July 6 - July 12, 2023
Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • V o l . X X X III N o . 21
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
A MidSummer Shift to The Fall
GRANDFATHER OF BLACK BASKETBALL
Primaries Over, Now Comes a Pivot to November Elections by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
The experts on both sides of the aisle and in non-partisan “experts” land, as well, were genuinely shocked at the outcome in the 37th District Democratic Primary election last month. Its boundaries having been modified by redistricting last year, nonetheless everyone, including those with access to polling, genuinely thought it was going to be a cake walk for State Sen. Chap Petersen to extend his unbroken 20 year winning streak of state legislative victories (his only loss over that span came in a failed effort to win his party’s nomination to run for lieutenant governor in 2005). Like in 2005, when he massively outspent ($920,000 to $394,000) former U.S. Congressman Leslie Byrne in a losing effort, Petersen last month outspent his far less well-known rival Saddam Salim, $856,000 to $151,000. Petersen even got the endorsement of the powerful Washington Post, generally considered a king maker in the wider region. But he did not get the endorsement of the mighty Falls Church News-Press, and apparently that counted for more. Many local politicos in Falls Church, the city of 15,000 recently moved into his new 37th District, backed Petersen if only because he was considered a shoe-in to win, and they wanted to be on their projected new
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UNVEILED AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY at the entrance to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) sports complex named for him was this bronze statue of Falls Church native Edwin Bancroft Henderson, called the “Grandfather of Black Basketball.” Shown here at the unveiling were Henderson family members including Henderson’s grandson, current Falls Church activist Dr. Ed Henderson (see story, Page 9). (News-Press Photo)
Del. Simon: Here’s What July 1 Brings in New Laws
by Delegate Marcus Simon
Virginia’s newest laws took effect on July 1, 2023. These laws, passed during the 2023 legislative session, cover a wide range of issues that impact the lives of Falls Church residents every day including issues like pedestrian safety, background checks for school staff, health and human services, jury duty, online age verification, landlord tenant law, and how we treat people housed in Virginia prisons. Here is a breakdown of some new laws as you go
about your daily routine. Whether you are driving on local roads to get errands done or navigating Virginia’s seemingly always-under-construction highways, you will want to take note of two new laws regarding pedestrian and first responder safety. Virginias are now required to stop for pedestrians at clearly marked crosswalks, regular pedestrian crossings, and any intersection where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. Virginia’s existing “Move Over”
law, which was initially intended to protect first responders operating on highways shoulders, has been expanded, obliging drivers to change lanes or slow down when possible for all stopped vehicles on the side of the road with flashing lights or flares. Finally, cars fitted with aftermarket modifications that make your front headlights appear blue can no longer be operated legally on Virginia roads, so you may need to put the boring old white lights back on your car.
Several new laws that went into effect this week were designed to improve the health and safety of children and teens here in Virginia. After learning that Fairfax County school officials failed to receive notice of the arrest of a middle school teacher who’d been arrested and charged in Chesterfield County because local police sent an e-mail to a non-working e-mail address,
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Ukrainian Refugee Celebrates Her Freedom on Fourth of July by Catherine Kane
Falls Church News-Press
Olena Liashenko knows the importance of independence. The Falls Church resident fled her home country of Ukraine in May 2022 by way of Poland and Mexico. The triumphant expressions of patriotism that commence around the United States on July 4 are a long-standing ritual for those whose families have been in America for generations. But throughout our country’s history, new cohorts of people have taken part in the annual celebration of our nation’s independence from the British in 1776. Every one of these immigrants and refugees have their own relationships with July 4, and Liashenko’s centers on her newfound American identity and hope for Ukraine. “I feel like this is a holiday for me too,” she said. “Because I know the price of independence. I know the price of liberty.” Liashenko lived in Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine.
Kryvyi Rih endured several attacks by Russian artillery in February and April 2022, killing multiple civilians. Liashenko, with her then-12 year-old son in tow, fled to Krakow, Poland, where they stayed for nearly two months. A friend loaned her money for two plane tickets to Mexico, where she was going to try to seek asylum at the US-Mexico border. “I arrived in Mexico on April 26 and the President of the United States closed the border for Ukrainians on April 25,” Liashenko said. “[Biden] announced the United for Ukraine program on April 25. I had to ask a friend to fill out papers for me, but we were stuck in Mexico City for three weeks.” The United for Ukraine program is a Department of Homeland Security program that allowed 100,000 Ukrainian refugees entry into the United States if they had sponsorship from a US individual or organization. Ukrainians admitted through the program are also granted work authorization.
Once Liashenko and her son were admitted into the US, they lived at a friend’s house in Maryland for three months before moving to Falls Church. Members of Welcoming Falls Church, a non-profit organization in the Little City that helps settle refugees, took them in. “[Welcoming Falls Church members] hosted me and my son in their basement for three months and I’m so grateful to these people,” she said. “They hosted us for free. They provided us with their help and support.” After three months, she found a full-time job and moved into her own apartment. Now, Liashenko works as the Creative Director at the US-Ukraine Foundation. “I don’t feel like I’m a second class person as a foreigner,” Liashenko said about her experience in America. “Almost everyone I meet, they’re immigrants too, maybe not first generation, but second. Everyone is an immigrant here.” This Fourth of July, Liashenko dropped her son off at a summer camp on Chincoteague Island
and is vacationing with her adopted cat in Virginia Beach. She planned on walking the boardwalk and watching fireworks.
“I will celebrate Independence Day with Americans, because I believe that my country will be independent one day as well,” Liashenko said.
UKRAINIAN REFUGEE Olena Liashenko celebrates July 4th on the beach. (Courtesy: Olena Liashenko)
In M e mor i a m: Beverly Ann (Cappelletti) Laub Beverly Ann (Cappelletti) Laub, of Falls Church, Va., died on June 26, 2023 at the age of 79. Born in Waterbury, Ct., to an immigrant family, she is preceded most recently in death in 2020 by her mother Louise Cappelletti-Ingala whom she cared for at home, and by her husband, Mike Laub in 2021. She is survived by brothers Fred (in NY) and Ronald (in MD) and by married sons and grandchildren: Peter (Jenny Nowlin; Michael, Oskar)
and Brian (Christina Conell; Alexander, Max). Bev graduated from Marymount College in 1963 and worked in Washington as an executive secretary with the American Bankers Association and later in Boston as an executive secretary for the National Wildlife Federation. In 1979 she moved to Falls Church with Mike to raise their children, and later worked as a secretary for two pastors at Christ Crossman United Metho-
dist Church. A long-time member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church of Alexandria, her faith was central to her life as was her extended family. Bev was a generous and active member of the community, singing in her church choir, participating in bible groups, book groups, volunteer outreach groups, and as an alto and board member of the New Dominion Chorale. She also joined the National Philharmonic Chorale for
singing trips to China and in Italy, where she visited relatives. Bev cultivated close friendships all her life, becoming a central and beloved figure in the neighborhoods where she lived. Funeral mass will be held Monday, July 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, (1427 W Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22302). Burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Falls Church.
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Statewide Mobilizations Gearing Up for November Elections tion to the state senate. A fundraiser has been organized for him in Arlington next week with state senators from this area – Barbara Favola and Adam Ebbin – as co-hosts, and Del. Simon will be there. For Democrats, the issues will center on abortion rights, Simon said. By contrast, for Republicans, they will focus on “parental rights.” In a recent GOP post, Republican Governor Glen Youngkin was cited appearing on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News last week, saying the “parental rights issue” will determine this November’s election. A equal number of 14 Democrats and 14 Republicans are not seeking re-election in the November election. Democrats fighting to gain a majority in the House of Delegates will be working with their new House minority leader Del. Don Scott, just a year into his role after replacing Del. Eileen Filler-Corn. As area lawmakers Del. Kaye Kory, Ken Plum and Filler-Corn are retir-
ing, numerous others besides VanValkenburg are seeking to advance to the state senate, including Danica Roem and five others (Sally Hudson, Elizabeth Guzman, Clint Jenkins, Sunas Subramanyam, and Angela Williams Graves). Kory was redistricted into the same 53rd District as Del. Simon, so she chose not to compete with him for the seat. As for Chap Petersen, his stunning defeat last month will allow him to focus more on his law practice. “As the world knows, I was defeated for re-
election in the Democratic primary and will not be serving as a State Senator in 2024,” he wrote in an email to supporters this week. “When I was elected to the Senate in 2007, Virginia was a very different place. I know because I helped change it.” He cited a dozen bills he played a key role in passing, including successfully taking on Dominion Power and concluded, “I came from a family with a long history in Virginia, through good times and bad. I did my best to live up to that legacy.”
BEST of
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state senator’s good side. Many of those people were angry at the News-Press for the same reason, feeling it would make it harder to get bones from Richmond tossed their way if relations were anything less than silky smooth. After all, veteran State Sen. Dick Saslaw has done so much for little Falls Church. Saslaw, by the way, remains the City’s senator in Richmond until the end of the year when he officially retires, something that might be a cause of some confusion since Petersen had gone around town in the last year so convinced he’d be Saslaw’s successor that more than a few people thought he was the City’s incumbent up until the June 20 election day. That carried over to an invitation to speak at Falls Church’s Memorial Day ceremony. Barely noted in all this was the fact that Falls Church’s man in the state House of Delegates was unopposed, so he had no primary last month. That man,
Del. Marcus Simon, since being first elected in 2014 continues to climb the leadership ladder within his party in Richmond. He will be on the ballot in November, opposed only by Libertarian Party candidate David Crance, who has been active in the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and as a parent in the F.C. Kiwanis Little League. But without a major party opponent this year, Simon told the News-Press in an interview at the paper’s weekly pow wow lunch, he and other “safe” Democrats will focus their attention this summer and into the fall on winning back Democratic control of the House of Delegates. Currently, Democrats are four seats short of retaking control of that body which, given a Republican governor, has put them at a real disadvantage. Key downstate races include the hotly contested one facing Democratic Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg outside of Richmond. He is leaving the House of Delegates to seek elec-
m
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New Law in Virginia: Stopping for Pedestrians Now Mandatory
Continued from Page 1
background checks for school staff throughout Virginia have been strengthened. Each division superintendent is now required to designate an employee as the division safety official and provide updated contact information to the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety. This will enable the sharing of information about arrests and convictions across jurisdictions within the Commonwealth and
even across state lines, ensuring a more comprehensive background check system. Another new law requires health insurers, health maintenance organizations, and corporations providing health care coverage subscription contracts to provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for children 18 years of age or younger that includes one hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear, up to a cost of $1,500, every 24 months. The online landscape will
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also see some adjustments. Pornography websites will be required to implement an age verification system to restrict access to their content, ensuring compliance with age restrictions and protecting minors. If you are a tenant worried about rising rents, you’ll now be entitled to greater notice of rent increases to give you more time to seek a new housing alternative. Landlords who own four or more units will have to provide written notice of any rent increase to their tenants at least 60 days in advance, granting tenants more time to adjust to potential changes in their housing expenses. Families of individuals with developmental disabilities receiving waiver services will have more options to draw down their benefits in the manner that best suits their unique needs and circumstances thanks to amendments made to several waiver programs. Virginians with disabilities will now be paid the same minimum wage as every other worker
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participating in the labor force, with the abolition of Virginia’s sub-minimum wage this week. If you are called for jury duty this year, your daily stipend will have nearly doubled with an increased allowance of $50 per day, up from the previous $30. If you’ve had to endure sexual harassment in the workplace and negotiated a settlement with your employer, you can no longer be required to sign a nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement that has the purpose or effect of concealing the details of your claim from the public. In a step toward abolishing solitary confinement in Virginia, prisons will be required to provide incarcerated individuals in solitary confinement with a minimum of four hours per day dedicated to “out-of-cell programmatic interventions or other congregate activities.” This law aims to ensure that those in solitary confinement have meaningful human interaction and access to programs that promote their well-being and rehabilitation.
Virginians who employ certified midwives to help them with their pregnancy and the delivery of their children will now receive care that can include the prescription of and administration of drugs and devices within the scope of their practice, improving the quality of care one can receive. Lastly, in a nod to Virginia’s cultural heritage, the Chincoteague Pony from Chincoteague Island has been designated as the official pony of the Commonwealth. This symbolic recognition celebrates the unique contribution of these ponies to Virginia’s identity When July 1, 2023 arrived, Virginians experienced the impact of these new state laws throughout their day. From safer roads for pedestrians to stronger protections for vulnerable populations and enhanced rights for individuals affected by local government actions, these laws aim to improve various aspects of daily life for Virginia residents.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Falls Church Business News & Notes
NEWS BRIEFS
American Dream in Falls Church
Fairfax Supervisor Chair McKay Hails Law Enforcement
F.C. Chamber members Joe Wetzel and Ken Trotter highlighted the local art and home scene in their appearance on “The American Dream,” which recently premiered on the Travel Channel. Joe Wetzel, president of Falls Church Arts, gave the host, Heather Devoto, a tour of the gallery on West Broad Street. Ken Trotter of TTR Southeby’s International Realty took Heather Devoto through a contemporary waterfront home in the Lake Barcroft area. The brief segment may be viewed at youtu. be/Fruo-n5bnD0.
Renting to Refugees Welcoming Falls Church recently welcomed a family from Afghanistan with children with the assistance of Insight Property Group and Falls Green, the launch partners of the Welcoming Landlord Network. The organization had strong participation from individuals contributing to the donation drive and volunteers who helped on movein day. The organization is making plans to welcome a fourth family in September. Those individuals and businesses that are interested in joining the team may contact Welcoming Falls Church at welcomingfallschurch.org/.
Legal Basics 101 The Capital Region SBDC is hosting a workshop for small businesses. This will cover topics including the rule of law and why it matters, impacts on small businesses, how to build a strong legal foundation and specific legal structures and laws that may be encountered at all phases. Archie Alston II is the speaker and there will be time for questions. The fee is $35 via PayPal and the link will be shared upon registration at clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=40430051.
Arts Grants Sessions Offered The Virginia Commission for the Arts is hosting Zoom sessions on upcoming grant opportunities with guidance on completing the grant applications. The session for those interested in media arts will be held on Wednesday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m., and the session for dance applicants will be held on Thursday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m.. Visit arts.gov/news/events for more details.
Northrop Delivers Training Platform
“During our June 27th Board Meeting I joined Supervisor Storck and Supervisor Lusk in presenting a Resolution recognizing the law enforcement personnel and others who contributed to the successful resolution of the recent Route 1 standoff,” Fairfax Board of Supervisors chair Jeff McKay wrote in letter to constituents this week. “In March, officers from the Mount Vernon Police District Station encountered an individual in her vehicle armed with a gun experiencing a mental health crisis on one of our county’s busiest roads. The individual barricaded herself in her car on Richmond Highway, resulting in its closure. Police officers were quick to respond and addressed the situation with caution. After a 34-hour standoff, officers were able to safely take the woman into custody. “Most people watching this situation unfold on the news were probably predicting a different outcome, as we’ve seen many times across the country. I grew up right around the corner from where this incident happened, and I don’t think most people are aware of just how busy this particular area of the county is. There were so many moving pieces to this situation and the way everything was handled is remarkable. Despite the significant disruption the situation caused, we saw a peaceful outcome. The result of this incident is one that our community can be proud of. This is a true testament to how well our law enforcement and civilian responders work together,” he wrote.
Non-Emergency Call Center For Mental Health Established
Northrop Grumman delivered an Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) training platform to the Polish government two years earlier than expected. This modernizes Through “Marcus Alert” legislation, their air and missile defense forces, and the early training will make Poland the first the Fairfax County Department of Public U.S. ally to deploy IBCS in the field. Safety Communications (9-1-1) is coordinating with the Regional Crisis Call Center Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls to connect people to mental health or behavChurch Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org. ioral health assistance in non-emergency situations. In Fairfax County, Marcus Alert protocols integrate with existing initiatives. These initiatives include Diversion First, the Co-Responder Program, an existing partnership between Fairfax County Police Department, and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board. Crisis Intervention Teams are trained law enforcement paired with trained clinical staff and respond to behavioral health related emergency and non-emergency calls in the community. twitter.com/fcnp facebook.com/fallschurchcity fcnewspress Empathetic and trained professionals are
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available to talk or text 24/7. These professionals offer immediate assistance, such as referrals for community services and guidance on behavioral health services, can be accessed by calling 703-527-4077, or text 85511.
Transportation Commission to Welcome New Chief Tonight Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission will have a conversation with Metro general manager and CEO Randy Clarke at its monthly meeting in Arlington tonight, and will review local and national trends as public transit agencies adopt zero- and reduced-fare policies.. Clarke will provide updates on recent initiatives at Metro and Commissioners will have an opportunity to answer questions. NVTC Executive Director Kate Mattice will provide a status update on zero-fare and reduced-fare options among bus providers in Northern Virginia within the context of larger national trends. DASH General Manager/CEO Josh Baker will then provide a status update on DASH’s nearly two years of experience operating with zero-fares.
U.S. Customs Interrupts Major Drug Run at Dulles Clandestine labs across the globe are cooking cathinone concoctions quickly in the hopes of slipping these new substances past law enforcement before authorities can identify them, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were up to that challenge recently at Washington Dulles International Airport, a Customs statement this week reported. On June 26, CBP officers intercepted two boxes destined to an address in Washington, D.C., that contained about 71 pounds of a N,N-Dimethylpentylone Hydrochloride, a substituted cathinone and a scheduled I controlled substance. Substituted cathinones are modified based on the structure of cathinone. Cathinones cause psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects similar to amphetamines. The Dimethylpentylamine load arrived from China and was manifested as beauty products. CBP officers inspected the contents and discovered multiple vacuum-sealed bags that contained a white, crystalized substance. CBP officers tested the substance using a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool which identified the substance as N,N-Dimethyl Pentylamine Hydrochloride. The shipment weighed 32.2 kilograms, or about 70 pounds.
PAGE 6 | JULY 6 - 12, 2023
(Published by Benton Communications, Inc.) Founded in 1991 Vol. XXXIII, No. 21 July 6 - 12, 2023 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •
Nicholas F. Benton Owner & Editor-In-Chief nfbenton@fcnp.com
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To Contact the News-Press phone: 703-532-3267 fax: 703-342-0347 email: fcnp@fcnp.com display advertising sjohnson@fcnp.com 703-587-1282
classified & Legal ads classads@fcnp.com letters to the editor letters@fcnp.com News & Notes newsandnotes@fcnp.com Obituaries obits@fcnp.com subscriptions distribution & delivery delivery@fcnp.com www.fcnp.com The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area. Offices are at 105 N. Virginia Ave.., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2022Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.
E ditorial
E D I TO R I A L
A Newspaper With No Ads?
A concerned and conscientious friend of the News-Press came to our editor this last week with an alarming discovery. He’d leafed through the entire edition of the Washington Post’s Saturday, July 1 edition, he said, to find that it had no display ads. None. Period. It was an anomaly for sure, and an unsurprising sign of the times, but not by much. The problem is a lot worse than we’re being led to believe. It’s not something that a little lip service or “business as usual” approaches will fix. Is it as big a problem as homelessness in America? Well, it is of the same magnitude, and a sure sign of the demise of democracy. In the case of the Post, of course, nobody really worries because it is owned by one of the richest men in the world, Jeff Bezos, who is apparently willing to lose as much money as it takes to keep the paper afloat. But, sadly, we are not seeing that his ownership of the paper, now one of at most only three powerful newspaper institutions serving the nation’s 330 million people, is based on anything more than the same kind of massive self-interest that is accelerating our society toward a swift and cannibalistic end right now. In Bezos’s case, we are told his involvement has more to do with gaining influence over government agencies that impact his business empire than anything else that could, God forbid, be conceived to be in the greater national interest or anything like altruism. (“Altruism:” that strange little word that has become more outcast in our culture than an orphan child asking for more gruel.) Oh, please tell us we’re wrong, Jeff! Reading life stories of people like Bezos, not “into the manor born,” not a blue blood but someone who had the skill, and sufficient but not boundless financial resources, at least at first, to parlay opportunities into ridiculous profits, would tend to engender some hope in the rest of us. Maybe this lucky, and without a doubt also genius, one among us will temper his personal gains to the good of us all. Not dumb enough to hold our breath, we’re also unwilling to give up hope. People just don’t appreciate well enough what the consequences will be, with the demise of newspapers. What got our founder, owner and editor into this business? It wasn’t to get rich, that’s for sure. It wasn’t to covet influence or power, either. To him it was, and is, his response to a calling to serve, being the seminarian he was, a mission or ministry. Newspapering is far more than merely writing, although it is based on and elevates the use of words. Its value to us all lies in how it confronts its readers with the totality of what a community represents to each and every one of its fellow citizens, past present and future. Nothing exemplifies and celebrates better what being in a community means.
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Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
There is no point in rehashing the tired arguments that worked on the current U.S. Supreme Court to thrust us, ankles up, back to the 1950s if not centuries before. There is nothing virtuous or valid about the decisions that have so callously stripped all women of their right to autonomy on matters concerning her own body, that abolished Biden’s student loan forgiveness program and has suddenly threatened millions with financial ruin, that granted a business owner the right to deny services to an entire class of persons even though it was not in response to any particular perceived offense, and ended the exercise of “affirmative action” to help ensure that culturally-driven financial hardships do not prevent some among our most brilliant young people from getting the education that will be to the benefit of our entire society and the world. This Supreme Court is an abomination. If humanity somehow and someday works it way past this current mess, this season’s decisions will collectively be denounced as worse than the Dred Scott or other pro-slavery Supreme Court rulings of our regrettable past that it cost over 600,000 young American lives lost to a bloody Civil War to set right. Now is not then, it is worth reminding ourselves, and a comparable outcome now would make the Civil War seem like a junior high picnic. Yet, it seems there is no way forward that would avert this except for a powerful blow, done as a good thing, to the American psyche. Aliens, if you hear this, can you do something to help us out here? These backward-driven actions by the Supreme Court have done far more to damage the American spirit than 911 ever did. The latter event provoked a rally of the American spirit, but these court decisions just leave the vast majority of Americans flummoxed. The 911 attack came against us. The Supreme Court has represented an attack from within. Yes, the Supreme Court needs
to be expanded to one justice per federal court circuit, the way it was done in the 1860s. It is a desperately needed step, because the horrible moves by the current SCOTUS majority are not going to be stopped any other way. It is not lost on me that Princeton professor Johnathan Israel, whose tomes written on the Enlightenment and its role in the American revolution are invaluable, followed them up with one entitled, “The Enlightenment That Failed.” Prof. Israel argued that around 1840 the Enlightenment zeal behind the Declaration of Independence and U.S. The Constitution had begun to dissipate. In my view, the 1828 election of the regrettable Andrew Jackson might have been the turning point. Imported nihilism and cynicism led soon to the War Between the States, despite the best efforts of one of the few good guys left, Sen. Henry Clay, to delay the inevitable for 30 years to a time when Clay’s protege, Abe Lincoln, was equipped with the means to fight against the British-inspired national schism. The Trump Supreme Court majority today is philosophically rooted in a combination of preand post-Enlightenment thinking, with Justice Alito citing a 13th century case. The profound implication underlying the U.S. Constitution, of an individual’s “inalienable right” to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” was a unique and explicit affirmation that grew out of the Enlightenment and, of course, formed the basis for the American Revolution, the successful prosecution of the Civil War and the steadgfast expansion of human rights to protect women, minorities, gays and lesbians, and all disadvantaged people and classes. Every great expansion of American influence globally, at least into the 1970s, has been based on this fundamental Enlightenment notion. For the good of humanity as a whole, these notions have knocked repressive and hateful practices on their collective keesters around the world for well over a century. So, it is up to us, in this time and this place, to set things right yet again. Humanity needs to be steeled in its resolve to achieve this outcome, drawing on the best works in literature, poetry, song and philosophy, from the eras that created and fought for this constitutional democracy.
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JULY 6 - 12, 2023 | PAGE 7
to float a had spoken out against publicly Our Man in Arlington board bond referendum funded pools, and was joined by the for public pools. Jaycees. A Sun editorial urged cau-
By Charlie Clark
County residents of all walks and ages take advantage of yearround pools at our three public high schools. But I’d wager few lap-swimmers think back to the controversies that preceded the opening of their original versions in 1973. Consider the Arlington of the mid-1960s, as portrayed in coverage of the pools’ genesis by the Northern Virginia Sun. With legal segregation only recently banned, summer water fun in the county was still available only privately — two country clubs, neighborhood clubs (Arlington Forest, Dominion Hills, Overlee and Donaldson Run), Knights of Columbus, Cherrydale’s Northern Virginia Aquatic Club (I was a member) and dozens of home and apartment complex pools. But for blacks there was only the crowded (and now-defunct) Veterans Memorial YMCA Pool in Green Valley. The limited practical option for those in Halls Hill was finding transportation to D.C.’s East Potomac Park. “The only reason there aren’t public pools is because whites have been afraid to put their bodies in the same water with black bodies,” said Charles Carroll Moran of the Parish Advisory Council at Blessed Sacrament Church. There was also demand for greater opportunities for swim lessons for all families. After years of false starts, by 1967, a movement among churches and students (my friends among them) emerged to press the county
A 1,000-person survey of “current problems” by the Arlington Jaycees found the county evenly divided on taxpayer-funded pools, a Sun editorial noted. A group of young people circulated a petition in spring 1968, and that summer, an Arlington Pool Group led by Lawrence Moscher Jr., with help from Green Valley block captain Tona Henderson, pressed the county board, promising a potential remedy for youth delinquency. Liberal member Tom Richards and conservative Ken Haggerty were also seeking new opportunities for youth recreation. The plan drew support from the Red Cross, the teachers union, the Arlington Democratic Committee, the Arlington Civic Federation and the Arlington Community Action Program. The Northern Virginia Swimming League pushed for the pools to be year-round. The proposal to build indoor pools at Yorktown, WashingtonLee and Wakefield high schools (a fourth at Thomas Jefferson Junior High was also considered) was originally budgeted for $250,000. Builder Preston Caruthers, who was chair of the school board, massaged the plans, favoring use of a single architect, access separate from the school buildings, and a schedule that wouldn’t shortchange south Arlington. The price eventually rose to $900,000. In September 1969, opposition to including pools on the coming bond referendum came from Karl Spiess, president of a group called the Homeowners Federation. He
tion against “extravagance,” suggesting that private pools instead allow nonmembers on off-days. My friend and classmate Peter Kwass testified to the county board for the Arlington Youth Council, as reported in the Sun by a moonlighting Yorktown Sentry reporter Mary Overton, seeking to head off cost-cutting to assure the pools are “useful.” The bond issue that November passed by a narrow 900 votes, and the first of the three pools opened, at Washington-Lee (now Liberty) 50 years ago this summer. Of course, all three were rebuilt in the 21st century when the high schools were redone. *** My colleagues at the Arlington Historical Society made an exception to their nonpartisan educational tradition of avoiding public policy pronouncements. Board members approved a letter from new president David Pearson backing the federal legislation reoffered last month by Rep. Don Beyer and Sen. Tim Kaine to rename Arlington House. It would switch from the decades-old “Arlington House—The Robert E. Lee Memorial” to the simpler “Arlington House National Historic Site.” By repealing the legislation that put the controversial Lee’s name on the home created by George Washington Parke Custis, the change would better reflect the site’s modern exhibits incorporating the enslaved community, and, in Pearson’s words, “have a name that more accurately reflects the historical facts.”
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News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes
CAN YOU SPOT Falls Church City Treasurer Jody Acosta among all these people? Her husband? Daughter? Son in law? Grandkids? This is from the Acosta clan’s reunion held every other year on the Outer Banks. ( Courtesy photo)
ATTENDEES PARTICIPATE in the F.C. Village Preservation and Improvement Society’s 40th annual Independence Day Readings, held at the Falls Church Episcopal. (Photo: Gary Mester)
Giant Food Round up at Register to Benefit FCEF Fund
ing the word” to educate persons who need to renew. Fairfax County Supervisor Patrick Herrity brought greetings. Attendees also highlighted other issues, such as a lack of activities for children, parents, and guardians, additional school resources to combat the opioid crisis, career opportunities, and mental health.
Giant Food is, once again, partnering with the Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) on a program to help support children facing food insecurity. Through July 27, everyone who shops at Giant Food will be invited to “Round Up at the Register” and donate the round up amount of their grocery purchase to FCEF. Shoppers can also donate online through Giant Delivers and Giant Pickup or by using FLEX points that are converted to grocery dollars. FCEF asks for help to spread the word to ensure that this program is a great success. The funds will be provided directly to FCEF for use to address food insecurity in the school community through the Family Assistance Fund. FCCPS is pleased to partner with Giant Food in the fight against childhood hunger.
“Saturday Morning” Wins Top Award at Falls Church Arts
“Street Life” – an all-media show that invites viewers to share their interpretations of different walks of life, opened on Saturday, July 1 at Falls Church Arts to a standing-room-only crowd who battled thunderstorms to attend. Juror Adam Odomore introduced
the Juror’s Choice Award that went to Gretchen D’Amore for her painting titled, “Saturday Morning.” “This piece is so vibrant with life, activity, and a sense of community which completely captures the essence of this exhibit, Street Life: Real Life Reimagined. This work is full of energetic color, and the brush strokes visibly convey movement and life itself,” commented Odomore.
Alexandria Celebrates its 274th Birthday with ASO
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will present a free concert as part of the 274th Alexandria Birthday Celebration on Saturday, July 8, 2023. The celebration, sponsored by the city and coordinated by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, culminates with fireworks underscored by additional music from the ASO. The concert will include the Armed Forces Medley, film scores, patriotic favorites and highlights from “West Side Story” and “Guys and Dolls.” The grand finale will feature a spectacular fireworks display with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture,
accompanied by live cannons from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The program will be led by guest conductor John Devlin, a thought leader in the field of classical music and Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.
NoVa Leaders Discuss Challenges Facing Medicaid
Dozens of community leaders recently attended an appreciation breakfast hosted by Anthem HealthKeepers Plus to discuss the impact of the end of the public health emergency on Virginia residents who are Medicaid-eligible. The end of PHE means that 2.1 million Virginia residents who receive benefits will undergo eligibility review during the next 12 months. Thousands of residents have lost or are at risk of losing their Medicaid benefits. During the event, panelists Eduardo Mantilla Torres, Neighborhood Health, Silvia Nakasone, INOVA Health, and Ruth Alburez, Enroll Virginia, explored residents’ challenges when renewing benefits. Anthem Marketing Director Thomas Rayner spoke to the group about the critical importance of “spread-
Shepherd’s Center Seeks Additional Volunteer Drivers
Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church (SCMAFC), an all-volunteer organization, is seeking additional volunteers to support its mission of providing free transportation to seniors for medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies. For volunteers there is no minimum commitment. Volunteers are free to choose how often and when they drive. For detailed information or to apply, please visit the Center’s website scmafc.org/volunteer or call (703) 506-2199 and leave a message.
H-A-R-K Center Closing
The Williams Family regrets to inform the Falls Church community that the Hobby-Activity-
Recycling-Kraft (H-A-R-K) Center has closed. The Center was opened in 2016 as an activity center for Katelyn Williams, an adult resident of Falls Church City with intellectual disabilities, to provide opportunities for Katelyn to improve her life skills and engage with the community. Williams would like to thank the greater Falls Church community for their donations of cards, yarn, and other materials and support over the past seven years. She especially wants to thank Brown’s Hardware, Borek-G Café, Harvey’s Restaurant, the Pozez Jewish Community Center, the B-E-S-T Gift Shop, the VPIS Holiday Treefest, Solace Outpost, and Famille Café for their support to her activities. Williams also wants to thank her friends and caregivers who helped her at the H-A-R-K Center among them Carmella Leith, Dasha Woldarsky, Nancy Morgan, Racine Ghiz, Marina Basto, and especially Shirley Connuck. They can no longer accept donations of cards or yarn, but we expect to have gift tags for sale at Brown’s and Borek-G during the holiday season this year.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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JULY 6 - 12, 2023 | PAGE 9
State Champion Meridian Boys Soccer Edwin B. Henderson Statue Unveiled in D.C. Team Earns Plenty of Accolades
by Ryan McCafferty
Last month the boys’ soccer team at Meridian High School won the VHSL Class 3 championship, defeating Charlottesville on a series of penalty kicks in Fredericksburg. It capped off a resounding success of a season, and a season that saw plenty of individuals earn recognition on their own. Senior Alex Gardner was the biggest headliner, earning Player of the Year honors at the Northwestern District, Region 3B, and Class 3 State levels. He and goaltender Inigo Diz, also a senior, were named to the Washington Post All-MET first team, while Oliver Frandano (senior) and Felix Green (junior) made the second team and Charlie Russell (senior) was an honorable mention. All five of those players were also named to the AllState first team, and were additionally joined by Tucker Albaugh (junior) and Fernando
Herbas (senior), while Fletcher Saaty (sophomore) made the second team. Those same players, in addition to the five previously mentioned, were all on the All-Region first team too, as well as the All-District first team. Tai Bhalla and Jack Ettinger, two more seniors, also made the latter of those teams, while sophomore Ben Beloe and junior Nir Pathak made the second team at the All-District level. Additionally, head coach Nate Greiner was named the
State and Region 3B Coach of the Year, leading his team to an 18-3-1 overall record while going 8-1-1 in Northwestern District play. The Mustangs were runners-up to Manassas Park in their division, but got hot at the right time and capitalized on opportunities during the postseason. After their state title game victory, the 12th championship in school history for boys’ soccer, they were ranked fourth in the Washington Post’s final top-10 rankings.
MERIDAN BOYS SOCCER 2023 State Champs. (Photo: News-Press)
“In a normal world, this man could have been anything. He could have been president of the United States. He could have been a Fortune 500 CEO. But he got kicked out of the YMCA for being black. But like most black leaders, that didn’t stop him. He went on to do great things to help his people but also to plant the seeds for what became the modern national basketball association.” So said President Ronald Mason of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) at the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue of Falls Church’s Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson last month. Mason described Dr. Henderson, known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball,” as “an educator, scholar, author, athlete, coach, referee, organizer and civil rights activist.” The ceremony saw the unveiling of the statue at the entrance to the Henderson Sports Complex on UDC’s Van Ness campus, named for the grandfather of Falls Church activist Edward
Henderson III (see photo on page one of this edition). The statue was created by Brian Hanlon, founder of the Hanlon Sculpture Studio in New Jersey, and recognized for his sculptures of notable African-American figures, including Harriet Tubman and Georgetown University basketball coach John R. Thompson.
Falls Church Little League Continues Season in All Star Play by Erika Toman
It’s been an exciting June for baseball players in Falls Church! The Red (age 8-10) and Blue (age 9-11) teams have wrapped their pool play campaigns, with the Majors White team (age 11-12) starting their campaign in July. The Red team qualified for the elusive Virginia District 4 crossover game. District 4 is traditionally among the strongest, if not the strongest Little League districts in the state, making this quite a feat. In their qualifying game against McLean American, Aiden Izawa and Mikey Baltrym combined for the win, issuing seven combined strikeouts in the 3-2 final. Izawa contributed two hits, with Baltrym, Max Caddy, Will Schiffer, Adam Dunbar, and Paul Thiede also contributing a hit. In the crossover game against Reston Herndon National,
Baltrym, Izawa, Dunbar, Thiede, Emmett Grenfell, and Will at Albert contributed hits. Franco Perez took the loss on the mound, with Max Caddy and Will Schiffer appearing in relief. The team finished their season with a 4-2 record, showing tremendous promise for Falls Church in years to come. The Blue team finished their season in decisive fashion, honing their mental play to win their final two games, ending with a 2-3 record. With a packed house at Westgate Field they beat rival Vienna American 8-5. Evan Toman pitched a gem appearing over five innings with Luca Pipia closing out the game in the sixth inning. The bats were hot with Toman, Tig Fatzinger, Will Wood, Calvin McEwen, Hayes Vaughan, Simon Coho, Bobby Lynch and Caleb Edel all contributing hits. The key moment occurred when Caleb Edel doubled, scoring three runs
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to pull ahead of Vienna. The White team handily won in their tournament opener against Reston Herndon America, 13-5. Right hander Jack Mullin earned the win, going two-and-two-thirds innings in relief, issuing five
strikeouts and only three hits. Nate Landers, Teddy Greiner and Liam Horgan also appeared on the mound contributing to the win, helping hold the competition to only five total hits. Ten team members registered hits, with Mullin leading the
way with two hits, and Greiner, Harrison Carmody, and Landon Tucker contributing two RBIs each. The White team is back in action Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Alexandria; go to FCKLL.org for location details.
FALLS CHURCH LITTLE League All Star Team, the Majors, began their pool play campaign in July, and will return to the field this Thurday in Alexandria. (Courtesy Photo: Erika Toman)
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Barco Rebar: How the City’s Rehearsal Studio Has Become a Music Hot Spot by Kylee Toland
Falls Church News-Press
Near the city’s neighborhoods on Hillwood Ave., a small rehearsal studio has seen — and heard — some big musical names. Since 1991, Barco Rebar has provided a rehearsal room and drum room service for both locals and visitors to use for their musical talents. Musicians and bands including Motorhead, Beyonce and Foo Fighters have all recorded and/or broadcasted from Barco Rebar. The origins of Barco Rebar began in owner Richard Gibson’s basement, after realizing that he and his band M.F.D. were disturbing his neighbors while playing their “loud” music. After searching for rehearsal spaces, Gibson said he and his band began to practice near two warehouse spaces, in what would become the first location of Barco Rebar. Over 30 years later, Barco
Rebar currently has four rooms equipped with a “whole backline equipment.” Yamaha drum sets, Ampeg SVT amplifiers, Marshall 100 watt tube Guitar heads and more are provided to musicians of all backgrounds. “The process is very easy for most musicians using our place,” Gibson said when describing how musicians can practice at Barco Rebar. “Many will call or text [about using the space] and they are usually quite happy with that.” One popular visitor at the rehearsal studio is Scream, a band formed in Bailey’s Crossroads and a musical stepping stone for Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. Pete Stahl, the singer and a founding member of Scream, said the band began practicing at Barco Rebar after befriending Gibson and M.F.D. “There’s not many places in Washington, D.C. [to rehearse],” Stahl said. “Really the only place that we can
find to rehearse is Barco, so it’s been providing a service to local musicians in Northern Virginia.” As for why, Stahl said Scream keeps coming to Barco Rebar to practice and rehearse because the studio has a “good vibe” and Gibson offers a flexible schedule and equipment that each visiting band can use. “Richard is the greatest,” Stahl said. “He’ll go out of his way to help you and even if he’s booked up, he’ll try to help you find a place [to rehearse].” When musicians finish practicing at Barco Rebar, Gibson said he hears that the band “gets tighter and more proficient” at playing their instruments due to being able to hear themselves clearly when playing the music. “This is all personally gratifying for me,” Gibson said. “It is nice when people say things about our studio or leave reviews and say how they made a great video or recorded a great record.”
LOCAL REHEARSAL STUDIO Barco Rebar comes fully equipped for visiting musicians. (Courtesy: Barco Rebar )
CD Cellar Fills Gaps for All Levels of Retro-Audiophiles by Charlie Clark
The throbbing base line from the in-house stereo during the 10:00 a.m. opening of the CD Cellar “gets us moving in the morning,” said coowner Dave Giese. Preparing for another day of selling, evaluating and purchasing CDs and LPs in an age of streaming, he and the fulltime staff of six (plus part-timers) sort their wares and await visits to Falls Church from the putative “Two percent of the population that buys 80 percent of the music.” A 60-year-old who has haunted record shops since the late ‘70s, Giese said streaming services (like Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music) “have hurt the perceived value of CDs, a bit less so for LPs,” which continue their comeback. But the CD Cellar has continued to thrive in the used-recordings marketplace for 32 years, since Giese and partner David Schlank in 2015 moved it to 105 Park Ave. from a basement on Broad Street. “We have a nice little music community,” Giese said, noting that the move put them a few doors down from “our good friends at Action Music, one of the best guitar shops on the East Coast. We support each other in a great spot surrounded by terrific bars and res-
taurants, two nearby studios, two audio shops (for speakers and players), plus the State Theatre.” The CD Cellar does offer a few models of turntables and some mov-
electronica, comedy and an amorphous category called “oldies.” The smaller room showcases the LPs and the classical and jazz. Every week three or four
CDCELLAR’S CO-OWNER Dave Giese examines a disk for defects. (Photo Courtesy: Charlie Clark) ies on DVD. But the two-room sales space is dominated by the entrance room lined with labeled dividers housing about half new and half used releases from favored genres: rock, hip-hop, reggae, blues, folk, county, gospel, international, metal,
U-Haul trucks deliver new wares. “The constant flow makes it interesting, the stock changes so quickly,” Giese said. “It’s interesting to see who comes in Monday through Friday.” This is when his team is more likely to see
a “personality type” they nickname “omnivores,” or advanced collectors of varying formats seeking to “fill in holes in their collection.” But on weekends, the shop at any time might host 40-50 multi-generational customers who “are new to the hobby, just getting going with the basics, not filling in nooks and crannies” in their personal jukebox. The staff aims to “suit both constituencies,” Giese says. “We work hard to make everyone feel welcome and get a sense of who knows what and what guidance they need.” Four CD Cellar staffers have been guiding music buyers for decades, Giese says, while others come with five-plus years of experience retailing sounds. “It’s a nice place to work, and people stick around,” he adds. “It’s great to watch the collective mind of what we should carry.” The staff who do the buying bring a collective 40 years of experience grading records by condition. With both CDs and LPs, the evaluation “is a visual thing.” Rather than play every used recording offered, staffers eyeball the “tracks from the inside out.” The price goes down from “cosmetically perfect” to a lower price if the item is “playable but has slight defects.” To rescue “gunky or high-dollar pieces,” evaluators use an ultrasonic cleaner (a “$4,000
gizmo,” Giese calls it) that deploys a cleaning solution and distilled water. When a customer submits a batch, the team “pulls titles with some value, checks the condition and, based on how each is selling and its price if brand new,” makes offers. Either cash or store credit (the latter gives 30 percent more value). Repeat customers form “a virtuous circle,” Giese notes, “always wanting new stuff,” but trading in when they get “buyer’s remorse” on a release not as good as they’d hoped. The Cellar’s website promotes the annual Capital Audiofest held in November at the Rockville, Md., Hilton, where vendors demonstrate fancy new electronic players. “You can listen to your heart’s content on equipment that can cost $1 million,” says Giese, who attends with a sampling of high-end “boutique” recordings to sell. “I don’t pay attention to the bells and whistles of streaming,” says the retro shop-keeper. “I prefer recordings. They’re all great formats.” He also enjoys helping revive timeless recordings “that are receding from people’s attention.” The CD Cellar “doesn’t make a ton of money,” Giese says. But profits are sufficient to “be able to run the store in a relatively expensive part of the country.”
Outside Dining • Delivery Food • Farmers Market Vendor • Tacos • C Craft Beer • New Restaurant
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JULY 6 - 12, 2023 | PAGE 11
WHO’S THE BEST?
The News-Press BEST OF FALLS CHURCH reader vote is back and it’s time to cast your ballot for your Falls Church-area favorites! Our 14th annual contest features a host of categories — now 36 in all — for readers to vote on the best eating, drinking, shopping and more in and around the Little City. Winners will be featured in a special BEST OF FALLS CHURCH edition of the News-Press on August 17!
Vote for Your Falls Church Favorites:
RETAIL & SERVICES Mortgage/Bank • Professional Services Real Estate Agent • Real Estate Group • Property Management Doctor • Dentist • Orthodontist • Ophthalmologist Therapist • Physical Therapist/Chiropractor Auto • Dry Cleaners • Retirement Community Hair Salon/Barbershop • Gym/Fitness/Yoga • Nail/Day/Skin Spa • Live Entertainment • Pet Services • Specialty Store • School • Camp Home Improvement • Landscapers/Garden services Architect • Builder/Remodeler • New Business •
FOOD & DRINK American Outside Dining International • Brunch Bar/Brewery Treats and Sweets Favorite Little City Experience New Restaurant Lunch Spot
BEST OF FALLS CHURCH ISSUE COMING AUGUST 17!
BEST of
FALLS CHURCH BE
2023
STOFFC.COM
1ST ROUND VOTING ENDS JULY 23! #BESTOFFC2023
CAST YOUR BALLOT NOW AT BESTOFFC.COM
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
THIS WEEK AROUND THE DMV THURSDAY JULY 6 Karl Stoll and the Danger Zone
Bring a blanket and chairs, or even a picnic dinner, to the free Summer Concerts in the Park Series, hosted by the F.C. Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS). Performing this week: Wammie Award nominee Karl Stoll and the Danger Zone. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
AAPI Queer Support Group
A support group for the Asian and Pacific Islander Queer Community meets on the first Thursday every month. Zoom-only. Email supportdesk@thedccenter.org for Zoom information. The DC Center (2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105, Washington, DC), 7:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Free Outdoor Film: Top Gun: Maverick
Enjoy a free outdoor screening of Top Gun: Maverick. Part of the summer Films in the Park series, Thursdays through August 17. Mosaic District (Strawberry Park, Fairfax, VA), 7:00 p.m.
Soul Divas: Reprise
Signature’s tribute to phenomenal divas of soul is back for a second act, with an all-new set of unbelievable voices and songs toasting luminaries from Aretha Franklin to Whit-
SUNDAY JULY 9
ney Houston to Tina Turner, and all the incredible divas in between and since. Tickets at sigtheatre.org. Signature Theatre (3200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 8:00 p.m.
Bright Light Bright Light and de ROCHE for a night of "fun gay music." Union Stage (740 Water St. SW, Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m.
FRIDAY JULY 7
Say What Again Band performs. Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 8:00 p.m.
Brook Yoder performs. Clare and Don's Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church), 5:00 p.m.
SATURDAY JULY 8
MONDAY JULY 10
The Spirit of Lion Dancing in Chinatowns
Free program for all ages. Enjoy crafts and interactive Chinese stories of tradition, hardship, assimilation, endurance, perseverance, and success through the use of Lions and Music. Traditional Lion Dancers, Big Head Buddhas, and a rap artist with dancers all intertwine in a mixture of sounds expressing the complicated immigrant experience. The Reach at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 4:00 p.m.
Taisha Estrada
Rooted in the traditions of Latin and American jazz, with an innovative, contemporary, multigenre sound, Puerto Rican born Taisha Estrada is a compelling songwriter and storyteller. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.
Tom Goss
Tom Goss, a DC-bred singersongwriter who blends soulful voice with atmospheric soundscape in expertly crafted songs about modern love, joins artists
Say What Again Band
F.C. Farmers Market
Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, yearround! City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Look Here
"Your favorite hostess with the mostess" Evita Peroxide leads a cast of performers for Sassy Saturday's Drag Brunch, every month on the 2nd Saturday. Blue Iguana (12727 Shoppes Ln., Fairfax, VA), 12:00 p.m.
Architect/designer Suchi Reddy creates a constellation of reflective fractals that fill the museum's Great Hall. Overhead are three oversized mirrored elements resembling fortune-teller toys. The reflection of the museum’s interior, constant movement of the prismatic elements, and moving sun create a spectacular contemplative space during the day, and a lively entertainment space at night. On display through September 4. National Building Museum (401 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Alexandria's 247th Birthday Party & Fireworks
Walking Tour: Quinn & Homestretch Site Tour
Sassy Saturdays Drag Brunch
The City of Alexandria's 274th birthday party kicks off riverside with cupcakes, local vendors, and live music, culminating in a performance by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St., Alexandria, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
Los Three Baritones
Los Three Baritones is this week's installment of Mosaic Live, a free, outdoor, all-ages summer concert series, Saturdays through August 19. Mosaic District (Strawberry Park, Fairfax, VA), 6:00 p.m.
Summer Blends Art Exhibit
Free event, open to all age 21 and older. Kick off your Summer by jamming out to great music while shopping unique and inspiring artwork by 11 amazing artists. Reserve a spot at bit.ly/FCNP0723sb. The Garden Alexandria (5380 Eisenhower Ave., Suite C, Alexandria, VA), 7:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.
Alan Naylor
LOOK HERE FILLS the Great Hall at the National Building Museum, now through September 4. (Photo: @NationalBuildingMuseum Instagram)
Brook Yoder
Alan Naylor returns with his signature showmanship and stellar piano skills in a rock n roll tribute! Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.
Join a walking tour to learn about proposed development of the Quinn & Homestretch Mixed Use and Senior Living Site. A quorum of City Council and of other officials may be present and public business will be discussed. Quinn & Homestretch Property (350-360 S. Washington St. and 303 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.
City Council Work Session
City Council Work Sessions are held the first and third Monday each month, except August and December when one meeting is held. Work Open to the public and conducted to allow members to discuss legislation and policy issues; the public is not generally invited to speak. Watch the live or recorded meeting at fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings or FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.
TUESDAY JULY 11 Housing Commission Meeting
Housing Commission meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dog-
wood A-B, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
Aurora House Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting
Aurora House Girls Group Home Citizens' Advisory Committee meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Economic Development Authority Meeting
Economic Development Authority meets. Viget Offices (105 W. Broad St., Fifth Floor, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY JULY 12 Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee Meeting
Solid Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee (SWMPAC) meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation Meeting
Citizens' Advisory Committee on Transportation meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.
Congressman Don Beyer McLean Town Hall
Join U.S. Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) for a town hall to discuss things happening in the 118th Congress and Northern Virginia. RSVP at bit.ly/FCNP0723db to attend in-person, or join the livestream at facebook.com/ RepDonBeyer. McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA), 7:00 p.m.
Architectural Advisory Board Meeting
Architectural Advisory Board meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/ Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 10:30 p.m.
City Council Appointments Committee Meeting
The City Council Appointments Committee will meet to interview candidates for boards and commissions and conduct exit interviews. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 8:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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The Silver Tones Swing Band Brings Back Memories to the Region
by Mark Dreisonstok
Falls Church News-Press
Those who seek a night of swing music and dances while rusticating in a quaint European, country-like setting recently “got their kicks on Route 66” in Middleburg, Virginia, where the Silver Tones Swing Band held forth. This big band differs from most orchestras of its type in two ways. One is that it recreates not only classic popular swing tunes from the thirties, forties, and fifties, but also performs popular music from the sixties and seventies. The other was demonstrated in its performance of “In the Mood.” While usually performed instrumentally according to the style of the Glenn Miller orchestra, the version performed by the Silver Belles vocal trio was sung in the style of the Andrews Sisters, with Wendy Marie and two other female vocalists, Larke Pain and Laura Mills, taking on the roles of Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne Andrews. This vocal orientation of the band shows that while it can play solid instrumentals, it particu-
larly engages audiences with the beautiful lyrics of the Great American Songbook. Given our current season, George Gershwin’s “Summertime” was particularly appropriate. The band brought back memories of the classic performance by the Bob Crosby band, yet it was augmented with a poignant vocal by Wendy Marie, who, with her husband Dave Shuma, is co-leader of the Silver Tones. The Silver Belles often back vocalist Gene Bates, as in their wonderful recreation of Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road, Jack.” The piece included a fine tenor saxophone solo by Dan Hurlow. He and Paul Hamilton brought back memories of both Louis Prima in the 1950s and Brian Setzer in the 1990s with “Jump, Jive, and Wail.” “Route 66” featured a powerful solo by Katie Bryant on the piano. The Silver Tones recreated the Andrews Sisters’ version of the “Pennsylvania Polka,” the polka form complementing the European country-like ambiance of Middleburg’s National Sporting Library and Museum.
An instrumental version of the Les Elgart’s arrangement of “Bandstand Boogie” (used for years as the signature tune of television’s “American Bandstand”) was one of the outstanding pieces of the evening. A memorable version of the Kay Kyser hit “Slow Boat to China” was performed as a duet by Wendy Marie and Gene Bates, recalling but distinct from the Kyser orchestra’s version. Contrasting songs of Frank Sinatra were presented with Mr. Bates’s performing the swingstyle “Old Black Magic” and a later Sinatra hit, “That’s Life,” with the latter backed beautifully by the Silver Belles. “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Luck be a Lady,” two other songs associated with Sinatra, were sung with smoothness and ease by Mr. Bates. Audience members and listeners spread out on the lawn in front of the orchestra, and some enjoyed swinging out their dance moves. A conga line was formed during the song “Hot, Hot, Hot” in which Mr. Bates joined the dancers. For
those who appreciated music from more recent decades, “Unchained Melody” from the 1950s, “Sweet Caroline” from the 1960s, and “Dancing Queen” from the 1970s were played. In this more modern mode, Mr. Bates and the Silver Belles sang a moving “My Girl.” Indeed, Mr. Shuma, the band’s co-leader, told us that the policy of the Silver Tones is to appeal to popular music lovers of all generations. The crowd, ranging from young to old, bore this out wonderfully.
The Silver Tones also performed in Warrenton, Virginia, on July Fourth. Readers of the Falls Church News-Press will have an opportunity to enjoy the Silver Tones closer to home on Wednesday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Franconia Nights Concert Series in Alexandria, Virginia. Like many of the Silver Tones orchestra summer performances, this appearance will be free of charge to the public. Follow The Silver Tones on Facebook or their website at SilverTonesSwingBand.com.
THE SILVER TONES deliver big-band swing from the 30s to 70s. (Photo Courtesy of The Silver Tones Swing Band)
Reimagining ‘Street Life’ at The Falls Church Arts Gallery by Mark Dreisonstok
Falls Church News-Press
A unique collection of artworks in all media is currently on display at Falls Church Arts. Entitled “Street Life: Real Life Imagined,” the show wafts viewers by means of visual art to the streets of Bologna (reduction linocut by Suzanne Updike), Venice (watercolor by Diana Bozza), Budapest (oil by Maria Kinnane), Tallinn (watercolor by Bob Wentworth), Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. (acrylic and oil pastel by Elizabeth Matthews), and, locally, Eden Center in Falls Church (watercolor by Michael Potashnik). Here we offer flip-card views of some of these street-oriented works. Bob Wentworth’s watercolor “Walking to Church,” as we read on the gallery card, depicts a “city street scene of people walking to church at St. Nicholas’ Church, Tallinn, Estonia. The narrow streets funnel the walkers toward the towering church steeple and are framed by the adjacent old buildings.” Artist Wentworth calls the painting to life with abundant contrasting values. As the most distant people turn the corner, the eye cannot help but be drawn to anticipate a highly spiritual
mood which likely pertains as one enters the church itself. Closer to home than the Estonian capital of Tallinn is the Washington, D.C, Metro! The work in question, “Going Home on The Yellow Line” by Carol Morgan, depicts a familiar scene for Metro riders: tired souls traveling to and fro on their commute. This drawing in pen and ink is accompanied by a poem by Gerry Hendershot that completely alters what might first be assumed about the subjects. When we first view the drawing, it might seem that the man and woman in glasses are a couple traveling home together after arriving back from a trip, though upon reading the poem, we find that this is not the case. The woman has never met the man until he accidentally mistook her suitcase to be his own at the baggage claim. She goes on to fall asleep on his shoulder as romance swirls around his lonely mind. Enjoying the company, the man thinks to wake her but does not. Arriving at “Prince Georges” the woman jolts awake, exclaiming that she has missed her stop. “Trailing her luggage, she slips through the door—/ his reverie ends, idyllic dreams die,/ depression descends,
he stares at the floor.” Street life at night, of course, includes street lights. The gentle buzz and warm unique glowing cast of sodium vapor bulbs so high above makes for a world all its own. “Night Light” by Oyunnaa Waskin is a fascinating and highly successful attempt at capturing this very specific and difficult-to-replicate atmosphere in a painting. We see the streetlamp itself at the center of the canvas, slightly offset to the left. Then appear both the warm and all-too-familiar splotches of light upon the pavement and the deep, yet transparent, shadows against the house at left and the far wall on the right. The artist has created a pleasing street vision capped off beautifully with stars in the night sky, adding a fanciful atmosphere to the world streetlights create. “Ghosts” by Matt Makara of the Charles Bridge in Prague created in platinotype photography is an excellent example of a rare and unique art form. Platinum prints are a special kind of analog photography in which “the emulsion (the light sensitive compound that captures the image) is not suspended in a gelatin base like normal silver gelatin prints,” student of photogra-
phy Joshua Mongardini informs us, “but rather is a platinum compound directly on the paper.” As a result of this unusual process, the viewer will notice that unique detail can be seen in the brightest brights and in the darkest darks. Highlighted here in bright light are the glass enclosures of the streetlights and in the darkest spaces the cobblestones of the street. This fascinating process mostly ended in the early 1900s, as platinum was needed to make plati-
num fulminate, a primary explosive used as detonators in World War I. This gorgeous example of the platinum printing process can only really be appreciated in person, where viewers will be stunned by new and exciting details they will find every time they look closely. Indeed, the “Street Life” show itself, which runs through August 13, must be appreciated in person, with its varied views of urban “Real Life Reimagined.”
STREET LIFE: REIMAGINED includes artwork such as Walking to Church (left) by Bob Wentworth, and Bologna (right) by Susanne Updike. (Courtesy Photo)
PAGE 14 | JULY 6 - 12, 2023
I ND E PE ND E NCE DAY
F.C. Fireworks’ Grand Return
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
City residents celebrate Independence Day with fireworks on Meridian’s football field, the annual celebration was back from the first time since Covid. (Photo: Gary Mester)
CO MME NT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JULY 6 - 12, 2023 | PAGE 15
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
Most children may know Ronald McDonald as the slightly goofy, red-haired clown mascot of the popular hamburger restaurant chain. However, some children also may know Ronald McDonald as a vital partner in their battle against lifethreatening medical conditions. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. (RMHCDC) enables family centered care by providing accommodations and support to a diverse population of families whose children are faced with a full range of pediatric acute and chronic illnesses. Cancer, prematurity, heart conditions, trauma, and organ and tissue transplant are some of the serious conditions that may require long in-patient or out-patient treatment. RMHCDC helps alleviate the question of “where do I stay and how do I pay for it?” for parents and families whose primary objective is to bring home a healthy child. The Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia is tucked away on the grounds of the INOVA Fairfax Medical Campus. Recently renovated and expanded, the house offers accommodations for patients, parents, siblings, and even grandparents
in a family setting. Large bedrooms with ensuite baths feature queen-size beds with colorful quilts handmade by local donors. When a child’s treatment is finished, the quilt can go home with the family as a memento of the community’s generosity. Wide hallways are decorated with dozens of colorful butterflies made by a local artist, and informal seating areas at the intersections and ends of the hallways provide space for quiet reflection, playtime, or getting to know other temporary tenants who share similar challenges for their children. My favorite spot was the second-floor library that has an abundance of natural light and comfortable seating perfect for reading with a child. An outdoor deck and small playground are nearby and, lest we forget, a large resin Ronald McDonald statue occupies a bench on the grounds. Other than the name on the portico, the statue was the only commercial reminder of the benefactor that I saw on my tour. In the large, lodge-like living room, I met Liam, a nine-year-old boy from Tidewater who has beaten 61 counts of cancer but is battling hard against two that recurred. Liam, his mom and dad, and two
younger siblings are staying at the house for a month while he receives more treatment for cancer. Liam’s dad, Shawn, told me that Liam’s fight has been going on for about a year, and he has every confidence that God is watching over his family. For this series of treatments, Shawn took a leave of absence from his job, and has someone looking after their house. Having a Ronald McDonald House available means that the family can stay together, supporting Liam and each other in his battle to get healthy again. Each year, more than 4000 children are served through three RMHCDC programs: Ronald McDonald House (in D.C. and Northern Virginia), Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and Ronald McDonald Hospitality Cart. In 42 years, RMHCDC has provided more than 236,000 room nights, at no cost to families or children. To learn more and find out how you can help, visit rmhcdc.org. 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 CRI ME R E PO RT Week of June 26 - July 2, 2023
Larceny of Vehicle Parts, N Washington St, June 30, between 10:35 AM and 11:54 AM, unknown suspect(s) broke the driver side front window of a 2018 Honda Civic and removed the steering wheel airbag.
Shoplifting, Park Ave, June 26, 2 PM, unknown suspect entered a business and removed items of value without paying. Suspect described as a male approximately 30 years old, wearing
Larceny of Vehicle Parts, N Washington St, June 30, between 1 PM and 3:51 PM, unknown suspect(s) removed all four stock touring wheels from a 2019 Honda Civic.
a light color top and light color jeans.
Aggravated Assault, Wilson Blvd, June 30, 9:30 PM, a known female suspect accompanied by an unknown male assaulted a female. The male fired a BB gun at the victim, striking her several times in the legs. The male is described as Vietnamese, 5`7” in height, medium build, black hair and wearing black pants and a black shirt. Investigation continues.
Trespass, S Washington St, June 27, 5:37 AM, a female, 26, of the City of Falls Church, was issued a summons for Trespass. Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, June 27, 6:46 PM, unknown suspect entered a business and removed items of value without paying. Suspect described as a tall Hispanic male wearing a black hat, orange trench coat, and black shoes. Larceny from Building, E Broad St, June 28, 7:30 PM, unknown suspect(s) took an item of value which had been left unattended. Trespass, S Washington St, June 29, 04:15 AM, a female, 26, of the City of Falls Church, was issued a summons for Trespass.
Assault/Brandishing a Firearm, Wilson Blvd, July 2, 12:14 AM, a male, 24, of no fixed address, was arrested for Assault and Brandishing a Firearm (BB gun). A Hispanic male, 24, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for Brandishing a Firearm (BB gun).
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Senator Dick Saslaw’s
Richmond Report At the end of June, Republicans and Democrats across the Commonwealth voted in the primaries to select the candidates for the November general election. Primaries are an important part of the election process, allowing voters to be more involved in selecting the candidates to best represent their community. With the results of the primaries now behind us, Democrats are united in their goals for the general election. This year, reproductive rights are under the microscope now more than ever before. Having just passed the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we can now reflect on the impact that decision has had across the country. Virginia is now a safe haven for women’s reproductive rights, as every other Southern state has passed strict laws that limit the circumstances in which a woman can access the reproductive care she needs. These lawmakers across the country have infiltrated what should be a private decision between a woman and her doctor. Instead, they have chosen to cross a line and put women’s lives at risk when they are not able to access the care they need. If Republicans obtain a majority in both chambers in Virginia, they will be quick to implement similar restrictions to those of North Carolina and Florida. It is essential that Democrats expand our majority in the Senate and flip the House of Delegates to prevent Republicans from enacting their agenda of rolling back the clock. Before we welcome a new class of legislators, there is still unresolved business from the 2023 session. Virginia is currently operating under the 2022-2024 biennial budget, meaning we are not at risk of a shutdown. This year’s budget is simply to make adjustments and allocations with the extra revenue we have on hand. With that being said, neither Democrats nor Republicans want to leave surplus money on the table. From our public schools to mental health facilities and infrastructure projects, there is no shortage of ways this surplus money could be spent. However, talks have recently reached a tipping point, with both sides frustrated. The fly in the ointment remains tax policy. With opposite perspectives on how to best allocate the surplus money, it can be difficult to find a compromise –– but not impossible. I
suspect Governor Youngkin will call the legislature back to Richmond for a Special Session to address the budget impasse. While we do not yet have a new budget, we do have new laws that are now in effect. July 1 was a significant day, as it is when the legislation from the previous session became law. This year, there are a number of significant changes. First, SB 982 requires drivers to change lanes or reduce their speed when passing a vehicle with their hazard lights on or vehicles with properly marked caution signs or road flares. This is similar to the law requiring drivers to move over for emergency personnel with either blue, red, or orange lights. Second, compromises on gun violence prevention were difficult to achieve, but we did pass HB 2387 which incentivizes the purchase of a safe storage device for gun owners through a tax credit. This law is a great first step in encouraging safe storage and responsible gun ownership. Third, SB 1291 creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for individuals who intentionally report false information to emergency personnel that results in an emergency response. The penalty increases to a Class 6 felony if anyone is injured as a direct result from their false report. This law is an attempt to deter the increasing number of “swatting” incidents. Lastly, I would like to comment on the recent decisions issued by the conservative-minded Supreme Court. Last week, they issued a ruling that reaffirms the right for businesses to deny certain customers service under the protection of the First Amendment. This is extremely concerning — especially for vulnerable populations that are likely to face discrimination as a result. Secondly, I am disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the student loan forgiveness program. The cost of higher education has never been greater, and students deserve some relief. I hope the Biden Administration continues to pursue alternative avenues to reduce this financial burden. With no end in sight to the overturning of decades of precedent, it is our responsibility at the state level to do what we can to prevent these controversial decisions from harming the progress we have made here in Virginia.
PAGE 16 | JULY 6 -12, 2023
The Future of Newspapers Pt. 3: How Big Tech is Responding to Sharing Revenue
by Sam Mostow
Falls Church News-Press
The Online News Act (ONA) in Canada received Royal Assent on June 22, forcing digital platforms – such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and Google – to negotiate with Canadian news organizations to share revenue. In response, Meta and Google threatened to remove Canadian news content from their platforms. The Canadian law calls upon the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to create regulations and a timeline to allow eligible news organizations to bargain with digital platforms. This process is supposed to take place over the next six months. Canada’s ONA is similar to the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) here in the United States, which passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 15. Both acts are designed to respond to decreasing advertising revenue in print news, much of which now goes to search engines and social media platforms, which people increasingly use to access their news. Meta and Google are threatening to remove United States news content if the JCPA becomes law, similar to their actions in Canada. Rachel Curran, the head of public policy for Meta Canada, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that Meta would not negotiate within the framework of the ONA, adding there were no ongoing negotiations with the Canadian government. “There’s nothing at this point that can address our fundamental concerns with the bill, which is that it requires us to compensate news publishers for placing material on our platforms voluntarily, because they get a tremendous amount of free marketing and distribution value from that,” Curran said. Kent Walker, the president of global affairs for Google and Alphabet, wrote on the company’s Canada Blog to call the legislation “unworkable,” adding they would follow Facebook in removing Canadian news from the platform. Walker did not
offer a timeline on when this might take effect. “We have now informed the Government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada, and that [the ONA] will also make it untenable for us to continue offering our Google News Showcase product in Canada,” Walker wrote. If Meta and Google follow through and remove all Canadian news content, then popular platforms such as the CBC and Global News will be inaccessible on social media platforms and search engines that millions of people use. This could apply to whole sites, not just designated news sections of their platforms, such as Facebook News or Google News. Both laws in the United States and Canada follow the framework of the News Media Bargaining Code in Australia. When that law passed, Facebook briefly removed Australian news content. Days later, the Australian government and Meta announced a revenue sharing agreement with news publishers. Sue Gardner, a former Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation, spoke to CBC Radio about the ONA. Gardner noted the bill was drafted under the assumption that Google and Meta would cooperate with negotiations. Without the companies complying with the law, Gardner argues the legislation could do more harm than good. “The companies really feel like [sharing revenue] is something they are not willing to do,” Gardner said. “Their services are predicated on, and the entire Internet is predicated on, the idea that everybody links freely to everything. And so if there’s this new provision that the bill introduced, saying that linking is going to cost you money, then the business models of those companies come into question.” Google said they will remove news in Canada when the ONA fully takes effect, which is supposed to happen by the end of 2023. Meta announced on June 1 that they would test ending news availability to “a small percentage” of Facebook users in Canada.
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PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The City of Falls Church Historic Architectural Review Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM in City Hall’s Dogwood Room (first floor), 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22043 to consider the following: PROPOSED ALTERATION: Move the historic barn currently on 1011 Fowler St Lot B Information or copies of the proposed alteration can be viewed at the Community Planning and Economic Development Services (CPEDS) counter at City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA, Monday through Friday (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). You may contact the Planning Division at plan@fallschurchva.gov with any questions or concerns. This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711) 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 Arts & Humanities Council of Falls Church Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Board of Equalization Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation City Employee Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Human Services Advisory Council Planning Commission Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Regional Boards/Commissions Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Long Term Care Coordinating Council Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority Virginia Career Works Northern Region Ad Hoc Committee Sold Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee: This Committee will advise the City Council in the development of the City’s 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan.
ABC NOTICE Southeast Scout LLC. Trading as Southeast Impression, 9530 Fairfax Blvd., VA 22031. The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Beer and Wine On and Off Premises, Mixed Beverages Restaurant. Kam Wong, Managing Member Southeast Scout LLC. . 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.
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PUZZLE NO. 190
PUZZLE NO
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ACROSS
1. Soft toss 4. Jogging pace 8. Bargain event 12. ____ of Reason 13. Motored 14. Lower joint 15. Sickly 16. Matching 18. Records again 20. Small birds 21. Hiss! 22. Mental faculties 23. Berate 26. Toothed wheel 27. Sharp point 30. Vatican dweller 31. Acorn bearer 32. Pine ____
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LEVEL: ADVANCED
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 912
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.
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PAGE 18 | JULY 6 - 12, 2023
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
C ritter C orner
PUZZLE NO. 914
Make Your Pet a Star!
Critter Corner
HOW TO PLAY:
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 914
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.
THIS IS ANGUS. He’s an English cocker spaniel. We adopted him from a rescue in April and he has settled in nicely in his forever home. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
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FOREVER
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Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.
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NO. 913
HOW TO PLAY:
LEVEL: BEGINNER
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
The LGBTQ+ Reach
by Brian Reach
I’m completing this column on Independence Day, after eating a cheeseburger and watching fireworks in stereo between my television and the outside window. I’ve given up on reading the entire opinion issued by the Supreme Court on Friday, which found that businesses can refuse public services to LGBTQ+ people based on religious beliefs. I spent the first half of my day trying to consume the SCOTUS opinion in full, but ended up stuck on the syllabus. I found myself re-reading the end of the second page — where previous cases are used to set stage for the majority’s argument. The seven rulings referenced in the syllabus are below. At several Human Rights Campaign (HRC) town halls that took place earlier this year, as 491 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across the country, HRC state legislative director and senior counsel Catherine Oakley (she/her) called the movement “vintage discrimination.” She was right. A 2006 ruling that speech, even if intended to cause harm, must be upheld, in response to Westboro Baptist Church picketing soldiers’ funerals (the “God Hates You” family). A 2014 ruling that Massachusetts could not set up 35-foot ‘no protest zones’ around entrances to abortion service providers. A 2000 ruling that a member organization may ban LGBTQ+ people, calling opposition to homosexuality part of the organization’s “expressive message,” as was asserted by the plaintiff, the Boy Scouts of America. A 1927 ruling that allowed California to imprison people for being members of the Communist Labor Party, citing “criminal syndicalism” and finding that “although the rights of free speech and assembly are fundamental, they are not, in their nature, absolute.” The ruling was overturned in 1969. A 1969 ruling that Iowa schools couldn’t discipline students for wearing armbands in silent protest of the Vietnam War. A 1943 ruling that schools could not force students to salute the flag or recite the pledge. Used in this case to accuse Colorado of trying to force thought, despite the lawsuit being pre-emptive, this is a total false flag. 1995 ruling that the organizers of Boston’s city-funded St. Patrick’s Day parade, a taxexempt nonprofit organization, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, could exclude the Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Group of Boston (GLIB, somehow, because we love an acronym) group from marching as a contingent. Let’s zoom in on that last one for a moment. In 1992 GLIB won a lawsuit against the Council and was allowed to march in the Parade, courts ruling that because the city funds the parade, the Council must comply with Massachusetts law that, even in 1992, banned sexual orientation discrimination. Hostility from the crowd during the parade was reportedly palpable and semi-violent. The next year the Council declined city
funds to again try to exclude GLIB. The judge ruled that the event was public and that “history does not record that St. Patrick limited his ministry to heterosexuals or that General Washington’s soldiers were all straight. Inclusiveness should be the hallmark of the parade.” GLIB marched, and reports at the time cited a significantly less hostile crowd. The Council canceled the 1994 parade entirely, then in 1995 they announced that the march would now have a theme — marching with black flags instead of green in protest of recent state court decisions. This year, the Council said, GLIB just wouldn’t fit the theme — a legal basis for exclusion. The Council won, and the city had to provide the permit. Public employees didn’t march, and attendance dropped by half — but GLIB was legally excluded from the parade, and ultimately SCOTUS upheld the discrimination. A Break, and Unwelcome Reminiscence It felt muggy earlier, like it ought to this time of year, and reading the opinion gave me a headache. I needed a break, so I went to the pool. Several friends from the building were slowly accumulating for a poolside party, while a large group of families and children assembled for a cookout nearby at the outside grills; the perfect scene for Independence Day. Our readers may have felt a ping of reminiscence in the air as well; it just smelled like the Fourth, didn’t it? I didn’t last long at the pool. I didn’t want to be alone, and felt antagonized by the celebratory spirit. These feelings were reminiscent of grade school, when the bullies were allowed to pick on queer kids like me. Roe v. Wade is overturned. Affirmative Action is overturned. Discrimination has been reasserted using weak, dusty, scientifically inaccurate beliefs. The other side’s narratives are filled with crocodile tears, victims of a “woke mob” that doesn’t exist. Allies: It’s Ok To Be Exhausted We’re under attack and need allies more than ever. We can’t do this alone, and because of your love and support, we don’t have to. The homophobic drumbeat is exhausting. I’m exhausted, my mother is scared and exhausted, and I imagine you are as well. Something new is thrown at us daily, before we can process the previous day’s news. This is deliberate; the other side is counting on you getting overwhelmed and giving up. The basic equality we worked so hard for is being chipped away. Please take care of yourself, find like-minded friends to talk with, and speak up when a you hear a falsehood. Ask if drag queen storytime is scarier than active shooter drills at elementary school, or the possibility that a child will never return home from school. It’s ok to get exhausted, but please don’t give up. Please remember that LGBTQ+ people didn’t instigate this attack. And please show kindness to your LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors. We’re scared, and could use the reassurance. Bad law based on bad faith based on bad precedent. Happy birthday, America.
July 6 - 12, 2023 | PAGE 19
An Insight Into the Environmental Sustainability Council by Phebe Fahmy
Falls Church News-Press
So far, this has been a summer of environmental insights. With the recurring poor air quality, everyone has been forced to evaluate their day-to-day lifestyles. Fortunately, many are willing to step up and inform the general public about measures they can take to protect both the public’s health and the environment. This is the purpose of the F.C. Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC): to make environmentally friendly suggestions to city council about policy goals and to educate the public. “We have some really incredible members who have worked for the ESC who are geologists, who have worked in energy financing—all members of our community with different skills, different experiences, but a shared passion for preserving our future and making the future better for our kids,” said Joseph Schiarizzi, the chair of the ESC. Composed of volunteers appointed by the city council, the ESC is equivalent to the other Council advisory committees, such as the Planning Commission. The ESC meets every third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall. The meetings are open to the public, and are recorded. Anyone can attend and make a public comment of up to three minutes. Meetings typically last between two and twoand-a-half hours, yet the public comment segment takes place right at the beginning, which allows people to leave after they make their statement, if they desire. “We take public comment at the beginning,” Schiarizzi said. “You don’t have to come for the whole time if you just want to comment about what you care about or where you’d like the city to focus in terms of sustainability.” The council has three subcommittees, each tasked with addressing a section of their work: the Energy Transition Subcommittee, Urban Forestry Commission and Environmental Education. Main topics the council focuses on include climate, consumption and waste, air, energy, urban forest and biodiversity, stormwater and community involvement. Inside a meeting, the group may discuss different plans that are related to one of their main topics.
“The energy action plan is to help transition government buildings to be energy efficient,” Schiarizzi said. “The community action plan is to see what steps we [the council] can take to help community businesses and homes be more energy efficient, more insulated, use renewable energy and transition off of fossil fuels.” The group also has specialized “task groups,” such as the Education Task Group and Habitat Restoration Task Group. The Education Task Group looks over Operation Earthwatch, an environmental action program for elementary school students. According to Schiarizzi, education is a crucial way to create a better environmental future for Earth. He believes people should seek to get involved, adding there was an open seat on the Environmental Sustainability Council in Falls Church. “Think globally, act locally” is his belief on how to tackle sustainability and the environment. “There is lots of organizing…and educating to do...on policies we should be supporting, and how those policies are going to create new jobs, improve our transportation, and improve our way of life,” he said. In his interview with the News-Press, Schiarizzi took the liberty to state his beliefs on the role of state and local governments within the environment. With state and local governments controlling many aspects of society, he believes true change is made through policies, rather than individual choices. “It’s very easy to say, give up your car, walk and go by bike and take the bus more often,” Schiarizzi said. “But if every aspect of our society and all of the subsidies for transportation go to designing everything around cars and building highways, then that makes it much harder to make those environmentally friendly decisions.” Schiarizzi clarified that his beliefs are his own and do not represent the views of the ESC as a whole. Schiarizzi ended the interview with encouragement. “Sustainability is the practice of meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of the future, and I’m optimistic that Falls Church can be a positive example in sustainability for others in the region,” he said.
OPERATION EARTHWATCH, the volunteer-led action program established by the Environmental Sustainability Council. ( Courtesy: Joseph Schiarizzi)
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