Falls Church News-Press 6-9-2022 by Falls Church News-Press

June 9 - 15, 2022

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

Fou n d e d 1991 • Vol. X X XII No. 17

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

‘Pride Clinic’ Opens In F.C.

Hail The Class of 2022

Inova Health Systems Hosts Ribbon Cutting at New Site

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

At a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by a heavy contingent of regional political and influencer leaders yesterday morning, it was confirmed that the City of Falls Church is now home to the giant Inova Health System’s first ever Pride Clinic, dedicated to the care of LGBTQ+ patients. It is located at 500 N. Washington Street. Filling a need that the system’s Karen Berube told the 50 gathered guests was first identified and has been working toward for 22 years, the clinic will offer a full array of services to LGBTQ+ community members it says are “more likely to delay care and less likely to have access to a culturally competent health care provider.” “They are at risk for some health conditions that impact long-term health care outcomes.” Dr. Jorge Romallo, the head of the clinic, underscored the importance of such an openly-

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MERIDAN HIGH SCHOOL GRAUDATION was held on the football field Wednesday afternoon, celebrating the many accomplishments of the class of 2022. (Photo: FCNP).

Meridian Student Winner of Region-Wide Cappie Award

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Meridian High School’s Katie Rice was named the winner of a Cappie award for Comic Actor in a Female Role for her performance in the school’s Spring 2022 theater production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

[Revised]” Monday night at the 22nd annual Cappies Gala at the Kennedy Center before a capacity crowd of 2,500 in the Concert Hall. It was the first gala held in three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Meridian play was also one of six nominated for Best Play out of a total of plays and musicals from 48 participat-

ing high schools in the D.C. Metro area that were voted on by 308 high school critics. The actors from the Meridian play performed a scene from their play before the live audience at the gala. The Cappies of the National Capital Area held its annual gala recognizing excellence in high school theater. The Tony’s-

like sell-out event held in the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center celebrated hundreds of student nominees. Most but not all students and their parents, guardians or friends showed up in grand attire. Eleven schools who were nominated for best play or musi-

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Inside This Week Kick Off Summer with live music at Cherry Hill Park

Mustang Baseball and Soccer Teams Keep Seasons Alive

See Page 11-14

See Sports, Page 9

Come kick off summer with live music and fun at the 2022 Tinner Hill Music Festival. Festivies for the whole family at Cherry Hill Park. We have the full slate of activies and events inside the special section.

The Meridian Boys Soccer team and Baseball team kept their winning streak and seasons alive advaving in their respective state tournaments. Don’t miss the full coverage of Meridian sports this week.

Index

Comment...................................... 5,7,8 Editorial................................................ 6 Letters.................................................. 6 Crime Report....................................... 8 Business News.................................. 10 News & Notes.................................... 15 Calendar......................................16,17 Graduation List .................................18 Critter Corner..................................... 22 FCCPS Page..................................... 23

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JUNE 9 - 15, 2022 | PAGE 3

Area’s First ‘Comprehensive’ Primary Care Clinic for LGBTQ+ People Opens

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identified service to an underserved community by telling the story of his own first visit as an adult to a health care facility in Cleveland. He was worried, he said, that he’d be underserved if not slighted by his identification as a LGBTQ+ person until he saw in the waiting room a small rainbow flag posted on a bulletin board there. It changed everything for him, he said, and now this Pride Clinic will have this same impact for LGBTQ+ persons seeking “a safe space for comprehensive care.” The only speaker from the local political delegation present was Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, who welcomed the new clinic, reading from the F.C. City Council’s Pride Month proclamation issued last week and citing the City’s recent action of raising a Pride flag at City Hall where it will remain this entire month. Among other dignitaries present were a preponderance of members of the F.C. City Council, including Letty Hardi, Debbie Hiscott, Phil Duncan, Marybeth Connelly, Caroline Lian and Tarter, Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay and members John Foust

and Dalia Palchik, and Virginia State lawmakers Marcus Simon, Patrick Hope, Adam Ebbin, Mark Keam and Ken Plum. Dr. Steven Jones, the CEO of the Inova System, said in his remarks that he was “blown away by the unexpectedly large size of the turnout from persons dedicated to serving their communities.” The new facility, he said, will not only fill a gap in Inova’s health care services, but it will also pave the way for “training the next generation” of health care providers. Prominent local primary care physician Dr. Gordon Theisz commented to the News-Press upon hearing the news yesterday, “This is a wonderful addition to the Falls Church medical community.” The new Inova facility is described as “Northern Virginia’s first dedicated, comprehensive primary care home for our region’s LGBTQ+ community.” In a statement circulated at the event, Inova is described as “a leader in health equity. Inova understands that the LGBTQ+ community has been at greater risk for health issues because of a lack of healthcare tailored to their unique needs. The clinic’s

AMONG THOSE AT THE RIBBON CUTTING were Mayor David Tarter and Falls Church City Council member Letty Hardi. (Photo:News-Press.) mission is to provide a respectful, affirmative and compassionate environment for a patient’s everyday healthcare needs. Our primary care doctors and team members are dedicated to providing inclusive and judgment-free care, answering questions and supporting long-term health and wellness without barriers. In addition to the full range of preventative care, health screen-

ings and chronic disease management, Inova’s primary care doctors and team members are experienced in all LGBTQ+ specific health care needs, and including counseling for youth and adults about health, gender identity and sexuality.” The Pride Clinic is located on the second floor of the 500 N. Washington St. building which was acquired by Inova a few years

back from the Akridge real estate development company. Akridge was unsuccessful in early efforts to submit mixed use development proposals to the City, the 2.6 acre location being considered attractive due to its proximity to the East Falls Church Metrorail station, and subsequently sold it in the spring of 2012 to Inova which has done little with it until now.

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‘Fellow Thespian’ Rep. Connolly Presented Cappies ‘Best Play’

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cal performed brief segments of their productions to the delight of the highly-enthusiastic audience composed mostly of the many student nominees. Community dignitaries and Cappies alums presented awards to the finalists in 40 technical and performance categories. By coincidence, Katie Rice was announced as the winner in her category by two dignitaries from the Falls Church School System who happened to be up as the presenters at that same time, Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan and School Board chair Laura Downs. The other presenter from Falls Church was Nicholas Benton, owner of the Falls Church News-Press which was also recognized for being among the regional entities that published Cappies reviews over the course of the school year. In what has become an annual tradition, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Fairfax County, who described himself as a “fellow thespian” with performing

parts in a range of local community stage productions, presented the Best Play award to culminate the show. Other Meridian students nominated for awards at the event included Wenndy Sejas for Sound, Colleen Carpenter and Bella Villano for Stage Management, Liv Scappa for Supporting Actor in a Play in a Female Role, Phi Oeschger for Lead Actor in a Play in a Female Role and Drew Miller for Lead Actor in a Play in a Male Role. Area high schools near Falls Church also fared very well in nominations and winners, especially McLean High School, which had winners in the categories of Marketing and Publicity, Hair and Make-Up and Best Play (“Airness,” High School Edition), and Langley High School that had winners for Stage Crew and Male Vocalist (Conor Farah). The award for Musical of the Year went to South Lakes High for its production of “Crazy for You” that included the winning best song, “I’ve Got Rhythm.” Cappies is described as “a

5920 B Summers Lane, Falls Church, VA 703.820.2457

KATIE RICE (CENTER), winner of Best Comic Actor in a Female Role, for her performance in Meridian’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised].” (P��: C�� S��). unique collaborative program for journalism and theater students.” Trained student critics review Cappies-designated high school shows throughout the year. The best written reviews are published in the local press. At the end of the season, the

student critics vote for who of their peers should be recognized for awards. The Cappies critics are ambassadors for high school theater and spread the word about the value and fun of participating in theater. A taped version of Monday night’s

three-hour ceremony will be aired this Friday at 7 p.m. on Fairfax County’s Cable Channel 21 and on the Fairfax County Schools website, fcps.tv/edu, at the same time. It will then be posted to the county schools’ YouTube channel where it will be accessible all summer.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Commentary

JUNE 9 - 15, 2022 | PAGE 5

The Ukraine War Still Holds Surprises. The Biggest May Be for Putin.

Thomas L. Friedman NEW YORK TIMES

LONDON — Here’s a surprising fact: At a time when Americans can’t agree on virtually anything, there’s been a consistent majority in favor of giving generous economic and military aid to Ukraine in its fight against Vladimir Putin’s effort to wipe it off the map. It’s doubly surprising when you consider that most Americans couldn’t find Ukraine on a map just a few months ago, as it’s a country with which we’ve never had a special relationship. Sustaining that support through this summer, though, will be doubly important as the Ukraine war settles into a kind of “sumo” phase — two giant wrestlers, each trying to throw the other out of the ring, but neither willing to quit or able to win. While I expect some erosion as people grasp how much this war is driving up global energy and food prices, I’m still hopeful that a majority of Americans will hang in there until Ukraine can recover its sovereignty militarily or strike a decent peace deal with Putin. My near-term optimism doesn’t derive from reading polls, but reading history — in particular, Michael Mandelbaum’s new book, “The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy: Weak Power, Great Power, Superpower, Hyperpower.” Mandelbaum, professor emeritus of U.S. foreign policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (we co-wrote a book in 2011), argues that while U.S. attitudes toward Ukraine may seem utterly unexpected and novel, they are not. Looked at through the sweep of U.S. foreign policy — which his book compellingly chronicles through the lens of the four different power relationships America has had with the world — they’re actually quite familiar and foreseeable. Indeed, so much so that both Putin and China’s president,

Xi Jinping, would both benefit from reading this book. Throughout U.S. history, our nation has oscillated between two broad approaches to foreign policy, Mandelbaum explained in an interview, echoing a key theme in his book: “One emphasizes power, national interest and security and is associated with Theodore Roosevelt. The other stresses the promotion of American values and is identified with Woodrow Wilson.” While these two world views were often in competition, that was not always the case. And when a foreign policy challenge came along that was in harmony with both our interests and our values, it hit the sweet spot and could command broad, deep and lasting public support. “This happened in World War II and the Cold War,” Mandelbaum noted, “and it appears to be happening again with Ukraine.” But the big, big question is: For how long? Nobody knows, because wars follow both predictable and unpredictable paths. The predictable one regarding Ukraine is that as the costs rise there will be rising dissent — either in America or among our European allies — arguing that our interests and values have gotten out of balance in Ukraine. They will argue that we can neither economically afford to support Ukraine to the point of total victory — i.e., evicting Putin’s army from every inch of Ukraine — nor strategically afford to go for total victory, because faced with total defeat Putin could unleash a nuclear weapon. One can already see signs of this in the statement by President Emmanuel Macron of France on Saturday that the Western alliance must “not humiliate Russia” — a statement that elicited howls of protest from Ukraine. “Every war in American history has provoked dissent, including the Revolutionary War, when those who were opposed moved to Canada,” explained Mandelbaum. “What

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Our Man in Arlington

Arlington Warming Our Hearts and Souls ©

You’ve known folks born in Arlington, and you’ve known some born in D.C. But have you known anyone born in between? That is to say, born on Key Bridge? Paul Mclain, 65, recently retired as an academic assistant in the Duke University Slavic and Eurasian Studies Department, can claim such citizenship limbo. And it has caused him hassles as an adult. According to what he learned from his parents and brother Robert, who was 11 on that fateful day Oct. 15, 1956, his mother, in their Arlington home at 4119 N. 3rd Rd., went into labor. A taxi was called. But Mclain’s father Robert, a 36-year-old World War II marine vet then a manager at Drug Fair, got into an argument with the cabbie. This led to summons of an ambulance. “Because of this delay,” Paul reports, “I was born in an ambulance on Key Bridge. Somehow, someone decided I was born on the D.C. side of the line.” He showed me his birth certificate, as later re-released by the District of Columbia, showing information given by his then35-year-old mother Edith Hope Hughes Mclain. In the slot for “name of hospital,” the typescript reads: “in ambulance—on way to hospital— in D.C.”Oddly, when Paul in recent years contacted Social Security to apply for his late wife’s survivor’s benefits, he was told their records showed he was “a foreign national

“Humid Summers!”—yes we know, we know! So the throngs here have told us so “We do get some snow!”— shared by the folks warningly Nothing new for Brooklyn boys—let it snow with frigid glee! Small prices to pay living in dear Arlington In the depths of my psyche It’s just Mayberry—with less sun Now gullible I am not Nor naive nor filled with delusion Perfection—it’s not But a sure cure for seclusion For so many kind people fell into our lives All shapes, colors and sizes Proving compassion still survives From invites to brunches To sharing needs, wants and wishes galore With Arlington denizens who care Helping our optimism beam brightly and soar! Long walks that fill our senses With new memories to cherish so dear Sharing those newly fond memories Brings responses so sincere That we know it’s just the beginning And we know glitches are yet to appear But for now dear Arlington’s ours to bless For now and many a year.

By Charlie Clark

born in Colombia.” “At that point I had to obtain the most recent copy of my birth certificate to correct this,” which cost him $250 and delayed benefits by weeks. In 1963, the Mclains divorced and Paul left Arlington for North Carolina. His older brother swears there was news coverage of his straddled birth, but none has turned up. “I’m particularly interested in others who may have been born on the bridge, as it’s hard to believe I was the first or only.” *** The Neighbors’ Club, a century-old set of Arlington women who favor zip code 22207, donated $5,000 to the public library’s Center for Local History. That’s the archive now preserving the papers produced during the luncheon group’s 10 decades of speakers, book discussions and charity. At a June 1 banquet at Washington Golf and Country Club, some 140 members celebrated the (pandemic-delayed) centennial of its founding in 1920 (just as Arlington was transitioning from Alexandria County). After a vibrant video putting music to their greatest moments, they welcomed a speaker on Arlington history: this columnist. *** Gary Shulman, an advocate for special-needs youth with a national reputation for poetry, recently retired and moved here from Brooklyn. On his Facebook page “Arlington Through the Eyes of a Newbie,” he published:

PAGE 6 | JUNE 9 - 15. 2022

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E D I TO R I A L

A ‘Happy Pride’ Cappies Moment

Our owner/editor wrote the following in the first person in recognition simultaneously of Pride Week and the 22nd annual Cappies Gala at the Kennedy Center (see story, elsewhere this issue): “I had the distinct honor to be included among the adult presenters of awards at Monday night’s 22nd Annual Cappies Gala before a full house of over 2,500 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. “This time I wound up being the first to present, which presented a challenge for me to get there on time (another story), but having done that and arriving out of breath on the stage, I took a glance at the notes set on the podium before me and saw it allowed for the inclusion of a brief remark prior to announcing the category nominees and the winner. “Seldom speechless, I almost was in this case. I’d thought earlier of what I might say if I had the chance, but then it was thrust upon me before I’d had time to think it over. I mumbled something about the great event and then exclaimed, “Happy Pride Month, Everybody!” “So it was definitely a spur of the moment thing. Well, I couldn’t have foreseen how strong the reaction would be, thinking as the words slipped past my lips that perhaps they would trigger a negative reaction given the noisy book-banning controversies that some rightwing parents brought to some Northern Virginia school board meetings in the past year. “The student reaction, however, is there for everyone to see on the tapes of the event. Simply put, it was the longest and loudest thundering applause that I’ve ever received in my life, especially from such a large crowd. As one whose LGBTQ+ rights pioneering efforts go back over 50 years, it was right for me to step up like this in such an unscripted situation. “But it was the students that made up the vast majority in the audience who passed judgment on it, and they were decisive and unhesitant. They cheered it like I was one of the original Beatles or something. “I was quite moved in both the moment and as I stumbled back to my seat after my brief bit was over. I still am. “I’ve realized the cheers were not for me, nor for the cause, but for their friends, not only just the openly LGBTQ+ ones, but for those in the closet, or questioning, and their friends and allies, and their parents, cheers for the supportive ones and messages for those not so much, and of course for all the haters. “The theater, you see, is all about the most important thing that makes us human. It is about empathy, about putting persons in the shoes of others and thereby to share in their plight. “That which we humans experience as the power of empathy is what, in my view, makes up over 90 percent of the known universe, the substance that binds us together in affection and love.”

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A 60-Year Trend for Trees in Falls Church? Editor, Walking the dog on a pleasant Memorial Day afternoon, I noticed the plaque at the entrance to Cavalier Trail Park. It honors the City staff and citizens who planted 65 trees in that park in the spring of 1992 — exactly 30 years ago. Today we’re enjoying the shady canopy of those mature trees and the wildlife they protect and nurture. In light of all the tree cutting and construction now going on in Falls Church, I wonder what our own legacy will be 30 years from now? Allen Greenberg

Response to ‘Empathy in the Face of Evil’ Editor, Last fall, I moved to Falls Church and began frequenting local businesses and restaurants

to acclimate to my new environment. Whenever possible, I pick up the Falls Church News-Press to see what is going on in my new hometown. And most recently, I read Nicholas Benton’s essay “Empathy in the Face of Evil, the Universe’s Dark Matter?” I wanted to thank Nicholas for his calm words in a news realm so fraught with extreme partisanship, doom and gloom. It was refreshing and hopeful to hear such wise words anchoring readers in the storm of our daily lives. I appreciated reading and I hope he continues these anecdotes of reason. For unfortunately, there are far too many voices breaking through the static with extremist points speaking charismatic chaos. The layman may not know it, but there is a battle for the fourth estate, and reasonable voices are lost in the hurricane of emotions that run through the veins of every beautifully imperfect one of us. Thank you again for your grounding words. Ross Alexander Whitley Falls Church

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Editor’s Essay

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JUNE 9 - 15, 2022 | PAGE 7

Televised Hearings of January 6 Coup Begin Tonight. Anyone Care? Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Starting with prime time tonight ( T h u r s d a y, June 9), the nation will b e c o m e informed of a monstrous and widespread conspiracy orchestrated out of the highest office in the land to subvert democracy in the U.S. and impose an unlawful government over the people of the U.S. and by extrapolation over the world. The criminal sedition directed by then President Trump to overturn the lawful election that defeated him in November 2020 resulted in the violent sacking of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, the date designated by the U.S. Constitution for

the lawful transfer of power of one U.S. presidential administration to its successor. The January 6 Special Committee of Congress that has conducted a year-long investigation of the events leading up to and including that day will begin to present its findings in a public hearing that will be televised live tonight. The evidence compiled from over 1,000 in-person interviews and piles of records is expected to be devastating and incriminating of Trump and his cronies beyond any reasonable doubt. The only unresolved issue coming out of this will be its impact on the American public. Will it give a damn, when all is said and done? The evidence will be provided to show that a singular man, Donald Trump, set about to disenfranchise every citizen of this nation of 330 million to achieve his personal end. It will be shown that he intended to rip you off, you personally, Mr. and Mrs. American citizen. It is not about a slight of hand to screw, if technically illegally, to hold onto the

presidency. No, it is about this man reaching down into YOUR pocket and stealing your franchise for his own gain. There is a loser in what he was intending, as will be shown in these hearings beginning tonight, and that loser is intended to be YOU. Do you even care? It matters far more than just as a footnote in the history books, about the failed coup of January 6, 2021. It matters because, as one U.S. congressman put it this week, “We live in a threat environment right now” with scores of candidates and hundreds of pieces of legislation at the local, state and federal level designed to carry out going forward the coup that began on that day, led by people who still insist in the Big Lie that Trump won that November 2021 election, and that as a result, seek huge changes to acknowledge that “fact” and to fix it by wiping out our democracy. Yes, we are living today in a “threat environment” that is deadening our sensibilities to these and

other egregious crimes against U.S. citizens and their nation. Take the onslaught of murders of American children and other innocents in the recent period. The most egregious case was in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 mostly 10 year old children were dismembered by an assault rifle while law enforcement officers stood and waited outside a door for the murderer to finish his work. If we, as a nation, can become desensitized to this kind of atrocity, then truly we may not deserve the kind of freedom our Founding Fathers worked so hard for us to enjoy and that countless of our brave and dedicated citizens fought and gave their lives to preserve over the last 200-plus years. We are astonished by the sheer inhuman brutality that Putin has inflicted relentlessly on innocent Ukranians the last 100 days. Yet we are permitting the same thing to be done to our own youth and other innocents in this country, in the name of the entitlement of certain people here, and so perhaps it is no wonder

that we will be passively staring, beginning on national TV tonight, at the theft of our own rights and freedoms by the Trump coup effort. It is truly ironic that these hearings into the biggest assault on our democracy since the Civil War come the same week that we recognize the great sacrifices of the Allied D-Day invasion to liberate the free world from the menace of Hitler’s genocidal fascism on June 6, 1944. There are those still alive today who were there for that invasion that preserved our freedom 75 years ago. For those who recall the sacrifices involved in that heroic defense of democracy, the sack of our own U.S. Capitol on January 6 last year turns our stomachs. Those foul marauding traitors, like the four so-called Proud Boys charged in court this week with a criminal seditious conspiracy against our government (against YOU!) will be, for all intents and purposes, found guilty of treason against the very things our brave men and women fought to achieve at D-Day.

Guest Commentary

Tinner Hill Music Festival: A Falls Church Tradition By Ed Henderson

Falls Church, one of the oldest municipalities in the state of Virginia, has many traditions that we celebrate and participate in every year. We have the Farmers Market, the City’s Memorial Day Parade, the Falls Church Festival, the 4th of July reading of the Declaration of Independence and more. You can find many similar events in nearby and far away cities and towns. Falls Church also has a tradition that is unique, the Tinner Hill Music Festival. The festival takes place annually on the second Saturday in June. This year, the 28th Annual Festival will be held this coming Saturday, June 11, in Cherry Hill Park at 312 Park Avenue in the City of Falls Church, Virginia. It has grown from a small community event to a regional extravaganza of music, food, beer garden, art, kid’s

activities, history, culture and more. But let us not forget that Falls Church, Virginia also has an early civil rights tradition. In 1915, Falls Church became the home to the group that evolved into the first “rural” branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Part of the reason the Tinner Hill Festival was started was to celebrate the courageous men and women who formed the Colored Citizens Protective League (CCPL). The establishment of Civil Rights in this community replaced a despicable tradition of slavery and Jim Crow with a new stellar tradition of striving for egalitarianism, liberalism and justice for all. The festival is a testament to another Falls Church tradition, i.e. participatory democracy. Festival planners, sponsors, volunteers, performers and visitors all work together in spite of any political, religious, social,

economic, ethnic, or racial differences. For the past twenty-eight years, there has been a Tinner Hill Festival. It began as a small community festival on Wallace Street, with a couple of church choirs and a smattering of local homegrown talent. The festival has gone through growing pains to become one of the best music festivals in the region. In 2008, the festival moved to Cherry Hill Park and the name was changed to the Tinner Hill Blues Festival, featuring regional and nationally recognized Blues musicians. The first year we expanded, we continued the local tradition of hosting Blues music and began welcoming local businesses as sponsors. Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation wanted to create an event that would help financially support our local preservation work and programs. We also wanted to bring in the type of talent that would give

the City and the region a taste of good old fashioned “Down Home Blues” which is synonymous with African American history and culture. In 2011, we obtained an ABC license to sell beer and wine, creating an additional revenue stream for the festival. Thus, the Festival Beer Garden was introduced and has remained a festival staple. In 2019, Tori McKinney, a local real estate agent and Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation board member, stepped in to produce the festival while rallying a sizable Volunteer Krewe. Her organizational skills, marketing expertise and effervescent personality has helped to give the festival a more polished and celebratory look and feel. At that time, we changed the name from Tinner Hill Blues to Tinner Hill Music Festival. By incorporating more genres of music beyond Blues, the festival has gained greater popularity. This notoriety has broad-

ened the awareness of Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation’s mission and programs. The goal remains the same, and that is to raise much needed funds to carry on the Foundation’s research, preservation and presentation of the African American and Civil Rights legacy that is part of the narrative of the City of Falls Church going back to 1915. Covid-19 has presented some challenges over the past three years. Yet, the Tinner Hill Music Festival in Falls Church remains a tradition that people as close as your next-door neighbors and as far away as New York and Boston travel here to enjoy the festival’s live music and culture. We invite you to come out June 11 and join in this celebration of this Falls Church tradition. For tickets and festival information, go to tinnerhill.org.

Ed Henderson is a civil rights activist and founder of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

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PAGE 8 | JUNE 9 - 15, 2022

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Working on my laptop early one morning, I sensed motion just outside the sliding glass door of our living room. Birds, foxes, squirrels and chipmunks, and a neighbor’s cat, are frequent visitors to our patio, but when I looked up, I was eye-to-eye with a full-grown deer, barely six feet away. I think I was more surprised than the deer, which gracefully turned, stepped over our low stone wall, and ambled into our backyard forest, nibbling at understory brush. A few days later, news of a coyote that bit visitors at Lake Accotink Park, and later attacked a police officer, who shot the animal, brought into sharper focus the fact, and warning, that humananimal interactions may be on the rise. Although we’ve lived in our same house for 49 years this week, we’ve seen many more deer in our yard in the last 20 years. Some deer in nearby counties have been diagnosed with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurologic condition affecting cervids (deer, elk, moose) in North America. Although CWD has not been found in Fairfax County, the Commonwealth of Virginia has imposed a yearround feeding ban for deer in the county, and that includes mineral licks. To maintain a healthy deer herd, Fairfax County will conduct its annual deer harvesting program in designated county parks, beginning in September. Venison from the harvested animals is donated to programs that feed the hungry; more than 150,000 meals were provided last year. As human and non-domesticated animal interactions increase, it is wise to remember to keep your distance from the animal, if at all possible. Feeding animals is discouraged, and you can help keep your yard free of unwanted critters by moving pet food containers inside. Spilled seed

from birdfeeders also attracts small mammals, so occasionally cleaning up the area under the feeder may help keep unwanted visitors away. It can be fun to observe our animal friends from a protected distance; taking a few easy steps can make it safe, too. Two weeks ago, I wrote a somewhat impassioned column about pedestrian safety and tragic accidents that imperiled several pedestrians. Sadly, I have an update: one of the pedestrians hit by an errant driver in Annandale succumbed to her injuries. Eileen Garnett was a longtime friend and pillar of the community, who spent the past nearly 40 years working to beautify and revitalize downtown Annandale. Ironically, she was participating in a walkabout with county and state staff, and other volunteers, to look at maintenance issues when she was one of the four pedestrians hit Her memorial Mass was attended by hundreds of neighbors and friends, who remembered Eileen as a “feisty” lady and consummate volunteer. Eileen is survived by her husband of 54 years, Stan, their children Brian, Megan, and Matthew, and four grandchildren. Another pedestrian, a young woman named Daniela, passed away last weekend after being hit by a hit-and-run driver while she was crossing, with the activated pedestrian signal, in the crosswalk on Little River Turnpike at Oasis Drive on or about May 22. Despite heroic efforts by first responders and medical personnel, injuries to Daniela and Eileen were not survivable. Eight pedestrians have died in Fairfax County so far this year. That is eight too many. This carnage must stop!  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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

C RI M E R E PO RT Week of May 30 — June 5, 2022 Shoplifting, S Washington St, May 30, 6:06 PM, unknown suspect took items of value from a business. The suspect is described as a male, 20-30 years old, has a goatee and mustache, wearing a gray shirt, black pants, and white shoes and carrying a book bag and a handbag. Carjacking, Little Falls St, May 30, 11:19 PM, the victim picked up two subjects in Arlington County and transported them into the City of Falls Church. One subject displayed a hand-

gun and told the victim to pull over. The victim was told to get out and leave his cell phone and wallet in the vehicle. The victim complied and the subjects stole his 2016 red Hyundai Elantra and property. Detectives were notified and are investigating the incident. The vehicle was recovered June 2 in the District of Columbia.

between 8 PM, May 31, and 8 AM, June 1, unknown suspect(s) removed the catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius.

Destruction of Property, Hillwood Ave, May 31, 4 PM, unknown suspect(s) smashed the back window of a Honda Odyssey.

Fraud, W Broad St, June 1, 4:56 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Theft of Vehicle Parts, S Oak St,

Commercial Burglary, Wilson Blvd, June 1, 03:45 AM, an unknown male described as thin build with tattoos, entered the business through a window. The suspect stole $4300 worth of frozen seafood from the freezer.

Identity Theft, Lawton St, June 2, 12:42 PM, an incident of identity theft was reported

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Delegate Kaye Korys

Richmond Report On June 1st, the General Assembly convened in Richmond to vote on the Biennium Budget Conference Report. Eight years of strong leadership under Democratic administrations, a strong economic recovery and billions in federal pandemic aid gave us a rare opportunity to invest in Virginians and give back to the commonwealth. And yet, a split General Assembly with vastly different spending priorities led to prolonged negotiations and a lack of transparency in the process. While the budget encompasses many of the priorities that Democrats fought relentlessly for, it fails to accomplish the spending that could have raised our public education standing nationally. My colleague, Delegate Dawn Adams, has shared this summary; a brief snapshot of what was included in the budget, and just as important, what was left out: The Good: Provides $4 billion in tax relief over three years; A one-time rebate of $250 for individuals or $500 for families; Increases the standard deduction to $8,000 for single filers and $16,000 for joint filers; $301 million in phased-in tax relief for military retirees 55 years or older; $315 million to make Virginia’s Earned Income Tax Credit partially refundable (15 percent of federal EITC); Eliminates the 1.5 percent state grocery tax on January 1st, 2023, while allowing localities to still opt-in for a 1 percent tax to fund core priorities; $1.25 billion in funding to school infrastructure investments to replace or repair outdated school buildings Gives a 10 percent raise over two years to state employees and schoolteachers, plus $1000 bonuses $391 million to fund an additional 600 Developmental Disability waivers and raise reimbursement rates; Increases Medicaid reimbursements for personal care and dental services by 7.5 percent and 30 percent, respectively; Provides $140 million in funding for undergraduate need-based financial aid. The Bad: Directs $100 million to fund

experimental Lab Schools rather than investing in Virginia’s public school system; Halves the proposed $269 million At-Risk Add On, a program that directs additional funding to schools with high concentrations of low-income families; Eliminates proposed additional funding of $150 million from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing initiatives and prevent homelessness; Underfunds the Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevent Grant Fund by reducing the Senate proposal by $16 million at a time when gun violence across the nation and commonwealth is at an all-time high; Delays the phaseout of polystyrene food containers to 2028; Establishes a criminal misdemeanor for marijuana possession over 4 ounces, (and by default, includes products that weigh the same) despite marijuana having been legalized in 2021; Essentially legalizes retail cannabis sales by allowing the sale of “hemp” with unrestricted amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, so long as products are labeled for content; Fails to provide any relief for Virginians from high gas prices; Structures the 10 percent raise for state employees and schoolteachers, such that only 2.5 percent is applied this year and 7.5 percent the following (which is not guaranteed). I have never witnessed such an opaque process during my years as a Delegate. Select budget conferees met behind closed doors and sought no input from the public or the general House and Senate membership. Legislators had less than 72 hours to review the conference report and were not given an opportunity to offer amendments before taking a vote. While I support the budget, it is important for me to register my disagreements. The House of Delegates will return to Richmond before June 30th on a date to be determined to vote on any amendments the Governor makes to the enrolled Budget.  Delegate Kory represents the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She may be emailed at DelKKory@house.virginia.gov.

JUNE 9 - 15, 2022 | PAGE 9

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NVTC Approves Program Of 7 Projects for I-66

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Using a $55 million investment from Amazon, the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) nonprofit has submitted a new plan to Fairfax County for its large scale affordable housing project in the planned redevelopment of a strip of car dealerships on the west side of Spring Hill Road. After getting the county’s approval in January for a 175-unit, nine-story residential building at 1592 Spring Hill Road, APAH wants now to increase that up to 225 units and 20 stories in height in order to match a second tower that it can now construct, thanks to a $55 million investment from

On Thursday, Ilya Shapiro of Falls Church, a former Cato Institute figure and unsuccessful candidate for the School Board here, announced he was cleared to take the job for which he was hired at the Georgetown University’s Center for the Constitution. This came months after he was suspended pending a campus investigation into a series of controversial tweets he made last year questioning the Biden administration’s nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Last week, he was cleared to take his new job as a senior lecturer and executive director at the center. But the reinstatement was not a full vote of confidence. Under fire for writing that President Biden would nominate a “lesser black woman” for the Supreme Court, he was cleared on a technicality, namely, that he was not yet employed by the university when he posted the tweets. That turned out not to be enough. On Monday, Shapiro announced that he was stepping down. Both announcements, of staying in his job and leaving his job, were made in The Wall Street Journal opinion section. “I would have to be constantly walking on eggshells,” he said in an interview Monday.

Affordable Housing Group Uses Amazon $ to Adds to Tysons Proposal

F.C. Resident Shapiro Resigns From Georgetown Law Post

Transportation Commission approved a Program of Projects for I-66 consisting of seven projects that move more people and create viable, effective transportation options at their monthly meeting last week. The projects in Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Manassas Park and for the benefit of OmniRide include: Two rail capital improvements that would leverage a total of over $160 million in other federal, Commonwealth, regional and local funds and provide decades of benefit to corridor commuters, Continuations of three established commuter bus services funded in prior funding rounds, all of which are experiencing rebounding ridership and two of which will provide faster and more reliable travel once the I-66 Outside the Beltway Express Lanes open later this year, A commuter incentive campaign to bolster ridership on commuter bus routes from Prince William County into Arlington and D.C. by temporarily reducing fares in the first 10 months that the new I-66 Outside the Beltway Express Lanes are open, A critical one-mile segment of the planned Outside the Beltway I-66 Trail that will provide a safe, comfortable means for cyclists and pedestrians to access the Vienna Metrorail Station.

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Falls Church, issued a statement Tuesday announcing his intent to introduce legislation not requiring a supermajority vote that would “reduce the flow of weapons of war into American communities.” In a statement, he said the following: “For years I have called for action to prevent mass shootings. I support and will continue to vote for common sense reforms to prevent gun violence – but these measures inevitably run aground on Senate Republican filibusters. “So, this week I am proposing a new idea: a bill to reduce the flow of weapons of war into American communities using a legislative mechanism designed to be compliant with budget reconciliation, which means it could pass into law with a simple 50-vote majority in the Senate. “This legislation would apply a 1000 percent excise tax on manufacturers, producers, or importers of assault weapons, defined using legislative language drawn from the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2021, which I cosponsor. It would also apply to high capacity magazines.”

Amazon. The two buildings combined will deliver 516 units, all aimed at people earning 60 percent or less of the area’s median income, according to the application, which the county received on last week. “This important project addresses a key objective for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors by providing significant affordable housing opportunities within close proximity to Metro,” wrote Scott Adams on APAH’s behalf in a statement of justification.

Rep. Beyer to Introduce Bill To Heavily Tax Weapons Sales

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

Raytheon to Relocate Global Headquarters to Arlington Aerospace and defense company Raytheon Technologies says it plans to establish a global headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The company says in a news release that the location just outside Washington “increases agility in supporting U.S. government and commercial aerospace customers.” The company is currently based in Waltham, Massachusetts, but each of its four business units already have operations in Virginia. A spokesman says it does not expect the number of employees in Arlington to change significantly, and it will maintain its presence in Massachusetts. Raytheon’s announcement comes about a month after Boeing Co. disclosed plans to move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington.

Alan May Partners with Solace for New IPA Alan May is joining NBC Sports analyst Craig Laughlin and releasing the IPA, May-Zy 16 through Solace Brewing Company. The IPA is available at all three of Solace Brewing Company’s locations, Falls Church, Sterling and the Navy Yard, and will be distributed at select liquor stores across the metro area. It has been described as having a tropical fruit and citrus flavor with little to no bitterness. Solace Brewing Company is donating a portion of sales to local pediatric cancer charities, which is meaningful to May.

2022 ISOA Global Impact Awards This year’s International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) Global Awards Dinner will be held Thursday, June 9 at Capital One Hall in Tysons. The ISOA Global Impact Awards Program recognizes the superlative performance of ISOA member companies. Fifteen separate awards, based on company size, will be given to member companies in the following categories: Vanguard (6 awards), Afghanistan SIV and Refugee Resettlement Operations (3 awards), Innovation Award (3 awards), Women, Peace and Security (3 awards). The keynote speaker is Anne A. Witkowsky, U.S. Department of State Office of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

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BAE Systems has started moving its automated flight planning service, Mobility Air Forces Automated Flight Planning Service (MAFPS) to the cloud to boost the operational availability of the system in support of its customers’ flight planning activities. The transition of MAFPS operations from legacy on-premise architecture to Cloud One is expected to enable BAE to deliver faster software version upgrades and enhance its storage, computing and processing flexibility. Air Mobility Command uses the MAFPS platform for tankers and cargo, and operational support aircraft flight planning as well as for fuel-efficient route management.

Opportunity: Contest for Your ‘Made in Virginia’ Products Virginia Living is hosting a contest for Virginia-based businesses whose products are manufactured in-state and available for purchase November 1 — December 31, 2022. The categories are Food, Drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), Style and Beauty, and Home and Lifestyle. The deadline to enter is July 8 and there is no fee to enter. The editorial staff will conduct a thorough review and judging, notifying the winners in Mid-July. Winners will be spotlighted in the Virginia Living December 2022 issue. Details are available via the link. For complete details, visit https://www.virginialiving.com/Made-In-Virginia-2022/.

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Work Begins on West Falls Medical Office Trammell Crow Co. and Diamond Realty Investments have broken ground on The Wellness Center at West Falls. The six-story medical office building is slated to open in late 2023 and is one portion of the mixed-use development by Hoffman & Associates. The building will provide for clinical and surgical healthcare needs, specialty practice groups and independent practitioners. The project team includes Gensler as architect, Clark Construction Group as general contractor and Cushman & Wakefield as the leasing team.

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

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

JUNE 9 - 15, 2022 | PAGE 11

SATURDAY

JUNE 11 11 PM - 8 PM Batalá Washington

Cherry Hill Park Falls Church City

and more!

Marcia Ball

Rebirth Brass Band

Dale and the ZDubs PRESENTED BY

Carly Harvey’s Kiss & Ride

Tickets and info TinnerHill.org

@TinnerHillMusicFestival

All proceeds benefit Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

CELEBRATING OUR RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE Live Music * Family Fun * Interactive Villages * Food * Bar

SCAN ME

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 12 | JUNE 9 - 15, 2022

TINNER HILL MUSIC FESTIVAL TINNER HILL The Tinner Hill Music Festival, formerly a dedicated blues festival, celebrates and honors the African-American music legacy. In conjunction with the City of Falls Church, it is sponsored by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, a 501c(3) non-profit organization established in 1997 to research, preserve and celebrate the early civil rights history of Northern Virginia. In addition to its 28th annual music festival, the Foundation also sponsors programs that resurrect the rich and vibrant past of the African-American communities of Falls Church and Northern Virginia. For more information, visit www.tinnerhill.org.

S AV E THE DATE

TINNER HILL MUSIC FESTIVAL

JUNE 10, 2023

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

MAGAZINE

CD CELLAR Falls Church

Let’s Love. Let’s Hope. Let’s Dance.

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JUNE 9 - 15, 2022 | PAGE 13

CELEBRATING OUR RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE SATURDAY

JUNE 11 11 PM - 8 PM

Cherry Hill Park 312 Park Ave Falls Church City

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE PERFORMERS

START TIME*

Mr. Jon & Friends

11:15

American Children’s Band

Gordon Sterling and the People

SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL Interested in supporting the Festival through a donation or sponsorship? Learn more at:

www.tinnerhill.org/donate