As this month’s numbers show, the prices that residential real estate properties are commanding in the City of Falls Church are continuing to skyrocket, and no one seems to think they will level off anytime soon. The City’s average single family home is now going for $1,297,818, and some are getting closer to $3 million.
Certainly Ryan McLaughlin, CEO of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) doesn’t seem to think things
are slowing down just yet, and that came across in his remarks to the monthly luncheon of the Falls Church Chamber Commerce held at the Italian Cafe this week.
In the context of supply and demand, the market is reeling from extraordinary demands of the latter to the point that the average single family home in Falls Church is now going for $1,297,818, clearly the highest number in the immediate region where averages are $959,420 for Arlington, $885,650 for Fairfax County, $839,029 for
Alexandria and $756,169 for Fairfax City.
There was a strong contingent of real estate folks in the audience for McLaughlin’s talk, and one of the major subjects bandied about had to do with the recent legal settlement whose changes impacting the buying and selling of real estate will go into effect in just a month, on August 17.
McLaughlin and a number of realtors present for the talk claimed the issue is primarily one of “transparency” in negotiations between buyers, sellers
and their respective agents, say ing that Virginia has had laws already in effect addressing this since 2012.
Their comments seemed at odds with reports in the Wall Street Journal , where it was noted in a July 15 article that “analysts at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods have predicted that the changes (resulting from the lawsuit settlement-ed.) could lead to a 30 percent reduction in the $100 billion that Americans pay in real estate commissions every
Continued on Page 4
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NEWS BRIEFS
Fairfax Board Defers Vote on Data Centers
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this week deferred to July 30 a decision on a proposed zoning ordinance regarding data centers.
Board Chair Jeffrey McKay commented on the fact that more than 60 people had written, called or spoke in person to comment at the public hearing on the matter in the past week. “This proposed amendment,” he wrote, “Which is the culmination of a year-long initiative begun with my Board in May of last year, has generated a tremendous amount of public interest which is exactly what the Board wanted to see. I have received hundreds of emails representing the full spectrum of views of this issue – from do not regulate to do not allow data centers at all. We heard from County residents who talked about the economic benefits of data centers. We also heard from residents who are concerned about the impact of data centers.”
Forget to Vote
Jack Wielar, Diener Student, Wins National Competition
The voice training studio of Wesley Diener, son of prominent Falls Church businessman Michael Diener, has announced that one of its students, Jack Wielar of Charlottesville, achieved national semifinalist standing in both musical theater and commercial music at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) conference in Knoxville, TN, and in the final concert, won first place for the entire U.S.
Wielar, rising junior at Charlottesville High School and voice student of Diener’s WD Studio, was a National Semi-Finalist in Musical Theatre and a National Semi-Finalist in Commercial Music. He competed in Knoxville at the NATS National Conference and advanced to the top three finals in musical theater. At the finals concert, he won first place (in the entire nation). Hundreds of students across the country competed at state, regional, and national qualifying events before advancing to the National Semi-Finals in Knoxville.
Wielar’s teacher, Wesley Diener (founder of WD Studio), son of Michael Diener, is a Virginia native and University of Virginia alum. He was invited by NATS to present a workshop entitled Empowering Young Singers: Strategies for Teaching Musical Theatre Foundations (Ages 12-18) at the NATS National Conference in Knoxville. Diener will be performing a solo concert at Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron on August 10.
Urban Land Institute to Assist F.C. Evaluate Gordons Road Options
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields reported this week that the City’s submission of an application to the Urban Land Institute’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to study the Gordons Road Triangle Area for its best potential development has been accepted and a study will be conducted in the coming year.
Shields explained that the Urban Land Institute “will assemble a panel of industry experts in that fields of architecture, engineering, real estate, urban design and financing, to support innovative planning in the Gordon Road Triangle at the western gateway to Falls Church. The panel will consult with community stakeholders to explore public-private partnerships to reinvest and rebuild its property yard, and explore possible private reinvestment in the Gordon Road Triangle area.”
Shields added, “Given the area’s location and proximity to regional assets like the W&OD Trail and West Falls Church Metro Station, the effort also includes working with local property owners and regional partners, including Fairfax County, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks), and WMATA.”
F.C.’s
Public Works Chief Heading to Arlington
Zak Bradley, director of public works for the City of Falls Church, is heading to Arlington County. His last day with Falls Church City will be August 9. The City will be recruiting for the position.
Va. Lawmakers Write to Youngkin, Seek IRS Option
Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation announced yesterday that they have written to Governor Glenn Youngkin urging him to take the necessary steps to allow Virginians the option of using the IRS Direct File program to file their future tax returns. The Treasury Department piloted Direct File for 2023 returns in a smaller group of states, which did not include Virginia, with strong positive feedback from – and savings for – U.S. taxpayers who took advantage of the program. IRS recently announced that it would open participation to all 50 states; Virginia’s full participation will require further actions by the Governor’s administration in concert with the General Assembly.
Virginia’s Rep. Don Beyer, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and Reps. Bobby Scott, Abigail Spanberger, Gerry Connolly, Jennifer Wexton, and Jennifer McClellan wrote:
“On May 30th, the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that Direct File, a free tax filing tool operated by Treasury and the IRS, will continue as a permanent option for taxpayers. All 50 states are invited to partner with the IRS to provide Direct File as an option to their residents next year. We urge you to take the necessary steps to provide Virginia taxpayers with the option to use this service in the future.
“The IRS piloted a Direct File program during Filing Season 2024. The pilot allowed taxpayers with simple tax situations in 12 states to file taxes for free, directly with the IRS. The results of the pilot indicate the program was well received by taxpayers. 140,803 taxpayers utilized the tool to claim more than $90 million in refunds and save an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees.”
new, massive area flagship Whole Foods and just a week after it was announced that a new Grocery Outlet store is going into the Targetvacated site on S. Washington. These are in addition to the new Harris Teeter on W. Broad (which has avoided getting renamed amid a shake up at that store’s Kroger parent company), the huge Fortune Supermarket catering to a Vietnamese-American market at the Eden Center, Aldi in Tower Square and, of course, the relentlessly successful Giant Food store.
It was not that long ago that the Giant was the only such store in Falls Church. Soon, it will be one of seven: Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Fortune, Grocery Outlet, Aldi, and Giant.
But none of this happens overnight. In fact, in the case of the Whole Foods store, the prospect was first floated over nine years ago (“HITT Broad/Washington Proposal is for Flagship Whole Foods Store,” was the headline in a May 2015 edition of the News-Press). Readers soon learned that the site-owner Todd Hitt was dealing in ponzi
scheme activities and wound up in jail, which slowed up the process. But when the Insight group took over the property, it continued with the Whole Foods option, and that new developer has worked closely with the City to make it happen, generously offering a deal on 5,000 square feet of ground floor space for a relocated locally-based Creative Cauldron theater troupe.
The Insight team has scheduled a walk-through of its whole site, including all the new residential units, for City officials next week.
As for the Fresh Market, a specialty fresh food retailer, it’s making significant strides in its expansion plan with the announcement yesterday that it will move into Falls Church at the corner of W. Broad and Haycock as part of the Hoffman and Associates’ West Falls project.
The Greensboro, N.C.-based retailer will locate an “upscale mixed-use project” at the site, expected to open in the next year.
“We’re very excited about expanding our presence in the Washington DC market and opening new stores in these beautiful, upscale mix-used developments of Reston Station and West Falls,” said
Jason Potter, CEO of The Fresh Market. “We are confident that both locations will appeal to current and new guests of The Fresh Market. We pride ourselves in becoming part of the community and believe that people will embrace all that Reston Station and West Falls offer — residential and professional, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
Located at the corner of Leesburg Pike and Haycock Road, The Fresh Market’s new store at West Falls will occupy approximately 29,000 square feet on the ground floor of future residential space.
“Our team at Hoffman and Associates is proud to welcome a new community anchor to the West Falls neighborhood, The Fresh Market. The addition of this exceptional, fresh-focused grocer will complement the rest of the neighborhood, which boasts a wide collection of dining, educational, and wellness offerings, as well as cultural spaces, contemporary residences, senior living, a medical office, a hotel, and a central outdoor gathering space. The Fresh Market’s commitment to fostering local connections and bringing people together
aligns perfectly with our vision for West Falls, and we look forward to welcoming them to the neighborhood,” said Jon McAvoy, chief investment officer at Hoffman and Associates.
The Fresh Market’s expansion into these high-traffic, transit-oriented developments highlight its commitment to growth and community integration, providing convenient access for Metro commuters and residents alike.
Voted as the “Best Grocery Store in America” by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2023, 2022 and 2021, “America’s Best Customer Service 2021” by
Newsweek and Statista and a top 5 most trusted grocery retail brand for specialty and natural/organic foods in the 2022 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards, The Fresh Market helps guests discover the best with time-saving meal solutions, unique ingredients, and delicious food for any occasion. From fresh produce and exceptional meat and seafood to signature baked goods and thousands of organic options, the specialty grocer has something to please every palate. The Fresh Market currently operates 162 stores in 22 states across the U.S., inspiring guests to discover new flavors and cook with confidence.
Average Price of a Home in F.C. Now Tops $1.2 Million
year,” noting that the “typical commission of five to six percent of purchase price, split between the seller’s agent and the the buyer’s agent, is among the highest in the world.”
Buyer agents will be required to sign contracts with their agents, which consumer advocates expect will lead to more negotiations and reductions in the 2.5 to three percent buyer agent commissions that are now common.
But McLaughlin and some of the more seasoned realtors in the room did not share that view. In fact, for McLaughlin and NVAR, the key issue confronting the industry is the urgent need to increase the housing supply.
McLaughlin claimed that “the long-term strength of this region may be linked to housing affordability.” He distinguished carefully between so-called “affordable housing,” which suggests forms of government mandated subsidies, and “housing affordability” that simply means that the amount of housing available impacts the cost.
On that score, he said NVAR
lobbies in favor of any form of expanding the housing supply, from backing “missing middle” zoning initiatives in Arlington, as controversial as they have been, to new legal incentives for accessory dwelling units that will soon be coming up in the City of Falls Church.
He said that “cutting red tape to put more housing onto the market” is key.
As constrained by supply limitations in this region as they have been, real estate sales have been major economic drivers here, with a $38.7 billion impact, and the creation of 187,000 jobs for a net $12.8 billion labor impact, and a gross regional product of $22.4 billion.
But the numbers he cited for cost growth in Falls Church are staggering, with the average home now valued at $1,297,818 representing a 25.9 percent growth in just a year, compared to an 8.6 percent median price growth to $780,000 in the region overall. Nationally, the median price for a home is $389,500.
Projections for the coming year for the region have sales down 10 percent regionally, median prices up three percent and mortgage rates stabilized.
many more
adjustable
Drs. Love & Miller, PC
Drs. Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children. Both doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years.
We take time to listen to our patients so that we truly understand their needs. With emphasis on overall health, we o er services including composite restorations, metal-free crowns, implant restorations, veneers and other cosmetic procedures. Our oral hygiene program excels at understanding the vital relationship between oral health and other systems in the body. Drs. Love and Miller, along with our amazing team, greatly appreciate the community’s trust and support.
ADA, Virginia Dental Association, Northern Virginia Dental Association (Dr Love is Past President), American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry AWARDS
Washingtonian B est Dentists; Washingtonian Best of Hall of Fame. Best Dentist of Falls Church 2013–2021; Virginia Living Magazine Top Dentists and Northern Virginia Magazine Best Dentist, 2016–2023
Local realtor Tori McKinney said that sellers are finally willing to sell now, putting
onto the market, while realtor Alison Miller said that
rates are now becoming
“new normal.”
Mark A. Miller, DDS, Melanie R. Love, DDS
A PHALANX of leading Falls Church realtors and friends descended on Ryan McLaughlin (far right), CEO of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, at the monthly F.C. Chamber of Commerce luncheon this Tuesday. The group included Ken Trotter, Preeti Deol, Julie Andre, Tori McKinney and Frank Dillow (Courtesy Photo: News-Press)
Capital Bikeshare Gaining Traction in The Little City
by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press
In May 2019, ten Capital Bikeshare stations opened across the City of Falls Church, adding The Little City to a rapidly expanding network of over 7,000 bikes available to rent or return at 788 stations (and counting) across the DMV.
Though initial use was promising, participation diminished significantly during the pandemic. Last year that trend finally changed, with a significant uptick in Capital Bikeshare usage pushing 2023 above 2019 numbers for the first time. This aligns with a system-wide uptick in Capital Bikeshare usage as people emerge from the pandemic.
Boosted by an unusually warm winter, usage of bikeshare stations in The Little City is off to an impressive start in 2024, up more than 17 percent year-over-year. June 2024 use across city stations was up 26.9 percent from June 2023.
This increased embrace of bikeshare use is at least in part thanks to the efforts of Bike Falls Church.
Bike Falls Church founder Andrew Olesen says the organization advises city staff on potential Bikeshare loca-
tions, and shares with its members locations, safe routes and promotions to encourage ridership. “We’ve tried to make it easier for everyday people to get out on a bike,” he said.
Olesen explained that not all stations see the same success. “Where there are safe ‘all ages and abilities’ routes between stations, there are lots of bikeshare trips,” he said, adding that the ridership data made available to the public by Capital Bikeshare helps guide advocacy for safer bike routes, “and where riders would need to navigate roads like E. Broad St. or Haycock Rd., there are no riders.”
Indeed, stations outside The State Theatre and Meridian High School were relocated to The Eden Center and Founders Row, due to low use and construction — and the bikeshare station at East Falls Church Metro (in Arlington) sees ten times the riders as the station at West Falls Church Metro (in Fairfax County).
To understand the impact of Capital Bikeshare stations in The Little City, we analyzed all 61 monthly usage reports since the F.C. stations were installed, performing a detailed analysis of usage data across the ten local stations, using the station of origin as the measure for
each trip. Stations varied in monthly usage, with usage currently highest at The Eden Center, Founders Row, and the intersection of W. Broad St. and Little Falls St.
While June 2024 saw classic bike rentals up nearly double from June 2021, electric bike rentals during the same period were up more than triple — a 327 percent increase — across F.C. stations.
Trip ridership increases in newlydeveloped areas such as Founders Row suggest that investments in bikeshare locations were forwardthinking — and are paying off. With several mixed-use developments opening along W. Broad St. in the coming months, ridership is likely to continue to increase. “We now have more restaurants and destinations in a walkable city, where people can shop, work, celebrate, eat, plan, all within 15 minutes,” said Falls Church City council member Justine Underhill, who added that people will often choose to bike for local errands when the ride is pleasant. “This is strong evidence of why we need to continue investing in more bikeable spaces and safe streets for all.”
Moreover, the success of Capital
Bikeshare may stimulate the local economy, by creating an easy destination for riders from across the vast bikeshare network. With the W&OD trail providing direct access to the city’s main thoroughfares, having multiple stations within The Little City is a strategic investment to attract potential diners and shoppers — who are more likely to shop at local businesses.
Though a commitment to safer trips for non-drivers is evident in lowered speed limits throughout the city, and W&OD bridges across both major city highways, further improvements are required before becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) — a designation provided to 480 communities
across the country by The League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague. org). Though as a first-time applicant the City of Falls Church received an honorable mention by the League last year, the city’s 2023 report card showed major room for improvement. Of a maximum 1183 points available from 28 metrics across five categories, F.C. received just 142.1 points — about one-quarter the points awarded to Fairfax County, which was awarded bronze-level status (nearby Arlington received Gold status — the only community in Virginia to do so).
As The Little City continues to grow and evolve, bikeshare use is likely to continue to gain traction throughout the community.
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Vol. XXXIV, No. 23
July 18 - 24, 2024
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Are Freedom & Democracy Compatible?
Super rich financial backer of Trump and J.D. Vance, Paypal founder Peter Thiel, gay and married since 2017, recently wrote that he has found “freedom” and “democracy” to be incompatible, and that he prefers “freedom.”
Of course, that is based on Thiel’s notion of what this “freedom” is, and that subject cuts to the heart of the matter in terms of the state of our culture, much less politics, that has us on the brink of an authoritarian coup today.
Far too many of America’s covert social engineers who create and massage our culture by introducing key ideas and social idioms on a regular basis falsely equate “freedom” with “democracy” in their efforts. As a result, they have helped fuel the coup that is confronting us in this fall’s presidential election. Theirs is a fallacy of understanding that goes all the way back to when the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover tasked notorious right winger Ayn Rand with providing a critique of the 1946 Frank Capra movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Hoover saw it as a pro-communist, anti-American product. In that film, the Jimmy Stewart character, George Bailey, gives over his personal dreams to help others in his community, and when things look particularly bleak for him, an angel arrives from heaven to help by showing him what life would have been like if he’d never existed. The vision includes showing him what his antagonist, the heartless banker Mr. Potter, would have caused Bedford Falls to look like if he’d had his way. (In a height of irony, Capra was a Republican who never voted for FDR).
The “freedom” that Thiel desires is the freedom of Mr. Potter, to wreak havoc on humanity if that’s what he desires. The choice to do awful things or not should be his alone. But democracy demands something different. It protects people. What is commonly called “regulations,” for example, may be better understood as “protections,” because they are ultimately designed for that purpose.
Opponents of reasonable gun control are advocating for just this definition of freedom, the freedom to own and, by extension, shoot whomever one pleases as long as he or she is willing to accept the consequences. Our current Supreme Court is having grave difficulties figuring this out.
Protecting people is not communism. It is civility, the kind of civility that animated America’s Founding Fathers to craft a republic and a Constitution dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal, and therefore are deserving of equal protection under the law. It is an anti-bullying concept, one which stands firm against those like the crafters of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 that is filled with mandates to order certain types of behavior. Those mandates impose restrictions on the lives, identities and opportunities of virtually every person except qualified white males.
True freedom lies in the ability of all to exercise creativity and choice in life, exactly the opposite of what’s proposed in that document.
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Vance Is ‘More Dangerous Than Trump,’ Memo Says
Nicholas F. Benton
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
“The only valid family is a working father married to a stay-athome mother and their children.”
This particularly toxic line comes right out of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 document that is a blueprint for how Trump and the GOP, if they regain the White House in November, aim to reshape our culture.
In the face of this, and its countless authoritarian implications, the only question going forward in this presidential election year is whether there is a sufficient will among a majority of the American voting public to avoid being tagged with the damning label of “good Germans” the way the public did under Hitler in the 1930s and through World War II.
The way the delirious, frenzied MAGA Republicans are advancing their cause at their convention in Milwaukee this week, the issue clearly becomes what the rest of us do about it.
To repeat, the only issue left in this campaign is not how bad Trump or J.D. Vance are, but whether sufficient energy and conviction can be aroused among reasonable and thinking American voters to crush this fascist movement at the polls in November.
In fact, there are more of us than there are of them. Their movement is based on deception and lies, a cacophony of twisted slogans and jerky motions fed to a segment of angry, aging, racist white males who imagine they can reconcile their desires for an all-white, all-straight fantasy world by clinging to Trump and Vance.
Whatever might or might not have been going on with that assassination attempt last weekend, a lesson from it for Trumpers is that their pathetic little demigod is wholly expendable as even more sinister, younger and more toxic replacements are lining up and ready to go, as exemplified by the choice of Vance as their V-P candidate.
Yes, the deceitful Vance, who rose to prominence with a fake book
about life in Appalachia that deceived a lot of people, prostituting some very serious pain for a cynical, personal advancement, is a changeling child of serious fascist forces, including discredited Fox fanatic Tucker Carlson and Silicon Valley effluvial, Paypal founder Peter Thiel. This is according to a report posted online this week by serious “Never Trumper” Republican Steve Schmidt.
Quoting a memo assembled by Dave Chase, a Tim Ryan campaign manager (Ryan being the man Vance defeated in a 2022 primary election) and media consultant Brandon Hall, the essence of Vance lies in his belief that women should stay at home in violent marriages for the sake of the kids, that rape is “inconvenient” in justifying his radical opposition to women’s choice, and by his cynical exploitation of the opioid epidemic, starting what they called a fake charity for polling, campaign advisors and travel to launch a political career while illegally taking a tax write off. It asserts that “without a $40 million bailout from Sen. Mitch McConnell’s SuperPAC post-Labor Day in 2022, Vance would not be a U.S. Senator today.”
In the memo, he is described as “a complete fraud who has dangerous views toward women’s role in society.” He is also, not surprisingly, virulently anti-same sex marriage, and wants the criminalization of transgender health care and surgery on minors. He is also against U.S. involvement in the defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression.
In other words, he is Trump without Trump’s baggage and in some important ways more sinister, even, than Trump. He says he would not have voted for the certification of the 2020 presidential election, playing into the Trump playbook that will likely be used again this November.
In the aforementioned memo, it is stated that Vance “fits into the growing New Right ideology along with his mentor Peter Thiel and biggest cheerleader Tucker Carlson. Vance and Carlson both share a personal disdain for Donald Trump that is not big enough to stop them from kissing Trump’s ass to move their agenda forward. They see Trump as a means to an end, piggybacking on Trump’s populist appeal to push for their New Right policies. They are MAGA committed, but not MAGA at their core. Ultimately, they have a more sophisticated, dangerous plan for changing the country.”
A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church
By Penny Gross
Question: What do Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York have in common? A broad question, perhaps. They all have different governance structures, different politics, and diverse and different populations. Some have coastal shorelines; others are completely inland, but the answer is that all those jurisdictions, or portions of them, constitute the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, and plays a major role, particularly, in the economies of Maryland and Virginia. The larger commonality, though, is the shared environmental benefits and challenges presented by the use of the Bay and its tributaries over the past 300 years. Indigenous peoples in what is now the mid-Atlantic region were hunters and gatherers, moving from place to place according to the seasons, leaving little impact on the Bay and its environs. Vast forest canopies, abundant wildlife and fisheries, and pristine streams combined to make the Bay an environmental treasure. As new settlers arrived from far shores, the Bay began to change, slowly at first. Forests were felled for buildings and cleared for cropland, and mills were established along waterways to take advan-
tage of the only energy available then — hydropower. As the population grew, demands of new residents competed with the natural environment, and nature suffered.
As crabs and oysters began to decline, water quality was impaired, and trend lines pointed to the Bay becoming an environmental embarrassment. The original 1983 Bay Agreement brought the partner jurisdictions together with federal and non-profit agencies in a concerted effort to begin restoring the Bay. The original terminology often was “clean up the Bay,” but by the time of the updated Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, the terminology used “restore” and referenced local governments for the first time.
There are more than 1800 local and municipal governments in the Bay Watershed, and much of Bay restoration depends on localities and how they address or regulate land use.
The huge Bay watershed includes rural, suburban, and urban communities. Many of those populations may never actually see the Bay, fish its waters, or recognize it as important to them, so it was crucial to connect Bay restoration to localities. That connection was greatly enhanced when an added focus was on improving local streams. It’s easier to understand the chal-
City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT
Week of July 8-14, 2024
Larceny from Building, W Broad St, July 5, 6:32 PM, an unknown suspect stole an orange Domane Al 2 Rim Trek bicycle with a basket on the front. The suspect is described as a male wearing a grey hat with a white towel under his hat, and a dark t-shirt and dark pants. (Delayed report.)
Destruction of Property, W Broad St/N Virginia Ave, July 8, 10:12 AM, a report for graffiti was taken.
Destruction of Property, W Annandale Rd/W Broad St, July 8, 10:24 AM, a report for graffiti was taken.
Larceny from Building, W Broad St, between 11 PM on July 7th and 7:45 AM on July 8th, an unknown suspect stole two locked bicycles from the victim’s driveway.
The first bike is described as an older model blue Trek mountain bike; the second bike is described as a newer model white and orange Giant mountain bike.
Larceny from Motor Vehicle, S Maple Ave, between 6:30 PM and 7:45 PM on July 8th, an unknown suspect stole an iPhone from the center console of a vehicle.
No Valid Operator’s License, S West St/ Ellison St, July 8, 10:38 PM, a male, 42, of Springfield, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
Attempted Stolen Automobile/Destruction of Property, E Fairfax St, between 7 PM on July 3rd and 7:36 AM on July 9th,an unknown suspect broke the rear passenger-side window of a locked vehicle and tampered with the ignition, damaging it in the process. Incident is under investigation.
lenge, and the opportunity, when you consider the local waterway that runs at the bottom of your hill, or where you collected pollywogs as a kid, or what you go over on your daily run or drive to work. Northern Virginia abounds with streams, runs, and creeks, and those all drain into rivers, which eventually empty into the Bay. Water experts remind that “we all live downstream,” so it should be clear that the Bay will benefit when we pay attention to the health and well-being of our local streams.
Now it is time to plan for the Bay watershed and its future. The previous partnership agreements must be updated, and new goals established. In October of 2022, the Chesapeake Executive Council (the governors of VA, MD, and PA, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia) asked for recommendations that would address new advances in science and restoration, with a focus on the partnership “Beyond 2025.” A steering committee was established with a deadline of December 2024 for recommendations. Last week, the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science issued its annual “report card” on the health of the Bay, and gave it a C+, the highest grade since 2002. I’ll have more to say about both in next week’s column.
Larceny from Building, Founders Ave, July 9, 8:54 AM, victim reported an unknown suspect stole their package.
Animal Bite, Roosevelt Blvd, July 9, 2:43 PM, victim reported their dog had been attacked by another dog.
Larceny from Building, Hillwood Ave, July 10, between 1:12 PM and 1:20 PM, victim reported an unknown suspect stole their cell phone from inside their purse while loading their groceries into their vehicle.
Larceny from Motor Vehicle, Wilson Blvd, between 1:25 PM and 1:16 PM on July 10th, an unknown suspect stole a backpack containing cash, checks, and electronics from the front seat of the victim’s unlocked vehicle with the windows down.
Continued on Page 22
Aquaponics : A Sustainable Solution to Fertilize Your Garden
by Nick Gatz Falls Church News-Press
Aquaponics, a method that synergistically combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water), offers a sustainable, efficient, and ecofriendly way to fertilize your garden. This integrated system creates a symbiotic environment where fish and plants mutually benefit, leading to healthier growth and higher yields.
How Aquaponics Works
Aquaponics systems use fish waste to provide essential nutrients to plants. The fish produce waste, which is rich in ammonia. Beneficial bacteria in the system convert this ammonia into nitrates and nitrites, nutrients that plants need to thrive. As the plants absorb these nutrients, they filter and clean the water, which is then recirculated back to the fish tanks. This closedloop system is highly efficient, conserving water and eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Benefits of Aquaponics
Research Service (ARS)
Organic and Chemical-Free: Since the system relies on natural biological processes, there is no need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it an excellent choice for organic gardening. According to Benjamin Beck, research leader at the ARS Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, “Aquaponics is an invaluable tool in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges like hunger and climate change” (USDA)
Sustainable Production: Aquaponics can produce both fresh fish and vegetables, offering a year-round supply of nutritious food. This dual production capability is particularly valuable in urban settings where space is limited.
“Our integrated multi-trophic aquaponics system represents a novel approach to sustainable agriculture,” says Dr. Kevin Neves from Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green State University)
Nutrient-Rich Fertilizer: The fish waste provides a continuous supply of natural fertilizer, rich in essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, promoting healthy plant growth.
The USDA highlights that plants like lettuce, spinach, herbs, tomatoes, and peppers thrive in this system (USDA)
Real-World Examples
Bowling Green State University (BGSU): Researchers at BGSU are exploring innovative aquaponics techniques to grow yellow perch and various crops, showcasing the method’s potential for academic and small-scale farming
applications. Their work has attracted attention from PBS, which plans to feature their research in the documentary series “America the Bountiful” (Bowling Green State University)
Setting Up an Aquaponics System
Starting an aquaponics system at home can be straightforward with the right guidance:
Fish Tank: Choose a tank suitable for the type and number of fish you plan to raise, such as tilapia, goldfish, or koi.
Grow Bed: Set up a hydroponic grow bed where your plants will grow, using a grow medium like clay pebbles or a floating raft system.
Water Pump and Filtration: Install a water pump to circulate the water between the fish tank and the grow bed, and include a biofilter to convert fish waste into plant nutrients.
Beneficial Bacteria: Introduce beneficial bacteria to establish the nitrogen cycle, either by adding a bacterial culture or allowing natural colonization.
Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly monitor water quality, pH levels, and nutrient concentrations. Maintaining the balance between fish and plant needs is crucial for a healthy aquaponics system.
Aquaponics offers a sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to fertilize your garden while producing fresh fish and vegetables. Whether for home gardening or larger-scale agricultural projects, aquaponics represents a forward-thinking solution to modern food production challenges.
by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press
While The Little City enjoys a boom of commercial and residential development projects, the surrounding region is seeing many commercial areas stagnate, prompting multiple office building repurposing projects, which are open or coming soon.
According to a Fairfax County report earlier this year, office space in the Bailey’s Crossroads region of greater Falls Church has been particularly burdened, with a 38.4 percent office vacancy rate — double the 2023 county average of 17.2 percent (which, it should be mentioned, is the highest rate in decades).
In neighboring Arlington County, the average office vacancy remains extremely high — a whopping 22.1 percent in 2023. At the same time, our region’s red-hot real estate market has created a major affordable housing shortage — the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) estimates a
148,945 unit deficit of affordable and available housing in the DMV alone.
Seeking to use one problem to solve another, many vacant office buildings have become rezoned for residential or mixeduse, with multiple repurposing projects currently under construction, and likely more to come, with home ownership out of reach for many until interest rates (or prices) come down.
Though the concept may sound simple enough, the requirements of office and residential buildings are quite different. All residential units must have their own plumbing, windows, bathrooms, and a kitchen. Large residential buildings will always have courtyards, or be designed with narrow segments, to ensure every unit has window access of some kind. Many office buildings, not burdened by the same requirements, are designed as big blocks, with central “core” space that can’t be easily converted into an apartment. Even if the building design is compat-
ible with a conversion, doing so requires just about the entire interior of the building to be replaced: completely new HVAC systems, electrical, plumbing, floors, walls, ceilings, etc.
Despite the challenges, it is often far cheaper to convert existing office space into residential than to build something new — and Bailey’s Crossroads in particular is seeing multiple office building repurposing projects popping up as a result, in particular in the Skyline area.
Beginning in 1945, Bailey’s Crossroads was the home of Washington-Virginia Airport (originally Crossroads Airport), a two-runway private airport. Seen as a public nuisance as development continued to expand into the suburbs — in particular a number of non-fatal crashes and low-flying planes over cars on Leesburg Pike — the airport was eventually shut down, and in 1977 the massive Skyline Center complex opened, consisting of commercial and residential space. The once
booming area, though still densely populated, is now second only to the Springfield area in office vacancies for the region.
Highland Square Holdings (2HSQ) is has completed several office-to-residential buildings in the Bailey’s and surrounding area, with another in development — which it says are well worth the initial investment. The buildings that comprise its converted residential communities began as top-tier Class A office space (with premium underground parking), allowing for over-the-top amenities and expansive community space. 2HSQ says it purchased one property (now e-Lofts Alexandria, 4501 Ford Ave., Alexandria, VA) for “a fraction of what the underground parking would have cost to build alone.” Similarly, 2HSQ purchased the nearby Mission Lofts building (5600 Columbia Pike, Falls Church) for the cost of the parking garage alone.
2HSQ has also begun leasing at 3Collective — the single
largest live/work project in the country — comprised of three 1980s office buildings in the Skyline Center. These buildings have been transformed into 720 “live-work” spaces, with residential parking below ground, and much of the previous surface parking replaced with expanded outdoor amenity spaces. 2HSQ purchased and completed the 3Collective complex for less than the cost of a new surfaceparked wood-frame apartment community.
This fall, just two doors down from 3Collective, 2HSQ will begin construction on an additional office-to-residential conversion, the future home of Spolia Lofts (5111 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church).
The effect of upscale residential offerings replacing largely vacant office space around Bailey’s Crossroads is yet to be determined — but with extensive projects delivered or underway, it is clear that hopes are high for a revitalizing effect for the surrounding community.
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Julie Andre- UNFCU
Julie Andre is an area native and highly experienced Senior Mortgage Officer with UNFCU, lending in all 50 States. She provides valuable solutions and education for all home loan types and sizes. Julie provides individualized attention to borrowers from pre-approval through closing. First-time buyers, move-up buyers, downsizers, self-employed, investors, second homes, cash buyers seeking delayed financing, foreign nationals and more. In addition to weekdays, Julie is available evenings and weekends.
703.237.0333 • JAndre@unfcu.com
Albert Bitici -Bitici Group at KW Metro Center
Elevated interest rates and record low inventory continue to impact market conditions with some homes receiving multiple offers and selling in a matter of days, while others sit on the market despite multiple price reductions. Your choice of realtor, and how you prepare and present your home for selling can literally cost, or earn you tens of thousands of dollars... Don’t leave money on the table.
Several years ago, I created THE BITICI GROUP with a focus of providing the right advice to clients, backed by the highest level of customer service, and the best marketing.
For a smarter, personalized approach to buying, selling and investing in real estate, contact our award winning real estate team, THE BITICI GROUP at KW Metro Center.
571.775.0468 • 703.224.6000 • thebiticigroup.com
JD Callander & Ed Blanchard
JD Callander and Ed Blanchard with Weichert Realtors both call Falls Church City home and bring 30 years of combined real estate experience and passion to their work. They are well-known and respected agents who demonstrate success through integrity in all that they do.
They are experts on the local market, are attentive to details and truly care about their client’s needs. They also love giving back to their beloved community through sponsoring the FCC Memorial Day Fun Run, HTG Games benefiting Falls Church City ES/PTA, Little League baseball plus many additional events. JD and Ed are honored and feel a strong sense of responsibility in assisting homeowners through important life transitions.
703.821.1025 • JD@NewNovaHome.com
Floor Coverings International
Floor Coverings International of Tysons Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary. As the Floor Coverings International brand continues to grow their presence in the region. Local owner and Falls Church City resident, Owen Sullivan has added Maxx Patagonia to the team. Maxx brings 30 years of Industry expertise, having worked for the top three US Flooring Manufacturers. To keep up with increasing demand and continue providing customers with an exceptional experience. Maxx shares our commitment to providing the best flooring solutions and customer experience in the industry.
FOXCRAFT Design Group is in their 35th year as an award-winning design/ build firm and general contractor. FOXCRAFT is among the most creative, experienced design/build firms in the region, specializing in meeting clients’ budget expectations and overcoming ever changing national and county codes, regulations and guidelines. Chandler Fox, the owner at FOXCRAFT, is also a licensed real estate agent, so his expertise in both building and real estate provides the best of both worlds for the client. Fox analyzes the property for current and future marketability and helps his clients make an intelligent decision about whether or not a renovation is the best investment for their property’s future value. “We build relationships with every client, based on their individual needs and wants, and advise them honestly, as to the best path for their family’s future”.
703.536.1888 • foxcraft.com
Tori McKinney - ROCK STAR realty group, KW Metro Center
What a sizzling real estate season we are having! The Spring market was hot, and Summer is proving to be equally robust.
The recent National Association of Realtors settlement has been in the news and a hot topic of many dinner parties lately. We at ROCK STAR realty group and the industry as a whole are helping to educate our Sellers & Buyers with compensation changes. My team and I are here to answer any questions. Give me a ring any time to talk more. Being a 26-year resident, my Little City community spirit runs deep – encouraging everyone to come together and thrive is my passion. Supporting our teachers and schools, affordable housing, charity events and local music weaves connections between residents and local businesses.
My ROCK STAR realty group and I are your go-to resource for all things real estate. Connecting our clients with the neighborhood in a meaningful way brings so much joy.
Got Real Estate questions? We’ve got answers. Stop by Northside Social, Falls Church on Wednesdays, 10:00 –11:00 AM for our ROCK the House coffee hour. We’ll buy you a cup!
703.867.8674 • ROCKSTARrealtygroup.com
Pam Micciche- KW HBC Group
Pam Micciche, a stand out member of KW’s HBC Group, combines top-notch performance with genuine local expertise as a native Washingtonian and dedicated Falls Church City resident for the past 20 years. Working with Pam means having a committed full-service team by your side throughout your real estate journey, whether it’s buying, selling, or investing. Her comprehensive support includes a complimentary in-house designer for home preparation, assistance in finding and scheduling repair/improvement services, superior property marketing, expert negotiations, and detailed management of the closing process. She is licensed throughout the DMV.
703.371.9343 • Pam@HBCGroupKW.com
Alison Miller-Keller Williams
Alison Miller has been in the DC and Virginia residential real estate market as a full-time professional since 2008 as a buyer, rehabber, seller, commercial property owner, and Keller Williams Falls Church agent helping others buy and sell. Prior to going into real estate full-time she earned an MBA degree with dual concentration in information technology and real estate finance. She worked for 25 years in the information technology industry as a Senior Manager and Director for organizations including Marriott International and Fannie Mae. Put her 360-degree real estate experience and technology skills to work for you!
703.298.9495 • alisonmiller@kw.com
Kelly Millspaugh Thompson
Kelly Millspaugh Thompson is a Falls Church City native and small business owner. Kelly opened Stylish Patina Boutique in 2013. She has been selling Real Estate in Northern Virginia for 5 years and is a NVAR Platinum Producer and recognized by Arlington Magazine as a top producer. Her clients appreciate her fresh and cutting edge approach to marketing and exceptional client experience. Her extensive experience in home decor, interior design and home renovation provides a broad area of expertise that she brings to her clients on both the buying and selling side. This has proven to be a unique and highly sought after combination of skills. Kelly has a passion for helping folks as they transition through life stages. If you are looking for a Realtor with compassion and commitment to making your next Real Estate transaction less stressful contact Kelly, 703-303-3700.
703.303.3700 • realestate@stylishpatina.com
TriVistaUSA Design + Build
TriVistaUSA Design + Build is an award-winning home remodeling firm serving Falls Church and the surrounding DC metro area. What could be cooler than making someone’s home dreams come to life? We like to think of ourselves as your fairy godmother, except with CAD instead of a magic wand… Our trusted team of architects, interior designers, and skilled craftsmen dream with our clients, collaborating to create one-of-a-kind, custom designs. Some of our
Zimmermann Homes
WHO’S THE BEST?
The News-Press
Ideas for legislation come from so many sources – constituent casework, conversations with a colleague, a community meeting, or even an NPR segment. While not all bill ideas are created equal, the general idea is to improve the lives of all Virginians whether we’re tweaking an existing law to avoid unintended consequences or creating a whole new Code Section to address a larger issue.
Building on my article at the beginning of the month, here are some additional laws that went into effect on July 1st. Chances are, one or more of them will affect you or someone you know.
Reducing Costs for Virginians
Housing affordability and helping families avoid eviction has become a hot topic these last several years. To that end, we extended Virginia’s Eviction Diversion Pilot Program, giving the Virginia Housing Commission more time to assess its effectiveness, and perhaps recommend extending it further.
If the Governor issues a state of emergency, electric, gas, water, and wastewater utility companies are prohibited from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during said emergency. The suspension will last for 30 days after such declaration of the state of emergency.
To reduce predatory towing, towing operators for a multifamily dwelling unit parking lot must post a written notice on a vehicle, providing at least 48 hours’ notice to a resident prior to removing a resident’s vehicle. This is specifically for vehicles with an expired registration or expired vehicle inspection sticker. The landlord must also receive a copy of such notice.
Telephone companies that operate within local correctional facilities must now reinvest their net profits into each facility for educational, recreational, or medical purposes for the benefit of incarcerated individuals. This can include programs related to behavioral health, substance abuse, reentry, and rehabilitative services. This will reduce price gouging in these facilities while helping inmates get their lives back on track.
Empowering Localities
Local governments can now adopt an ordinance to support the planting and replacement of trees during the land development process by allowing a tree canopy fund, on both public and private property. The law also makes it easier to collect tree canopy funds while expanding the canopy credit.
Another tool to curb predatory towing, localities have the authority to create a permitting system for all towing companies to better track them and hold them accountable.
Counties that that do not maintain their own roads are now allowed to reduce speed limits to less than 25 miles per hour in business or residential districts. Localities can also restore a speed limit that was previously reduced.
Making Virginia More Welcoming and Inclusive
Reinforcing our non-discrimination laws, no one who is authorized to issue a marriage license can refuse to fulfill their obligation based on a couple’s sex, gender, or race. The law also requires that these marriages be recognized by the Commonwealth.
Families that receive assistance through Medicaid or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children are also automatically eligible to receive assistance through the Child Care Subsidy Program.
We amended the financial eligibility standards for those receiving the Family and Individual Support Waiver, Community Living Waiver, and Building Independence Waiver (the DD Waivers). This increases the number of people eligible to receive DD Waivers and requires a report on how many Virginians could benefit from changes to the eligibility standards.
To ensure our most Virginians living with disabilities get the support and resources they need, a new law requires state agencies to seek federal authority to update Home and Community Based Services Waivers to remove burdensome regulations on parental caregivers.
Protecting the Vulnerable
Emergency services providers must now provide a behavioral health assessment, as well as further examination and treatment, when treating a patient. This will help ensure that a patient’s mental health doesn’t deteriorate while receiving emergency treatment. Elderly and vulnerable adults can submit and update a list of trusted persons that financial institutions can contact in the case of suspected financial exploitation. The law also permits financial institutions to train staff on how to identify and report suspected cases of financial exploitation. New training guidelines will be published on January 1, 2026. Local school boards are required to develop policies that ensure high school students learn to prevent and reverse an opioid overdose. The policy encourages students to complete this program before graduating.
If you have questions about one of these new laws, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. Or if you’ve got a bill idea you’d like to share, I’m all ears! Although we’re limited in the number of bills we can introduce (15!) during the 2025 Session, hearing from constituents is always helpful in putting together my legislative agenda.
Delegate Marcus Simon’s Richmond Report
News-Press
Community News & Notes
July 24 is Deadline for Annual Bulk Rooftop Solar Program
The Falls Church Climate Action Network (FCCAN) has reminded members that the deadline to sign up for a no-obligation quote under the annual bulk-purchase program promoted by Solar United Neighbors (solarswitch.com/en/capitalarea) is Wednesday, July 24.
“If you sign an installation contract in the next month or so, depending on the contractor you choose there may still be time to finish installation in 2024 and claim the 30 percent federal tax credit for this tax year,” said the FCCAN Steering Committee in an email sent to members on Wednesday. “The area’s other annual bulk-purchase program, Solarize, run by the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), officially closed its enrollment period at the end of June.”
FCA All Member Show M-Z Opens on July 20
Seventy-six artists will present their best work as Falls Church Arts heralds the second part of the expansive, annual All Member Show from July 20 to August 18. This session features artists with last names from M-Z. A meet-the-artists reception will be held at the FCA Gallery (700B W. Broad St., Falls Church) from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday,
July 20. The reception is free and is open to the public.
The show features the work of member artists from Falls Church Arts and encompasses an extensive range of media from the more traditional watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, pastel, fused glass, oil, photography, and sculpture to a wide variety of mixed media, and printing techniques. The works are varied and include a wide range of subjects from impressionist street scenes, animals in their natural habitat, and historical architecture, to landscapes, portraits, and abstract representations.
Works may be viewed or purchased in the FCA Gallery or online at fallschurcharts.org.
NOVA Board Game Group Brings Games To MRSPL
The Mary Riley Styles Public Library in Falls Church recently partnered with the NOVA Board Game Group to offer monthly board game nights for adults. The NOVA Board Game Group was established eight years ago and serves various community libraries by offering free board game events. When some of their members suggested that Falls Church could use such an opportunity, Blake Tippens, the group organizer, and Peter Sullivan, the Adult Services Supervisor at the library, met and agreed the partnership would be a great service for the
Falls Church community. The partnership kicked off on March 11 this year. Events will continue to occur regularly every month.
The monthly board game nights are held in the upper level conference room on the second Monday of each month from 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. Game nights are free and open to anyone age 18 or older. No preregistration is required and all ages and experience levels are welcome to come alone or bring a friend. All will be greeted by a friendly group representative when they arrive.
The NOVA Board Game Group provides a variety of modern board games for patrons to learn and play. The group also offers game teachers to help you learn any of the new games. Enjoy a break from the demands of modern technology to make some new friends face-to-face without your phone.
What kinds of board games can you expect at their events? The NOVA Board Game Group owns over 600 modern board games in its collection and brings a variety of games to each event. While you probably will not see conventional games like Sorry, Scrabble, Chess or Gin Rummy, many of the modern board games they provide and teach are either similar in design or experience. Examples of some recent board games that were taught at the Falls Church location include Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Azul and
Wingspan. You will also see various lighter board games like Just One, So Clover, Green Team Wins, Codenames and more. If you are an experienced gamer, you will recognize and enjoy games like Catan, Terraforming Mars, Res Arcana, or Dune Imperium. Whether new to modern board games or an enthusiast, each event offers something you can enjoy while making new friends.
The NOVA Board Game Group was founded on the principles of providing a safe, positive and friendly experience. The group started in 2016 and its membership has grown to more than 500 board game players throughout the northern Virginia region. Due to maintaining a safe and positive environment, the group boasts a diverse membership. They host a variety of board game events for the community throughout the area. They also organize and manage an annual free board game convention each year called Arlington GameFest, held at Arlington Central Library on November 17 this year. You can learn more about them at novaboardgamegroup.com.
City Recommends Marking Home Recycling Bins
Has your City recycling bin gone missing? The City recommends writing your house number on your bin with sharpies, vinyl stickers, spray paint, or stencils.
City carts are the property of the City and remain at your property even if you move. Please email recycling@fallschurchva.gov with any questions.
Cauldron Announces 2024-25 Season, New Home Transition
This week Creative Cauldron announced its 2024 — 2025 Season, which it called “a season of magic, friendship, music, and more!” The season — which will begin in its current home in Pearson Square before transitioning to a new home in the Broad and Washington development later this year — includes:
• Sondheim Tribute Review (October 3 — 27, 2024)
• Alice in Wonderland (November 8 — 24, 2024)
• Madeline’s Christmas (December 6 — 22, 2024)
• Holiday Cabarets (December 9 — 18, 2024)
• Passport to the World of Music (January 10 — February 2, 2025)
BOARD GAMES are enjoyed at NOVA Board Game Group’s board game night, held the second Monday every monthl at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. (Courtesy Photo)
CRAIG WRIGHT’S “Cactus Patch” and works from 75 other FCA members (with last names beginning M-Z) are on display, July 20 through August 8. (Photo: Falls Church Arts)
CALENDAR
THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.
THURSDAY JULY 18
Arts and Humanities Council Meeting
Arts and Humanities Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
Human Svcs. Advisory Council Meeting
Human Services Advisory Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Patty Reese
Patty Reese performs Americana blues, covers and originals. Part of the free Founders Groove Concert Series, Thursdays through July 25. Founders Row (109 Founders Ave., Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
The Hot Lanes
The Hot Lanes performs jazz and big band music. Part of the free Summer Concerts in the Park series, Thursdays through August 8, co-hosted by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and F.C. Recreation and Parks. Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.
Environmental Sust. Council Meeting
The Environmental Sustainability Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
JULY 19
Taisha Estrada
Taisha Estrada performs. Part of Cauldron's 2024 Summer Concert Series, weekends through August 24. Tickets at creativecauldron.org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.
Miss Evita's Variety Show
Evita Peroxide and a cast of Drag
performers promise an evening filled with interactive fun, spectacular acts, stunning costumes, and more. Tickets at crescendostudiosva.com. Crescendo Studios (8101A Lee Hwy., Falls Church), 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY JULY 20
Falls Church
Farmers Market
City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Author Talk: Black Communities of Fairfax
Join a discussion with the authors of "Black Communities of Fairfax: A History." Free registration at mrspl.org. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.
Opening: FCA
All Member Show M-Z
Meet the Artists Reception for the annual FCA All Member Show (last names beginning with M-Z). View or purchase through August 18 in the FCA gallery or online at fallschurcharts.org. Free and open to the public. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Josanne Francis
Josanne Francis performs. Part of Cauldron's 2024 Summer Concert Series, weekends through August 24. Tickets at creativecauldron.org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY JULY 21
Falls Church Forward Summer Potluck
A Summer Circus Potluck hosted by Falls Church Forward. RSVPs close at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. Celebrate summer, meet new neighbors, watch (and even try) some circus arts, and enjoiy delicious food and drink. RSVP at tinyurl.com/FCNP0724sc. Location announced upon registration, 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
MONDAY
JULY 22
City Council Meeting
City Council meets the second and fourth Monday every month (once in August and December). The public may sign up to speak at fallschurchva.gov/ publiccomment. View live or ondemand at fallschurchva.gov/ CouncilMeetings or on FCCTV. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.
TUESDAY JULY 23
Chamber
Networking Mixer
Alison Miller of KW-United hosts the July Mixer for the F.C. Chamber. Free and open to the public. Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Discussion
Explore nearby zoning experiences with ADUs and discuss issues to consider as the city navigates this potential change. Free to attend. Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Kenneth R. Burnett Bldg., Falls Church), 8:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY JULY 24
Affordable Living Policy Workgroup Meeting
Affordable Living Policy Update Workgroup meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
THURSDAY JULY 25
The Big Tow
The Big Tow performs Part of the VPIS/City Summer Concerts in the Park series, Thursdays through August 8. Free and open to the public. Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.
MANIZHE SABET'S "Unionville Promenade," on display through August 8 as part of FCA's All Member Show (M-Z). (Photo: Falls Church Arts)
Notice
Notice is hereby given that City Medical Transportation LLC, 3415 Willow Tree Lane, Falls Church VA 22044, has filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing passenger transportation as a common carrier over irregular routes, providing service in the geographic area composed of the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Hopewell, Manassas, Manassas Park, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Winchester, Virginia and in the counties of Amelia, Arlington, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, New Kent, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Powhatan, Prince George, Prince William, Rappahannock, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, and Warren Virginia and Statewide throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia for passenger transportation as a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Carrier, as defined in the Code of Virginia Section 46.2-2000.
Any person who desires to protest the application and be a party to the matter must submit a signed and dated written request setting forth (1) a precise statement of the party’s interest and how the party could be aggrieved if the application was granted; (2) a full and clear statement of the facts that the person is prepared to provide by competent evidence; (3) a statement of the specific relief sought; (4) the name of the applicant and case number assigned to the application; and (5) a certification that a copy of the protest was sent to the applicant. The case number assigned to this application is MC2400325ST.
Written protests must be mailed to DMV Motor Carrier Services, Attn: Operating Authority, P. O. Box 27412, Richmond, VA 23269-0001 and must be postmarked on or before August 6, 2024.
Any protest filed with competent evidence will be carefully considered by DMV. However, DMV will have full discretion as to whether a hearing is warranted based on the merits of the protest filed.
JULY 23RD-25TH. 65 Properties in Danville & Pittsylvania, VA: 5 Buildings, 150± Total Acres. Motleys Real Estate. MotleysRealEstate.com (804) 486-4555
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LOCAL SPORTS
Falls Church Little League All-Stars Claim District Runner-Up Title
by Erika Toman
The Falls Church Kiwanis Little League All-Stars program has concluded another thrilling season, marked by impressive performances and unforgettable moments on the diamond. The Majors team placed runner’s up out of the 12 teams participating in VA’s District 4 which is widely considered to be the most talented in the state. The team showcased grit and dedication, finishing with a commendable record of 5-2 in the tournament. Their six week journey together was marked by memorable victories, hard-fought battles and a lot of fun.
After clinching a spot in the single elimination tournament bracket, Falls Church faced off against tough opponents. Last Thursday saw a nail-biting 7-5 triumph over Reston-Herndon Little League. James Owen set the tone for Falls Church in the second inning, driving in a key run with a single. The game remained tight until the top of the fifth inning, when Falls Church mounted a comeback. Simon Coho walked, and was able to advance on Tig Fatzinger’s single to tie the score. The pivotal moment came in the top of the sixth inning when Mikey Baltrym delivered a clutch double, bringing in the go-ahead run. Owen delivered another RBI on a fielder’s choice, solidifying Falls Church’s lead and helping the team advance to the District 4 Championship.
On the defensive side, Luca Pipia showcased his pitching expertise, striking out seven batters and allowing only five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Kellan McCormack stepped in to close the game, efficiently handling the final two outs to seal the victory for Falls Church. Offensively, Owen and Pipia led the charge with two hits apiece, while contributions from Matthew Miller, Baltrym, Coho, and Fatzinger added crucial runs and support.
In the Championship game against
rival Vienna National League, held last Friday, the team’s resilience was further evident with an extremely hard fought 3-4 loss. Vienna took an early 3-0 lead, but Falls Church rallied behind Will Wood’s hard hit ball down the first base foul line, driving in two runs. McCormack was hot at the plate with two hits, one being a line drive triple to right field. Hayes Vaughan and Pipia also got on the board with hits.
On the mound, Evan Toman delivered an exceptional performance. His mix of off-speed pitches and strong command limited an exceptionally strong Vienna team to just five hits throughout the game. In the outfield, Anthony Verdi and Miller both delivered spectacular diving catches to keep the game in check.
“Our team played really well and I’m so happy to have played on a team with these coaches,” said Ryan Alderson, one of the team’s leaders. Reflecting on the season, Coach Nick Toman echoed Alderson’s sentiment and emphasized the team’s growth and resilience.
“These young men have shown tremendous development and personal growth through this season,” he remarked. “They learned to play as a team in the truest sense.”
This marks the second year in a row the Falls Church Majors team has made it to the District Finals. Each of the graduating boys has plans to continue their baseball careers after Little League and have sights on their high school baseball teams in the future. The Falls Church All-Star teams wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the fans whose unwavering support has been a constant throughout the season. Your cheers from the stands and messages of encouragement have meant the world to them. Together, let’s celebrate a season of growth, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments in Falls Church baseball history.
Olney Theatre Presents ‘Beautiful’ The Carole King Musical
by Patricia Leslie
The singers who croon their tunes at Olney Theatre Center (not so far away) make them some kind of wonderful in “Beautiful,” the jukebox story of singer-songwriter Carole King.
The singers almost steal the show with bebop-a-lula and that’s what they do!
Carole King fans will relish the moments’ pleasures with 25 plus songs to accompany the chronicle of one of the most popular singer-songwriters of our time.
The crowd roared when the “Drifters” came on stage in sparkling jackets, ties, shoes and synchronized dance steps (with choreography by Ashleigh King) backed by a floorto-ceiling shimmering curtain with changing colors.
And Neil Sedaka! Neil Sedaka! (His name bears repeating.)
Connor James Reilly does a fabulous rendition with Sedaka’s “Oh Carol,” he was such a fool in his fancy pants and moves.
In another memorable role, Reilly joins Kurt Boehm as the unforgettable Righteous Brothers who sing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” while descending twin curving staircases, and upon reaching the stage, ripping off their jackets simultaneously in strip tease style to expose their abs to the howls of the audience.
(Thank you very much, director Amy Anders Corcoran, making her Olney debut. More! More! More!)
Enthusiastic Natalie Weiss with a magnificent voice to mirror King’s is the star, easily carries the show, the “natural woman” for the role.
Michael Perrie, Jr. is Gerry Goffin, King’s boyfriend, then husband, then cheatin’ husband, who gradually engenders audience dislike, though the couple really did try to make it.
Long before their split and even after-
wards, the couple formed a hugely successful collaboration to produce many notable songs, lyrics about their relationship often found in their pieces.
Nikki Mirza and Calvin McCullough play longtime good friends and competitors Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann who turn out million dollar hits, too, and are important to the story, especially for fleshing out humor and creating magic in the air. The words and music in “Beautiful” belong to this quartet..
Victoria Gomez is a likable BGF “Betty” and Donna Migliaccio is King’s very realistic mom who delivers hilarious zingers just like a mother with good intentions which sometimes backfire.
An almost constant stage presence is Bobby Smith as music producer and manager Don Kirshner, often silent but twisting and turning into a pretzel, slapping his head and wrestling his arms in brilliant poses as he debates “to do or not to do?”
His able-bodied assistant who triples as a member of the Shirelles and of other groups is Kayla Gross. She is joined by Kalen Robinson, the production’s dance captain, another Shirelle and, in another role, just another woman for Goffin.
Other cast members are Jay Frisby, Ian Anthony Coleman, Quadry Brown, Ariana Caldwell, Montel B. Butler, Lily Burka and Simone Brown.
Costume designer Kendra Rai dresses the characters in the styles of the era, but the singers’ shining apparel are the visuals which light up the stage.
Douglas McGrath wrote the book.
Christopher Youstra directs a 10-piece band whose hidden presence belies their criticality to the production.
Other creative team members are Deb Sivigny, set; Colin K. Bills, lighting; Matthew Rose, sound; Ben Walsh, resident stage manager; Allison Bailey, assistant stage manager; Sarah Hinrichsen, assistant director and Larry Peterson and Alia Radabaugh, wig co-designers whose heads were full.
The Drifters! The Shirelles! Neil Sedaka! The Righteous Brothers and Carole King!
FC MAJORS VS RESTON-HERNDON. (photo: Erika Toman)
NIKKI MIRZA AS CYNTHIA WEIL, Natalie Weiss as Carole, and Bobby Smith as Don Kirshner in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at Olney Theatre Center.
(Photo: Teresa Castracane Photography)
In Memoriam: Cathy Quinn
Catherine Garhart Quinn passed away peacefully on July 13, 2024. She was born in Sharon, PA on June 24, 1945, to Bernard and Anne Garhart. Her family moved to Falls Church City when she was three years old just before it was incorporated as a city in 1948 when her father Bernard Garhart got a job teaching math at Falls Church High School.
She attended St. James Elementary School and was in the third graduating class of Bishop D.J. O’Connell High School. She left Falls Church
City only briefly when she attended Maryview Nursing School in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Her carrer began at Georgetown University Hospital where she worked in hospital and medical center where she coordinated the multi-disciplinary Spina Bifida clinic. In the early ‘70s she was a part of the first group of nurses to become licensed Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. She left Georgetown in 1983 and her career continued in her hometown of Falls Church City when she went to work at Watson & Salsbury Pediatrics, now Capital Area Pediatrics. She worked at the practice until her retirement in 2008, during this time she treated many of the children of the community. In 1971 she married her Husband Paul Quinn, they moved back into Falls Church City in 1978 to raise their two boys. She had a love of collecting, most notably dolls, that would take her and Paul into the Antiques business starting the Falls Church Antique Company on Broad Street which Paul continues to operate today. Her love of all things historical would land her as Chair of the
City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT
Continued from Page 7
Trespassing, Wilson Blvd, July 10, 11:51 PM, a male, 57, of Springfield, was arrested for Trespassing.
Abduction/Sexual Assault, Hillwood Ave, July 11, 2:07 PM, a delayed report was made for an abduction and sexual assault.
Petit Larceny/Trespassing, W Broad St, July 11, 13:14 AM, officers responded to a shoplifting call for service. A male, 36, of no fixed address, was arrested for Trespassing, Petit Larceny, Provide False Identity to Law Enforcement, and two counts
of Obstruction of Justice.
Historical Commission in the 1990s working to preserve historical homes like the one they lived in on East Jefferson Street, the Copper/Flag house. Even in her retirement Cathy refused to leave the City of Falls Church. Catherine is survived by her husband, Paul Quinn, who stood by her side for 53 years of marriage. She is also survived by her sons: David Quinn and his spouse Christine, along with their children Delaney (14), Andrew (10), and Amanda (10); and Matthew Quinn and his spouse Katy Moore, along with their daughter Karys (6). Siblings: Carol, Charles (Chuck), Richard (Rick), Ben. Catherine’s life will be celebrated with a wake on July 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Murphy’s Funeral Home in Falls Church, and a funeral mass that will be held on Monday, August 5, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Covenant House (covenanthousegw.org), Shriners Hospitals for Children (shrinerschildrens.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
Robbery, W&OD Bike Trail, July 13, between 5 AM and 6:59 AM, victim reported that while walking on the W&OD Trail between N. Oak Street and N. Spring Street, an unknown suspect took the victim’s cell phone and fled in an unknown direction. The suspect is described as a black male wearing all black clothing. Incident is under investigation.
Driving Under the Influence, Hillwood Ave, July 14, 2:16 AM, a male, 30, of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and No Valid Operator’s License.
Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Please send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
AMY (TOP) AND Jolie (bottom) lounged lazily in their favorite spot, soaking in the summer ambiance, the rustle of leaves and chirping birds providing a soothing soundtrack for a hot summer afternoon. (Photo: Inta Gertnere)
T h e LGB T Q + R e ach
by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press
The Elephant In The Room
It’s hard to write about anything without mentioning the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday at an election rally in Butler, PA, which left one attendee dead and two others severely injured. Political violence is never okay and never justified. In order for democracy to work, our elections must be entirely free, fair, and safe. That’s an American value that must be respected by all, across party lines, in order for our country to succeed.
Frankly, though the attempt on Saturday was a shock, it was only somewhat surprising given the heated political rhetoric of recent years — and history of right-wing political terrorism, including the attempt to overthrow the Government and murder the Vice President on January 6.
Saturday’s shooter being a young Republican, who recently graduated with honors from community college and was headed to a four-year university in the fall, is further evidence of a radicalized Republican base under Trump’s leadership.
This is going to change the next four months dramatically — but how? Only time will tell. The stakes, somehow, seem even higher for this election.
Monday marked the beginning of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, with big news on night one as Donald Trump announced first-term Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his pick for Vice President. Vance, a 39-year old who first assumed public office in January 2023, is primarily known for his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Speakers including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) made it clear that attacking Transgender Americans will remain a key pillar of the Republican Party of 2024. We’ve covered the hateful things they say plenty, so that’s all the coverage I’ll give them this week.
Vance is also a former “never-Trumper” turned… I guess Trump’s choice to assume the nuclear codes if something were to happen to the 78-year-old (if he were to win in November).
Vance is about as hard-right as it comes. In a candidate questionnaire, he said he was for national mandated reciprocity for concealed carry permits, strongly disagrees with LGBTQ+ legal protections, calls Critical Race Theory “racist and… a threat to our nation,” and says he opposes abortion even in cases of rape an incest — only favoring an exception for the life of the mother. He’s said he opposes same sex marriage, and would oppose the Respect for Marriage Act.
Since taking office last year, Vance has introduced a bill to ban all Transrelated healthcare for minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and operations — and punish providers with
up to 15 years in prison. He’s introduced a bill to block gender-neutral markers on U.S. passports.
Vance also fully embraces the cynical antagonization of LGBTQ+ people for political gain. He regularly repeats “groomer” tropes, antagonizes school faculty, and accuses them of sexualizing children and hiding such efforts from parents.
In 2022, Vance even claimed that Biden was risking war with Russia — not because of its occupation of Ukraine — but because Putin “doesn’t believe in transgender rights,” a claim Politifact rated as “Pants on Fire.”
The Bottom Line
Donald Trump has, since he began running for President a decade ago, been consistently and prominently criticized for violent campaign rhetoric, and “raising the temperature” in political discourse. He’s famously called for protesters to be attacked by supporters — and offered to pay their legal bills — or roughed up by security. He’s labeled his opponents as enemies of the people, demonized the “lying press,” and… well, instructed supporters to “take your country back” and “walk down Pennsylvania Avenue” on January 6, 2021. They then stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election and assassinate Vice President Mike Pence. This event has been linked to nine deaths, and has resulted in nearly 500 prison sentences (and counting).
The antagonism of minority groups, repeal of reproductive rights, attacks on educators and literature, and violent populism… it isn’t new. It’s how the Nazis gained control.
The whataboutism, false equivalencies, and disinformation have become so deeply entrenched in our rhetoric that it’s hard to even begin a conversation with somebody who doesn’t agree with your political views.
How can they not see what we see? And somehow they’re thinking the same thing about us, and it’s hard to believe that. It’s hard to accept that.
But we are social creatures. This is how we behave. We tell stories, share feelings, make comparisons, and create social circles that compliment our personalities and views. Social pressure differs dramatically from area to area.
In order to lower the temperature a bit, we all need to feel personally responsible for de-escalating heated political fights — especially on social media. Resist the urge to share that meme. Find a polite way or more private way to engage. Don’t read comment sections. Remember to post about other things.
And, speaking from personal experience, don’t forget self-care in tense times like these. Now is a great time to grab a haircut at your favorite salon, hit the pool, or spend the day at the spa.
But don’t lose focus. This November will have repercussions for generations. Vote.
Falls Church Business News & Notes
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting at Alloy Personal Training
Alloy Personal Training will hold its Grand Opening this Saturday, July 20, 11:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. Guests are invited to meet the trainers, watch demonstrations, and tour the facility. The festivities include food, raffles, local vendors, and special promotions. Join the Falls Church Chamber and elected officials for the ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:00 p.m. with owner Kevin Moran and staff. Alloy Personal Training is in the Shops at West Falls.
Webinar: Maximize AI for Business Growth
Dr. Heather Pressler of BlueHuki is hosting a webinar for businesses interested in using AI. Learn how to leverage the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in marketing a business. The session includes networking with other businesses prior to the presentation on tools, trends, and techniques. The webinar will be held Thursday, July 25, 7:30 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. and registration is free at eventbrite.com/e/maximize-aifor-business-growth-online-tickets-945830202597?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Board Members Sought
The Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation (NVMHF) works directly with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board and provides support to individuals who are seeking public mental health services on their journeys to wellness and recovery. NVMHF is an all-volunteer organization with a Board of eight to twelve members conducting all functions. NVMHF is currently looking for individuals proficient in the following skills: digital media, website maintenance, event planning, financial reviews, and legal expertise. No clinical expertise is required, and all are welcome to apply. Contact Cynthia Koshatka at info@novamhf.org for more information.
Satellite Funding Prior Merger
Lynk Global, Inc., a satellite company in Falls Church, has reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it has raised more than $67.5 million in funding towards the goal of $96 million. Lynk had announced plans to raise $40 million Series B before the merger with Slam Corp, a firm founded by former baseball professional Alex Rodriguez. The SPAC plan is to take the company public by the end of the year, at a potential value of as much as $800 million. Lynk Global has worked to provide global phone service from satellites in space to parts of the world without service. It has been pursuing additional capital with BTIG LLC in San Francisco to help raise its Series B ahead of the SPAC merger to get more of its own satellites in space quickly.
Virginia is America’s Top State for Business
Virginia regained its position as the No. 1 state in CNBC’s annual Top States for Business rankings released last Thursday. There are over 128 metrics involved and they are summarized in 10 categories, of which Virginia ranked in the top 50% for all with particularly great strides made in business-ready sites, workforce development, regulatory reduction, infrastructure investment and all-of-the-above power solutions. Virginia placed in the top half of all 10 categories considered in the rankings and finished as the No. 1 state for education. This is the sixth time in the No. 1 spot, returning after being ranked No. 2 last year.
Highlighted Restaurants
The July Washingtonian Magazine named Ellie Bird as having the best kid’s menu. Parents Carey and Yuan Tang offer a variety of options for picky eaters. They’ve moved the basic chicken fingers, noodles and more up a level. Arlington Magazine gave the spotlight to several local burger spots in their article, “16 Burger Joints to Try Now”. The three found in Falls Church are Elevation Burger (opening first in the Little City), Five Guys, and Open Road.
Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.
