Falls Church News-Press 5-28-2020 by Falls Church News-Press

May 28 – June 3, 2020

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‘Phase 1’ Openings Set for F.C. Restaurants on Friday Barbers, Salons Also Open With Social Distancing BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

As the City of Falls Church prepares to enter into Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s cautious Phase 1 reopening this Friday in the face of the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, the Falls Church City Council approved a scaled-back operating budget for the coming fiscal year Tuesday, applauded the success of the City’s innovative micro grant program benefiting 83 local businesses who got their $2,000 checks right away and mulled new ways of augmenting services to the ailing local economy with the help of its share of federal stimulus funds. Friday’s Phase 1 opening will permit restaurants that have or can create outdoor dining space to

serve customers, restricted retail sales and for salons and barber shops to open to carefully limited numbers, with facial masks mandated for all, while vulnerable populations will continue to be urged to stay home. As F.C.’s State Senator Dick Saslaw said in a memo this week, the move to Phase 1 is with a “yellow and not a green light.” Extreme caution is the watchword, he said. The delay in Northern Virginia’s entry into Phase 1 by two weeks following openings in most other parts of the state was due to relatively high instances of infections of the virus in this area (the City of Falls Church’s 14,300 residents suffered 49 total cases,

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AN HOURS-LONG LINE was endured by the public at Bailey’s Elementary School on Sunday for the free coronavirus testing event. The testing site was at capacity less than two hours after its 10 a.m. opening. Fairfax County chose Bailey’s Elementary and Annandale High School — the site of Saturday’s event — because of their proximity to those affected most by Covid-19 and had residents who were likely either uninsured or underinsured. (P��: J. M�� W��)

Council Hails ‘Barbara Cram Apprecia�on Day’ BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Today — Thursday, May 28 — is Barbara Cram Day in the City of Falls Church. The F.C. City Council set aside a heavy agenda of business items Tuesday night to attend first to the matter of adopting a proclamation declaring today “Barbara Cram

Appreciation Day” in honor of the long-time City resident and extraordinary civic icon and “urging all residents to observe the day and recognize Barb Cram as a model citizen serving her family, church and community in an exemplary way.” The entire Council was in complete concord affirming and highlighting her many achievements

here since moving to the Falls Church area in 1978 and into the City in 1986, when she “brought her generosity, resourcefulness, and high energy to preserve and promote the character of the City and to make it the hometown that we all love.” The last three years she’s been saddled with a persisting illness. The Council took turns

Tuesday reading from sections of the lengthy proclamation. Perhaps her biggest official honors were to be named the Falls Church City Council’s “Pillar of the Community” and the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society’s “Spirit of Falls Church” award winner. Concerning her tireless volunteerism and relentless good cheer, “Everything she touches gets better,” said long-time City Councilman David Snyder in sup-

porting the proclamation. The proclamation states that “she brought her business, Greenscape, to the City and demonstrated that creativity and quality mattered in all things, and was a stalwart for the business community, serving on the Public Private Partnership, the City’s Tricentennial Committee, and working tirelessly for the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce.”

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At the temporary digs of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in trailers at the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, the library staff is beginning to catch up to the unusually high volume of requests from citizens for books and other products.

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Northern Virginia’s own “Rockin’ the Suburbs” podcast from Falls Church’s Patrick Foster and Ashburn resident Jim Lenahan will take their show to Jammin’ Java’s stage next Wednesday. SEE PRESS PASS, PAGE 14

INDEX Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 News & Notes............................10–11 Comment ............................... 7,12–13 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Business News ................................. 15 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18

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PAGE 2 |MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020

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PAGE 4 | MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020

City Council

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with 10 hospitalizations and eight deaths through midday Tuesday). But while reports are that cases rose the last two days in the region, the trend was downward over the two weeks and regional officials, including Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, petitioned Northam last weekend to begin to open. Northam signalled his agreement with the request at his Richmond press briefing Tuesday. Currently, the infection and death rates in Northern Virginia are 862 and 26.5 per 100,000 people, compared to the rest of Virginia where they are 460 and 14.5 respectively. Some restaurants in the City of F.C. have existing outdoor dining spaces, such as the popular Ireland’s Four Provinces, Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Dogwood Tavern, Thompson’s Italian, Sfizi Cafe, Liberty Tavern, Northside Social, Cafe Kindred and Lazy Mike’s among others, and it is interpreted that restaurants can also expand into their parking areas to create new spaces. Still, the establishments will be limited to permitting 50 percent of their normal capacities and no gatherings of 10, in the context of continued sixfoot “social distancing” shall be allowed. All salon and barber shop services will be by appointment only. While preparations for all this have been underway, the Falls Church City Council, by a unanimous 6-0 vote Tuesday night in its virtual online meeting, adopted a radically-modified budget for the Fiscal Year 2021, with projected revenues and expenditures down by five percent, or over $5 million from the budget it originally advanced before the Covid-19 pandemic locked down the global economy in mid-March. It is also $2.1 million below the current FY20 budget. The approved budget includes a reduction of $500,000 in the City’s transfer to the public schools, and the F.C. School Board adjusted its budget accordingly to press ahead with wage and salary freezes for the coming year but no layoffs. The FY21 budget has been touted as the first in the history of the City of Falls Church to exceed $100 million, but since

LO CA L the effects of the pandemic and the public health response began hitting, projections have been reduced dramatically. The budget adopted Tuesday, just like the schools, avoided laying off any staff at City Hall, froze wage and salary increases, spending on anything but the basics, including a hiring freeze, and does not change any tax rates, leaving, for example, the real estate tax rate at $1.355 per $100 of assessed valuation. More recent changes introduced by the City’s Chief Financial Officer Kiran Bawa Tuesday night, based on the trillion dollar federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act that has dedicated $1.2 million, much indirectly, to the City, reduced the City’s obligation to WMATA by $350,000 and thereby enabled $100,000 to be put back into the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming plans, $180,000 into sidewalk and street light improvements, funds for the hiring of an assistant registrar to help with the critical November 2020 election and $45,000 for low income rent relief. Council member Ross Litkenhous demanded that his vote for the budget be predicated on more money for Neighborhood Traffic Calming and spot street improvements from the current budget (the new budget not going into effect until July 1). Over $400,000 that had been allocated to the effort was frozen by City Manager Wyatt Shields last month as part of an effort to prepare for the worst with the impact of the pandemic. But Litkenhous contended that those funds, arising from a robust budget surplus due to major economic development progress in the last year, should not be frozen because they represented efforts at public safety. At the suggestion of Mayor David Tarter, Litkenhous agreed to scale back his demand by half to $200,000 and his insistence to free up that money immediately passed the Council by a 6-1 vote (Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly voting no and Councilman Dan Sze absent). The FY21 budget was then approved on second reading by a 6-0 vote. But all these developments were based on relatively optimistic assumptions about the impact of the pandemic on revenues to the City in the coming year. With very little to go on assuring this scenario, the City

Council will revisit the issue after Labor Day to see if the current estimates can hold. The City is mandated to use its federal CARES funds to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, but that could include for purposes of offering some additional relief to local small businesses, 83 of which were recipients of $2,000 grants from the City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) in the last week. The City’s swift and energetic effort to help so many small businesses last week included the role of Commissioner of the Revenue Tom Clinton handdelivering many of the checks last weekend, according to the City’s Office of Economic Development chief Becky Witsman and EDA chair Bob Young, reporting at the Council meeting Tuesday. It is likely, they noted, that the City’s swift aid to its small businesses put cash into the hands of local businesses faster than any other jurisdiction in the state. The spirit of the initiative was so pervasive in the Falls Church community that the George Mason High School senior class, facing a limited “virtual” graduation next week, voted to make its class gift a donation to the EDA’s small business micro grant initiative, Council member Letty Hardi reported Tuesday. “One of the greatest things about our City,” Litkenhous said Tuesday, is that it is “agile enough” to get help to its small business owners in short order. “It’s because we are nimble and quick,” added Mayor Tarter. The EDA, Young said, will now consider a second round of aid at its June 2 meeting next week, this time widening the eligibility to include businesses making $750,000 instead of $500,000 in annual gross receipts, for example, and including non-profits. It’s a move that Hardi said she strongly supports. Witsman reported that business recipients were “surprised and delighted” by the micro grants, which were used to pay rent and utilities. “They are tickled to death,” she quipped Tuesday. It was a team effort in the best sense, reports at Tuesday’s meeting revealed, with Young and Eric Pelton of the EDA, Witsman and her staff, and Clinton seeing the checks were cut in a timely fashion and delivered. The F.C. Chamber of Commerce also played a big role, Young reported.

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CREATIVE CAULDRON in Falls Church has turned to a mix of community-based shows and classes on its website while the theater can’t have in-person performances. (Photo: News-Press)

Virtual Theaters Lift Curtains Around F.C. by Mark Dreisonstok

Falls Church News-Press

The coronavirus pandemic has caused enormous upheaval around the world in terms of sickness, deaths, job losses, and shattered economies. The performing arts and its many venues are no exception to this. But Falls Church and Fairfax regional theatres have come up with innovative programs to compensate for the many performances canceled due to shelter-in-place requirements by “virtualizing” their offerings, while others are offering classes and providing helpful guidance on how to experience the arts online. One prime example is Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron, which has been offering classes online “for ages 4 to 104” and is in the process of moving its performing arts summer camps to a virtual model as well. Creative Cauldron’s YouTube channel currently hosts original Learning Theater productions, including streams of fairytale adaptations. Student actors help build the story, and the production is bolstered by professional sets, costumes and original music by the Cauldron’s resident artists. Creative Cauldron also hosts video projects made by children and plans to stream a concert

series. When asked what role the creative arts might play in helping our community through this pandemic, managing director Ellen Selby replied: “Art plays the role it always plays; telling the hard truths, reflecting our dreams and fears, providing an outlet for all of our feelings, good, bad and in between, bridging us, keeping us active and imaginative, telling stories, and somewhat surprisingly, keeping us social. “At Cauldron, we’re committed to providing excellent arts and arts education at an accessible price point, and those tenets haven’t changed; we feel a responsibility to support our community more than ever,” she said. This spring the Cauldron has been holding a fundraiser called #CauldronLove. The group has been able thus far to balance growing costs with a steadfast commitment to compensating artists fairly. Providence Players of Fairfax, whose productions are often covered by the Falls Church NewsPress, has had to cancel its June performances of “Enchanted April.” Fortunately, the theatre group is continuing dramatic productions virtually, furthering

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MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 5

Cram, F.C. ‘Volunteer Extraordinaire’ Is Honored by City Council

wrote her board about the proclamation yesterday, “I would like to suggest that tomorrow, we all do something to celebrate Barb Cram Appreciation Day – tend to some flowers, do some volunteer work, donate to a cause you believe in, patronize a local business, call an old friend, compliment someone, tell someone you love them, or just keep a positive outlook. Better yet, spend the day as Barb ordinarily would and do all of these things.”

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It adds, “She actively promoted the Falls Church sense of place by creating and caring for downtown flower baskets and banners and being a generous promoter of our parks and gardens and served as chair and organizing force of the Watch Night Falls Church Celebration for nearly a decade, creating a tradition of festive vitality to ring in each new year. “She was the organizing founder of the Little City CATCH Foundation, and was a leader in creating the City’s Arts and Humanities Council, serving as chair and advocating for outstanding public art.” Also, it says, “She was active in the development of the Art Space and as president of the Falls Church Arts for the last 10 years, she has led its impressive growth, so the gallery is now regionally recognized and a very highly regarded asset for the community.” “As an enthusiastic community volunteer,” it continues, “Barb’s legacy of service is inspi-

BARB CRAM (left) has always been a fan of the arts, whether in her work for Falls Church Arts or attending a FIRSTfriday event at Art and Frame Falls Church back in January, seen here with Mayor David Tarter (right) and gallery owner Tom Gittins. (P��: C�� S�� V�� S��) rational to all who know her and her mastery of bringing people together to accomplish remarkable things is recognized by the community and has engendered the love and appreciation of so many people in Falls Church.” Vice Mayor Marybeth

Connelly commented that Cram is “a model for volunteerism and community spirit” and that her enthusiasm for that is “contagious.” Councilman Ross Litkenhous said she “is a role model for my three kids,” Letty Hardi called her

a “volunteer extraordinaire,” and Phil Duncan said “all us Duncans owe you” for her many contributions. Mayor David Tarter said that she “is a doer, not just a talker.” Sally Cole, executive director of the F.C. Chamber of Commerce

COVID-19 UPDATE In the last week, starting from Thursday, May 21 and going until Wednesday, May 27, the Virginia Department of Health has updated its coronavirus data for the City of Falls Church to include 53 total cases (+8 from last week), including 11 hospitalized (+2) and 8 deaths (+3). The Fairfax Health District, which the City is a part of, has 10,181 total cases (+1,927 from last week), including 1,285 hospitalized (+137) and 376 deaths (+66).

PAGE 6 | MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020 

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Ah, For the Next Memorial Day!

How unfortunate to have Memorial Day pass and not to enjoy the usual festival and parade in the City of Falls Church. For as long as this newspaper has been in existence, approaching 30 years, it has been a special joy to us to set up our modest little booth, hand out copies of our paper and often special programs for the Memorial Day events, and to jump into one of two incarnations of our legendary convertible Mustang to ride along the parade route waving and greeting the thousands who lined the parade route on Park Avenue, often throwing out something, from fortune cookies to even mini frisbees and bottle openers with the News-Press logo. Every year it has been such a summery and copasetic event, even as the crowds routinely grew past 10,000. For those who’ve been to them all, or most of them, and for those who came to town after the last one in 2019 and yet to experience one, anticipation of next year’s is something they can carry with them, as we do, for the whole coming year. Extra incentive to wear those masks, wash those hands and socially distance so the Covid-19 virus will be history by then. It has always been a time to renew acquaintances, as for many young people growing up in Falls Church and off to college or a career elsewhere, it was a time to come back and wander around the many booths and kiddy rides, munching on a funnel cake or corn dog, and running into an old friend. There never has been anything pretentious or off-putting about the event. It was like the atmosphere that surrounded it has always been too strong for any of that. Dogs and kids were the kings and queens of it all, even if the local high school prom versions were those formally celebrated at the head of the parade. This Memorial Day would have been a perfect one, from a weather standpoint. It is our hope that coming out of this current pandemic lockdown situation, a lot of the simpler things of life will gain new currency in our culture, and small town values of friendliness and mutual respect will rise to the forefront of the things we want most out of life and are willing to commit to. Big world problems, of course, are not kept out of little Falls Church. On the contrary, most of the gainfully employed people here spend their daytime hours in very challenging jobs that cope with such things on a daily basis. But those efforts are best informed by the sentiments that arise from cotton candy, squealing little kids on a merry-go-round and a German shepherd wearing a big summer hat. That’s what’s going to energize the effort to reclaim our sublime republic, to take it back from the grifters, nihilists and ne’er-do-wells that are seemingly dominating our politics these days.

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Thank You for Preserving Trees In Big Chimneys Park Editor, The Village Society has always welcomed developing and maintaining quality public green spaces in Falls Church. During the renovation of Big Chimneys Park there arose a need to underground an electrical cable. It was projected for trenching through all of the trees that visually buffer the park from the rear of the bowling alley. The trenching would

have killed many perimeter trees that frame the park. We would like to compliment the City Council and the City staff who responded fast to renegotiate the cable path and easement to save the tree buffer. We think this will make a big difference in the end results – and Big Chimneys will still look and feel like a park. Lisa Varouxis Falls Church

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MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 7

Support for Schools Remains Strong Without Yearly Gala B� D�� H��

From prom to end-of-year school picnics to graduation — and this past weekend, the Falls Church City Memorial Day parade — the pandemic has put so many plans on hold and made our traditions look incredibly different. We know none of these things are more important than looking out for one another and keeping each other safe and healthy. But, that doesn’t keep us from missing each of these events all the same. The annual Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) Spring Gala and Auction is another event on that growing list of things that just couldn’t happen this year, and it’s historically one of my favorites. Sure, it is a ton of work for me and an entire crew of volunteers. By the end of the event, we are all exhausted. But seeing all those friends and neighbors, supportive business leaders, engaged elected officials, and incredible teachers and administrators all glammed up and turning out for a common cause — to raise critical funds that support our schools, educators, and students — makes it all worth it. Every single year. Funds raised through the gala support ongoing programs, including those that ensure equity of access to things like food, technology, school supplies, and basic necessities that help students succeed, as well as ESOL and Special Education pro-

grams that ensure all of our students get the best foundation for learning. The gala also allows the Foundation to support two grant programs: our Advanced Training Grants for staff professional development and our Super Grants, which expand and extend the learning environment for stu-

“Even in this crazy time, our friends, neighbors, and businesses are coming together and doing what they can to keep our schools strong.” dents and staff system-wide. Money raised through the gala also supports teacher recognition awards, including the Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year (congrats to TJES’ Mrs. McCann for being the 2020 recipient!). At the gala each year, we celebrate all the teachers who are nominated for the awards and treat them and a date for the evening. And I admit it: I love handing out those checks to the hardest working teachers in the nation. After all they have done to keep things rolling over the past few months, I

really did not relish the idea of having to tell them, “Sorry, not this year.” But without the spring gala, grant and teacher recognition awards were looking pretty slim. This past week, things started looking up, as pictures from past galas flooded my social media accounts as part of the #FCEFVirtualGala. I realized it is not really the fancy party and the dazzling outfits that make the event so special. It’s really the sense of community and the acknowledgement that the hard work was worth it. Even in this crazy time, our friends, neighbors, and businesses are coming together and doing what they can to keep our schools strong. Teachers took time to post videos about how FCEF grants made from funds raised through past galas have enhanced their classrooms. People shared some of their craziest get-ups and hair styles. Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan dug deep for some seriously impressive retro prom photos. And Falls Church’s own Clare and Don’s created, and more FCEF volunteers delivered, a round of refreshments (using CDC-approved safety measures) to celebrate a successful start to the campaign. Folks, you don’t get a much better example of being in this together than that. (And if you are just joining this party, log onto @FCEFoundation on Twitter, #FCEFVirtualGala to see what you missed.) I’m proud to say, we reached the first

milestone of the campaign and raised more than $16,000 in the first week of the virtual gala. All of these funds will go toward teacher grants that, in these uncertain times, are needed more than ever. As the fun continues this week, the kids are getting in on the act, too. I’m looking forward to seeing more amazing posts in the days ahead, each one of them a reminder that although we are socially distanced right now, we are still all together and sharing something special. So, look out Falls Church City Public Schools principals — things might get a little chilly as we take aim at our next milestone toward our final goal of raising $50,000! And, I can’t wait to see all of your faces for real — glammed up or not — when we hit our target and finally get that parade. Until then, I hope you will all head to @FCEFoundation on Twitter, Falls Church Education Foundation on Facebook, and/or fcefoundation on Instagram and take part in our virtual celebration by posting throwback pictures of yourselves whether from previous galas, proms, or other celebrations. And, I hope you will all join me on the dance floor when it is safe to host the gala again. Learn more about the virtual gala at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/fcefvirtual-gala. Debbie Hiscott is the executive director of the Falls Church Education Foundation

Q�� W�� What kind of business will you visit first during the Phase 1 reopening? • Restaurant

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

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PAGE 8 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF A FILING BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY OF ITS INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN CASE NO. PUR-2020-00035 On May 1, 2020, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) the Company’s 2020 IRP pursuant to § 56-599 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”). An IRP, or integrated resource plan, as defined by § 56-597 of the Code, is “a document developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations by supply side and demand side resources over the ensuing 15 years to promote reasonable prices, reliable service, energy independence, and environmental responsibility.” Pursuant to § 56-599 C of the Code, the Commission is required to determine, within nine months of filing, whether an IRP is reasonable and in the public interest. Dominion states that it serves approximately 2.6 million electric customers in Virginia and North Carolina and that the Company’s combined service territory in these two states covers approximately 30,000 square miles. As indicated in its IRP, Dominion is a member of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (“PJM”), a regional transmission organization in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The Company states that the IRP was prepared for the Dominion Energy Load Serving Entity within PJM. According to the Company, the IRP encompasses the 15-year planning period from 2021 to 2035. The Company states that the 2020 IRP focuses on presenting alternative plans to achieve clean energy mandates, including those set forth in the Virginia Clean Economy Act (“VCEA”), which will become law effective July 1, 2020. The Company states that the VCEA establishes a mandatory renewable portfolio standard aimed at 100% clean energy from the Company’s generation fleet by 2045 and requires the development of significant energy efficiency, solar, wind, and energy storage resources. The IRP states that the VCEA also mandates the retirement of all generation units that emit carbon dioxide as a byproduct of combustion by 2045, unless the retirement of a particular unit would threaten grid reliability and security. Based on other new legislation, the Company states that it expects that Virginia will soon become a full participant in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a regional effort to cap and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector. As required by a prior Commission Order dated March 9, 2020, the 2020 IRP also includes a Virginia residential bill analysis (“Billing Analysis”) showing projected annual impacts to a residential bill over the next ten years, as compared to the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (“kwh”) per month as of May 1, 2020. Based on the Company’s Billing Analysis, the monthly bill of a Virginia residential customer using 1,000 kwh per month is projected to be between $168.58 and $171.20 by 2030, an increase of between $52.40 and $55.02 over the current level of $116.18. This projected increase reflects a compound annual growth rate of 3.6 percent to 3.7 percent. The Commission entered an Order Establishing Schedule for Proceedings in this case that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. on October 27, 2020, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive opening statements, testimony, and evidence offered by the Company, respondents, and the Commission’s Staff on the Company’s IRP. The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health emergency related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, and the declarations of emergency issued at both the state and federal levels. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs, or other documents required to be served in this matter should be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”). Confidential and Extraordinarily Sensitive information shall not be submitted electronically and should comply with 5 VAC 5-20-170, Confidential information. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, any person seeking to hand deliver and physically file or submit any pleading or other document shall contact the Clerk’s Office Document Control Center at (804) 371-9838 to arrange the delivery. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order Establishing Schedule for Proceedings for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information. An electronic copy of the public version of Dominion’s IRP may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Jennifer D. Valaika, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or jvalaika@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the public version of the IRP and other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information. On or before October 20, 2020, any interested person may file comments on the IRP by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: https://scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. All comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00035. In light of the ongoing public health emergency related to the spread of COVID-19, the Commission will subsequently schedule, if practicable, oral public comment in this matter; if scheduled, such will be noticed via Commission order and accompanying news release. On or before August 4, 2020, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00035. Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order Establishing Schedule for Proceedings, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5- 20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice. The Commission’s Rules of Practice may be viewed at https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Rules-of-Practice-and-Procedure. VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 9

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

NEWS BRIEFS

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Snyder: 2.5 Hours for a Covid-19 Test Last Weekend Falls Church City Council member David Snyder reported to Tuesday’s virtual meeting of the F.C. Council that he went to one of two regional locations last weekend where free Covid-19 virus tests were being administered by the Virginia Department of Health, and said it took him and wife Edith two and a half hours of waiting in line to be administered a test. The location was the Annandale High School last Saturday and tests were also being conducted at the Bailey’s Elementary School in Bailey’s Crossroads on Sunday. He said that “the infrastructure for wide public testing is clearly not there now. It is incomplete.” He noted that the availability of widespread testing will be key to decisions the schools will need to make concerning the resumption of classes in the fall. Currently, both Covid-19 and Covid-19 antibody tests are available from private physicians in Falls Church but so far public testing sites have been limited to regions where generally lower income populations are densely living.

Court Set to Begin at F.C. City Hall on July 10 Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields reported Tuesday that the Arlington Circuit Court, which covers the City of Falls Church, will hold forth for the first time in the newlyrenovated F.C. City Hall on July 10. Lingering upgrades to the facility will be completed by then, and it will mark a long-awaited resumption of court services there since it was deemed the old City Hall was insecure and inadequate from a courtroom point of view.

Whitfield to Leave Public Works Post in F.C. Mike Whitfield, director of Public Works for Falls Church, will be leaving his post this month to accept a position in the private sector on the West Coast next month, it was reported Tuesday. His tenure in F.C. will end June 19, City Manager Wyatt Shields said, and while there is a hiring freeze for the coming year in the City, an interim replacement will be found in this case and Shields said it will likely come from within the department.

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F.C. Business Tax Deadline Extended to July 6 The June 5 deadline for City of Falls Church business tax payments has been extended to July 6, the City Council confirmed Tuesday. The Council also passed legislation waiving certain zoning regulation requirements to make it easier for local businesses to offer services in their parking lots and on sidewalks in front of their establishments.

F.C. Library Catching Up With Public Requests At the temporary digs of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in trailers at the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, the library staff is beginning to catch up to the unusually high volume of requests from citizens for books and other products. It was quipped at Tuesday’s Council meeting that the rate of requests is the highest in the region. Meanwhile, the renovation and expansion of the main library building at the corner of N. Virginia and Park Avenue is proceeding apace.

Appointments Confirmed to Key F.C. Boards. Commissions Key appointments of citizen volunteers to City of F.C. boards and commissions were confirmed by the F.C. City Council Tuesday. They included Andrew Young to the Environmental Sustainability Council, Christina Goodwin to the Board of Equalization, Charles Moore to the Historic Architectural Review Board (a reappointment), Chrystie Swiney as the Library Board of Trustees’ representative on the Arts and Humanities Council of F.C., Amy Crumpton (a reappointment) and Kathleen Philpott Costa to the Urban Forestry Commision.

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PAGE 10 | MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020

LO CA L

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes

SHE’S BEAUTY AND SHE’S GRACE. While Lindy Hockenberry couldn’t get to be front and center this year for the 39th annual Memorial Day parade for the City of Falls Church, she did get some publicity when City residents stopped by on Monday to recognize her. (Photo: Marybeth Connelly)

WINSTON V. COLEY from American Legion Post 130 salutes the fallen soldiers and service members on Memorial Day. (Photo:

2 Area H.S. Seniors Named Presidential Scholars

ence, geared to first-time home buyers and renters, will replicate the three key aspects of the housing expo: a virtual exhibit hall with dozens of exhibitors, free workshops for first-time buyers and renters and personal financial counseling session with a respected nonprofit. On June 1, the 2020 Northern Virginia Housing Expo will open the online exhibit hall to connect exhibitors and visitors seeking more information. Expo visitors will also be able to schedule virtual one-on-one financial counseling sessions online throughout the month of June with Britepaths, a Fairfax County nonprofit. The virtual event will also include a weekly series of free workshops airing at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. as

George Mason High School senior Colter Adams and Marshall High School senior Sophia Tedesco were selected as two of the three U.S. Presidential Scholars in Virginia. They will make up the 56th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community

service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Of the 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,300 candidates qualified for the 2020 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations and the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts competition. Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 7,600 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in

the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. The Presidential Scholars Class of 2020 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer as public health circumstances permit.

Virtual N. Virginia Housing Expo Kicks Off Monday The 2020 Northern Virginia Housing Expo, originally slated to be held in Sterling in April, will now launch June 1 as a virtual event on the group’s website and social media. The virtual experi-

Courtesy Winston V. Coley)

live webinars and at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. as Facebook events on Saturdays throughout the month of June. Sessions will focus on first-time buyer programs in the various local jurisdictions, market overviews, being ready to buy, rental assistance programs and understanding and improving credit scores. The entire workshop schedule will also be available on the site June 1. The 19th annual expo, whose location has typically rotated annually throughout Northern Virginia, is produced by a cooperative effort of representatives from the counties of Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington and Fairfax, the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church and the Virginia Housing Development Authority. First

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

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Home Alliance of Woodbridge is the nonprofit partner for this annual event and it is managed by Laura Nickle, president of Leesburg-based Communi-k, Inc. The event is free thanks to funding from platinum sponsors Prince William Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Housing Development Authority, with additional sponsorships from: the Dulles Area Association of Realtors; Northern Virginia Association of Realtors; Alexandria Office of Housing; Arlington County Housing Division; Burke & Herbert Bank; Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development; and George Mason Mortgage. Past expos have been recognized with a prestigious award from the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) for “best government initiative.”

ArtsFairfax Starts Emergency Relief Grant Program ArtsFairfax announced that $100,000 in funding is now available through a newly created Emergency Relief and Recovery Grant Program. Funding will provide critical support to Fairfax County and the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church arts organizations and Fairfax County individual artists most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The online grant application opens May 28 and closes on June 29. Awardees will be announced in August. Grants to organizations will range from $1,000 – $5,000 depending upon the organizations’ budget size, and individual artists may apply for $500 – $1,000. Those eligible include: • Nonprofit arts organizations based in Fairfax County, City of Fairfax and City of Falls Church,

including umbrella organizations with arts divisions and departments. • Organizations receiving line item funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as schools or departments of state universities, Fairfax County Government departments, divisions, and agencies, and their affiliated foundations and fundraising entities, are not eligible for this grant. • Individual artists residing in Fairfax County with an active record of professional activity who derive income from their work. All eligible applications for the Emergency Relief and Recovery Grant Program will be evaluated by panel review.

Justice High Student Wins College Scholarship Katherine Fernandez Villalba of Justice High School is one of seven Fairfax County Public Schools students enrolled in the Early Identification Program (EIP) named as a winner for a scholarship to George Mason University (GMU). EIP is one of four College Success programs offered to FCPS students that help prepare middle and high school students for college. Each year, a limited number of students — who are nominated by a teacher, school counselor, or caring adult — join the program. One hundred percent of EIP students will be the first in their family to attend college, and some receive free or reduced-price meals. The five-year program guarantees admission to GMU as long as the student follows a pre-college curriculum, successfully completes the program in good academic standing and meets GMU admission requirements.

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Nicole Tong Awarded as Fairfax’s 1st Poet Laureate Arts Fairfax announced the first Fairfax Poet Laureate, Nicole Tong. The Fairfax Poet Laureate is the county’s highest honor awarded to a local poet. In Tong’s twoyear term she will engage with the community through education and community service activities. Tong’s service project will amplify living poets and poetry communicated via her Twitter name @ PoetryLivesHere. Tong, a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College, has been honored with fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and George Mason University where she received a Master of Fine Arts. In 2016, Tong served as an inaugural Writerin-Residence at Pope-Leighey House, a Frank Lloyd Wright Property. Her writing has appeared in American Book Review, CALY, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women, Cortland Review, Yalobusha Review and others. The Washington Writers’ Publishing House selected Tong’s first collection of poems “How to Prove a Theory” for its 2017 Jean Feldman Poetry Prize winner. The Fairfax Poet Laureate was selected through a competitive process by a distinguished panel, which included Grace Cavalieri (Maryland Poet Laureate), Anya Creightney (Poet and Program Manager Poetry and Literature Center, Library of Congress), Kim Roberts (poet and editor at Beltway Poetry) and Gregg Wilhelm (Director, GMU Creative Writing Program).

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MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 11

THE SHRINERS weren’t zipping around the Park Avenue track this year because Falls Church’s Memorial Day Parade was canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but young city resident Ruth Wells decided to keep their spirit alive by getting behind the wheel herself. (P��: C�� D�� W��)

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PAGE 12 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

It’s post-Memorial Day. Summer supposedly is here, but Covid-19 restrictions meant that community pools couldn’t open, sports traditions like the Indy 500 race were postponed, and social gatherings of more than 10 people are banned, so neighborhood holiday picnics and barbeques were out. On the brighter side, the health directors for the counties of Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, and the City of Alexandria determined that Northern Virginia has met four of the six metrics for moving into Phase One. The unmet metrics are contact tracing and increasing and sustainable supplies of personal protective equipment, which are being addressed at the state level. On Monday, the Mayors and Chairs of the same jurisdictions sent a letter to Governor Northam, supporting the transition into Phase One at midnight tonight. This afternoon, the Board of Supervisors will hold another emergency special meeting to prepare for Phase One. Fairfax County’s Zoning Ordinance typically does not permit restaurants and exercise facilities to operate in parking lots but, under the Governor’s Executive Order 61, these facilities may open, at 50 percent of indoor capacity, utilizing outdoor areas on private property without further documentation or approval from the county. To allow such activities under certain delineated conditions, the Board must approve an Emergency Ordinance. Otherwise, the businesses would be in violation of their existing approvals to operate, and subject to citizen complaints to the Department of Code Compliance. In the language of the Emergency Ordinance, “the Board of Supervisors desires to reduce Covid-19 emergency impacts to business owners, to the communities those businesses serve and who wish to support them, and to county government. To that end, this emergency ordinance automatically approves outdoor dining and outdoor fitness and exercise activities that meet certain conditions, including those established by the Governor in Phase One.” The Emergency Ordinance may be

enforced for no more than 60 days; If a longer time is needed, the Board would schedule a public hearing in July to consider re-adopting the ordinance for a finite period, not to exceed six months after the emergency. Hopefully, an extension will not be necessary! As much of the National Capital Region prepares for a gradual entry into Phase One reopening, it may be useful to look at how jurisdictions in other states are faring. Aerial photographs reveal that beaches are popular, but without much social distancing at some. Some southern shopping malls re-opened, welcoming customers who just wanted to browse among the clothing racks after weeks of being confined to homes. On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the local grocery store was enforcing social distancing, counting the number of people entering, and holding the line until an equal number of customers left the store. Clerks, all wearing face masks and gloves, enforced the directional arrows painted on the aisle floors. However, only about half the customers wore face masks. Carry-outs had contactless service, but the lines at restaurants were long, as social distancing pushed the waiting customers far into the parking lots. A mini-golf venue was open, but most of the usual recreational amenities still were closed. Sadly, some may never re-open. Entering Phase One is a positive step, but it does not remove the responsibility of observing social distancing, washing hands frequently, covering coughs, and wearing a face mask, made mandatory this week by the Governor when outside of the home. Our region has had almost three months of self-isolation, working remotely, and quarantining, and I doubt any of us wants to repeat that experience.

Bicycle Theft, 400 blk S Maple Ave, between May 11 and May 18, unknown suspect(s) took a bicycle from a parking garage. Trespassing, 300 blk E Annandale Rd, May 21, 9:15 PM, an unknown suspect unlawfully entered the fenced in area of a car dealership in the nighttime. The suspect was not located.

Reckless Driving, Eluding, Liquor Law Violation, 100 blk N Washington St, May 22, 1:04 AM, a male, 24, of Silver Spring, MD, was arrested for reckless driving, eluding, and possession of open container while operating a motor vehicle. Larceny from Vehicle, 1000 blk Fowler St, May 22, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from a parked vehicle. Drunkenness (DIP), Trespassing, 100 blk E Fairfax St, May 22, 3:44 PM, a male, 62, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for appearing drunk in public and trespassing.

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

CRIME REPORT Auto Theft, 1100 blk W Broad St, between April 6 and May 18, unknown suspect(s) took a U-Haul trailer from a storage lot.

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Assault, Shoplifting, Disorderly Conduct, 1200 blk W Broad St, May 22, 6:56 PM, a male, 32, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for assault, shoplifting, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of justice. Credit Card Fraud, 200 blk W Greenway Blvd, May 23, 10:02 AM, unknown suspect(s) fraudulently used an individual’s credit card information to make unauthorized purchases. Assault, 1300 blk Robinson Pl, May 24, 9:57 AM, a female, 54, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for assault.

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Larry Kramer, An Extraordinary Heart

The passing of my friend, the feisty and often controversial gay pioneer Larry Kramer, in New York at age 84 yesterday is particularly poignant coming in the midst of the current new plague we are experiencing. He was the voice that called out the last plague, the AIDS pandemic that took an estimated 600,000 lives of mostly young gay men in the U.S. and that continues to ravage much of the undeveloped world. The era of the AIDS pandemic ran from 1981 to 1996. During that period, every gay man, like myself, lived in the midst of incredible anxiety and fear, because AIDS, caused FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS by the HIV virus, was incurable and led to terrible, horribly painful deaths. If a person woke up to see a rosy bruise on their skin, it was a veritable death sentence. It is hard to fathom how terrifying just living in this period was, from the day in June 1981 when the first cases were reported to the end of 1996 when Time magazine named Dr. Ho its “Person of the Year” for his discovery of a cocktail of treatments that finally made it possible for a person to live with AIDS and not automatically die from it. The added terror of that AIDS era was that it exposed its victims in the climate of a still-largly-rejected and shunned lifestyle not only to friends, fellow employees and family. So many young men who overburdened the hospital resources of urban centers like New York City and San Francisco were angrily rejected by their own families and died in pain, dementia, shame, isolation and loneliness. Larry Kramer was a passionate man, a great lover of his fellow gay persons whose powerful love provoked strong, angry speeches from him as he sought to mobilize a movement to stop known acts of unsafe sex that were killing each other on the one hand, and to protest the lack of government interest in finding a treatment or cure for the pandemic. He was commonly dismissed by a lot of gay establishment types for being “too angry,” even though he turned out to be right in his prophetic role sounding the alarm about the threat of the virus while everyone else was too complacent. His friend in his later years, Dr. Anthony Fauci, now a household name for his role as a respected and forceful leader in the current pandemic, expressed great admiration for Kramer as one who’d forced the U.S. health system to come to grips with AIDS when it wanted to avoid its then-dubious association with homosexual behavior. Kramer founded the ACT-UP movement that demonstrated, and did sit-ins and die-ins to make the point that thousands of people were sick and dying and no one was taking it seriously enough. In the past decade, Kramer was grudgingly (by many fellow gay establishment activists) acknowledged for his leadership role in the movement with the revival of his play, “The Normal Heart.” Written by him at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1984, it is a powerful testament to the epidemic and the toll it took on his fellow gays. It had two runs in New York, was performed around the country in the first decade of this century, and produced as an HBO special for TV. In it, as with his groundbreaking and prescient novel, “Faggots” in 1978, he counterposed the love and creativity that gay persons have to offer the world with the urban domains of impersonal sex that had overtaken the major city gay scenes in the 1970s. Comparable to today, the noisiest gay activists of that era were strident opponents of anything that would limit or restrict their wanton behavior in the face of the pandemic. All, it seemed, except Kramer. As a result, hundreds of thousands of young gays died horrible AIDS deaths that otherwise may not have had to. I knew Kramer as a charming, funny and highly intellectual person who never stopped cautioning his fellow gay men about the risks and dangers of unprotected and uncautious sex, not because he was a prude or a hater, but because he was a passionate lover of his fellow human beings.

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MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

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

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

The tragedy occurred just outside our county. But Arlingtonions share with Falls Church and Fairfax compatriots the horrorfilled memory of one of our region’s worst workplace accidents: the March 2, 1973, collapse of one of the Skyline Towers. Fourteen workers perished and 34 were injured. That grim event at Bailey’s Crossroads was recently recalled on the 20,000-member Facebook site “I Grew Up in Arlington, Va.” A stark photo of pancaked portions of an under-construction tower posted earlier by Bill Ewald drew more than 300 comments, many from witnesses. As reported by the Evening Star, the project by developer Charles F. Smith Co. — begun in 1970 at the site of the old Washington-Virginia Airport at Route 7 and Seminary Rd. — was planned as Skyline Center. It would house 30,000 residents in eight towers, plus six office buildings, shopping and a motel. It included 36-story high-rise apartments and 16-story condos. Crews for concrete contractor Miller and Long were preparing flooring on the Skyline Plaza North Condominium when trouble hit about 2:30 in the afternoon. “I heard a rumble like a tornado or a train or a plane breaking the sound barrier,” bricklayer Herbert Smith, 42, working on 10th-floor scaffolding, told a reporter. “The walls started cracking, the floorboards

started dancing under my feet.” Fifteen minutes after the noise, floor after floor of the apartment building and adjoining parking lot began toppling in seeming slow motion. “I was riding school bus #724 home from J.E.B. Stuart High School when a police car whizzed by, siren on, very unusual,” recalled blogger Farid Rushdi three decades later. “Suddenly, the local fire company blared its siren and fire engines and emergency vehicles shot in the same direction.” Entering his apartment, Rushdi glanced out the window at Skyline Towers and, using a telescope, observed that “instead of just one building, there were two…. Dust was still in the air and helicopters were circling.” The recent recollections were still emotional. “My first cousin lost his legs, and his friend Mr. White lost his life,” wrote Brenda Mock Gale Barr on the Facebook portal. “My neighbor and friend Mike Frye was killed,” said Judy Lee Love, others noting that Frye played soccer at Washington-Lee High School (’68). “I was in the McDonald’s next door; terrible to witness and so sad for all those that died,” wrote Cathy Bender. “We went over that night and saw the bright lights they still had on looking for survivors,” recalled Gail Huneycutt-Iqbal. “My brother saw it tumble from the shop classroom at Wakefield” High, said Cathy Shields. In the sad days that followed, firemen lay down on ruins of the garage listening for sounds

of survivors. Secretary of Labor Peter Brennan and Fairfax County Executive Robert Wilson visited. The construction crews “were too much in a hurry,” one victim’s brother told the Star. “It looked like they were trying to beat the deadline.” An investigation was opened by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Noncompliance with OSHA construction standards has been identified with regard to formwork, fieldcured concrete specimens and crane installation,” said the 1977 report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. “Specifically, the construction procedures did not comply with standards for the removal of supporting forms.” The report concluded that “premature removal of forms was a contributing factor to the collapse of the building.” *** The onetime home of astronaut John Glenn, on N. Harrison St. across from Williamsburg Middle School, is being bulldozed this week. Glenn’s wife, Annie, who died this month, famously sat in that house during an aborted spaceflight in February 1962 and snubbed Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who wanted to visit with news cameras. Days later, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Historic preservationists are miffed that county hasn’t planned a marker, and tree preservationists are dismayed that the new-home builder is likely to cut down two huge oaks.

CA L E NDA R

PAGE 14 | MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR In response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic affecting the globe and policies enacted to avoid social gatherings, the News-Press will publish a list of virtual events weekly in lieu of its regular listings. If you have a virtual event you’d like to see listed, please email calendar@fcnp.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Monday weekly.

CITYEVENTS SATURDAY, MAY 30 Falls Church Farmers Market To Go. The Falls Church Farmers Market has converted to a preorder, to-go event. All orders must be placed in advance of Saturday’s market which will be open from 8 a.m. – noon for pre-order pickup only in front of City Hall (300 Park Ave.). A list of participating vendors and information on preordering can be found at fallsch-

urchva.gov/547/Farmers-MarketTo-Go.

VIRTUALEVENTS

THURSDAY, MAY 28 Sara Fitzgerald’s “The Poet’s Girl” (Online). Interested attendees can join award-winning author and Falls Church resident Sara Fitzgerald on Zoom to learn more about her new novel, “The Poet’s Girl.” In the spirit of “The Paris Wife” and “Loving Frank,” the book brings to life another littleknown woman behind a famous man. Fitzgerald’s book was published just as Hale’s own gift to Eliot scholars — the more than 1,000 letters the poet wrote her over the course of their lifetimes — were opened in January by Princeton University Library after a 50-year embargo. Fitzgerald was present for the opening of the letters and will provide details of that experience as well. Email psullivan@fallschurchva.gov for

Zoom invitation. 2 – 3 p.m. Falls Church Amateur Writers Group. A group for aspiring writers. Participants meet to discuss and offer constructive criticism for each other’s work. Contact psullivan@fallschurchva.gov to get the invitation to the group. 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 29 Fruit Trees and Berries for the Urban Landscape. Northern Virginia’s soil and temperatures are well-suited for growing fruit. Learn tips and techniques to successfully nurture commonly grown fruit trees and shrubs and cane fruit in the yard, including apples, cherries, peaches, nectarines, figs, pears, blueberries and more. The group will discuss best practices for assessing a site, pruning, watering and fertilizing, integrated pest management, and other ideas for maximizing a harvest. Online class offered

by Extension Master Gardeners. Free. RSVP to attend at mgnv. org/events/ to receive the link to participate. 10 a.m. – noon.

mornings at 10:30 a.m. Focuses on a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles selected in advance (over the summer) by the group. This meeting’s book is “Women Rowing North” by Mary Pipher. This discussion will be held online.Visit fallschurchva.gov/ LibraryAtHome for details. Open to all and no registration required. 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

MONDAY, JUNE 1

DAILY

City Council Work Session (Virtual). City Council work sessions are held the first and third Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues; the public is not generally invited to speak. 7:30 – 11 p.m.

Creative Cauldron Online Classes. The Creative Cauldron is now offering a variety of interactive classes and activities for children taught by the theater’s artists. Those who are interested can enroll online at creativecauldron. org/workshops.htm or email the theater at info@creativecauldron. org to get started.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2 Tuesday Morning Book Discussion (Online). The Tuesday Morning Book Discussion is a general book discussion held roughly every six weeks from September through June, usually on Tuesday

Museo Galileo. Students and teachers can take a virtual trip to Museo Galileo and learn about one of the world’s most famous astronomers, physicists and engineers and all aspects of his life. Galileo is known as the “father of the scientific method” that is used so often in school science classrooms. To check out the museum, visit catalogue.museogalileo.it.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NEWS-PRESS & HELP US KEEP COMMUNITY JOURNALISM ALIVE & WELL IN THE LITTLE CITY. Since 1991, the News-Press has been on a mission to provide independent and honest journalism to the Falls Church community. We recognize and appreciate the support the City, its businesses and residents have shown us for the past 29 years. Now, we need your help to con�nue with our mission. If you ﬁnd value in our work and believe the News-Press contributes to the be�erment of the Falls Church community, please consider becoming a member today and help us keep you informed on all the happenings — big and small — in The Li�le City. Never before has the ﬁght to ensure a free press been more important.

Visit FCNP.com/members to become a member of the News-Press today

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

Fa l l s C h u r c h

Business News & Notes F.C. Bakeshop Opens for Curbside Pick-Up Bakeshop in Falls Church is open for curbside pick-up Wednesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Orders can be placed for breakfast, cookies, cupcakes, macarons, vegan and gluten free and ice cream treats as well as for hot and cold beverages. The Arlington location is temporarily closed due to an employee testing positive for Covid-19. Visit www.bakeshopva.com or Bakeshop’s Facebook page for menu items and ordering details. Bakeshop Falls Church is located at 100 E. Fairfax Street in Falls Church.

Ireland’s 4 Provinces Now Accepting Take Out Orders Ireland’s Four Provinces has opened for take out weekdays from 3 – 8 p.m. and weekends, with additional brunch items, from noon – 8 p.m. While the menu is somewhat limited, it includes long standing favorite appetizers, soup, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and Irish classics. Ireland’s Four Provinces is located at 105 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. For more information go to www.4psva.com.

Kiln & Custard Opens With Limited Hours on Weekends Kiln & Custard in Falls Church is now open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 – 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for contactless pick up for pottery and frozen custard. Kiln & Custard’s Falls Church location is at 455 S. Maple Avenue. The independently owned and operated business also has locations in Reston and Vienna. For more information, visit Kiln & Custard on Facebook, Kiln & Co. on Instagram, or www.kilnandco.com on the web.

F.C. Distillers Selling Hand Sanitizer to Customers & Businesses Falls Church Distillers is making its Aim High Sanitizer available for both consumer and commercial use. Aim High Sanitizer is a plant-based alcohol hand sanitizing product that kills bacteria & viruses on contact with no rinse. Retail options include a 1 gallon jug with lid for $38, a 2 gallon bucket with lid for $75, and a 5 gallon bucket with spout lid for $180. Bulk discounts are also available. Email aimhighsales@fcdistillers.com to set delivery or pick-up. Falls Church Distillers is located at 442 S. Washington Street, Suite A, in Falls Church.

N. Virginia Economic Alliance Hosts Digital Business Seminar The Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance is hosting New Business Models – Going Digital: What Does it Mean for My Business? on Friday, June 5 at 2 p.m. The webinar is part of the NVEDA’s Beyond COVID-19: NOVA Business Resiliency series. The series is free and designed to ensure that businesses have the latest and best possible information from a variety of experts. For more information, visit http://novaeda.org/events/.

F.C. City Relaxes Zoning Ordinances for Phase 1 Reopening Falls Church City has temporarily loosened some zoning requirements to enable restaurants and other businesses to expand out onto sidewalks and into parking lots to help them open with Phase 1 requirements. Applications will be considered for the temporary use of expanded areas and the use of tents. Restaurants interested in pursuing this option are to create and submit an Outdoor Dining Plan to include a hand-made or computer generated document drawn to scale showing seating area and capacity and tent location. Applications also require the property owner’s written permission and signature. Outdoor Dining Plans are to be submitted to permits@fallschurchva. gov and will be evaluated based on code regulations for safety and ADA requirements. More information, including an application for retailers when available, can be found at www.choosefallschurch.org.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 15

Theaters Shift Offerings Online Continued from Page 4

the group’s goal of offering quality, affordable, entertainment experiences to current and new audiences, while at the same time promoting the Players’ core values of participation and learning through creative expression. The group’s current twelve-minute production, “The Story of the Tattoo” by Karen Zacarías, is now streaming on YouTube, with a clever arrangement of actors in a virtual plane-flight set design featuring a bizarre conversation by airline passengers ranging from tattoos, to witchcraft, to — appropriate for May — Mother’s Day. To help those in the community who are suffering during the current pandemic, Providence Players has established a Covid-19 Emergency Assistance Fund and will apply all donations to help support those impacted negatively by this crisis in Falls Church and Fairfax. 1st Stage Theater in Tysons found itself in a bit of a jam; licensing concerns render the group unable to stream its current productions online and video of previous productions is not of streaming quality. The repertory company has, however, announced a series of virtual “Community Conversations” with 1st Stage staff and artists. These conversations delve into the process of creating theatre, whether it be from the perspective of devising new work, auditioning via Zoom, or developing solo performances. 1st Stage also continues work on the show that was being prepared when the shutdown occurred, “A New Brain” by William Finn and James Lapine, which it plans to present in the future. 1st Stage’s associate producer Emily Wall has an inspiring message. When we asked about the importance of the performing arts in crises such as Covid19, she responded: “I actually think the impact of the arts has been magnified in light of this crisis. In our darkest times, we turn to the arts to brighten our day. The arts are what will get our souls through this uncertain time, and I hope that when things return to ‘normal,’ people are encouraged to fight for the arts institutions that will need their support more than ever.” Further, she reports being “overwhelmed by the community support we have seen since our shutdown was announced on March 16…We applied for and received support from the various SBA programs made possible through the CARES Act. We have also received unanticipated support from several generous institutional funders including the Share Fund, American Theatre Wing, and ArtsFairfax.” The City of Fairfax Theatre Company (CFTC) is also adapting to the circumstances brought on by the pandemic.

ADAM RESSA portrays Dogberry from Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” in a virtual performance for the City of Fairfax Theatre Company. (Courtesy Photo)

Traditionally, the company’s biggest challenge has been not owning a venue, but renting performance space instead. Yet this has allowed them greater flexibility in rescheduling and relocating productions. Such is the case for their first outdoor show ever, a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” now planned to be staged at the Veteran’s Amphitheater in the City of Fairfax. This location will offer more seating space between attendees to comply with social distancing recommendations in effect at that time. CFTC’s Producing Director Kirsten Boyd has also put together a program providing online classes and camps during the time when FCPS was closed in March. When asked what role the performing arts play in our pandemic, Artistic Director Amanda Herman told NewsPress: “The performing arts allows us to experience multiple perspectives and practice empathy, which is so important right now.” While some theatre companies are now streaming online versions of full productions with sets and costumes, CFTC has taken a more interactive approach: On April 1, it offered a kind of online theatrical book club, presenting Shaksepeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” in a virtual reading. The performance surprised this reviewer with its combination of high quality and fun spontaneity, featuring in particular a vibrant performance by Adam Ressa as Dogberry. Such bookclub dramatic readings have become regular online fare at the CFTC. It is indeed heartening to know that in our area so many wonderful innovations and plans for the future are taking place as these theatres — to quote the great bard Shakespeare — “make a virtue of necessity!”

PAGE 16 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020

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Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

20 25

24 28

27 31

34 39

40 46 53

47 55

59 63

62 67

60 64

37 41

32 36

45 51

26 30

38 42

1. Singer at Barack’s 2009 inauguration ceremony 7. Strike callers 11. Scand. land 14. Does crosswords, say 15. Decline 16. Hesitant sounds 17. Comedian Nanjiani who once joked that Microsoft spell check thinks his first name should be “camel” 18. Black-and-white treat 19. “Wayne’s World” catchword 20. Stick-in-the-mud types 22. Actress Ronan who has told people her first name rhymes with “inertia” 24. Dorsal ____ 25. H‰gar’s wife, in the comics 27. Move stealthily 28. Not fooled by 30. Amenities at some hotels 32. 1980s-’90s German leader Helmut 33. Marsh flora 35. IV + IV 37. Usual victim of Bart’s prank calls 38. Actress/singer Barbra who once told Tim Cook to reprogram Siri to change the second “s” in her last name to a soft s 42. 7-Down crew 45. 1922-91 initials 46. Bready bunch? 50. Mull (over) 52. Resell, as concert tickets 55. Bar in a bathroom 56. “Peace out!” 58. Warm welcome?

STRANGE BREW

60. First show to win 50 Emmys, in brief 61. Actor Chiwetel who said, growing up, people asked him what he was “so edgy for” 63. Do a certain hybrid winter sport 65. ____-X 66. Woman who took a “roll in ze hay” in “Young Frankenstein” 68. Actress Rebecca who has said her last name is pronounced “like the lettuce” 69. Works in a museum 70. Hoot 71. Is forbidden to 72. MGM rival of the ‘30s 73. Blues singer James 74. Lines screenwriters didn’t write

MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 17

Down 1. Requests 2. Nothing out of the ordinary 3. Southern California city 4. Big Super Bowl purchase 5. “____-Ho” (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” song) 6. Out 7. Space oddity, briefly 8. Wynton who was the first jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize 9. Kind of bargain 10. John B, in a Beach Boys hit 11. Solarium 12. Elite list 13. Costar of Bea, Betty, and Rue 21. Caution in a school zone 23. Rankle 26. Get millions of hits, say 29. Really binges (on)

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

31. One-named singer with the 2014 hit “Chandelier” 34. “Rugrats” dad 36. “Monsters, ____” 39. Online feed letters 40. Pricey hors d’oeuvre 41. “____ Kapital” 42. “Popeye” cartoonist 43. 1979 Steve Martin comedy 44. View, as the future 47. “The Barber of Seville” composer 48. Heist of a sort 49. First-aid equipment 51. Mont. neighbor 53. Cut (off) 54. Big ____ (the drug industry) 57. Lit 59. “Greatness is ____ leading towards the unknown”: Charles de Gaulle 62. “Right away, boss!” 64. ____ nitrate 67. Words with discount or disadvantage Last Thursday’s Solution S P E W K E R R I T S Y B U L I T T M I R O O P E R A T I N Y D O D E L K A M I N I K E N O W E E W I A T P A I S T N

A G I R L

R E T I E

S E E Y A

M I S S M

B S K T S E T U N L L I G A T A M E

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

B I D E T

A D E L E

T O R I

M E R Y L

A R T O F

A T O B

K I E I N K A N E

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

5/31/20

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

LO CA L

PAGE 18 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Critter Corner

25 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 9 • May 18, 1995

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 13 • May 27, 2010 F.C. Considers Its 1st-Ever Downtown ‘Community Development Authority’

Superintendent Roberson to Leave Falls Church School System for Top Slot in Hanover County

For the first time in the history of Falls Church, a novel and effec tive economic development tool known as a “Capital Development Authority” is being proposed to help “fast track” a non-profit commercial office building known as The McKeever Building on S. Washington St. The ultimate success of the newly-approved Wilden Senior Affordable Housing Apartments is tied to it.

Dr. Stewart Roberson, superintendent of Falls Church Schools for the past four years, officially submitted his resignation to the School Board last night to accept a position as superintendent of the Hanover County Public School System. Board chairman Jann Murchie indicated that the Board would accept Roberson’s resignation, which will take effect August 7.

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This is Duncan, a 15-week old shepherd retriever mix from Lucky Dog rescue. He is enjoying his new life with the CaumontRude family in Falls Church, meeting other dogs, playing with his toys and taking lots and lots of naps throughout the day.” Though few can replace the quality snuggles she had with her human, Alison. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020 | PAGE 19

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA FOR APPROVAL OF A RATE ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE PURSUANT TO § 56-585.1 A 4 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2020-00084 •Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion”) has applied to update its Rider T1 by which it recovers certain transmission and demand response program costs. •Dominion’s request represents an increase of $76 million annually, which would increase the bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month by $0.57. •A Hearing Examiner appointed by the State Corporation Commission will hear the case on June 23, 2020, via Skype for Business. •On June 24, 2020, commencing at 10:00 a.m., the Commission will receive via telephone electronic public witness testimony in this matter. •Further information about this case is available on the SCC website at: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information. On May 12, 2020, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion” or “Company”), pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 4 (“Subsection A 4”) of the Code of Virginia, filed an application (“Application”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) for approval of a rate adjustment clause designated as Rider T1. In this proceeding, Dominion seeks approval of a revenue requirement for the rate year September 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021 (“Rate Year”). This revenue requirement, if approved, would be recovered through a combination of base rates and a revised increment/decrement Rider T1. Rider T1 is designed to recover the increment/decrement between the revenues produced from the transmission component of base rates and the new revenue requirement developed from the Company’s total transmission costs for the Rate Year. The total proposed revenue requirement to be recovered over the Rate Year is $1,002,915,471, comprising an increment Rider T1 of $531,063,864, and forecast collections of $471,851,607, through the transmission component of base rates. This total revenue requirement represents an increase of $75,944,528, compared to the revenues projected to be produced during the Rate Year by the combination of the base rate component of Subsection A 4 (the Company’s former Rider T) and the Rider T1 rates currently in effect. References in this notice to “transmission” are inclusive of demand response costs identified in Subsection A 4. Implementation of the proposed Rider T1 on September 1, 2020, would increase the average weighted monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month by $0.57. The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing that, among other things, scheduled a hearing at 10 a.m. on June 23, 2020, via Skype for Business, to receive opening statements, testimony, and evidence offered by the Company, respondents, and the Commission Staff on the Company’s Application. On June 24, 2020, commencing at 10:00 a.m., the Commission will receive via telephone electronic public witness testimony in this matter. Public witnesses may access the hearing by dialing 804-299-5840, and entering the conference ID of 436240020. To promote fairness for all public witnesses, each witness will be allotted five minutes to provide testimony. The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health emergency related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, and the declarations of emergency issued at both the state and federal levels. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs, or other documents required to be served in this matter should be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”). Confidential and Extraordinarily Sensitive information shall not be submitted electronically and should comply with 5 VAC 5-20-170, Confidential information. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, any person seeking to hand deliver and physically file or submit any pleading or other document shall contact the Clerk’s Office Document Control Center at (804) 371-9838 to arrange the delivery. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information. An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, David J. DePippo, Esquire, Dominion Resources Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or david.j.depippo@dominionenergy.com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information. On or before June 16, 2020, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: https://scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. All comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00084. On or before June 10, 2020, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by Rule 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00084. On or before June 10, 2020, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission and serve on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case, and each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, including 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020 00084. Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice. The Company’s Application, the Commission’s Rules of Practice and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing may be viewed at: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

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