries as a result of the war. With UMCOR, 100 percent of all contributions will go directly towards this effort. Visit ccumc.churchcenter.com/giving/ to/umcor-ukraine to contribute; for more information, email office@ christcrossman.org or call 703-5324026. Visit umcmission.org/umcor to learn more about UMCOR.

The FCCPS Equity Observer Online Newsletter

The Falls Church City Public Schools’ monthly Equity Observer newsletter, put together by Dr. Jennifer Santiago, Director of Equity and Excellence for FCCPS, is a detailed source of information for parents and guardians on a variety of topics, including the various religious holidays celebrated by F.C. residents — recently, those have been Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and Orthodox Easter.

FCCPS seeks to support teachers and staff with different resources in the Equity Observer newsletter. Throughout last month, Arab American Heritage Month and Neurodiversity Acceptance Month were celebrated to further support visibility and equity for both groups. May is Jewish American Heritage

Month and Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To learn more about FCCPS’ diversity and inclusion policies, visit fccps.org/ page/equity-diversity-inclusion.

Seasonal Teas at Cherry Hill Farm

Cherry Hill Historic Farm offers teas on or around select holidays in the early afternoon. These seasonal teas begin in the formal parlor, after which guests are led into the dining room. The tea program includes sandwiches, assorted sweets, warm scones, and a bottomless cup of tea. Other, special-themed talks and tea are also offered. Registration is required; the cost of the tea is $35 per person and includes a tour of the 1845 farmhouse. Visit cherryhillfallschurch.org/teas or call 703-2485171 for more information.

Thursdays Farmers Market Returns to Mosaic

Locally grown fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats and pastured eggs, dairy products, sweet and savory baked goods, cold-pressed juices, coffee, ice cream, handmade dog treats, and other items can now be found on Thursdays from 3 — 8 p.m., running through the month of

wearing and social distancing is encouraged for both vendors and visitors. Unvaccinated customers are required to wear a mask while visiting. Visit mosaicdistrict.com/events/ event/freshfarm-farmers-market for more information about the Farmers Markets.

Issue Date May 26, 2022 SPACE RESERVATION: Reserve by 5/16 for Early Discount To Appear In this Section: Call: Sue Johnson • sjohnson@fcnp.com • 703-587-1282 Memorial Day is almost here! Monday, May 30, 2022

Memorial Day Parade Program 2022

FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR

FCNP Featured event International Nurses' Day Thursday, May 12th

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, MAY 12

Networking Breakfast. An informal gathering hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for members at The Original Pancake House (7395 Lee Highway.) 8:30 — 9:30 a.m.

Rare Books, Prints, and Autographs. Quinn’s Auction Galleries presents an online auction of rare books, maps, and Americana. Visit quinnsauction. hibid.com/catalog/364673 for more information. 2 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Sensory Story Time. A sensoryfriendly storytime at Thomas Jefferson Library. For ages 1 — 3. Register at librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov. (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 10:30 — 11:30 a.m.

F.C. Arts Academic Drawing. Part of an on-going class on basic academic drawing, led by Iryna Smitchkova. $220 per student, supplies included. Register at fallschurcharts.org/classes. F.C. Arts Gallery (700-B W. Broad St, Falls Church). 2 — 3:30 p.m.

Chess Club for Kids. Each meeting involves chess instruction and

practice games. For kids ages 6 — 13. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 4:30 — 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Farmers Market. Every Saturday, the F.C. Farmers Market features fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers, and more. Covid-19 guidelines will be observed. (300 Park Ave, Falls Church). 8 a.m. — 12 p.m.

Plein Air Watercolor Painting. Led by Rajendra KC. All levels. $200 per participant; register online at fallschurcharts.org/classes. F.C. Arts Gallery (700-B W. Broad St, Falls Church). 10 a.m. — 12 p.m. and 1 — 3 p.m.

Sing Books with Emily. A singing storytime with Emily Gleichenhaus, with picture books for children of all ages accompanied by Emily's Symphony of Silly Instruments including ukulele, glockenspiel and kazoo. Register at mrspl.librarycalendar.com. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church). 11 — 11:30 a.m.

Black + White Exhibition. Featuring art done predominantly in black, white, and gray, this new Falls Church Arts exhibit will include

paintings, drawings, and sculpture. F.C. Arts Gallery (700-B W. Broad St, Falls Church). Open Wednesday — Saturday, 11 a.m. — 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.

Kids in the Kitchen: Making Healthy Snacks. An interactive experience designed to engage kids ages 3 — 8 in learning healthy eating habits and basic cooking skills. Register at librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 11 — 11:30 a.m.

Stormwater Management With Landscaping. Extension Master Gardener Amy Crumpton will cover conservation landscaping, plant selection and other ways homeowners can manage stormwater. Call 703-248-5030 for information. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave). 1:30 — 2:30 p.m.

Celebrate Traditional Chinese Culture. Woodrow Wilson Library invites all to celebrate Chinese culture in commemoration of AsianPacific American Heritage Month, featuring tea, candies, and traditional hard pillows. (6101 Knollwood Dr, Falls Church.) Register at librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov. 2 — 3 p.m.

Land That Job: Write to Influence.

Author Colonel Carla Bass, USAF (Ret) will visit Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library to explore resume writing. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) 3 — 4 p.m.

1953, when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower asking him to officially proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. Her idea did not become a reality until much later, when the International Council of Nurses began observing the holiday in 1965. May 12 is a fitting choice as it also marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. International Nurses' Day continues to remind everyone of the important work carried out by nurses year-round across the country and the world.

F.C. Little League’s Adult Home Run Derby. Fall Church Little League presents its Adult Home Run Derby and Hit-A-Thon at Westgate Elementary School (7500 Magarity Rd, Falls Church). For details and to register, visit fckll.org. Begins at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 15

NOVA Central Farm Markets. Yearround market featuring meat, produce, baked goods, dairy and other finds. Visit nova.centralfarmmarkets. com for information. (543 Beulah Road, Vienna.) 9 a.m. — 1 p.m.

Teen Volunteer Ice Cream Social. A celebration for Mary Riley Styles Public Library teen volunteers. (120 N. Virginia Ave, Falls Church.) Register at mrspl.librarycalendar. com. 1 — 3 p.m.

F.C. Arts Abstract Painting Class. Part of a continuing summer class led by Bryan Jernigan. All levels. $250 per student. Register at fallschurcharts.

org/classes. F.C. Arts Gallery (700-B W. Broad St, Falls Church). 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 16

Maker Mondays. Kids will create with Legos, Keva Planks, Squigz and more. Materials provided. Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 5 — 6 p.m.

Sight Words Bingo. Weekly bingo for school-age children. Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 5:30 — 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

Early Release Wednesday: Bottle Gardening. Mary Riley Styles Public Library will host a craft session using recycled plastic bottles to make selfwatering planters and composting containers. Register at mrspl.librarycalendar.com. (120 N. Virginia Ave, Falls Church.) 3:30 — 4:30 p.m.

THIS STRIKING PIECE, entitled "Holocaust Memorial Series Triptych" is just one of the many pieces visitors will find at the Falls Church Arts Gallery's "BLACK + WHITE" exhibition, running now through Sunday, June 26. (Photo: courtesy Hernan Murno).

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Sotê-Modell Trio. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-532-9283.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Gerry Timlin. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-534-8999.

Najee. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Britton James. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.

SUNDAY, MAY 15

Honky Tonk Cassanovas. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.

THURSDAY, MAY 12

Into the Woods. Taking from the stories and characters found within the Grimm fairy tale pantheon, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim craft a witty, magical musical full of drama, humor and surprises. Among the cast of characters are Cinderella and Jack, with the mysterious woods providing the backdrop to a host of misadventures and entangled consequences. Directed by Helen Hayes Award-winning director Matt Conner. Presented by Creative Cauldron; sponsored by Mark Werblood, Esq., Attorney at Law. “Into the Woods” will run from now — Sunday, May 29, with shows on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. Creative Cauldron is located at 410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church. Call 703-436-9948 or visit creativecauldron.org for information and for tickets.

FRIDAY, MAY 13

The Upstairs Department. Chelsea Marcantel, author of "Airness" and

American Crush. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

After 7. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Tommy Lepson & Bad Dawgs. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

MONDAY, MAY 16

Tyler Ramsey with Marian Hunter. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

John 5 with the Haxans. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

Open Mic Night with Vernon Santmyer. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

LIVE MUSIC THEATER & ARTS

"Everything is Wonderful," presents a moving story that takes the audience on a journey highlighting the strong bonds of familial love, the limits of cynicism, and the wonder of the unexplainable. The "Upstairs Department" centers on Luke who, after a serious illness, wakes up with the power to communicate with the dead. He and his skeptic sister set out to test his paranormal talent and soon the pair ends up summoning more than just voices from the afterlife. The show runs through June 12, with performances on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. Directed by Holly Twyford. Produced by Signature Theatre, located at 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org for more information and tickets.

James Taylor’s 1979 Central Park Concert Revisited. The Alden at the McLean Community Center (MCC) is set to feature musicians Lee Lessack and Johnny Rodgers for a special performance of “Live in Central Park

Revisited: James Taylor,” a concert based on Taylor’s iconic 1979 con-

TUESDAY, MAY 17

David Foster. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $115. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Exit 245. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Irish Music Session. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-534-8999.

Open Mic with Josh & Andy. Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

Victor Wooten with Steve Bailey & Gregg Bissonette. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Yam Haus with Merci. Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Open Mic Night with Bob & Martha. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

cert in New York City's Central Park. The show will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 13. The Alden is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean. For information, visit aldentheatre.org or call 703-790-0123. The Alden follows all current local Covid-19 health and safety guidelines.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Shear Madness. Set in present-day Georgetown, “Shear Madness” is an interactive theatrical experienced designed to engage locals and visitors alike as armchair detectives to help solve the scissor-stabbing murder of a famed concert pianist. Taking place inside the Shear Madness hairstyling salon, the second longest-running play in the history of American theater combines improvisational humor with audience participation, delivering a unique, hilarious, and thrilling night out. Running through Sunday, Oct.

2. Presented by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20566). Strict Covid-19 health guidelines will be observed; for information on the Kennedy Center’s Covid Safety Plan, visit kennedy-center.org/visit/covidsafety. For general questions, call 202-416-8000. Visit kennedy-center. org for more information, complete showtimes, and tickets.

VISIT CLARE & DON'S Beach Shack this Friday for live music by Sotê-Modell Trio. Enjoy delicious seafood and entertainment and support a local small business! Check out clareanddons.com/ events for more. (Courtesy photo)

PUBLIC NOTICE

In accordance with VA 15.2-1720, the public is hereby notified that the City of Falls Church Police Department has recovered the following bicycles:

MAKE MODEL COLOR

SCHWINN BLUE

KENT TROUBLE BLUE

MONGOOSE BLACK

GIANT BOULDER SE BLUE/WHITE

DIAMONDBACK COBRA BLUE/BLACK

KONA BLACK

MONGOOSE LEDGE 2.1 WHITE/PURPLE

ALSO:

RAZOR SCOOTER BLUE

To claim any of these items, please provide proof of ownership to: City of Falls Church

Police Department

Property/Evidence Unit 300 Park Ave., G2 Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5060 (please call for appointment)

Notice of Public Hearing for Falls Church Residents

Find out about:

Park Avenue Great Streets and Downtown

POA Projects

VDOT Project No. U000-110-195, UPC

111667

Federal Project No. FHWA-5B01(045).

VDOT Project No. U000-110-182, UPC 110335

Federal Project No. STP-5A01 (855)

The City of Falls Church has a CIP project called Park Avenue Great Street and Downtown Multimodal Improvements and has completed the 30% design concept. The proposed project would:

Park Avenue Great Street Project

The proposed scope of the Park Avenue Great Street project is to install two midblock crossings, widen sidewalks and remove obstructions (including utility lines), adjust intersection geometry, and increase visibility at six crossings/intersections along Park Avenue between North Virginia Avenue and North Washington Street in the City of Falls Church Downtown Planning Opportunity Area Project

The proposed scope of the Downtown Planning Opportunity Area (POA) Project includes sidewalk widening, removal of obstructions, completion of missing links in the sidewalk network, and redesign of intersection geometry. The project focuses on sidewalks along North Maple Avenue and Little Falls Street, between Park Avenue and West Broad Street

Review Project information at the project webpage

http://www.fallschurchva.gov/ or the City of Falls Church Department of Public Works, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046, tel. 571-651-0133 (TTY 711). Please call ahead for staff availability.

Public Hearing

A public hearing will be held to inform the public and to answer questions and receive comments on the 30% design plans on:

• Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 7:00 PM

• Location: City of Falls Church Recreation Center 223 Little Falls Street

Falls Church, Va. 22046

The City of Falls Church ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in

accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For information call 703-248-5004 or (TTY 711).

ABC NOTICE

Feed The Belly LLC trading as Ellie Bird, 125 Founders Ave Falls Church, VA 22046 . The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer on & off premises/mixed beverage restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Carey and Yuan Tang, owner/ The Veritas Law Firm. Date notice posted at establishment: 5/6/2022. 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.

AUCTIONS

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

DOGS, PETS or LIVESTOCK

Use Happy Jack® Kennel Dip as an area spray to control lyme disease ticks, fleas, stable flies, & mosquitoes where they breed. At Northwest Ace Hardware Stores. (WWW.Fleabeacon.com)

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-614-6667

GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions.

1-877-636-0738

The Generac PWRcell, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-833-688-1378

RECRUITMENT

HIRING? We can help you fill your open positions! Promote job listings regionally or statewide! Affordable Print and Digital Advertising Solutions reaching potential candidates. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

SERVICES

DIVORCE-Uncontested, $395+$86 court cost. WILLS-$225.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-4900126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com.

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company- 844-509-1697 or visit www.Life55plus.info/vapress

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and longlasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 888-608-4974

ROOFS

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three

BACK IN THE DAY

Falls Church News-Press

Vol. VI, No. 8 • May 8, 1997

Another ‘Player’ Revealed in City Efforts at West Broad Consolidation

In a development made public for the first time at the Falls Church Planning Commission meeting Monday night, representatives of the new Papa John’s restaurant, new owners of the former Food for All Seasons property acknowledged a willingness to work with City officials toward consolidation.

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Falls Church News-Press

Vol. XXII, No. 11 • May 10, 2012

F.C. Council Set to OK Preliminary Ordinance on Selling Water System

This Monday night, the Falls Church City Council is expected to give preliminary approval to an ordinance authorizing the sale of the City’s besieged water system. It was merely a formality, however, pending the outcome of a bidding process slated to take place on May 25.

I� M�������: M������ V�����

Matthew Joseph Valley, of Falls Church City, Virginia, was born on February 27, 1997, and passed away at the age of 24.

Matthew grew up in the City of Falls Church. A graduate of the George Mason High School Class of 2015, Matthew was a talented artist who was voted most artistic by his classmates. He lettered in football and lacrosse. In 2020, Matthew earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Kinetic Imaging from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts.

Throughout his life, Matthew was involved in scouting and enjoyed the outdoors. He was a member of the Order of the Arrow (Scouting’s National Honor Society) and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2013. As a young scout, he spent many summers at Goshen (Va.) Scout Reservation summer camps. He became a CIT and eventually served as a seasonal camp counselor and area director. He ultimately received a five-year service award with the majority of his time spent on the waterfront.

Matthew’s friends and family remember him most for his love of music. He chose to go to school in Richmond after seeing a poster for a local band on a street telephone pole. He liked to discover new artists and enjoyed a range of classic and alternative rock bands as well as rap music. As a creative outlet, he played acoustic guitar and wrote his own music and lyrics. He also created music videos and sound beats. Friends knew him as a very compassionate person with a big heart, who took the time to look out for other people.

Matthew is survived by his parents, Steven Valley and Hilary Duke, sister Sarah Valley, grandmothers Marian Duke and Marlene Valley,

step-grandmother Vicki Valley, and many loving uncles, aunts, cousins, and other family members. He is predeceased by his grandfathers, Calvin Duke and Richard Valley.

A gathering of family and friends for Matthew will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at Murphy Funeral Homes, 1102 West Broad Street in Falls Church, VA 22046, followed by a memorial service in celebration of Matthew’s life at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Chris Atwood Foundation to support recovery from substance use. (www. thecaf.org/donate or checks can be made out to The Chris Atwood Foundation, P.O. Box 9282, Reston, VA 20195)

ALTHOUGH FOUND off the side of 95, Marlo is the most fun and playful puppy known to mankind. Tends to chew on everything (and everyone), but is absolutely wonderful. Flooftastic!

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

Tonight at 7:00 p.m. —

School Board Approves FY 2023 Year Budget

Falls Church City Public Schools School Board unanimously approved a $57.6 million operating budget for the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23). The budget is balanced, provides a wage increase for school employees, and provides additional support for students. For the fourth year in a row, the approved budget falls within Falls Church City Council budget guidance.

“The School Board would like to thank the City Council for adopting our budget which has met the City Council guidance for the past four years,” said Board Chair Laura Downs. “We value our partnership with the City Council and look forward to continuing our revenue sharing agreement in the years to come as it provides funding to compensate our talented teachers and staff and enables us to maintain competitive salaries to attract new teachers.”

The budget includes a step increase for eligible employees, a recovery step for employees who were eligible but did not receive one during FY 2021 due to the pandemic, and a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all staff members. Other expenditures include $3000 per year stipend for National Board Certified Teachers, and a one-time $1000 bonus for staff who are at the end of their salary lane, and implements a $15 per hour minimum wage. The budget also includes funding for Career and Technical Education, Math, and Science teachers, a School Nurse, a Psychologist, and a Secondary Campus Parent Liaison among other support.

“We must do everything we can to support teachers, staff, and students by addressing the impact of the last two years on teacher recruitment, retention, and social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs,” Superintendent Peter Noonan said. The approved FY 23 budget is an overall 7.1 percent increase from the current FY 22 funding. It includes a City transfer increase of 6.4% or $2.8 million. State funding is anticipated to increase by 13.8% or $951 thousand. Federal revenue, however, is decreasing 3.3% increase or $19.8 thousand from the current year.

IB Art Display Open To The Public Tonight

The Meridian Choir Spring Concert is tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Meridian High School auditorium. All community members are welcome, and admission is free. The last song before intermission will be a “Community Sing.” This year’s Community Sing will feature the song “Sanctuary” by Jason Robert Brown. All who attend tonight can join in to sing with the choir. Expect an evening of beautiful music!

Under the Lights! Meridian Sports

Double header tonight! Girls and Boys lacrosse host Eastern View this evening on the Stadium turf for two exciting games. Girls start at 5:30 p.m., and boys follow with their senior celebration and game at 7:00 p.m.

Tomorrow night is big for rivalries! The Mustangs compete against the Tigers of Brentsville at home. Boys Tennis at 4:00 p.m., Boys Baseball and Girls Softball at 6:00 p.m., and Boys Soccer at 7:00 p.m. Come to the courts and fields to support your Meridian Mustangs.

This Afternoon at 4:15 p.m. — FCCPS Celebration of Excellence

Meridian girls lacrosse poses for a post-win pic. FCCPS Photo

The IB Art students at Meridian High School are concluding their school year with an art show in the school’s lobby The student’s work is on display for public viewing tonight from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

crown and chair rail and shadow boxing in the dining room. The gourmet kitchen boasts ceiling-height cabinets with crown molding and a huge Quartz center island, 36” wide counter-depth French door refrigerator and 6-burner gas cooktop. The living room offers a coffered ceiling and fireplace flanked by built-in shelves and cabinets. The charming primary suite with a tray ceiling, two walk-in closets, and a luxurious bathroom with an elegant tub and separate frameless glass shower enclosure. 4th level includes a loft area as well as a bedroom and full bathroom. Lower level hosts a 5th bedroom, full bathroom, as well as a recreation room, den, and storage area. Outside, al fresco dining can be enjoyed from the recently added paver patio and lovely surrounding landscaping. This is a very special and beautifully maintained home! Priced at $1,650,000

703-626-3257

merelyn@kayes.com