Falls Church News-Press 6-4-2020 by Falls Church News-Press

June 4 – 10, 2020

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F.C. Police Chief, City Leaders Assail George Floyd Killing BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

2 Protests Set Here Join Nationwide Outcry Vs. Racist Police Violence

According to eyewitness accounts, Falls Church Chief of Police Mary Gavin captivated the meeting of all key City staff personnel at City Hall last Monday

with her powerful remarks about the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week that has triggered more than a week of mass protests across the U.S. Chief Gavin minced no words when she expressed her “personal outrage” at the killing caught on

Virtual Graduation Recovers Some of Seniors’ Lost Months BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The unwelcome truth that “life isn’t fair” often relayed by parents to their feisty children was delivered with a different tone to their glum teenagers this graduation season. In-person celebrations of the event around the country have been substituted for virtual ones due to concerns of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, taking away much of the pomp and circumstance associated with seniors’ transition into adulthood. But George Mason High School’s class of 2020 proved how grown up they already are by helping organize and participate in a oneof-a-kind graduation that will be a lifelong memento, even if they can’t get the experiences they lost back from school’s early end. The idea to commemorate this graduation in a unique fashion

came about in an innocent conversation over the video conferencing service we all may be just a bit too used to by now, Zoom. Co-founder Molly Hermann of the Falls Church production company, The Biscuit Factory, was on a call with friends that included Falls Church Education Foundation executive director Debbie Hiscott. Hermann, who has a rising junior at Mason and two younger children in Falls Church City’s school system, shared how missing graduation was hard considering the importance of the occasion and that a virtual ceremony should be held to give the students some form of acknowledgement. Hiscott liked the idea so much that she pitched it to the school system, which eventually reached out to Hermann and her team to ask if they wanted to be the lead

Continued on Page 4

video, the officer now charged with 2nd degree murder, and said, “This incident was not a training error or a policy mistake. It was an intentional and barbaric act by a police officer only to be reinforced by additional officers on the scene who chose not to intervene and

ensure the safety of Mr. Floyd as he begged for his life.” She went on, “Each and every one of these atrocities amplifies the pain felt in our minority communities. When public servants fail us by abusing the authority invested in them by the commu-

nity they have sworn to protect and serve, it destroys trust and partnerships, the fabric of our community. I want to repeat, the authority of a police officer is the community’s authority, not any

Continued on Page 5

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BARBARA CRAM died on Tuesday this week. She was 73. Her civic activism in the arts and for Watch Night New Year’s Eve events, such as this celebration ringing in 2019 with Falls Church City Mayor David Tarter, are all major parts of her Little City legacy. View a photo collage of Cram throughout years on Page 8 of this edition. (P��: C�� S�� V�� S��)

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SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 9

SEE STORY, PAGE 19

The Falls Church Economic Development Authority voted Tuesday to re-open applications for City small businesses seeking $2000 micro grants for another $82,000 in EDA funds. The deadline to apply for the second round of grants is Friday, June 12.

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

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

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 2 | JUNE 4 - 10, 2020

GRANTS AVAILABLE

for Small Businesses and Non-Profits in the City of Falls Church The City of Falls Church Economic Development Authority (EDA) invites small businesses -- as well as non-profit organizations -- to apply for $2,000 grants to help meet urgent business needs during COVID-19. This is a second round of funding available to those that did not receive an EDA grant already. Find out if your business or non-profit is eligible and how to apply:

www.choosefallschurch.org/EDAGrant Questions? Email edo@fallschurchva.gov.

AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM CBC As leaders of Citizens for a Better City (CBC), one of Falls Church’s longest-lived civic organizations committed to the principles of democratic governance, we feel compelled to express our grief over the Death of George Floyd and support for the nationwide outcry it has prompted. We are keenly aware that the tumultuous events of the past week have brought our Nation to an ominous juncture in its history. While the problems we face are great and the development of potential short-term, intermediate, and long-term improvements remains to be seen, we offer our resolute voices in support of meeting the challenges ahead. The forces of our Nation’s dark side – fear, intolerance, hatred, violence, and indifference – must be confronted and overcome. Signed, The CBC Executive Committee

Hal Lippman (President), Sally Ekfelt, Richard McCall, Tom Clinton, Phil Duncan, Lindy Hockenberry, Brian O’Connor, Jody Acosta, Nancy Brandon, Julie Krachman, Tim Stevens, Ken Feltman, Harry Shovlin Questions/comments, contact us at: fallschurchcbc@gmail.com

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PAGE 4 | JUNE 4 – 10, 2020

Graduation

Continued from Page 1

on putting together the production. And just like that, Hermann became responsible for salvaging this crucial milestone. “The graduation is as much as a normal graduation as we can make it. You’re not going to go downtown to Washington, D.C. and get a chair at [DAR Constitution Hall], but it will be on cable access and live digitally at same time,” Hermann said, adding that the YouTube video of last year’s graduation is what the Biscuit Factory is modelling its production after. “The rundown, program and music is all similar, and in some way these grads get to walk away with a digital document of their graduation. They get to keep this in a way that is different, they also get to share it widely even though they’re sad it’s not the same as an in-person graduation. The main thing I got from students was they’re happy they have something.” One positive from the new take on graduation is that the students have greater creative license to receive their diploma however they want. Accompanying the caps and gowns graduates picked up via drive-thru at Mason in May was a shot list that would be a part of the virtual graduation. Hermann said she asked for the graduates to submit a portrait of themselves in their cap and gown, shots of them receiving their diploma, turning their tassel to the other side and the climax of it with the cap toss. Members of Mason’s Student Council Association decided to go on location for theirs. Helen Morris ventured out to the Bishop Garden on the National Cathedral grounds for her graduation. Niharika Singhvi had her brother, a fellow Mason grad, pass the diploma off to her near the Washington Monument. And Fiona Howard kept it a bit simpler with her ceremony home, though behind the scenes the family was laboring to get their dog to sit for the diploma shot. Their classmates had also gotten creative. One of Singhvi’s friends drives a Vespa scooter, and had someone drive the scooter up to her to hand off the diploma. And when it comes to the ringing of the bell, which was a gift of Mason’s class of

LO CA L 1964 and had become a tradition for all new graduates to ring once as they walked off the stage, seniors also opted for the unconventional. Morris said she saw dunk a basketball over their little brother in the process of ringing their bell at home, while another one shot a lacrosse ball at the bell. The SCA’s members had the privilege of ringing the actual bell when The Biscuit Factory recorded their valedictory speeches outside of Mason’s front entrances (with thorough cleanings afterward, of course). It’s been a journey getting to this point. Prior to The Biscuit Factory’s help in pulling off graduation, the SCA, class sponsors Kenny George and William Snyder along with Mason principal Matt Hills and the school’s director of counseling Ilana Reyes were spitballing ideas about doing a massive webinar, much like how the seniors were conducting some of their college visits during the spring. Morris said it was interesting being peers with their adult mentors during this time, though all are thankful they had the professionalism of The Biscuit Factory to help steer the ceremony to a more polished form. Though the one thing the filming can’t replace are those moments leading up to graduation. There will be no prom, no senior skip day and no day where the future graduates wear their college t-shirts to school. Spring sports were lost, which was a blow to Morris who was looking forward to being an active leader in her final season on the soccer team. Nor will there be a chance for Howard to try and win the mock trial state championship for Mason that was supposed to take place in late March, soon after the school system moved all its instruction online. And Singhvi won’t get the finality that comes with saying goodbye to all those who experienced high school with her. “The overarching challenge has just been grappling with that feeling of disappointment, and that knowledge that all these experiences were taken away from you and you’re not going to get them back,” Morris said. “It’s been really hard to accept that and be able to let go at the same time.” “I missed out on that closure with teachers and seeing every-

one for the last time,” Singhvi said. “Being able to have that moment with the people that I’ve spent the last 12 years with is something I’ll miss.” None of them knew it at the time, but March 12 would be their last day walking Mason’s halls as students. And even if they do manage to get together for an in-person graduation this summer, it won’t replace the crescendo that comes from truly living out the spring of their senior year. But on the other hand, they get a piece of memorabilia that no class before them — and hopefully, after them — will ever have access to in the form of their virtual graduation. Mason’s graduation will be broadcast live on FCCTV and YouTube at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. Eighth graders’ “Virtual Moving Up Ceremony to Honor the Class of 2024,” which also had its in-person component called off, will be streamed online as well. Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School principal Valerie Hardy emailed Henderson parents a link to view the celebration on June 3, with a link to the ceremony for everyone else to be viewed as a part of the school system’s “Morning Announcements” newsletter today.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A GLIMPSE behind the camera of The Biscuit Factory’s production shows Katharine Rasmussen (bottom), one of two students giving George Mason High School’s valedictory scholar speech outside of Mason’s front entrance. The other valedictorian, Helen Morris, sports a mask for her senior portrait to be used in the virtual graduation. (Photos: Top — Courtesy Helen Morris/ Bottom — Courtesy Molly Hermann/The Biscuit Factory)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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JUNE 4 – 10, 2020 | PAGE 5

F.C. School Leaders, Civic Organization’s Speak Out on Floyd’s Death Continued from Page 1

individual officer’s alone.” Chief Gavin put her comments in written form, published in full at the end of this article. But she was not the only Falls Church leader to go on record expressing outrage at the George Floyd murder and to reach out in solidarity with the communities of color in the U.S., as hundreds of thousands have in a full week of mass demonstrations in every major city in the U.S., as well as many smaller ones like Falls Church. Two demonstrations in Falls Church are set for the next few days, beginning with a march today, Thursday, June 4, departing at 1:30 p.m. from the entrance to the West End Park and proceeding through the center of the downtown back to the starting point. The march is organized by two rising juniors at George Mason High School who urge fellow students and the public to join them. Sarah Ettinger and Ariana Hameed are the organizers, and in a statement, Ettinger wrote, “This march is open to the public and will be starting and ending at West End

Park. We are marching to show support and solidarity for people of color, to be allies, and take a stand for justice for George Floyd and the many others who have lost their lives based on the color of their skin.” She added that, “Additionally, the police will be there to block off streets as well as march with us in solidarity to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. We wanted to bring awareness to this issue to our community. As a community, we can do better. Also if younger children plan on attending, they should be with their parents. All participants must be wearing face masks and remembering to social distance.” The second event will be held at Cherry Hill Park on Sunday, June 7, at 1 p.m. organized by two former George Mason High School students, Tara Guido and Loreto Martinez. They report that Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, Sean Perryman, president of the Fairfax NAACP, and Alexandria City Councilman John Chapman will be among the speakers. Joining others making strong

statements on the situation, the entire Falls Church City Council signed off on a lengthy letter saying of the death of George Floyd, “His needless and wrongful death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers breaks the hearts of our community and we grieve together. Mr. Floyd’s death lays bare once again a long-troubling truth that minorities in this country disproportionately experience violent and fatal encounters with police. It is a truth which all must confront.” In the letter, the Council members promise “to work together to undo the culture of racism that has been perpetuated through systematic racial disparities in education, housing, healthcare and economic opportunity.” All seven members of the F.C. City Council signed the letter, along with City Manager Wyatt Shields. Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan issued a strong statement as well, saying of the FCCPS system, “As leaders of equity who are focused on creating a culture of care for students and staff, it is our collective responsibility as a community to engage with, self-reflect on one’s

SHOWS OF SUPPORT for the Black Lives Matter movement and those seeking justive for George Floyd, the man killed by police in Minnesota, were evident on the Tinner Hill arch on South Washington Street in Falls Church. (Courtesy Photo) role within, and push against the structures that yield inequalities.” He added, “We need to take a proactive approach and thus, our focus on this work must be steady, consistent and always. FCCPS is committed to being equity champions.” The executive committee of the Citizens for a Better City (CBC), the City’s venerable civic activist organization, issued a statement

it published in this edition of the News-Press saying “We feel compelled to express our grief over the death of George Floyd and support the nationwide outcry it has prompted,” adding, “the tumultuous events of the past week have brought our nation to an ominous juncture...we offer our resolute voices in support of meeting the challenges ahead.

Continued on Page 19

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PAGE 6 | JUNE 4 – 10, 2020 

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Falls Church Mourns Barbara Cram

Barb Cram was the genuine article. This joyful and tireless Falls Church civic activist and volunteer passed away this Tuesday morning, June 2, surrounded by her loving family in her iconic Falls Church home at age 73. A complete biography of this extraordinary person (1947-2020) will be published in next week’s News-Press as the family has faced the difficult and emotionally charged task of completing it for publication. It will be posted on the News-Press website as soon as it is forwarded to us. It can now be affirmed that the sudden outpouring of public praise for Barbara Cram surrounding the declaration of an official proclamation from the Falls Church City Council, reported and published in full in last week’s edition, came with the awareness that she was in last days of a years-long struggle against a fatal chronic illness. Many have been shocked to learn that she was in her 70s, because her energy and enthusiasm suggested someone half her actual age. Her relentless good cheer, a huge smile and ready robust laugh, were reliably attending every one of the many, many public events she attended and almost always also had a hand in organizing and executing, and cleaning up afterward. Officially, she won the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce’s “Pillar of the Community” award, the Village Preservation and Improvement Society’s ”Spirit of Falls Church” award, and last Thursday, May 28, was declared Barbara Cram Day in the City of Falls Church, something that we hope will be remembered every year with something to refresh this community’s awareness of and appreciation for this unusually remarkable human being. She was a pioneering participant of the Falls Church Public Private Partnership (the early 1990s first effort that led to the City’s economic revitalization which kicked off in the early 2000s and has continued to this day). She spearheaded the extensive events surrounding the City’s 1999 Tricentennial celebration. She undertook the beautification of downtown Falls Church by personally funding the hanging flower pots that she could often be seen on a ladder refreshing and tending to by herself. She was the organizing founder of the Little City CATCH Foundation, a coalition of groups advancing the cause of the arts and humanities in the City, and associated with that she pioneered the Falls Church Arts with its regionally popular gallery now on Broad Street, and perhaps her biggest achievement was perpetuating and growing the annual New Year’s Eve Watch Night celebration in the City’s downtown. And more, and more. She was universally loved by persons in all quarters of the community’s arrayed social and political distinctions. In our 30 years here, we knew her very well from when she ran her classy Greenscape gift store where Clare and Don’s Beach Shack now sits. She was relentless and sincere, no hidden agendas or ulterior motives, only a genuine commitment to the people of this community and its institutions.

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It is Time to Consider a New Name For Rebuilt High School Editor, Superintendent Noonan emailed parents on Monday, June 1, highlighting the FCCPS Equity Website that has materials to assist the community in discussing racial inequality. As the email said “…it is our collective responsibility as a community to engage with, self-reflect on one’s role within, and push against the structures

that yield inequalities for students and staff within our community.” These are nice words, but I believe we need to take a real action as a community. With a new high school, it is time to consider changing the name as well. George Mason was a major slave holder and his brother was a slave dealer who sold slaves

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brought from Africa. No slave holder’s name should be on our new high school that we want to be a shining example of our community’s commitment to education, community and unity. I plan to peacefully protest at the intersection of Haycock Road and West Broad Street this Saturday, June 6th from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in support of renaming of the school. Join me if you also want to stand up for equity and racial justice. Melissa Teates Falls Church

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JUNE 4 – 10, 2020 | PAGE 7

To The Class of 2020: You Will Lead Us Out of This Chaos B� P�� N��

Dear Graduates of 2020, Every year around this time I get an invitation by the Falls Church News-Press to make a statement about our annual graduation celebration. Let me begin by offering a heartfelt “Congratulations!” to the class of 2020. Your academic accomplishments and the journey to get to this point have been extraordinary and unprecedented. To receive a diploma from George Mason High School is an honor and a significant achievement. I am so very proud of you! It is hard to put the experiences of this past year into words. In my nearly 30 year career, I have never experienced a school year or graduation like this one. It probably goes without saying that you haven’t either. You have been asked to endure challenges and bear witness to events that will change the course of our nation. In just the past few months, we have experienced a global pandemic, the senseless and tragic public killing of a black man, and a country that is at once bound together by these events and yet politically polarized. To be sure, this is a complex and uncertain time to be launching into your next way-point of life. However, I know you. In the past four years, we have built a relationship and I’ve seen what you are capable of — your resilience and persistence to overcome.

You have shown your leadership skills. You have taken on gun violence by organizing a student walkout and protest on the Stadium Field. You have taken up and taken on, in a unified fashion, issues when you saw injustice for fellow classmates. And I have seen, heard, and felt your reac-

“It is hard to put the experiences of this past year into words. In my nearly 30 year career, I have never experienced a school year or graduation like this one.” tion to the murder of George Floyd just last week. Today, Thursday, June 4th, I will be marching by your side through the streets of Falls Church in the name of racial justice in a march that YOU coordinated using the medium you know best: social media. I see you, Class of 2020, I hear you, and...I know you. You are the light. You have witnessed some of the darkest and ugliest days in recent American history and you have

shown up offering clarity of purpose, resolve, and a collective spirit that has helped us all transcend the moment. You helped each other and our “Little City” find ways to grieve, release our collective tensions in a constructive, thoughtful, and meaningful way, and move the needle of progress for a better world. You did this when you were teenagers...It is more that many of the adults in the world can do even when they have advantages that often come with age, wealth, and positionality. You bring us hope for better days. It was once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” I am a huge fan of the Marvel series but I am sorry to report that it was not Spiderman’s Uncle Ben who first uttered these words. It was Voltaire, according to Google. I would like to pose a challenge to you, with a slight modification. With great privilege comes great responsibility. I submit to you that graduating from GMHS — a school that is so supported and loved by the Falls Church City community — has bestowed upon you great privileges. Your teachers (and parents, mentors, and cherished ones) have worked tirelessly to support your education and your personal growth and development. They have invested in you, sacrificed for you, and cultivated with you the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for achieving great things in life. Even during these very challenging times, I challenge you to take a moment

to sit in that privilege...to take stock...and to think critically about how you can use your earned and unearned privileges to change America and the World for the better. Ask yourself, “What will be my legacy and how can I use my GMHS experience to keep advancing that collective spirit for good?” “What is my personal responsibility to myself, my family, my community, my country, and to the planet?” I am so confident that you will do great things as you tackle life’s challenges because...I know you. This is your time. This is your moment. You were made for this moment. It is cliche, it is a platitude, it may be banal but this time, like the world you face as you graduate, it is different and so are you. You are going to lead us out of the chaos, you are going to bring justice to the world, and you are going to guide us to national and global peace. No pressure…It is a call to action that I know you will accept because... I know you. Go forth and be brilliant. At a distance. With a mask. For now. With love and admiration, Dr. Peter Noonan Superintendent of Schools Falls Church City Public Schools Peter Noonan is the superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools

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PAGE 8 | JUNE 4 – 10, 2020

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Little City Remembers Barbara Cram With Gladness

ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE in the City of Falls Church, Barbara Cram was bringing light, joy, energy and commitment with her to the delight of citizens young and old in all her many associations and volunteer efforts. Cram, 73, passed away quietly amidst her family at her Falls Church home Tuesday. Last week, the F.C. City Council adopted a proclamation declaring Thursday, May 28, Barbara Cram Day in the Little City. A complete obituary along with details for services planned in July will be published in next week’s News-Press. (Photos: NewsPress, F.C. Chamber of Commerce and Courtesy Photos)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

NEWS BRIEFS More F.C. Small Business Micro Grants OK’d The Falls Church Economic Development Authority voted Tuesday to re-open applications for City small businesses seeking $2000 micro grants for another $82,000 in EDA funds. In this round eligibility has been expanded to include non-profits and businesses with gross annual receipts from $50,000 to $700,000. Applications can be found at www.choosefallschurch.org/EDAgrant and the deadline to apply is Friday, June 12. The EDA board also voted to make $100,000 available to Falls Church Small Businesses who began limited openings this week for sanitary supplies such as face masks, hand sanitizer and distancing markers.

Total Fed Reimbursements for Covid-19 Testing Confirmed According to Falls Church family physician Dr. Gordon Theisz, all testing for Covid-19 is fully reimbursable by the federal government according to guidelines set out in the CARES Act. “Reimbursement will be made for qualifying testing for Covid-19 and treatment services with a primary Covid-19 diagnosis including the following: Specimen collection, diagnostic and antibody testing, testing-related visits including in the following settings: office, urgent care or emergency room or telehealth, treatment, including office visit (including telehealth), emergency room, inpatient, outpatient/observation, skilled nursing facility, long-term acute care, acute inpatient rehab, home health, DME (e.g., oxygen, ventilator), emergency ambulance transportation, non-emergency patient transfers via ambulance, and FDA-approved drugs as they become available for Covid-19 treatment and administered as part of an inpatient stay, and an FDA-approved vaccine, when available,” a government fact sheet states.

Utility Service Non-Interruptions Extended to June 15 On March 16, 2020, early in the Covid-19 emergency, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) ordered a temporary suspension for 60 days of utility service disconnections for non-payment of utility bills. The purpose was to protect customers impacted without warning by the severe economic repercussions of the Covid-19 crisis. Later it was extended through June 15. It is considering extending the period beyond and welcomes public comments on the subject.

Henderson Students Donate to Food Aid & Cauldron The Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School’s Student Council Association decided to donate $700 from money they raised this year to the Falls Church Family Assistance Fund run through the Falls Church Education Foundation, and $300 to Creative Cauldron. The group said it wanted to support the local Falls Church City community and give to places where it is needed.

Northam: N.Va. ‘Phase 2’ Put Off Past June 5 Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam Tuesday signed Executive Order 65 and presented the second phase of the “Forward Virginia” plan to continue safely and gradually easing public health restrictions while containing the spread of Covid-19 effective June 5, and amended Executive Order 61 directing Northern Virginia and the City of Richmond to remain in Phase One. While most of Virginia is expected to enter Phase 2 on Friday, June 5, Northern Virginia, which had a delayed entry into Phase 1 last week, will not enter Phase 2 until there are more positive signs of key statewide health metrics, he said. Virginia’s hospital bed capacity remains stable, the percentage of people hospitalized with a positive or pending COVID-19 test is trending downward and the percent of positive tests continues to trend downward as testing increases, he reported.

Beyer Assails Trump’s ‘Naked Authoritarianism’ U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents the 8th District of Virginia that includes the City of Falls Church, issued a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s actions and words on Monday. Beyer said in his statement the following: “Trump’s actions tonight are not law and order, they are naked authoritarianism. Unleashing state violence against peaceful American demonstrators and journalists to create a photo op is a violation of the President’s oath to defend the Constitution and a betrayal of everything this country stands for. Every American looking on in horror Monday at the uniformed officers who are paid with their tax dollars beating and gassing innocent people should consider that Trump wants this scene repeated in cities across the country. He is a clear and present danger to the rule of law.”

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Community News & Notes F.C. City Band Boosters Now Selling Face Masks With face masks now required in many indoor locations, Falls Church City Band Boosters is selling cloth face masks to support the community and students. The eco-friendly, mom-made designs include a musical note theme and Mustang Red fabric mask, along with an optional matching red lined bag for storing mask, gloves or other small gear. Sizes are offered for children,

adults and extra-large adults, perfect for fuller or bearded faces. As part of the effort, Band Boosters will donate masks to all Falls Church City Public School band, chorus and music teachers. For every one of these items purchased, Band Boosters will receive 50% of each sale to support the general fund benefiting band and music education in Falls Church City Public Schools. Launched June 1, the sale goes until June 14 or while supplies last. Masks will be shipped direct-

ly to home for convenience and safety. To learn more, visit www. bandboostersfcc.org.

Drive Thru Covid Testing At Bailey’s CVS One of CVS’ 39 new drive-thru Covid-19 testing sites that opened up on May 29 is its Bailey’s Crossroads location (3401 Charles St., Bailey’s Crossroads). These new sites will utilize self-swab tests and deliver on the company’s plan to set up 1,000 locations across the country by the end of May, as originally announced in late April 27. They will also the help the company reach its goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month, subject to availability of supplies and lab capacity. More than half of the company’s 1,000 test sites will serve communities with the greatest need for support, as measured by

the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. The index tracks a variety of census variables including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing that may weaken a community’s ability to prepare for and recover from hazardous events like natural disasters and disease outbreaks. “If you’re worried you may have Covid-19, you should be able to get tested,” said Governor Ralph S. Northam, a physician. “I appreciate CVS stepping up to help more Virginians get access to testing — at no cost, even if you don’t have insurance. These 39 sites are an important part of Virginia’s testing plan. They are in the community, they’re open seven days a week, and they are staffed by people you can trust.” Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to state and age guidelines. Patients

must register in advance at CVS. com beginning Friday, May 29 to schedule an appointment. Patients will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions, and a CVS Pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days.

Congressional School Launches Summer Academy Congressional School, a private-independent school in Falls Church, recently announced the launch of its Summer Academy, a virtual academic enrichment program with a range of two-week classes designed to keep students’

LAST SATURDAY Columbia Baptist Church held a drive-thru food drive (drop & drive) for their food pantry located in Bailey’s Crossroads. It collected six and a half truckloads of food from 210 households for the The Spend Yourself Food Pantry. Columbia is planning on hosting future “Drive & Drop” food drives over the summer months. Anyone interested in helping Columbia’s Food Pantry keep the shelves full and doors open can contact Rachel Eckard at reckard@columbiabaptist.org.

MOURNING FOR THE LOST MEMORIAL DAY festivities was on display in other creative ways throughout the City of Falls Church. This resident, for instance, displayed some of the Don Beyer Fun Run Shirts that have been given out as a perk for participating in the 5K each Memorial Day.

(Photo: Courtesy Samantha Wright)

(Photo Courtesy John Maier)

Send Us Your News & Notes!

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

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academic skills sharp and give them a boost when returning to school in the fall. A five-week forcredit high school Geometry class is also available. The online classes are designed for students entering grades 3-9 and subject areas include writing, study skills, leadership, math, and Spanish. Registration is open to the public. More information can be found at congressionalschool.org.

F.C. Girl Scout Troop Hosts Food Drive Since the beginning of May, the 7th and 8th graders from Falls Church’s Girl Scout Troop 4211 worked alongside Thomas Jefferson Elementary School’s GIVE Day participants to help those families with limited or little financial support in Northern Virginia that are struggling with food insecurity due to the Covid19 outbreak. They partnered with Food For Others, an organization dedicated to providing for those in need of food throughout Northern Virginia. The Girl Scout troop and TJ GIVE Day families supplied bins on their porches where neighbors dropped off non-perishable foods. When the drive concluded, the troop had helped gather 2,000 pounds of food and 800 dollars from the troop that was dropped off at Food for Others. Now, the troop has passed the torch to Girl Scout Troop 2687, a 4th grade troop at TJ, and they have helped organize the next food drive and will volunteer with GIVE Day families. This coming weekend, from June 5 – 7, residents are asked to consider dropping off the following non-perishables at the houses listed below:

JUNE 4 – 10, 2020 | PAGE 11

Canned meat (tuna, chicken), canned tomatoes, rice/pasta, canned spaghetti sauce, soup, canned chili, canned fruit, fruit juice (32oz-64oz) and dried or canned beans. Porch drop off locations are: South of Broad St. — 145 S. Spring St.; 1009 Parker St.; 101A W. George Mason Rd.; 1305 Tracy Place; 110 Grace Lane and 505 Hillwood Ave. North of Broad St. — 320 N. West St.; 304 N. Lee St.; 504 Meridian St.; 204 Grove St. 320 Little Falls St.; 216 Midvale St.; 203 Buxton Rd. Monetary donations are welcome as well and can be made at foodforothers.org/give-money. For more information, contact tmawji1@gmail.com or christinaghernderson@gmail.com.

Marshall Academy Students Of The Year Announced Marshall Academy, a Governor’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) academy, celebrated its 21st annual Academy Awards by honoring its Academy Students of the Year, who have excelled in their academy courses. Marshall Academy is one of six high school academies in FCPS; it offers Career and Technical Education (CTE) and STEM courses and is located within Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Students of the Year from local schools, with their base school in parentheses, are: Parimah Keyvani, Arabic 1 (Marshall High School); Alexandra Thrasher, Arabic 2 (Marshall); Luke Feghali, Auto Technology 1 (Marshall); Wendy Huang, Chinese 2 (Falls Church High School); Nathan Chan, Chinese IB2-AP (Marshall); Ingris Ruiz

THE GREATER MCLEAN WOMEN’S REPUBLICAN CLUB donated a total of $1,700 over the past month to four businesses and charitable organizations: Mylo’s Grill, VA 30 Day Fund, Second Story and Food for Others (pictured above at its Merrifield location). The donations were made possible by the club’s annual fundraising dinner and silent auction, the sole source of funds for scholarships and non-partisan community initiatives. (P��: C�� F�� O��) Reyes, Cosmetology 1 (Justice High School); Lauren Weber, Cosmetology 2 (Justice); Alexandra Taylor, Criminal Justice (Marshall); Natalie Baki, Criminal Justice 2 (Marshall); Oscar Ayala Segovia, Culinary Arts 1 (McLean High School); Ronica Das, Cyber: Computer Systems Technology 1 (Marshall); Parsia Bahrami, Cyber: Computer Systems Technology 2 A+ (Marshall); Lillian Can, Cyber: Network Administration (McLean); Pranav Prabhu, Cyber: Routing and Switching, Cisco (Marshall); Bryan “Chris” Powers, Cyber: Security+ (Marshall); Pablo Frontera

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Local Students Win Performing Arts Scholarships The Alden in McLean has awarded scholarships to nine local high school students through the 2020 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition. The competition began with a preliminary audition in February,

but the final competition was canceled due to the Covid-19 containment efforts. To recognize the hard work and creativity of these young artists, MCC opted to present Finalists Awards of $800 to each participant rather than the traditional first ($1,200), second ($800) and third ($400) places. This year’s finalists from local schools are: Instrumental Music: Ethan Hsiao, BASIS Independent McLean Theater: Rebecca Blacksten, McLean High School Vocal Music: Tracy Waagner, McLean High School

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Delegate Dick Saslaw’s

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Most mothers have dreams for their children – grow up healthy, safe, and loved, be happy, live in a peaceful world. A few may wish for fame, or grow up to be president, or an opportunity to change the world, but most parental dreams are pretty basic. I imagine that’s what George Floyd’s mother wished for her son – a healthy, safe, and happy life. No thought of fame, or the infamy that surrounds his tragic and preventable death at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, captured on cell phone video now shown around the world. The horror of that video, a black man basically being crushed to death by a white police officer over an alleged complaint, has re-ignited emotions and protests that have simmered in this nation for a long time. Sadly, those some protests have escalated into violence, and that horror plays out live on television. One horror compounded by another. Where does it stop? When I was in elementary school, my Army father was stationed at Fort Belvoir for one year. I remember seeing the “For Coloreds Only” drinking fountains and segregated seating areas. County schools were segregated, but our school on the post was integrated. Years later, I started work on Capitol Hill the same summer President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. Then, in 1968, the killing of another black man, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., triggered the riots in the District of Columbia and elsewhere. An office colleague told me we could not continue as friends because I could “never see things through her eyes.” I still mourn the loss of that friendship, but she was right. We can try to understand and empathize with others’ experiences, but never really delve into the raw

nerves exposed by decades of discrimination. We can remove physical signs and adopt new policies, but the underlying frictions between and among people don’t respond to the stroke of a pen. Fiftytwo years after Dr. King’s death, we still are trying to figure out his peaceful path. It’s not so peaceful anymore, and even when Dr. King counseled “patience,” his advice was tied to an expectation of action, not passive anticipation. On live television coverage Sunday, one protestor confronted a reporter, saying “this is not news. You should be over here (across the barricades) with us; it’s not news.” The youngish protester may have become so used to protests that the news value was diminished in his eyes. Most definitely, though, it is news, and the media, much maligned these days by the occupant in the White House, has a responsibility to tell that story once, or as many times as it takes, to as many people as possible, and help effect the changes needed, in one’s heart and soul, or in one’s litany of laws. For his family and friends, George Floyd’s appalling and untimely death will be forever painful. For our nation, Mr. Floyd’s death, coupled with the tragic deaths of other people of color, will be an even greater tragedy if it results in little or no positive action to rectify decades of injustice. Dr. King said “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Justice matters. Civility matters. Freedom matters. Let’s not be silent.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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

CRIME REPORT Week of May 25 – 31, 2020 Attempted Larceny from Vehicle, 900 blk S Washington St, May 25, 10:20 PM, unknown suspects attempted to break into a parked vehicle. The suspects left the area before police arrived on the scene. The investigation is on-going.

Trespass, 300 blk W Broad St, May 29, 3:29 AM, a male, of Falls Church, VA, was issued a summons for trespassing. Larceny from Vehicle, 300 blk W Broad St, May 26, between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from a parked vehicle.

Identity Theft, 500 blk Timber Ln, April 21, unknown suspect(s) fraudulently used a victim’s personally identifiable information to open a financial account. Identity Theft, 400 blk N Washington St, May 30, unknown suspect(s) fraudulently used a victim’s personally identifiable information to open an account.

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Richmond Report That we are living in unprecedented times, is an understatement. A little over a week ago, the nation was horrified to watch the real time murder of George Floyd at the hands of those sworn to serve and protect. Police accountability is one of several issues that must be addressed. Moreover, racism is a systemic problem in our society. The situation we find ourselves in is historically rooted and long overdue of our attention. I add my voice to the outrage felt by so many and pledge that Virginia will address the inequities that have clearly risen to the forefront during this time of crisis. As of this writing, more than 100,000 people have fallen victim to Coronavirus within the shores of this nation. The mental picture of grief and loss is confounding. I send my heartfelt condolences to everyone that has been touched by the loss of a loved one be it family, friend, or neighbor. With its population density, Northern Virginia has been particularly hard hit. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see an increase of confirmed cases as testing ramps up. Testing is expanding with CVS opening up drive-thru service for self-administered testing based on CDC recommendations. Locations and additional information can be found online as well as my website, www.dicksaslaw.com. The Virginia Employment Commission is operating at maximum capacity and processing a record number of unemployment claims. Since mid- March, when Coronavirus began its invasion into the Commonwealth, VEC has received more than 720,000 claims. About one in five Virginia workers have been impacted. During the booming economy, staff and funding for VEC were greatly reduced – as they should have been. No one could have anticipated (or prepared) for the economic gravity or reach of this infection. Certainly, the federal government under “denial orders” was caught flat-footed on all policy fronts for this pandemic. Pushing Congress to meet the demands of the financial catastrophe, the CARES Act created three programs that address unemployment assistance. All these measures are based on claimant eligibility. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

(FPUC which came online at VEC on April 10) was intended for individuals already collecting unemployment benefits and provides an additional $600 per week through the end of July. “Gig Workers” in the region may receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (VEC had PUA up and running on April 19) for up to 39 weeks if they do not qualify for regular unemployment. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is a potential 13-week resource for individuals that have already exhausted regular unemployment benefits. (VEC will be servicing these PEUC claims starting in the next couple of weeks). Virginia is phasing into the reopening of the businesses that fuel its economy. Consumer confidence, worker safety, and the business models that propel the economy are essential considerations for progressing into the Phases of Forward Virginia. Generally speaking, the Commonwealth has been better positioned than most states due to its technological competencies than engender telecommuting, as well as grid capabilities that power work from home, and the federal government contracts in the golden crescent. Legislative foresight and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership have been vital to keeping Virginia’s economy on solid footing. Site readiness and recent strategic investments by the General Assembly, including funding for GO Virginia and infrastructure in many corners of VA., have us well situated in the short-term and for the long recovery. In the past several weeks, the best and brightest have graduated in a most non-traditional way – without the pomp and ceremony they earned. They have succeeded to their next chapter despite these unprecedented times. We welcome them to the workforce with their new skillset. And to those continuing their educational pursuits, we encourage them to do their best in our new world be it virtual or ivy-clad buildings. Stay well. Wear your mask – it is the right thing to do. ► Senator Saslaw represents the 35th District in the Virginia State Senate. He may be emailed at district35@senate.virginia.gov.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

‘Let’s Light This Candle!’

It’s been one of the most sharply contrasted weeks in American history as, in the words of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA Michael Curry, “Democracy has been struggling to breathe.” It started with the awful lynching of George Floyd shown on live TV by a murderous Minneapolis police officer who would not allow his victim to breathe. It was maybe the most horrifying scene ever shown on television, in open daylight on a sunny afternoon, as a look of sheer evil came over the officer’s face the longer he continued for over eight minutes to strangle his victim, who was gasping for breath and pleading for his life, with his knee. It sparked the growing mass demonstrations all across the U.S., led by FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS legions of multiracial, multicultural citizens of all stripes including many young ones, and the crowds swelled as days passed to the present, willing to ignore the ongoing deadly Covid-19 virus pandemic to explode their anger and resolve to undo the nation’s systemic racism once and for all. But then there was the marring of the peaceful demonstrations by the intervention of violent, right wing white supremacist groups who were masquerading as demonstrators sowing chaos and looting. Then there was Trump himself, this lame would-be fascist dictator, blasting his way, led by Secret Service and other agents tear gassing hundreds of peaceful demonstrators ahead of a walk from the White House across Lafayette Park to the historic St. John’s Church where he held up a Bible for a sick “photo op.” But as the leaders of the peaceful demonstrations amped up their exposes of the toxic white supremacist cults’ role in attempted hijacking of the demonstrations, drawing the sharp contrast between the demonstrators and those disguised agents provocateurs, the force of the peaceful demonstrations has continued to grow. Legitimate faith leaders have soundly condemned Trump’s crass hypocrisy and authoritarian optics in front of the church, including by the ordained leaders of that Episcopal church and, when Trump repeated the false and shallow exercise at a Catholic Church shrine the next day, by the top leaders of the area’s Catholic Church. The Rev. William J. Barber II, maybe the most gifted orator of our generation, speaking at a peaceful demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial Tuesday, called Trump’s posing at the church sites a “shameful act of heretical public idolatry,” and said that the only proper reason for the irreligious Trump to go to such a place would be if he felt compelled to truly repent. But there was nothing of a religious sentiment in what Trump did. Feeling humiliated because he was so quick to cower in the bunker beneath the White House during the demonstrations, as the White House greeted the thousands outside its gates with total darkness, Trump displayed body language in his tear-gas-paved walk to the church and his posture there spoke of only one emotion running through his body — pure hatred, just like the officer who murdered George Floyd. The cruel choking of George Floyd and an anger-driven Trump holding up a Bible in front of a church were the first and second most repulsive images in recent memory. But the faces of the forcefully resolved countless people pouring out onto the streets of dozens of American cities offered entirely different, starkly contrasted, story. There are the faces of hope and resolve to recreate a new society grounded in our shared humanity and aspirations. In the midst of all this came a softly-spoken phrase from an entirely different place, uttered by astronaut Doug Hurley aboard the nation’s first manned rocket destined for space in a decade Saturday afternoon, May 30, from Cape Canaveral. Just before blastoff, he said, “Let’s light this candle!” He was quoting America’s first astronaut into space, Alan Shepard Jr., who uttered those words on May 5, 1961 as his historic flight was set to commence. But in this week’s context, it was a signal to the world that the way beyond the current contention is for everyone to light a candle, a candle to re-ignite humankind’s highest aspirations to reach for the stars, and to bring peace on earth.  Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

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JUNE 4 – 10, 2020 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

As a teenaged furniture mover, I glimpsed the personal lives of Arlington’s many military families: Their PX privileges, their inevitable Southeast Asian ceramic elephant end tables, their children forced by frequent transfers to make new friends fast. My co-worker back in the ‘70s was one such “military brat,” high school classmate Dick Bodson. Now a technology contracting executive, he is fortunate that his Army man of a father, whose remarkable career during World War II and the Cold War did so much to mold his upbringing, is still among us at 102. Before the virus lockdowns, I was treated to dinner with Col. Henry “Hank” Bodson, a member of the famous West Point Class of ’41 that graduated in time for live combat. Now in the Falcons Landing retirement community in Potomac Falls, the older Bodson can still converse amiably. But he can no longer richly detail his stories of training Audie Murphy and helping liberate Hitler’s mountain retreat like he did, as the son puts it, as a “cerebral, unemotional, ethical, calculating” engineer. Soldier Bodson landed in Southern France in August 1944 with the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division to help take Italy, I learned. That Operation Dragoon was too often overshadowed by the D-Day invasion the same summer, as was observed at an August 2009 ceremony for Dragoon veterans

at the Arlington National Cemetery A m p h i t h e a t e r. Asked to speak then, Bodson recalled setting up howitzers that drove the German 19th Army back 100 miles a day. His historic unit then took Rome and made its way to take over Hitler’s Bavarian mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden. Bodson came away with souvenirs of the Nazi inner circle — hand towels branded by the nearby hotel that serviced the Great Dictator. It was during that tour that Bodson served with Murphy — the war’s most decorated American fighting man and future movie star. Murphy “was getting bored and restless in his staff assignment,” Bodson later told the authors of a book on the West Point ‘41ers. He shouted, “Let’s go out and get some Krauts!” After the German surrender, Bodson bumped into the “frecklefaced, likeable” Murphy during R&R on the French Riviera. The prodigy war hero pressed Bodson on how he, as a Texan with a 5th grade education, could get into West Point. “I’m missing a piece of my ass from mortar shells,” Murphy acknowledged. “I don’t recall a full ass being a requirement,” Bodson replied, though realistically he felt the Congressional Medal of Honor winner lacked the requisite academics. Bodson went on to 28 years of uniformed service, with postwar assignments in Fort Sill, Okla., and Cambodia, followed by 12 civilian years in Arlington at the

Pentagon. A highlight was being stationed in tundra terrain in Alaska, in the early 50s, where he made his bones setting up the Nike system to thwart Soviet guided missiles. Son Dick recalls a lunch at the Fort Myer Officers Club in which his father introduced him to another Army combat hero, the late Sherman Pratt, a stalwart of the Arlington Historical Society. Bodson’s wife Belle died in 1984, and is buried at Arlington, where Hank will one day rest. Late this March, the Falcons Landing home made news by reporting the arrival of the coronavirus, with one death. Because of the subsequent restrictions, the younger Bodson can no longer visit his father in person. *** Arlington Police Chief Jay Farr took pre-emptive action May 29 by releasing a localized statement responding to last week’s death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police. He assured Arlingtonians that the “department is committed to providing our officers with exceptional training. New officers each receive approximately 800 hours of formal Academy training followed by 630 hours of field training.” It covers “legal issues/ review, cultural diversity, implicit bias, ethics, verbal judo, conflict communications, defensive tactics, firearms, investigations.” Given the scads of news stories on police misconduct in recent years, it makes you wonder why Farr’s counterparts in Minnesota weren’t so skilled at anticipating.

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PAGE 14 | JUNE 4 – 10, 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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

CITYEVENTS SATURDAY, JUNE 6 Falls Church Farmers Market To Go. The Falls Church Farmers Market has converted to a preorder, to-go event. All orders must be placed in advance of Saturday’s market which will be open from 8 a.m. – noon for pre-order pickup only in front of City Hall (300 Park Ave.). A list of participating vendors and information on preordering can be found at fallsch-

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

VIRTUALEVENTS

THURSDAY, JUNE 4 New Yorker Discussion Group. If any residents enjoy The New Yorker but wish they had someone to chat about it with, they are encouraged to drop into the monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share their thoughts on what they’ve read in a variety of articles. Article to be determined. This discussion will be held online. Visit fallschurchva. gov/LibraryAtHome for details. 2 – 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 Climate Conscious Gardening. As our changing climate brings more unpredictable weather patterns, gardeners play an increasingly important role in serving as stewards of the environment. Learn

about five categories of practical actions homeowners can take in their own backyards to either mitigate or adapt to changes in our climate. Online class offered by Extension Master Gardeners. Free. RSVP at https://mgnv.org/ events/ to receive a link to participate. 10 – 11:30 a.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 9 Great Books Discussion. A “Great Books” discussion concentrating on literary classics meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday most months. This month’s book is “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver. This discussion will be held online. Visit fallschurchva. gov/LibraryAtHome for details. 7 – 8:30 p.m.

DAILY Creative Cauldron Online Classes. The City of Falls Church theater company Creative Cauldron is

now offering a variety of interactive classes and activities for children taught by the theater’s artists. Kids will be moving, creating and socializing during the activities. This week is free week, with scholarships and pay-whatyou-will options available for all who need them. Those who are interested can enroll online at creativecauldron.org/workshops. htm or email the theater at info@ creativecauldron.org to get started. There are classes for adults as well. Birthplaces of Music: A Virtual Field Trip. This fully interactive, virtual field trip through the world of music history will have participants visit the birthplaces of four of the most popular genres of music in the world today: classical, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll and country. The birthplaces of these great forms of music are Vienna, Austria; New Orleans, Louisiana; Cleveland, Ohio and Bristol, TennesseeVirginia respectively. In short, this

virtual field trip will provide those who are interested with a deeper understanding of the history of each form of music, its particular artists and its specific sound while showing them how each physical location played a part in shaping and forming its own culture in the world of music. To begin the field trip, visit edtech2.boisestate.edu/ joshuasmith8/502/virtualtour/ start.html.

Lunch Doodles with children’s author Mo Willems. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing. Participants should grab some paper and pencils, pens or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together. Daily at 1 p.m. Visit kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems to watch. Home Safari Facebook Live. The Cincinnati Zoo is offering a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday where zoo staffers will highlight one of the animals that are in captivity and include an activity that viewers can do from home either as a part of a class or with family. Daily at 3 p.m. To join the live stream, visit www.facebook. com/cincinnatizoo.

Celebrate Your Graduates George Mason High School Class of 2020

In the June 11th issue of the Falls Church News-Press

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JUNE 4 - 10 , 2020 | PAGE 15

Fa l l s C h u r c h

Business News & Notes Businesses Start to Reopen with Caution As businesses continue to adapt and start to reopen, the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce urges community members to respect the policies and procedures developed by the business community. They are doing their best to adhere to Phase One requirements and they are instituting policies and procedures to keep their employees and customers safe. This is a stressful time for business owners, employees, and customers alike. It is important for all to exhibit kindness, patience, and compassion.

George Mason High School PTSA Inviting Businesses to Participate in Parade In recognition of the Falls Church business community’s loyal support, the George Mason High School PTSA is inviting businesses to participate, at no cost, in a car parade for graduates and their parents on the afternoon of June 10. The gesture is offered in thanks for the years of support many businesses have provided for the Class of 2020 and also in recognition of the difficulties businesses are experiencing due to Covid-19. Interested businesses are invited to contact Mary Stevens marysfree@gmail.com for details.

Live Local Face Masks Now Available Live Local Falls Church face masks are now available through the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. The masks are navy blue cotton with green and white embroidery stating #LiveLocalFC in two lines of large print and Falls Church Chamber of Commerce in small print below. The masks are available for $15 by emailing Cathy@FallsChurchChamber.org. Quantity discounts are available. For more information, including a photo of the mask design, visit www.FallsChurchChamber.org.

Business Leaders Invited to Join Mask Wearing Campaign Business leaders are invited to participate in a social media campaign to encourage mask wearing. Through the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, elected officials in Northern Virginia are starting a social media campaign with the hashtag #MaskUpNOVA. Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly and Council member Letty Hardi are leading this effort in Falls Church to show that local leaders are taking mask-wearing seriously. To participate, take a photo wearing a mask and post it with #MaskUpNOVA and #MaskUpFallsChurch or #MaskUpFC and include why you are wearing the mask in the caption. Reasons can include to keep your employees safe, to protect your customers, to support the community, or whatever your reason may be. Then share it on social media. A Facebook profile frame is also available under Profile Pic Frames. For more information, view the video by Falls Church City Council at https://youtu.be/BsxyS1L_tXo.

Northern Virginia Community College Registration Now Open

INSTALLS ON NEW & EXISTING GUTTERS

Registration for the fall semester at Northern Virginia Community College is now open. The 15 week session and the first 8-week and first 5-week sessions will begin August 24. NOVA is an open enrollment institution, so everyone who applies is accepted. NOVA offers a wide array of career enhancing classes such as accounting, administration, business management, computer science, cybersecurity, professional writing, graphic design, and marketing. NOVA’s Annandale Campus is located at 8333 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. For more information visit www.nvcc.edu.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

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PAGE 16 | JUNE 4 - 10, 2020 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

HELP WANTED/HIRING Greensville County Public Schools in Emporia, VA is looking for committed educators in the following areas: Secondary Mathematics, English, and History; Middle School Mathematics and Art; Elementary Education; and Instructional Technology. Must be eligible for state certification. Contact Paige Crewe, pcrewe@gcps1.com or 434-634-3748, or visit our website at www. gcps1.com for more information. Management Analyst The Management Analyst will be based at the Falls Church, VA headquarters of Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions, with international offices in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and throughout the Americas. Torres AES serves the highest levels of the U.S. government and commercial enterprises around the world. This position oversees the compliance and quality management platform conducting organizational studies and evaluations, designing systems and procedures, conducting work simplification and measurement studies, and preparing operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively modeled on best practices ensuring quality output can be measured and documented for senior management and the client. Detailed Functions: - Achieves quality assurance operational objectives by contributing information and analysis to strategic plans and reviews; preparing and completing action plans; implementing procedure, productivity, quality, and client compliance standards; identifying and resolving problems; completing audits; determining operational improvements; implementing change. - Meets quality assurance financial objectives by estimating requirements; assisting with the annual operational budget preparation; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions. - Develops quality assurance plans by conducting hazard analyses; identifying critical control points and preventive measures; establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, and verification procedures; monitoring inventories. - Validates quality processes by auditing client compliance specifications and quality attributes; measuring compliance; documenting evidence of compliance; determining operational and performance qualification; writing and updating quality assurance procedures. - Maintains and improves product quality by completing product, company, system, compliance, health and safety, and surveillance audits; investigating customer complaints; collaborating with other members of management to develop and implement new compliance training products and procedures based on best practices. - Prepares quality documentation and reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends including

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LEGAL NOTICE Volunteers who live in the City of Falls

Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month. Architectural Advisory Board (alternate) Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church Board of Zoning Appeals (alternate) City Employee Review Board Historic Architectural Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Library Board of Trustees Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Regional Boards/Commissions Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Long Term Care Coordinating Council

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The ordinance referenced below was given first reading on May 26, 2020. Public hearings are scheduled for Monday, June 8 and Monday, June 22, 2020, with second reading and final Council action scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matters may be heard. (TO20-06) ORDINANCE FIXING AND DETERMINING THE FY2021-FY2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING EXPENDITURE AND REVENUE FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND REPROGRAMMING OF PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED FUNDS Public hearings will be held electronically at www.fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings. Unless the Governor’s state of emergency is lifted, public comments will be accepted only electronically at cityclerk@fallschurchva. gov, until the end of the public hearing, or by voicemail at (703) 248-5014 until 3 p.m. on the day of the public hearing. Council members will attend the meeting through electronic means and members of the public may view the meeting at www.fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings and on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

14 17

21 25

24 28

22 27

35 37

42 47

43 49

48 52

50 54

57 60

1. Vietnam’s Dien Bien ____ 4. Arctic Circle sights 9. Cool red giant 14. Vert. opposite 15. Apply, as pressure 16. “It Wasn’t All Velvet” memoirist Mel 17. Attention-getting shout to 1950s pinup queen Page? 19. Swung around 20. Three-star mil. rank 21. “Totes awesome, dude!” 23. Utah luggage tag initials 24. Galoot 25. Toking Oscar-winner McDaniel? 28. Cry after being duped 30. Average guy 31. Underhanded 32. Play at full volume 35. Little brother, stereotypically 36. Heckle the singer of “Only Wanna Be with You”? 39. Nickname for “The King of Clay” 42. Financial guru Suze 43. Escape ____ 46. Improvises 49. Sitcom pal of Barbarino and Horshack 51. Put the A/C on for TV comedy pioneer Berle? 54. Cuba, por ejemplo 55. Grp. with the 1977 song “Rockaria!” 56. Amendment that prohibits U.S. presidents from running for a third term 57. Like argon or neon

STRANGE BREW

58. Shopping binge 60. Finish like the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee ... or what 17-, 25-, 36- and 51-Across do 63. “According to the grapevine ...” 64. Davis of “Thelma & Louise” 65. Loretta Lynch and Eric Holder: Abbr. 66. “Dagnabbit!” 67. Cyber-endorse 68. Jet last flown in 2003

Down 1. Diller who quipped “Housework can’t kill you, but why take the chance?” 2. Nocturnal hunter with a distinctive call 3. An 1828 peace treaty created it as a buffer between Brazil and Argentina 4. Existed 5. Business card no. 6. No longer working: Abbr. 7. “Norwegian Dances” composer 8. Two-time NBA MVP Curry 9. It might reveal more than a simple X-ray 10. Note between fa and la 11. “Honest!” 12. Bedelia and Earhart 13. Paltry amount 18. Gambles 22. Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James 25. Divine circle 26. Location of about 1% of Yellowstone National Park

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

JUNE 4 - 10, 2020 | PAGE 17

27. Kind 29. “Barry” network 33. Frat. counterpart 34. Actress Marisa 36. Help (out) 37. Duct ____ 38. Job connections 39. Arrives breathlessly 40. Sax who invented the saxophone 41. Parquet pro 43. Spanish coins until 2002 44. Structures in the Gulf of Mexico 45. 23andMe service 47. Olympians since 2008 48. ____ Flags 50. Fey of “30 Rock” 52. Feudal lord 53. Points at the dinner table 57. Aerosmith’s “Love ____ Elevator” 59. “Mangia!” 61. Opus ____ 62. Dutch financial giant Last Thursday’s Solution A S K S F O R

R O U T I N E

E L M O N T E

E C S E G A R

T H E J E R K

S E E I N T O

T V A D

H E I G H

O D S S T U W Y A O F I R E

A U M S F A L O R E S S E L G A P O O L V I R E I S S S R S C A L A L O O R P N G A I O T T T A

P L E A S I A P H A R M A

S S L U O N O I R P R O K O I M N D C A R S O A S R A S O M I A Y N D L I

W H O S W H O

E S T E L L E

B A N K J O B

S P L I N T S

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

6/7/20

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

PAGE 18 | JUNE 4 - 10, 2020

LO CA L

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Critter Corner

25 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 14 • June 3, 2010

Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 10 • May 25, 1995 State Commission Warns City Refusal to Respond May Help Virginia Power

Virginia Tech Unveils New Visionary Plan for ‘Waterfront’ in Falls Church

RICHMOND -- The Virginia State Corporation Commission, in a response issued last week, warned that “unless Falls Church files an adequate response, on the record, to Virginia Power’s factual allegations, we must ultimately view the facts in the light most favorable to Virginia Power.”

A compelling vision by Virginia Tech students to tum the Tripps Run creek and Four Mile Run that it feeds into a mini-waterfront adjacent a new one-acre park for the City of Falls Church drew an unexpectedly apprecia tive response from the City’s Economic Development Authority Tuesday night.

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LETTERS The deadline for Letters to the Editor and Guest Commentaries is 5 p.m. Monday each week of publication. Letters to the Editor should be 350 words or less. Guest Commentaries should be limited to 800 words. All letters printed in the News-Press become property of the Falls Church News Press and may be edited for clarity and length. Email letters@fcnp.com Mail or drop off Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls Street #508, Falls Church, VA 22046 Include full name, address and telephone number with each submission. Anonymous submissions will not be printed.

THIS IS SCRIBBLES. She is almost 13 and was adopted from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria when she was one. She would like to wish her daddy a Happy 50th Birthday, which was on April 30 (sorry for the delay dad, you know how forgetful us teenagers are...) Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

JUNE 4 – 10, 2020 | PAGE 19

F.C. Recycling Center Overburdened by Cardboard During Pandemic

two instances of our contractor not being able to collect all materials in one day,” said Lonnie Marquetti, the solid waste program manager for the City of Falls Church. “In those cases, we have communicated through various channels that the collection trucks would return the next day to a particular neighborhood.”

The City has notified residents about trying to minimize waste during this period so that collectors and recycling center personnel can remain as safe as possible by avoiding possible contaminated items. “We have added messaging to our daily Covid-19 updates and information on the FC website, and on our social media platforms,”

Marquetti explains. The recycling center on Gordon Road has seen a large influx of materials since the stay at home orders were issued, which has been mostly cardboard, Marquetti said. She also explains that the center has needed to be serviced more often or up to at least twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, and if needed

on Wednesdays as well. Marquetti wanted to bring to people’s attention that the rules have not changed at the recycling center, but wants people to follow the directions they’ve always gone by. “The rules are posted on the fence at the recycling center, and two rules that I would like to mention that are constantly being ignored are breaking down boxes, and if the dumpster is full, please take the items back home with you and try again on another date,” Marquetti said. “We have been noticing a lot of illegal dumping happening. I believe this is has to do with bulk collections currently being suspended due to Covid-19. However, bulk collections will resume next week, on June 3,” she said. Marquetti said that leaving materials on the ground or overfilled containers jeopardizes the health and safety of the workers who attend to the facility. “During this pandemic, and not knowing what are on the materials, we are putting our operations team at risk of getting sick. Not to mention the hours that it takes to clean up the recycling center,” Marquetti warned.

chosen to do their work at Creative Cauldron...We pledge to be allies in this quest for racial justice.”

the community they have sworn to protect and serve, it destroys trust and partnerships, the fabric of our community. I want to repeat: the authority of a police officer is the community’s authority, not any individual officer’s alone. There is nothing more sacred in police work than the trust of the community in which we serve. Every police officer swears to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and our First Amendment guarantees all Americans to the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press to report, and the right for people to peaceably assemble. These are legally protected actions in our Commonwealth and Country. I denounce any actions made by police officers to actively impede the rights of journalists or people protesting peacefully. We in law enforcement must always strive to protect the rights of civil discourse in our nation as it is the vehicle of change. At every police officer’s swearing-in at the City of Falls Church, we introduce them to the Falls Church community’s values and reinforce that the authority invested in them is that of the community’s. I intentionally repeat to the newly sworn police officer and remind

tenured officers present that the City of Falls Church beholds all authority. Police authority is to be used with respect and restraint with all people, in all circumstances. In our police department, we have gone as far as to take the words citizen and resident out of our policies and nomenclature to reinforce equality for all people. In creating a healthy and nurturing culture within the police department, we intentionally hire people from diverse backgrounds and ensure inclusiveness with our policies and practices. We are not without fault and mistakes, but it is our responsibility to be responsive, identify issues, investigate, and take corrective action. For officers or employees that egregiously violate policy or the rights of others, they are relieved of duty and dismissed from the police department. We should act and be seen as neighbors, friends, and family to the community we serve. As the Chief of Police, I could list the hours of training for the use of force or equipment provided to ensure the safety of all involved in arrests. However, the issues we have before us are more profound beyond any one single police department. As a profession, we must confront

our cultural problems with community dialog, training, policy, and leadership of police organizations. We must make every effort to change this profession by challenging our fundamental mission of public safety. The enforcement of laws is only a small percentage of the actions we take daily. Public safety should and must be our primary focus. There is a need for structural change within our profession. Simply firing bad actors when they abuse or exploit their role as public guardians are mere cosmetic solutions to a deeper problem. It’s up to the leaders within our profession to call for this systemic change and be ready to embrace change in whatever form it takes and lead by example to all officers within our ranks. In my own discussions within the City of Falls Church Police Department, our officers have expressed a desire to engage the community and create dialog for real change. On behalf of these officers and the department, we denounce the actions we have witnessed and want to listen, hear, understand, and act on our community’s concerns so that we may ensure justice and peace. Mary Gavin, Chief of Police, City of Falls Church

by Brian Indre

Falls Church News-Press

The coronavirus pandemic and the shift to ordering just about everything online it has inspired has created an increasing amount of trash and recyclables that are being put out curbside and coming into the recycling center within the City of Falls Church. Residential trash and recycling bins that line the road on pick up day can be seen more full than usual with the lids popped-up not being able to fully close. The Gordon Road recycling center is also being hit harder than usual, with cardboard left on the ground because the bins are full. With a majority of residents stuck at home, there is more time to order things online, take on yard projects and DIY home improvements, or the clearing out of an attic or garage. And the trash collectors and recycling centers are feeling the brunt of this influx of waste. This uptick in materials being disposed of is the reflection of the change in social behavior during the lockdown phase of the pandemic. “The volume of yard waste has increased, and there have been

Floyd Killing Continued from Page 5

“The forces of our nation’s dark side — fear, intolerance, hatred, violence and indifference — must be confronted and overcome.” All members of the CBC’s executive committee, including Hal Lippman (president), Sally Ekfelt, Richard McCall, Tom Clinton, Phil Duncan, Lindy Hockenberry, Brian O’Connor, Jody Acosta, Nancy Brandon, Julie Krachman, Tim Stevens, Ken Feltman and Harry Shovlin, signed the statement. The City’s non-profit theater performance and education entity, the Creative Cauldron, also weighed in forcefully with a statement endorsed by its entire 23-member board, stating, “We stand in solidarity against the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbrey, Tony McDade, Beonna Taylor and too many more Black Americans who have died at the hands of white supremacy, police brutality and other racist systems in our country.” It adds, “We are beyond grateful to the Black artists, producers, activists, performers, musicians, scholars, students, patrons and community members who have

THE RECYCLING CENTER off Gordon Road in Falls Church appeared tame earlier this week, with bins full, but not busting at the seams. With bulk collections resuming yesterday, the worst may be behind the center. (Photo: News-Press)

Full Statement of Falls Church Police Chief Mary Gavin I am profoundly sorry and saddened by the senseless death of Mr. George Floyd. Again, as a nation, we are confronted with a horrific event where we witnessed the murder of an African American male, George Floyd, at the hands of a police officer. This incident is one of many that has outraged communities across this nation and creates deep personal wounds, especially for our minority communities. Personally, I am outraged and sickened by what we all have witnessed and the damaging effects this has on our society as a whole. This incident was not a training error or a policy mistake; it was an intentional and barbaric act by a police officer only to be reinforced by additional officers on the scene who chose not to intervene and ensure the safety of Mr. Floyd, as he begged for his life. Each and every one of these atrocities amplifies the pain felt in our minority communities. When public servants fail us by abusing the authority invested in them by

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 20 | JUNE 4 - 10, 2020

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