Falls Church News-Press 5-5-2022

May 5 - 11, 2022

Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee

Fou n d e d 1991 • Vol. X X XII No. 12

The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia

Easy F.C. Budget OKd With 9¢ Tax Cut

Whole Foods, Here We Come!

Yet, ‘Dynamic’ Factors Still Grounds for Some Jitters

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

It was a City of Falls Church budget smoothly crafted, improved and adopted this Monday with little or no discord this time, a product of good and caring government with an emphasis on the role of promoting economic development.

Despite the enormous amount of special new costs, including $120 million for a new high school, renovations of the library and City Hall, and pressing storm water infrastructure needs, the $112 million Fiscal Year 2023 budget, set to go into effect this July 1, was adopted after a relatively short Council meeting this week with a series of five unanimous (7-0) votes.

Parameters of the budget, slightly modified from what City Manager Wyatt Shields recommended in March, ran the gauntlet through a generous series of formal presentations, public forums and community input sessions.

Continued on Page 3

THE ALWAYS OBLIGATORY shovels, hard hats and carefully manicured dirt pile was there for top City of Falls Church officials and the Insight Property Group developers for the groundbreaking of the long-awaited Broad at Washington project with its 339 residential units, new home for the City’s premiere theater troupe, Creative Cauldron, and a 50,000 square foot flagship Whole Foods store. Demolition of existing buildings on the site is in its final stages now. (Photo: News-Press).

Del. Simon Mulls Richmond Leadership Slot

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Marcus Simon, Falls Church’s representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, may become the new minority leader of his fellow Democrats there when the matter comes to

a vote of his colleagues later this month.

Simon, 51, who was first elected in 2014 as the state delegate from the 53rd district that covers the City of Falls Church, is one of the only names being put forward to replace Del. Eileen Filler-Corn as his par-

ty’s leader in the House.

Filler-Corn was ousted from her role by a secret ballot vote of her colleagues last week.

She was removed because her party lost the majority in the House in the last election last November, and some of her outspoken critics blamed her

for failing to devote a sufficient amount of her party’s resources to their candidates and failing to consult with enough of her colleagues in making such decisions.

Simon told the News-Press

Continued on Page 4

Inside This Week Encore Creativity Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Celebrating Moms and NonTraditional Mother Figures

See Story, Page 11

See Mother’s Day Special, Pages 12 and 13

Encore Creativity for Older Adults hosts various chorales and choirs across the area, including some for those with Alzheimer’s.

This month they will be celebrating their 15th anniversary as a nonprofit

The holiday of Mother’s Day has evolved over the years to not only include biological mothers, but those women who have also served in that role. Take this opportunity to celebrate the women in your life.

Index

Comment...................................... 5,7,8 Editorial................................................ 6 Letters.................................................. 6 Crime Report....................................... 8 Mother’s Day Special..................12,13 Business News.................................. 15 News & Notes..............................16,17 Calendar......................................18,19 Critter Corner..................................... 22 FCCPS Page..................................... 23

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NEWS BRIEFS F.C. Board Confirms Wawa Set for Stratford Site At the monthly meeting of the Falls Church City Council’s Economic Development Committee last week, it was announced that new owners of the W. Broad Street property formerly home to the Stratford Motor Lodge will become the site of a new Wawa convenience store. The store would not have a gas pumping option and it is not known what it’s operating hours will be.

The plan is for a “by right” project requiring no special approvals from the City.

Reps Urge U.S. DOJ To Reopen Ghaisar Case Falls Church area U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, Virginia U.S.Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, U.S. Reps Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jennifer Wexton and Gerry Connolly, and House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva today wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging that the U.S. Department of Justice reconsider the case of two U.S. Park Police officers who shot and killed Northern Virginian Bijan Ghaisar in 2017. Their request followed the recent decision by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to drop an appeal in the case.

Biden Touts Biggest Deficit Cut in U.S. History U.S. President Joe Biden yesterday announced that another $1.5 trillion is being cut from the federal deficit, He stated, “This week, my administration released new information that we’re on track to cut the federal deficit by another $1.5 trillion by the end of this fiscal year, the biggest decline in a single year ever in American history. The biggest decline on top of us having a $350 billion drop in the deficit last year, my first year as President.

“We also learned that for the first time since 2016, the Treasury Department is planning to pay down the national debt issued to the public this quarter,” he added. “The bottom line is the deficit went up every year under my predecessor, before the pandemic and during the pandemic. And it’s gone down both years since I’ve been here.”

“Bringing down the deficit is one way to

ease inflationary pressures in an economy where a consequence of a war and gas prices and oil and food,” he said.

Applications Accepted for F.C. Arts & Culture Grants The City of Falls Church is accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations that support the arts, culture, theater and history.

The application deadline is July 12, and funds must be used by May 16, 2023.

Applicants must be located within the City of Falls Church. They can request up to $5,000 in project grants from the city and up to an additional $4,500 matching funds provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Operational grant funding cannot exceed 25 percent of the organization’s total budget of operational expenses. The budget amount is based on the nonprofit group’s actual expenses from the previous year.

Rep. Beyer Remarks on Supreme Court Revelations Falls Church’s U.S. Congressman Don Beyer said this week, “As the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, we are facing the most serious threat in decades to women’s reproductive freedom. We need elected officials to stand up for a woman’s right to choose.”

He added, “In light of the draft Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade that was just revealed, this is more important than ever. I’m wearing my Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsement as a badge of honor.”

He continued, “In Congress, I helped block repeated efforts by the Republicans to interfere with women’s personal health care decisions and their misguided attempts to outlaw a woman’s right to choose. Last year, I voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act in the House to codify Roe v. Wade and defend against attacks on choice from state legislatures and the Supreme Court.

“Assuring access to abortion and contraceptives for all Americans doesn’t just mean blocking Republican attacks. We need to take further action to fund clinics across the nation and invest in expanding Medicare to all Americans so that critical reproductive healthcare is not out of reach for anyone.”

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 3

F.C. City Council OKs Final Budget With 9¢ Tax Cut

Continued from Page 1

The budget, the largest in the Little City’s history, was built on top of a huge 11.5 percent boost to the assessed real estate value, much but not all of which were offset by the region’s biggest tax rate cut, a whopping nine cent cut from $1.32 to $1.23 per $100 of real estate assessed values.

Surprisingly, all this happened amid what Shields more than once exclaimed was a uncommonly “dynamic” environment for budget making. For example, the Council still does not know big chunks of its bottom line, such as whether or not Richmond will implement the governor’s grocery tax abatement plan and whether or not some mitigations will be forthcoming for localities.

Rising costs, supply chain disruption issues and the economic impact of the war overseas are factors impacting budget decisions, as well as nervousness about whether or not some major lease payments are actually going to come through, such as the $4.2 million due to come from the consortium of West End Gateway Partners for develop-

ment of the 10 acres at the City’s west end.

Aside from mild jitters caused by these factors, if anything was contentious about the Falls Church budget this year, it had to do with the size of the funds held in reserve to deal with contingencies that could potentially be generated by the factors listed above. With a $112 million annual budget, City reserves, including unassigned fund balance numbers, run as high as $40 million.

But the money was there for robust salary and wage increases for both City and School employees, for bringing the police department up to full capacity, giving the Falls Church City Schools all they asked for, adding to senior and other relief programs, setting aside more for affordable housing, providing for improvements in sidewalks and traffic calming, and ensuring that no one who works for the City earns less than $15 an hour.

“This year’s budget continues support for community priorities like school excellence, pedestrian safety, affordable housing, the environment, and stormwater

infrastructure while being mindful of the impact of rising residential assessments,” said Mayor David Tarter. “Smart growth and economic development have produced results that support these efforts while allowing us to reduce our tax rate by nine cents.”

To mitigate the 11 percent overall increase in real estate assessments, the adopted budget includes a decrease in the real estate tax to $1.23 per $100 of assessed value, and a car tax rate reduction from the current $5.00 rate to $4.30, a 70 cent reduction to address what is thought to be a temporary sharp increase in vehicle valuation due to worldwide supply issues.

The sanitary sewer rate was increased to $10.17 per 1,000 gallons, an increase of 3 percent from $9.87. The increase is the first since 2016, and will accommodate increases in personnel and contract costs. The median homeowner will see an increase of about $3.60 per quarter with this sewer rate change.

The stormwater fee rate was increased to $19.28 per 200 square feet of impervious coverage, an increase of 3 percent from $18.72.

This will be an annual increase

U 00 SE , SU 0 0 N DA 0 Y 2– 4

CLASSIC COLONIAL

through the Community Services Fund, and $130,000 to winterize the senior citizen units in the Winter Hill community.

The approved Capital Improvements Program (CIP) includes $27.7 million dedicated to projects that are currently under design or construction. Once complete, the projects will enhance the City’s sense of place as a safe, health, engaging, and beautiful community. Those projects include Park Avenue Great Streets, Shreve Road Great Routes to School, South Oak Street bridge replacement, neighborhood traffic calming, N. Washington Street and Columbia Street intersection improvements, Broad Street HAWK signals, Washington and Old Dominion Trail crossings, and more.

The budget provides additional building permit inspectors and plan reviewers, to handle the increased development activity that is occurring in the City.

These six additional positions are to be funded exclusively by building permit fees paid by developers and builders in the City.

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of about $7 for the median homeowner, which also will meet rising personnel and contract costs for maintenance. The six major flood mitigation projects identified by the Stormwater Task Force will be paid for with federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, and therefore the significant rate increases planned two years ago will not be necessary to cover those projects.

The senior tax relief program was expanded with an additional $188,000 (a 44 percent increase).

The Council approved $50,000 to boost the Government Energy Plan for carbon emission reduction for government and school operations.

Importantly for enhancing the public perception of the City’s probusiness commitment, the Council chose not to enact the proposed new Commercial and Industrial Tax as Shields had proposed.

To help pay for transportation improvements in the City, the Council chose to use regular tax revenues, and three programs will receive funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): $50,000 for refugee assistance, $30,000 to fully fund all the applications received

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PAGE 4 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Delegate Simon May Become New Minority Leader in House Continued from Page 1

this week that he did not favor that outcome, but that a number of his colleagues approached him about taking over the job because of his high profile in Richmond owing to the prominent role he has played with floor management issues in recent years.

If he accepts his election when the Richmond legislature is reconvened later this month primarily to hammer out unresolved budget issues with the governor, Simon will foreclose at least temporarily on his aspirations to seek election to the state senate next year. He instead would go for reelection to a fifth term as delegate from the 53rd district.

With last year’s redistricting of all state senate and delegate boundaries, Simon has found himself in the same district, covering Falls Church, as current State Sen. Chap Peterson, a Fairfax City-based legislator who is considered by many to be too moderate on a number of issues than Falls Church voters have become used to with Simon, and before him the late Jim Scott, at

the helm of their district.

But Simon told the NewsPress that if he is elected House Minority Leader, there will remain “plenty” of other prospective candidates from the more immediate Falls Church area who will seek to challenge Peterson.

That seat will become the one representing Falls Church with next year’s election as current F.C. Senator Dick Saslaw, who turned 82 this February, is expected not to seek another term. Saslaw has served in the state legislature since 1976, and his newly configured district, running a little to the south and west of Falls Church, also includes State Sen. Dave Marsden.

Simon told the News-Press this week that his primary goal, were he to become the House Minority Leader, would be to turn his party from the minority back into the majority party. His task will be “to bring his party together” because it is considered “very divided now.”

In a text issued this Monday, Simon confirmed his interest

in seeking the post, adding, “Everyone knows we need a united caucus for potential special elections and the 2023 general, and that’s a big part of the conversations I’m having with

members. A leader can’t lead on a knife’s edge. Some of my colleagues think I can bring the caucus together and I’m honored by that, but whoever it is needs to know they have the full

support of the caucus.”

Another who’s reportedly mulling a run for the job is Arlington delegate Rip Sullivan, who like Simon was a FillerCorn ally.

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Commentary

MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 5

A Message to the Biden Team on Ukraine: Talk Less Thomas L. Friedman NEW YORK TIMES

Growing up in Minnesota, I was a huge fan of the local NHL team at the time, the North Stars, and they had a sportscaster, Al Shaver, who gave me my first lesson in politics and military strategy. He ended his shows with this signoff: “When you lose, say little. When you win, say less. Goodnight and good sports.”

President Joe Biden and his team would do well to embrace Shaver’s wisdom.

Last week, in Poland, standing near the border with Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin got my attention — and certainly Vladimir Putin’s — when he declared that America’s war aim in Ukraine is no longer just helping Ukraine restore its sovereignty, but is also to produce a “weakened” Russia.

“We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine,” he said. “So, it has already lost a lot of military capability. And a lot of its troops, quite frankly. And we want to see them not have the capability to very quickly reproduce that capability.”

Please tell me that this statement was a result of a National Security Council meeting led by the president. And that they decided, after carefully weighing all the second- and third-order consequences, that it is in our interest and within our power to so badly degrade Russia’s military that it will not be able to project power again — soon? ever? not clear — and that we can do that without risking a nuclear response from a humiliated Putin.

Have no doubts: I hope that this war ends with Russia’s military sharply degraded and Putin out of power. I’d just never say so publicly if I were in leadership, because it buys you nothing and can potentially cost you a lot.

Loose lips sink ships — and they also lay the groundwork for overreach in warfare, mission creep, a disconnect between ends and means and huge unin-

tended consequences.

There has been way too much of this from the Biden team, and the messes have required too much mopping up.

For instance, a short time after Austin’s statement, a National Security Council spokesperson said, according to CNN, that the secretary’s comments reflected U.S. goals, namely “to make this invasion a strategic failure for Russia.”

Nice try — but that was a contrived cleanup effort. Forcing Russia to withdraw from Ukraine is not the same as declaring that we want to see it weakened so badly that it can never do this again anywhere — that’s an illdefined war aim. How do you know when that is achieved?

And is it an ongoing process? Do we keep degrading Russia?

In March in a speech in Poland, Biden said that Putin, “a dictator, bent on rebuilding an empire, will never erase a people’s love for liberty,” and then the president added, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.”

In the wake of that statement, the White House contended that Biden “was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change,” but rather was making the point that Putin “cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.”

Another cleanup word salad that just convinces me that the National Security Council didn’t have a meeting that set limits on where U.S. involvement to assist Ukraine stops and starts.

Instead, people are freelancing.

That’s not good.

Our goal began simple and should stay simple: Help Ukrainians fight as long as they have the will and help them negotiate when they feel the time is right — so they can restore their sovereignty and we can reaffirm the principle that no country can just devour the country next door. Freelance beyond that and we invite trouble.

How so? For starters, I don’t want America responsible for what happens in Russia if Putin is toppled. Because one of three things will most likely result:

Continued on Page 7

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

The county’s newest co-location experiment is beckoning on the American Legion site at 3445 Washington Blvd.

I was treated to a tour of the nearly complete 160-room apartment complex called Terwilliger Place, re-developed as an opportunity for needy veterans by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.

Recall that the old Post 139 Legion hall next to Casual Adventure, with its patriotic murals and cannon in its yard, had fallen on hard times. World War II and Korean War vets had moved on, and younger vets were less the joining type.

So APAH in 2016 proposed a teardown to be replaced by a modern residential complex to meet low-income housing needs while preserving an HQ for the Legion.

Named for Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger (the parents of key APAH donor and Arlington native Ron Terwilliger), the spiffy new building during my visit last week remained a hard-hat zone fenced off from noisy traffic across from Virginia Square.

But I saw beautiful windows and handsome faux marble walls and woodwork flooring in twin wings on 1.3 acres. The project offers 80 distinct unit types of two-and-threebedroom apartments, many with handicapped-accessible bathrooms.

The modernistic “lighting fixtures are expensive,” acknowledged site superintendent Josh Speakman of the CBG Building Co., headquartered on Wilson Blvd. A sign in

a window reads, “Now Leasing.

Affordable Apartments. Ask About Veterans Preference.”

Along with sample apartments, he showed me outdoor patios (separate ones for the Legion and the general residents), a community room with stadium seating, a leasing office, concierge desk, mail room, laundry room, loading dock and trash room. “There’s lots of natural light, and it’s turning out pretty well,” Speakman said. “I like helping veterans.”

Post 139 will enjoy 6,000-squarefoot ground-floor office space with a separate entrance on N. Kansas St., though “an imaginary line separates,” them from the residences, according to APAH senior project manager Ryan Nash, who joined my tour. “APAH is maximizing density in the unusual hybrid project,” he explained. With capital from the nonprofit public-private partnership Virginia Housing, Capital One, National Equity Fund and Arlington County, the complex’s two residential buildings are organized by separate funding streams, the 9 percent side, which offers the veterans preference and greater subsidy, and the 4 percent side.

Using the 1986 tax reform law, the wings for low-income tax purposes are “two separate buildings,” Nash said. The “Post West Nine LP” side provides APAH a tax credit capped higher than those for the “Post East Four LP.” There are no market-rate apartments, he said, and a significant number of residents will be at 30-80 percent of area median income, paying on a sliding scale

APAH, having commissioned the overall structure, will see to occupation of the units, and then the Legion will buy its own space, Nash said. “It’s different from typical landlord-tenant arrangement.”

An enthusiastic supporter is the Arlington House Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose members donated a flag and flagpole, I’m told by its regent Nancy Weinberg.

Equally excited is Bob Romano, second vice commander of Post 139, which has its own contractor to finalize the Legion’s ground-floor space. His team has hired a new post manager with good contracts among recruitable veterans. And Romano has been promoting Terwilliger Place, which APAH will open this summer, with his space to be ready

by November. *** Get ready for a chop-down of the full-flowered chestnut tree on the construction site of what was the Victorian-era Memory House at 6404 Washington Blvd., demolished Dec. 6.

The Arlington Tree Action Group, which posted a “More Trees, Less Flooding” sign nearby, campaigned to preserve the prized tree.

But the builder, planning two luxury homes, has included removing the chestnut in his still-pending land disturbance application, according to county urban forest manager Vince Verweij.

The cause of protecting the tree canopy is echoed by the Arlington County Civic Federation, which plans a community meeting for May 7, 10:00 a.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center.

PAGE 6 | MAY 5 - 11. 2022

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Vol. XXXII, No. 12 May 5 - 11, 2022 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •

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Impotent Male Supremacy

So, it’s now been put right out there. Who did not know this was coming? The umbridge aroused at the circumstances of the leak needs be so puny compared to the impact of the impending Supreme Court ruling ending Roe V. Wade and all its collateral consequences. The years of the extreme politicalization of that court, beginning with Republican House leader Mitch McConnell’s abjectly immoral blocking of President Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland in 2015 and subsequent railroading into confirmation of three dismal Trump appointees, have sadly degraded the court into a veritable rubber stamp for the GOP agenda. One could credibly argue this politically subservient role was at play with the court’s regrettable vote in 2000 to ensure the election of George W. Bush, but any illusions to the contrary are surely now savaged by this latest turn of events.

People (we could say “politicians,” but we still hold out that honor may be deemed worthily bestowed upon that noble title in our democracy, as it is for many of our representatives) like McConnell and their slimy ilk, at some point in the future of human history on this planet will be recognized as a disgraced and veritably subhuman species of Judas rats. Dante placed Judas at the lowest level of his Inferno because Judas was guilty not of interracial marriage or same sex loving, but of something far more destructive of human civilization: betrayal. That is, betrayal of truth and goodness and the real people who suffer as a result. That’s where those Trump appointees to the court will end up, as well, for their abject lying to secure their confirmations.

But indifference to evil is also a moral violation. Still, we are confident in the collective wisdom of the majority of Americans, raised in a culture defined by the noblest aspirations of democracy’s founders and sustainers over centuries. We remain assured that our national electorate will not let this stand. Just when malaise and a stubborn fatalism was washing over Democrats concerning this year’s midterm elections, this revelation of the Supreme Court’s intentions will arouse a mighty mobilization that will reverse the current electoral trend this year.

Stepping back to the bigger, global picture now, it becomes clearer than ever that the battle for the collective soul of our species is fundamentally between freedom and tyranny. It is between the freedom of autonomous persons to shape and live their lives in their own best interests, on the one hand, and those who would use whatever destructive means they have at their disposal to impose their will on others, such as Putin is attempting in Ukraine and Trump Republicans are seeking to do with women’s bodies here, on the other. Freedom vs.

Tyranny.

The added wrinkle in this latest development is the revelation concerning the extent to which impotent male supremacy (“IMS”) plays a role underneath it all. A rousing feminist revolution is being called for.

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On Property Tax Rates in F.C. Editor, FCNP coverage of the Falls Church budget process praises the “slashing” of the Falls Church property tax rate from $1.32/$100.00 to $1.23/$100.00. The coverage fails to note, however, that even after this “deepest” rate cut our city will continue to impose by far the highest property tax rate in the state of Virginia. Falls Church imposes a disproportionate tax burden on home owners, not because this is necessitated by “costlier burdens determined by scale,” but because our city government chooses not to tax businesses as other municipalities across the state routinely do.

No less important, the anti-homeowner bias in our city budget has been compounded in recent years by real estate assessments spiraling wildly beyond the actual market value of homes in Falls Church.

The assessed value of our home has increased by five percent in the past two years alone, pushing its supposed value to a level that bears no relation to the actual selling price of homes of similar size and type. This unsupportable appraisal inflation accounts for the fact that, despite the supposed “slashing” of the property tax rate, real estate tax bills in Falls Church are still expected to increase this year by more than $600.00.

If Falls Church is truly to have a “world class” budgetary structure, profound reform is needed – starting with the reining in of runaway assessments, actual slashing of the property tax rate to align with Virginia norms, and enactment of a reasonable commercial and industrial tax so businesses pay a fair share.

Alan Misenheimer Falls Churc

Send Beyer Back to Congress Editor, Many readers have seen the signs begin to pop up around their neighborhoods. White ink on a blue background, bearing the words “re-elect Don Beyer.” I see these iconic yard signs every two years in the fall, and my family has a dedicated spot for ours in our corner yard. Only this year, they’re a little different, as they now include an addition: “June 21, 2022,” the date of this year’s Democratic primary.

For the first time since Congressman Jim Moran retired

in 2014, voters this year will have the opportunity to choose which Democrat we want to represent the 8th Congressional District on the other side of the Potomac. The choice is clear, and I’ll be enthusiastically supporting Don Beyer. For the last eight years, he’s represented the interests of our community in the United States Congress, and for the four years before that, he represented the interests of the United States as our Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. When he was Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, he worked with Republicans and Democrats alike to pass legislation to uplift all Virginians, and that’s the same kind of devotion and work ethic that he’s taken to Washington.

Beyer has been a leader on such sensitive issues as suicide prevention, where he fought with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the move to designate 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Hotline. As Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, he’s been fighting to renew the Child Tax Credit, which 119,000 children across the district were eligible for in 2021. On every major issue—gun control, climate change, reproductive freedom, healthcare, voting rights, you name it—Don Beyer has been the progressive leader we need to represent us all.

When endorsing candidates, the Falls Church News-Press editorial board has always followed a general rule to “support incumbents when they are doing a good job.” Don Beyer is doing a good job, we ought to send him back to Congress.

Matthew Savage Falls Church

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MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 7

The White House Correspondents’ Bash N������� F. B����� FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Since I first came to Wa s h i n g t o n , D.C., and got a job in 1987 as a reporter covering the president, I have attended a preponderance of the annual White House Correspondents Association dinners. None was better or more impactful than the one held this past weekend, the first after three years of boycotts by the truthhating Trump and two years of cancellations due to the pandemic.

This one came in the midst of the international crisis caused

by Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the most unsettling

event of its kind since World War II. None, therefore, underscored the true importance of a free press as a cornerstone of democracy more than this one, and President Joe Biden and comedian Trevor Noah drove that point home brilliantly.

Truly, my essay last week, “The Press’ Signal Role Exposing Putin’s Crimes in Ukraine,” foreshadowed their remarks and the spirit exhibited by the 2,600 people there. As Noah stressed at the conclusion of the event, contrasting the extraordinary and brave coverage of that war by the media of the free world to that of the controlled Russian press should assure us of what we, the media, stand for.

As the owner of a local newspaper, I was particularly pleased that both Biden and Noah underscored the importance of the free press on both the global and local level to hold authorities to account and to give voice to those without.

Unlike such dinners in the past, this one was uncommonly devoid of Hollywood celebrities, honing the focus on its true purpose. When Pete Davidson is the biggest entertainment world name in attendance, the point is made. It is hoped that, as a comedian himself, he will have learned from the boffo performance by Noah. As a survivor of Staten Island culture whose fireman dad lost his life in 9/11, Davidson could be a strong spokesman for First Amendment values in a way that our younger generation sorely needs to embrace better now.

Me being at the dinner was a small way of standing with and supporting the role of the free press, free speech and “unvarnished truth,” and by way of it, democracy and its core values of the importance of the individual soul in our troubled world.

The exercise of the role of the free press in our society is something that we (resorting to the “editorial we” for now) have

practiced day to day on a practical level grinding out a newspaper as we have at the mighty Falls Church News-Press every week for over 1,600 consecutive weeks since I founded it and our first issue rolled down the conveyor belt off the printing press in March 1991.

It certainly doesn’t start amid a sea of unfamiliar faces at such a formidable event as a White House Correspondents dinner, even if it is taking place in the heart of the most important democracy in the world and amid the most powerful and influential persons in that democracy.

Still, it is of great significance to me to place myself amid the aspirations of so many people to sustain our precious democracy through the free press.

One sorry soul, an unhappy former associate, wrote that attending a dinner one year was like attending “Balshazzar’s feast,” referencing the Old Testament story of a Babylonian

oppressor of the Israelites.

Despite all the glitz and pomp of the WHCA dinner, he couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

The event has always stood as the annual recognition of the most precious values of our culture, not an orgy appeasing a brutal, godless tyrant, but a celebration of both what we are achieving and aspiring to attain on behalf of a better, more gracious and loving species.

“American journalism is quintessentially an American thing that reveals our soul,” Biden said in his remarks. “We are a great nation because we are a good people, and the free press matters more now than it ever has.”

It must never be taken for granted, because a free press at its best is the guardian of truth.

Journalists have a great obligation, he said, to “speak the truth as best you can, because it matters, truth matters.”

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A Message to the Biden Team on Ukraine: Talk Less Continued from Page 5

(1) Putin is replaced by someone worse.

(2) Chaos breaks out in Russia, a country with some 6,000 nuclear warheads. As we saw in the Arab Spring, the opposite of autocracy is not always democracy — it’s often disorder.

(3) Putin is replaced by someone better. A better leader in Russia would make the whole world better.

I pray for that. But for that person to have legitimacy in a post-Putin Russia, it’s vital that it does not appear that we installed him or her.

That needs to be a Russian process.

If we get Door No. 1 or Door No. 2, you wouldn’t want the Russian people or the world holding America responsible for unleashing prolonged instability in Russia. Remember our fear of “loose nukes” in Russia after the fall of communism in the 1990s?

We also don’t want Putin to separate us from our allies — not all of whom would sign on for a war whose goal is not just liberating Ukraine but also ousting Putin. Without naming names, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu recently complained that some NATO allies actu-

ally “want the war to continue. They want Russia to become weaker.”

Remember: A lot of countries in the world are neutral in this war because, as much as they might sympathize with Ukrainians, they really don’t like to see America or NATO act like a bully — even toward Putin.

If this is going to be a long war, and Ukraine is able to recover all or most of its territory, it is vital that this be perceived as Putin vs. the world, not Putin vs. America.

And let’s be careful not to raise Ukrainian expectations too high.

Small countries that suddenly get the backing of big powers can get intoxicated. Many things have changed about Ukraine since the end of the Cold War — except one: its geography. It is still, and it will always be, a relatively small nation on Russia’s border. It is going to have to make some hard compromises before this conflict is over. Let’s not make it even harder for it by adding unrealistic goals.

At the same time, be careful about falling in love with a country you could not find on a map with 10 tries a year ago. Ukraine has a history of political corruption and thuggish oligarchs, but it was making

progress toward democratic reforms before the Russian invasion. It has not become Denmark in the past three months, although, God bless them, a lot of young people there are really trying, and I want to support them.

But I saw a play in 1982 that I cannot get out of my head. Israelis fell in love with the Christian Phalangists in Lebanon, with whom they teamed up to drive Yasser Arafat’s PLO out of Beirut. Together they were going to remake the Levant but overreached.

This led to all kinds of unintended consequences — the Phalangist leader got assassinated; Israel got stuck in the mud in Lebanon; and a pro-Iranian Shiite militia emerged in south Lebanon to resist the Israelis.

It was called “Hezbollah.” It now dominates Lebanese politics.

The Biden team has done so well so far with its limited goals. It should stay there.

“The war in Ukraine gave the administration an opportunity to demonstrate the U.S.’ unique assets in the world today: Its ability to forge and hold a global alliance of countries to confront an act of authoritarian aggression; and second, the capacity to wield an economic super-

weapon in response that only the dominance of the dollar in the global economy makes possible,” said Nader Mousavizadeh, founder and CEO of Macro Advisory Partners, a geostrategic consulting firm.

If the U.S. can continue to effectively deploy those two assets, he added, “it will vastly improve our long-term power and standing in the world and send a very powerful deterrent message to both Russia and China.”

In foreign affairs, success breeds authority and credibility, and credibility and authority breed more success.

Just restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty, and frustrating Putin’s military there, would be a huge achievement with lasting dividends. Al Shaver knew what he was talking about: When you lose, say little. When you win, say less. Everyone can see the score.

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN © 2022 The New York Times

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PAGE 8 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Fairfax County’s annual budget process is nearing completion, as the Board of Supervisors formally “marked-up” the FY 2023 budget last week in preparation for adoption at its May 10 Board meeting.

The budget includes a three-cent reduction in the real estate tax rate, from $1.14 per $100 valuation to $1.11, fully funds the School Board’s request, and grants a 4.01 percent Market Rate Adjustment for county employee salaries. The mark-up package was approved by a 9 to 1 vote. The FY 2023 budget becomes effective on July 1, 2022.

Former Board Chairman Sharon Bulova always prefaced her budget remarks by saying that the “county budget reflects the values of the community.” Chairman Jeff McKay echoed that sentiment and added that the focus of the FY 2023 budget must be on recovery, assisting residents, students, and businesses who may have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Balancing resources and needs are the challenges faced by local governments in Virginia, whose budgets, by law, must be balanced every year. The “hot” real estate market pushed housing values far higher than anticipated, and the Board responded by lowering the tax rate. The final budget package includes an additional $751,954 for Park Authority natural resources sustainability efforts, as requested by many speakers at the public hearings, and a decrease of $804,258 and six positions for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. ArtsFairfax will be given an additional $250,000 for grants to local arts groups, with an emphasis on diversity.

One wrinkle in the budget process is Personal Property Tax revenue, which also is expected to increase substantially, due to rising vehicle assessments. In normal years, vehicles depreciate as they age, but supply chain and manufacturing issues (such as availability of computer chips during the pandemic) have had the peculiar effect of increasing values on many vehicles, even older ones. To help mitigate the impact of rising car values, staff has recommended that Personal Property Tax bills be assessed on 85 percent of a vehicle’s assessed value

for this tax year. A resolution to officially adopt the 85 percent ratio will be considered as part of budget adoption actions.

Another wrinkle is that the Commonwealth of Virginia still does not have an approved budget for the biennium, leaving potential state funding to localities in limbo. The Virginia General Assembly and Governor Glenn Youngkin appear to be far apart on decisions to fund government. In fact, a second Special Session on April 27 failed to reach agreement, and it is anyone’s guess as to when the executive and legislative bodies will concur. About 11 percent of the county’s available revenue comes from the Commonwealth, mostly for schools; without an approved state budget, none of the authorized funds can be appropriated. Governor Youngkin has touted the huge budget surplus that the state enjoys right now but, as one of my colleagues from Rockingham County has pointed out, “you don’t have a surplus until all your bills are paid,” and the Commonwealth has long underfunded localities. Even worse, state employees, like those in the Office of the Public Defender, sometimes are told to seek stipends from their local governments to relieve the responsibility of adequate compensation from the Commonwealth.

Many fees in the FY 2023 budget remained unchanged: leaf collection remains at $0.012; stormwater fee at $0.0325, and the Dulles, Reston, and Tysons service district taxes (outside of Mason District). Fee increases include the Refuse Collection Fee, for those households in Sanitary Service Districts, which will increase to $475 annually, and sewer service changes, which are billed for convenience with Fairfax Water, will increase about $4.00 per quarter, reflecting the costs of tertiary treatment for wastewater. That’s a small price to pay to ensure clean water in our community.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h

C RI M E R E PO RT Week of April 25 — May 1, 2022

from an unattended purse.

Fraud, Laura Dr, Apr 27, 9:07 AM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Fraud, W Broad St, Apr 28, 5:42 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Stolen Property Offenses, Wilson Blvd, Apr 27, 2:13 PM, victim reported that items of value were taken

Fraud, James St, Apr 28, 10:01 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

www.FCNP.com

Fraud, E Broad St, Apr 29, 12:40 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Drunk in Public, S Maple Ave/S Washington St, May 1, 3:01 AM, a male, 44, of Glen Burnie, MD, was arrested for Drunk in Public.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Senator Dick Saslaw’s

Richmond Report It’s been nearly 50 years since the Roe v. Wade decision. It appears the U.S. Supreme Court is on the verge of overturning this landmark judgement. Clearly this has been a carefully orchestrated Republican plan to turn back the clock for women and their reproductive freedom. Holding the line in Virginia for a woman’s right to choose is a battle we will continue to fight for.

The General Assembly met for the “Veto Session” on April 27.

During the regular legislative session, 843 bills were passed and sent to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for his review and/or signature. Less than three months into his term, Gov. Youngkin chose to veto 26 measures and amended another 116 bills. The freshman governor used his power of the pen to stoke the flames of revenge by attempting to roll back environmental protections, legislate morality, and continue to challenge the stellar academic record of Virginia’s public school system. He hedged his bets by slapping on a number of re-enactment clauses to bills that passed both chambers with near unanimous votes.

It took the Senate several hours to act on the Senate bills with the Governor’s recommended amendments. We rejected his proposals on SB 192 (my bill), a measure to allow Falls Church residents the opportunity to serve on local commissions if they are 18+ years old. Another Senate bill, SB 163, addressed surrogacy contracts. The Senate rejected the Governor’s amendment to require a surrogate mother to carry multiple fetuses and/or terminate a pregnancy for any health issues including those life-threatening to the mother.

As part of a national agenda, Republicans have interjected themselves into education policy that often divides local communities.

However, the attempt by Governor Youngkin to interfere with the terms of locally elected school board members in Loudoun County was truly an overreach. There is a recall process for removing officials from their elected terms. When that process fails, government should not attempt to change the outcomes to satisfy a political strategy.

During the 2021 General Assembly, much progress was made on decriminalizing marijuana. This session, SB 591 passed with the intent of regulating hemp

content in consumables. Using this bill, Governor Youngkin attempted to rewrite the Code of Virginia on possession and criminal penalties related to marijuana. After a long debate, the measure was sent back to committee, where it is unlikely to be addressed until 2023.

As of this writing there remains plenty unfinished at the Capitol.

The 2022 Special Session met on April 4. The budget is still a work in progress that includes many related bills with monetary impacts still lingering in both Chambers.

The Commonwealth’s bottom line must reflect a structurally balanced budget. Former Governor Ralph Northam proposed eliminating Virginia’s share of the grocery tax while keeping an option open for local government. Localities are beginning to feel the pinch as they attempt to draft their operating budgets. Bear in mind the primary revenue source for them is real estate taxes. We’ve all seen the highly competitive housing market and its impact on our tax bills.

Falls Church City stands to lose over $1.8 million should the grocery tax disappear entirely. This is not small change to the city and goes in part to augment its school budget. It is unlikely local government will be able to make that revenue up and more likely they will look to the Commonwealth to keep them whole.

The Senate and House remain miles apart on the gas tax issue.

Republicans proposed suspending the gas tax and letting the burden of infrastructure and maintenance exclusively come at the expense of Virginia’s taxpayers.

Despite the differences, budget conferees are moving along toward a compromise. I am hopeful the negotiations will conclude this month. Whatever passes the legislature will then go before the Governor.

The school year is quickly coming to a close. I want to wish our graduates the best in their future endeavors. During Teacher Appreciation Week I want to thank our teachers for their nurturing, their inspiration, and their hard work in the classrooms.  Senator Saslaw represents the 35th District in the Virginia State Senate.

He may be emailed at district35@senate.virginia.gov.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 9

Large Turnout for F.C. Women’s ‘Herstory’ Walk

THE CULMINATION OF WOMEN’S ‘Herstory’ Month in Falls Church this year took place last Sunday with the Women’s History Walk that drew large numbers who moved between the many displays recounting the important contributions of the Little City’s women through the years. The grand marshals of the walk this year were Sally Cole, Cindy Mester, Ruth Rodgers, Edie Smolinski, Derrica Wilson. (photos: Gary Mester)

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PAGE 10 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Full Slate of Games Brings Mostly Positive Results for Mustangs

by Ryan McCafferty Falls Church News-Press

The weather in Falls Church was beautiful all week, meaning that the Meridian High Mustangs were able to compete in their full schedule of various athletics events. Soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and tennis all saw busy slates of action, and for the most part, the Mustangs were able to come away with victories.

The boys’ soccer team was able to remain unbeaten with wins over Brentsville on Tuesday (4-2) and

Skyline on Friday (11-0), both on the road, while the girls split a pair of matchups with those same schools on the same nights, though both of their games were at home. They lost 1-5 to Brentsville before dominating Skyline 8-0, bringing their total record to an even 3-3-3.

Boys’ lacrosse only played in one game, a 9-5 win over John Handley at home Monday evening to move to 5-5 on the season. The girls added a pair of wins to extend their streak to six games, dominating Handley 25-5 on Monday and then taking care of

business against Bishop O’Connell with a 20-8 victory on Thursday.

Both games were at home.

After a rough start, the baseball team has hit its stride and swept all three of their matchups this week to improve their record to 8-4, toppling both Brentsville and Skyline on the road before defeating Washington-Liberty at home. They beat Brentsville in a low-scoring 2-1 affair on Tuesday and then Skyline 6-3 on Friday, and beat WashingtonLiberty 6-2. Softball endured a very rough schedule as they played four

games, all on the road, though they were able to split them and now sit at 4-7 for the year. They began their week with a dominant 13-1 victory over Annandale on Monday as Elle Ehrlich hit a grand slam, but they lost in equally convincing fashion in their following two as Brentsville defeated them 11-1 on Tuesday and Skyline 10-0 on Friday. They were however able to end their week on a positive note as they beat Madeira 21-4 on Saturday.

Finally, both tennis teams were able to sweep up as the boys, who

began the year 0-3, are now on a six game winning streak ever since.

They beat Warren County 7-2 at home on Monday and then went on the road to beat Skyline 9-0 on Friday, while the girls took home a pair of dominant 9-0 decisions, on the road against Warren County on Monday and at home as they hosted Woodbridge on Thursday. Their total record now sits at 5-3.

Next week is sure to bring more of the same thrilling action, with the track team also back in competition as well.

Veer S. made his pitching debut for the Challengers, while Isaac S. delivered a notable performance at the plate. Overall, the Challenger bats were swinging, with Abby A., Bo E., Eliza M., Ethan J., Ezra H., Kai N., Lucy R., Pachi F. and Tobin G. all contributing hits. (Jack K. and Justin L., longtime Challenger players, were unable to make it on Saturday but can also be counted on for strong pitching arms and powerful bats.)

This season, there are 13 Challenger players, boys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 18 (Sponsored by Smokey’s Garage).

Players meet once a week for a non-

competitive, scrimmage-style game with a FCKLL Majors team, while the families of both teams cheer. The Challengers are further supported by a roster of terrific teen volunteers.

“It’s such a joy to see my players build their skills and confidence over the course of the season,” says Challenger coach Amanda Springmann. “Everyone works hard, but we have a lot of fun, too. It’s baseball at its best.”

The Avalanche (Coach Pipia, Sponsored by Montage Marketing) is having an amazing season as well.

They were the first half of the season champions and currently 9-1 overall.

AVALANCHE AND CHALLENGERS.

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

by Amanda Springmann and Kirsten Fatzinger

Little League International launched the Challenger Division, an adaptive baseball program for individuals with special needs, in 1989.

Falls Church Kiwanis Little League is extremely proud of their longstanding commitment to this program. While historically a Spring-only program, FCKLL now fields a Challenger team in the Spring and the Fall This past Saturday, April the Challengers teamed up with the Avalanche Majors team on a gorgeous spring day at Westgate Elementary.

(Photo: Kate Askbrook)

Fa l l s C h u r c h

School News & Notes Spring Chorus Concert and Community Sing Meridian’s spring choir concert is Thursday, May 12th, at 7 p.m. and the community is invited to sing with the choir. This year, the Community Sing will be the last song before intermission.

The song is “Sanctuary” by Jason Robert Brown. This song was written in March of 2020, and as we continue to move forward, they want to look at that time with gratitude for those who provided sanctuary in our isolation.

Both Meridian choirs are learning this piece, and there will be solo sections. There will be three rehearsals for community members: Falls Church City faculty and staff, Falls Church City residents, family members of current Meridian choir members, Meridian choir alumni, etc. Please share this informa-

tion with all you think might be interested. Those interested can fill out the form linked in Wednesday’s edition of the Morning Announcements.

All Night Grad Fundraiser Plan ahead for a fun and easy dinner at Clare & Don’s this Sunday, May 1st, from 3 — 6 p.m. There will also be a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the All Night Grad celebration and the PTSA (bidding ends at 5:30). Bid on some great silent auction items, including: VIP Parking pass for Graduation, VIP Seating at Graduation, a basket of books from One More Page, tickets to Creative Cauldron, tickets to 9:30 Club (Mipso), gift cards to local restaurants (Audacious Aleworks, South Block, Yayla,

Cuates Grill, Cafe Kindred), State Theater basket, Trader Joe’s Italian night basket, certificates to: Pilates, Glasshouse Recycling, Decluttering, Mindful Eating, SAT/ACT Tutoring, Patio/Deck cleaning, college consulting and a variety of jewelry & beauty products

Little League Night at MHS Friday Little Leaguers are invited to come to cheer on the Meridian baseball team on Friday, May 6th at 6 p.m. Players should wear their Little League jerseys to get in free of charge. Parents should plan to arrive at 5:45, so their players can join the Mustangs on the field for lineups and the national anthem and plan to stay after the game so their players can run the bases. Adults need

5TH GRADE STUDENTS shared their learning at the annual PYP Exhibition Showcase with the community. In addition to presenting at the Showcase, each group created a website to bring awareness to the important cause they chose to research. (Photo: FCCPS) to purchase a ticket online in advance at https://gofan.co/app/

FCCPS Offers Free Covid Tests Please remember Covid is still in our community. While FCCPS has dropped back into the “LOW” category, we have seen a rise in cases impacting our schools since the end of last week.

Everyone should remember

our best mitigation practices: keep students home if they are not feeling well or have symptoms, get tested — FCCPS offers take-home test kits and PCR testing, get vaccinated, including boosters, if you are able, wear a mask if you have symptoms, have been exposed, or have tested positive, wash/sanitize your hands, eat outside, weather permitting. social distance whenever and wherever you are able. Help stop the spread and keep everyone healthy.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 11

Encore Creativity Celebrates 15th Anniversary This Month

BY AMANDA SNEAD

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Encore Creativity for Older Adults is the nation’s largest choral organization for seniors with nearly two dozen choruses and chorales in the DMV area and affiliate programs across the country. Based in Maryland, the organization has continued to grow significantly over the last 15 years. This month, the organization will be celebrating its 15th anniversary and honoring founder Jeanne Kelly.

Kelly’s idea for Encore began to take shape in the early 2000s after joining a study for Dr. Gene Cohen’s “The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health and Social Functioning of Older Adults,” which would require her to create two chorales for older adults over 65 years of age to join forces with the Senior Singers’ Chorale she already had running.

Kelly will be conducting this concert— her last before retiring, which will include as many as 600 singers from across Encore’s various programs. This includes Chorales, ROCKS — rock &

roll choruses — and Sentimental Journey Singers, a choir for those with early Alzheimer’s and memory impairment and their care partners as well as various online programs.

Mary Ann East, director of the Bailey’s Crossroads Chorale at Goodwin House, joined Encore in 2018 as a chorale director, then helped to launch the Sentimental Journey Singers program in 2019.

In 2020, the organization made an effort to keep things going.

“Especially for folks 55 and over, isolation is a concern. A lot of what they come for is not only the singing and the music but for socialization and community,” noted East.

Rehearsals moved online and the group did their best to keep members active and engaged.

They later launched their online university program, which offers online music education courses, including music history, conducting and more. This opened up opportunities for people from all over to enjoy everything Encore has to offer and has continued-— even moving beyond music and into movement, art and other classes.

ENCORE CREATIVITY’S Sentimental Journey Singers, a choir for those with early-stage Alzheimer’s and their care partners, performing in a holiday concert in 2019 at St. George UMC in Fairfax. (P����: E. D���� L����).

Following Kelly’s retirement, Encore’s new leadership will include Joshua Vickery, Chief Executive Officer, Brian Isaac, Artistic Director, and Mickey Love, Director of Business Operations and Development.

Their anniversary concert will take place on Saturday, May 14th

East and her colleagues are currently working to launch another program called “melody makers” which will be “a more therapeutic music activity” for those with later stage Alzheimer’s and dementia.

This program will launch in June and run for eight weeks over the summer.

at 3 p.m. at Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland. Additionally, a gala will be held the previous evening at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. For more information about Encore, including programs and events, visit encorecreativity.org.

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PAGE 12 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

Honoring ‘Mothers’ This Year!

by Amanda Snead

Falls Church News-Press

On May 12, 1907, the first “Mother’s Day” was celebrated when Anna Jarvis held a memorial service for her late mother who had organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health. Within a few years, it was being celebrated all across America and officially became a holiday in 1914. Originally, Jarvis created the custom of wearing a red or pink carnation to represent a living mother or a white carnation for a mother who has passed. However, over the years the holiday has changed and expanded to include others who have played the role of a mother in some way.

Mothers Day can be a difficult time of year for those without a biological mother in their life. However, it can still be a great time to celebrate all of the non-traditional “mother”

figures and female role models in your life— grandmothers, aunts, sisters, mentors or anyone else who has made a significant impact on your life.

Think about all of the women who gave you advice, mentored you or were just there for you at a time when you needed it.

There aren’t any official holidays to celebrate these special people in your life so create your own unique traditions to make sure they feel loved and appreciated for all they do.

Celebrating also doesn’t have to break the bank, here are a few ideas for honoring the mom figures in your life that are completely free or can be done with items you already have in your house and will be appreciated even more.

1. Write a card Take some time to express your gratitude for all she’s done for you by writing down your thoughts in a card. This is something she’ll be able to hold onto

HIRSHORN MUSEM IN D.C. (photos: Amanada Snead) forever and a great way to show your appreciation. Make it extra special by creating a completely homemade card with whatever extra craft supplies you have at home already!

2. Create a memory journal Grab a notebook and begin writing down your favorite memories, stories, life advice or whatever comes to mind.

Print off some photos, add a few stickers and personalized messages and give her a gift she can treasure and display for years to come. If you don’t have an extra notebook at home, try a photo collage or something similar.

3. Ask friends and family to

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send a video message Reach out to her friends and family to ask for a quick video clip about why they love her, their favorite memories with her or simply saying “happy mothers day.” Edit the clips together to show her just how many people care about and love her.

This will be something she can rewatch whenever she needs a reminder of how special she is.

4. Make a home cooked meal Avoid the crowds at restaurants and spend the night in to make her favorite home cooked meal or try out a new recipe you think she would like. A meal is just that much more spe-

cial when it’s made by someone you love. You’ll also be able to spend time together without the noise and interruptions or a restaurant.

5. Visit a national park A majority of national parks in the United States don’t charge an entrance fee and those that do offer entrance fee-free days. Go for a picnic, take a hike, spend the weekend camping and enjoy time outdoors and away from the stress of being in a city. There are plenty of parks nearby including Prince William Forest Park, Great Falls Park, Shenandoah National Park and many more.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 13

Celebrating Female Role Models This Mother’s Day Continued from Page 12

6. Give her the night off If she’s a caretaker for someone else, as many mother figures tend to be, offer to help out so she can take some time off to relax.

When you spend your time taking care of other people, it can be difficult to remember to take care of yourself. Help her set up an athome spa with self-care essentials while you take care of the rest.

7. Find a free concert or event in the area The Northern Virginia and DC areas are a great place to find free things to do. Many of the Smithsonian museums have free events, there are live music performances at lots of restaurants in Falls Church and the surrounding areas, free classes at fitness studios and more. You can find plenty of free classes, concerts and more in our calendar elsewhere in this issue.

8. Spend a night in Keep things simple with a night in. Put on your favorite movie, put some popcorn in the microwave, throw on a face

mask and relax. Take a few minutes to enjoy your time together and catch up. Think of other fun activities to do together like putting together a puzzle, playing a board game or other screen-free activities.

9. Have a small party/get together For the more socially outgoing, invite some friends and family to come help celebrate them as well! Have a potluck so there will be plenty to eat and enjoy spending time with those you love.

10. Just show her you care.

Anna Jarvis hated the commercialization of this holiday and spent years trying to undo it. At the end of the day, this is a holiday centered around making the women who have made an impact on your life feel special, not a reason to go out and spend hundreds of dollars. More likely than not, a simple “thank you” will be enough for her.

Make sure to give some extra love and attention to the women and mother figures in your life this weekend and always.

HONOR YOUR MOM this year with a special card. (photos: Amanada Snead)

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PAGE 14 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

Transvideo Productions Prospers During Pandemic

by Charlie Clark

One of the few Falls Church businesses to better prosper during the pandemic was Transvideo Productions.

The electronics lab downtown was “surprised to be busy,” said proprietor David Downey.

“People were staying home and getting sentimental, feeling it’s time to get out those old tapes and films to be transferred” to our digital age.

“Bring Your Memories Back to Life!” shouts the folding sidewalk sign in front of Transvideo at 107 Pennsylvania Ave. It deploys an old-tech medium to invite veterans of past technological eras to bring in their “reels, photos, audio tapes, VHS, video 8, MiniDV.” to be transferred on site to formats familiar to young consumers: online, DVD or thumb drives.

Downey can also repair broken tape and help with video editing, he explained from his shop lined with such dinosaurs as reel-to-reel tape recorders, VCRs, film projectors, cassette players and computers with disc drives. He can handle 16 mm films (a format dating to the 1920s) and 8 mm (popularized in the 1930s), converting the images to flash drives or posting them on YouTube.

“DVDs don’t hold up over

time and are being phased out,” he explained, noting that their dyes fade after about 20 years. A newer product called an M-DISC has been tested to last 100 years.

“A lot of modern TVs now have USB ports,” Downey adds, which allows for large-screen viewing of those flickering shots of grandma and grandpa’s honeymoon trip to Yellowstone. Transvideo can also convert old film to ultra-clear high-definition.

The self-taught Downey got the idea for his transfer service while in Arlington working for the now-defunct Photronic Photo Service back in the 1980s. That outlet contracted overnight photo developing for the then-ubiquitous Ritz Camera shops. When customers started bringing 8mm film to transfer to VHS, his boss said, “This is a fad and isn’t going to last.” But when Christmas came in 1986, “they got an unbelievable amount of work they couldn’t handle, so I set up my business for the overflow,” Downey recalled.

He went on to book contract work for nearly 50 photo outlets in the region.

Downey spent three decades working out of his home on Arlington’s Pershing Drive before transferring operations to Falls Church in 2019. He paired up with longtime Falls Church con-

tact Mike Williams, of Ventures in Video, with whom he shares space and collaborates on commissioned photography shoots at Arlington National Cemetery. They share an assistant, and Downey continues to perform subcontracting jobs for Photoscope in Arlington and Dominion Camera on West Broad St. The obstacles the technicians encounter include deteriorated or shrunken film, for which the holes don’t line up on the intake reel.

Some of that is solved by new “sprocklet-less” systems, Downey said.

Part of Transvideo’s service is to enforce confidentiality with customers, some of whom are famous. Like a good public librarian, the employees refrain from commenting judgmentally on whether a customer’s project is interesting or dull. As an extra service, Downey said, he retains a back-up copy for a month or two in case an original gets lost or stolen or accidentally deleted in this era of allegedly idiot-proof electronics.

He would like to perform additional creative editing for clients, Downey said, though most of the work is “straight transfer.” He is modestly pleased that Transvideo has survived since 1986. “There’s not a lot of competition.”

Memorial Day is almost here!

Monday, May 30, 2022

Memorial Day Parade Program 2022

Issue Date May 26, 2022 The benefits of advertising in the Falls Church News-Press Memorial Day Parade Guide Distributed with our regular weekly paper AND It will be posted on our website in its entirety (averages 1,000,000 visitors every month) AND

• Extra copies of the Parade Guide will be printed and distributed at the festivities on the day of the event for the Extra 10,000 people expected to be in town that day!

SPACE RESERVATION:

Reserve by 5/16 for Early Discount

To Appear In this Section: Call: Sue Johnson • sjohnson@fcnp.com • 703-587-1282

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Faces of Falls Church

DENISE CAN BE SEEN holding down the fort over at Pizza Orzo on South Maple Ave in Falls Church. Not afraid to get her hands dirty, Denise worked her way up from server to manager. When asked if she had any words of wisdom she replied simply with, “Love and be loved.” (Photo: J. Michael Whalen)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h Business News & Notes

MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 15

Live Theater Is BACK in Falls Church

Chamber Hosts SEO Workshop – Today Would you like to learn how to get more out of your website using SEO and other digital marketing strategies? Falls Church Chamber of Commerce is offering a 30-minute SEO & Content Marketing Virtual Workshop followed by a Q&A session with 321 Web Marketing, a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO and content marketing. This workshop is for marketing beginners and experts alike, assisting your organization to create actionable marketing goals for the rest of 2022. Bring your notepad! This workshop will take place via Zoom on Thursday, May 5 at 12 p.m. For more information and the Zoom link, visit the chamber website, www.fallschurchchamber.org.

Small Business Grants Open through May 13 The City of Falls Church Economic Development Office is 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

nVisium Expands Cloud Security Services Headquartered in Falls Church, nVisium, a leader in application security, announced the company expansion and enhancement of its range of cloud security service offerings. This is in response to increased demand to create stronger security postures within cloud environments proliferates, particularly for large enterprises. nVisium has grown its cloud practice to encompass more indepth cloud-native architecture analysis and code remediation services. As cloud-native systems and infrastructure-as-code dominate within modern enterprises, nVisium provides organizations, and their IT and DevOps teams, with the tools and expertise needed to build security into every phase and facet of their cloud architecture development. The company’s unique approach to cloud security encompasses both application and infrastructure security, providing early Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) services through testing and implementation and production activities. nVisium customers include Fortune 500 companies and household brands.

Northrop Grumman Q1 at $955 million Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) has reported $955 million in earnings for its first quarter, a decrease of 56 percent from the $2.12 billion in net income it posted in the same quarter of 2021. The Falls Church defense giant posted $8.8 billion in sales for the quarter, down from $9.2 billion from the same quarter of 2021. Revenue shrunk in three of its four business segments, with its space systems unit posting a 13 percent increase in sales. The company said sales decreased in part due to a $162 million reduction related to the divestiture of its IT services division to Peraton. It also said its sales were impacted by a tightened labor market as well as some supply-chain delays and labor disruption related to Covid-19. The company, however, is not altering its revenue guidance for the year.

Shepherd’s Center Seeks Volunteers The Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church, a local nonprofit, is seeking volunteer support for event planning, recruiting, marketing (newsletter, website, and social media) and administrative tasks. The Center also needs volunteers to drive seniors to medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies. The opportunities are flexible with no minimum commitment, location or experience. Volunteers must be over 50 years old and live in the Falls Church, McLean or Arlington areas. Those with interest may email contact@scmafc.org or call the Center at 703-506-2199.

 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.

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PAGE 16 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

News-Press

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Community News & Notes Report Missed Collections by 10 a.m. on Thursdays Falls Church City Residents can report missed trash, recycling, or bundled yard waste in two ways.

Option 1: Residents can call the Solid Waste Hotline before 10 a.m. on Thursday at 703-248-5160 (after pressing option 1, the caller’s address and details on what was missed must be included in the message). Option 2: Residents can also use the Recycle Coach app or go online at fallschurchva.gov/trash to submit their report. After 10 a.m. on Thursdays, residents are asked to hold their refuse until the next Wednesday or take their trash and recycling to one of the two Fairfax County facilities: I-66 Transfer Station Facility at 4618 West Ox Rd, Fairfax or the I-95 Landfill Complex Facility at 9850 Furnace Rd, Lorton.

VA Lottery Thank-a-Teacher Campaign Ends May 6 Each spring, the Virginia Lottery works to support K – 12 public schools by encouraging Virginians to send thank-you notecards to educators across the Commonwealth in conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 — 6). Teachers will receive their digital cards throughout the week.

Qualifying teachers who receive a card can enter a unique web code found in the email or on the back of the notecard into an online drawing for one of four Virginia vacations and a $2,500 in credit for school supplies. Visit thankateacherva.com for more information and to show support for public school educators.

Upcoming In-Person Events Hosted by Signature Theater Playwright Chelsea Marcantel, author of “Airness and Everything” is Wonderful and the newest Signature Theater production, “The Upstairs Department,” will discuss the creative process as part of the Inside Signature program series. Scheduled for Thursday, May 5, beginning at 1 p.m., Marcantel will introduce attendees to her background, her writing process, and her sources of inspiration. Inside Signature events take place in-person, inside the Mead Lobby, as well as online; no

registration required. In addition, A Sigworks Monday Night New Play Reading will take place Monday, May 9, starting at 7 p.m. The featured play is Damn Things Will Kill Ya, written by Olivia Luzquinos.

Centering on Ruth, a terminal lung cancer patient who will not give up her cigarettes, the story deals with themes of long-standing family dynamics, faith, forgiveness, and letting go. Sigworks is an initiative designed to highlight and support the work of DMV and regional playwrights.

This event series is an opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, set designers, and patrons to explore new plays in an informal environment. For both events, all attendees need to have proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test, along with a photo ID. Masks required.

Signature Theater is located at 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington. Visit sigtheatre.org/events for more information, to RSVP for programs, and to view a list of all upcoming events.

Donate Blood at Christ Crossman Methodist Church The Inova Bloodmobile will be at Christ Crossman United Methodist Church (384 N Washington St, Falls Church) on Thursday, May 5, from 2 — 7 p.m.

The Church is working towards its goal of 40 donors. Contact the Church office for more information at 703-532-4026 or visit them online at christcrossman.org.

The Kensington Celebrates National Nurses Week Kensington Senior Living Center of Falls Church is celebrating National Nurses Week (Friday, May 6 — Thursday, May 12), wishing to highlight their “dedicated team of RNs, LVNs, CNAs,” their “wonderful residents who were lifelong nurses,” family members who are currently working in the industry, and their professional partners. “We believe nurses make the world go round and our community is stronger because of their love, care and compassion.” The Kensginton is located at 700 W Broad St, Falls Church. Visit thekensingtonfallschurch.com for more information or call 703-672-1352.

THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ ASSOCIATION held its annual dinner this past Saturday, Apr. 30th, and featured appearances by President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and comedian Trevor Noah. The Little City’s own Falls Church News-Press was represented at this annual event honoring, as the President stated, “members of the press, both national and local.” (Photo: News-Press.)

F.C. Garden Club’s Plant Sale This Weekend Join the Falls Church Garden Club for their biggest event of the year this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Falls Church Community Center, located at 223 Little Falls St. There will be plants, pots, tools, decor and more for sale.

Volunteers welcome in the days before and the day of the sale. Those interested can fill out the form on their website at fallschurchgardenclub.org.

F.C. Farmers Market Ushers in Start of Regular Season May 7 Saturday, May 7, will mark the opening of the regular season for the Falls Church Farmers Market.

J&W Valley View Farm, Lydia’s Fields, Marco’s Produce, Potomac Vegetable Farms, and Threeway

Farms will return with fresh produce between the hours of 8 a.m.

— 12 p.m., every Saturday. Kate’s Crepes, Pops n’ Chill, and Tree Talk Natives will also be there to provide breakfast items, popsicle treats, and natural, Mid-Atlantic trees grown to support insects, birds, and other pollinators. Until then, year-round vendors will be providing a host of local products, including a special seasonal favorite: strawberries. The Farmers Market is located in the City Hall Parking Lot at 300 Park Ave. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/547/farmers-market.

During the duration of the challenge, participants have tracked their minutes spent doing physical exercise and logged the information into a Google Doc file. At the end, all the minutes will be tallied up and the “Most Fit Community” of 2022 will be determined. Registration required; register for free or contribute $5 to receive a 2022 Mayors’ Fitness Challenge t-shirt. Visit fallschurchva. gov/2140/mayors-fitness-challenge for more information.

2nd Annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge To End Soon

The 2022 All Member Show at the Falls Church Arts Gallery will soon conclude its exhibition highlighting over 119 emerging as well as established community artists.

Encompassing an extensive range of media and subject matter, the show will close its doors this com-

The 2nd Annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge — a contest encompassing the Cities of Falls Church, Fairfax, and the Town of Vienna —will conclude on Saturday, May 7.

F.C. Arts All Member Exhibition To Conclude May 8

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

ing Sunday, May 8. The F.C. Arts gallery is located at 700 B West Broad St, Falls Church and is open Wednesdays — Saturdays from 11 a.m. — 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. Masks and social distancing required. For more information, visit fallschurcharts.org.

Kensington Bakes for Ukraine Fundraiser Deadline Extended The Kensington of Falls Church has extended its deadline for Bakes for Ukraine, a fundraiser for Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen, with the fundraising now ending Tuesday, May 10 Donations directly support World Central Kitchen’s work on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine, as the organization strives to provide fresh, nourishing meals to those in need. All who donate are encouraged to RSVP for a box of Ukrainian honey cookies as a thank-you. The Kensington is located at 700 W Broad St, Falls Church. Email Kayla Peters at kpeters@kensingtonsl.com or visit thekensingtonfallschurch. com for information.

Church Announces Hybrid LGBT+ Seminar “Beyond Pink and Blue: Trans+ Family & Spiritual Care” is a free, hybrid conference, hosted by Bethesda Presbyterian Church (5080 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, Maryland) to expand understanding of gender, gender identity, and the use of respectful language by offering interactive educational presentations.

Transgender, gender diverse, non-binary children, youth, and their families face misunderstanding and discrimination across the country. Places that should be safe and nurturing, such as schools and churches, are too often not for trans+ children and their loved

ones.

Expanding on education and communication is an important step in increasing positive visibility and social equity in one’s community for trans+ kids and their families. In-person registration, check-in, and coffee begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14.

Keynote speakers include Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson and Sybastian Smith. This is a hybrid event with attendees from across the country.

Register for the online version of the event at beyondpinkblueregistrar@gmail.com. For more information, visit bethesdapresbyterian.org/sunday-worship/2022/5/14.

Black + White Exhibition at F.C. Arts Starts May 14 F.C. Arts Gallery invites artists to submit predominantly black, white, and gray images, paintings, drawings, collages and sculpture; minimally placed color will also be considered. The “Black + White” exhibition, highlighting the visual power of contrast and balance, will run from Saturday, May 14 — Sunday, June 26. F.C. Arts is located at 700-B W. Broad St. Visit fallschurcharts.org/blackwhite for more information.

International Night to Take Place at Meridian HS Hosted by the Falls Church Elementary PTA (FCEPTA) and Meridian High School International Club, “International Night” gives students the opportunity to experience the rich cultural diversity found in the FCCPS system.

The event will offer educational experiences, cultural performances, and a “tasting table” with dishes from around the world.

“International Night” will take place Saturday, May 14, from 5 — 7 p.m. Meridian HS is located at 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church.

LO CA L The Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and Vicinity Since 2018, the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and Vicinity, chaired by Phil Christensen and supported by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, has sponsored and operated a wide variety of community activities, all centering on education, advocacy, and communication with the goal of addressing and dealing with social, racial, and economic injustice on a local level.

Membership remains open to all.

For information, email socialjusticefc@gmail.com or visit tinnerhill.org/social-justice-committee.

The next online meeting will be on Sunday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m.

Falls Church Education Foundation Upcoming Events The Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) will be holding a variety of upcoming events, one in May and two in Sept.

Friday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m., the FCEF will hold its Annual Gala and Auction, with this year’s theme being “Together Again,” at Washington Golf & Country Club (3017 N Glebe Rd, Arlington).

Tickets to this event will include an open bar, live music, casino games, happy hour, dinner, as well as the live and silent auction.

Sunday, Sept. 18, at 8 a.m., the FCEF will hold its Annual Run/ Walk for the Schools at 300 Park Ave. Registration includes race entry, a “swag bag,” and entry to a variety of family activities.

Saturday, Sept. 28, at 11 a.m., Westfields Golf Club will host the 2nd Annual “Little City Scramble” golf tournament. Entry includes a round of golf, lunch, happy hour, “swag bags,” and dinner. There are options for “Sip and Swing” or dinner-only, for non-golfers or those interested in learning how to play.

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AS PART OF ITS ONGOING “Passport to the World of Music” series, Creative Cauldron welcomed back Veronneau & Friends for a soldout performance featuring classic selections from the songbooks of Joni Mitchel and Carole King. Visit creativecauldron.org for all upcoming concerts. (P����: �������� G��� M�����).

Proceeds will benefit the FCEF as well as FCCPS. For more details on all of these events and more, visit fcedf.org.

Price (cprice@fallschurchva.gov) to register. Call 703-248-5171 or visit cherryhillfallschurch.org for more information.

Cherry Hill Docent Training Returns May 21

Sensory -Friendly Playtime for Kids with Disabilities

The Cherry Hill Historic House and Farm is once again recruiting volunteers to help lead its guided tours of the farmhouse Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.

Docents are tasked with leading tours of the house and are responsible for furthering their knowledge of the museum and its collection to better engage with visitors. They are also responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the museum and its collections during the various tours and programs, as well as recording admissions, attending training, and assisting in event preparation.

Shifts run through the month of Oct. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Contact organizer Corey

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Scramble will be hosting a weekly Private Sensory Hour for children ages 12 and under with disabilities every Monday until May 23. Scramble will allow attendants to play in every area of the playground, including the usually off-limits baby sensory area. To further the inclusivity and accessibility of the program, dimmed lighting and a quiet play space will be offered as well. Coffee, hot chocolate, and baked goods will be available for purchase. Scramble is located in Alexandria and Falls Church, Virginia. This activity will run 8 — 9:30 a.m. every Monday.

Visit goscramble.com for more information.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR

FCNP Featured Event

Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 7th

F.C. FARMERS MARKET. Weekly farmers market featuring fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers, honey, and more. 300 Park Ave, Falls Church). Saturday, May 7, 8 a.m. — 12 p.m. (Photo: FCNP).

LOCAL EVENTS THURSDAY, MAY 5 F.C. Arts All Member Show. Ending on Sunday, May 8. The All Members Show highlights an extensive variety of art created by 119 local artists.

Visit fallschurcharts.org for more information. (700 W. Broad St.) Wednesday — Saturday, 11 a.m. — 6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. — 4 p.m.

Content Marketing Workshop. The Chamber of Commerce will present a workshop for both beginners and experts on creating actionable marketing goals. Via Zoom. Register at fallschurchchamber.org to receive meeting invite. 12 — 1 p.m.

New Yorker Discussion Group.

Discussion group for readers of The New Yorker, meeting the first Thursday of the month. Print copies of the featured article can be picked up at the Senior Center (223 Little Falls St) or at Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave). Email Pete Sullivan (psullivan@fallschurchva.gov) for online meeting invite.

2 — 3 p.m.

Butterfly Gardening with Native Plants. Tysons-Pimmit Library presents a seminar on creating a butterfly-friendly habitat. Led by Margaret

Chatham, member of the Virginia Native Plant Society. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church.) 2 — 3:30 p.m.

Cinco de Mayo Taco Pop Up. Chef Kelvin Barahona will be at Audacious Aleworks with tacos and beer. 50 cents of each taco sold will go to the Falls Church Education Foundation.

(110 E. Fairfax St, Falls Church.) 4 — 8 p.m.

Healing Hands Massage Workshop.

Interactive workshop at Body Dynamics focused on the history and practice of massage with a demonstration of three basic approaches. (410 South Maple Ave, Suite 100, Falls Church.) RSVP online at fallschurchchamber.org. 6:30 — 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 6 Origami Flower Making. Thomas Jefferson Library will host an afternoon of origami flower-making.

Participants will learn 3 — 5 flower patterns. (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 1 — 2 p.m.

F.C. Arts Academic Drawing Classes.

Part of a continuing course on basic academic drawing, led by Iryna Smitchkova. $220 per student, supplies included. Register at fallsch-

urcharts.org/classes. F.C. Arts Gallery (700-B W. Broad St). 2 — 3:30 p.m.

Kids LEGO Club. An opportunity for kids to make new friends and LEGO creations. All LEGOS provided by the library. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 4 — 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 7 F.C. Farmers Market. Weekly farmers market featuring fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers, honey, and more. Covid-19 guidelines observed. (300 Park Ave, Falls Church). 8 a.m. — 12 p.m.

Congressman Beyer’s Sixth Annual Women’s Conference.

Congressman Don Beyer will host another Women’s Conference to discuss economic empowerment, issues facing women in the workplace, and the Equal Rights Amendment. George Mason University, Arlington Campus (3351 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA).

8:30 — 11 a.m.

THE KENTUCKY DERBY is one of the most biggest races in the world. Set in Louisville, celebrations at the Derby include elaborate hats, mint juleps, Derby-Pie, and a performance of “My Old Kentucky Home.” The winner receives a trophy and a ceremonial rose garland. F.C. residents are encouraged to stop by any of the local bars, such as Solace Outpost (444 W Broad St), Dogwood Tavern (132 W Broad St), Dogfish Head (6220 Leesburg Pike), Dominion Wine & Beer (107 Rowell Ct), or Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St) and join in Derby Day festivities.

Saturday mornings through Oct, led by volunteer docents. Visit cherryhillfallschurch.org for more information. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave). 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.

GIVE Tutoring. Free tutoring for kids in K — 6th grade provided by GIVE, a student-run non-profit. Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 12 — 2 p.m.

Window Washing Party. Volunteer opportunity for teens at Thomas Jefferson Library. Pizza and beverages provided. (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 1 — 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 8

Outdoor Watercolor Painting. Led

by Rajendra KC. Geared towards 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.

NOVA Central Farm Markets. Yearround market offering meat, dairy, produce, and other finds. Visit nova.centralfarmmarkets.com for information. (543 Beulah Road, Vienna, VA 22180.) 9 a.m. — 1 p.m.

Cherry Hill Open House Tours. Free tours at Cherry Hill historic farm,

F.C. Arts Abstract Painting Class.

Part of a continuing summer

course, led by Bryan Jernigan. For artists of 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.

Mother’s Day Tea at Cherry Hill.

A special tea session hosted by a docent in 19th century period clothes. Guests will enjoy tea sandwiches, assorted sweets, warm scones and bottomless tea.

Contact Cherry Hill Farmhouse at cjannicelli@fallschurchva.gov or visit cherryhillfallschurch.org for information. Registration required.

2 — 4 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 9 Robotic Bookmark Painting. Doug and Arizona McClaw will host a bookmark painting class with Sphero robots. Best for pre-school age children. No registration necessary. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 11:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LIVE MUSIC THURSDAY, MAY 5 Warren Zeiders with Faren Rachels.

The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $15. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

The Rockits. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-237-0300.

FRIDAY, MAY 6 DL Funkband. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St., Falls Church). 5:30 p.m. 703-532-9283.

Jameson Green. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church).

7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

The North Star Band & The Billy Price Band. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Gordon Sterling & The People with Shamans of Sound. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $13. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Sean Tracy. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m.

703-237-8333.

SATURDAY, MAY 7

CA L E NDA R The Legwarmers: DC’s Biggest 80’s Dance Party. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25.

9:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

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

SUNDAY, MAY 8 The Jazz Effect. Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA). $24. 3 p.m. 703255-1900.

TUESDAY, MAY 8

Neighborhood Watch. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m.

703-532-9283.

Foy Vance. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Caitlyn Smith. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

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

The Quebe Sisters. Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA). $25. 8 p.m.

703-255-1900.

The Dead Tongues, Joe Westerlund.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

THEATER & ARTS THURSDAY, MAY 5

FRIDAY, MAY 6

Into the Woods. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's witty, magical musical, full of drama, humor, and surprises, will be coming to Falls Church through the efforts of Creative Cauldron.

With characters like Cinderella and Jack of "Jack and the Bean Stalk," the play is a combination of romance and peril, all set against the backdrop of the mysterious, magical woods. Directed

by Helen Hayes Award-winning director Matt Conner and presented at Creative Cauldron, which is located at 410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church. Sponsored by Mark Werblood, Esq., Attorney at Law. “Into the Woods,” a madcap mix of fairy tale heroes and villains, will run from Thursday, May 5 — 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. Call 703-436-9948 with questions or comments.

Visitcreativecauldron.org for more information.

Proof. David Auburn’s awardwinning play tells the story of a brilliant math professor whose struggles with mental health echo those of his daughter, Catherine.

As the story progresses, Catherine, her older sister Claire, and others in their close circle of friends and famiy have to come to terms with both their personal demons and their connections to one another. Presented by NOVA Nightsky Theater. This production's second slate of showings will take place on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7, from 8 — 10 p.m. NOVA Nightsky is located at 1057 W. Broad St, Falls Church. For more information, visit novanightskytheater.com or call 310-597-1372. With questions or comments, email them at novanightskytheater@gmail.com.

The Upstairs Department.

Playwright Chelsea Marcantel’s story takes the audience on an unexpected, ethereal journey highlighting familial love, the limits of cynicism, and the wonder of the

MAY 5 - 11, 2022 | PAGE 19

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 Carsie Blanton with Lilli Lewis. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500. unexplainable. The play 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 end up summoning more than just the afterlife. The show will run 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. (4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA.) Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre. org for more information.

ON-GOING UNTIL OCT. Shear Madness. Set in present-day Georgetown, “Shear Madness” is designed to engage locals and visitors alike as armchair detectives to help solve the scissor-stabbing murder of a famed concert pianist. Combining up-to-the-minute improvisational humor as well as audience participation, “Shear Madness” delivers a unique theater experience each night. Presented by the Kennedy Center, located at 2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20566. For general questions, call 202-416-8000.

Visit kennedy-center.org for more information, complete showtimes, and tickets.

VIRGINIA-RAISED singer-songwriter Carsie Blanton will be performing her anthemic, joyous brand of rock and folk at the Birchmere this coming Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (Photo: Birchmere.com)

PAGE 20 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information.

Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month.

Architectural Advisory Board Board of Equalization Board of Zoning Appeals (Alternate) City Employee Review Board Environmental Sustainability Council Human Services Advisory Council Library Board of Trustees Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Retirement Board Regional Boards/Commissions Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Long Term Care Coordinating Council Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission Virginia Career Works Northern Region

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)

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PUZZLE NO. 576

PUZZLE NO. 577 7.

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1. Pursue 4. Part of CD 8. Pisa dough, once 12. Knowledge 15. Forest forager 16. Toward the center of 17. Blessing close 18. Cuckoo 19. Lancelot's title 20. Hold it!

21. Group of actors 22. Louisville Slugger 23. Kitchen appliance 25. Highway vehicle 26. Do, re, or mi 27. Street surface 29. Silly person 31. Agenda 33. Root vegetable 36. Fireside 38. Prudish 39. Principal

42. Painting or photography 43. Bend an ____ 45. Plummet 47. Naomi, to Wynonna 49. Model 50. Ricelike pasta 51. Road for Cato 52. First whole number 53. "Victory Garden" prop 54. Roster 55. Animation unit 56. Ship deserter 57. Sediment 59. Hose shade 61. Campaign event 64. Small bag 66. Valley 67. Crevice 70. ____ butter 73. Guitar's ancestor 74. Newspaper section

77. Speech holder 81. "____ Night Long" 82. Minty herb 83. Sills or Sutherland 84. Bambi's mother 85. Saltwater body 86. ____-jerk reaction 87. Assist a burglar 88. Twins 89. "48 ____" 90. List object 91. Give a job to 92. Currency, in Kyoto

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Officer Bridal-gown trim Mosque priest Quit, as a job Picnic insect Barbecue choice Growing out Gunpowder ingredient Constellation member Wound remainder Slangy negative response Come close Tanker Era Following Mock Hit hard Chop up Brave man Neither good nor bad Bestow Ancient Mexican

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African plain Parcel (out) Pipe instrument Medieval serf Default result Instruct Sheet of cotton Despot Fracas Measuring device Geography book Suspect's out Not once Carpenter's curve Overrun Ocean motion Scoundrel Bright, as colors Glide down the slopes Morse-code word

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 576

DOWN

1. Greeley's direction 2. Mishmash 3. Edible pod 4. Far 5. Entomb 6. Hurricane or tornado

PUZZLE NO. 578

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1. Continually 5. Athenian marketplace 10. Southern nut 15. Satisfy fully 16. Prayer 18. Giraffe's kin 19. Nature's bandage 20. Quake 21. Resist 22. Old anesthetic 24. Computer storage 26. Indian 29. Noteworthy act 30. Mouth off 34. On the ____ (in hiding) 35. Alex Trebek, e.g.

38. Seer 40. Indian clan 42. March date 44. Suds

Copyright © 2011 by Penny Press

ACROSS

1. TV commercial writer 6. Make a selection 9. Gooey stuff 13. Extent 15. Of hearing 17. Former Italian bread 18. Put down 19. Building floor 20. Without repetition 21. Loyalty 23. Relinquish 25. Old Gaelic 28. Little brown songbird 30. "____ There Was You" 31. Loamy deposit 33. Chemical compound 35. Halloween prop

40. Camel's-hair fabric 41. Ajar, to bards 43. Baglike structure 45. Cotton cloth 46. Brand-____ 47. Mountain's contrast 50. Capri or Man, e.g.

51. Southern shrub 53. Muss 55. Execrate 57. Nonfiction writer 59. Fore's counterpart 62. Monkey business?

64. Dry 65. Petal-puller's word 66. Nasty mutt 67. Tried hard 69. Catalog of names 71. Pithy 73. Id's companion

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Judge Bird's retreat Do business Not right Angelic headgear Playing card Social event Thus Cavalry sword Term of office Lacking strength Genealogy word Allowed by law

7. Instructor, for short 8. Tell-all card 9. Radiance 10. "The Thin Blue ____" 11. Humpback's kin 12. Cohort 14. Poet's plenty 15. Pale 16. Songlike poem 22. Barren 24. Vegas machine 25. Pizazz 26. Graduation garb 27. Saline solution 29. Snack 32. Animal trunk 34. Church members 36. Bubble steamily 37. Smart aleck 38. Pipe joint 39. Spelling ____ 42. Long stick 44. Convent 48. "Frida" prop 49. Succulent

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Owns Probable Caustic material Bother Waste allowance Actor Montand Mild oaths Ed Norton's domain Motor Pacific or Arctic Over half Muscle Pink, as steak Pond growth Cranny Cylinder Holiday tune Average mark Carpet Timespan Electric ____

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Mass calendar Essential nutrient Cote member Valuable possession Russian drink Plump Hassock Random attempt Guarantee Smallest of the litter Jostle Wide-eyed observer Precipitous Service cost Alpine pool Frittata fundamentals Hair color Kind of bean Sad Faith

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Sheep meat Lion's pad Applied grease Flu symptom Teen's spot Brazilian dance Candle Make (one's way)

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Nothing Battle song?

You, to Shakespeare Impassive Ensemble singer Young salmon In the middle of Stand on your own two ____ Perched Feel a dull pain Destroyed Dried up Mongoose kin Magazine VIP Place in order Python's relative Scholar "____ Carlo" Painful Sound system Smoker's evidence Duke Rectangular pier Romanov title Rumple

60. Bean curd 61. Allege 62. "I've ____ Working on the Railroad" 64. Decorative vase 66. Cowboy-boot gear 69. Breadwinner 73. Bodybuilders' rooms 74. Haggard 76. Subsidiary statute 77. Fountain order 78. Dance movement 79. Flow out slowly 80. Lettuce variety 81. Drowned valley 82. Horror-film street 83. Society miss 85. Darjeeling or pekoe 87. An ____ in the hole 88. Country resort 89. Color of Rudolph's nose

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 578

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Sheet of cotton Unit of resistance Dull Right this minute Empty-house sound Herbal beverage Leaf's angle Incense Light dimmer, e.g.

Stream Boorish fellow Opal or sapphire Column's support Called "Eyes of Laura ____" Hearty Verge Computer symbol Romanov title Make lace Naughty child Gizzard

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Gloat Choir gown Empty TV's "____ Buddies" "Charro!" star Balin Two cups Cabbage's cousin Fraternity letter Chop up Revolve "____ and Tell" "Take Good ____ of My Baby" Blunted rapier Garden flower Do the wrong thing Den Ladder rung Fit Grand Narrow trail Expedition

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Along the middle Cereal grass Building addition Battery type Short ape?

Type of golf club Cross Wrap Of an earlier time Speck Sarcastic Bathhouse Like anchovies French friar Derby feature Greek letter Strive Loose talk Giraffe's kin Rubber-coated ____ by a mile One's equal

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Dreg Inch along Arrive at Friends Assistance Scatter refuse Eye woe Perfume ingredient Carry along Permitted by law Contour feather Shoelace end Farm measurement Ink smudge Soften Jug "CSI" evidence Indian title

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 579

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PAGE 22 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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25 � 10 Y���� A�� �� ��� N���-P���� Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXII, No. 10 • May 3, 2012

Falls Church News-Press Vol. VI, No. 7 • May 1, 1997 Council Votes Unanimously to Sell Whittier; Adopts Budget with 3% COLA

Baroukh, Duncan, Tarter Win Election to F.C. City Council

In what transpired as a smooth, noncontentious sequence of steps Monday night, the Falls Church City Council sold the 9.6 acre Whittier site and, for the first time this decade, passed a budget with no tax increase. Expect for a protest vote on allocation of funds for the schools, all measures were unanimous.

With the two new members elected to the Falls Church City Council Tuesday both being veterans of the City’s Economic Development Authority, the resounding mandate of voters was to hold the line on taxes be encouraging aggressive new economic development and revitilization.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 23 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

According to the latest Challenge Index, Meridian High School remains in the Top 1% of 22,000 high schools in the country. Meridian is ranked 2nd in Virginia and #171 in the nation, up from #189 two years ago and #240 in 2019. The Index was not compiled during the height of the pandemic. MHS is one of only three Virginia schools in the Top 1%. The Challenge Index, created by former Washington Post Education columnist Jay Mathews, is the oldest high school ranking system in the country.

The winners of the annual Hippo-Tiger Games pose with the Golden Pencil after a well fought for victory. FCCPS Photo

Elementary School PTA throws annual Hippo-Tiger-Giraffe Games A long lasting FCCPS tradition, the Hippo-Tiger Games (HTG) is a friendly competition between the Tigers of Oak Street Elementary and the Hippos of Mount Daniel Elementary paired with the Giraffes of Jessie-Thackrey Preschool. Viewers of the Games also have the chance to participate in a raffle with prizes like lunch with the principal, gift card trees, and more!

All of the events go to raise money for the elementary school PTA. Teachers and staff of opposing schools fight for possession of the Golden Pencil, a prize deeply desired by either school. Competitors participate in team activities like hula hoop chain, water balloon launch, and finally a relay race while students and parents cheer for their school. After a close match, the Hippos were named victors and walked away with the prize...until next year!

4th & 5th Grade Plan Mile Run

This week the walkways to our elementary schools were filled with chalk drawings of praise and appreciation for our teachers and staff!

Know someone who works for FCCPS? Make sure you let them know you appreciate their hard work!

On Wednesday, May 11th, 4th and 5th graders will run a mile at Meridian High School. The mile run is part of the FitnessGram, part of our curriculum.

Parent volunteers are needed to help the classroom teachers with timing and/or recording the times.

Contact Nathan Greiner or Julie Huber at Oak Street Elementary to help out.

And thank you!

Themed “Together Again”, the annual Gala and Auction is a fundraiser for the Falls Church Education Foundation, which raises money to help support ESOL learning, teacher grants, special education, and scholarships!

Sometimes known as the “Mom Prom” by FCCPS parents, the gala is a formal event will be held at the Washington Golf & Country Club on Friday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. Don’t have a child in the school system? No worries! Tickets can be purchased by anyone.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 24 | MAY 5 - 11, 2022

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