Falls Church News-Press 5-6-2021 by Falls Church News-Press

May 6 – 12, 2021

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Federal $ Expected to Bolster New Revenue From F.C. Developments Rep. Beyer Carrying 3 F.C. City Projects for Federal Funding BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

As the fruits of aggressive economic development in the City of Falls Church have resulted in last week’s decision by the F.C. City

Council to lower its real estate tax rate by 3.5 cents, the first reduction in 15 years and favorably compared to the single-penny reduction in neighboring giant Fairfax County as its Board of Supervisors voted earlier this week.

F.C.’s Memorial Day Returns Where Parade Comes to You BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The Memorial Day Parade and Festival functions almost as an annual open house for the City of Falls Church. Visitors from all across the Washington, D.C. metro area (and beyond) get to experience the hospitality of the Little City while capping it off with a one-of-a-kind show to boot. Unfortunately, the traditional Memorial Day bonanza won’t be taking place for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. What the City won’t allow itself to do is completely punt on the festivities as it did previously, and is instead bringing it to each and every resident in town. “Although we’re unable to host our Memorial Day Parade and Festival as we typically do, we have been able to modify a number of our annual activities as well as incorporate a few new ones,” Scarlett Williams, the City’s Recreation and

Parks Department’s special events coordinator, wrote to the News-Press. We’ll get to those fun new activities in a bit. For now, let’s focus on the more serious parts of the occasion. The City will honor the military at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m., and will follow that up with a performance by the Quantico Marine Corps Band at 12:30 p.m. Following that is the marquee event — the parade. Starting at 2:30 p.m., the parade route essentially circumnavigates the entire City. Starting on Great Falls Street, it will head west to N. West Street, down the usual Park Avenue stretch and then up N. Washington Street. From there, it will zip from Columbia Street to Tuckahoe Street and then down Roosevelt Street before going back toward the City center on Hillwood Avenue. It will ping around multiple neighborhood streets until it concludes at the intersection of S.

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But that’s not all. Outside help is also pouring into the Little City, coming mostly in the form of robust federal funding derived from President Biden’s Covid Relief “American Rescue Plan” and, still to be passed, his $2 trillion-or-so

“Jobs and Infrastructure” initiative. In addition, the City’s U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. has advanced three City funding requests for $2.8 million that local officials hope can be spent in the next year on multi-modal transportation, electric

school bus and stormwater mitigation projects. In an interview with the NewsPress Wednesday, Beyer hailed the achievements of President Biden in

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THE GRAND MARSHALS for Falls Church’s Women’s History Walk all gathered for a photo in Big Chimneys Park on Sunday. Marie Hirst Yochim was honored posthumously, with a relative standing in (far left). The remaining grand marshals were (from left to right): Alma Amaker, Doris Newcomb, Mary Ellen Shaw, Sally Phillips and Ellen Salsbury. (P��: J. M�� W��)

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SEE STORY, PAGE 2

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

Falls Church High School’s Spotlight Theatre recently performed the musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which wonderfully evoked childhood memories of “Peanuts,” along with memories of childhood — its joys, insecurities and occasional frustrations.

In our age of quick obsolescence and nonbiodegradable electronics, Falls Churchbased eAsset Solutions has emerged as a scrappy player in the modern effort to reduce, reuse and recycle with its environmentally friendly disposal process.

SEE STORY, PAGE 3

INDEX

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

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PAGE 2 | MAY 6 – 12, 2021

F.C. Electronic Recycling Firm Helps Locals De-Clutter in Sustainable Way by Charlie Clark

Falls Church News-Press

There’s gold in them thar discards! In our age of quick obsolescence and non-biodegradable electronics, Falls Church-based eAsset Solutions has emerged as a scrappy player in the modern effort to reduce, reuse and recycle. The 40-employee company with receiving docks in the industrial park at 427 N. Maple Ave. straddles the divide between for-profit business and green activism. And like most enterprises, it was temporarily stymied by the pandemic, though adapting is embedded in its skill set. “The upgrading of technology is ongoing,” said president Jim McGovern, an Arlington native who founded eAsset Solutions in 2006 in a 2,000-squarefoot brick shop, just across the street from his current location with 26,000 square feet in the warehouse formerly occupied by Quinn’s Auction Galleries. “Everyone’s got the problem of old electronics.” The challenge is intensified because consumers and businesses are constantly replacing computer monitors, keyboards, laptops, CPU’s and telephones. To avoid dangerous pollution in landfills, responsible owners make arrangements for proper disposal. With a fleet of four trucks and a van painted in friendly green, the company — now partnering with Falls Church City’s recycling program — can arrange fee-paying, high-volume pickups of obsolete electronics. But it also receives drop-offs at any time, for free. That’s more convenient for consumers than the annual e-recycling events put on by area local governments. Falls Church residents can recycle monitors for a fee paid by the government. “We made a profit every year before the pandemic, though not every month,” said business partner Bryan Tanis, who’s originally from Kensington, Maryland. In past years, these e-recyclers could profit from a calendar with as many as 500 events put on by area offices planning

mass recycling. “But then it went down to zero, and we closed down in April 2020,” he added. After laying off 10 staffers, the firm is returning to busyness. “We’re still standing and feel we’re in a good position to be hiring again.” One bright spot — thanks to the emergence of Zoom — is that eAsset’s supply of some 500 second-hand webcams “flew off the shelves and sold out in 30 days,” Tanis said. Power cables, too. eAsset Solutions exploits two basic revenue streams. If a discarded laptop is not too old, they test it, restore it and sell it on eBay or Amazon. The second stream comprises service such as the data destruction essential to assuring customer privacy and complying with regulators’ audits. “We try to make it effortless, while educating customers — even giving tours,” said Tanis. “We decide how the data destruction is done. But if the client wants a certain method, we charge for it, doing it on their site or doing it here.” Small and mid-sized businesses are the primary customers, plus commercial real estate firms, whose property managers rely on eAsset Solutions to organize and advertise recycling events. A tour of the plant in April meant walking the cavernous rooms where materials are sorted, tested, repaired and shipped. Staff and conveyor belts organize objects to extract valuable copper, for example, or aluminum. Much of the extracting is contracted out to other certified recyclers. The warehouse rooms are lined with wheeled carts and metal shelves packed with old PCs, office phones, and boxes of cable wire and adapters. Filters keep the air clean for “what can be a dusty business,” McGovern noted. Oddities displayed include a boom box, an old time-card puncher, and a Kitchen Aid mixer. Tanis said he does a showand-tell, with a two-foot-diameter, early-1980s hard drive platter that had capacity to store only about three photos. “It was

the same technology, but it got better.” A special “museum” in the lobby — which the team hopes soon to re-open to the public — exhibits a reel-to-reel tape recorder, a 1940s cinema projector, a rotary phone, an early MacIntosh computer, a VCR from early the 1970s (when they cost $5,000), and a Zenith console stereo in mid-century modern. A stop at a “limited access” room reveals where the “degaussing” of data-packed computer hard drives is accomplished. The degausser’s conveyor belt can run between two passive magnetic blocks, 1,500 drives in an hour continuously. “It doesn’t heat up like the old ones did,” McGovern said. A customer can bring 500 hard drives and have them erased in 20 minutes, and receive a certificate. (Movements of barcoded products throughout the plant are computer-tracked.) The degausser can also destroy data on other magnetic media such as backup tapes and floppy discs. The process is safe and environmentally friendly, while giving the customer peace of mind that the data were destroyed. “If I had to sum up, we’re in the data destruction business,” said Tanis. More fun, said McGovern, is the nearby hard drive shredder. In addition to hard drives, it destroys memory chips and solid state drives, resulting in fragments of aluminum, stainless steel, and circuit boards. Air filters trap dangerous particulate matter, although this shredding process uses a lot more energy than the degausser, said McGovern. The company is happy to recycle (for free) printers, typewriters, smartphones, ink cartridges, routers, stereo receivers, ham radios, and cameras. For a fee by unit, it will recycle monitors, televisions, and CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and floppy disks. It will not accept batteries, lightbulbs, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators or dehumidifiers. “Only about 20 percent [of what is dropped off] has practical value,” said Tanis, the remaining 80 percent being “at

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BRYAN TANIS (right), a partner at eAsset Solutions, looks over some prospective recyclables with founder Jim McGovern. The firm recycles old electronics to avoid polluting landfills with laptops, phones and the like. (Photo: Charlie Clark) the end of their useful life.” eAsset Solutions takes written recycling standards from SERI, the “world’s only” multistakeholder, collaborative nonprofit organization focused on minimizing environmental and health risks of discarded electronics. The firm’s compliance is R2 certified according to the Recycling Industry Operating Standard as audited by Orion Registrar Inc. Also calibrated annually are its industrial scales. eAsset Solutions has partnered with the City since 2016, and will soon again become its vendor for its “recycling extravaganza for electronics,” said Lonnie Marquetti, Falls Church’s solid waste manager. “The entire group is very helpful, knowledgeable and very customer service-oriented.” Since 2018, Falls Church has diverted over 18,000 pounds of electronics from the landfill, she added.

The busy recycle drop off on Gordon Road now hauls its “bins twice a week, compared to before the pandemic, when we were servicing the bins only once a week.” eAsset recycles more than 4 million pounds per year. For years, eAsset Solutions was open six days a week. But the pandemic forced it to close Saturdays, though the old schedule may resume by Memorial Day. “America is wasteful; we don’t fix things like we used to,” McGovern said. “It would be better if we did, but instead we’re solving a problem.” Are they environmentalists? “Yes, by getting the most use out of products,” McGovern said. “The longer they’re used, the better it is for the environment.” Tanis preferred to say, “We’re a business that operates in the environmental space. But we feel good about it for the public, too.”

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MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 3

F.C. High Students Show Ingenuity in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ by Mark Dreisonstok

Falls Church News-Press

“Peanuts,” the iconic newspaper comic strip, was once a ubiquitous presence on the American popular culture landscape. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Charlies Brown, Snoopy and friends seemed to be everywhere, from lunchboxes to television specials, to books such as “The Gospel According to Peanuts.” A popular off-Broadway musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” was also produced, the initial run of which saw nearly 1,600 performances. Falls Church High School’s Spotlight Theatre recently performed the musical, which wonderfully evoked childhood memories of “Peanuts,” along with memories of childhood – complete with its joys, insecurities and occasional frustrations. The performance not only succeeded in recalling such memories to mind, but was notable for outstanding use of a socialdistancing format, talented singing voices and fine instrumental accompaniment. The show

STUDENTS ACT OUT a scene from Falls Church High School’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” From left to right: Lucia Ku (as Lucy), Derek Castillo (as Linus) and Jack Kearney (as Charlie Brown). (Courtesy Photo) highlighted musical versions of vignettes familiar to “Peanuts” fans: Charlie Brown (Jack Kearny) unsuccessfully flying a kite and trying to manage a baseball team; Snoopy (Trip Jones)

doing battle in the sky as the World War I Flying Ace against the Red Baron, with doghouse serving as airplane; and Lucy (Lucia Ku) in love with the pianist Schroeder (Jack Child), the

latter focused on his love of playing Beethoven on the piano. Each of the performers was quite good, with Kearney effectively channeling Charlie Brown’s signature balance of

hope and frustration, Ku’s oblivious self-confidence as Lucy, and Child as Schroeder’s obsessive devotion to Beethoven — at one point, Child/Schroeder even held up a sign stating: “Only 14 More Days Until Beethoven’s Birthday!” Most outstanding, however, was the production’s effective use of digital backgrounds, designed by eleventh-grade student Rania Ashoor. The designs were simple, yet colorfully drawn, suggestive of the Charles M. Schulz comic strip and yet distinct from it. Actual props were minimalist, yet very effective. An especially clever strategy was the use of betweenscene edits, in which a following scene continues after displaying a stop-action frame of the previous scene — as if turning to the next page within a comic book, glancing at the illustration, then continuing to follow the narrative. This technique allowed the production to swim with rather against the present Zoom video conferencing current. The digital

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City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade Route 2021 R

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But Williams told the News-Press that Viva Vienna is, for one, spread out over three days, and two, has more of a controlled space to work with. “Our Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival brings in 15,000+ attendees from a number of surrounding jurisdictions, some even coming from out of state,” Williams wrote. “A number of the festival locations become very crowded during specific times of the day, making it difficult for our staff to enforce [Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s] executive orders. With the event covering a vast area, we would have had to enclose the entire festival area.” Williams said that the City is excited to hold its first, in-person event in over a year.

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where kids scoured the City parks searching for letters that they’d have to decode to win a prize. This time around, Williams said the hunt will focus on Military Rankings and will run from May 22 – June 1. She said it’s open to all ages and no registration is required, with more information found at fallschurchva.gov/hunt. Since it’s an outdoor event, some may be wondering why it wouldn’t be safe to hold the usual event. The Washington Post reported last month about a London-based study that found 96 percent of all Covid-19 infections took place indoors. After all, Viva Vienna, which also falls on Memorial Day weekend, is holding their event, albeit with ticketed attendance, a 550-person cap and a two hour time limit for entrants, on top of other modifications.

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West Street and W. Broad Street (Check out the map on this page for a better idea of the route). Williams said the parade itself will feature vehicles from multiple City departments, including police cruisers, sheriff motorcycles, fire trucks, ambulances, dump trucks and more. It will also feature the 2020 Grand Marshal, former Vice Mayor and longtime teacher Lindy Hockenberry, as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Falls Church City Public Schools mascots. What’s missing, of course, are some of the staples that attendees have come to love. The Latin American dancers and their colorful garb. Certain religious groups and their own grand displays. And of course, the Shriners and their comically small red cars. And vendors will be left out of this year’s festivities as well. Williams said that most were understanding of the changes, but Joe Cunniffe, the franchise owner for Mosquito Hunters of McLean-Falls

walk the entire length of the parade,” Church, wasn’t one of them. “I’m disappointed in the cancel- she wrote. “Our 2019 parade had lation of the Falls Church Memorial close to 75 groups participate, if Day parade,” Cunniffe wrote to the we included all of them, the parade News-Press. “It was a significant would last all day and residents boost to my small business in 2019 wouldn’t be able to enjoy all of the and it’s a great way to see my current other activities we’re planning.” Those other activities are a mix of customers and introduce my business to those who are not aware of familiar and new to Memorial Day what we do to help people take back celebrants. The Don Beyer 3K Fun Run their yards from mosquitoes, yet still makes its return for the 40th year be pollinator friendly.” Grand Marshal Hockenberry this May. Runners will be doing thinks the modified celebration is the race virtually, and will need to the right move for the time being. complete their walk or run from As someone who was an advocate May 24 – 31. Williams said no proof for City employees during her time of time or participation is required, in office, she’s happy to have them though if people want to receive as part of the parade (especially the their free t-shirt (and I mean, c’mon, dump trucks), and is excited to have who doesn’t?) they’ll need to register by May 14. T-shirt pick up her grandson ride along with her. Williams did say there was a ton will be between 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. of thought put into trying to include outside the Community Center (223 the various parade participants, but Little Falls St., Falls Church) on Memorial Day (May 31). They can logistically it just couldn’t work. “With taking the parade out to the pre-register at fallschurchva.gov/ www.solaceoutpost.com residents and increasing the length of memorialdy2021. The new activity is the scavenger the route, it would be super challeng571-378-1469 ing for the Shriners to do their tiny hunt the City is putting on. They did car tricks and the walking groups to something similar during Halloween

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 4 | MAY 6 – 12, 2021

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MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 5

Rep. Beyer Offers High Praise for Biden’s First 100 Days

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his first 100 days, saying he gets an “A+” for being “an incredible healing force in the nation” by bringing such immediate aid to the public in the $1,400 cash checks, in addition to earned income tax credits and child tax credits in the “American Rescue Plan,” and spurring of an economic boom. “This period has been compared to LBJ in 1965, but I think it could also be compared to FDR,” Beyer said. Overall, these huge infusions of federal help with the domestic economy has spurred a whopping six percent growth rate in the domestic U.S. economy in the first quarter, expected to be even higher for the rest of the year. It demonstrates the underlying strength of the U.S. economy that was stifled by the Covid-19 pandemic, but which has been itching all along to come roaring back as soon as things began to loosen up. The City of Falls Church, which has been operating with a firmly tightened belt through and since the Great Recession of 2007, is now

facing its first real opportunity to catch up with needed expansion and renovation efforts of its basic government operations. These will begin to come as the City enjoys the benefits of its smart investments in economic development, in particular, coupled with big help coming from the feds. It has been noted that every one of the large scale economic development projects currently pressing ahead in the Little City come with first rate private sector leadership, vastly boosting their chances to reach or exceed their own goals. The team engaged in the 10-acre West Falls Gateway project is a prime example. The combined efforts of EYA, Hoffman and Regency to build and operate that site is top-drawer by all standards, responsible among many others for the amazing. Wharf development in Washington, D.C. The recent announcement that they’re bringing Trammel Crow on board to recruit top notch retailers for the site is another huge plus. Likewise, the Mill Creek operation is pressing ahead with its 4.3 acre Founders Row project at W.

Broad and N. West streets and with plans for a Founders Row 2 across the street as the site of the vacated Rite Aid and carpet store is highly regarded in the industry. So is Atlantic Realty, which is finally moving ahead now with its 1 City Center megaplan for the 100 block of West Broad where Ireland’s Four Provinces sits. And there’s nothing shabby about the Insight Property group that’s won a unanimous approval for its 2.3-acre project anchored by a mega-Whole Foods across the street at the City’s central intersection. There are plenty of other opportunities, too, including the assembled Beyer Automotive property on West Broad, that have drawn some powerful interested parties to take closer looks at the City, including some that have joined in as active participants on some recent Zoom meetings of the Council’s Economic Development Committee. Coming to the City are not only the federal dollars, which the City should begin to learn as early as next Tuesday the parameters of the first installments of those, but also voluntary concessions to jurisdic-

tions throughout the region from Amazon, the development of whose massive new campus is beginning to take shape (including designs for a centerpiece 350-foot high building in the intriguing shape of a helix). Falls Church is getting about $3 million from Amazon this year, which is supposed to be dedicated to advancing affordable housing, and another $3 million next year. In terms of non-emergency federal support, it’s being funnelled

through Falls Church’s representative in Congress in Don Beyer., the former F.C. Chamber of Commerce president and former City businessman (he sold his share of the family Beyer Automotive business to his locally-based brother, Mike, last year). Beyer requested and received six funding requests from the City, according to the City’s chief public

Continued on Page 22

Status Update on Monday, May 3 City of Falls Church Date

Doses Administered

Monday, May 3

12,289

End of April 26

Vaccine Data

At Least One Dose 7,639

Fully Vaccinated 4,969

(52.3% of population)

(34% of population)

11,339

data not captured

4,419

End of March 6,

185

data not captured

2,151

End of February

3,237

data not captured

1,144

End of January

1,077

data not captured

PAGE 6 | MAY 6 – 12, 2021 

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Endorsing Incumbents (Including McAuliffe)

The drama of waiting until the eve of an election to endorse candidates is rendered counterproductive when a lot of the voting is already done by election day. So it is now with the upcoming June 8 primary where statewide and state General Assembly district races are contested, at least their primaries are. This time, the GOP will select its candidates at a convention this weekend, so it is only the Democrats who are having an open primary this time, and a lot of those races are being hotly contested this time. In the case of the race for governor this year, the state is clinging to an archaic rule that prohibits governors from seeking more than a single term at a time (Virginia is now the only state in the union with this ridiculous rule), so that there is no incumbent in the race. As our endorsement policy is generally to support incumbents when they are doing a good job, the closest thing to an incumbent seeking reelection possible is running, Terry McAuliffe, one of the most effective governors the state has ever had, following a four-year hiatus required by that silly law here. So, we view it as McAuliffe seeking re-election to a second term. Our endorsement for governor in the June 8 Democratic primary, then, is McAuliffe. This we do enthusiastically. It is not because his birthday is the same as our esteemed chief, which is also the same as the nation’s ninth president, a good Whig, William Henry Harrison. It is because his outstanding, energetic leadership produced more jobs and economic development in Virginia than in just about any four year period in its history. Plus, he gave felons who’d paid their debts to society the cherished right to vote and protected women against a once-powerful misogynist voting block in the state with two dozen vetoes of bills restricting women’s rights, all of which were upheld and so, thanks to him, none of which became law. So it’s Terry McAuliffe for Governor in our book. The same goes for the race for Attorney General where incumbent Mark Herring is being challenged. It’s Herring for us. He’s has proven himself in multiple ways to be proactive for the state, among many other things authoring critical briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, including for same-sex marriage. In the only race with no real incumbent, for lieutenant governor, from the six candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, and our endorsement goes to State Del. Mark Levine from Alexandria. If elected, Levine would become the first openly gay man elected to statewide office in Virginia, but he also brings energy, progressive values and a proven track record. In state delegate races around Falls Church, we endorse incumbents Kaye Kory, Kathleen Murphy, Ken Plum and Alfonso Lopez. They’re all doing very good jobs contributing to so much groundbreaking pro-humanitarian legislation in Richmond now that Democrats are in the majority.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Dr. Warren Pace Shouldn’t Have Been Ignored As School Name Editor, Several months ago I contacted the Falls Church City Public Schools, the Falls Church NewsPress and submitted to the school renaming committee to propose that the high school be renamed for an outstanding school administrator and nationally renown educator — Dr. Warren Pace. I did receive a response from the renaming committee website and my recommendation was published in the News-Press. Dr. Warren Pace was named the Supervisor, FCCPS in 1971. Under his leadership the FCCPS became the first school system in the nation to incorporate the International Baccalaureate program into the system cirriculum and gained renown as, by some measures, the finest school district in the U.S. During this period, George Mason High School was recognized as among the top ranked high schools in the country, if not the top high school. Dr. Pace was honored as the United States National School Administrator of the Year in 1983. Following his tenure as Superintendent, Dr. Pace continued to offer advice and council to the subsequent Director and

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

members of the FCCPS board. The advancement and development of FCCPS stands as a memorial to Dr. Pace’s forethought, tenacity and understanding of the challenges faced by educators. Dr. Pace’s leadership and human spirit continue to inspire excellence within Falls Church schools, to the benefit of all residents of the City of Falls Church. However, I recently read the high school renaming committee report on recommended names and see absolutely no mention of the recommendation the new high school for Dr. Pace. I read interim reports and, again, no mention of the recommendation to name the new school for Dr. Pace. It is difficult to believe that the committee was not aware of the recommendation. But the committee’s failure to mention the recommendation infers that the committee willfully chose to disregard the recommendation (which is contrary to the committee charter on-line). I request a meeting with the Chairman of the committee, the Administrator of the City of Falls Church Public Schools, the Mayor of the City of Falls Church to ascertain why the recommendation was ignored. And, absent a sound and compelling argument, request that a new committee be established to unbiasedly review and recommend names for the new high school. Robert Johnson Falls Church

The deadline for Letters to the Editor is 5 p.m. Monday each week of publication Letters should be 350 words or less. Email letters@fcnp.com Fax 703-342-0347 Mail or drop off Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

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Clarifying the Different Roles of F.C.’s Sheriff & City Police B� M�� C��

As the Sheriff of the City of Falls Church, I am often asked about the differences between the Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department. Although both agencies share responsibilities essential to the public safety of the residents and to the visitors to our jurisdiction, there exist fundamental aspects and functions specific to each law enforcement entity. I previously have had the privilege of serving as a police officer with the City of Falls Church Police Department and as a deputy sheriff and as the Chief Deputy of the City of Falls Church Sheriff’s Office, as well as have practiced law in Virginia, all experiences which assist in providing the following information. Historically, the duties of the sheriff are rooted in the 11th century organization of the English government. In the 17th century, Virginia was divided into “shires” by the King of England and a “reeve’ was appointed and assigned to each division to maintain community security and peace, to resolve disputes, to enforce the King’s orders and to collect taxes. As Virginia became more populated and society became more organized and communities more complex the “shire reeve” which over time evolved to the designation “sheriff” assumed an increasing number and scope of additional required responsibilities including law enforcement, court and jail administration and security, inmate transportation, court order enforcement, fugitive apprehension and civil process. The first sheriff’s office in America was

created in 1634 in Virginia. The continuing evolution of organized communities created a significant increase in the partitioning of larger jurisdictions which formed numerous independent local, city and county governments many of which implemented their own law enforcement entity which commonly was designated

“As the Sheriff of the City of Falls Church, I am often asked about the differences between the Sheriff’s Of�ice and the Police Department.” as the police department. The first organized police department was formed in Boston in 1638 followed by the formation of the police department in New York City in 1845. The sheriff, as an elected and sworn state law enforcement official, derives the authority of the office from the Constitution of Virginia. In contrast, the director of a police department is appointed by the locality and is commonly designated as the “chief of police” whose authority is conferred by the local government served by the department. However, in the City of Falls Church, both agencies observe specific jurisdictional boundaries which are shared. The City of Falls Church is served by a state court system and the Sheriff’s Office is

responsible for the security and safety of the court and related facilities as well as providing the security for all of the court attendees including judges, court clerk personnel, prosecutors, other attorneys, parties, witnesses, translators and observers as well as to execute all civil and criminal court processes and orders. The Falls Church General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court are conducted in the City of Falls Church and the Falls Church Sheriff’s Office personnel provide all the necessary logistical, safety and other required support to ensure the proper functional administration of court services as described above in compliance with state requirements. The Sheriff’s Office also ensures the attendance of all individuals summoned by the Courts. This function regularly involves securing the custody of individuals from detention facilities or other agencies or facilities or by locating individuals by executing court warrants and safely transferring them to locations or implementing other dispositions in compliance with the Courts’ orders. The Sheriff’s Office also continues its historical duties of collecting delinquent local taxes by assisting the Treasurer’s Office with tax levies and sales as well as executing court-ordered evictions and property seizures. Our office also ensures the implementation of moratoriums and restrictions and other considerations regarding evictions to promote the receipt of assistance to those requiring services and resources to avoid displacement. The Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with

other City departments, also continues to provide Covid-19 pandemic preparation, mitigation, recovery and community safety services as well as City facilities security and safety. The Sheriff’s Office also performs the function of administering large scale community quarantines in the event of a localized health event including the transportation of response emergency medical health professionals and personnel. The Sheriff’s Office also assists the Police Department, which is tasked with the primary law enforcement and patrol function in the City, as needed. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office provides personnel and resources to provide public safety, security and traffic control during parades, runs, festivals, gatherings and other community events as well as conducts numerous public and community programs including child-seat installation and use, public safety outreach and traffic calming and enforcement. In addition, Sheriff’s Office personnel are also trained and equipped to respond to critical and emergency situations to provide additional law enforcement services and support within the City as well as for mutual aid to surrounding jurisdictions. All the members of the Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department are committed to interacting and to training collaboratively to ensure consistency of equipment, policies and practices to provide optimal public safety consistent with community and agency requirements and expectations. Metin “Matt” Cay is the Sheriff for the City of Falls Church

Q�� W�� Are you in favor of the modified Memorial Day celebration? • Yes

• No

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[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]

Last Week’s Question: What do you think of the new school names of ‘Meridian’ & ‘Oak Street?’

68% Neither

26% Like both 25% Only like Oak Street

1% Only like Meridian

FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientiﬁc polls.

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

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Yesterday, Virginia’s U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after Facebook’s advisory panel upheld the company’s decision to remove the account of former President Donald Trump: “For years, we saw former President Donald Trump – along with a number of foreign leaders – successfully utilize Facebook and other large social media platforms to sow misinformation, bully opponents, and spread anti-democratic vitriol. While this is a welcome step by Facebook, the reality is that bad actors still have the ability to exploit and weaponize the platform. Policymakers ultimately must address the root of these issues, which includes pushing for oversight and effective moderation mechanisms to hold platforms accountable for a business model that spreads real-world harm.”

Fairfax Co. Dedicates Half Cent To Affordable Housing

Adopting its Fiscal Year 2022 budget Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors included in its plan a one-cent real estate tax rate cut to $1.14 per $100 assessed valuation and a half-cent dedicated to affordable housing, a sum totalling about $13 million this year. It also includes a one-percent pay increase for county employees. Fairfax County, its population over one million, adopted a $5 trillion budget where a penny on the real estate tax rate equals $27.14 million. With residential real estate values rising for an average per single family home of $601,000 to $652,000 between 2019 and 2020, the single penny tax rate reduction does not begin to match the overall increase in taxes owed by the average homeowner.

Fairfax School Board Adopts ‘Trust Policy’

The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to develop a School Trust Policy aligning the school division with Fairfax County’s Trust Policy. Adopted in January, the County policy prohibits voluntary cooperation by all Fairfax County agencies with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The policies are designed to help build trust and confidence with immigrant families. The proposal, sponsored by School Board members Dr. Ricardy Anderson (Mason District) and Karl Frisch (Providence District), was approved at the board’s monthly Forum discussion. The Board’s governance committee will now work with school division staff to develop the policy for adoption by the full Board in the near future. “For too many immigrant families, the

trust has been broken. To regain their confidence, we must demonstrate in all that we do that we are in the business of education and nothing more,” said Dr. Anderson, the School Board’s chair and Mason District representative. “The fear of being reported or deported is keeping families from accessing the critical resources that Fairfax County Public Schools provides — from meals and mental health services to parent workshops and academic opportunities for their children.” There are about 750,000 undocumented school-aged children and another five million children living with unauthorized immigrant parents in the United States according to the Migration Policy Institute. Although the Virginia Department of Education does not track immigration status, the Legal Aid Justice Center notes that 27 percent of all Fairfax County Public Schools students in the 2019–20 school year were current or former English learners.

All Lanes Closed on I-66 On Friday & Saturday Nights

All lanes of I-66 East and West approaching Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) are scheduled to be closed during the overnight hours May 7 and 8 to allow for installation of bridge beams for the new Route 123 South Bridge over I-66. It is part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. I-66 traffic will be detoured around the closure using the ramps at the Route 123 Interchange. Route 123 will remain open during these operations, but drivers should expect possible delays crossing over I-66. Police will be on scene to direct traffic.

F.C. Housing Commission Eyeing Virginia Village

In a presentation and discussion at Monday’s F.C. City Council work session, Housing Commission chair Joshua Shokoor said that priorities for the deployment of affordable housing funds are on existing sites in the S. Washington St. corridor, specifying the Virginia Village cluster of four-plexes, and the idea of buying a home that could be converted into a duplex. Councilmen Letty Hardi and Phil Duncan said the focus should be on the more cost-effective former option.

No FIRSTfriday This Month, Gittins Announces

There will be no First Friday meeting this Friday, the outfit’s chief Tom Gittins has alerted everyone. However, he encourages all to visit the Art and Frame of Falls Church at 205 E. Jefferson St. to enjoy the art works of Margaret Jacobson.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

APRIL 29 – MAY 5, 2021 | PAGE 9

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes Grace Christian Holds Virtual Fundraiser on May 8 Grace Christian Academy (GCA) will hold their annual fundraising gala virtually on May 8 at 5:30 p.m. Billed as “The Light at the End of the Tunnel,” the event will be held in a unique online venue that will allow participants to move around a virtual room, play games and be guided through a flight of three cheeses by Academy of Cheese manager Rob Graff. GCA alum Zach Satorius will serve as the event emcee, participating from the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary where he is in his second year of training for pastoral ministry. The event will also feature remarks from Interim Head of School Kevin Wattles, as well as entertainment by some scholars at the school, virtual games, raffles, and more. More information about the event, as well as a link to register can be found at gcagala.com.

Walk-in Covid-19 Vaccinations Now at Giant

SOME BONUS SCENES from the Women’s History Walk this past Sunday. The top photo is of one of the docent stations outside of Falls Church’s City Hall, while the bottom photo shows the “Entrepreneurial Women’s Wall” along S. Maple Avenue. (Photos: Top — J. Michael Whalen/Bottom — Courtesy Mary Beth Connelly)

Starting May 3, Giant Food is offering Covid-19 vaccines to all approved ages (16-and-older for Pfizer, 18-and-older for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) every Monday and Thursday from 6 – 9 a.m. at all 152 of its pharmacy locations throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware with no appointment needed. Walk-in vaccinations are available for individuals receiving either their first or second dose of the vaccine. During the vaccination, Giant pharmacists will work with the individual to schedule their second dose, if needed.

Additionally, customers may still visit giantfood.com/covid-info to register for an appointment at any of Giant’s pharmacy locations. Locations continue to receive supply with plenty of appointments available each week. Giant Pharmacies are currently using the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, dependent on specific location. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being resumed at select locations since the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the pause on April 23. A list of vaccines offered at each location is available at giantfood.com/covid-info. Vaccines are provided at no cost, though residents are asked to bring their health insurance card and driver’s license to their appointment. For more information, visit giantfood.com/covid-info.

Longfellow Students Take 2nd, 10th in Quiz Competition Longfellow Middle School had its A and B teams compete in the virtual 2021 Middle School National Championship Tournament between 112 teams from 22 states (and one international entrant) over the weekend, with its A team emerging as the second best in the tournament. Quiz bowl teams include four students who use buzzers to answer questions about science, math, history, literature, mythology, geography, social science, current events, sports and popular culture. The A team consisted of Deven Hagen, Abigail Lee, Ryan McKenzie and Anthony Zhao. The B team consisted of Aarushi Kanigicherla, Hudson Keeler, Edward Lin and Sarah Trainer. The teams were coached

Send Us Your News & Notes!

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

Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

years. Snyder was nominated by fellow teacher Kenny George who wrote, “Will’s Computer Science courses are some of the most sought after in the school. His enrollment numbers increase each year significantly, and his classes are bursting at the seams.” According to parent nominator Bridget Janicki, “He is skilled at breaking down complex coding concepts and demonstrating the importance of detailed analysis, writing and testing practice. Mr. Snyder also has an easy rapport with his students and deals effectively with their individual strengths and weaknesses. He instills confidence in students while still challenging them to improve.” Snyder is a finalist for the Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award and will be recognized as part of Falls Church City Public School’s annual Celebration of Excellence later this year.

CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY in the sub-divided lot behind Steve Cram’s house, which he shared with his late wife, Barb. Since the lot was purchased separately from the home, the solarium in the back of the Cram house had to be torn down. (P��: N��-P��) by Eugene Huang. Longfellow entered two of the five Virginia teams competing at the national championship. Longfellow A began the preliminary rounds with a five-game winning streak, in which they defeated schools from California, Tennessee; Alabama, Georgia and Seoul, South Korea, qualifying them for the playoffs. Longfellow B began the preliminary rounds with a three-game winning streak, in which they defeated three schools from Texas, also helping them qualify for the playoffs. Longfellow A’s shot at the title ended when they lost to the eventual champions, Churchill A from Carmichael, California in round 20. They finished in second place

in the competition overall. Longfellow B was on the brink of elimination when they defeated Herberger from Glendale, Arizona in round 14 to stay alive. Unfortunately, they lost to Challenger-Strawberry Park A from San Jose, California, ending their shot at the title. They finished in 10th place overall. Hagen of the A team was honored as an All-Star for correctly answering 71 “toss up” questions — 42 of them for “power,” which means he answered them so early he earned points. The final two matches of the playoffs, featuring Longfellow, Churchill, and Burleigh Manor Middle School of Maryland were recorded and are avail-

able for viewing at youtube.com/ watch?v=JNfzVPgbJ6I.

Will Snyder Chosen as F.C.’s ‘Teacher of the Year’ Will Snyder, the Computer Science teacher at the soon-tobe Meridian High School, was named as the teacher of the year by the Falls Church Education Foundation. Snyder started his career as a math teacher and recognized the increasing interest in computer science. He currently serves as the high school’s only computer science teacher, while previously serving as Senior Class Advisor and Graduation Coordinator for many

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1st Stage Theater Begins Master Class Series 1st Stage Theater (1524 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons) is starting a brand-new series called the Masters’ Class, beginning May 15 and spanning an inspiring array of new topics in theatre and performance throughout the summer and early fall. Taught by some of the Washington, D.C. region’s theatre experts, each Masters’ Class consists of a single, focused two-hour session with the master, from 2 – 4 p.m., and costs $35 to attend. Registration is now open at 1ststage.org. On Saturday, May 15, 1st Stage’s Casting Director Jane Margulies Kalbfeld will teach “Acting a Song — with Emphasis on Lyric Interpretation.” In this class each singing actor will learn to approach, explore and personalize the lyrics of a song with a stepby-step technique that can also

MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 11

be used in dramatic and comedic acting (adapted from the script interpretation system that Kalbfeld learned directly from Stella Adler, who developed her actor training based on her studies with Constantin Stanislavski)

Henderson Students Shine in ‘If I Were Mayor’ Contest The Virginia Municipal League held its annual “If I Were Mayor” letter contest for seventh graders throughout the state in April. The contest asks students to discuss the changes they would make to their community if they were mayor, dovetailing with their Civics curriculum. Given the past year of schooling was done during the Covid-19 pandemic, the students were asked to write what they thought had worked and what they would change for virtual learning. Claire Weatherly was the winner for the state’s Region 5 contest. Within just Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, there were three winners — Seth Hahn in 1st place, Sylvia Witt in 2nd place and William Hefferan in 3rd place. All winners will be featured in the May issue of the Virginia Municipal League magazine.

Controlling Mosquitoes & Ticks Without Pesticides Interested gardeners can learn pesticide-free management practices to control mosquitoes and ticks in their yard in order to keep them away from their families during this virtual class on Friday from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Extension Master Gardener Joan McIntyre will explain how to identify mosquitoes and ticks prevalent in this area, their life cycle, how they reproduce, and where they go in the winter. This event is free and open to all. RSVP at mgnv.org/events to receive the link to participate.

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PAGE 12 | MAY 6 – 12, 2021

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Last Saturday’s shredding event at the Mason District Governmental Center was an enormous success! The line opened at 7 a.m., and 736 vehicles were unloaded in the three hours and 40 minutes that elapsed before the four large shredding trucks were full, and another 30 or so vehicles had to be waved off. If you do the math, one vehicle was unloaded every 18 seconds. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day, weather-wise. If you missed the Mason District shredding event, another opportunity is this Saturday, May 8, also from 7 – 11 a.m., at the Rolling Valley Park & Ride, 9220 Old Keene Mill Road in Burke. It might be a good idea to get in line early, in case the trucks fill up quickly. Shredding events for sensitive personal and financial documents (not newspapers and magazines, which should be placed in your recycling bin) are open to residents of Fairfax County, Herndon, Vienna, and Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. Plans are underway for another shredding event in Mason District in April 2022. The Fairfax County Public School System is hosting a virtual community meeting to discuss the planned school expansion and associated parking and improvements at the adjacent Justice Park on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Park Authority representatives also will be available to answer questions about the project and potential for improvements under the existing Master Plan. Information about the meeting is available on the Mason District website, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ mason. Sad news came twice on Monday, as Mason District learned of the loss of two great ladies, almost centenarians Helen Winter and Gwen Cody. Helen sometimes was known as the First Lady of Annandale, for both her chairmanship of

the Annandale Clean-up every spring for decades, and her leadership in the Annandale Women’s Club. Helen was active in the Clean Fairfax Council for many years, and could be found on stage presenting environmental awards during Earth Day celebrations. She hosted decades of Hillbrook-Tall Oaks civic association fall picnics in her extensive front yard, and loved watching new generations of neighborhood children play on the rented bouncy house. Helen was named Lady Fairfax by then-Supervisor Tina Trapnell in 1993, and Helen Winter Terrace was named for her when Ashton Commons was built in 2007. New residents were delighted to learn that there really was a Helen Winter, and they invited her to a community event where she charmed them all. Helen would have turned 96 next month. Gwen Cody, a longtime resident of Camelot, was a longtime real estate agent, and a faithful member of the Annandale Rotary Club. Gwen served in the Virginia General Assembly for two terms in the mid-1980s, until she was defeated in 1985 by Leslie Byrne. Later, she was appointed to the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees. Gwen always proudly posted Republican candidate signs in her yard on King Arthur Road and, occasionally, she also posted my campaign sign, much to the consternation of both political parties! Gwen could be a fierce opponent, but she also could be a thoughtful friend, and I will miss her occasional phone calls, and her invitations to speak at Rotary Club. Gwen, who was 99 last month, was a veteran, and will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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CRIME REPORT Week of April 26 – May 2, 2021

Tampering with Auto, Brandishing, Roosevelt Blvd, April 26, 9:58 PM, unknown suspect damaged a parked car and when

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confronted threatened the reporting party with a firearm. Suspect described as an Asian male possibly Filipino or Pacific Islander wearing a gray hooded jacket, red shorts, black shoes with

white soles. Suspect fled on foot towards Roosevelt Blvd. Believed to drive a gray or white colored Audi A4. Suspect subsequently identified and warrants obtained. Larceny from Building, Lounsbury Pl, April 27, 09:30 to 10:21 AM, a black mountain bicycle was stolen from an open garage. Larceny from Building, Lounsbury Pl, April 27, 09:30 to 10:21 AM, a black and red Demarini backpack and a blue and silver Specialized Crosstrak bicycle with lighted seat and a phone holder on the handle bar were taken from an open garage.

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Senator Dick Saslaw’s

Richmond Report Virginia and the nation are at a critical point of the pandemic recovery. With sound leadership and major investments in our country, President Biden is turning this around. The American Jobs Act is another positive step toward moving forward, retooling the workforce and investing in much needed infrastructure. It is a bold plan to make longterm improvements in our water systems, retrofitting homes, building out broadband, and modernizing the electric grid. Alongside this initiative is The American Families Plan, which will bring opportunity and support for children and working families. These programs address the middle class need to re-enter the workforce as well as have the skills and funds necessary to Build Back Better. Closer to home, I am pleased to share that approximately 200,000 Virginians finally received a well-deserved raise, as the Commonwealth’s minimum wage increased on May 1 from $7.25 per hour to $9.50 per hour. This marked the first increase in the minimum wage in Virginia since 2009. Thousands of other Virginians will also see their wages increase as employers adjust their wage scales to reflect the increase at the lowest level. I commend my fellow legislators who supported the bill I championed (SB 7) in 2020 to give working-class Virginians a raise. The minimum wage will increase to $11.00 per hour in January 2022 and $12.00 in January 2023. Just in time for the warmer weather, the CDC recently revised its mask guidance for fully vaccinated Americans in outdoor locations. Fully vaccinated people can now go without a mask at small outdoor gatherings or when socializing outside with friends from different households. This is one of the first of many expected benefits for vaccinated individuals looking to return to normal life. While overall vaccination rates continue to climb, many individuals have unfortunately elected to skip the crucial second dose. The second dose of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines offer extensively more durability and protection against getting seriously ill

from Covid-19. It is also unclear whether people skipping the second dose may prevent the country from eventually reaching “herd immunity.” Virginia is in Phase 2 affording everyone ages 16 and older to receive the vaccine. Let’s keep up the progress and stomp out Covid-19. Effective May 15, the maximum number of individuals permitted at a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings. Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at the lesser of 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people and outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity, with no specific cap on the number of attendees. Additionally, “last call” at bars and restaurants will shift from midnight to the old normal of 2 a.m. Working from home may be reconsidered as businesses continue to review their staffing needs and work deliverables. A reminder that the Virginia Democratic Primary is fast approaching on June 8. Monday, May 17 is the deadline to register to vote in this primary. Absentee and early voting is underway across the Commonwealth. Absentee voters no longer need a witness signature for their ballot. In Falls Church, registered voters can vote early in-person at the Office of Elections in City Hall (300 Park Ave.) on weekdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. until Friday, June 4 (except on Monday, May 28 due to Memorial Day), and on Saturday, June 5 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. I am supporting Terry McAuliffe for Governor. Having served in the Senate when Mr. McAuliffe was previously governor, I know firsthand the skillset he brings to the office. His vision and decisive leadership are what we need to “Build Back Better” post pandemic. Mark Herring has been one of the strongest attorney generals we have seen in decades. He has the experience and remains dedicated to the job that makes the Commonwealth fair and just. Please continue to stay safe and let’s close the chapter on Covid 19.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Jan. 6 Capitol Sacking: Putin’s Role (Part 4)

In the early 1970s, under the cover of a new “detente” with the Nixon administration, the Soviet KGB that is the Russian government today under Putin began a shift in how to penetrate and control the U.S. from within. It is the fruits of that effort that resulted in the Jan. 6, 2021 sacking of the Capitol, with, Putin intends, much more yet to come. The first point to stress here is that Putin’s No. 1 asset in the U.S. is Trump. Trump is a carefully and patiently cultivated Russian agent of influence who has effectively drawn in a whole faction of the Republican Party under his sway and garnered over 70 million votes in the last election. It goes to show how malleable people and institutions can be. If the American democratic experiment is FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS to survive for the long haul, it is going to have to face and address this condition very directly. The KGB, aka Putin, has always operated on the notion that pitting elements of the general population of any aspiring democracy against one another, including by exploiting prejudices, is the most effective means for destabilizing and undermining it. In this regard, their standard “m.o.” almost totally agrees with the objectives of those within the ruling class of any nation. So far in the U.S., it is Democracy 1, Putin 0, given the power of the mobilization of an aroused U.S. electorate last year. But the game isn’t over. Operating from the political fringes that they’d held sway in for decades in the U.S., the KGB decided in the early 1970s it was time for a veritable paradigm shift. Instead of appearing like a fifth column cheerleading flank for progressive causes here, they launched a new initiative under the guise of Nixon’s new “detente” that involved duping Nixon into sanctioning on grounds it would help him to control his leftist and liberal enemies, including the residues of the civil rights, feminist, gay liberation and anti-war movements. The solution: turn their fringe assets into a rightwing tool. They did this by a combination of means including using certain assets to humiliate and render impotent their fringe leftist elements. This involved fringe group thugs showing up at leftist fringe meetings and threatening or actually inflicting harm with attacks on aged Community Party sympathizers, for example, with nunchucks and other handheld but not lethal weapons. It was called “Operation Mop-Up.” It involved a fringe cult I’d become involved with called the National Caucus of Labor Committees led by one Lyn Marcus, later known by his real name of Lyndon LaRouche. He was a Socialist Workers Party dissenter who’d recruited a core group of students out of the Columbia University ferment of the late 1960s by teaching unofficial classes using a book he’d authored entitled, “Dialectical Economics.” (He’s now dead, but the residue of his organization now actively backs Trump). “Mop Up,” he’d persuaded his young followers in 1973, was a way to assert “hegemony” within the U.S. Left by showing how impotent all the other groups, the CPUSA, SWP, Progressive Labor, etc., were. I was not part of the operation, being on the West Coast at the time. But a number of violent incidents occured in New York and Philadelphia, and it was deemed a success. It occurred in the context of the huge landslide defeat that Democrat George McGovern suffered at the hands of a Nixon re-election effort in the fall of 1972. This effectively softened up the “Old Left” and remnants of FDR’s legacy for a new thrust to the hard right. A number in LaRouche’s still-tiny cult were upset when their leader announced that, first, he was abandoning any dilettantish leftist ways in favor of a new-found appreciation for Stalin, the ruthless idiot who ran the Soviet Union through paranoia and terror into the 1950s. Then LaRouche announced his sudden “realization” that it was not among the liberal-tending ranks in the U.S. that the seeds of revolution could be found, but that they were much more abundant and fertile in the ranks of the fringe rightwing, no matter how racist or anti-Semitic. (To be continued).

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MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

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

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

Neighborhood histories rank among our best under-appreciated local records, tapping, as most do, volunteer labor and up-close on-the-scene observations. With cicada season approaching, stalwarts in North Arlington’s Tara-Leeway Heights neighborhood have been circulating loose-leaf binders that document their subdivision’s collective doings, including clippings from past local coverage of the 17-year insect invasions in 1987 and 2004. Among the personal photos in the roving scrapbooks is a shot of a young neighbor in Brood X T-shirt. “We believe that the smaller size of the invasions is due to the loss of trees in our neighborhood,” wrote Richard Rhoads, a 51-year resident who assembled the collection. “N. Va. Anticipates Song of the Cicada,” headlined the piece by the Journal Newspaper’s Mark Grossman April 30, 1987. Arlington and Alexandria officials were being flooded with cicada calls. “The males are the noisy ones that vibrate their bellies in a musical mating ritual,” wrote his colleague Phil Hosmer. The Sun-Gazette on March 25, 2004, reminisced about the 1987 go-round. The cicadas “have their minds on just two things — sex, and making as much noise as possible,” wrote Brian Trompeter and Ryan Self. A program with signage was conducted at Potomac Overlook Park, said ranger Martin Ogle. The Sun quoted the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service advising that “a way of control-

ling the damage is to wrap or cover trees with mosquito netting.” “Cicadamania,” proclaimed the Associated Press. “Billions in Washington area and 13 states.” Cicadas live about 18-24 inches underground and emerge when the soil temperature hits 65 degrees, AP informed us. “Maligned by a Lot of Bad Buzz,” wrote the Washington Post’s Adrian Higgins April 29, 2004. But a cicada “does not… sting, bite, transmit disease to humans, pets or flowers, destroy crops, trees or strip bare our landscapes.” Addressing Tara-Leeway itself, the scrapbooks showcase the development’s original brochure from late 1930s: “Dick Bassett presents TARA, ‘carved out of the virgin wooded hills of Old Dominion countryside….. restores the romance of plantation days, in which Margaret Mitchell’s TARA in ‘Gone with the Wind’ symbolized gracious hospitality.” Such a sales pitch wouldn’t pass muster today. (But back in 1939, that seminal movie had just come out.) Builder E. Ray Keene originally offered Tara homes for $9,000. Today many are worth over $1 million. In the spirit of the public square, fun invitations promote Tara Leeway’s Flag Day Walk/ Run and July 4 picnics. Red letter days in the shared culture include the report from the Post Sept. 4, 1976, breaking news that “Westover Mourns J.W. Ayers, `Westover Mayor.’ ” March 29, 1989. The Citgo (now Liberty) gas station that occupied the site of the current

Westover Post Office, moved to Lee Highway. Oct. 23, 2004, was the grand opening of Virginia Hospital Center. Oct. 30, 2009, was the dedication of the new Westover Branch Library. Nov. 3, 2010, the “Westover Apartments Celebrate Renovation,” the Sun reported. Lots of sentimental shots of businesses once nearby: Ballston Hecht’s sign being removed in 2006, to make it Macy’s; Bob Peck Chevrolet, Blockbuster and Hollywood video, Friendly’s Ice Cream, Fantle’s and Dart Drug. “Growth Was the Top Story of 2004: From Rosslyn to Shirlington, Upscale Development Blossomed,” wrote the Sun’s Scott McCaffrey Dec. 30, 2004. Plus can change. Like the cicadas, Arlington’s news goes around and comes around. *** A more scholarly history of the Glencarlyn neighborhood was published this spring by Tim Aiken. That’s Arlington’s first subdivision, packed with history involving George Washington. One highlight was detail on Joshua Devaughn (1831-1922), the African-American worker shown in an unusual 19th century photo. He’s standing behind pipe-smoking schoolteacher Mary Carlin (1818-1905) at the two-century-plus-old house still standing on Carlin Springs Rd. According to a 1970 memoir by a later resident of the house, Munson Lane, Devaughn was known as “Uncle Josh,” and looked after Mary Carlin. She gave him a parcel of land for his cabin. He was a Baptist minister and “a very devout man.”

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 14 | MAY 6 – 12, 2021

4 Mother’s Day gifts

to help Mom relax Would you like to help your mom relax and unwind this Mother’s Day? If so, here are a few gift ideas that may be a good fit.

1. AN OVERNIGHT STAY AT A HOTEL There’s nothing like a change of scenery, even a brief one, to take the edge off the daily grind. Depending on her tastes, opt for something sleek and polished in town or quaint and charming off the beaten track. With room service and onsite amenities, Mom will be able to indulge in a little pampering. 2. A HOME-DELIVERED MEAL Help your mom take a break from cooking by serving her a meal she doesn’t

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have to make. Order a dish she loves from her favourite restaurant or buy the ingredients to prepare it yourself. Either way, she’s sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness. 3. A BASKET OF BATH PRODUCTS Give your mother an excuse to bask in the bath by offering her an assortment of goods. Put together a basket filled with bubble bath, a sponge, scented candles, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates and other treats for a relaxing experience. 4. A SPA TREATMENT AND MASSAGE This guaranteed anti-stress remedy is the perfect way to help Mom unwind. If you’re not sure which types of massages and treatments she would enjoy, opt for a gift card from a place that offers a variety of services. From scented oil diffusers and adult colouring books to foot massagers and facial steamers, there are many other gifts that can help your mom relax.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I think about you every day.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

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MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 15

Business News & Notes Falls Church Elected Officials Welcome City Dermatology Falls Church elected officials and members of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce will officially welcome City Dermatology of Northern Virginia to the City of Falls Church with a ribbon cutting on Friday, May 7 at 5 p.m. City Dermatology of Northern Virginia is owned and operated by Dr. Margaret Kopelman, who has been practicing dermatology in Northern Virginia since 2010. She has been voted a Top Doctor by both Washingtonian and Northern Virginia magazines multiple times. Dr. Kopelman, who received her Doctor of Medicine from University of Michigan, focuses on eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer screening, and complex medical dermatology. City Dermatology of Northern Virginia is located at 407 N. Washington Street, Suite 104. For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.citydermnova.com.

The Toy Nest Hosts ‘Set Yourself Up for Success in Postpartum’ The Toy Nest is hosting Set Yourself Up for Success in Postpartum, a free seminar featuring Tiffany (Baracat) Miller, co-founder of @likeasistersupport, on Tuesday, May 11 at noon. Miller, a trained postpartum doula and new parent educator, will discuss success strategies for parents from baby feeding to welcoming a sibling. Space is limited and registration is required. Kids are welcome to attend as well. Visit www.TheToyNest.com/ reserve-a-time for more information.

The Kensington Falls Church Sponsors Virtual Body Dynamics Class The Kensington Falls Church is sponsoring a free virtual Body Dynamics’ class, Breathe, Move, and Relax, on Tuesday, May 11, 12:30 – 1 p.m. The class will explore deep breathing techniques to encourage ease of movement and relaxation, and will include a simple movement warm-up, breath practice, and an opportunity to stretch. Registration for the free class is available through www.TheKensingtonFallsChurch.com.

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J.L. Hicks Financial Group Holds Retirement Planning Seminar J.L. Hicks Financial Group is hosting Retirement Planning Today – An Educational Course for Adults Ages 50 to 70 virtually from 6 – 9 p.m. on Tuesdays May 11 and 18 or Thursdays, May 20 and 27. The course consists of two, 3-hour sessions during which attendees will determine the amount of money needed to retire, create goals for a successful retirement, eliminate debt and improve cash flow, properly convert your IRA to a Roth IRA, plan retirement income to preserve a comfortable standard of living, transfer the risk of potential financial losses before or during retirement, and reduce or eliminate taxes, expenses, delays and legal challenges with estate planning. For pricing and other information, call 703-935-2829.

F.C. Chamber of Commerce Puts On Virtual Networking Breakfast The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce is hosting an informal virtual Networking Breakfast on Thursday, May 13 from 9 –10 a.m. Anyone interested in meeting local business leaders is invited to participate. There is no cost to attend but registration is required and attendees are encouraged to pick up breakfast from a local restaurant to enjoy during it. For more information, visit the calendar at www.FallsChurchChamber.org.

Lavender Organizes Celebrates 3rd Anniversary Lavender Organizes is celebrating its third anniversary this month. The local independent business was opened by Chinamelum (Lavender) Menakaya in May 2018 to help people lower their stress and operate more efficiently. The service implements key organizational strategies focused on decluttering and arranging storage. It also offers expertise in donation options that benefit the interests of home owners, renters, and businesses. For more information, visit www.lavenderorganizes.com.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

Thanks to you, MCCP has kept our doors open and our Mobile Dental Van on the road to provide access to total health for Fairfax County children! Eva Starrak Email: estarrak@mccpfoundation.org Office: 703-822-6529 Mobile: 703-819-5847 www.mccpfoundation.org

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR LOCALEVENTS THURSDAY, MAY 6 News-Press “Spot of the Week.” Interested readers and supporters of the Falls Church NewsPress can join the staff at a restaurant in or around the City of Falls Church to celebrate the paper’s weekly publication. Learn how to become a member of the News-Press, get a chance to purchase one of the paper’s books, “The Front Page: The First Five Years: 1991 – 1996” or just get to know members of the staff better. This week the NewsPress will be at Settle Down Easy Brewing Company (2822 Fallfax Dr., Falls Church) from 6 – 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 8 Falls Church Farmers Market. The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday, where

attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) 8 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit fallschurchva. gov/547/Farmers-Market-To-Go. Lunch for Turtles. Kids (and parents) can help Arlington Parks staff make lunch for its turtles. Kids can prepare the food for the turtles and get to watch them eat, then give them worms for dessert afterward. Ages 3 to 6. Caretakers must register and attend. To register, contact 703228-4747. 2 – 3 p.m. ArlinGnomes Scavenger Hunt. Interested park goers can participate in a self-guided ArlinGnomes scavenger hunt, starting on April 24 and going until May 24, at Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park. Here’s how to play: Find all ten gnomes along the trail; scan the QR code next

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

SUNDAY, MAY 9 Nature Hike. A nature hike led by a naturalist who will identify trees, plants, and different types of wildlife all while making a connection to the beauty that is in the local environment. Registration required. To register, contact 703228-4747. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carling Springs Rd., Arlington). 11

a.m. – noon.

VIRTUALEVENTS THURSDAY, MAY 6 New Yorker Discussion Group (online). If any residents enjoy The New Yorker, but wish they had someone to chat about it with, they are encouraged to join Mary Riley Styles Public Library staff for its monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share their thoughts on what they’ve read in a variety of articles. This month’s article will be “Why America Can’t End Its Forever Wars” by William Arkin. This discussion will be held online. Email Pete Sullivan (psullivan@ fallschurchva.gov) for a Zoom invitation or more info. 2 – 3 p.m. Intentional Gardening: Make Way for the Pollinators (online). Many pollinator and bird species are declining at an alarming rate. But

home gardeners can be part of the solution to restore a healthier balance to our local ecosystems that will better support both wildlife and humans. The second of a three-part live Zoom gardening series about building a healthy habitat for humans and wildlife, hosted by the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. To request a Zoom invite, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov. 7 – 8 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 10 ESOL Conversation Group (online). Interested participants can practice their English with a weekly ESOL conversation group. This program meets online via Zoom. To request a Zoom invite, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov. 7 – 8:30 p.m. City Council Meeting (online). City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss

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upcoming legislation and policy issues and the public is invited to speak. All participating members of the City Council will be present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic meeting via www.fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings. The meeting may also be viewed on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. The virtual meeting will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. 7:30 – 11 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 11 Great Books Discussion (online). A “Great Books” discussion concentrating on literary classics (both traditional and modern) meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday most months. This month’s book is “Six Characters in Search of a Book” by Luigi Pirandello. This discussion will be held online. For more information, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov. 7 – 8:30 p.m.

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

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MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 17

Sigtheatre.org. Midnight at The Never Get (online). Welcome to The Never Get nightclub for the performance of a lifetime in this smart, funny and slyly subversive Off-Broadway smash-hit musical. If life is a rehearsal for your memory, what moment would you replay? It is 1965 in New York City and cabaret crooner Trevor is in love—with Arthur, his songwriter. With their romance outlawed, the two create an act in the back room of an illegal Greenwich Village gay bar. However, pressures from a world on the cusp of change expose an ache for what they could never have in a wistful and whimsical serenade with tunes reminiscent of the Great American Songbook. $35. sigtheatre.org.

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, MAY 6 Janus Project. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186. Attic Sessions Band — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Back to the ‘90s presents: A Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300. Chris Timbers Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

FRIDAY, MAY 7 Mary Shaver, Bob & Mike Tash Trio. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. Wide-Eyed Misfits. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186. The Nighthawks — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m.

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND will be at JV’s Restaurant on Thursday. (Photo: Facebook.com/ Christimbersfanpage)

703-255-1566. The Thrillbillys. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703237-0300. Shartel & Hume Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Accidents — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Berlin Calling (An ‘80s Tribute). The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

SATURDAY, MAY 8

Jamison Greene Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:45 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Krista O’Connell. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 12:30 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Jokes on Tap (Indoors + Distanced). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 9:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Groovequest Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703241-9504.

SUNDAY, MAY 9

Moose Jaw Bluegrass. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-8589186.

Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch with Petkoff Quartet. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-858-9186. Brooke Superstar Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd.,

Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504. Grateful Jams Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186. Lush. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-237-0300. Dan Navarro (Indoors + Distanced). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Josh Allen Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 Rewind Wednesdays with David Thong and Friends — Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.

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Green Screen Technology Was Used to Make Distanced Acting More Immersive Continued from Page 3

production method also allowed actress Dara Kearney, playing the tiny yellow bird Woodstock, to be digitally resized to appear much smaller than other cast members. Especially remarkable was that the performances by the actors were actually done in front of green screens. Beth De Marco, director of drama at FCHS, faced the challenge head-on. “Online streaming of play productions lacks the energy felt in the room during an inperson performance. I applaud those schools which decided to perform with masks on to protect all those involved in the production. Yet as an audience member, I found myself lacking in engagement midway through those productions when streaming from home,” De Marco said. ”By choosing this production of ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,’ and having each actor perform alone in front of a green screen (singing, acting, and dancing) without masks, my hope was to bring audiences into a feeling

of full engagement to what they saw and heard this past weekend.” Musical direction and accompaniment also deserve high praise, with a professionallyperformed jazz-tinged score referencing tango music (to Linus dancing with his blanket!), as well as Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody” and — here we are sure Schroeder would approve — Beethoven’s opening to “Moonlight Sonata,” the second and third movements from his “Pathétique Sonata,” and key phrases from Beethoven’s fifth and ninth symphonies. While this is not a typically Broadway musical, the cast was very successful in dancing those parts with panache which did resemble this format, such as the baseball team’s “T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)” number, Snoopy’s Suppertime,” and the show’s staple tune “Happiness,” sung by the cast. This reviewer was curious about the extent to which students know the original “Peanuts” comic strip, as the last original strip was published in 2000, the

year “Peanuts” creator Schulz died and a few years before these talented young actors were born. Derek Castillo, who played Linus, had never seen the comic strip, while Lucia “Lucy” Ku is a massive fan, even to the point of learning the “Linus and Lucy” theme song by Vince Guaraldi on the piano. Most of the actors knew “Peanuts” not so much through the comic strip, but through the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and/ or Christmas television specials. In the past, Falls Church High School Spotlight Theatre has offered musicals as diverse as “The “Pajama Game” and “Into the Woods.” What is to be next on the Spotlight Theatre agenda? De Marco told the News-Press that, right now, this question is a difficult one to answer. “If we perform before any audience or each other next fall, it will be with masks,” De Marco said. ”So what does that mean? A play that takes place in outer space? Or one in a hospital? Or should we just ignore the masks and not worry about it? Whatever it is, I’ll be reading a lot of plays and musicals this summer!”

MADELINE WENDROWSKI portrayed Sally in Falls Church High School’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (Courtesy Photo)

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

MAY 6 – 12, 2021 | PAGE 19

Sports Roundup: Girls Soccer Scorches Manassas Park, Tennis Stays Perfect by Mike Abler

Falls Church News-Press

The Mustangs’ Girls’ Soccer team started their season with an explosion, walloping visiting Manassas Park High School 10-0 to start their season last Friday. Though they started slow, Mason would go on to score three goals within a minute and a half. By halftime they were holding onto a 6-0 lead. Manassas Park came in with an 0-1 record, and their night would only get worse in the second half. Soon-to-be Meridian would add four more goals to give themselves a 10-0 lead, the game was ended with 22 minutes in the second half via the mercy rule. While the Mustangs’ team is largely comprised of underclassmen, they played like savvy veterans and were in complete control. It was a sterling performance all around as nothing could stop their offense. Defensively, the Mustangs were just as impressive. They rarely allowed Manassas Park anywhere near their own net. Mason was in danger of giving up a goal only a couple of times. But nothing could

get past them — no matter how hard the opposing team tried to kick it in. The Mustangs’ next game was going to be against Charles J. Colgan High School on the road this past Tuesday, but the game got postponed due to thunderstorms. The Mustangs will look to continue their strong start to the season when they play again. Colgan, on the other hand, will try to avoid getting blown away like Manassas last week. “Our girls were goal-hungry,” Mustangs head coach Leah Partridge explained after the game. Despite the explosive start to the season, junior team captain Maggie Tremblay felt that “We’re still getting used to each other, but I think we can be very good.” The Mustangs may be a young team, but their key advantage is having players that have played Soccer for years. “We practice every day with our 8th graders,” Partridge said, noting that their 8th graders are exceptionally skilled. “We’re building experience as a team and as a unit.” However, only 4 of the 28 players on the roster have experience

playing on a varsity team. Another key to their success was the camaraderie. “We’re a close-knit group,” Tremblay said, before Partridge added “Since we’re a young team, we got a few years to develop what we have.” Partridge is looking ahead to future match-ups and knows that the games will get tougher as the season progresses. “The next two defenses we face are very different from each other,” she explained. “We’re going to have to use our spaces on the field wisely.” The Mustangs will travel to Brentsville District High School on Friday.

Faces of Falls Church

Tennis The Boy’s and Girl’s Varsity Tennis squads will continue their seasons this afternoon against Warren County at home. The Boy’s team is 4-0 and the Girl’s team is undefeated as well. Both teams have only given up a combined 1 point all season. The girl’s team has shut out their opponent’s 33-0.

I BUMPED INTO Allison Brown during the 2021 Women’s History Walk as she manned the League of Women Voters table she had set up. When asked how she felt about the day, she replied, “I’m very humbled to see so many women who made Falls Church such a great place to live.”(Photo: J. Michael Whalen/JMichaelWhalen.com)

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LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE Special Use Permit application U1623-21 by Lisa Wills, applicant, to allow a daycare use otherwise not permitted by right, on premises known as 128 South Spring Street, RPC #52-203-037 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A (Low Density Residential). Public hearing on the above matter is scheduled for May 13, 2021, 7:30 PM, or as soon thereafter as the item may be heard. All participating members of Board of Zoning Appeals will be present at this meeting through electronic means. Public comment and questions may be submitted to zoning@ fallschurchva.gov until 4:30 pm on May 13, 2021. Virtual meeting link, agenda and application materials will be available the week prior to the scheduled hearing at: http:// www.fallschurchva.gov/BZA The Planning Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on May 5, 2021 at 7:30 PM to consider a recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Virtual meeting link, agenda and application materials will be available the week prior to the scheduled hearing at: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/364/PlanningCommission Information on the above application is also available for review upon request to staff at zoning@fallschurchva.gov. 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 (Alternate) Board of Equalization Board of Zoning Appeals (Alternate) City Employee Review Board Historic Architectural Review Board Library Board of Trustees Towing Advisory Board (Towing Representative) Regional Boards/Commissions Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Long Term Care Coordinating Council

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CLASSI F I E DS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The ordinance referenced below was given first reading on March 8, 2021. Public hearing, second reading, and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, May 10, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. (TO21-01) ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REENACT, AND RECODIFY CHAPTER 14, “ENVIRONMENT,” ARTICLE III, “NOISE,” OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH TO REMOVE PROVISIONS DEFINING VIOLATIONS AS THOSE THAT DISTURB A REASONABLE PERSON, CREATE AN EXCEPTION FOR SMALL POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATION DURING DAYTIME, AND ALLOW LONGER DAYTIME HOURS AND A HIGHER DECIBEL LEVEL (UP TO 75DB) IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS Public hearings will be held electronically. To speak on a public hearing item, complete a speaker form at www.fallschurchva.gov/ PublicComment before noon on the day of the Council meeting. Following submission of the form, you will receive emailed instructions to join the virtual Council meeting. Written public hearing comments may be sent until noon on the day of the meeting to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. Council members will attend the meeting through electronic means and members of the public may view the meeting at www.fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings and on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva. gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711). CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

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PUZZLE NO. 80

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PUZZLE NO. 81

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MAY 6 - 12, 2021 | PAGE 21

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ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 80

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

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PUZZLE NO. 83

LEVEL: BEGINNER

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

PUZZLE NO. 816

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ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 816

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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PAGE 22 | MAY 6 – 12, 2021

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BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXI, No. 12 • May 5,, 2011

Tuesday’s Election Will Be Referendum on Public Satisfaction With City Government

Developers Contend F.C. Continues to Tie Hands With Delays, Impediments

Next Tuesday’s election in Falls Church will amount to a referendum on the effectiveness of the City’s current leadership, as the incumbent mayor and vice-mayor lead a slate of City Council and School Board candidates with their record of performance against a slate of independent challengers.

If there was one unified cry that came from the Falls Church City Council at the conclusion of its painstaking budgeting process for the coming fiscal year during the past month, it was that the City urgently needs to spur economic development to bring in fresh revenues for future budgets.

Federal Relief Continued from Page 5

information officer Susan Finarelli, and he also put forth three for Congressional consideration for a total of $2.8 million. Finarelli said the requests will head into the Congressional legislative review process and positive outcomes are hoped for within a July timeframe, ideally setting it up for an adoption ahead of the October fiscal year. In the City’s $2 million request for multimodal transportation infrastructure, funds would be used for repair, enhancement, and construction of bridges, sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, midblock pedestrian crossings, lighting, bicycle signs and signals, bicycle lanes and shared-use land markings, bicycle parking, traffic calming, traffic monitoring, multimodal management programs and trails.

The funds, the City hopes, will also be used for intersection improvements, such as added bump-outs and curb ramps, the relocation of traffic and utility poles and undergrounding of utility lines, bridge inspection, maintenance and replacement activities, and all phases of the design, engineering, rightof-way acquisition, construction and project management activity. The City’s two other requests for community projects that Beyer will be forwarding are for an electric school bus and associated electric vehicle charging infrastructure and its Lincoln Avenue stormwater mitigation project. The electric bus request is for one electric school bus and associated electric vehicle charging infrastructure to provide an increase to four buses after the first year. It is argued that “the City is an ideal location to demonstrate all the advantages of electric vehicle operation on a small scale and in a

challenging environment that can prove the benefits.” The charging station would be located one block from key existing infrastructure, two City schools, commercial and residential real estate, the 10-acre West End project. It was noted in the City’s application that its schools offer “curriculum and outreach programs to influence our students to understand the social and technical aspects of our use of energy resources.” For the Lincoln Avenue stormwater project, it was noted in the City’s application that underground stormwater infrastructure is currently totally lacking, and that the project will add underground detention, piping, regrading, and curb modifications to detain and redirect flows away from homes. It will capture, manage, and treat stormwater originating upstream in Fairfax County as well as provide treatment and water quality benefits to stormwater discharges downstream.

LEMON GLAZE got her name because she’s the sweetest thing around. With a constantly running purr motor, she’s the perfect kitty to her foster parents, Kaia (age 10) and Amber (age 8). No matter where she first crashes, Lemon seems to somehow appear at the end of the bed each night after creeping her way up there. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

MAY 6 - 12, 2021 | PAGE 23

Where to Pick Up The • 7 Eleven (Box), 3019 Annandale Rd • Amazing Smiles, 444 W Broad St – D • Anthony’s Restaurant, 3000 Annandale Rd. • Audacious Aleworks, 110 E Fairfax St. • Ballston Quarter (Box) 4238 Wilson Blvd. • BB&T Bank, 225 W Broad St. • Bentley’s Restaurant, 6654 Arlington Blvd • Bikenetic, 201 W Jefferson St. • Bowl America, 140 S Maple Ave. • Clarendon Blvd & Courthouse Rd. Bus Stop (Box) • Broad Falls Apartments, 809 W Broad St. • Broadway Apt (in mailroom), 500 W Broad St. • Brown’s Hardware, 100 W Broad St. • Burke & Herbert Bank, 225 West Broad St. • Byron Apartments, 513 W Broad St. • Timberlane Condos Bus Stop, 7368 Lee Hwy • Lee Hwy/ Hollywood Rd. Bus Stop • Café Kindred, 450 N Washington St. • Celebrity Delly – Graham Park Plaza, 7263A Arlington Blvd. • Clarendon Metro, 3021 Wilson Blvd. • Clay Café Studios, 101 N Maple Ave. • Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N Washington St. • Courthouse Parking Lot, 2100 Wilson Blvd. • CVS, 1150 W Broad St. • CVS (Box), 134 W Broad St. • CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd. • Falls Church Distillers, 442 S A. Washington St. • Across from Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center (Box), Route 7 & Rio Dr. • Differences Hair Designer, 8122 Arlington Blvd. • Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St. • Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W Broad St. • East Falls Church Metro (Box), 2001 N. Sycamore St • Einstein Bros. Bagels, 913 W Broad St. • El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy. • Elevation Burger (Box), 442 S. Washington St. • Exxon Gas Station, 400 W Broad St. • Fairfax Auto Parts, 431 S Maple Ave. • Falls Church Animal Hospital, 1249 W Broad St. • Falls Church City Government, 300 Park Ave. • Falls Church City Public Schools, 150 S. Washington Street, Suite 400 • Falls Church City Public Utilities, Gordon Rd. • Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. • Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Suite #310 • Falls Green Apartments (formerly Oakwood), 501 N. Roosevelt Blvd. • Flippin’ Pizza, 800 W Broad St. • Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax • Foxcraft Design Group, 110 Great Falls St • Galleria Florist, 248 W. Broad Street • George Mason & Wilson Blvd (Box), 5015 Wilson Blvd • George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike • Giant – Graham Park Plaza, 7235 Arlington Blvd. • Giant Food, 1230 W Broad St. • Goodwin House, 3440 South Jefferson St. • Grand Hunan Restaurant, 5845 Washington Blvd. • Harris Teeter, 301 W Broad St. • Hillwood Cleaners, 165 Hillwood Ave. • Hilton Garden Inn, 706 W Broad St. • Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2300 & 2311 Pimmit Dr. • Indian Spices, 1067_B W Broad St. • Inns Virginia Hotel, 421 W. Broad St. • Ireland’s Four Provinces, 105 W Broad St. • Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta, 5555 Lee Hwy. • Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, 1136 W Broad St. • Kensington Falls Church, 700 W Broad St. • Lazy Mikes Deli, 7049 Leesburg Pike • Ledo Pizza, 7510 Leesburg Pike • Liberty Barbecue, 370 W Broad St. • Lil City Creamery, 114 W Broad St. • Lincoln At Tinner Hill Apartments, 455 S. Maple Ave. • Long Foster Realtors, 6299 Castle Rd. • Madison Apartments, 600 N Roosevelt Blvd. • Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike • Merrill House Apartments, 210 E Fairfax St. • Metro Diner, 4711 Lee Hwy. • Metro Dunn Loring, Gallows Rd & Belleforest Dr. • Mr Tire Auto, 105 Falls Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046 • Moby Dick House of Kabob, 444 W. Broad St. • Munson Hill Apartments, 6729 Leesburg Pike • N Virginia Av & W Broad St (Box), 105 N Virginia Ave. • N. Washington & E. Columbia St., 106 E Columbia St. • Neighborhood Barbershop, 417 W Broad St #103 • Northern Virginia Center, 7054 Haycock Rd.• Northgate Apartments (lobby), 450 N Washington St. • Northside Social, 205 Park Ave. • Original Pancake House, 7395 Lee Hwy. • Park Towers Condos, 200 N. Maple Ave. • Peach Tree Towers, 2042 Peach Orchard Dr. • Pearson Square Apartments, 410 S. Maple Ave. • Pete’s Barber Shop, 5847 Washington Blvd. • Pho 88 Restaurant, 232 W Broad St. • Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7700 Leesburg Pike • Pizzeria Orso (Tax Analysts building), 400 S. Maple Ave. • PNC Bank, 402 W. Broad St. • Point of View, 701 W. Broad St. • Professional Building, 313 Park Ave. • Providence Recreation Center, 7525 Marc Dr. • Quick Copy, 417 W. Broad St. • Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St. • Read Apartments, 402 W Broad St. • Re/Max West End, 710 W Broad St • Roosevelt Towers, 500 N Roosevelt Blvd.• Safeway, 5101 Wilson Blvd. • Safeway, 2500 N Harrison St. • Safeway – Route 29, 7397 Lee Hwy.• Sfizi Café, 800 W Broad St. • Silver Diner, 3200 Wilson Blvd. • Sislers Stone, 7139 Lee Hwy. • Smokey’s Garage, 1105 W Broad St. • Sonic Car Wash, 1050 W Broad St. • The Spectrum, 444 W. Broad St.• Spectrum Cleaners, 444 W Broad St. • Stratford Motor Lodge, 300 W. Broad St.• Sunrise of Falls Church, 330 N. Washington St. • Super A Market, 2800 Graham Rd. • Target, 500 S Washington St. • Target – Skyline Mall (Box), 5107 Leesburg Pike • West Broad Building, 301 W Broad St. • Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd. • Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave. • Unity Club, 116-B W Broad St. • UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr. • US Post Office, 2045 Wilson Blvd. • Virginia Hospital Center (Box), 1701 N George Mason Dr. • Virginia Hospital Center ER (inside), 1702 N George Mason Dr • Virginia Tech, Courthouse 7054 Haycock Rd. • Washington & S. Broad St. (Box) 101 W Broad St. • West Lee Apartments, 2200 N Westmoreland • Wendy’s – Bus Stop, 7391 Lee Hwy.• West Falls Church Metro (Box) 7040 Haycock Rd. • Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 24 | MAY 6 - 12, 2021

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Walk to Shops & Dining!

JUST SOLD!

502 W Broad St #320, Falls Church City 2 Bedrooms + Den 2.5 Bathrooms

1,800+ Sq ft Broadway Condo Open & Sunny Living Space

CALL 703-867-TORI

Tori@ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com 2101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

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EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Falls Church News-Press 5-6-2021

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