July 2 – 8, 2020
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F.C. Schools Plan August Reopening With Hybrid Schedule Alternating Days Where Students Switch Between Virtual and In-Person Learning Expected This Fall
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Banking on continued progress in the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic in the next two months, Falls Church City Schools will open on Aug. 24 with an initial alternating hybrid two day a week
face-to-face and online education plan, F.C. Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan announced in a newsletter to parents, students and staff this week, and reported to the F.C. School Board Tuesday night. In his newsletter issued earlier this week, “The Road to Reopening,” Noonan stressed that
F.C. School Board Starts Name Change Process for 2 Schools BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS
At a lengthy online work session Tuesday night that began with 120 public comments, the Falls Church School Board agreed by consensus to move forward with a process to consider whether or not to change the names of two of its schools, George Mason High and Thomas Jefferson Elementary, on grounds that the Founding Fathers the schools are currently named for both owned slaves. The School Board’s next step will involve retaining a consultant to begin gathering information. It may not be until Thanksgiving that a decision will be reached on whether or not to change one or both of the names, and then, if the result of that process is a “yes” on changing the names of one or both, a second process to
determined what the new name or names of the schools will be. In the case of George Mason High, a new $120 million campus is well into construction, and is expected to be available for occupancy next January. The school board’s decision Tuesday night comes in the context of name change efforts in surrounding school jurisdictions, with changes having already removed the names of Confederate generals in Fairfax and Arlington schools. Falls Church’s move, however, is the only one so far that could impact the names of Founding Fathers rather than Confederates who declared war on the United States. It took a lengthy time and a contentious debate for a studentdriven initiative to win approval
Continued on Page 18
everyone “continue to model and enforce appropriate viral transmission hygiene,” meaning that “as we enter Phase 3 reopening in Virginia generally, that everyone wear a mask and appropriately social distance,” stressing that “If we have a spike in cases, we could be at risk of not being able to
return to school face-to-face.” His plea comes amid dire reports of new surges in infection cases in a majority of the U.S. states, and the modification by Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia’s Phase 3 reopening scheduled to go into effect on July 1 this week. The modification involves no
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open bar environments in restaurants, which have been identified nationally as the most likely places for new transmissions of the virus. In ordering that policy, the governor followed suit for developments in the beach com-
Continued on Page 5
AS VIRGINIA ENTERS PHASE 3, some businesses have come up with new ways to maintain social distancing by moving tables into parking lots, such as Northside Social Falls Church. Read more about how the City is addressing concerns over reopening on page 4. (P����: N���-P����)
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SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 9
SEE STORY, PAGE 19
Bar areas inside Virginia restaurants have not been permitted to join the state’s next phase of reopening as of July 1, Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday, a reversal in policy that followed Delaware’s decision to shut down recently reopened bars in beach communities.
A group of high school students from Falls Church got creative while stuck at home due to the novel coronavirus by producing Rockfish Gap, a fictional mystery podcast that aims to keep listeners on edge as the series unfolds over eight episodes.
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Northern Virginia’s own “Rockin’ the Suburbs” podcast from Falls Church’s Patrick Foster and Ashburn resident Jim Lenahan will take their show to Jammin’ Java’s stage next Wednesday. SEE PRESS PASS, PAGE 14
INDEX Editorial............................................... 6 Letters.......................................... 6, 19 News & Notes............................10–11 Comment ............................... 7,12–13 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JULY 2 - 8, 2020 | PAGE 3
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Wishing you and yours a very safe and happy 4th of July!
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PAGE 4 | JULY 2 – 8, 2020
ADAPTING TO CUSTOMERS’ COMFORT with eating and drinking outdoors, Audacious Aleworks and Taproom located on E. Fairfax Street has moved some of its high-top benches from inside the brewery to underneath pop-up tents in its parking lot. (Photo: News-press)
F.C. Public Health Tactics Seek to Turn Consumer Reluctance Into Enthusiasm by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
Wednesday’s Phase 3 reopening in Virginia would ideally signal to City of Falls Church businesses that the worst is over after three long months. But with fears of contracting Covid-19 keeping people out of stores and businesses hurting for revenue, those working with the City are trying to instill some consumer confidence by taking a varied approach to public health. Gyms, swimming pools, and yes, retail and restaurants can now be open to at least 75 percent capacity. Entertainment venues can also open to 50 percent capacity and groups of 250 people can get together. Yet the lax rules aren’t giving
City officials any hope that consumers are as eager as business owners want them to be. “My gut feeling is people locally are reluctant yet to go out and shop and particularly go to restaurants inside,” Bob Young, the City’s Economic Development Chair, said. That’s the castle wall the EDA has been scaling since midMarch. Young remarked that he was surprised no businesses were lost due to the conditions brought on by the pandemic, but he added that the good news hasn’t toned down owners’ concerns about their long-term prospects. Two-thousand-dollar micro grants sent out to 84 City businesses in late May — with a second round on the way in the very
near future — only helped at the margins, according to Young, though he did feel it was important for owners to know they weren’t facing their economic hardship alone. Plenty of proprietors indicated they were grateful for the financial support when they spoke with the News-Press in early June. Better Body Pilates Studio owner Krisi Frazee said the grant took her mind off rent and operating expenses and allowed her to dedicate more attention to her clients. And Cue Recording owner Jeff Jeffrey said his studio was able to maintain its current coverage on its audio equipment thanks to the grant. The micro grants were the
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
only form of assistance some Eden Center store owners received, such as Jay Thi of Thien My hair salon and Lilly Benjali of Cajun Boil and Pho. And it’s helped other owners, including Thuan Tran of Pho VA and Thiem Ngo of the Washington Music Center, withstand the center’s high rent. However it hasn’t been a cure-all. While a share of businesses had a mix of funds from either the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (or both) to go with the EDA grant, it’s been, at best, a bandage on a wounded economy. Art and Frame Falls Church owner Tom Gittins said the grant helped him retain an employee, but the circumstances also forced him to let go of three others. Olivia Jeffers, owner of Karma Yoga, believed her studio may have to close if it can’t grow online and people remain fearful of breath and contact. And Le Billard owner Huy Le, a pool hall in Eden Center, said he has spent every spare dollar he has to keep his business open. “I’ve exhausted my funds [and] savings,” Le wrote to the News-Press. “Monthly, I find myself either generating enough for rent or having to borrow from friends [and] family members to pay rent.” It’s why attention has turned to addressing the root of the problem by making each establishment have as sanitary an environment as possible. A jolt to that effort has been a new partnership between Falls Church’s Chamber of Commerce and BioPrep Solutions, a consulting firm that helps businesses navigate pandemics to stay in operation. Elizabeth Feinstone, the public health director for BioPrep, said that some of the suggestions they’re passing along to businesses are how they can rearrange their stores to improve social distancing. So for a restaurant or another business where people are most likely staying in one place, that’s been the recommended six feet of distance. But for gyms or other fitness establishments, BioPrep is recommending 10 feet of distance. Other tips have been teaching owners and employees that not all disinfectants work the same way, with some needing to sit on a surface for a period of time before it can be wiped away.
Properly putting on gloves and masks to avoid unnecessary transmission are other pointers the consulting firm is giving out. Securing a wholesale purchase of personal protective equipment has been a top priority for the EDA, according to Young. Grant recipient Darlene LaFramboise, the owner of Lice Clinics of America – Falls Church, said she and other small business owners have trouble competing on the open market for the equipment that usually goes quicker to larger businesses, often at lower prices. But Young said the City’s strict procurement regulations has made the EDA unsure if it’s even legal for the semi-autonomous organization to purchase a bunch of protective equipment and give it away to City businesses. In the meantime, the EDA is looking to set up hand sanitizer stations throughout Falls Church for people to use and is also making posters for businesses to put in their windows that are advising shoppers to “Keep the Little City safe.” That notice will join the blue and yellow check marks BioPrep is giving to the businesses that complete its course and take the “Healthy Business Pledge” it’s offering. Feinstone said that 60 businesses have taken the course and the pledge, which requires businesses to stay up to date on the constantly evolving state and local health guidelines. And patron reception toward the pledge has been positive, with the chamber saying that its made customers more comfortable going into a store, according to Feinstone Still, all the precautions being taken can’t guarantee the coronavirus won’t make an unwelcome cameo. “We’re not promising that Covid[-19] won’t spread within these establishments,” Feinstone said, who has also given businesses tips on what to do if there is a virus outbreak at their shop. “What these businesses are doing is everything they can that we know so that they can mitigate the spread.” Young believes the City will fare better than most in terms of its restaurant and retail activity. But if the federal government can’t come through with a second round of stimulus funding toward the end of the month, in his view, “there’s going to be a lot of bad news around.”
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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JULY 2 – 8, 2020 | PAGE 5
Parent Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Face-to-Face Classes Continued from Page 1
munities of Delaware, in New York City and elsewhere. Virginia has remained to date, however, one of a handful of U.S. states to maintain a steady diminished rate of new infections compared to an explosive rise in states such as Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona and increasing trends in its neighboring states of North Carolina and West Virginia. There has been almost no advancement of reported cases of the virus in the last weeks in the City of Falls Church, according to daily updates from the Fairfax Department of Health, although there have been anecdotal reports of groups of folks not practicing social distancing or masking around the City’s 2.2 square mile area. Dr. Noonan told the F.C. School Board Tuesday that he’s pleased with the responses to a parent survey sent out last month. In only a few weeks, over half the parents have responded, he said, being 1,595 so far at a rate
of 95 percent, and was pleased to learn that of those, there is an overwhelming number (97.3 percent) who say their children will be seeking face-to-face learning as much as public health guidance allows this fall. The deadline for the submission of survey responses has been extended beyond the Fourth of July weekend to July 10. For starters, he told the School Board, the plan is to dedicate Mondays to teacher planning and that one group of students will be attending in-person classes for full days on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the other group on Wednesdays and Fridays, such that social distancing and other sanitation measures will be in keeping with the guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and the Fairfax Department of Health. Noonan said he’ll produce another newsletter for the entire school community this Friday and follow that with at least one per week until classes commence on Aug. 24. “In addition to classroom
education, all students will have access to art, music, physical education and the library,” he said, adding “there may be cases of ‘art on a cart,’ where programs will be brought into classrooms rather than at fixed places. He assured the School Board that the content of the education, both in the classrooms and also online during the two days a week when students will be getting their education that way “will be more robust than in the spring.” As far as transportation to school, he said, the vast majority surveyed say that limits to use of buses (the guidance limits students on buses to 13 per 77 seats), most students will be transported by their parents or will walk. Some will ride bikes, and some their own cars. Only 82 students out of the 1,217 survey responses indicated they will have difficulties getting to classes, Noonan said, and plans are being made to accommodate them. Eighty-seven percent of the survey respondents said that
masking is already being practiced and will present no burden to them, and 98.1 percent say they have access to the Internet from home. The biggest issue for those surveyed concerns the lack of “social and emotional connection with other students” that arise from at-home learning. Noonan indicated that under the guidance of the Virginia High School League, conditioning programs for fall sports will be able to commence next week. He noted that suggestions to continue to use the old school building once the new building is complete this December to help accommodate social distancing “is a good idea, but we have 45 days from completion of the new to vacate and turn over the old GMHS to the development team.” He said, however, that the greater capacity of the new school will more than allow for the enrollment needs notwithstanding the mandate for social distancing. He also noted that “there are some students who will receive
face-to-face instruction four days a week. The students who have been disproportionately impacted due to disability status, ESOL status, and economic status will be first to gain fuller access faceto-face,” adding “families who will receive this option will be contacted directly in the next several weeks.” COVID-19 UPDATE In the last week, starting from Thursday, June 25 and going until Wednesday, July 1, the Virginia Department of Health has updated its coronavirus data for the City of Falls Church to include 52 total cases (-5 from last week; it was recorded on Monday that there were 56 cases in F.C. City, but they were found not to be residents upon further review) as well as 11 hospitalized (no change) and eight deaths (+1). The Fairfax Health District, which the City is a part of, has 13,986 total cases (+272 from last week), including 1,535 hospitalized (+43) and 443 deaths (+39).
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PAGE 6 | JULY 2 – 8, 2020
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Progressive New Laws In Effect This Week
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam highlighted new laws that took effect yesterday as Virginia began its new fiscal year. The governor hailed his close work with members of the General Assembly to take forward-looking and historic steps to protect vulnerable Virginians, increase equity, and position the Commonwealth for future growth and success. New laws include common sense gun safety measures, worker protections, improvements to voting accessibility, criminal justice reforms, and measures that advance the rights of women and the LGBTQ community. Governor Northam also signed legislation that removes discriminatory and racist language from Virginia’s books, and includes actions to fight climate change and dramatically boost Virginia’s renewable energy production. Gov. Northam said yesterday, “From protecting civil rights, to expanding voting access, to supporting workers, we have made generational progress on some of the most critical issues of our time. With these new laws, Virginia will be an even better place to live, work, visit, and raise a family.” Key measures that went into effect on July 1 include: * Advancing historic justice and equity with new laws that give localities authority over Confederate war memorials, remove discriminatory language from the Acts of Assembly, and establish a commission to study slavery in Virginia and subsequent racial and economic discrimination. New measures also ban discrimination based on hair. * Gun safety laws that reinstate the limit on handgun purchases to one per month, implement background checks on all firearm sales, require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms and establish an Extreme Risk Protective Order. * Criminal justice reforms that include decriminalizing marijuana, raising the felony larceny threshold, and permanently ending the practice of driver’s license suspensions for unpaid court fines. * Expanding access to the ballot box by allowing early voting 45 days prior to an election without a stated excuse, extending in-person polling hours, and making Election Day a state holiday by repealing Lee-Jackson Day. * Increasing protections for LGBTQ+ Virginians with the Virginia Values Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, public spaces, and credit applications. New laws also ban the harmful practice of “conversion therapy” for minors, increase protections for transgender students in public schools, expand the definition of a hate crime, and make it easier for LGBTQ+ individuals to obtain a birth certificate that matches their gender identity. * Restoring reproductive rights by repealing medically-unnecessary restrictions on women’s healthcare. The Reproductive Health Protection Act repeals Virginia’s mandatory ultrasound law and 24-hour waiting period prior to abortion, and rolls back politically motivated “TRAP” restrictions on women’s health centers.
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The Time Is Now To Change Mason & TJ’s School Names Editor, The school board is considering having a public discussion about changing the names of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson schools. 2020 has taught me that discussion isn’t good enough. Only action is good enough. In the last two weeks, Princeton has removed Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school, Fairfax County is considering removal of
Robert E. Lee and Mosby from two schools, Alexandria may remove TC Williams and other districts are considering similar moves. Removing names of leaders who were unrepentant slaveholders or segregationists from schools does not erase their history. It leaves them simply to history, good and bad. No school should continue to be named in honor of someone who owned another human being. How
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can a discussion continue beyond this fact? How will people in 2040 look back at Falls Church in 2020? The school board needs to do the right thing. Change the names. Gordon Theisz Falls Church
New School Names Should Start Talks Of Racial Equity in F.C. Editor, I’m tired of hearing discussions about whether our local schools
ought to be renamed to better reflect our values. Not because I’m neutral on the issue — I think they should. Students have plenty of opportunity to learn about the history of George Mason or Thomas Jefferson’s contributions without honoring these deeply flawed individuals with a school name. And if you think that leads to debates about every founding fathers’ namesakes well, you’re starting to get the point. However, what I really want to hear about is what our school system, and more importantly our city, is doing to promote racial
More Letters on Page 19
CO MME NT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JULY 2 – 8, 2020 | PAGE 7
G u e s t C o m m e n ta ry New Vehicle Form Intends to Make Paying Taxes Easier By Tom Clinton
You probably got your 2020 Vehicle Verification Form in the mail recently from the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office, which is traditional for July; it’s also our biggest mailing of the year. There’s always a lot of information that needs to get updated. I know it’s not quite as exciting as getting the Publisher’s Clearing House letter, but we hope you got a chance to read it, and respond back to us, but only if you have any changes. If everything is correct, you can just recycle it. We try to capture all the yearly changes that have happened to the City’s 12,000 or so vehicles, and its 15,000 or so residents. Did you move-in or move-out, buy a car or sell one, donate a vehicle, maybe you leased a vehicle or turned one in, or perhaps you totaled a vehicle? Have you told the DMV and turned in those license plates yet? We need to know about these changes, and make them before the car tax bills come out in August from the Treasurer’s Office. We can be informed about these vehicle status changes and address changes any time of the year, but, we know how busy people are and that a gentle reminder in the mail can be a helpful tool, especially during these most unusual times. These changes will make your tax bill more accurate, and paying them by October 5th even easier. Have you signed up to receive your personal property tax bill by email? You
just need: your vehicle’s PPID number, last year’s bill number, and then go to the Treasurer’s on-line vendor’s website: www.fallschurchva.gov/PayOnline. The
“We try to capture all the yearly changes that have happened to the City’s 12,000 or so vehicles, and its 15,000 or so residents.” Treasurer’s Office can be reached for more details at: (703) 248-5046 or by email at: treasurer@fallschurchva.gov. Please take the time and give us your updates, if they’re not already listed on your Vehicle Verification Form. We’ve always had the following reply options such as the returned via mail option, phone calls at: (703) 248-5450, faxes at: (703) 248-5212, and the walked-into the office updates. City Hall is now open, from 9 am until 4 pm daily for the Commissioner’s Office, the Treasurer’s Office and the Permits Office. The rest of the building is temporarily closed, but staff can be reached by appointment, phone, email, the US Mail and many
transactions can now be done on-line at: www.fallschurchva.gov. If you do come to City Hall, you will need to wear a mask and sign in. In the recent past, in an effort to serve you better, we have added the direct email option at: commissioner@fallschurchva.gov, the scan and email option; and the cell phone photo option; which will help us quickly update your information. To limit your outside contact, the Treasurer’s Payment drop box, formerly at the Community Center, has been repurposed into a new, City Hall Drop Box for all City Hall Departments. It’s located next to the West Wing Door, at the front of the City Hall Building, thanks to the amazing Robert Goff of the Public Works Department for the new easy to find yellow Drop Box. You can use this new drop box option 24/7, and you don’t even have to come inside the building! You can use it to drop off real estate tax bills (now due by July 6th instead of the normal June 5th due date), permit fees, personal property bills, estimated income taxes, state income tax forms, meals taxes, business license renewals; and even recently for absentee primary ballots, plus any love notes for a City staff member! Included in the Commissioner’s mail out was a yellow flyer about local DMV Services. Who would have expected that the DMV would be closed for months, and
then re-open by appointment only, via their website: www.dmvnow.com? We get lots of emails and questions about the DMV. The City Hall DMV2Go Mobile Unit dates have been cancelled until further notice due to staffing and social distancing concerns. The DMV Connect Service, which is normally located in the Laurel Conference Room at City Hall, has cancelled their recent dates and the schedule is currently frozen. Check with the Commissioner’s Office or the DMV’s website to see if that changes this summer or fall. The Commissioner’s Office had the recent honor of helping valuable members of our business community as they have struggled to make ends meet, and tried to keep employees on the payroll. Many applied for and received Business Grants from the City’s Economic Development Authority. The City’s EDO staff worked hard to get that innovative, but never been done before, program off the ground. When those checks arrived in the office late on a Friday of a long holiday weekend; I was happy to hand deliver those checks to those business’ doors, and some to the business owner’s home address because some things stay the same, and some things really change; we are willing and able to do whatever it takes to get the job done! Be safe my friends! Tom Clinton is the Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Falls Church
Question of the Week How should F.C. schools reopen this fall? • All virtual
• All in-person
• A mix of both
• Not sure
Visit www.FCNP.com to cast your vote
[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]
Last Week’s Question: Are you in support of N. Virginia’s Phase 3 reopening on July 1?
51% No 37% Yes
12% Not Sure
FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientific polls.
The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
PAGE 8 | JULY 2 - 8, 2020
Falls Church Phase III Restaurant Re-Opening Hours of Operation
Audacious Aleworks Brewery and Taproom Monday - Thursday Tuesday Friday Saturday Sunday
4 pm - 9pm Trivia Starts at 7pm 4 pm - 12 am 12 pm - 12 am 12 pm to 8pm
www.audaciousaleworks.com
Cafe Kindred
Mondays: Closed Tuesdays- Fridays: Saturdays & Sundays:
www.cafekindred.com
Caribbean Plate Tuesday - Sunday Closed Monday
7 am - 3 pm 8 am - 3 pm
12 pm - 6pm
www.caribbeanplate.biz
Dogwood Tavern Monday - Friday Saturday - Sunday
11 am - 2 am 10 am - 2 am
www.dogwoodtavern.com
Hunan Cafe Falls Church M-Th Fri-Sat Sun
11:30 am - 9 pm 11:30 am - 10 pm 12 pm - 9 pm
Idylwood Grill Monday - Saturday 4:00 - 9:00 PM. Closed Sunday. Grab & Go and Limited Indoor and Outdoor Seating. Please call ahead 703-992-0915.
www.idylwoodgrill.com
Ireland’s Four Provinces
Wed/Thursday: 4 pm - 9 pm Friday: 4 pm - 10 pm Saturday: 12 pm - 10 pm Sunday: 12 pm - 9 pm (Our supplemental Weekend Brunch Menu is available for Dine-In or Carry-Out, 12-5pm both Saturday & Sunday) Closed Mon/Tuesday
www.4psva.com
Koi Koi Sushi Mon - Thurs: Friday: Saturday: Sunday:
www.koikoisushi.com
The State Theatre Thursday - Saturday Sunday
11:30 am - 2:30 pm , 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm 11:30 am - 2:30 pm , 4:30 pm - 10:30 pm 12 pm - 10:30 pm 5 pm - 9:30 pm
12 pm - 9 pm 12 pm - 6 pm
www.thestatetheatre.com
www.hunancafefallschurch.com
Find out why more people with Medicaid and Medicare choose UnitedHealthcare.1 More people with Medicare and Medicaid are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare dual plan.1 If you have these two cards, call us to find out if you qualify for our plan. Plans Include: Up to $1,000 in credits to buy health-related items you may need.
$3,000 toward dental services.
Up to $1,000 in credits to place catalog orders for health products you may need.
Unlimited one-way rides every year.
We’re ready to help. 1-855-813-4414, TTY 711 UHCCP.com/VAdual 1 Based on national market share, as of 2019. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. Y0066_191120_105130_M CST29038_H7464-001-000
JULY 2 - 8, 2020 | PAGE 9
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Fa l l s C h u r c h
NEWS BRIEFS New Police Data Collection Laws in Effect, July 1 The City of Falls Church has noted in a statement that effective today, July 1, the Virginia Department of State Police, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Uniform Crime Reporting Section will begin the collection of community policing data, as required by 2020 Acts of Assembly Chapter 1165, also known as the Community Policing Act. It confirms that the City of Falls Church Police Department and Sheriff’s Office will comply with this requirement. This Act requires that each time a local law-enforcement officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff or State Police officer stops a driver of a motor vehicle; the officer shall collect the following data, based on the officer’s observation or information provided to the officer by the driver: (i) The race, ethnicity, age, and gender of the person stopped; (ii) The reason for the stop; (iii) The location of the stop; (iv) Whether a warning, written citation, or summons was issued or whether any persons were arrested; (v) If a warning, written citation, or summons was issued or an arrest was made, the warning provided, violation charged, or crime charged; and (vi) Whether the vehicle or any person was searched. The above data will be submitted by the City of Falls Church Police Department and Sheriff’s Office on a quarterly basis. They will also submit on an annual basis the number of complaints the agencies receive alleging the use of excessive force.
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Now accepting appointments for front porch admissions! Call Kelly or Betsy at 703-531-0781 today.
Bars Held Back from Phase 3 Opening Bar areas inside Virginia restaurants have not been permitted to join the state’s next phase of reopening as of July 1, Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday, a reversal in policy that followed Delaware’s decision to shut down recently reopened bars in beach communities and that has also been implemented in New York City. After federal officials said Tuesday that bars were the source of coronavirus outbreaks in other states across the country, Northam said people in Virginia will continue to be prohibited from congregating inside bar areas unless they are eating at high-top tables that are set at least six feet apart.
Tarter Re-Elected NVRC Chair City of Falls Church Mayor P. David Tarter was unanimously re-elected chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), a coalition of the area’s cities, counties, and towns that cooperate on regional issues. NVRC’s 13 member jurisdictions represent more than 2.5 million residents and forty percent of Virginia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
F.C.’s EDA Awards 42 More Business Micro-Grants The City of Falls Church Economic Development Authority (EDA) announced the winners of the second round of the EDA Covid-19 Emergency Grant Program. This round was open to a wider range of small businesses and non-profit applicants than those awarded to 84 businesses in a first round in May. Each recipient will receive $2,000 to help with urgent expenses related to the Covid-19 pandemic. All 42 eligible applicants will receive funding thanks to the EDA and a generous $4,000 donation made by the 2020 graduating class of George Mason High School. The recipients of grants in this round are Andy and Catherine, Inc T/A New Moon Restaurant, BB Skincare, Cafe Nho, Carlyn Davis Casting and Production Services, Cat Sitting by Susan, Corwin Training LLC, Creative Cauldron, Everest Beauty Salon, Falls Church Arts, Falls Church Education Foundation, Falls Church Music Conservatory, Falls Church Preschool and Daycare, Father and Son Barber Shop, Perfect Ending Hair Salon, Meridian Healing Works, Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, Hair Nail Boutique, Hau Giang, His Time Hair Salon, Hoa Vien Quan, Hoang Gia Cafe, Hoang Tho Barber Shop, Kim Chau Jewelry, Lacay Mi Gia, Lil City Creamery, Mimi Beauty Care, Miracle Hands and Spa, Ngoc Huong J., Phuoc Loc, Phuong Hair Beauty, Phuong’s Alterations, Rare Bird Coffee, SCG Insurance and Financial Services, Smitty’s Unisex Barber Shop, TeaDM, The Unity Club, Thien Hy, Tin Hanh Jewelers, Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, Tri-State Jewelers, Welsh Printing, Yellow Diamond. The EDA created the program to acknowledge the negative financial impact of Covid-19 on many City businesses and to show and give support to the community. The first round of the grant was awarded to 84 small businesses on May 20. The eligibility requirements of the grant were then widened to assist a broader range of small businesses and nonprofits when the second round of grants was offered. A total of 85 applications were submitted, and 42 were eligible for the grant. Eligibility included being located in the City, having gross receipts of $50,000 to $700,000 (an increase of $200,000 from round one of the grant), having 50 or fewer employees and more.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes Bailey’s Elementary Arts School Receives $5K Grant for Families Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences has received a $5,000 grant from the National PTA to support families who are in need of internet and device access. The funds are part of a $1.25 million regional Parent-Teacher Association package of Covid-19 relief funds that are being distributed to over 150 local and districtcouncils across the country with support from TikTok. Bailey’s serves approximately 1,300 students, two-thirds of whom qualify for free and reduced-price lunch and 60 percent of whom are English language learners representing 30 different home languages. Many Bailey’s families receive support from the school and, as such, the school closures resulting from the Covid19 pandemic have had a disproportionately high impact on them. The Bailey’s PTA is initiating fundraising efforts to help provide food services, access to devices, ensure internet connectivity, and support students’ summer learning. Contact baileyspta.president@ gmail.com.
F.C. Distillers Holds 1st Round Of Distilling Workshop
TWO DIFFERENT MESSAGES were painted on a walking bridge at a park near Thomas Jefferson Elementary School last week. One read “8:46” — a reference to the length of time that a Minneapolis police officer had his knee pinned to George Floyd’s neck and caused him to die — painted on a footbridge. That message was crossed out by blue paint, with the letters “WLM,” which seemingly suggested “White Lives Matter.” The City of Falls Church’s Public Works Department removed both messages within the same day they were notified about their existence. (Courtesy Photo)
Falls Church Distillers is launching a summer distilling workshop series for individuals interested in starting their own craft distilling business. The two-day workshops will be held July 8 and 9, August 12 and 13 and September 9 and 10 at the distillery (442 S Washington St A, Falls Church). By offering a hands-on course in distilled spirits, Falls Church Distillers hopes to offer entrepreneurs and budding enthusiasts insight and knowledge into distilling and what it takes to build a business. Workshops will be led by Mitch Abate, head distiller at Down Slope Distilling in Colorado and Dr. Kallie Stavros from Falls Church Distillers. The two-day introductory course covers the beginnings of commercial distilling logistics from building codes to regulations through sales and distribution, which is fol-
lowed by a hands-on workshop that covers commercial production from top to bottom. “We want guests to walk away with a good understanding of establishing a distilling business. By hosting the workshops at our distillery, students will have the chance to see the ins and outs directly,” said Michael Paluzzi, founder of Falls Church Distillers. “They will also have a chance to meet and collaborate with other learners interested in distilling and have the opportunity to consult one on one with teachers.” The curriculum for the two-day workshop includes pre-production, distillation and post-production on day one. Day two discusses commercial logistics, marketing, sales and distribution. The course also covers whisky, gin, rum and vodka runs. For more information about the workshops, visit FCDistillers.com/workshops.
Mary Riley Styles Library Creates Service Award Honoring F.C. Local The Mary Riley Styles Public Library Foundation announced in June a new annual award for outstanding service to the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in honor of Chet De Long. The Chet De Long Award for Outstanding Service, in the amount of $1,000, will be presented annually to a library staff member or volunteer who has shown the qualities of dedication and public service that exemplify De Long’s civic life. The first recipient will be chosen and honored in Fall 2020. De Long has supported the library in many vital ways over more than 25 years. He has served for over 25 years on the library’s governing board. As board member and vice-chairman, he helped to guide library policy, supporting three different library directors. Over the past decade, he was crucial to planning the renovation of the library, including advocacy with the Falls Church City Council. In 2016, he spearheaded efforts to successfully pass a library bond referendum, which financed the renovation and expansion project that began in March. As a volunteer, De Long has offered his services at the library for 26 years.
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The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JULY 2 – 8, 2020 | PAGE 11
JIM SNYDER (lower right), the director of Development Services and Community A HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY goes out to Cameron Van Steyn, who celebrated with Planning for the City of Falls Church, was a major panel participant in a widelyfour grandparents and a few family friends back in June. (P����: C������� S���� watched conference on the future of regional growth hosted by commercial real estate development association NAIOP last week. (P����: N���-P����) V�� S����) For up to 300 hours per year, he has worked behind the scenes at the library, mostly in Technical Services assisting the intake of new material and the deletion of old items, and supporting the library’s ongoing book, CD and DVD sale. While on the board, De Long also championed the idea of a fundraising organization to support the library. After the organization was established in 2004, he served as financial officer and fundraiser for many years. The foundation provides annual assistance for library materials, services, programs and equipment. For all these efforts, the foundation is proud to honor De Long with the establishment in his name of this annual Award for Outstanding Service.
Encore Launches Summer School for Older Adults Summer choral programs may be canceled, but for Encore
Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, the singing doesn’t stop. The Annapolis, Maryland-based nonprofit has come up with a virtual alternative: The Encore University Summer School, a six-week semester of over 20 unique offerings of singing, music courses and vocal instruction led by noted conductors. The program will meet over Zoom from July 6 – Aug. 13 and is open not only to Encore singers, but to all men and women over 55. No prior music experience is needed. From vocal health and technique and music theory classes to educational courses, such as “America’s Women Choral Composers,” “Afternoon at the Opera” and the “Story of The Great American Songbook,” and from rock & roll and choral singing to sing-alongs, the Encore University Summer School will cater to a wide range of interests. There will also be a Sentimental
Journey Singers sing-along of favorite tunes for those with Alzheimer’s or other memory impairment and their caregivers. Each week will include as many as 14 hours of classes, all scheduled from Monday through Thursday starting at 10 a.m. and ending no later than 4 p.m. A faculty performance will take place at the end of the semester. Encore has established a low, all-inclusive price of $50 per person, so participants will have unlimited access to the program. Registration deadline is Friday, July 3. For more information, including a detailed course catalog and to register for the the summer school, visit encorecreativity.org or call 301-261-5747.
The Alden in McLean Opens “Drive-Thru Drama” The Alden in McLean presents “Drive-Thru Drama,” a new model of live theatre in the era of Covid-19. “Drive-Thru Drama”
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is a social-distancing theater format that allows people to enjoy a live theater performance from the safety and comfort of their own cars. Scheduled performances are from 6 – 8 p.m. over two weekends, July 3 – 5 and July 10 – 12. A limited number of timed tickets will be available through The Alden’s website two-weeks prior to the show’s opening. The Alden is a division of the McLean Community Center (MCC) and is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave. Drive-Thru Drama is the brainchild of The Alden’s Director of Youth Theatre Programs Danielle Van Hook. “Nothing replaces the feeling of sitting with your neighbors in The Alden, but I hope this helps bring a little respite away from the screens and returns a level of normalcy to people’s lives,” said Van Hook. The show will be the debut performance of “Small Change,” a play written and directed by Andrew Scott Zimmer. Commissioned by The Alden,
“Small Change” follows the travels of a $1 bill as it journeys through time and space, interacting with different people’s lives and leaving its mark on the world. Actors will perform one, cohesive story through short monologues at various stations in the center’s parking lot. Audience members will be directed to drive the route from actor to actor. The Alden is placing several safety precautions into place to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions’ Covid19 guidelines such as requiring the actors to wear personal protective equipment and setting up the route so that actors are positioned six feet away from the cars and passengers. For more information, visit aldentheatre.org or call 703-7900123, TTY: 711. For ADA accommodations, contact patron services manager Evelyn Hill at evelyn.hill@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 571-2968385.
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A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
As a downward trend in new coronavirus cases continues, Governor Ralph Northam’s announcement that Virginia will enter into a Phase 3 re-opening this week brought sighs of relief from some, and cries of concern from others. Increased traffic seems to indicate that residents are anxious to get back to regular routines. At the same time, more pedestrians on sidewalks, trails, and road shoulders reveals a desire still to stay close to home but get some fresh air and exercise. The Governor stressed that Phase 3 does not mark a return to business as usual, and most precautions – face masks, good hand hygiene, social distancing, staying home when sick, disinfecting often-touched surfaces – still must be observed. Must is the operative word. Not maybe, not sometimes, not once in awhile, but now, and for the not-so-foreseeable future. According to multiple Health Departments, adhering to these smart practices helped reduce the spread of coronavirus, allowing entry into Phase 3. Other states, Texas and Florida among them, relaxed requirements, re-opened too soon, and saw a spike in new cases, leading to a second shutdown in several states. Another shutdown could be devastating to Virginia’s already fragile status, and many of her residents. A frequent call to my office is about face masks. Some callers are seeking a source for facemasks but, more frequently, the call is a complaint about people not wearing facemasks while in public. One constituent said he spent five minutes in a local drug store, where several customers were not wearing face masks. He spoke to the manager, who said he “couldn’t do anything about that.” At a grocery store, some customers and staff were wearing masks incorrectly, with their noses exposed, or
simply hanging under the chin. Yes, the masks were being worn, literally, but they were not being worn effectively. On a public trail, some runners and cyclists sans masks blazed by an elderly couple taking a walk. When the couple reminded them about wearing masks, they were met with inappropriate words and gestures. Sadly, the couple has decided not to use the trails anymore. Governor Northam’s Executive Order mandated wearing face masks, but did not have an enforcement mechanism, relying on personal responsibility instead. That means each one of us. As noted in a previous column, a good rule of thumb for wearing masks is “put on a mask when you step outside your front door.” In a multi-family building (apartments and condos), that will mean donning a mask before you step into the hallway outside your unit’s door. Wear a mask in your building’s elevator, where you collect your mail, in common areas, etc. A mask may not be required in your own yard, but outside of it, put on a mask. Carry a mask or two in your car, or your pocket, and use it! Judging by the number of abandoned masks and gloves in parking lots and along roadsides, personal protective equipment (PPE) is being worn. However, used PPE needs to be discarded properly, in the trash, not in a parking lot. Prevent additional spread of Covid-19, and do the right thing for yourself, for your family, and for your community. Wear a mask! You could even make it a red, white, and blue one for Independence Day celebrations on Saturday! Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT
CHOOSE CAR SEAT: BY AGE & SIZE
THE ONES
WHO ACTUALLY DO.
Week of June 22-28, 2020 Larceny of Bicycles, 500 blk Roosevelt Blvd. Between June 21 and June 22, unknown suspect(s) removed two bicycles from the patio area of a residence.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.
Credit Card Theft & Credit Card Fraud, 300 blk W Broad St. June 23, unknown suspect(s) stole a credit card and fraudulently used it at several area businesses. Larceny-Shoplifting, 1100 blk W Broad St. June 23, 10:29 AM, an unknown suspect took several items of merchandise from a business without paying.
KNOW FOR SURE
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT. VISIT SAFERCAR.GOV/THERIGHTSEAT
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an unknown suspect took several items of merchandise from a business without paying. Sexual Assault, 400 blk S Maple Ave. June 25, Detectives are investigating an isolated report of a sexual assault. The persons involved are known to each other, and there is no threat to the public. Destruction of Property-Graffiti, 400 blk Sherrow Ave and W Cameron Rd. June 26, unknown suspect(s) applied spray paint on the sidewalk, a bench, and a nearby bridge in the area. Identity Theft, 400 blk Sherrow Ave. June 26, unknown suspect(s) fraudulently used an individual’s personally identifiable information to open multiple financial accounts
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Delegate Dick Saslaw’s
Richmond Report July 1st is the usual enactment date for legislation that has passed the General Assembly. 2020 will go down in history as one of the most productive legislative sessions. From no-excuse absentee voting to gun violence prevention, a woman’s right to choose, ERA, increasing the minimum wage, and social justice reform – the General Assembly passed over a thousand bills that Governor Northam signed into law. The Commonwealth is entering into Phase 3 of its Forward Virginia recovery. Please remember we are not out of the woods yet. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping up with safety precautions such as wearing a mask in public, washing your hands, and keeping a safe distance from others. As of this writing, more than 128,000 American lives have been lost to Covid-19. But hundreds of thousands have also been saved by doing our part and abiding by CDC guidelines. Thank you! The “money committees” for the Senate and House of Delegates have been briefed on the most current data available regarding Virginia’s economic picture. Secretary Layne reports there is likely to be a $500 million revenue shortfall from what we anticipated when we built the biennial budget that passed both Chambers. In this report, small businesses realized the most significant impact of Coronavirus. Most larger companies with employees able to work remotely did not experience the same financial consequences. Not surprisingly, online sales increased some 48% during the past several months. The Virginia Employment Commission has processed more than $4 billion as part of 820,000+ unemployment claims that have been filed. It has been no small feat to get the VEC up to the task with such rising unemployment rates during March, April, May, and into June. As we enter into the next phases, we see the number of people filing for unemployment benefits is declining. With the lion’s share coming from the CARES Act, several billion dollars to combat Corornavirus has come to Virginia from the federal government. $200 million went directly to Fairfax County to mitigate the substantial revenue displacement it has experienced. Hundreds of million dollars have been used to increase testing, secure PPE, labs, and direct aid toward combatting the virus. Funds are available to ease housing insecurity
and other issues individuals are facing. State agencies have submitted their adjusted needs for consideration as we prepare for the Special Session in August. Another major concern on everyone’s mind is what the plan looks like for the next academic year. Kudos to the students, parents, and educators that adapted to homeschooling. Yes, as we entered uncharted waters, there were some initial problems and some still linger. It was truly a learning experience for all of us. Thrown into the uncharted waters, the challenge was met head-on. Lessons learned are now being applied to what the next academic year may look like. Public health and safety will be the foundation for going forward. Bear in mind, many students come from families that do not have access to Wi-Fi at home, often are on free or reduced meals, and come from living quarters that do not include areas for convalescing in seclusion. The Secretary of Education, Atif Qarni, has been overseeing five work groups addressing these issues, ongoing health concerns, and trying to provide options for students and parents. Students from PreK-12 will be in a new academic year in the fall. It may not resemble a typical setting and will likely have options for in-person and online learning. The mission of the work groups is to level the learning field – closing learning gaps; the digital divide; food insecurity and basic needs; mental and physical health; and cross-system policy alignment. In the meantime, several localities led by their school boards and school superintendents are presenting their initial plans for how the 2020-2021 school year shapes up. Traditionally, we start the academic year short of staff from classroom teachers to bus drivers. This year will be no exception. Many “high risk” people are looking at other careers or retirement rather than returning to the traditional classroom setting and their work setting. On the front burner for the August Special Session will be criminal justice reform. During the 2020 General Assembly we made significant strides to address systemic shortcomings. Recent events across this nation point to the need for additional action. The Senate Democratic Caucus has presented a comprehensive reform package that will be taken up during the summer special session. For more details, please visit my website www.dicksaslaw.com.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Comparing 1968 to Events of Today
Last weekend CNN reaired in succession four one-hour episodes of the documentary mini-series “1968” which included Tom Hanks as one of its executive producers. It’s amazing that while a good onehour documentary can tell the story of an entire decade or more, it took four hours to tell the story of 1968, which many of us who recall its events agree was perhaps the most pivotal, sea changing year of both our own and the nation’s modern history. It was a good time to re-air that “1968” series this June 26, because the events of this June 2020 alone, starting with the nationally-televised murder of George Floyd on May 25, have measured up to the non-stop sequence of critical events in 1968, FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS when so much came to a head to either create meaningful social change or almost did. But first, consider this June, or May 25 to July 1, 2020. The raw gut-wrenching video of the murder of Floyd under the knee of a uniformed police officer whose face was a picture of evil triggered a national mass revolt that has continued to this day. The nation is seething in angry ferment, and has been met with the most treasonous response from the White House and its dutiful minions in Congress and elsewhere, while at the state and local levels honest leaders are having to struggle with the epochal coronavirus pandemic, its catastrophic health and economic effects, and the explosive anti-racist social ferment. The non-stop demonstrations have driven our current president even crazier than before. Astonishingly incapable of thinking that anything has to do other than with himself, Trump has seen the virus and the protests as designed to make him look bad. So he attacked them back, silencing health professionals, refusing to wear a mask, and organizing mass events in virus hotspots almost as if to dare the virus to try to hurt him further. The same has gone for how he’s reacted to the protests, including his infamous walk across Lafayette Square on June 1. The brutally forced, tear-gas clearing of the peaceful demonstrators from the route Trump subsequently walked, soaked as he was with the body language of hatred and spite, to hold upside down a Bible at the St. John’s Church for a photo op, is an image for the ages nearly as reprehensible as the video of Floyd being suffocated for nine minutes from just the week before. The month has included the revelations of John Bolton’s book, exposing Trump’s endorsement of Chinese concentration camps for the Uyghers and more, Trump’s foreknowledge of Russian efforts to pay bounties to the Taliban for the killing of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, his ongoing efforts at voter suppression and more. On the flip side, there’s been an escalation of anti-Trump efforts from those in his own party, the TV ads of the Lincoln Project, military leaders’ strong repudiation of Trump’s efforts to deploy them domestically, Trump’s nosedive in the polls, and three momentous, pro-civil rights U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and the eradication of the Confederate symbol from the flag of Mississippi . In 1968, the year began with the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and President Johnson’s announcement that he’d not seek re-election. The growing anti-war ferment was met with the assassinations of Martin Luther King in April and Robert Kennedy in June, the burning of inner cities in protest, the police riot at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the rise of the candidacy of the racist George Wallace, and the narrow victory of Richard Nixon over Hubert Humphrey in the November election. Mostly forgotten amid all this was the Christmas eve launch of the first ever manned U.S. space mission to circle the Moon, a great event to suggest the potential for humankind to unite in a peaceful purpose, preceding the Moon landing in July 1969. That was echoed this year on May 30 during the first U.S. manned mission to space in ages. It caused astronaut Doug Hurley to repeat the call of his predecessor Alan Shepard Jr. in 1961 to ignite both man’s higher calling and the engines on the rocket by exclaiming, “Let’s light this candle!” Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
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Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
The Supreme Court on June 25 okayed the Trump administration’s policy of limiting the number of asylum seekers in the country by denying them court appeal rights. That decision came just days after the worldwide marking of the United Nations-sponsored World Refugee Day, June 20. And it comes after President Trump spent the past three years aiming to reduce total refugee levels to zero. Most likely to feel the impact locally is the Arlingtonbased Ethiopian Community Development Council Inc., the refugee-support and State Department-authorized transition agency with offices just off Columbia Pike. I was alerted that this sub-sector of Arlington’s diverse population is among those hit hardest by the coronavirus lockdown. So I logged on last week to several Zoom conversations with the nonprofit’s far-flung constituents. Today’s immigration landscape is a far cry from the 1970s when Arlingtonians (mostly) opened our doors to refugees from the Vietnam War. And the current push to restrict America’s benefits to those born here distances us from our classic international role as a beacon for victims legitimately escaping violence and tyranny. “The current policy of the Trump administration with regard
to refugees represents a departure from the foundational ideals that established this country as a place of refuge for those that are in need of protection and safety,” said the statement from Tsehaye Teferra, president and CEO of the donation-supported council. “We are disheartened by the policies of the current administration.” Teferra founded the counsel in 1983, focusing at first on Ethiopians in the Washington area, but eventually expanding to all refugee groups for help in resettlement, languages, employment and education. The views of individuals the council assembled for World Refugee Day add the human factor to the policy debate. These people came here over the past four years from such trouble hotspots as Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. And they were eager to describe how Covid-19 and racism have affected their coping mechanisms and hopes. “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” said Abeera, who grew up in Somalia but now lives in Malaysia. She read from her children’s story illustrating how to “get outside your box and learn about other people.” Adamou, zooming from Maxwell, North Carolina, described his organizing to “encourage refugee engagement.” His colleague Noel, in Washington at the multi-denominational Church World Service, stressed
the importance of “a narrative with voices of the refugees themselves.” Abdo, a Syrian now in Colorado, spoke of the “social isolation” of refugees who lack a social network. The only positive thing about the coronavirus, he said, “is you have time to spend with your children, to teach them what’s going on in society.” Nezia, a Burundian now in Baltimore, described ECDC’s Emergency Response Fund for refugees who’ve “lost jobs and can’t pay their bills.” Individuals who donated this month were entered in a raffle; prizes included jewelry from Ethiopia and Malaysia. “Most people are not new to the country, so they already have a network,” Nezia said. “But when you support refugees, you are supporting yourself, because they will grow to be your doctors and teachers. *** Political Arlington mourned the passing of retired naval aviator Jim Pebley, a longtime Republican spokesman, guiding light at the Arlington Civic Federation and a tireless fund-raiser to seal the county’s relationship to the Navy ship the USS Arlington. Pebley, 69, died June 23 after 20 months of battling cancer at his retirement residence in Wake Forest, N.C. The Navy, I’m told by his ally, the retired county treasurer Frank O’Leary, has agreed to Pebley’s wish to have his ashes buried at sea. The Arlington’s crew will handle it.
CA L E NDA R
PAGE 14 | JULY 2 – 8, 2020
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR In response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic affecting the globe and policies enacted to avoid social gatherings, the News-Press will publish a list of virtual events weekly in lieu of its regular listings. If you have a virtual event you’d like to see listed, please email calendar@fcnp.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Monday weekly.
CITYEVENTS SATURDAY, JULY 4 Falls Church Farmers Market To Go. The Falls Church Farmers Market has converted to a preorder, to-go event. All orders must be placed in advance of Saturday’s market which will be open from 8 a.m. – noon for pre-order pickup only in front of City Hall (300 Park Ave.). A list of participating vendors and information on preordering can be found at fallsch-
urchva.gov/547/Farmers-MarketTo-Go.
VIRTUALEVENTS
THURSDAY, JULY 2 New Yorker Discussion Group (Online). If any residents enjoy The New Yorker but wish they had someone to chat about it with, they are encouraged to drop into the monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share their thoughts on what they’ve read in a variety of articles. Article to be determined. This discussion will be held online. Visit fallschurchva. gov/LibraryAtHome for details. 2 – 3 p.m. Tissue Paper Painting Teen Crafternoon (Online). Interested participants can spend a creative afternoon with Miss Laura on Mary Riley Styles Library’s Facebook page; all participants will need is one of the Grab and Go Craft kits available via curbside
pickup that started on June 25 at the library, as well as some supplies from around their homes. Additional supplies needed for this craft: spray bottle for water or a paintbrush. Recording of the craft instructions will remain on the library’s Facebook page all summer in case anyone interested misses the initial showing. 3 – 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 Independence Day Readings. The Independence Day Readings that have become a tradition in Falls Church will be virtual this year. Sponsored by the Falls Church Village Improvement Society. This is a patriotic reflection of the U.S.’ foundational documents, and the local contributions to our democratic republic. To join, visitVPIS. org. Noon – 12:30.
MONDAY, JULY 6 Real
Estate
Tax
Payment
Extension Deadline (half). This is the first part of real estate tax payments that are owed. The payment deadline was extended back in April to accommodate for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Payments are accepted all day. City Council Work Session (Virtual). City Council work sessions are held the first and third Monday of the month. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues; the public is not generally invited to speak. 7:30 – 11 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 Troll Wigs School Age Crafternoon (Online). What kind of Troll are you? Interested participants can craft a wig to add to their Troll persona. All items needed are included in the Grab & Go Kit available starting July 1 via curbside pickup at the library.
Some crafters may wish to accessorize their trolls with a new ‘do with fake flowers, shells, and other natural items from the garden, yard, or house. The craft video will remain available on the library’s Facebook page in the Crafternoon playlist throughout the summer. 3:30 p.m.
LIVEMUSIC FRIDAY, JULY 3 Jehovah’s Favorite Choir — 40-seat patio; first come, first serve. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-858-9186
SATURDAY, JULY 4 Tragic Schoolbus — 40-seat patio; first come, first serve. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186.
SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Drum Circle (Open Mic) — 40-seat patio; first come, first serve. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Fa l l s C h u r c h
LO CA L
NEWS BRIEFS
JULY 2 - 8, 2020 | PAGE 15
Beyer Hails ‘Climate Crisis Action Plan’ U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents the 8th District of Virginia that includes the City of Falls Church, yesterday hailed the release of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis action plan, “Solving The Climate Crisis.” The plan recommended the adoption of legislation previously introduced by Beyer, the Green Vehicle Adoption Nationwide (VAN) Act, which would use tax credits to boost production of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, the Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act, which would bolster NASA’s efforts to reduce emissions from the aviation industry, the bipartisan Securing Energy for our Armed Forces Using Engineering Leadership (SEA FUEL) Act (previously enacted in the National Defense Reauthorization Act of 2019), which would direct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to invest in carbon capture technology, the bipartisan Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (currently slated for a full House vote yesterday as part of HR 2, the Moving Forward Act), which would authorize federal agencies to designate National Wildlife Corridors on federal lands in order to create a comprehensive corridor network to boost biodiversity, protect ecosystems, and prevent the extinction of key species, the bipartisan National Ocean and Coastal Security Improvement Act, which would protect ecosystems and communities from coastal threats by supporting coastal conservation and restoration projects, the bipartisan Atlantic Seismic Airgun Protection Act (a version of which previously passed in the House as a successful amendment to the Protecting and Securing Florida’s Coastline Act), which would ban seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean.
EDA Creates “We Have Opened Responsibly” Poster To help businesses show customers that they are meeting the Governor’s mandatory guidelines, the EDA created a free printable flyer. They can be printed or Businesses can get a free poster-sized version by visiting the reception desk just inside the City Hall main entrance, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Any business that displays the flyer or poster agrees to abide by all of the Governor’s current and future Covid-19 guidelines.
Falls Church City Government Closures City of Falls Church offices services will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2020 in observation of Independence Day: City Hall and all government offices (including the Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer’s Office, and Permits Counter). Curbside Pick-Up from the Mary Riley Styles Public Library will not be available Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, July 3-5. Summer Fun Camp through Recreation and Parks will not occur on Friday, July 3. The Library and Community Center are already closed to the public due to Covid-19.
FC Recreation and Parks Department Historic Scavenger Hunt The City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department has organized a Historic Scavenger Hunt around parks and landmarks throughout The Little City. Use the clues provided to identify each park or historic landmark. Once you’ve figured out the clues, then it’s time to visit the parks and landmarks! At each stop, you’ll find a kiosk or sign with a corresponding letter. Unscramble the letters from the nine clues and you’ll crack the code word and win a Historic Scavenger Hunt t-shirt! Scavenger Hunt around parks and landmarks throughout The Little City.
Fireworks Prohibited in the City The City of Falls Church Fire Official reminds residents that it is unlawful for any person to store, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, use or explode any fireworks (including sparklers) within the City limits. All fireworks found in the City are subject to seizure. The above offenses are Class One misdemeanors in the City. Fireworks violations may be reported to the City of Falls Church Police Department at 703-241-5053 (TTY 711).
Stringent Food Safety Practices and Strict Compliance with All Regulations More Important Than Ever Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis Food and Food Handling Regulations for Arlington County, City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, City of Falls Church, Fairfax City, Town of Herndon and Town of Vienna require ALL restaurants and food service establishments to be under the “immediate control” of an individual who possesses a current Northern Virginia Certified Food Manager (NVCFM) Card during ALL hours of operation. ORS Interactive, Inc. (www.orsinteractive.com) is the only provider of the NVCFM Card and issues the NVCFM Card through a consortium agreement with Arlington County, Fairfax County and City of Alexandria. Earn both an ANSI Accredited Food Safety Certification and secure a Northern Virginia Certified Food Manager (NVCFM) Card in as little as one day from ORS Interactive. ORS Interactive, Inc. has more than 20 years of experience providing Food Safety Training & Certification. We offer both public food safety classes (the current schedule is listed on our website) and private food safety classes (minimum of 8 persons required) taught on-site at your location or in the ORS Training & Testing Center in Falls Church. Online Training for the ServSafe Food Safety Certification Exam and advice for reopening or maintaining foodservice establishments during and after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis are also available on the ORS website. ORS Interactive, Inc. / Northern Virginia Certified Food Manager
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200B, Falls Church, VA 22041 E-mail: info@orsinteractive.com; Tel: (703) 533-7600; Web: www.orsinteractive.com Located on Leesburg Pike (Route 7) near Culmore Shopping Center and Bailey’s Crossroads Nuestros trabajadores se podran comunicar en espanol para el beneficio de todas las personas que hablen este idioma.
PAGE 16 | JULY 2 - 8, 2020 AUCTIONS Two Real Estate Auctions! 4 Acres Improvement Matthews, Va. July 15, 1PM. 27 Acres Log Home Improvements South Hill, Va. July 18, 11AM. WWW.CARWILEAUCTIONS.COM VAAR392 (434) 547-9100
ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net
HOME IMPROVEMENT
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Cleaning Services
CLASSI F I E DS ing Appeals will be present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view the meeting virtually via Skype for Business, link provided on city’s webpage at: http://www.fallschurchva. gov. Public comment and questions may be submitted to zoning@fallschurchva.gov until 7:00 pm on July 16, 2020. All comments are provided to the members of the Board of Zoning Appeals and comments received by the deadline will be summarized during the meeting. Meeting agenda, meeting link and meeting materials are available on the BZA webpage: http://www.fallschurchva. gov/BZA Information on the above application is available for review upon request to staff at zoning@fallschurchva.gov.
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PHN, LLC, Trading as: HL Cafe & Restaurant, 6795 Wilson Blvd Ste 16, Falls Church, Virginia 22044-3313 . The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer On Premises, Mixed Beverage Restaurant. Peter Nguyen and Huong Nguyen, Authorized Signatory of PHN, LLC, the Operating Members of HL Cafe & Restaurant. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www. abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.
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court cost. WILLS $195.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com.
Legal Notice Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month. Architectural Advisory Board (alternate) Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church City Employee Review Board Historic Architectural Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Library Board of Trustees Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Regional Boards/Commissions Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Long Term Care Coordinating Council Variance application V1617-20 by Laura and John McNamara, applicant and owner, for a variance to Section 48-238(3)a, to allow a front yard setback of 21.5 feet instead of 30 feet, for the purpose of constructing an addition on premises known as 801 Ridge Place, RPC #53-210-098 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential. Public hearing on the above matters is scheduled for July 16, 2020, 7:30 PM, or as soon thereafter as the item may be heard. All participating members of Board of Zon-
Janine S. Benton, Esq jb@jbentonlaw.com
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KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG By Eileen Levy
A bloomin’ lovely walk today! Sun shine all the way! Lily says hello to all, Pulling me, glad I did not fall. I’m clumsy when she takes me out!
A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Crossword
ACROSS
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1. Eur. distance measures 4. Placed text, perhaps 10. Went from 1 to 10, say 14. Actress Vardalos 15. It has a top and a bottom with nothing in between 16. Pixar clown fish 17. Fact! He wrote “There is no sin except stupidity” 19. “Can this be true?” 20. Bench presser’s pride 21. Suffix for citrus drinks 22. Whac-____ (carnival game) 23. Ice cream alternative, familiarly 25. Fact! This spider is named after the oval shape of its webs 28. Thus 30. Explorer Hernando 31. “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak” writer 34. Commotion 35. Greek god with wings 37. ____ port 38. Fact! It’s a length of time equal to 604,800 seconds 41. Madagascar, par exemple 42. Heroin, slangily 44. They rank below capts. 45. Motley 47. Bobbing on the waves 49. Italian wine region 50. Fact! They were a series of historic conflicts that ended with 1842’s Treaty of Nanking 52. Go in
STRANGE BREW
56. Coal country workplaces 57. “Well, looky there!” 59. 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker Junior 60. Ever so slightly 61. 2019 #1 Lizzo hit suggested by the answer’s initials in 17-, 25-, 38- and 50-Across 64. “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester 65. “Stranger Things” star Ryder 66. “Sprechen ____ Deutsch?” 67. “Let’s not forget ...” 68. “Presenting the next act ...” 69. UFO occupants
Down 1. Big name in book publishing 2. Cheapskate 3. Vanzetti’s codefendant in 1920s crime 4. Hipster beer, for short 5. Japanese consumer electronics brand 6. Snowmobile brand 7. Flooring installer 8. “____ of discussion!” 9. Conk out 10. Enliven 11. “Oh, stop moping!” 12. Nominee for the first two Nobel Prizes in Literature (1901-02) 13. Medicine dispenser 18. To date 22. ____ Lingus 24. Rice-shaped pasta 26. A following? 27. They may come calling 29. The Brady Bill, e.g.
JOHN DEERING
Sudoku
JULY 2 - 8, 2020 | PAGE 17
31. Their, in Spanish 32. Image on the back of a $50 bill 33. Annual June sporting event 34. Reactions at a petting zoo 36. Line part: Abbr. 39. “____ Is Betta Than Evvah!” (1976 album) 40. McKinnon of “SNL” 43. Transfixed by 46. Infomercial knife brand 48. Yogi’s sounds while meditating 49. He plays Steve in “Jobs” 50. City on the Missouri River 51. “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” e.g. 53. To the point 54. First Top 40 hit for Weird Al Yankovic 55. Tricks 58. “What have I done?!” 61. Pan Am rival 62. ____ Tin Tin 63. Hem’s partner
Last Thursday’s Solution T W A I O H S N R O T H D B F F A R U G T E T R Q U O S U R P E E K A N T O N T E S I I N E N S L G E
N A K E D A T T E N T I V E
S P T O E T P O T H K A A S N A T I W E E R S Y I F G S O L I G O P S O
H E D G E O O Z E C H A R M
O E D S S A S E L A M O H A R O A T B R R I N M A R E N O R O O Y M I A M A H A M A C A S P
B E A R M A R K E T S
I N S T O R E S N O W
N O S E N S E D E E
I L L D I A I T Z
By The Mepham Group
Level 1 2 3 4
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
NICK KNACK
© 2020 N.F. Benton
7/5/20
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
PAGE 18 | JULY 2 – 8, 2020
LO CA L
BACK IN THE DAY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 18 • July 1, 2010
Council Divided on Commercial Use of Whittier; RFP Delayed
Baroukh Expected to Be Elected F.C. Mayor By New City Council Tonight
A technical dispute over the number of affordable housing units and their location temporarily derailed the Falls Church City Council’s intentions to approve the final draft of the Whittier Request for Proposals Monday nigbt.
With swing-vote Falls Church Councilman Lawrence Webb announcing Tuesday that he’d “definitely made up his mind” who he will support ...local insiders are convinced that Nader Baroukh, beginning his third year on the Council, will be elected mayor.
School Names Continued from Page 1
by the Fairfax County School Board to change the name of J.E.B. Stuart High School in the Seven Corners area adjacent Falls Church to Justice High in 2017. In Arlington, the Washington and Lee High School’s name was changed to Washington Liberty. Now, the process is underway to change the name of Fairfax’s Robert E. Lee High School and Mosby Woods Elementary. It’s been pointed out in the course of those debates that the push to name schools for Confederates came in the 1950s as a reaction against the 1954 Board Vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision to integrate U.S. public schools. Then, there was a false but prevailing wisdom in the south, including Virginia, that the Confederacy was formed to defend “states’ rights” against an oppressive federal government, and that by that argument, it constituted a moral equivalency of the South with the North. In more recent years, however, that deeply flawed view has been replaced with the true history of events leading up to and following the Civil War. The Confederacy has been more properly understood as an insurgency in defense of slavery against the democratic United States of America, and that elevating Confederate leaders is equivalent to honoring pro-slavery traitors against the U.S. whose insurgency was achieved at the expense of well over 300,000 Union lives who had to fight against slavery. That awareness has led to the removal of many of the monuments to Confederate traitors that were erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy and their allies in the 1890s on as part of the reaction-
ary “Jim Crow” era in the south that included over 3,000 lynchings of Blacks. Yesterday, July 1, a new law that went into effect in Virginia permitting localities to take down Confederate monuments led to the swift removal of a statue of Stonewall Jackson in Richmond. This realization was extensively expressed in many of the public comments submitted and read aloud each for up to three minutes in succession by four members of the School staff at Tuesday’s School Board meeting. “Monsters of the Confederacy” was how one citizen contrasted those figures to the Founding Fathers of the U.S., who were around almost a century earlier and while in the cases of Jefferson, Mason and George Washington, owned slaves but put their lives on the line for the principle of what Jefferson penned in the 1776 Declaration of Independence as the notion that “All men are created equal,” a truly radical concept at the time. For all their given flaws in the context of the times, these Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for the abolition of slavery altogether, and Mason was quoted in the comments of some about how Mason was an outspoken critic of slavery who argued in the 1780s that southern states should perhaps not be brought into the Union for that reason. Others argued that the Founding Fathers were just as bad as the Confederates because of their unrepentant ownership of other human beings, and these times “call for a reawakening of society.” Petition signatures of over 700 persons calling for the school name changes here were invoked. In all, the News-Press counted 51 persons submitting statements opposed to the name changes and 13 in favor. At the beginning of the meeting School Board member Phil Reitinger argued that not all the
public comments be read, but his view did not prevail given the special circumstances of a virtual online meeting. “This is part of our job and these are unprecedented times. We should stick to it,” said board member Susan Dimock. After over two hours of reading the comments, Reitinger said he “agreed with the notion of beginning a process” of examining the issue. “There are mixed legacies. We can’t forget and forgive, but perhaps only understand,” he said. But he said “we should not reinvent the wheel,” noting that leaders at George Mason University undertook an extensive study of the merits and demerits of the man after whom their school was named, and decided not to change it. “It is important to get this right,” he said. “It will be difficult to build a consensus in the community. Don’t rush it.” Board member Sue Litton said, “Obviously, there is a lot of interest in the community. We should consider hiring a consultant because this issue could suck up a lot of energy and it is different than the issue of equity.” Board member Lawrence Webb said that he has a limited understanding of who Mason was, but that “we wouldn’t be a country without” the contributions of Mason and Jefferson, although he said, “They didn’t have people of color in mind. African-American history is not taught at all even now.” In terms of the school system’s goals of “equity, diversity and inclusion,” he said, “There is still a lot of work to do.” Every student, he added, “needs to feel there is a level playing field, and I find that there are many who don’t feel that way now.” Board member Laura Downs said that “students are less concerned about a name change than about these equity issues in their lives.”
THIS IS MILA. She is a two year old daschund mix with very long legs. When she runs she looks like a baby deer. Mila is an escape artist so if you happen yo see her off leash, please don’t be afraid of grabbing her. She is very sweet and friendly and ALWAYS has a tag with her family’s number attached to her collar. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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JULY 2 – 8, 2020 | PAGE 19
Quarantine Breeds Ingenuity With F.C. Creators of New Mystery Podcast Series
by Brian Indre
Falls Church News-Press
A group of high school students from Falls Church got creative while stuck at home due to the novel coronavirus by producing Rockfish Gap, a fictional serial podcast. The drama is reminiscent of the Golden Age of Radio, before the advent of television and the internet, and like all good stories, it aims to keep listeners on edge as the series unfolds over eight episodes. Rockfish Gap is a new fictional podcast that premiered on July 1 and gets its namesake from the location where it takes place, a valley where the Blue Ridge Mountains join the Shenandoah Valley. The podcast begins by taking the listener on a journey with four students who leave the Little City to briefly escape the 2020 pandemic, but the quartet vanishes deep into the Shenandoah forest as they search for the White House of the Woods that is only known through folklore. An investigative journalist and her eccentric sidekick try to crack the case of the missing four as their tattered campsite and an old voice recorder were the only things left behind. Colter Adams, a recent gradu-
ate of George Mason High School, and his brother Charlie Adams are editors for the George Mason High School newspaper The Lasso (or were, in Colter’s case), and are both actors who have performed in plays at Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron, where a majority of the cast is from. Adams is also a composer and music producer, which he contributes to the podcast. “There’s a whole community of artists who have nothing to do right now, they’re bored out of their minds,” said Colter, who came up with the idea to create the podcast along with his brother Charlie. The brothers combined their love of the outdoors and of listening to the early radio show, “The Big Broadcast,” as influence to their podcast idea. “We drew a lot of inspiration from that classic style of old broadcasting along with the new wave of really well edited and produced audio dramas that are gaining in popularity,” Colter said. “My brother and I are also huge outdoors people, we love spending time in the Shenandoahs and have spent countless hours out there hiking trails. It became a personal thing for us because we have heard a lot of stories, myths, and legends from the area, and we wanted to
News-Press
TO LETTERS THE EDITOR Continued from Page 6
equity beyond the naming issue. If we are to learn anything from the recent protests of police brutality, it is that communities of color have been hurting for too long, with their messages too often falling on deaf ears. Is Falls Church, as a predominately white and wealthy suburb, ready to do the work required to educate ourselves on how our Black and Brown brothers and sisters have been legally and systemically oppressed for hundreds of years? It’s a lot of catching up to do, and it requires the active participation of our government officials, community organizations, schools, businesses and community members.
I want to see our library highlight Black and Brown authors and justice issues in their programming. I want to see representatives from the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation as regular guests and lecturers in our schools. I want to see an informational booth at the farmer’s market about how communities of color have less access to healthy foods, and how climate change disproportionately affects poor communities of color. I want to see a class at the community center dedicated to racial reconciliation and sharing social justice resources. I want to see our City Council conduct a needs analysis on how to better serve our most vulnerable residents. Learning about and disman-
take some of that mythology that is underemphasized or unknown and turn it into something more coherent,” which is where the idea for the podcast took shape, Colter explained. He explains that putting together a podcast or radio show was a way to pursue a lot of the artistic projects that they had already been working on. “It’s been really hard as a musician in a band to find opportunities for expression in the community during Covid-19 and under quarantine. Charlie and my friends that are involved in this project are all artists, and we really wanted to find a medium that is just as effective and powerful, something that can communicate and tell a story without the problems that would come with doing live shows and the issues of getting large groups of people together at this time,” Colter said. During the quarantine, Colter and Charlie, who serve as the podcast’s writers and showrunners, began the production process with the help and expertise of a friend Andrew Nguyen who serves as writer and executive producer in the project. Nguyen is an established young filmmaker who recently graduated from Falls Church High School and tling racism in the United States will be a continuous project. Falls Church has a role to play, as do we all. So let’s get to work. Toni Lewis Falls Church
Mason Alumni: School Name Should Change With World Editor, Regarding the renaming of George Mason High School, I am an alumnus, the first president of the alumni association and its current co-chair. In other words, I have a long history of interest in its continued success. The world has changed since GMHS was named and, given the timing of the new high school, we have an opportunity to send a clear educational message to our students...we discriminate against no one. Research has shown that,
is off to Virginia Commonwealth University arts school in the fall. A podcast proved to be the perfect medium to produce while social distancing, since the cast and crew were able to contribute from near and afar. Natalie Ingalls, Ciara Curtain and CC Meade contributed from Falls Church, while Derek Dallas recorded his parts from southern Virginia and Gillian Murphy recorded her parts from Cambodia, where she currently resides. Two family friends of the Adams recorded their parts from their home in Oklahoma, and were chosen for their accents that helped give life to the dialogue between characters. Charlie explains that during the creative process of storyboarding, what had at first seemed impos-
sible to portray or communicate through audio became possible through the talent of the cast and their character development. “It was really cool to see them take these personalities that were nothing before and make the character who they were,” he said. Rockfish Gap has more production behind the scenes than what will be heard on the podcast. Dolly Lebow and Daisy Forbes are responsible for the show’s aesthetic, including all of the art for the show’s website, Instagram page and t-shirt design that will soon be for sale. Katy Shakula is marketing director and responsible for the visual advertising content. All eight episodes of Rockfish Gap will be made available on all podcast platforms when they are released weekly on Wednesdays.
throughout our country, educational systems have adopted the following policy “School names must not discriminate and/or cause offense on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexuality, or gender.” There are five (5) races: Black/African American, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, & White. The last school named in Falls Church was Mary Ellen Henderson, a female black/ African American. If we name another school based on one race, the clear message is that we are racist...if not today, in the future. We should not select a name based upon what it means to one race, but what it means to all races. If the name is changed, what should the options be? In researching the top High Schools the majority are named after their Town or City, which is not an option for Falls Church. Following are a few ideas: 1) Horizon High 2) Virginia High (Wyoming
High in top 100) 3) Academic High 4) University High 5) Providence High. I’m certain that your readers will have great ideas. Judy Fischer White Vienna
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
PAGE 20 | JULY 2 -8, 2020
Top Left- FOR SALE 7307 Allan Ave, Falls Church Top Right- COMING SOON (pic attached) 7800 Antiopi Street, Annandale -4 Bedrooms -3.5 Bathrooms -Large Fenced-in Yard w/Deck -2-Car Garage Bottom Left- SOLD - pic attached 317 Lincoln Ave, Falls Church City -5 Bedrooms -4.5 Bathrooms -1-Car Garage -FCC Schools Bottom Right - Buyers Wanted Square Attached 7
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