Falls Church News-Press 6-15-2023

June 15 - 21, 2023

Democratic Primary Election Is Tuesday

State Senate, Commonwealth Attorney Races Both Heated

by Charlie Clark

This coming Tuesday, June 20, is the official election day after a month of early voting for the Democratic primary when Falls Church voters will decide who that party’s nominees will be for State Senate in the newly reconfigured 37th District, now covering Falls Church, and for the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the Arlington/Falls Church circuit. On election day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. — 7 p.m.

Both races have been highly contentious. In the State Senate race, due to redistricting, Falls Church voters will be choosing a new state senator for the first time, the choices being between State Sen. Chap Petersen, whose district before this year was west of Falls Church, and Sadam Salim.

In the waning days before the election, however, it is the Commonwealth’s Attorney race between incumbent Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and challenger Josh Katcher that has taken the most contentious turn.

The tragedy of young Braylon Meade’s death by an Arlington drunk juvenile driver last November, which has become central in the testy campaign, raised a slew of crime questions. They include, When do local prosecutors charge an underage offender as an adult?

And, more important for voters, Are there really differences in the views of incumbent

Continued on Page 4

Feet Do The Talking

Meridian Takes Home 2023 State Soccer Title

by Ryan McCafferty

Falls Church’s Meridian High School Mustangs boys soccer team won the state championship last weekend in a defensive slugfest that went scoreless through both halves of regulation, two five-minute overtimes, two more sudden death overtimes, finally decided by the very last penalty kick. Mustang goalkeeper Inigo Diz was the hero, completing the state tournament allowing nary a single regulation goal across any of the three final games, It was a back-and-forth affair between Meridian and the Charlottesville Black Knights,

who’d knocked out defending champion Tabb in what would’ve been a rematch from last year.

Both teams saw plenty of scoring chances during regulation. The Mustangs held the edge in the possession battle but Charlottesville seemed to generate more high-danger opportunities. However none of them could get past Diz and his stingy defensive support. Then, after Meridian made its first four of five penalty shots but was stopped on the fifth, Charlottesville had a chance to tie the game but Diz made one more save, the most important one of the day.

“I felt like (Argentinian goal-

keeper) Emiliano Martinez,” said Diz, referencing the World Cup champion. “It’s all just mind games (on the penalty shots), you can’t let it get into your head.”

Diz is one of nine seniors on the Meridian championship squad, which has finished the year with a record of 18-3-1, winning its last eight games. The Mustangs never lost again after a 2-1 loss at Manassas Park on April 21, which dropped them to 5-3 at the time, as their only other non-win moving forward was a tie – also against Manassas Park – at home on May 9. Meridian was helped during the postseason by Manassas Park and Tabb both

being eliminated by other opponents, and the Mustangs pounced on the opportunity provided for them.

“There are no words to describe how much it means to these kids,” said Meridian head coach Nathan Greiner after the state title win “They’ve overcome so much adversity… it’s the only fitting way for this season to end.”

Meridian’s athletic programs are no strangers to success at the state level. But every class is different, and for those involved in the 2023 boys’ soccer team’s special run, it’s one they’ll never forget.

THE MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL Boys Soccer team took home the 2023 state title last weekend in a close match that was decided on PKs. (Photo: Shawna Russell.)

Falls Church Forward Features Small Businesses

Falls Church Forward, a new civic organization in the Little City, held a panel in conjunction with the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce on the successes and challenges of small businesses. On the panel were Jennifer Gamboa of Body Dynamics, Matt Lee of Lee Design Studios, Jay Tran of TeaDM and Thomas Harvey of Harvey’s restaurant, which hosted the event. All of the panelists spoke about the advantage of conducting business in a small, tight-knit community and the positive impact of recent development projects.

However, they also raised concerns about permit transparency and tax rates in the city. Jay Tran, who is building a food hall at Eden Center, said the permitting process has been arduous. Matt Lee, an architect opening his firm’s first storefront office, echoed Tran’s comments and said his experience trying to open his office has presented a need for a more customer service oriented permitting process.

Falls Church Forward plans to continue its regular meetings in the fall with a discussion on affordable housing.

Catherine Kane

Arlington Board Candidates Debate Ahead of Election

The six Democratic candidates vying for two seats on Arlington’s Board of Supervisors met at a candidate forum hosted by WJLA and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce to discuss economic development, commercial permitting and affordable housing. Arlington voters will decide who will replace Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey in the June 20 Democratic primary via a rankedchoice vote, the first in Virginia.

Democrats Maureen Coffey, Susan

Cunningham, Jonathan Dromgoole, Natalie Roy, Julius “J.D.” Spain and Tony Weaver, as well as Independent Audrey Clement, faced questions from WJLA’s Nick Minock about their plans to revitalize the county’s commercial sector and provide affordable housing to those working in the service and retail sectors.

Though it did not dominate the conversation at the forum, the Board of Supervisors’ recent vote on missing middle zoning came up in questions on affordable housing and redevelopment along Langston Boulevard. Coffey, Dromgoole, Spain and Weaver support the board’s decision while Clement, Cunningham and Roy said they would have voted against it.

Arlington’s office vacancy rate, 23 percent in the first quarter of 2023, was a key issue. Maureen Coffey, a policy researcher at the Center for American Progress, pointed to the county’s “reputation in the region” for having a difficult permitting process as a barrier to filling vacant office space. Natalie Roy, a realtor, proposed civic and historical organizations make use of the space. The candidates also considered converting vacant offices into housing.

JD Spain, the former president of the Arlington NAACP, said in his closing remarks that the county didn’t roll out ranked choice voting effectively.

“We have not done enough to educate and inform our electorate on ranked choice voting,” Spain said at the forum. “There are still people showing up [to vote] that have no idea what’s going on.”

Ahead of the primary, the candidates have collectively raised nearly $370,000, according to most recent campaign finance reports. The top two candidates will advance to the November general election, where they are expected to win in the deep-blue county. – Catherine

Kane

Katcher’s Website Decribes Candidate’s Views Similar to Those of the Incumbent

Continued from Page 1

Dehghani-Tafti and challenger Katcher?

Katcher’s literature and TV ads feature Rose Kehoe, the mother of Washington-Liberty High School basketball player who was killed by a drunk driver on Old Dominion Drive. They fault Dehghani-Taft for being too concerned with the perpetrator at the expense of the family victims. The family had also wanted the 17-yearold defendant tried as an adult, which clashes with DehghaniTafti’s stated restorative justice principle that “in nearly three years our office has never certified a child as an adult.” In the Meade case, her office had asked for three years detention, but the judge reduced it one year plus probation.

The actual facts of the prosecution are tough to verify due to state law’s confidentiality requirements, Katcher notes. “Anything you read from someone who was not in the courtroom is, at best, second or third-

hand information,” he told the News-Press . “It’s important to consider the bias of individuals sharing this information or seeking to act as an authority on the matter. That includes my opponent who did not even attend the final sentencing argument.”

Dehghani-Tafti responded, “I looked at this case carefully, listened to all sides, analyzed the facts and the law with our team, and we fielded numerous calls, emails, and letters from friends of the family who urged us to transfer the case to adult court but the facts did not meet the criteria for transfer.” She added that the probation officer, “who both wrote the pre-sentencing report and who contributed to my opponent’s campaign, recommended a sentence of one year.”

Katcher’s website describes his views as similar to those of the incumbent. “I firmly believe that we need to try to keep children out of the justice system, whenever possible. That means not charging them in

the first place and not trying them as adults,” it says. And he told the News-Press , “The decision to transfer a juvenile, when that decision is not mandated by the Virginia Code, is both a heavy and complicated one. These cases should be rare and the exception, not the norm.” But, he added, “Brightline rules in prosecution are unserious and fundamentally not in alignment with the reform principle of treating each and every case with the nuance they deserve. They are the creations of non-practitioners and politicians trying to get elected.”

And such tough decisions in the complex juvenile justice cases “is why prosecutors rarely start their career handling these types of cases. That’s also why experience matters so much. Developing a basis for comparison and a comprehensive understanding of the system and all of the available programs is critical for accomplishing the twin goals of rehabilitation and accountability.”

As Katcher attacks her

on issues of performance, Dehghani-Tafti says she bases her decisions on “significant developments in science over the last 20 years [that] have shown that peoples’ brains are not fully developed until their mid-20s — and the part that isn’t fully developed is the part that controls executive function, impulse control, and long-range thinking,” she told this reporter via email. “Adolescence, considered to be 10-25 years old, is a time of opportunity for requiring the brain. We draw an arbitrary line at 18, but that line is midway through adolescence. We still don’t let people drink, buy cigarettes, or rent cars until 21.” Nationwide, she added, the number of children tried as adults decreased 80 percent from 2001-19. “In 2003, Virginia law even allowed for children to get the death penalty, and Virginia executed someone for a crime committed as a child in 2001. That has since been held to be unconstitutional in light of the new brain science,” she said. “I think it’s important to listen to

science and to follow the rest of the country rather than moving backwards on this issue.”

Some indicators suggest an evolution in Arlington’s handling of serious juvenile offenders. In 2002, for example, a W-L student named Ray Bynum, with three classmates in a stolen car using alcohol and marijuana, drove at a high speed near Lyon Village. Bynum flipped the car which caught fire, killing his three friends and fleeing so that police had to pursue him. Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Trodden threatened to try the 17-year-old as an adult on three counts of felony murder and three counts of involuntary manslaughter. A guilty plea deal was worked out, and a remorseful Bynum, who faced 45 years, tearfully told Judge Paul Sheridan he accepted 11.5 years in prison.

Such severity in today’s climate is rarer. Molly Newton, a veteran of 23 years as an Arlington prosecutor now in

Continued on Page 7

Heartfelt congratulations to Boy Scout Troop 1996's newest Eagle Scouts, all of whom achieved scouting's highest rank this school year. To earn their Eagle awards, these dedicated scouts participated in outdoor adventure activities and earned skills-based merit badges. Each scout also managed a community service project. Falls Church's Troop 1996 welcomes all area youth interested in outdoor adventure, civic participation, and leadership training. Learn more at www.Troop1996.com and/or reach out to Scoutmaster Wayne Casey at scoutmaster@troop1996.com.

www.facebook.com/ScoutsBSATroop1996

Pictured in front row, from left to right: New Eagle Scouts: Owen Bruce, Emmanuel Pinedo Rasdall, Daniel Fried; second row: Hartwell Craig and Wesley Sturgill. Falls Church Youth:

Line Ups Set for F.C. Council & School Board Fall Races

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

With now less than a week to go before the deadline to appear on the November ballot for City of Falls Church School Board or City Council, it appears that the School Board may have three candidates seeking the three open seats, and the City Council will have four candidates seeking three open seats.

According to City Registar David Bjerke, the four candidates who have qualified to run for City Council are vice mayor Letty Hardi, and first time candidates Tim Stevens, Erin Flynn and Justine Underhill.

For the F.C. School Board Bethany Henderson, incumbent Jeff Anderson and Annie Murphy have submitted their paperwork.

Meanwhile, next Tuesday Democrats will choose their nominees for State Senate to run in November for the 37th District seat between Sen. Chap Petersen and Saddam Salim while the GOP has filed for Kenneth Reid to be its candidate. Democrats will also choose between incumbent Parisa DehghaniTafti and Josh Katcher. Already, according to Bjerke, over 700 have cast their votes in the Democratic primary.

This week, Council candidate Flynn submitted her statement of candidacy to the News-Press , which follows:

Statement of Erin Flynn

I am excited to announce my candidacy for City Council. For those of you who don’t yet know me, I moved to Falls Church a few years ago with my husband Charlie Lord, who grew up here and graduated from the high school 25 years ago, and our son, who went to preschool at Dulin and is finishing his kindergarten year at Mount Daniel. Before that, we regularly spent time in Falls Church visiting my in-laws, who have lived here for more than 35 years.

Falls Church is a special place that enjoys a strong sense of community and small-town feel, successful local businesses and excellent schools, and walkable, tree-lined streets. As a member of the City Council, I will bring an independent and moderate view to issues affecting our City. I will prioritize delivering reliable City services, preserving green

spaces, enhancing street safety, protecting the pedestrian experience, addressing traffic congestion and speed, and maintaining dedicated affordable dwelling units.

I have 13 years of federal government experience as an attorney and supervisor, and I’m proud to work with colleagues on cases that secure the guarantees of the Nation’s civil rights laws. I understand the important role local decision makers play in our everyday lives, and I’m confident that I can contribute immediately to the work of the City Council.

Through my job, and by natural inclination, I am committed to listening to the community on issues of importance and weighing competing interests before acting. As a Council Member, I will engage residents and local businesses from the outset of an issue or project, listen and respond to community concerns, take those views into account when making decisions, and strive to take actions that enjoy strong community support, if not consensus. I view it as my charge to represent the interests of City residents and secure the best possible results for our community.

ERIN FLYNNPICTURED WITH FAMILY. (Courtesy Photo)

Tuesday’s Primary & ‘Right to Work’

Next Tuesday, June 20. is primary election day. Already, according to Falls Church registrar David Bjerke, over 10 percent of registered voters in the City of Falls Church have cast their ballots given new eased early-voting requirements, and there is no reason not to believe that the Little City will again lead all of Virginia with the highest voter turnout by the time polls close next Tuesday. While there are only two races on the ballot, and it being a party primary no less, the fact that both races have proven very contentious further suggests a high turnout.

The News-Press announced its endorsements in the two races when early voting began last month, and all the subsequent heat and light has only deepened our commitment to those candidacies we’ve chosen to endorse – Saddam Salim for State Senate and Parisa Dehghani-Tafta for Commonwealth Attorney.

In the State Senate race, where due to redistricting, the City of Falls Church is compelled to choose between two candidates it has never had the opportunity to vote for before, the issue that, at bottom, is the most critical revolves around Virginia’s outmoded and discriminatory “Right to Work” law. Sen. Chap Petersen, considered one of the most conservative Democrats in the state legislature, affirmed his support for the state’s “Right to Work” laws during the campaign, and by so doing, in our view, affirmed a posture at sharp odds with the direction in which the state must go to continue to attract the quality workforce it needs, both in the private and public sectors, to grow our economy and the critical values of equity and quality of life for all.

The critical inflection point reached around the issues involved in the recent pandemic is still being felt. Jurisdictions around Virginia and the nation are encountering new demands by their workforces to recognize the essential components of compensation to provide for legitimate living conditions. Most employers have recognized in this process the need to negotiate in good faith with employee groups, including trade unions, to make this work. “Right to work” laws are throwbacks to earlier times when the absolute right of bosses against workers were asserted, and made into laws, in some backward states that at the time included Virginia.

Now, the times call for a new labor-friendly approach, and our best businesses recognize that in order to be competitive, this has to be the cornerstone of a new approach.

Petersen, however, seems locked into the state’s unhappy Jim Crow past on this and other issues, as well. That is why we would welcome the fresh approach that his opponent, Saddam Salim, son of long-time employees at a valued City of Falls Church business, promises to bring.

In the Commonwealth’s Attorney race, we are puzzled that the opponent to incumbent Dehghani-Tafti feels so vociferously that she should be ousted, even though he claims to stand for the same kind of justice reforms that she has effectively stood for in her first term.

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Endorsement of Dehgani-Tafti

Editor,

Four years ago, I proudly endorsed Parisa Dehghani-Tafti in her tough Commonwealth’s Attorney race against an incumbent, recognizing her as the right candidate to bring muchneeded criminal justice reform to our community. Today, I am endorsing her once again, as she has not only kept her promises but also proven herself as a steadfast leader dedicated to progress.

My initial endorsement of Parisa was based on our shared belief in the necessity of criminal justice reform.

Now, I wholeheartedly endorse her for re-election because she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to this cause. Despite facing adversities such as a global pandemic, rightwing recall efforts, and overreaching judges, Parisa has tirelessly worked towards implementing intelligent reforms while prioritizing the safety of our community.

One of Parisa’s commendable achievements has been the elimination of cash bail, ensuring that justice is not dependent on one’s financial resources. Additionally, she has made discovery open and accessible to defense attorneys, removing unnecessary barriers to information. In the past, defense attorneys had to schedule appointments to review police files and take notes, without the ability to make copies or obtain electronic versions. Parisa’s changes have significantly improved transparency and fairness.

She has also bolstered diversion programs, redirecting individuals with addiction and mental health issues towards treatment rather than perpetually cycling them through the criminal justice system. This focus on diversion has been a personal passion of mine since my involvement in Diversion First in Fairfax County back in 2014.

Parisa’s progressive mindset is evident in her groundbreaking decision to halt the use of peremptory strikes during jury selection, thereby ensuring a more equitable and unbiased process. She also established a conviction review department that has already secured the freedom of one wrongfully convicted person.

Parisa’s implementation of fair plea-bargaining policies is commendable. She refrains from stacking charges, overcharging, or weaponizing mandatory minimums to pressure defendants into pleading guilty. As a

result, her office takes more cases to trial than her predecessor and files fewer felony indictments. It is worth noting that her office also achieves a higher percentage of successful outcomes at trial.

Parisa’s extensive experience as a public defender and a lawyer with the Innocence Project, coupled with her current role as the leader of one of the most successful reform prosecutor’s offices in the country, has equipped her with the ability to develop creative and effective reforms that improve our justice system.

The Incredible Shrinking T-Zone

Delegate Marcus Simon Editor,

The area under consideration for development in the Falls Church City Transition Zone (T-Zone) has shrunk like a cheap sweater in a hot dryer. Originally small, it is now miniscule. The June 5 staff report to the Council removes tracts of land around Park Avenue, North and South Washington Street and the East End from consideration for near-term development and gives them an uncertain future in an uncertain plan. This was reinforced this past Friday when the City announced that its June 26 T-Zone Walking Tour would be a tour of just two blocks on Park Avenue. We share the goals of creating more affordable housing and lower price points for entering the housing market, but there is far more opportunity to achieve these goals in commercial business districts than there is in the small parts of the T-Zone still under consideration.

The residents of the Broadway have listened to the concerns and ideas of our neighbors and have come up with an approach for our area that will preserve the park-like setting of Park Avenue and allow small-scale residential development. We submitted a plan to the City Council last week calling for a T-TH (TransitionTownhouse) District. Townhouses of the scale that the City is recommending in its June 5 report can provide an appropriate transition between larger developments and residential neighborhoods on Park Avenue. The City has five residential districts and three business districts. A new T-TH District can create new small housing units at lower prices and gain broad support throughout the City.

Fred Thompson

Haywood Supports Dehgani-Tafti

Continued from Page 4

private practice, told the News-Press that historically Arlington has not transferred many juvenile offenders to be tried as adults. “It’s only in very serious cases such as homicide or rape. Juvenile transfer is more common in other parts of Virginia,” she said. But even if the perpetrator was tried as an adult, the result might have been similar. “What is missing in the current discussion of juvenile transfer is that when a person is certified as an adult to Circuit Court, it does not mean the young person has to go to adult prison,” Newton said. “The Circuit Court has all the sentencing options available to the juvenile court. The Circuit Court’s powers extend beyond that of the juvenile court and accordingly can potentially offer a young person additional rehabilitative services beyond that of the lower court, including supervision after the age of 21.”

Newton supported Dehghani-Tafti in 2019 but this year has donated to Katcher’s campaign. “I have worked with Josh on serious cases. He treated the client fairly, made reasonable offers and was diligent in turning over evidence,” she said.

In Dehghani-Tafti’s corner has been Brad Haywood, chief of the Office of the Public Defender, posting analyses on Facebook and Nextdoor. Had the teen who killed Meade been transferred for trial as an adult, the adult sentencing guidelines would have recommended a low-end of 10 months, a mid-point of one year, eight months, and a high-end of two years, six months, he wrote. “The median sentence for all Virginia vehicular manslaughter cases over the past four years is two years, six months. “Had the Commonwealth tried to transfer to adult court and failed, there would have been less incentive for the defendant to plead guilty.”

Haywood told the News-Press that such transfers were already slow-

ing in Arlington before Parisa’s tenure. “Though I’ve been critical of Theo Stamos, this is one area” where she was right, he said, tracing the last such transfer to 2016. “Parisa got better about stopping the use of threats to transfer to coerce guilty pleas.”

Backers of Dehghani-Tafti have combed courthouse records and extracted redacted excerpts from transcripts in a bid to show that Katcher in the past hasn’t behaved as a reform prosecutor. One result was a feature in Arlnow describing “a domestic violence victim” whom Katcher prosecuted for violence, despite evidence, Dehghani-Tafti says in criticism, that the woman was defending herself against an abusive husband. Katcher declined to comment on this and other past cases by reading only excerpts without refreshing his memory with full documentation.

Meanwhile, the advocacy group Justice Forward Virginia in a June 3 blog praised Dehghani-Tafti for avoiding the “overcharging” it said was common under her predecessor Stamos, in which prosecutors “make the risk of losing at trial so great, with punishment so harsh, that any rational person would plead guilty—even those who are innocent.” She won an endorsement May 31 from the Arlington Education Association and is backed by former county board member Walter Tejada. And the nonprofit abortion rights advocacy group REPRO Rising Virginia backed her, its executive director saying, “The current status of abortion access in the South is dire, and we need progressive prosecutors like Parisa that will take a firm stand against the criminalization of people seeking abortion care.”

Katcher, having won backing from the Arlington Coalition of Police, on June 8 announced he had won the endorsement of former Virginia Public Safety Secretary Brian Moran. (His brother, former Congressman Jim Moran, is backing Dehghanti-Tafti.)

The News-Press has endorsed Salim and Dehghanti-Tafti.

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D.C.’s Most Important Event: Cappies Gala as Vanguard

As neither a politician (in the traditional sense) nor seasoned actor, I am not used to being on a stage and asked to speak passionately in front of a lot of people like I did this week at the Kennedy Center.

There are fewer more iconic stages in this country, especially outside of New York or L.A., than that at the Washington, D.C., Kennedy Center, whose concert hall holds 2,500, and where I am a frequent attendee for concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra and other things.

This Monday night, that venue was jammed to capacity for the 23rd version of the Cappies Gala, the revolutionary project launched in 1999 that organizes high school students as critics highlighting and reviewing productions of regional high school plays and musicals. Student critics and performers alike were present and honored, along with proud parents to jam the place to the rafters, and it is doubtful that more noise has ever, ever been generated there by the thousands of energized students screaming and howling at the top of their lungs for their friends as nominations and winners were being announced, which happened scores of times.

The last two years I’ve had the honor of being the first award presenter. Last year, when I opened by saying, “Happy Pride” (in recognition of the month’s celebration of LGBTQ+ people), the place went nuts.

This year, I started with, “This is probably the most important event going on in Washington these days,” and then explained. “It’s because we are now in a time when there is a big push to turn back the clock culturally and I am very proud to be among this rising vanguard to fight against that on behalf of creativity and inclusion,” I said. That brought cheers.

Frankly, I find the whole Cappies operation, including the annual gala at the Kennedy Center, to be the most upbeat and affirming exercise I can think of.

Seeing all the high school talent and their caring parents, teach-

ers and mentors all moving around the lobby dressed to the nines, I couldn’t help but think of the famous saying by Eleanor Roosevelt that “beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” Everyone looked absolutely fabulous, and it was the collective affirmation of creativity and inclusion expressed in the hundreds of huge cheers during the show that was the most stunning.

When thanked beforehand by one of the event’s organizers for my role in supporting the Cappies, including by publishing all Cappie reviews in my newspaper, the Falls Church News-Press, I told her it has always been my conviction that journalism is among the arts and that this whole operation is a recognition of that.

This year, the Cappies of the National Capital Area, the original chapter that is now an expanding movement nationwide, involved 41 participating schools performing 37 plays and musicals, 282 voting critics, 1,813 reviews written and 254 reviews published.

Cappies organizers take pride that theirs is “the only high school theater awards program in the U.S. and Canada where the students, not the adults, decide who should be recognized with nominations and awards.”

And truly this represents the best hope for our democracy going forward. There is a direct, passionate link between free and fair voting, fair and equal treatment by our society’s institutions, and expressive affirmations of the inclusion of all in our society, of the inherent creative potential in each and all, and the beauty of love, compassion and their unconventional aspects.

Our society at this point has the choice between moving forward in the direction of even more diversity and affirmation, toward the day in our evolution when gender and race are completely blurred on behalf of a more advanced sense of our cosmic identity, or backward to our culturally prehistoric days of cruel male supremacist authoritarianism.

With the forward direction come the affirmations of the mind, of science and the magnificence of the universe of which we are a part, and in which science and beauty are one.

In the backward trending world, superstition and big cultural lies dominate a world where might makes right.

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

As the nation celebrates July 4, Katie Cristol, after seven-plus exhausting years on the county board, will be embarking on vacation. And then a new job.

The news of her departure six months early came May 2 from her new employer, the Tysons Community Alliance, for whom she’d been consulting before being named its first CEO. Contrary to rumor, the business improvement partnership launched last February is not a tool of developers, but a government-funded “independent, non-profit community improvement organization committed to the ongoing transformation of Tysons, Virginia, into a vibrant, inclusive, globally attractive urban center.”

Cristol, 38, is not privy to board colleagues’ deliberations on whom to replace her, though Takis Karontonis took her slot on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

In an interview with this columnist, Cristol — who will still reside in Arlington — looked back on highand low-lights and such subjects as the pandemic, political culture and contentious housing issues.

Cristol’s biggest moment, she says, was board approval in March 2019 of zoning changes that boosted access to affordable child care by changing home permits and parking.

“The date, March 9, was when my son was born seven weeks early,” she says, “and we took a virtual vote seven days later. When a person comes to the board with a different life experience, they elevate different issues, and being a new parent is incredibly meaningful.”

For her lowest, Cristol cites the early weeks of the Covid vaccine.

“The staff administered the vaccine incredibly, but it fell to the local government to decide who gets this life-saving resource,” she says. The crisis meant “a million little implementation decisions and creating a platform to assign times and dates,” with tradeoffs and challenges for seniors and teachers.

“Ultimately it provided dividends in high vaccination rates, and we should be proud.” But people were “homebound, terrified and stressed.”

On the tone of Arlington’s political discourse, Cristol notes that while her tenure began a year before the Trump presidency, she perceives a related change in attitudes. “People began assuming ill-intent, corruption and incompetence, rather than recognition that people disagree and that Arlington is a diverse community,” she says. “There’s a multitude of voices that don’t agree. County board members can listen but still reach a different conclusion.” She stressed her efforts to “bring in under-represented voices,” particularly people of color.

The Missing Middle rezoning approved in March “is a relatively conservative, progressive-endorsed way” to encourage homeownership opportunities “with the same size and shape of existing single-family homes,” she says. The debate arrived during a “perfect storm” when the county was confronting “existential problems. If you’re a renter looking for a future, we may be losing your generation,” she says. She rejects the notion that an embarrassed staff tried to “rebrand” Missing Middle—“a helpful slo-

gan for a housing form largely absent in communities across the USA.” But “you couldn’t codify the status of the problem in the zoning ordinance,” hence the change to “expanded housing options.”

Cristol, who accepted no developer donations, acknowledges uncertainty on whether builders now planning countywide will actually create lowerpriced units. The policy is based on studies of Arlington and elsewhere, and she has faith in consultant Partners for Economic Solutions’ examination of likely market conditions, which forecast 20 per year.

She disagrees with critics who say Missing Middle was divisive. “It exposed divisions that already existed.”

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The historically marked Rosslyn parking garage where Washington Post Watergate reporter Bob Woodward famously received leaks from “Deep Throat” is not long for our streets.

Washington Business Journal May 31 reported that after nearly a decade of deliberation, Monday Properties, owner of the site at 1401 Wilson Blvd., is removing tenants and making ready for demolition and construction of two new high-rises for offices and retail.

“Deep Throat,” I can now reveal (kidding), who helped bring down President Nixon in 1974, was Mark Felt, then second-in-command at the FBI. The historic marker will stay, allowing Rosslyn to continue on the scandal tours.

Dogwood Tavern Celebrates 15 Years in The Little City

by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press

Falls Church’s Dogwood Tavern celebrates its 15th anniversary on June 15. Named after the official flower and tree of Virginia, Dogwood proudly proclaims itself “A Celebration of The Old Dominion” in its logo’s tagline and, as its owners say, “It remains a steadfast devotee of the commonwealth.

Dogwood Tavern opened in the spring of 2008 to an enthusiastic welcome from The Little City, excited to be the home to a third installment of the popular Vintage Restaurants collection, which at the time included Clarendon’s Rhodeside Grill, which opened in 1996, and Ragtime in Courthouse, which opened in 2002.

Vintage Restaurants now includes five restaurants, with the addition of William Jeffries Tavern in 2011, on Columbia Pike in the Penrose section of Arlington, and Bear Branch Tavern in 2019 in Vienna. Each Vintage Restaurants venue sports its own unique “Virginia” feel, with walls covered in historic photos, maps, and murals of the surrounding area. Despite the historic nod, each draws eclectic crowds, regularly bustling with young professionals and townies alike.

Dogwood Tavern was the brain-child of three visionaries, dubbed “Fearless Founders.”

“Adam Lubar, Chris Lefbom and Wilson Whitney put this place together with nothing but their bare hands and a singular vision all the way back in 2007,” said District Manager Sam Saslowsky, who has worked for Vintage Restaurants for eight years.

Despite working across multiple locations, Saslowsky said, “wherever I go, Dogwood Tavern is always my home.” Support from the local community during the pandemic is just one example of why the location has a special place in his heart.

“The Little City is such an amazing, tightknit community,” he continued, emphasizing his gratitude for the way residents stepped up during such difficult times. He says that, over

the years and especially now that things are getting back to normal, “I’m incredibly fortunate to see so many friendly faces every single day.”

Saslowsky described Dogwood Tavern as an “Ode to Virginia.” Indeed, the main indoor restaurant and bar’s wood-paneled walls, which add an authenticity to both the tavern and Virginia theme, are adorned with artwork, artifacts and maps celebrating the Commonwealth as a whole, historic Virginians of the past, and (of course) Falls Church specifically. Beyond the décor, Saslowsly points out several Virginia staples, including locally-sourced ham, oysters, apples, and chicken salad. Additionally, their extensive selection of 16 draft beers comes almost exclusively from the region.

Dogwood Tavern has evolved with the community over 15 years, with the addition of more local craft brews, upscale ingredients, and dinner entrees one might be surprised to find at a “Tavern.” An extensive lunch menu is also available, and patrons are regularly seen enjoying the dog-friendly front patio with their furry friends.

The introduction of additional outdoor space in 2014 — the incredibly popular outdoor rooftop and covered patio, which on sunny days is one of the busiest places in town — transformed the venue into a truly four-seasons establishment.

“Falls Church is truly an exceptional city,” remarked Adam Lubar, one of the “Fearless Founders” of Dogwood Tavern. “We’re proud to celebrate 15 years here and look forward to many more.”

Beginning at 11 a.m. June 15, visitors to Dogwood Tavern will enjoy anniversary specials including $15/doz oysters on the half-shell, $15 specialty tacos, and craft cocktails in honor of the “Fearless Founders” throughout the day, with grilled oysters starting at 4 p.m. and live music from 5 p.m.—8 p.m.

Dogwood Tavern is located at 132 W. Broad St. For hours, contact information, and more details, visit dogwoodtavern.com.

DOGWOOD TAVERN’S PATIO OPENED IN 2014 (Photo: Dogwood Tavern)

A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Early in-person voting for the June 20 Democratic primary election at the Mason District Governmental Center continues this week, Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. — 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 17, from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., when early in-person voting will conclude at all satellite locations. Democratic voters who haven’t voted early should go to their regular polling place to vote on Tuesday, June 20, from 6 a.m. — 7 p.m.

Challenged seats include Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Mason District seat on the Board, Senate Districts 35 and 37, the Sheriff, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

I am a firm believer that any candidate should have a broad community resume before asking for a vote. Volunteering in one’s community takes many forms, and it takes a commitment of time and effort. You don’t have to be a native, but please live in the community for at least a few years.

Board Chairman Jeff McKay is one of the finest and hardworking elected officials I know. After 12 years as Lee District Supervisor, he took on the challenge of succeeding Sharon Bulova. Jeff had been chairman for less than three months when Covid-19 hit Fairfax County. His knowledge of the county, and relationships with the broader community, enabled him to take the lead in addressing the multiple challenges of the Covid crisis, from rewriting the FY 2021 budget to negotiating with the Commonwealth of Virginia for additional vaccine support for the county’s million-plus residents. He led the One Fairfax initiative and headed the Board’s effort to double our affordable housing goal to 10,000 units by 2034. His opponent, Lisa Downing, is unknown in community and Democratic circles. Leadership

matters, and Jeff McKay is a leader, present and future, who deserves your vote.

In the 35th Senate District, 16-year veteran Senator Dave Marsden, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, is challenged by Heidi Drauschak, a Pennsylvania resident who moved to the 35th district last November. She has no community resume, lives in a rental property in Springfield, and is bankrolled by a non-profit energy political action committee based in Charlottesville. A review of her first quarter campaign finance report reveals that, out of 57 donors who gave more than $100, only four were residents of the 35th District, for a total of $650. Nearly all of her fundraising contributions came from the energy PAC, people in Pennsylvania, and out-of-district donors. Since Ms. Drauschak apparently shopped around for a district to run in, perhaps she hasn’t spent enough time getting to know her neighbors! Northern Virginia cannot afford to lose Senator Marsden’s leadership and committee chairmanship.

Four men are running to succeed me as Mason District Supervisor. I made it clear to all of them that I would give advice if asked, but I would not “put my thumb on the scale” by endorsing anyone. Voters’ mailboxes are groaning from the sheer number of mailers sent so far, and there likely are more in the pipeline!

Jeremy Allen, a staff aide for Congressman Don Beyer, is a new resident of Mason District. He has indicated his desire to go after more federal funding to augment county dollars. A review of his first quarter fundraising reflects most donors are from his home state of Texas. A few more years of building a community

City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT

Week of June 5 - 11, 2023

Driving Under the Influence, Kent St, June 5, 11:40 PM, a male, 37, of Alexandria, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Refusal.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts, Berry St, June 10, 1:30 AM, unknown suspect(s)

resume would be beneficial to Mr. Allen.

Andres Jimenez has amassed many endorsements. Jimenez has picked up some flak for his absences as an At-Large member of the Planning Commission, which pays a $23,000 annual stipend. Missing an evening meeting for work or family reasons can be explained, but Jimenez has missed nearly 30 percent of commission meetings in 2023.

Steve Lee owns several commercial properties in Annandale, and has been active with A Taste of Annandale. He recently moved from Vienna back to his childhood home in Annandale to run. Curiously, in a candidate forum, he criticized the raise that applies to the next Board, but he did not say whether he would return the increase if elected.

Lake Barcroft resident Reid Voss, who’s knocked on more than 7000 doors since December, grew up in Sunset Manor, was the student member of the School Board in 1999, and became a Democrat during the Obama era. He has faced the party switch head-on, but his earlier GOP activities have raised questions.

Any candidate elected to the Board of Supervisors will learn that it’s a full-time job, and that much of life is showing up – it’s not discretionary! Winning the Democratic primary is only the first step. The winner of the November election will represent all Mason District constituents — Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Party identification has little bearing on good constituent service.

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

removed the driver’s side mirrors from three vehicles.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts, Cleave Dr, between 11 PM, June 9, and 7:45 AM, June 10, unknown suspect(s) removed the side mirrors from a vehicle.

Trespass, Wilson Blvd, June 11, 8:25 PM, a male, 53, of Alexandria, VA, was issued a summons for Trespass.

Delegate Marcus Simon’s Richmond Report

When news of the indictment of Donald Trump broke, Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a tweet in which he decried the emergence of a “two-tiered justice system where some are selectively prosecuted” implying that the charges against Trump were politically motivated.

Youngkin couldn’t be more wrong about the nature of the charges against the former President. It is certainly plain to see now that the charges are based on meticulously researched, thoroughly documented evidence that all serious-minded legal experts agree put Trump in great peril.

If the Governor is genuinely concerned about a two-tiered justice system, he ought to look in the mirror, preferably while he’s standing next to his Attorney General and fellow extremist, Jason Miyares.

We have witnessed Attorney General Jason Miyares initiate investigations into two school districts in northern Virginia with duly elected school boards dominated by members endorsed by Democrats: Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) and Fairfax County Public School (FCPS). These so-called investigations were in response to issues raised by conservative activists and amplified by far-right media outlets.

In late December, criticism of the school system’s handling of National Merit Scholarship commendations arose following an article written by a co-founder of the Coalition for TJ, claiming that Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) intentionally delayed notifying commended students until after the early college application deadline, suggesting it was part of a “war on merit.”

The Coalition for TJ currently has an ongoing lawsuit against FCPS concerning revisions to the magnet school’s admissions policies.

FCPS commissioned an independent investigation conducted by the law firm Sands Anderson that found no basis for the claims that notices of National Merit Scholarship commendations were intentionally withheld. The review confirmed that eight schools within FCPS did not notify students designated as “commended” however the investigation concluded that there was no evidence of intentional withholding or any policy decision

by FCPS or the individual schools involved.

Superintendent Michelle Reid emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest deliberate withholding of notification or any inequity or racial bias in the actions taken by the schools regarding notifications or distribution of certificates.

The story is in the headlines again as the schools pour resources into attorney’s fees to defend against a subpoena of the Sands Anderson report to protect the privacy and safety of those teachers and administrators who cooperated with the independent investigation.

My primary concern lies with the detrimental impact these attacks will have on our children’s education. They create obstacles for our schools to attract and retain highly qualified teachers and hinder their ability to provide a top-notch education.

Youngkin and Miyares should redirect their focus toward real issues that demand attention, such as ensuring the safety of our communities from gun violence. Or maybe even just getting the Virginia Department of Education to review and renew teacher licenses in a timely manner.

It is imperative that Republicans refrain from wielding their power to launch baseless assaults on elected school boards and our hard-working school administrators for their own personal political gain.

Now is the time for us to come together as a united community and rally behind our schools. We must guarantee that every child has access to a first-rate education.

But, just as with Trump’s unsealed indictment, the truth has come out about the real two-tiered justice system we have in Virginia. In almost every jurisdiction you don’t have to look far to find disproportionality in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in bringing charges, seeking jail time and use of cash bail.

I’ll continue to support the good work begun by our progressive prosecutors to address that problem. The same prosecutors, like Falls Church’s own Parisa Deghani-Tafti who have been attacked by Youngkin and Miyares for doing the real work of criminal justice reform so that we have one system of justice regardless of race, income or zip code.

CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C.’s Farmers Market Brings Unity to the Community

by Kylee Toland Falls Church News-Press

For almost 40 years, the Falls Church Farmers Market has put unity in the community.

Open year-round every Saturday, the Little City’s farmers market has been a place for both farmers and small, local businesses to have a direct producer-to-consumer interaction, as well as a gathering place for neighbors to meet up with one another.

Jennifer Brady, the farmers market manager, said the market is one of the oldest in the region, started in 1984 by Howard Herman. The former director of recreation and parks for the city, Herman wanted Falls Church to have a farmers market after growing and selling vegetables at a market in Alexandria, while also hearing from residents of a need for natural, healthy and organic foods.

“It has had a strong focus on being producer-only, which you don’t always see at all farmers markets,” Brady said when talking about one of the market’s many missions.

Although the market takes place every Saturday like fellow markets, the city’s farmers market is open year-round, a decision Brady said

was made 13 years ago due to people wanting an extension in the season. Even during the winter months, Brady said the market “doesn’t lose momentum” of having customers, as dairy and meat farmers are able to sell their items.

“They’re really able to provide local produce all year long, which gives you more ways that you can invest your money locally to support small businesses year-round instead of having to shift gears and go to the grocery store,” Brady said.

This summer will see an increase of visitors for the market, as Brady said the summer season is a “very popular” time for the farmers market due to vacationers and the weather being “beautiful.” Brady also said items such as tomatoes, peaches and corn are the most sought-after during the market’s summer season.

“Those are probably the three top things that people want to get from the farmers market,” Brady said. “They’re all in season in the middle of the summer.”

As for how local businesses become a part of the market, Brady said they only accept farmers or food-based vendors to make sure that local farmers are supported by these

businesses. There are two rounds of applications: one in September for the winter season and one in January and February for the spring/summer/fall season. Brady said they give priority to returning vendors, then additional vendors are chosen based on what their “most unique” product is.

“It’s been such a great farmers market for so many years that the returning vendors want to be back every season,” Brady said. “It’s a reliable source of income for [farmers] to be able to sustain their small family farms.”

Every year, a vendor at the market is voted “favorite vendor,” with local businesses such as Kate’s Crepes, Borek-G and Jinlan Wenhua proving to be popular vendors amongst visitors.

“Some [local businesses] have been able to really grow their businesses,” Brady said. “It raises a lot of awareness about the benefits of buying your food locally or from small businesses.”

Brady said the farmers market sees a “diverse mix” of the community, with Brady saying she has met new and older individuals who come out or travel every week to attend the market.

years ago, the Falls Church Farmers Market is unique compared to other local markets based on its strong focus on being “producer-only.” (Photo: Jennifer Brady)

One benefit the farmers market has seen since the pandemic was vendors learning how to create websites for people to order market items online. While some vendors can choose to take cash from buyers, Brady said every vendor has a cashless payment system due to the pandemic.

On how the farmers market contributes to the sense of community in the Little City, Brady said she

believes it to be a place where “everybody puts aside their differences” because they are “celebrating food,” something that can make people “happier and friendlier.”

“I see people at the farmers market more frequently than I see most of my friends,” Brady said.

“It becomes a very strong community rooted in this shared love of local food.”

Summer Concerts in the Park Series Returns to F.C. This Month

by Phebe Fahmy Falls Church News-Press

Get ready for a summer of music and entertainment in Falls Church! For the 31st year, the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and the City Recreation and Parks Department will host their free Summer Concerts in the Park series, beginning on June 22.

The series takes place every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave.) through August 3. Each concert is free and open to individuals of all ages; guests are furthermore encouraged to bring blankets, chairs or other forms of transportable seating. Free parking is accessible on side streets, in the Kaiser Permanente garage, and at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.).

The lineup begins with the Falls Church Concert Band. A community band, the group plays a wide repertoire, including classical compositions, marches, Broadway medleys and more. The band is open

to all F.C. musicians to join — free of tryouts — providing the group with a relaxed atmosphere. They will play on June 22.

On June 29, Big Howdy will take the stage. The group is a Wammie Award winner, recognized for their community influence as D.C. artists and awarded by a select pool of music influencers. The bluegrass group consists of four dedicated and talented musicians. Each musician within the group has received various awards for their banjo, guitar or singer/songwriting skills. The group’s members include Dede Wyland on vocals and guitar, Randy Barrett on vocals, banjo and guitar, Ira Gitlan on vocals and bass and Tom McLaughlin on vocals, mandolin and guitar.

Karl Stoll and the Danger Zone will perform on July 6. A Wammie Award nominee, the band consists of three members: Karl Stoll on guitar and vocals, Brian Alpert on drums and John Dickson on harmonica. The band also has

alternating members on bass (Steve Wolf and Glenn Shoup) and keys (Shep Williams and David Gorozdos). Karl Stoll and the Danger Zone is a rock and blues band that highlights music from Chicago, New Orleans and more. The band also plays original songs, primarily written by Karl Stoll.

On July 13, jazz takes the stage with The Hot Lanes performing. The Hot Lanes is composed of 16 individuals, playing a mix-up of saxophones, trombones, trumpets and a rhythm section, which includes piano, bass and drums. Bobby Jasinski is the group’s leader, composer and arranger. Also a Wammie Award winner, the Hot Lane, a big band, intends to promote jazz through their appearances and can typically be found performing in the D.C. area.

On July 20, Flowerbomb performs. With an alternative sound, their music incorporates sounds of post-punk and 90s indie rock. Likewise a Wammie Award Winner, Flowerbomb has a lively community following, and is plan -

ning on touring the east coast this fall. Information on their upcoming tour, including dates and locations of performances, and merchandise, is available on their website.

On July 27 the park will host esteemed and respected saxophonist Lil’ Maceo. A Grammy award winner, Lil’ Maceo features old school funky music, and with a new album, titled “Evolution” coming out July 14, the musician’s career is

growing — quite well. Lil’ Maceo has many upcoming performances that can be found on his website.

Shenandoah Run ends the Concerts in the Park series on August 3. Composed of eight members, the folk ensemble plays a mix of traditional and contemporary folk music. The group’s aspiration is to keep folk music thriving, and they can be found playing all throughout the D.C. area.

STARTING ALMOST 40

FOR THE 31ST year, VPIS and the City Rec and Parks will host their free Summer Concerts. (Photo: Katharine Wakeley)

F.C’s Tinner Hill Music Festival Was an Enormous Hit

Guest Commentary: Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation & Music Festival

by Tori McKinney

This past Saturday, the 29th Annual Tinner HIll Music Festival, completely produced by volunteers, exploded on Cherry Hill Park in Falls Church City. The all-day live music festival was the biggest one the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation has experienced as of yet!

On behalf of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation & Music Festival, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for all who attended, sponsored and volunteered at the Festival. We cannot thank you enough for your presence and contribution to making this year’s Festival a resounding success.

The Tinner Hill Music Festival is the premier charity event for

the Foundation that raises awareness for the local early civil rights history and celebrates the African American legacy. Your attendance at the Festival was a testament to your support for the Foundation’s mission of promoting social justice, unity, equality and understanding. We are humbled by the outpouring of support and enthusiasm from our guests, and we hope that you enjoyed the Festival as much as we did.

A true showcase of talent, the Festival featured local and regional blues, reggae, and funk artists including Dumpstaphunk, the hottest funk band out of New Orleans, led by Ivan and Ian Neville, Art and Aaron Neville’s sons. Each artist captivated the audience and had everyone on

their feet!

This year’s cultural act featured the DC Retro Jumpers, a Double Dutch jump roping group. The jumpers led demonstrations and jump roping lessons on the basketball court. They even enticed one of our former City Council members to “jump in.” We would like to extend our gratitude to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and partners who contributed to making this year’s Festival possible. Their unwavering support and dedication to our cause are the backbone of our success: Diener & Associates, Founders Row/Modera/Verso, LIG Property Management, ROCK STAR Realty Group, Custom Park Services, Arlington Magazine, Falls Church News-Press, Action

Music, CD Cellar, Federal Realty, First Heritage Mortgage, Broad & Washington, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C., Local Thrift - Falls Church, Foxes Music, Providence Players of Fairfax, Brooks Chiropractic & Rehab, EYA, Halm Jenkins, Harvey’s, Solace Outpost, Arlington Condo, and Titan Title.

A special thank you to our Co-Presenter — The City of Falls Church, their entire staff, and for the opportunity to transform Cherry Hill Park into a vast playground of villages, live music, and fun for all.

My personal thank you goes to the Tinner Hill Music Festival 2023 Production Krewe: Natalie Wrenn, Drew Harmon, Laura Liner, Mary Knieser, Flash Gordon,

Daniel Blumenthal, Sherry Grimes, Ed Henderson, Mike Everett, Mike Ankuma, Mary Olson, Jenny Langer, Mariam Garriga, Melissa Robison, Erin Keedy, Bev Rocco, Fredda Hurwitz, Liana Burbidge, Pat Giannelli, Corinne Brown, Chris Thompson, and Rob Denza — this is the Festival Dream Team!!

Once again, thank you for attending the 29th Annual Tinner Hill Music Festival. Your presence added to the vibrancy and energy of the Festival. Let’s come together again next year on June 8th, 2024! Let’s Hope. Let’s Love. Let’s Dance.

Cheers, Tori McKinney, Executive Producer Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation & Music Festival

“I love the congregation that we have with people here.” “It’s amazing to see how this festival has evolved.”

- Ebony Stotts, member

of Tinner family, lives in FC

SHOTS FROM THIS YEAR’S 29th Annual Tinner Hill Music Festival which drew a large crowd on a beautiful Saturday in the Little City.

Photos: Catherine Kane, Sam Mostow, Gary Mester & FCNP)

kids Calvin (4) and Nora (6)

Falls Church School News & Notes

Seventh Graders Host Business Day

Students in Jeff Buck and Kieran Shakeshaft’s seventh grade civics classes hosted Business Day last week. The students developed a product, designed marketing materials, and used their sales skills to sell their wares to other seventh and fifth graders visiting the school. Judges from the community came to assess and give special awards to deserving businesses. From this experience, they learned how to be risk takers and reflect by creating a business plan, while learning how to market it to fifth graders and reflecting on the experience.

OSE Student as Global Ambassador

Oak Street fifth grade student

Abby Ashbrook, was selected as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador for 2023, it was announced at their gala in DC this week. Abby was joined at the gala by her family and by six distinguished members of FCCPS: Norma Sorto, Yoki Jeffers, Shelly Skomra, Rachel Skomra, Brittany Chavara and Alex Raines. The organization pursues medical research for Down syndrome and other diseases with NIH and lobbies Congress for research

into health improvements for those with Down Syndrome.

MHS New Club MHSTV A Success

One of Meridian’s newest clubs, MHSTV, is focused on reporting what’s going on at Meridian in the past few months through monthly news broadcasts. These episodes, created entirely by students, feature inside looks at Meridian events, reviews of Falls Church restaurants, interviews with teachers and students at Meridian and more. Catch their latest episode and the rest of their videos on the MHSTV YouTube channel.

10th Grader Ranked 3rd in National Association

Meridian sophomore Preston Lieu is ranked third in the National Debate and Speech Association at the local level for Meridian. This makes Preston eligible for the Academic AllAmerican Award after his first semester in his junior year. The Academic All-American award recognizes students who have earned the degree of Superior Distinction (750 points); completed at least five semesters of high school; demonstrated outstanding character and leadership; and earned a GPA of 3.7

on a 4.0 scale (or its equiva lent).

Congratulations, Virginia Class 3 State Champions

Boys Soccer capped an 18-31 season with a thrilling shoot out victory over Charlottesville to claim the Virginia Class 3 State Championship. The run to the title saw the Mustangs score 26 playoff goals while con ceding zero across six playoff games. Senior captains Charlie Russell and Oliver Frandano led the back line in front of senior goalkeeper Inigo Diz, whose two saves in the shutout brought the state trophy back to Falls Church. Felix Green, Alex Gardner, Fernando Herbas and Charlie Russell scored in the shootout. The team gave the lunch pail to Nathan Greiner for winning a state title in his first year as head coach. The Mustangs featured eight all-Region first-team players, including two-time Region 3B Player of the Year Alex Gardner. The Class 3 all-State teams will be announced this week.

FCCPS Celebrates Retirees

Good wishes resonated as FCCPS celebrated the five employees retiring this

month. Congratulations to Jan Garrett, Blanca Avila, Ingrid Schoenburg, Janet McEvoy Price and Ken DiCesare.

Operation EarthWatch Recognized by Council

Falls Church City Council recognized students from Mt. Daniel and Oak Street for their commitment to the earth this school year. Two OSE fifth graders were honored as lifers in the program — participating for six years from Kindergarten through fifth grade: Noah Hardi and Connell Henderson. Operation EarthWatch is a free environmental action program for elementary-aged residents o f the City of Falls Church and all students attending Mount Daniel Elementary School, Oak Street Elementary School and Saint James Catholic School. The program, a partnership of the Education Task Group of the Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC) and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS), is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

OSE Word Masters Team Earned Highest Honors

A team representing Oak Street Elementary School recently earned Highest Honors in the 2022-2023 WordMasters Challenge™—a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually. The third-grade team scored an impressive 186 points out of a possible 200 in the last three meets this year, placing sixth in the nation.

The third graders also ranked eighth nationally in the overall competition, scoring 501 points out of 600.

Competing in the tough Gold Division of the WordMasters Challenge™, third graders Lizzy Henneberg and Victoria Seitz each earned a perfect score of 20 in the recent meet. Nationally, only 41 third graders achieved this result. Other Oak Street Elementary School students who achieved outstanding results in the last meet of the year include Kylie Fine, Nico Groth, Nikhil Kapadia, Kabir Sharma, Heath Halvaksz and Clara Teply.

Fifth grader Clara Teply also earned Individual Highest Honors in the overall competition with a cumulative score of 58 out of 60 points. The highest Honors are reserved for students among their division’s top 10-15 students.

FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL recognized students from Mt. Daniel and Oak Street for their commitment to the earth this school year. Operation EarthWatch is a free environmental action program for elementary-aged residents of the City of Falls Church. (Photo: Chrissy Henderson)

Oak Street 5th grade student, Abby Ashbrook, was selected as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador for 2023. It was announced at their gala in DC this week. (Photo: FCCPS)

Community News & Notes

Applications Open for Arts, Culture, Etc... Program Grants

The City of Falls Church welcomes applications from eligible nonprofit organizations based within the City of Falls Church that support the arts, culture, theater and history. The application deadline is July 28, 2023, and funds must be utilized before May 16, 2024.

The application and details on eligibility can be found at fallschurchva.gov/AHGrants.

Hosts Needed for Chamber Orientations

Although all networking mixers are booked for the year, there is another opportunity to consider — hosting the Chamber orientations in one’s office. This is a way to showcase a business and bring networking to a space. Contact Cathy Soltys at fallschurchchamber.org to reserve a spot. The next orientation is scheduled for July 20, 5:30 — 6:30 p.m. and they occur every other month.

Free Back to School Health Equity Fairs Coming Soon

Inova Cares Clinic for Children and Inova Partnership for Healthier Communities are now scheduling appointments to provide children

ages five and up with free school physicals and Immunizations to begin the 2023-24 school year. This will take place at Inova Cares Clinic for Children in Herndon, Manassas and Falls Church. Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) will be providing dental screenings, health education and resource information at each event this summer. Call (703) 531-3100 to schedule an appointment.

Red Cross to Host Blood Drive at Holy Trinity Lutheran

The Red Cross will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, June 23, from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Register at redcrossblood.org, enter zip code 22042 and refine search by the date (June 23). The church is located at 3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church.

Battle of Broad Street to Celebrate Second Year

The Battle of Broad Street is back on June 15 from 4:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. Five barbers will be at Harvey’s restaurant to create five dishes for the menu that people will be able to choose from. Whichever item sells the most will be featured on the menu during the month of July. The

barber with the dish that sells the least gets the winning item tattooed on them. Ten percent of the daily sales will go to the Falls Church Education Foundation.

Make Summer S.T.E.A.M.-ier With Thingamajig Convention

Kids love to build, create, and invent all key skills the world desperately needs to help face future challenges. But kids don’t often get meaningful hands-on opportunities to make things, build, and create during the school year.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington created the Thingamajig Invention Convention to unlock kids’ “maker” creativity and realworld problem-solving skills. This year’s Thingamajig offers different ways kids (ages 5-14) everywhere can make summer S.T.E.A.M.-ier.

There are more than 50 days and more than 1,000 ways for kids everywhere to get in on the action. Visit bit.ly/thingamajig2023 for registration and challenge details.

Creative Cauldron Announces Final Season at Pearson Square

The 2023-24 Season will mark Creative Cauldron’s final season at

its current home in Pearson Square, before moving to a new black box theater in the Broad and Washington project. Commenting on the season line up, Founding Artistic Director, Laura Connors Hull said: “ It is a season filled with the stories of dreamers and doers. It has exciting “Bold New Works” and regional premieres, but also some revivals from the musical theater canon, shows with appeal for every generation, and of course, there will be music!”

Closures for Employee Picnic and Juneteenth Observance

Most City government offices and services will close from 12 p.m.

3 p.m. for the annual employee picnic on Thursday, June 15. This includes offices in City Hall, such as the Permits Counter, Sheriff’s Office, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer.

The Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be closed all day for training and the picnic.

The Community Center will be open during normal business hours.

All City of Falls Church government offices and services will be closed in observation of Juneteenth (June 19). City Hall, Mary Riley Styles Public Library and the

Community Center will all be closed.

PAUL, FROM THE City of Falls Church Neighborhood Tree Program, frequently returns to Little City homes to water newly planted trees, even months later. The Urban Forestry Commission was created to maximize the urban forest’s ecological and aesthetic benefits to the community. (Photo: Sue Johnson)

FALLS CHURCH novelist Jonathan Harper is shown here with Lelia Nebeker of One More Page Books on N. Westmoreland Street, after Harper addressed a crowd to talk about his new novel, “You Don’t Belong Here” last week (News-Press Photo)

THINGS TO DO AROUND THE DMV

THURSDAY

JUNE 15

Arts and Humanities

Council Meeting

Arts and Humanities Council meeting. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.

Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 11:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.

Dogwood Tavern

15 Year Anniversary Party

Dogwood Tavern celebrates 15 years in The Little City! Join for specials, including oysters on the half-shell and specialty tacos all day, craft cocktails themed after their "Fearless Founders," and live music starting at 5:00 p.m.. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 11:00 a.m. — 2:00 a.m.

City Government Closed: Employee Picnic

Most city government offices and services will close briefly for the annual employee picnic, including offices in City Hall including the Permits

Counter, Sheriff's Office, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer. Mary Riley Styles

Public Library will be closed all day for training and the picnic. The Community Center will remain open during normal business hours. City-wide (Everywhere, Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.

Battle of Broad Street

Five barbers walk into Harvey's… they create five dishes for the menu… the barber with the dish that sells the most gets the item on the menu… the barber with the dish that sells the least… gets the winning item tattooed on them! You decide. Featuring The Neighborhood Barbershop, Mister Finster's Tattoo Shop, and selections poured by Audacious Aleworks and Metro Cellars. 10 percent of daily sales go to Falls Church Education Foundation. Harvey's (513 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

MoCA on the Move at Met Park: Happy Hour

Join Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington for social art making with good vibes and visiting artists. D.C. JazzFest has curated a lineup of music. Grab a drink from Lost Boy Cider, some nibbles from Rossana,

and try your hand at something new! Weekly on Thursdays through October. Metropolitan Park (S. Fern St., Arlington, VA), 4:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

Pebble to Pearl

Pebble to Pearl performs. The Boro Tysons (8350 Broad St., Tysons, VA), 5:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

The Art of Brewing: A Spirited Community Mixer

Join for a spirited night of art exhibits and live performances curated to brew equal representation in the art & beer industry. Attendees will experience art exhibits and live performances while enjoying selected samples. Must be 21 or older. Barrel & Bushel (7901 Tysons One Pl., Tysons, VA), 5:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

Human Services Advisory Council Meeting

Human Services Advisory Council meeting. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

Envir. Sustainability Council Meeting

Environmental Sustainability Council and Energy Transition Subcommittee meetings. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

JUNE 16

Miss Juneteenth

A free film screening outdoors on the REACH Video Wall. Films start at sundown. Miss Juneteenth is a drama about a former beauty queen and single mother who prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY

JUNE 17

Falls Church

Farmers Market

Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, year-round! City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Family Pride

Picnic in the Park

A family-friendly day celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, artists, and contemporary art! Featuring children's author Vicki Johnson and her new book Molly's Tuxedo, plus a live DJ, art activities, and more! Pack a picnic or purchase food onsite from All About Burgers and Mister Softee, bring a blanket, and join the celebration.

Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA), 11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Author Talk: Katharine Schellman, Stacie Murphy

Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Kids Creates Studio

Father's Day Festival

Celebrate fathers and create crafts together as a family with Kids Create Studio, with live music, drinks for adults, and two bounce houses in the playground area! Dog-friendly, great food, and fun for the whole family. Shipgarten (6579 Colshire Dr., Tysons, VA), 1:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. or later

LGBTQ+ Pride Night @ Board Room

Bring your friends and make new ones! Unplug, unwind and up your game! Board Room offers an as-

sortment of beers, food, and board and card games galore! This event is hosted by Go Gay DC, Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. Board Room (925 N. Garfield St., Arlington, VA), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Last Chance: F.C. Arts

All Member Show

For the final day, Falls Church Arts features the works of member artists with last names beginning with letters L-Z, on display in the gallery. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

SUNDAY JUNE 18

MoCA on the Move at Met Park: No Experience Required

Fun for the whole family! Join Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington for playful art-making activities for children (and their curious adults. Weekly on Sundays through October. Metropolitan Park (S. Fern St., Arlington, VA), 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Go-Go for Families

A celebration of Juneteenth and the brilliance of Black cultural contributions. Uncle Devin & Friends present "Go-Go for Families, a DC Legacy!" Bring the kids to experience the infectious energy of original Go-Go tunes, funky grooves and the D.C. style of African call-and-response. This percussion-driven, interactive show will have you dancing and singing as you experience what it was like in the 70s and 80s when Go-Go was born. McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA), 3:00 p.m.

Seussical: The Musical

A fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza for all ages, Seussical lovingly brings all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters to life, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination — Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos in a musical adventure which tests the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community. Showing through July 22. Keegan Theatre (1742 Church St. NW, Washington, DC), 3:00 p.m.

A FANTASTICAL, MAGICAL, musical extravaganza for all ages, Seussical: The Musical lovingly brings Dr. Suess characters to life, this weekend at Keegan Theatre (Photo: chris mueller)

EVENTS, MUSIC, ART & THEATRE

Sunrise Sunset Drag Bingo

Your favorite "Hostess with the Mostess," Evita Peroxide, is backback-back again for Drag Bingo in The Little City! Come celebrate your special occasion and Join Evita Peroxide and a wonderful cast of DMV artists/entertainers for a fun and entertaining evening filled with games galore! Clare and Don's Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m.

Book Discussion: Guilty of Journalism

Kevin Gosztola joins the stage to share his experiences investigating the criminalization of journalists for reporting the truth. In “Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange,” Gosztola meticulously documents how state and private actors have colluded to punish a journalist fiercely committed to transparency, truthtelling, and uncovering the secrets of the powerful. Copies will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Gosztola will be signing following the program.

Busboys and Poets Shirlington (4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Sweeney Todd

Returned to London following a wrongful banishment, barber Sweeney Todd’s thirst for vengeance against the corrupt judge who sent him away leads him on a murderous spree. Aided by his downstairs neighbor, baker Mrs. Lovett, the two concoct an unappetizing scheme as they terrorize the city. Signature Theatre (3200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 7:00 p.m.

MONDAY JUNE 19

City Government Closed: Juneteenth

All City of Falls Church government offices and services will be closed in observation of Juneteenth, including City Hall, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, and the Community Center.Juneteenth recognizes the day (June 19, 1865) the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were told about the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863), and that all Black people were free from the bondage of slavery, including the 250,000 in Texas who were kept unaware by their enslavers.

In modern times, Juneteenth has become a holiday celebrating freedom, resiliency, and African American history and culture.

The City of Falls Church declared Juneteenth a holiday for the first time in 2020, following Virginia's declaration that a state holiday be observed, now a permanent statewide holiday. City-wide (Everywhere, Falls Church), all day.

TUESDAY JUNE

20

ELECTION DAY

Last day to vote in the Democratic Primary, where the future of Falls Church representation is truly in contention for the first time. Will The Little City choose conservative Democrat Chap Petersen or progressive Saddam Salim to represent them in the Virginia Senate? Will Parisa Dehghani-Tafti prevail over challenger Josh Katcher for Commonwealth's Attorney? In a primary with low turnout, each vote has a huge impact. Anybody in line by 7:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote, regardless of line volume or wait times. Your regular polling location (elections.virginia.gov to lookup, Anywhere, VA), 6:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.

Yoga in the Park

Every Tuesday through Labor Day. All levels welcome! Bring your own yoga mat and water bottle and wear comfortable, breathable clothing and sunscreen. Whether you're looking to improve your physical health, reduce stress, or simply enjoy a fun activity with friends and family, Yoga in the Park is the perfect evening of relaxation and rejuvenation. Mosaic District (2905 District Ave., Fairfax, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY JUNE

21

Electoral Board Meeting

Electoral Board meeting. City Hall (300 ParkAve., DogwoodA-B, Falls Church), 2:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

Library Board of Trustees meeting. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave.,

Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Summer Rooftop HIIT

Get ready to sweat it out this summer with the Mosaic District: Summer Rooftop HIIT Series! Join every Wednesday for a highintensity interval training (HIIT) workout on the rooftop of Market Garage in Mosaic District. All levels welcome. Participants are recommended to bring a workout mat, towel + water. Don't miss out on this opportunity to work out with a view and meet new people in the community. Mosaic District Market Garage Rooftop (8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting

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

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting

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

MOCA ON THE RUN begins weekly family art activities at the newly-unveiled Metropolitan Park in Arlington, this Sunday through October. (Courtesy Photo)

Falls Church

Business News & Notes

Readers Pick Locals in Best of Northern Virginia Food

Northern Virginia Magazine has announced the winners of the readers’ poll on the Best Food in Northern Virginia with many located in Falls Church. Café Kindred won the breakfast category, the Falls Church Farmers Market won the best farmers market, Thompson Italian won the Italian category, and Bakeshop was runner up in the bakery category. Other locals to win among the top spots are Open Road Grill, Five Guys, Jake’s Ice Cream, Haandi Indian Cuisine, TRIO Grill, Taco Bamba, and 2941.

Inova Expands Through Local Practices

Inova has acquired the Northern Virginia Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates PC (NVPCCA) which has been in practice for nearly 40 years. This division will be known as Inova Pulmonology and will expand its services. This brings the West Broad site and the Woodburn site in Annandale together focusing on lung diseases.

Local Gig Platform Expands

GravyWork, a Falls Church-based staffing platform is expanding its reach from one-shift gig jobs to more that are longer-term. The app-based platform has experienced increased interest from seniors in recent years. Military spouses and teachers are showing more interest as well as retirees trying to remain active and make extra money using the skills they’ve developed over their careers. The platform now offers weekly, monthly, and temp-to-permanent job postings at no cost to the gig worker. GravyWork began serving the hospitality industry, and has since expanded to events, functions, and logistics that offer skilled labor and office jobs.

ConnectDER Raises $27M for EV Development

In anticipation of electric vehicle growth, the Falls Church tech company, ConnectDER, has raised $27 million to mass produce an adapter that creates a compatible power source for vehicles requiring a plug. The company has been making adapters less expensive and faster for homeowners that turn an electric power meter socket into a power source for a solar energy system. The adaptors are sold in 17 states for approximately $500.

The Battle of Broad Street Returns

Harvey’s is hosting the second Battle of Broad Street this Thursday, June 15, from 4 – 9 p.m. The five barbers of the Neighborhood Barbershop and the tattoo artist of Mister Finster’s Tattoo will compete for a spot on Harvey’s menu. Each contestant will create a dish and the person who sells the most to diners will have their dish on the menu for one month. The person selling the least of their dish wins a tattoo of the winning dish. Harvey’s is donating 10 percent of the sales to the Falls Church Education Foundation. Audacious Aleworks and Metro Cellars will feature drinks for the occasion.

PTAC/Apex Accelerator presents: Navigating SAM and DSBS

The SBDC presents a ‘beginners’ session on Tuesday, June 20, 12 at 1:30 p.m. for those considering the Federal Government contracting market. Participants will learn how to create the proper SAM profile and receive a CAGE code and how to create a powerful DSBS. This is an opportunity for small firms to grow their business within the government contracting world which spends over $600 billion annually on goods and services, of which 23 percent is allocated for small business. Lisa Wood, director of the Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), is the presenter and will offer tips and tricks to win federal business. The session is free, and the online meeting link will be shared upon registration. Visit clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40430047

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

Future of Newspapers Part 1: The Problem

by Sam Mostow Falls Church News-Press

Six more local newspapers in Virginia will vastly reduce their print publication next week, continuing a nationwide trend in which local newspapers are shuttering or greatly reducing their scope. All of these newspapers, owned by Lee Enterprises, produced a print edition at least five times per week, with four of them producing a newspaper every day.

In this area, the last decade has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of local and regional papers, impacting newspapers in Herndon, Reston, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County and Manassas.

Now, as of June 27, The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress, The Danville Register & Bee, The (Waynesboro) News Virginian, The Bristol Herald Courier, The (Culpepper) Star-Exponent and The Martinsville Bulletin will limit the publication of print editions to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Despite changes in the print schedule, their online content will remain largely unchanged.

Those newspapers in Virginia continued a nationwide trend in which local newspapers are shuttering or greatly reducing their scope.

Nationally, Lee Enterprises is expected to cut more than 400 jobs across 19 local newspapers by the end of 2023, according to an Axios report. That would account for as much of 10 percent of Lee’s total staff.

Lee owns roughly 75 daily and 350 weekly newspapers, spanning across 77 markets and 26 states.

“The new three-day print frequency certainly represents a shift in your newspaper experience,” said a statement in all six newspapers that ran in late May. “But fewer days of print doesn’t mean less of the important, impactful local coverage that you’ve come to expect from us.”

Representatives for The News Virginian and Daily Progress declined to comment. Representatives for the other four newspapers did not respond to requests for comment as of publication. Lee Enterprises did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the Local News Initiative associated with the journalism school at Northwest-

ern University, over 2,500 newspapers have disappeared in the United States since 2005, more than one-quarter of printed publications. During the pandemic, more than 360 newspapers closed their doors. As of June 2022, there are 6,380 newspapers in the country, 1,230 are daily and 5,150 are weekly.

The same report, titled “The State of Local News,” showed that more than a fifth of Americans live in “news deserts,” areas where there is little access to local news, or areas in danger of turning into news deserts. More than 200 counties across the nation lack a single newspaper, accounting for 70 million people. Another 1,630 counties have only one newspaper. This disproportionately impacts communities where residents are generally older, poorer and receive their – limited – local news from social media.

The Covid-19 pandemic didn’t help, either. Between late 2019 and May 2022, 360 newspapers went under.

Those six newspapers are far from the only Virginia newspapers facing this problem. In the Commonwealth, 42 newspapers closed or merged with others, as of September 2022. Many that remained have faced staff cuts.

Tonda Rush, general counsel for the National Newspaper Association, noted that newspapers always relied on print advertising to cover expenditures, as well as subscriptions. So when social media came around and companies began to emphasize digital advertising, newspaper revenue plummeted across the board. Covering costs became even more difficult when the pandemic started.

“The pandemic came and local businesses shut down and they weren’t able to advertise because they weren’t getting customers themselves,” Rush said. “Some of that has bounced back, but it’s been slow.”

Another reason newspapers continue to struggle is, due to the rise in social media, many people expect to receive their news for free. But as Rush said, that doesn’t allow for newspapers to be sustainable businesses.

“Newsrooms are an expense,” Rush said. “They’re not cheap. And we want good reporters, we want eyeballs on local government, we want people to report on the youth sports teams and things like that. And someone has got to be able to pay them.”

CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The Reach

by Brian Reach

It Really Isn’t Just Me

A recent survey of just over 1,000 LGBTQ+ American adults, conducted just last month, shows that queer people are really feeling the hate right now.

Survey results showed that eight percent of Trans and six percent of Black Americans have already fled their homes in response to hate legislation in their state, as have nine percent of all LGBTQ+ respondents over the age of 65 and eight percent of those aged 18-24.

A full 25% of all LGBTQ+ adults surveyed believe the country has become much less safe for the LGBTQ+ community, with another 22% saying they felt somewhat less safe.

Of Democratic respondents within the poll (yes, there are queer conservatives) 79 percent said the Democratic Party should be doing more to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

This is a Reminder

This is a reminder that LGBTQ+ people rely on votes from their straight allies in order to retain our legal protections (it’s math).

This is a reminder that, just months ago here in Virginia, a host of anti-LGBTQ+ bills mirroring the same ones causing people to flee in fear were introduced by Republicans in the legislature.

This is a reminder that Virginia is one Senate seat away from a GOP supermajority that would, in swift order, result in Virginia becoming as dangerous a place for queer people as Florida.

This is a reminder that a primary is currently underway, ends this Tuesday, June 20, and includes Little City residents choosing new representation in the Virginia Senate.

This is a reminder that one Senate candidate on the ballot to represent us, “incumbent” Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax), has been deliberately silent on LGBTQ+ issues... at least as far as this writer can tell, his last public comments on his personal beliefs were when he said he did not personally believe in gay marriage, still believed it was a sin, and even said he didn’t believe in Civil Unions.

This is a reminder that if somebody believes being gay is a sin, it means they think we’re faking it (or should be expected to just enter into miserable heterosexual marriages out of fear for our lives?). There really isn’t any other logical alternative; if you believe that, you fundamentally think we’re some sort of “wicked.”

This is a reminder that Petersen refuses to say if his beliefs have changed since voting for HB751 in 2004, which referenced a nowreversed Supreme Court finding that “A husband without a wife, or a wife without a husband, is unknown to the law,” and said that 2003 rulings overturning antisodomy laws and legalizing gay marriage in Massachussetts “failed to consider the beneficial health effects of heterosexual marriage, as contrasted to the life-shortening and health compromising consequences of homosexual behavior, and this to the detriment of all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation or inclination.”

This is a reminder that Petersen has made substantial donations to the campaigns or nonprofits of

every elected Democrat voicing their support for him, while the rest of the party remains silent. For details, vpap.org has all the receipts.

This is a reminder that silence is dangerous when others are loud.

This is a Warning

This is a warning that Petersen had no problem finding words in opposition to LGBTQ+ rights when the Republicans were in charge.

This is a warning that Petersen did, in fact, vote his personal homophobic beliefs into actual Virginia law, which caused actual harm to actual LGBTQ+ people.

This is a warning that Petersen pushes for religious exemptions for laws in almost all scenarios.

This is a warning that Petersen, after voting to retain a law allow ing the legal marrying of preg nant girls age 15 and under, said “Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but if someone gets pregnant and they want to be married when the child is born, not being able to do that of their own volition.... was a bit overly aggressive.”

This is a warning that a preg nancy under age 15 is evidence of statutory rape, and that rewarding their abusers with marriage instead of charging them with a crime is often, for the girl, a lifelong prison sentence.

This is a warning that Petersen’s church led fourteen others to leave the denomination for an unofficial Nigerian Anglican Church whose leader believed homosexuals should be jailed. The same church that led the attemp to legally usurp Falls Church Episcopal on behalf of homophobic defectors, all in response to the Episcopal Church’s decision to consecrate bishop Gene Robinson, a gay man.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

A public hearing and final City Council action on the following is scheduled for Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

(TR23-15) RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE EAST END SMALL AREA PLAN AS A GUIDING DOCUMENT IN DECISION MAKING FOR PLANNING, ZONING, AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, CITY REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www. fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. 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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

The following was given first reading at the June 12, 2023 City Council meeting. A public hearing, second reading, and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

(TO23-10) ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCES 2024, 2045, 2056, AND 2058 REGARDING THE BUDGET OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE SCHOOL OPERATING FUND, SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICES FUND, THE CABLE ACCESS FUND, AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS

This amendment to the FY2023 Budget would appropriate tax incentive and rent revenues from the West Falls Church development to tax revenue and capital reserves and opioid litigation settlement funds to the budget, transfer previously appropriated funds between departments, and allocate grants and contingency funds.

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www. fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. 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

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD

PUBLIC HEARING

The City of Falls Church Historic Architectural Review Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 7:00 PM in City Hall’s Dogwood Room (first floor), 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22043 to consider the following:

PROPOSED DEMO/DECONSTRUCTION OF 1011 FOWLER ST BARN: The proposal is to deconstruct the barn and garage on Lot 2B and sell or donate the materials.

Information or copies of the proposed alteration can be viewed at the Community Planning and Economic Development Services (CPEDS) counter at City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA, Monday through Friday (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). You may contact the Planning Division at plan@fallschurchva.gov with any questions or concerns. This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)

ABC NOTICE

Empire Grocery LLC trading as Centro Market, 2930 Patrick Henry Drive, Unit E, Falls Church 22044, Fairfax County. The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Off Premises Wine and Beer License. Geetottam Sainju, Member Empire Grocery LLC. Date notice posted at establishment: 5/28/2023. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

HELP WANTED

Senior Project Manager (Falls Church, VA) F/T - Plan, direct, or coord activities of economic growth (macro-fiscal reform, macro-fin’l reform, SME dvlpmt, Workforce Dvlpmt, Sustainable Livelihoods, etc.) prgms in mainly conflict & postconflict countries. Oversee the prgms & organization’s budget & policies regarding participant involvement, prgm reqmts, & benefits. Provide compliance support & oversight to procurement activities & project operations, coord logistics & reporting as needed, & ensure adherence to our fin’l mgmt systems, & compliance w/ contracts & relevant USAID, EU, FCDO & other client rules & regs. Perform comprehensive data collation & analysis activities from relevant int’l organization’s data sources. Bach deg in Public Policy, Poli Sci, or Public Admin or closely rltd degrees reqd. Email resume to The Pragma Corporation, Attn: Jennifer Lao, Recruiter at: recruitment@ pragmacorp.com

FOR SALE

National Mem. Park/King David Mem Gardens 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church Va. 22042. 703-560-4400 Lot 698 sites 2,3 and 4 Block X value $14,995.00 ea. Will sell all three for $20,000.00 or $6995.00 ea. Call Art: 540-850-1181

Unbelievable Deal!National Memorial King David Memorial Cemetery. Two choice desirable sites Block T Lot 471 spaces 3 & 4. Beautiful area below the Living Cross at the Fountains. Selling for an unbelievable price $3,000. Valued at $8,495 each. Call George @ 843-650-999

AUCTIONS

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

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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF A FILING BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY OF ITS INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN CASE NO. PUR-2023-00066

On May 1, 2023, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) the Company’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) pursuant to § 56-599 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”).

An IRP, as defined by § 56-597 of the Code, is “a document developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations by supply side and demand side resources over the ensuing 15 years to promote reasonable prices, reliable service, energy independence, and environmental responsibility.” Pursuant to § 56-599 D of the Code, the Commission determines whether an IRP is reasonable and in the public interest.

Dominion states that it serves approximately 2.7 million electric customers in Virginia and North Carolina and that the Company’s combined service territory in these two states covers approximately 30,000 square miles. As indicated in its IRP, Dominion is a member of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (“PJM”), a regional transmission organization in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The Company states that the IRP was prepared for its service territories in Virginia and North Carolina, which are both within the PJM region.

According to the Company, the IRP encompasses the 15-year planning period from 2024 to 2038, using 2023 as the base year, and is meant for use as a longterm planning document based on a “snapshot in time” of current technologies, market information, and projections.

Dominion states in its filing that the Company’s IRP addresses the 2023 PJM Load Forecast, which includes a significant increase in the expected peak and energy demand in the Dominion Energy Zone over the planning period, with annual peak and energy load growth of nearly 5% and 7% respectively over the next decade. According to Dominion, the increase is driven primarily by data centers and, to a lesser extent, electrification in both the Company’s service territory and in other service areas within the Dominion Energy Zone.

Dominion states that its IRP presents five alternative plans (“Alternative Plans”) to meet customers’ needs in the future under different scenarios, which were designed using constraint-based least-cost planning techniques and proven technologies. The Company states that all Alternative Plans utilize the load forecast prepared by PJM; assume a capacity factor for solar resources based on the lower of the design capacity factor or the three-year average of the Company’s existing solar facilities in Virginia; and assumes that Virginia exits the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”) before January 1, 2024. The Company also presents sensitivities on all Alternative Plans that show the higher cost to customers if Virginia remains in the RGGI.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s IRP. On September 18, 2023, at 10 a.m., the assigned Hearing Examiner will hold a telephonic hearing, with no witness present in the Commission’s courtroom, for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before September 12, 2023, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/ pages/Webcasting

Beginning at 10 a.m. on September 18, 2023, the Hearing Examiner will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above.

On September 19, 2023, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, a hearing will be convened to receive testimony and evidence from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff.

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

An electronic copy of the Company’s IRP may be obtained, at no charge, by requesting it in writing from Nicole M. Allaband, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or nallaband@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons may also download unofficial copies of the IRP and other documents from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information

On or before September 12, 2023, any interested person may submit comments on the IRP electronically by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2023-00066.

On or before July 14, 2023, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at: scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent must also be sent to counsel for the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80

B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by Rule 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2023-00066.

On or before August 8, 2023, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with its filing. In all filings, the respondent shall comply with the Rules of Practice, including 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2023-00066.

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

The Commission’s Rules of Practice, Dominion’s IRP, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and other documents filed in this case may be viewed on the Commission’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

2023 All-Star Teams Announced by F.C.’s Kiwanis Little League Team

by Erika Toman

The Falls Church Kiwanis Little League is proud to announce the 2023 All-Star Teams! The league saw tremendous work throughout the Spring season and the teams are currently working hard to prepare for tournament play in the coming weeks. Visit www.fckll.org for the tournament schedule and plan to attend some games to cheer on the home team!

Majors “White Team” Team

Manager: Joe Greiner

Harrison Carmody, Reid

Edmonds, Drew Fay, Teddy

Greiner, Liam Horgan, Nate

Landers, Sam Longley, Jack

Mullin, Aiden Ortiz, Kovas

Plummer, Asher Sequeria, Landon Tucker

Ages 9-11 “Blue Team” Team

Manager: Nick Toman

Ryan Alderson, Simon Coho, Caleb Edel, John “Tig” Fatzinger,

Bobby Lynch, Calvin McEwen, James Owen, Luca Pipia, Evan Toman, Hayes Vaughan, Anthony Verdi, Will Wood

Ages 8-10 “Red Team” Team Manager: Alex Kuczkowski Michael Baltrym, Max Caddy, Adam Dunbar, Emmett Grenfell, Aidan Izawa, Gavin Kuczkowski, Stanley Lu, Franco Perez, William Schiffer, Will Talbert, Paul Thiede, Joshua “Finn” Thompson

Where To Find The News-Press

• 24 Hour Fitness, 1000 E. Broad St.

• 450 W. Broad St. Lobby Building

• 7 Eleven (Box), 3019 Annandale Rd.

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

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

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

• Anthony’s Restaurant, 3000 Annandale Rd.

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

• Bakeshop. E Fairfax St.

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

• Bowl America, 140 S. Maple Ave.

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

• Broad Falls Apartments, 809 W. Broad St.

• Brown’s Hardware, 100 W. Broad St.

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

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

• Café Kindred, 450 N. Washington St.

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

• Central Library. 1015 North Quincy Street.

• Cinthia’s Bakery, 5860 Columbia Pike.

• City Hall. 300 Park Ave.

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

• Crumbl Cookies, 1106A W. Broad St.

• Cuates Grill 502 W. Broad #5t.

• CVS, 1150 W. Broad St.

• CVS (Box), 134 W. Broad St.

• CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd.

• Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St.

• Dominion Hospital, 2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd.

• Dominion Wine and Beer, 107 Rowell Ct.

• Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W. Broad St.

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

• El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy.

• Elevation Burger, 442 S. Washington St.

• Eaves Fairfax Towers, 2251 Pimmit Dr.

• Exxon Gas Station, 400 W. Broad St.

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

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

• Falls Church City Public Utilities, Gordon Rd.

• Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St.

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

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

• Five Guys, 913 W. Broad St.

• Flippin’ Pizza, 800 W. Broad St.

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

• Foxcraft Design Group, 110 Great Falls St.

• Giant Food, 1230 W. Broad St.

• Giant Food, Loehmann’s Plaza

• Goodwin House, 3440 South Jefferson St.

• Happy Tart. 410 S. Maple Ave.

• Harris Teeter, 301 W. Broad St.

• Harvey’s, 513 W. Broad St.

• Hillwood Cleaners, 165 Hillwood Ave.

• Hilton Garden Inn, 706 W. Broad St.

• Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2300 Pimmit Dr.

• Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2311 Pimmit Dr.

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

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

• Java Loco Coffee & Tea.

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

• Lazy Mikes Deli, 7049 Leesburg Pike

• Ledo Pizza, 7510 Leesburg Pike

• Liberty Barbecue, 370 W. Broad St.

• Lil City Creamery, 114 W. Broad St.

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

• Long & Foster Realtors, 4600 Cherry Hill Rd.

• Lost Dog & Cat Rescue, 6801 Wilson Blvd

• Madison Apartments, 600 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Mark’s Pub, 2190 Pimmit Dr.

• Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike

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

• Medical Building, 405 N. Washington St.

• Medical Building, 407 N. Washington St.

• Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley

• Merrill House Apartments, 210 E. Fairfax St.

• Metro Diner, 4711 Lee Hwy.

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

• Modera Founders Row. 110 Founders Ave.

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

• Multicultural Center. 701 W. Broad St.

• Munson Hill Apartments, 6729 Leesburg Pike

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

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

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

• Northern Virginia Pediatric Associates, 107 N. Virginia Ave

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

• Northside Social, 205 Park Ave.

• Falls Green Apartments, 501 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Park Towers Condos, 200 N. Maple Ave.

• Peach Tree Towers, 2042 Peach Orchard Dr.

• Pearson Square Apartments, 410 S. Maple Ave.

• Pete’s Barber Shop, 5847 Washington Blvd.

• Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7700 Leesburg Pike

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

• PNC Bank, 402 W. Broad St.

• Point of View, 701 W. Broad St.

• Post. Office, 800 W. Broad St.

• Preservation Biscuit 102 E. Fairfax St.

• Professional Building, 313 Park Ave.

• Quick Copy, 417 W. Broad St.

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

• Read Apartments, 402 W. Broad St.

• Rembrandt Assisted Living, 6669 Gouthier Rd.

• Roosevelt Towers, 500 N Roosevelt Blvd.

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

• Safeway, 5101 Wilson Blvd.

• Safeway, 2500 N Harrison St.

• Safeway – Route 29, 7397 Lee Hwy.

• Sfizi Café, 800 W. Broad St.

• Silver Diner, 3200 Wilson Blvd.

• Sislers Stone, 7139 Lee Hwy.

• Smokey’s Garage, 1105 W. Broad St.

• Solace Outpost 444 W. Broad St.

• Sonic Car Wash, 1050 W. Broad St.

• The Spectrum, 444 W. Broad St.

• The Spectrum Cleaners, 444 W. Broad St.

• Starbucks, 244 W. Broad St.

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

• Super A Market, 2800 Graham Rd.

• Taco Rock, 116 W. Broad St.

• Target, 500 S Washington St.

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

• Tasty Dumpling, 112 W. Broad St.

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

• The Byron Apartments, 513 W. Broad St.

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

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

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

• The Original Pancake House, 7395 Lee Hwy.

• The UPS St.ore, 1069 W. Broad St.

• Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd.

• Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave.

• Unity Club, 116-B W. Broad St.

• UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr.

• US Post Office, 2045 Wilson Blvd.

• Verso Founders Row, 105 Founders Row

• Westlee Condominium 2200 N. Westmoreland

• Wendy’s – Bus St.op, 7391 Lee Hwy.

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

• Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr.

• Yayla Bistro, 2201 N. West Moreland St.

Paid for and authorized by Chap Petersen for State Senate