Lian Resigns, Council Awaits Court Ruling On Next Step
by Nicholas F. Benton
At its Monday meeting this week, the Falls Church City Council voted 4-2 after a lengthy discussion to petition the Arlington Circuit Court to allow a special election, concurrent with the general and special elections, including for U.S. president, on November 5, 2024, to fill the vacancy after the resignation last week of former Council member Caroline Lian.
The City Attorney Sally Gillette filed a Petition for Writ of Special Election this week and requested a candidate filing deadline of August 30. The petition asks for expedited review by the Circuit Court and requested a decision no later than 5 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, August 16. Falls Church’s Director of Elections and General Registrar David Bjerke, who was in on the Council’s discussions remotely Monday, said yesterday that candidates interested in running should contact his office to learn about the process to qualify for the ballot.
However, he noted that “It is possible that the petition for a special election on November 5, may be denied by the Circuit Court because the 2024 General Election is fewer than 90 days from the date the vacancy occurred.” The complicated state code concerning such matters says that a special election can be called only if there are 90 days’ notice.
NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
Schools Hold 2 Convocation Kick Offs
And, as of Monday, they’re off!
This Monday, Aug. 19, the new year formally commences for the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS), as classes at all five campuses in the Little City will commence.
“We’re ready,” exclaimed Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan in remarks to the first meeting of the School Board Tuesday night. He said that the two days of events this week held in the auditorium of Meridian High School, constituting a “convocation” of all the system’s
employees, was “super fun.”
Noonan was particularly upbeat at this week’s convocation events, his eighth year leading them and spearheading them with his annual report to the assembled Monday morning.
He began by exclaiming “This is my favorite day of the year!” praising the “collegiality and commitment” evident among the “community of educators” assembled in the room.
He cited the polling of the U.S. News & World Report and the online Niche.com organization showing the Falls Church system,
which is now a full International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum system from preschool through 12th grade, is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and among the top in the entire U.S., and that includes the critical ranking of “Best Places to Teach” in the state, where among 300 systems in Virginia, the Falls Church system ranked third. In terms of the “college readiness” of students, for those coming through the Falls Church system, the system was ranked second in Virginia.
Noonan also pointed out that the No. 1 ranking in the entire U.S. for the City of Falls Church in terms
of “healthiness” that made major headlines last week, the ranking of the “education” component to that ranking was a big part of how the City came in tops in the U.S. overall.
The strategic focus for the system is centered on its extraordinary IB focus that involves “international-mindedness, critical thinking, conceptual understanding and rigorous academic standards” that are “a way of developing our students by nurturing curiosity and collaboration to do good things,”
Falls Church News-Press
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
Rep. Beyer Heading to Democratic Convention
“This is an extraordinary moment in American history,” Falls Church’s U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. stated in a post Tuesday as he prepared to head off to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that begins Monday.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is the first woman of color to win a major party’s nomination for president, and next week I will be traveling to Chicago to stand beside her as she officially becomes the Democratic nominee.
“It cannot be overstated: This is a big deal,” he said.
“The incredible energy Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz have generated for Democrats has given us a golden opportunity to defeat Donald Trump and end the MAGA agenda and Project 2025 for good,” he added. “It is critical we unite as Democrats and work together in this historic moment.”
Knight Media Invests $5.4 Million for Newspapers
“We’ve invested $5.4 million to create the Knight Growth Challenge Fund, designed to support selected news outlets that have proven journalistic and business prowess and a solid business plan for sustainability,” said Tim Griggs, the Blue Engine Collaborative’s founder and CEO. “The fund will help support their efforts to expand into new markets and, in doing so, help fertilize news deserts and expand access to local journalism,” he said.
“Local news can thrive with the right mix of courageous, ambitious leadership, a team deeply in touch with community needs, deep digital capabilities, and the capacity to better serve new audiences,” said Griggs.
Kansas Newspaper Raid Draws Criminal Charges
A former central Kansas police chief who led a raid last year on a weekly newspaper has been charged with felony obstruction of justice and is accused of persuading a potential witness for an investigation into his conduct of withholding information from authorities, according to Editor and Publisher magazine.
The single charge against former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody alleges that he knowingly or intentionally influenced the witness to withhold information on the day of the raid of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher or sometime within the following six days. The charge was filed Monday in state district court in Marion County and is not more specific about Cody’s alleged conduct.
Trump Media Shares Nosedive to Lowest Level
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social, neared their lowest level since debuting on the Nasdaq in March, following Trump’s return to rival social media platform X.
The company’s stock fell more than 3 percent to $24.01 at market open on Tuesday, trading at its lowest level since mid-April. Shares were already trending downwards after Trump Media reported a $16.4 million net loss in the second quarter and a 30 percent drop in revenues.
Paramount Global Plans To Layoff Force by 15%
Paramount Global has officially initiated long-planned layoffs as it looks to reduce its U.S.-based workforce by 15 percent. The first of three stages of staff reductions is beginning today, with 90 percent of the total cuts to be completed by the end of September. Paramount reported having 21,900 full- and part-time employees in 33 countries globally at the end of 2023, as well as 4,500 project-based staffers. Last February, the company let go of 3 percent of employees. The current rounds are expected to see up to 3,000 more employees depart.
The cuts are part of a corporate effort to generate annual run-rate cost savings of $500 million. Paramount implemented the February layoffs as it began to confront a number of financial challenges, mainly the impact of its declining cable TV business. Last week, in reporting second-quarter earnings, the company took a $6 billion write-down on its cable networks, joining industry peer Warner Bros Discovery in acknowledging the value destruction of that asset class.
Further, Bjerke noted, if the petition for a special election on November 5 is not granted by the court by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, August 16, the City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. this Monday, August 19, to discuss the Council appointment process and schedule.
Last weekend, Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi issued her first public comment on this week’s resignation from the City Council by Lian. Lian was fined $25,000 by the District of Columbia this week for failing to report the full extent of her employment and it was subsequently found that she also failed in the same way to report to election officials regarding her City Council service, prompting her resignation.
Mayor Hardi wrote in her weekly report, “I valued Caroline’s service to the community and will miss working with her. As a body, we’ll continue to be focused on the priorities we’ve heard from the community. Our City is special because of the
people who’ve committed their time and energy here. Let’s be kind to each other and lead from a place of positive intent, we’re too small of a city to be otherwise.”
An official statement from
The City of Falls Church came out earlier this week and stated:
“Ms. Lian’s council resignation follows an article in the Washington Post published August 7, describing a finding by the District of Columbia’s Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Office that Ms. Lian had not properly reported outside employment, resulting in her resignation from the District.
The Post article prompted the City to review Ms. Lian’s most recent annual Financial Disclosure, known as ‘Virginia State and Local Statement of Economic Interests.’ Upon review, the City discovered that the former council member listed only Freddie Mac as her employer and did not disclose her employment relationship with the District of Columbia. Following procedures set forth by state code, the City has relayed this information to the Commonwealth’s Attorney
for investigation.”
Lian resigned her seat effective immediately earlier this week in response to a disclosure that she failed to report the full extent of her employment she filed to run for the Council, and following the report of a $25,000 fine levied against her by the government of the District of Columbia’s Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Office for the same thing given that one of her jobs was the second in command of the District’s Department of Buildings.
In the debate and voting at its meeting this Monday, there were only four (of seven) members present, with David Snyder and Erin Flynn dialed in remotely from different locations.
City Attorney Gillette presented the Council with five options for filling the seat vacated by Lian’s resignation. The first was to leave the seat open until the next regularly scheduled Council election in November 2025. The second was to appoint a replacement pending that election, which would have to be done by Sept. 22 next
month. The third was to seek a special election, although the “90 day clock” required by law for it would not be honored, given Lian’s resignation came with 89 days left before the Nov. 5 election, and noting the special difficulty arising from the onset of early voting in early September only 18 days from the date of the meeting.
The fourth and fifth options were to call for a special election later than Nov. 5 that none on the Council seemed to favor given what would be an exceptionally low turnout, not to mention the cost of holding such an election ($11,000).
Councilman David Snyder was most vociferous calling for allowing the public to decide by an election, rather than an appointment by the Council.
Council member Justine Underhill argued against a hasty election, saying “rushing favors those who have time on their hands,” and adding that the School Board recently appointed a member that seemed to go over well with the public.
Council member Marybeth
Connelly added that an appointment process would “have to be a very public process.” Vice Mayor Debbie Shantz-Hiscott noted the problem caused by so many citizens being on vacation or unavailable in August in the extremely narrow time frame that an election would require.
Council member Erin Flynn said most important is that “we all operate in good faith.”
Snyder moved a motion calling for a special election that would, Bjerke noted, have to have an August 30 deadline for all candidates to get all the petition signatures and required paperwork submitted by that date.. That motion failed 4-2 before an alternative version, which passed 4-2, was adopted calling for a special election if the court can authorize it by this Friday, and if not, calling for a special meeting of the Council for this coming Monday to refine an appointment process.
Mayor Letty Hardi led the vote for it, along with ShantzHiscott, Underhill, and Connelly, and Snyder and Flynn voted against.
Falls Church Schools Hold Convocations, Classes Start Monday
Noonan said.
“We no longer refer to ‘IB Infused’ teaching and learning, removing now the word ‘infused’ to fully embrace the IB way, and a major goal this year will involve our efforts to ‘demystify’ the IB curriculum for everyone.”
He said that the “journey from Pre-K to graduation includes lots of options along the way to preparing our kids to be college ready.”
Noonan said the “secret sauce” that accounts for the success of the Falls Church system is its “relational work.” He said that “we face difficulties by digging in, and confronting differences with care, gentleness, support, kindness and open hearts and minds, always presuming positive intentions and always remaining humble.” The system begins its new year “in a wonderful position,” he said.
The still brand new Meridian High building and campus was showcased by the events this week as well, with nearby parking being adjacent the massive West End commercial development project built on top of where the old high
school was once located, drawing the eye to what’s paying for this school thanks to the deft leadership of the Falls Church city government.
While the new high school was getting built and major improvements added to its adjacent Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School as well as Jesse Thackrey Preschool, Mt. Daniel and Oak Street elementary, it was tax and other revenues from the West End project and other large-scale projects now dotting the 2.2 square mile landscape of Falls Church that has paid for it all, even while City residents have enjoyed major cuts in their real estate taxes the last few years.
The system’s overall budget that was approved by the City Council last May includes funding the results of the system’s first ever collective bargaining agreement, as well as “longevity steps” in the employee salary scales aimed at both rewarding and incentivizing educators to continue their work in this system over the long haul.
At all the F.C. campuses, student performance scores are way up, Noonan noted. At the high school level, 92 percent of all IB
Diploma candidates passed (there are 74 enrolled in that program now, though IB courses are taken by all), and accreditation scores for English and math have advanced to the 96-98 percent range.
At the Henderson Middle School, 100 percent of students passed its algebra and geometry programs, and science scores for students at Oak Street have jumped from 76 to 84 percent, and there are many more indicators of the excellent education that students here are receiving.
This was even to the point of an extensive round table public discussion among leaders from all five campuses at Tuesday night’s School Board meeting on how to best craft regulations for restricting student use of cell phones, smart watches and air pods during the instructional periods of the school day. Under the slogan, “Off and Away Throughout the Day,” alternatives discussed boiled down to contrasts between enforcement and social modification models.
The Tuesday follow-on convocation gathering celebrated the longevity of the system’s teachers and other employees.
Honored as they reached fiveyear interval milestones were:
25 Years — Annette Folks, Extended Day Care; Ronnie Henderson, Meridian High; Aracely Paez, Custodial Services; Alejandrina Sanchez-Martinez, Custodial Services; Norma Sorto, Oak Street Elementary School. 20 Years — Lori Audi, Transportation Services; Robin Borum, Oak Street Elementary School; Eng Chuan, Transportation & Food Services; Norma Contreras, Custodial Services; Al DeFazio, Meridian High; Jennifer Jayson, Meridian High; Josh Kingsley,
Extended Day Care; Steven Knight, Curriculum, Instruction and Achievement; Liz McCarthy, Meridian High; Lisa Mueller, Oak Street Elementary; Shelly Skomra, Oak Street Elementary; Yuling Zhang, Food Services & Transportation.
15 Years — Silvia ArguetaRecinos, Custodial Services; Sally Ding, Food Services & Transportation; Mary Manzione, Jessie Thackrey; Amanda Morey, Mt. Daniel Elementary; Gina Thacker, Mt. Daniel Elementary.
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Vol. XXXIV, No. 27
August 15 - 21, 2024
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A Successor To Fill Lian’s Seat
The whole DMV, much less Falls Church, was rocked by the news of Falls Church City Council member Caroline Lian’s stiff fine imposed by the D.C. government and subsequent resignation from the Council last weekend. She held, after all, a top level position in the District’s Department of Building, which she held at the same time she was also employed by Freddie Mac, and collected her tiny salary that Falls Church provides for its Council members.
For her work on the City Council here the last couple years, we’ve had nothing but the highest respect. She always came well prepared and with cogent and meaningful comments about whatever business the Council had on its plate lately. And a lot has been on that plate. Falls Church may be small by wider DMV standards, but for the last two decades it has outstripped everybody by its aggressive, yet smart, growth. Now, while neighboring jurisdictions and the region as a whole are suffering from major vacancy rate problems with its commercial real estate, problems that promise to get much worse as time goes on now, the City of Falls Church has enjoyed a boom in its commercial development, while continuing to benefit from one of the finest school systems in the nation, and all that has come from wise and courageous decisions by its City Council, Lian included.
Lian had been part of a 5-2 majority on the Council that has consistently advanced smart growth practices, including major tax cuts for residential real estate owners, and addressing issues from stormwater, to sewer lines, pocket parks, sidewalks and crosswalks along with advancing overall growth and remarkably effective public education and infrastructure. Who would have thought that in this increasingly digital and on-line world, there would be any support for a multi-million dollar renovation of a public library, for example, on top of major funds for the schools, the City Hall building and many other things. But that’s the ongoing unique legacy of Falls Church that Lian had been an important part of.
Without Lian now, the margin of the advocates on Council for smart growth has been diminished. No wonder the two members of the Council that cannot be counted in this smart growth current want a special election over the appointment of a temporary replacement for Lian, because they fear an appointment would bring on another smart growth advocate. But still, all the Council voted for a special election, pending the Arlington Circuit Court going along despite the lack of a code component.
We’ll see what the court’s ruling will be, and remain confident that no matter what, Council member Lian’s challenges now will not slow the momentum from continuing to make Falls Church, among other things, worthy of its No. 1 ranking in the entire U.S. for “heathiness,” according to a detailed and studied survey by the U.S. News and World Report announced in just the last few days.
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The end of August is back to school time. For Rachel and I, it’s a particularly poignant back to school season as we are about to be empty nesters as we send our youngest off to Virginia Tech in the coming weeks. Seems like only yesterday I was exploiting their youthful cuteness to get constituents to open their doors as I campaigned for office.
Parents and caregivers of kids of all ages are getting their kids ready for the new school year, buying supplies, picking out the first day outfit, figuring out the new schedules. There is always a mix of excitement and anxiety as we drop our little ones off into the care of their teachers and administrators, whether it’s for a semester or just until later in the afternoon.
Sadly, a pressing concern for many parents when we drop our children off at school is their safety from gun violence. Schools, which ought to be sanctuaries of learning and growth, are increasingly seen as places fraught with potential danger.
In response, many schools have implemented a range of security measures, from metal detectors to armed guards. While these steps can offer a semblance of safety, they are not a substitute for comprehensive legislative action. The conversation around gun violence prevention must evolve beyond reactive measures and focus on proactive, preventative strategies that address the root causes of this crisis.
In 2024 I had the honor to serve as Chair of the House of Delegates Public Safety Committee, and I am proud of the great work we did this past session. On the House side alone, we passed nearly 20 bills that would have made our kids at school and our communities safer. Unfortunately, Governor Youngkin vetoed all of them.
While some of these bills introduced significant policy changes, others were more administrative, aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. The House Democratic majority would have mandated that fingerprints be included in concealed carry permit applications, required handgun competency training to include live fire at a shooting range, established a five-day waiting period between the initiation of a background check and the purchase of a firearm and ended blanket concealed carry permit reciprocity with states whose permit requirements do not meet Virginia’s standards.
We passed legislation to ban assault weapons, to ban carrying assault weapons in public spaces, and to prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing an assault weapon.
Common sense bills designed to enhance safety requirements for firearm storage met the same fate. My bill required firearms to be stored in a locked container when minors were present. Another bill required the purchase of a firearm locking device in homes where minors live. A third bill prohibited leaving firearms unattended in a motor vehicle.
To prevent those who shouldn’t have firearms from purchasing or possessing one, we passed bills to establish standards of reasonable conduct for firearm industry members as well as a civil penalty for violation. Intimate partners who were convicted of assault or battery were prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm. Legislation passed to tighten up laws related to transferring a firearm from one individual to another, to require the Virginia State Police to establish a Substantial Risk Order Reporting System to track these orders by locality, and to prohibit anyone from bringing a firearm into a mental health facility. I’ve introduced a bill to ban “ghost guns” for several years now — plastic firearms that do not have a serial number and are untraceable. Because they are sold as parts, a background check isn’t required.
The Governor vetoed every one of these bills. His veto explanation for each one was a variation of the same theme — these bills placed an undue burden on gun owners because of the associated expense, because of the time required to lock or unlock a storage device, because of the delayed time from when a purchase was made and the firearm was received, because the legislation went too far, and because it infringed on the Second Amendment.
As we send our kids back to school, the focus should not only be on academic readiness but also on ensuring their safety. In the 2025 General Assembly Session, we will again have a chance to focus our energy on meaningful action. By advocating for sensible gun laws and investing in preventive measures, we can take significant strides toward a safer, more secure educational environment (and community) for all students.
Aging in Place?
Consider an AmeriGlide stair lift to keep you
Benefits of an AmeriGlide stair lift: Eliminate the risk of falls
Enjoy a comfortable ride up and down all of your home. Enjoy comfortable, safe and easy access to all of your home.
More affordable than options such as moving.
Delegate Marcus Simon’s
Will Trump Wind Up a Mere Parenthesis?
Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Charlie Sykes, one of those ubiquitous talking heads on cable news shows, appearing on MSNBC this week made what struck me as a novel and unusually visionary comment about these troubled days.
He postulated a notion of the history of this quarter century in stunning terms. What if, he suggested, Harris-Walz wins in November, as now appears possible? What would Trump-Vance be left with?
Going forward, history would be changed from any earlier trends in a profoundly fundamental way. Instead of Trump’s own vision, the grotesque Project 2025 blueprint for a dystopian, fascist society, or something less drastic but still not positive, as many pundits suggest, maybe it will be far different.
Sykes offered the vision of times as one in which Trump would be a mere asterisk, or better, a brief parenthetical note sandwiched between two monumental strides in our history. So, we have the incredibly revolutionary achievement of putting the first Black man into the White House for the first big step, then we have a brief but scary interlude and then a resumption of the Obama trend with the election of not only another Black president, but our very first woman!
Likewise, it is not a flight of fancy to posit that the surge of antiwomen laws and decrees will be similarly plunged into the garbage can of history.
How do you like that vision, Trumpsters? While your man stumbles and mumbles, and rages, his way into sad oblivion, “the arc of the moral universe” will resume with ever more resolve and passion its bend toward justice!
So let’s be reminded that the famous quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” as he asserted, does so, as he made sure we knew, by virtue of a lot of elbow grease from
good people. It doesn’t happen on its own.
In this context, give President Biden his indispensable role in our history. This life-long dedicated public servant will have accomplished more in his one term as president than almost any other U.S. president. I think he’s right up there toasting Lincoln and FDR, contributing to, in a huge way, and reflecting the arc of the moral universe. Who would have thought that perhaps his most consequential action would be something he chose not to do, rather than to do.
I have absolutely no regrets that I held out, along with a lot of other people I respect, against the massive pressure brought to bear on Biden to drop out earlier this summer.
There was no doubt in my mind that the momentum was being fueled by enemies of democracy. I was not wrong. Had those folks working behind the scenes to exploit fears and honest concerns by many true Democrats prevailed, they would have driven the Democratic alternative to Trump into sheer chaos and disarray. Their hope was that by right about now, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, that the Democrats would split into warring factions among themselves, and that the result would be a bruising convention where Democrats would attack each other furiously in pursuit of a nominee.
That terrible scenario, however, did not come anywhere close to materializing. It turned out there was an absolutely seamless transition from Biden to Harris, executed within the first hour after Biden’s announcement of withdrawal, and still in complete force to this day. Nobody, except for the engineers responsible for this, had any clue it would happen.
The Trumpsters and related enemies of democracy were shrieking in glee when they heard Biden was dropping out. But, without knowing for certain, I suspect that Nancy Pelosi and Biden himself had been working overtime to produce the remarkable result we’ve seen.
I was at the Democratic National Convention in New York in 1980 when deep division in the party led to a crushing defeat for President Carter that November. The election of Reagan then opened the door for the mainstreaming of the noxious politics of the far right that have plagued us since.
A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church
By Penny Gross
Hooray! It appears that joy is returning to the political stage! After an almost ten year slog through the dystopian cynicism and relentless negativity of the MAGA movement — which trades on the politics of fear, and the overwhelming message that America is somehow failing — the Harris-Walz campaign is invigorating the electorate with a message of positivity and hope; a message that invites each American to participate in the building of their own future. The people are responding. There is excitement, and energy. People are looking ahead, not back. For far too long, we have seen patriotism co-opted by those who would define love for country in the narrowest possible terms — that the key to a “great” America is to purge it of diversity and pluralism. That only in returning to antiquated ways of thinking and living can we recapture our “former” glory. This presupposes that America has somehow lost its glory, or its ability to be a beacon of hope for the world. It is a strategy that depends on American
citizens losing faith in their country, and each other. Kamala Harris is sending a new message, one that celebrates and delights in our multitudes, our ingenuity, and our ability as a nation to move continuously forward. It is a message of optimism, grounded in the belief that Americans will always find a way to achieve greatly, because we always have.
For the last few weeks, we have watched American athletes perform exceptionally on the world stage. Rather than breed divisiveness and conflict between them, even when they were competing against each other, we came together to celebrate the accomplishments of the team as a whole. We were reminded that there can be an inherent pride in our American-ness, even as our individual athletes showcased an incredible array of contrasting skills, backgrounds, and abilities. In the end, each athlete’s achievements contributed to the success of the team. That is what it means to live in a community, and a nation. We lift
City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT
Week of August 5 — 11, 2024
Larceny from Building, S Cherry St, July 29, 2:40 PM, an unknown suspect took a package off the home’s porch. The unknown suspect is described as a possibly Hispanic male, approximately 60, wearing sunglasses, a white/gray hat, a blue T-shirt, and gray tactical pants.
(Delayed report) Reckless Driving, E Broad St, Aug 5, 7:27 AM, a male, 38, of Alexandria, was arrested for Reckless Driving.
Fraud – Identity Theft, W Broad St, Aug 5, 9:00 AM, victim reported receiving a fraud alert from their bank. An unknown suspect used a fraudulent passport in the victim’s name and attempted to withdraw funds.
Destruction of Property, W Broad St, between 7:00 PM on Aug 4, and 7:00 AM on Aug 5, an unknown suspect damaged two vehicles belonging to a business. The side view mirrors of both vehicles were damaged, and a fire extinguisher was discharged inside one of the vehicles.
Larceny from Building, Poplar Dr, Aug 5, 1:52 PM, victim reported an unknown suspect took their unlocked bike from their front porch. The unknown suspect is described as a white male with short hair, approximately 20-30 years of age, wearing
a white shirt, shorts, and dark shoes.
Assault and Battery – Family/Household Member, N Maple Ave, Aug 5, 3:00 PM, a male, 19, of Dunn Loring, was arrested for Assault and Battery of a Family/Household Member.
Larceny from Building, Roosevelt Blvd, between 11:30 PM on Aug 4 and 6:30 AM on Aug 5, an unknown suspect took a hammock from their front porch. No suspect description is available at this time.
Larceny from Building, Park Ave, Aug 5, 7:40 PM, victim reported their two basketballs were stolen.
No Valid Operator’s License, S West St/ Poplar Dr, Aug 7, 7:37 AM, a female, 25, of Fairfax County, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, Park Ave, Aug 7, 10:19 AM, a male, 46, of Fairfax County, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
Shoplifting, Hillwood Ave, Aug 7, 8:46 PM, two unknown suspects stole merchandise without paying. The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 20-30 years of age and 5’5” in height, roughly 180 pounds, wearing a black jacket with white stripes, and
each other up.
This is a moment in our history when we have an opportunity to bring that same spirit to our political discourse. We can bring energy and ideas, not condemnations and fear. We can recognize each other for being valued fellow citizens, not enemies. We can take pride in our accomplishments, while recognizing where we can improve and overcome. There is hope in the promise of tomorrow. That way lies joy. There is excitement in this moment, of course. But that excitement must be tempered by the understanding that campaigns must be waged to the very end. Victory is not guaranteed. We will face many challenges and confrontations, from those who would choose to tear down rather than build up. We cannot allow ourselves to be daunted by negative attacks, or stumbles. Our perseverance and commitment to victory is not just about winning, but about our dedication to the common cause of building a better country, and world, for everyone.
dark pants; the second is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 20-30 years of age and 5’5” in height, roughly 140 pounds, wearing a dark blue shirt and blue pants.
No Valid Operator’s License, W Broad St, Aug 8, 9:32 AM, a male, 46, of Pasadena, CA, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
Fraud – Identity Theft, W Cameron St, Aug 5, 10:30 AM, victim reported an unknown suspect opened multiple fraudulent banking accounts in their name.
Stolen Automobile, W Broad St, Aug 9, victim reported they had loaned their vehicle to an acquaintance who had not returned the vehicle within the agreed time frame, and was now refusing to answer the victim’s phone calls. The vehicle, a black 2021 Toyota Venza, was later recovered by the Miramar Police in Miramar, Florida.
Larceny from Motor Vehicle, Wilson Blvd, Aug 10, between 9:30 AM and 11:32 AM, an unknown suspect took the front license plate off a vehicle.
No Valid Operator’s License, Lincoln Ave, Aug 10, 6:51 PM, a white male, 23, of Arlington, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2024
For the fifteenth consecutive year, Falls Church News-Press readers filled out ballots and cast their votes to support their favorite places to eat, drink, shop and more in and around The Little City.
This year, 45 winners have been selected in categories representing the City’s best purveyors of food, drink, retail services and more. On the following pages, you’ll find many repeat winners along with many first-timers, hoping to start a “Best Of” win streak of their own.
Photos by Brian Reach, Aaron Stark
Outside Dining
Treats and Sweets
American
New Restaurant
Seafood
Church, VA 22046
RUNNERS-UP:
Brunch
Northside Social
Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046
Lunch Spot
Northside Social
Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046
Vegetarian
N. Washington St,. Falls
RUNNERS-UP:
RUNNERS-UP: Cafe Kindred, The Falls Northside Social, Harveys
RUNNERS-UP: Thompson Italian, Ellie Bird The Falls, Dogwood Tavern
Takumi
Real Estate Agent
Real Estate Group
Home Improvement
Retirement Community
Tori McKinney 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22201 Chesterbrook
Live Entertainment New Business
Dentist
RUNNERS-UP:
Dry Cleaners
RUNNERS-UP:
RUNNERS-UP: Trivistausa, Schroeder Design Build Marshall Roofers, House Doctors
RUNNERS-UP: The Bitici Group, Zemek & Co. JD Callander and Ed Blanchard, The Gaskins Team
RUNNERS-UP: Virginia Dream FC Creative Cauldron, Clare and Don’s, JV’s Restaurant
RUNNERS-UP: Catherine Lee Florals, 4Ever Young Godfrey’s, Robert Thornburg
RUNNERS-UP: Pam Micciche, Susan Tull O’Reilly Albert Bitici, JD Callander, Chris Earman, Alison Miller
RUNNERS-UP: Kensington, The Mather, Vinson Hall Goodwin House
Drs. Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children. Both doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years.
We take time to listen to our patients so that we truly understand their needs. With emphasis on overall health, we o er services including composite restorations, metal-free crowns, implant restorations, veneers and other cosmetic procedures. Our oral hygiene program excels at understanding the vital relationship between oral health and other systems in the body. Drs. Love and Miller, along with our amazing team, greatly appreciate the community’s trust and support.
Virginia Dental Association, Northern Virginia Dental Association (Dr Love is Past President), American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Washingtonian B est Dentists; Washingtonian Best of Hall of Fame. Best Dentist of Falls Church 2013–2021; Virginia Living Magazine Top Dentists and Northern Virginia Magazine Best Dentist, 2016–2023
Mark A. Miller, DDS, Melanie R. Love, DDS
W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046
Builder Builder
RUNNERS-UP:
Specialty Store
W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046
RUNNERS-UP:
Private School
RUNNERS-UP:
Nail Bonita
Sunstone
RUNNERS-UP: Father and Son, Nash Artistry by Kelsea, Neighborhood Barbershop
RUNNERS-UP: Pimmit Hills Pollinators Meadow Farms, Little Foot, Great Outdoors
RUNNERS-UP:
Camp Property Management
RUNNERS-UP: Creative Cauldron, Camp Columbia Camp Rodef Shalom, Baroody Camps
RUNNERS-UP: Matt Lee, Walter Crain Dubro, Hemphill Associates
Orthodontist
Drs. Berman & Masoud 311 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046
RUNNERS-UP: Elizabeth Jones, Seth feldman Elite Orthodontist
Therapist
RUNNERS-UP:
Falls Church Native Ted White Releases Two New Books
Recently, the News-Press’s very own copy editor, Ted White, released two books, “The Amazing Editorials” and “The Fantastic Editorials.” In each, White compiles all of his editorials from 19681978, during which he worked as the editor of Fantastic and Amazing, both science fiction magazines that published sci-fi stories.
Reflecting on his decision to publish the books, White maintains that it was made out of a passion for sci-fi and as a personal project.
“It wasn’t that hard to do because virtually all the issues of Amazing and Fantastic are now online. We were simply able to pull up each of those issues and essentially copy out the editorials from them,” White said. “It didn’t take very long. It only took a couple of months to put the books together. And frankly, I did it because, well, it’s a kind of a vanity project. I like having collections of my editorials.”
White originally didn’t come up with the idea of compiling his editorials as books.
“A British woman I know named
Sandra Bond had made the suggestion on an e-list I’m on, and it got picked up by a couple of other people on the e-list, and they decided they wanted to do the collections and publish them,” White said.
White’s editorials were picked up by Ansible Editions, a British sci-fi book publisher. White gave his permission for the editorials to be published, corrected the text, and wrote the afterword. However, White doesn’t turn any profit from the sale of the editorials.
“Essentially, I don’t get any money from the publication of these books. Any income that comes from these books goes to something called TAFF,” White said. “TAFF is the Transatlantic Fan Fund, which is a science fiction fan thing that has existed since around 1953 or 1954, in which fans from this country are sent to British or European conventions, and fans from Britain or Europe are sent to American conventions. Essentially, it’s a charity, and the book’s income goes to that charity.”
White’s editorials represent a snapshot in the history of the ’60s and ’70s. His work often commented on the political scene at the time.
“My politics were largely
reflected in swipes at Nixon. Nixon was president for the first half of my editorship of Amazing and Fantastic,” White said. “I started editing those magazines in October of 1968, and he was elected president in November of 1968. I had always held Nixon in significant disregard.”
Because of White’s tendency to occasionally incorporate politics into his editorials, he faced significant conflict with his publisher’s business partner, Arthur Bernhard.
“See, my publisher, Sol Cohen, he agreed with me. He had no problem with my politics. But Bernhard would read some of my editorials and call up Cohen and tell him, ‘You should fire him,’” White said. “Of course, Cohen never did. I mean, you know, if you read those editorials, most of them are not political per se, but there may be some political coloration. For example, when I was talking about Congress killing the hypersonic air transport program and other things like that.”
Despite this, White refused to hold back, realizing the value of the position lay in a passion for sci-fi rather than monetary benefit.
“No, no, I never [held back]. I
mean, frankly, I was paid so little to edit those magazines. I was paid $200 a month to edit those magazines throughout the ‘70s,” White said. “I mean, it was a subsidized hobby as far as I was concerned. And if I couldn’t do it the way I wanted to do it, I wasn’t willing to do it at all.”
Unfortunately, Cohen later sold his half of the business to Bernhard, who withheld White’s payment and shut down White’s ideas for the magazines. In response, White resigned from the position in
November of 1978. Regardless, White is proud of his work over his decade-long run and asserts that he wouldn’t have done anything differently.
“I mean, I’m not given to a lot of second-guessing of what I’ve done. And where the editorials and the magazines are concerned, I have few or no regrets,” White said. “I did what I wanted to do, I did it the way I wanted to do it, and I was happy doing it.”
To purchase the books, visit tinyurl.com/FCNP0824tw.
by Aaron Stark Falls Church News-Press
TED WHITE posed with his books while at the News-Press this week. (Photo: Aaron Stark)
New Crosswalks Enhance Pedestrian Safety on West Broad
by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press
Two new crosswalks quietly appeared along West Broad last month, part of a sustained effort to improve pedestrian safety — and transportation in general — in The Little City. These two additions, though modest, mark a significant milestone for downtown Falls Church: At least between Washington and West Streets, there are now crosswalks at every side street along both sides of West Broad.
The new crosswalks appeared just days before the latest of a string of mixed-use complexes — the Broad & Washington apartment building and future home to Whole
was dyed red and stamped in a herringbone pattern to closely mimic the appearance of traditional brick crosswalks. The asphalt was then treated to provide additional traction, significantly reducing the risk of slipping compared to traditional brick, especially during wet or icy conditions.
The use of stamped asphalt also addresses another key issue associated with brick crosswalks: durability. Brick crosswalks, while aesthetically pleasing, are prone to shifting and breaking over time, leading to costly repairs and potential hazards for pedestrians — and can be especially treacherous for those in a wheelchair, crutches, or high heels. The stamped asphalt, by contrast, offers a long-
month, the city has announced plans to add two more in the coming months, both near the Founders Row 2 complex under development. This is likely welcome news to businesses in West End Plaza, which during construction has consistently been a bottleneck for traffic — and a dubious place for pedestrians (or vehicles) to cross.
The quick installation of the new stamped asphalt crosswalks is another benefit that stands in stark contrast to brick ones. The brick crosswalks, required by city streetscape standards adopted several years ago, can take months to install. Furthermore, the metal plates used during construction of the crosswalks — such as the one being installed outside Clare
NEW STAMPED ASPHALT crosswalks mimicking brick were installed last month. (Photo: Courtesy, City of Falls Church)
T h e LGB T Q + R e ach
by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
This is the third Presidential campaign for Donald Trump, so we all pretty much know what he does. First, if he sees somebody as an enemy, he calls them names, says everything they do is the worst thing to have ever been done, and claims everything they say is a lie.
There is no nuance to this — and anybody not playing ball is labeled a traitor.
This bad-faith antagonism has been plain to most Democrats for a while — but at this point, it seems like just about everyone is totally worn out.
Trump is a professional troll and snake oil salesman (from Trump steaks to Trump University). It’s all about the attention.
When Trump spouts out two hours of lying, he isn’t paying attention to what he’s saying.
He doesn’t care. He just wants people talking about it.
And the media — and Biden, and Clinton before him — they struggled with taking the bait.
Is Antagonism Season Over?
I remember being told that friends come into your life “for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime.” I think that’s true for a lot of things. I think that’s true with antagonism.
At some point, even most bullies realize teasing has gone too far — once cruelty or hysteria sets in, or somebody is hurt or starts crying (or they’re afraid of being in trouble).
Once the people, feelings. and consequences become real, things change.
But this isn’t that. At least Trump certainly hasn’t stopped behavingly badly, and the hateful rhetoric hasn’t calmed down.
But the polls and coverage all point to a small, but significant, shift. The lies aren’t working. The public sees through them.
But what’s behind this change?
I believe the explanation is quite simple.
Antagonism thrives when people feel disaffected, but it isn’t an effective long-term strategy.
It’s been 14 years since Trump’s toxicity — first with the promotion of birtherism — entered the political scene.
A lot of life happens in 14 years.
We (or our loved ones) have kids — and want them to be kind and honest.
We go through conflict — and have to admit we were wrong, or find a way to forgive. We make friendships that defy expectations — and are proud of them. A friend encounters an unfamiliar challenge — so we learn everything we can to help them.
Loved ones are lost. A marriage fails. Mistakes are made.
We grow up.
Is the season of blind political antagonism coming to an end? I hope so.
Qatar Releases Gay Man After Months
Manuel Guerrero Avina, a dual British/ Mexican citizen who was arrested in February in Qatar, was released to the U.K. earlier this week. Avina says Qatar police, in what he
calls a “honeytrap operation,” impersonated a gay man on the dating app Grindr and invited him to meet nearby, where they arrested him. The police say they searched his apartment after the arrest and found methamphetamine, which Avina says was planted.
During his four months in a Qatari prison, Avina — who is HIV positive — says he was deprived of antiretroviral medications and tortured.
Bulgarians Protest Anti-LGBTQ+
Law
Last week Bulgaria’s parliament approved an anti-LGBTQ+ law — introduced by members of the pro-Kremlin “Revival Party” — which bans the “promotion, popularization and support of ideas and opinions related to non-traditional sexual orientation or sexual identification other than biological” in schools.
Protests have erupted throughout the country.
LGBTQ+ Olympians Shine in Paris
The 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games came to a close on Sunday. A total of 10,724 athletes competed in 329 competitions over 17 days. Team USA’s 593 competitors took home the most medals (126) out of the 206 delegations participating in this year’s Games, followed by China (91), Great Britain (65), France (65), Australia (54), and Japan (45). 195 of this year’s 10,724 Olympians were identified as openly LGBTQ+ by OutSports, including 33 from Team USA.
1,161 athletes participated from 68 country delegations in which homosexuality is a crime.
LGBTQ+ Olympians received medals in 42 competitions this year, including 15 gold, 13 silver, and 14 bronze medals; if LGBTQ+ players were a delegation, they would rank seventh in the world.
Team USA’s LGBTQ+ Olympians were more likely to receive a medal than players from any country’s delegation, with more than half (54.5) percent receiving a medal. Overall, 32.8 percent of LGBTQ+ Olympians received medals in Paris.
Paralympics Confirms First Trans Athlete
August 28 will mark the open of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with about 4,400 athletes with a range of disabilities competing across 22 sports.
Last weekend the Italian Paralympic Committee confirmed Valentina Petrillo — a Trans woman and runner who is visually impaired — for the team. Petrillo came out as Trans in 2018 and began hormone replacement therapy in 2019. Prior to transitioning, Petrillo was an 11-time champion in mens competitions.
Petrillo has faced opposition in the years following her transition. Italy left her off the roster for the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games, and threats to her safety prompted her to withdraw from last year’s World Para Athletics Championships in Poland.
But in two weeks, Petrillo will become the first openly Trans athlete in Paralympic history.
Falls Church Business News & Notes
Hilton Garden Inn Presents the Blue Ridge Sky Band
Thursday, August 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm – The Hilton Garden Inn Falls Church is hosting music night again this week featuring music from The Blue Ridge Sky Band, a NOVA-based ‘70s-’00s country rock cover band. Think Jimmy Buffett, Van Morrison, Marshall Tucker Band, the Eagles and more. Bring your friends and colleagues to the restaurant/bar and enjoy appetizers and drink specials.
Fortune Names Global 500
Fortune magazine released the 35 annual Global 500 list with local companies represented. Falls Church-based Northrop Grumman was ranked at 382. The top local company was Freddie Mac at number 88. Capital One followed at number 304 and General Dynamics at number 362. Companies were ranked by total revenue for fiscal years ending on or before March 31.
Early-Bird Tickets for The Arc Gala 2024
Tickets are now on sale for The Arc of Northern Virginia’s “Illuminating Inclusion” Gala, which will be held on Saturday, November 9, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. The Gala helps raise important funds that make possible all of their programs, services, and advocacy education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. This special price is available through August 31. The super early-bird tickets are available at thearcofnova.org/ gala. For more information on the 2024 Gala, please visit the 2024 Gala website or email events@thearcofnova.org.
Small Business Grant
Faire has a call out for its first grant cycle with the deadline of August 31. The Faire Small Business Grant provides $5,000 grants to select new retail businesses to help them stock their stores and cover their inventory expenses. The small business grant program was created to kickstart those with a dream shop. It is open to independent retail stores based in the U.S. and started the business in 2023-2024 or plan to open by the end of 2024. The award recipients will be announced on September 30. Faire is an online wholesale marketplace used by hundreds of thousands of independent retailers to discover unique products and save time with their wholesale buying. On Faire, retailers can shop a wide range of wholesale brands — from locally made to eco-friendly — all on one, easy-to-use site. faire.com/small-business-grant.
Night Watch Offers Tutoring
Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care has partnered with Sachkhand Foundation to offer a new program, Brain Boosters. The goal is to empower underprivileged elementary students to achieve academic success and personal growth by providing free tutoring, resources, and a supportive learning environment. Tutoring will be offered for math, reading, and writing, and free books and school supplies will be offered with tutors on weekends. Parents and prospective tutors should call the clinic: 703-775-0777.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus
Last week, NASA reported that the Falls Church area-based Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This was Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission, carrying more than 8,200 pounds of new scientific experiments and cargo for the agency to the International Space Station.
Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.
THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.
THURSDAY AUGUST 15
Kensington Summer Concert: Ginny Carr
Sit back, relax, and soak up the sounds of the talented Ginny Carr to close out the summer in style. Free to attend. The Kensington Falls Church (700 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 3:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
FRIDAY AUGUST 16
Flamenco and Sangria Night
Immerse yourself in the captivating art of Flamenco dancing, where every movement tells a story of emotion and tradition. Discover the rich history and cultural significance behind this powerful and mesmerizing art form, accompanied by delightful beverages that will enhance your sensory journey. Don’t miss out on this unique celebration of Flamenco’s beauty and opportunity to sip and socialize. Free to attend. The Kensington Falls Church (700 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
A Letter to Tula
"A Letter to Tula" will be a whimsical trip of memories from long ago. When Tula receives a letter from her friend back home in Vienna, Austria she relives the memories that both her mother and Mame made. With an amazing cast of characters, this is sure to be and evening of fun and laughter! Tickets at creativecauldron.org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY AUGUST 17
Falls Church Farmers Market
Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, year-round! City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Free Kettlebell
Intro Class
Come learn the basics for free! Join
for a monthly, free introduction to kettlebell fundamentals. You will learn how to "Move Better" and "Get Stronger" using the kettlebell swing, deadlift, squat and press. There's no experience necessary and the class is scalable to suit individual ability levels. Functional Fitness VA (2840 Graham Rd., Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 1:00 p.m.
IO 'Celebrating Ms. Sarah Vaughan'
IO performs the music of jazz legend Sarah Vaughan, who along with Ella Fitzgerald defined vocal jazz singing in the 1940s and beyond. Tickets at creativecauldron. org. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.
'Noises Off' by Michael Frayn 'Noises Off' presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called "Nothing's On." Tickets at keegantheatre.com.
Keegan Theatre (1742 Church St. NW, Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m.
SUNDAY AUGUST 18
FCA All Member Show M-Z Opening
Meet the Artists Reception for the annual FCA All Member Show (for members with last names beginning with M-Z). View or purchase through August 18 in the FCA gallery or online at fallschurcharts.org. Free and open to the public. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
MONDAY AUGUST 19
Special City Council Meeting on Vacancy
This special meeting has been called to discuss the appointment process and schedule for filling a vacant seat on City Council. On Monday, August 12, 2024, City Council voted to petition the Arlington Circuit Court to allow a Special Election, concurrent with the General and Special Elections on November 5, 2024, to fill the vacancy on City Council. If the petition for a Special Election is
not granted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 16, the City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 19 to discuss the City Council appointment process and schedule. The public may attend the meeting in-person or watch the meeting live or on demand at fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings and FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.
TUESDAY AUGUST 20
Arm Chair Travel: Tunis, Tunisia
Explore new places around the world without having to leave your seat. This month, visit the beautiful city of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Free to attend. (120 N. Virginia Ave., Lower Level Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 1:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21
Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Library Board of Trustees meets. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Upper Floor Conf. Rm., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Citizens Transportation Adv. Committee Mtg.
Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Laurel Room, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m.
THURSDAY AUGUST 22
Historic Architectural Review Board Meeting
Historic Architectural Review Board meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Environmental Sust. Council Meeting
Environmental Sustainability Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
SINGER IO will perform jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan's songs at Creative Cauldron on Saturday. (Photo: Falls Church Arts)
LOCAL SPORTS
F.C. Copperheads Finish 5th in Nationwide Little League Tournament
by Erika Toman
The Falls Church Copperheads, a team of twelveyear-olds from the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League, achieved an impressive 5th place finish out of 104 teams in their final tournament in Cooperstown, NY. Competing against teams from over 30 states and Canada, the Copperheads finished with an outstanding 7-1 record, bowing out in the quarter-finals. The team tallied 19 home runs, a .405 batting average, and 75 hits, while defensively generating 45 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .270 batting average with dominant pitching and spectacular defensive play. In pool play, the Copperheads went undefeated at 5-0. Against Smash (NY), James Owen, Matthew Miller, and Tig Fatzinger each homered, with Luca Pipia striking out three in two innings. Evan Toman was forced from action, breaking his finger on a steal. In a comeback win against Renegades (NJ), the Copperheads turned a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 victory, led by Miller and Pipia’s homers, as well as a key RBI from
Davis Nicholas which scored 2. Bronson Rogers allowed just four hits in 3 and 2/3 innings. The team then secured a 10-5 win over Thunder (IL), with homers from Pipia, Carmody, and Owen. Miller earned the win, striking out five. The Copperheads’ bats exploded in a 15-hit victory over Walleyes (MN), highlighted by Fatzinger’s second home run. Anthony Verdi, Landon Tucker, Owen, Rogers, and Fatzinger all had multiple hits. Owen pitched four strong innings, giving up only two hits. The Copperheads followed this with a win over San Carlos Missions (CA), with 9 players contributing hits and strong pitching from Owen and Asher Sequeira.
In the elimination rounds, the Copperheads defeated Rock Solid (NC) 7-2, with Pipia striking out seven over five innings. Toman was able to return to play despite his injury, contributing a hit. Hayes Vaughan and Owen contributed homeruns.
In a walk-off win against the Badgers (CA), Harrison Carmody delivered a dramatic victory. Toman started the game, gutting out 3 and 1/3 innings,
with Sequeira providing excellent relief. The bottom of the 6th inning fireworks started with Miller singling. Tucker’s home run put the Copperheads within a run. Pipia doubled, and Toman singled in the tying run. With two outs and two strikes, Carmody hit a line drive over the left field fence for the heroic walk-off — his second homerun of the game.
The quarterfinals saw the Copperheads face the Bombers Baseball Club (CA), a recruited showcase team representing all of Northern California. Despite a valiant effort, the Copperheads lost 5-1. Rogers and Toman combined for a solid pitching performance, with Sequeira contributing the team’s lone run on a homer. The Bombers ultimately advanced to the finals.
Despite drawing from a small local pool, the Copperheads excelled against teams with larger recruiting pools and significant resources. “I couldn’t be more proud of these young men,” said Head Coach Nick Toman. “They’ve shown tremendous character and play the game the right way – heady,
Boys’ Volleyball Officially Added To Mustang Athletics Program
by Ryan McCafferty
When fall sports season enters full swing at Meridian High School later this month, there will be one more team in action than there had been in previous years: boys’ volleyball. For the past two seasons, this group existed as an informal club, but thanks to the drive of some determined students and a willing parent to serve as head coach, the boys’ volleyball team will now compete alongside the girls as an officially recognized Varsity sport.
The original club was started by two seniors — then sophomores — Joe Kritenbrink and William Hladky, the latter of whose father Shannon is the coach. They were able to gain enough support to form a team, mostly among other students in their year, and the group began by playing roughly two matchups per week for about eight weeks in the NoVA Boys Volleyball League. This season they are set to make the jump to VHSL, and there will also be a JV team for
developmental purposes.
The team is still very much in it grassroots stages, as Hladky — whose only volleyball coaching experience is the past two club seasons — is its only staff member and will be using volunteers (all who may be interested are welcome!) to serve as assistants throughout the year. The plan is to eventually have a full staff, as well as for the team to have its own buses and equipment, which it is currently borrowing from the womens’ program. It will likely be a bit of a learning curve in the gym, as most of the students on the team have no travel or Varsity volleyball experience and will be matched up with bigger schools with more established programs, but that’s okay — everyone has to start somewhere.
On the plus side for the boys is the fact that they will have no shortage of upperclassmen, with nine of the team’s twelve members being seniors, including Kritenbrink, Wesley Crawford, Ben Berol, Conrad Diemel and Cole Kezar-Malzhan, all of whom
have been involved with the team from the very early stages and were given special shoutouts by Hladky for their competitive work ethic in frequently practicing away from school activities. Hladky’s son William, mentioned above as one of the team’s founders, will not be playing as he works as a manager for Meridian’s field hockey squad, but may still be involved during various practice sessions. Meanwhile junior Niko Kruse Lawson, who recently moved here from London, previously played Varsity volleyball overseas (the only member of the team to boast that experience) while the group’s youngest member is freshman Charlie Santee, who will compete for the starting setter job.
The boys’ volleyball team’s first game will be on August 26 against South County. It figures to be the most anticipated opener of this coming season, and all members of the Mustang faithful are invited and encouraged to show their support for Meridian’s newest fall squad.
aggressive baseball.”
The tournament marks the end of this group’s Copperhead run culminating in a record of 85-43-3 over their 10, 11, and 12 year old seasons in the Elite division of the Northern Virginia
Travel Baseball Association.
The team will now move to the Fairfax Stars organization. “This is a special team,” added Coach Toman. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these players.”
THE F.C. COPPERHEADS finished fifth in this year’s national tournament in New Jersey last week. (Courtesy photo)
Community News & Notes
HONORED WITH A PROCLAMATION from the Virginia General Assembly as sponsored by State Del. Marcus Simon, Christopher Fay (center with proclamation) was applauded also by the Falls Church City Council, shown behind him here, for his years of work as the executive director of the F.C.-based Homestretch organization and its record of success helping families out of homelessness. (News-Press Photo)
“Purple Meadow” Named People’s Choice at FCA Exhibit
Quynh Nguyen’s pressed floral artwork “Purple Meadow” has received the Falls Church Arts’ People’s Choice Award. The prize was sponsored by Art and Frame of Falls Church (307 E. Annandale Road, Falls Church).
Nguyen’s work, which is available at Falls Church Arts for $150, is constructed from pressed florals. Nguyen says about her artwork, “I love preserving something as short-lived as flowers to make them last forever and to showcase their beauty. Each petal and leaf were carefully pressed and reconstructed to capture their vibrant colors and texture.”
The piece was chosen by the visitors to Falls Church Arts as the People’s Choice award winner. The theme for this exhibit is Falls Church Arts’ All Member Show, Last Names M-Z. The
show runs through August 18.
The gallery of Falls Church Arts is at 700-B West Broad St. (Route 7), Falls Church. The gallery is free to attend and open Tuesday-Sunday. For gallery hours, or to view or purchase art online, visit fallschurcharts.org.
Sunset Cinema Returns to Cherry Hill Park August 23
The first Sunset Cinema of 2024 is showing “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Cherry Hill Park on Friday, August 23.
The movie starts at 7:30 p.m. next to the barn and playground — but arrive early to grab a great seat and purchase your popcorn, drinks, and delicious cold treats from SweetFrog.
The 21st Annual Sunset Cinema Series is presented monthly through October by Renewal by Andersen. Movies start at dusk on select Fridays (and one spooky Saturday) in the fall. Future movies have been
announced as “Honey I Shrunk The Kids” on Friday, September 20 and “Monsters University” on Saturday, October 26. Learn more at fallschurchva.gov/ SunsetCinema.
Annual PARK(ing) Day September 20
The City of Falls Church announced that it will hold the annual PARK(ing) Day on Friday, September 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 479 S Maple Street.
PARK(ing) Day is a global annual event where parking spots typically used by cars are transformed into temporary popup parks to rethink the use of urban spaces.
The event will enrich the community by creating an inviting streetscape and promoting activities that allow for social exchange, fun, creativity, and a rethinking of the public-rightof-way.
THE TALENTED WESLEY DIENER performed mostly Italian Neapolitan songs, along with a couple of Sondheim favorites, in a cabaret performance at the Creative Cauldron last Saturday, aptly accompanied by pianist Barbara Wilkinson. (News-Press Photo)
FAIRFAX COUNTY Dranesville supervisor Jimmy Bierman joined Mayor Letty Hardi to paint crosswalks in school colors outside Mount Daniel Elementary School. (Courtesy Photo)
SUMMONS AND PETITION
You are hereby summoned to appear in person before this Court on August 21, 2024 at 9:30 AM in Part 5 for an in person appearance and conference before the Hon. Segal Blakeman at the Nassau County Family Court, located at 1200 Old Country Rd., Westbury, NY, 11590 on the 2nd Floor in Room 204 to answer the petition filed by Lilian L. Bonilla-Vasquez (Petitioner) against you, Jose E. Vasquez-Fuentes (Respondent) in the Matter of an Article 6 Custody/Visitation Proceeding wherein the Petitioner seeks full residential custody and sole legal custody of the subject child, Emily P. Vasquez-Bonilla. File #: 589041, Index#: V-07176-22. If you fail to appear as directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
The following was given first reading at the May 28, 2024 City Council meeting. A public hearing and possible recommendation for City Council action is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.
(TO24-11) ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH CHAPTER 48 “ZONING,” ARTICLE V “SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS,” DIVISION 2 “OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS” TO EXCLUDE THE FIRST 1,000 SQUARE-FEET FOR NEW COMMERCIAL USE OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT CALCULATIONS
The proposed amendments to the Zoning Code would have the effect of excluding up to 1,000 square feet of commercial floor area from the City’s minimum parking requirement calculations.
The purpose of the proposed commercial parking relief is to expand the number of commercial uses that are eligible to occupy existing commercial buildings, so that existing commercial buildings may be more easily re-purposed over time.
All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to jtrainor@fallschurchva. gov. Remote participation information at www. fallschurchva.gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov.
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing and possible recommendation for City Council action on the following is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.
(TR24-30) RESOLUTION TO AMEND AND READOPT BICYCLE MASTER PLAN: CONNECTING COMMUNITIES, PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION 2015-13
The amended Bicycle Master Plan: Connecting Communities, is a guiding document for implementation of future bicycle facilities included in the Comprehensive Plan, and notes the numerous benefits of enabling bicycling as a safe and accessible form of transportation.
The materials for the above item will be available on the city’s webpage prior to the public hearing: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/PC. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. For copies of materials and other information, contact Kerri Oddenino koddenino@fallschurchva.gov.
All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to jtrainor@fallschurchva. gov. Remote participation information at www. fallschurchva.gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov.
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, August 22, 2022 at 7:30 PM in City Hall’s Dogwood Room (first floor), 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22043 to consider the following:
PROPOSED ALTERATION OF 258 N WASH-
INGTON: Removal of side porch and addition of three-story 8-unit residential development. New units will touch two walls of existing historic property.
* Planning Commission review of the site plan will be required prior to construction.
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)
The above legal advertisement shall run on Thursday, August 15, 2024
Please bill to the following address:
Planning Division 300 Park Avenue Falls Church, VA 22046
Please call Cameron Gahres at 571-419-7366, or email at cgahres@fallschurchva.gov to confirm the receipt of this ad and if you have any questions.
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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”
This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
City Launches Phase One of Smart Cities Program
This Tuesday, the City of Falls Church, in collaboration with Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute (VTTI) Division for Technology Implementation, officially kicked off the first phase of the Smart Cities Program. Smart Cities will leverage advanced technologies to address the City’s and community’s transportation needs.
The $10 million technology investment for intersection modernization and smart intersection deployment will implement innovative technologies from VTTI and be administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the City. The grant will be strategically utilized to: Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the City’s and community’s specific needs, identify and select cutting-edge technologies that can effectively address these needs, and implement these technologies in a real-world environment within the City, to evaluate the impact of these technologies on the environment, safety, and quality of life from the residents’ perspective, and to develop foundational standards for future Smart City initiatives.
Being a testbed for Smart Cities technology is an exciting opportunity for the City of Falls Church to gain capabilities like signal timings that change based on real-time roadway conditions, smart intersections that can detect pedestrians, and adaptive street lighting that dims based on twilight hours, environmental conditions, and motion.
Falls Church Mayor Letti Hardi said, “This innovative technology will improve pedestrian safety, reduce conflicts between vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists with cars, improve traffic flow and congestion, reduce energy usage, and lower maintenance costs. Innovations like these come at a pivotal moment for Falls Church as we continue making big investments in a more walkable, bikeable, and safer City.”
Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute is located adjacent to Falls Church near the West Falls Church Metro station. It participates in the investigation of transportationrelated requirements, selection of vendor solutions, development of hardware and software solution components, systems integration, data collection, data analysis, performance analysis, and cost/benefit estimation.
F.C. City Council member
David Snyder, who has represented Falls Church on regional transportation-related bodies, stated, “This is a tangible example of the commitment of the city, the region and elected officials to deploy technology to improve transportation for our residents, businesses and visitors, regionally and specifically in the City of Falls Church.”
The VTTI plan, as presented at Monday’s box unveiling at the intersection of W. Broad and Virginia Ave., was shared to a gathering of three dozen participants by project manager Reg Viray.
He spoke on behalf of the VTTI and the “unique collaboration that aims to turn Falls Church into a model for smart city development, setting an example not just for the Commonwealth of Virginia but for communities nationwide,” he said.
Viray added, “As we embark on this journey, Falls Church is positioned to become a living learning laboratory, constantly adapting to the ever-evolving technological landscape. This initiative allows us to establish a foundational infrastructure that enables rapid deployment and integration of new technologies.
“At the heart of this initia-
tive is innovation—innovation that bridges the gap between government, academia, and industry. With VTTI serving as the leading implementor and independent evaluator, our research will critically assess whether these technologies offer improvement over the status quo, ensuring that each step is data-driven and impactful for residents.
“With this collaboration, the project promotes knowledge sharing among stakeholders, including VDOT, the City, and localities, ensuring that the lessons learned and model deployments can be applied across Virginia.
“Our Smart City program is built around the core components of: Transportation System Infrastructure Improvements, Smart Intersections, Adaptive Lighting, and Smart Parking. These components are essential in creating a city that is not only technologically advanced but also more efficient and responsive to the needs of its residents.
“Transportation System Infrastructure Improvements will upgrade existing systems to the state of the art, Smart Intersections will streamline traffic flow and make roadways safer, adaptive lighting will improve safety while
conserving energy, and smart parking will make finding a parking spot easier and more efficient.
“Specific to our event today, we are introducing modern signal controllers equipped with software designed to meet both current and future roadway needs. These controllers will not only address today’s challenges but also support the integration of connected and automated vehicles, ensuring that Falls Church is prepared for the transportation technologies of tomorrow.
“All intersections will be connected through a secure communications network, allowing for real-time data exchange across multiple channels, from fiber to cellular. This network forms the backbone of our Smart City, enabling centralized control and monitoring of intersections.
“Our central signal management system will empower city staff with innovative tools that allow them to work smarter, not harder. This system provides centralized command and control capabilities, with real-time alerts prompting staff of issues while providing information on the current health of intersection equipment. This proactive approach enables quick resolutions, stream-
lines operations, and ensures that our traffic signals are always operating at peak efficiency.
“The smart intersection equipment we’re deploying will lead to improved traffic flow, with coordinated and adaptive intersections working seamlessly across the roadway network. More importantly, we are committed to enhancing safety as we work towards Vision Zero. With smart intersection data, we will have the tools to understand the factors that precipitate conflicts between vulnerable road users and vehicles. Empowered with this data, we can make informed design decisions to implement countermeasures that result in safer intersections for everyone.
“This project will be rolled out in three phases: Phase 1 began this summer and will be completed by early Fall 2024. This includes the setup of our signal control shop test bench and nine intersections. Phase 2 goes from Fall 2024 through Spring 2025, we will continue upgrading intersections along the remaining portions of Broad Street. Phase 3, finally, goes from Spring 2025 to Fall 2025, as we will extend these upgrades to the remaining intersections on Washington Street.”
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
A LARGE TURNOUT Monday evening welcomed the launch of a “smart cities” traffic signalling upgrade at the intersection of W. Broad and N. Virginia Ave. (Photo: Gary Mester)
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