Falls Church News-Press 8-17-2023

August 17 - 23, 2023

75 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK

Winners

See Pages 7-18

Convocation Marks Start Of New School Year

An Upbeat Dr. Noonan Sets

Tone for Opening Monday

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

In his seventh school yearopening convocation event this Tuesday, Falls Church City Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan delivered yet another powerful motivational speech to 250-plus employees of the system assembled in the auditorium of Meridian High School, exclaiming more than once how his passionate dedication to the work of educating the City’s youth, and those of his colleagues present, brought him to the point of tears.

“It is the privilege of a lifetime to work with you all,” he said at the conclusion of his half-hour address. “You were made for this moment. Embrace it and have fun. Go forth and be brilliant.”

He stressed that rather than dwell on the past or worry about the future, people should “be present in the moment.”

These concluding remarks came after he hailed independent Citywide survey results showing that 93 percent of citizens feel

Continued on Page 3

Christopher Fay Wraps Up 17-Year Career Here

by Kylee Toland Falls Church News-Press

After 17 years of helping homeless families and survivors of domestic violence, Homestretch’s executive director Christopher Fay is retiring from one of the city’s most well-known non-profit organizations.

Fay, who will be succeeded by experienced non-profit leader Barfonce Baldwin beginning in September, has helped Homestretch achieve various accomplishments, such as consistent, successful long-term outcomes for the families served by the organization.

“Leaving Homestretch is invariably going to be a bittersweet experience because I love

Homestretch and it’s been the most rewarding employment of my life,” Fay said. “It’s a passion and I’ve gotten a lot of support for it.”

Fay’s journey with helping homeless families began in New York City, where he started a program, followed by a move to Washington D.C. where he worked for the Eisenhower Foundation in helping ex-felons. Four years after his move to the nation’s capital, Fay said he came across the executive director role at Homestretch, which he described as a “perfect fit.”

“This was a wonderful opportunity for me because it had the things I wanted to have in going to help homeless families,” Fay said.

“When I was working with homeless people in New York City, I didn’t have any housing….I was working without one of the most important resources you could provide.”

While assuming the role of executive director of Homestretch, Fay said he had various inspirations when navigating his position. The first being the organization’s former executive director Nancy Taxson, who “had the right vision” for Homestretch, and the second being Kieran Sharpe, an original founder and longtime resident and council member for the city.

“I draw a lot of my understanding of how to do this work also [from] my faith,” Fay said. “But

it’s a combination of people that I know of or people that I know personally that give me strength.”

Throughout his 17 years at Homestretch and many accomplishments, Fay said his “biggest achievement” has been the ability to “create an environment” that provides an “individualized approach” to each family the organization helps. An example of this would be taking in a family with a “particular set of problems” and trying to create a plan around said family that addresses those specific issues in a way that differs from another family.

“I think it’s very hard to do [what Homestretch does] in social

Continued on Page 4

THE UPCOMING YEAR will be highlighted by numerous events marking the 75th anniversary of the official designation of Falls Church as an independent city in Virginia. Here’s what a local paper headlined in August 1948 to mark the occasion (the NewsPress didn’t start showing up until 1991). (Archive copy courtesy Marybeth Connelly.)

NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL Falls Church Business News & Notes

I-95 Extension Opens This Week, 10 Miles Added

The opening of a new, 10-mile extension of the 95 Express Lanes to Fredericksburg opening to mainline traffic late on August 17, 2023 was celebrated at a ceremonial ribbon cutting this week.

“Our robust economy is getting another boost today as the 95 Express Lanes provide faster, more reliable transportation along one of the Commonwealth’s busiest stretches of highway,” said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “Through the continued power of public-private partnerships, investment in local and regional communities and booming job creation, we are solidifying Virginia’s status as a great place to do business.”

The $670 million project, a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, broke ground in 2019.

Once the Extension is open to customers, drivers can experience ten more miles of Express Lanes with access to the length of the project, with additional access at Route 17, Courthouse Road, and Russell Road opening to traffic in late 2023.

Democrats Hail Anniversary of Historic ‘Inflation Reduction Act’

This week, Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker released the following statement on the anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act becoming law:

“One year ago, President Biden and Democrats passed the historic Inflation Reduction Act — despite every single Republican in Virginia voting against it.

The legislation is doing exactly what it promised: lowering health care and prescription drug costs for Virginia families, bringing new jobs to our communities, and making the largest investment in climate change mitigation in history. But MAGA Republicans pledge to roll back this historic legislation and increase costs on middle-class families. That’s why it’s so important that we send President Biden and Vice President Harris back to the White House next year to finish the job and elect Democrats up and down the ballot who will protect and build on the progress we’ve made.”

Former President Donald Trump on Friday slammed the Democratic-led climate, health, and tax bill, arguing that Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was ‘taken for a ride’ by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.”

The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, released the following statement in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Exactly one year ago, the trajectory of the

U.S. economy was fundamentally changed for the better. On this day, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, putting the U.S. on a path to a clean energy economy for the first time. The impacts of this historic investment in climate action and clean energy will be felt for generations, but even in just one year, we’ve already seen staggering progress.

“In the past 12 months, private industry has already announced $270 billion in clean energy investments. This amount surpasses the last eight years of clean investments combined. The Inflation Reduction Act’s influence is powerful and widespread, with more than 170,600 new jobs and 272 new projects in the clean energy sector announced across 44 states. With this exponential growth, the U.S. is projected to reduce economy-wide emissions 33-40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, putting us well on our way to curbing the worst effects of climate change.”

Beyer Helps Form New AI Working Group in Congress

This week, the New Democrat Coalition Vice Chair for Policy Derek Kilmer announced the formation of the Coalition’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group.

Led by Working Group Chair Derek Kilmer and Vice Chairs Don Beyer, Jeff Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Susie Lee and Haley Stevens, New Dems will engage with the Biden administration, key stakeholders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and Capitol to develop and advance sensible, bipartisan policies to address this emerging technology.

Since the Coalition’s founding, New Dems have been on the cutting edge of technological innovation. In 2019, the Coalition held its first roundtable on AI and New Dems will continue to respond to changes in the technological landscape through new initiatives.

Artificial Intelligence Working Group Chair Derek Kilmer released the following statement: “Artificial Intelligence is the next great frontier of technological advancement, with the power to transform much of our lives – from health care to commerce to productivity, and more. We are already seeing how breakthroughs in this emerging technology present both great opportunities and challenges with potential disruptions for workers, for democracy, and for national security. As AI’s applications expand and change, it is incumbent on lawmakers to address its unique opportunities and challenges by creating a regulatory framework that both encourages growth while guarding against potential risks. This AI Working Group will focus on understanding AI’s many applications, assessing their benefits and drawbacks, and proposing policies that position the U.S. as a world leader in AI innovation and safety.”

Balanced Female Fitness Anniversary

Balanced Female Fitness (BFF) is turning three and to celebrate, it’s hosting a mashclass of HIIT, Strength, Pilates, and Yoga from 8:00 — 8:50 am this Sunday, August 20 at Oak Street Elementary. Refreshments and raffle prizes spotlighting local womenowned small businesses will follow the class. The celebration is open to all women at all fitness levels and given the chance to win a free month of membership. Visit balancedfemalefitness.com to join the fitness festivity.

Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation - 30th Anniversary

After three decades of helping Fairfax and Falls Church City residents with serious mental illness access resources, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation (NVMHF) is celebrating its 30th anniversary on September 9. Speakers will include Delegate Marcus Simon of Falls Church and Daryl Washington, Executive Director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB). The event will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, at PRS offices located at 10455 White Granite Drive, Suite 400, Oakton, VA. Tickets to the anniversary fundraiser can be purchased by visiting the website and more information is available by calling NVMHF at 703-853-1970 or by sending an email to info@novamhf.org.

Small Business Guide to Remote Work

Thursday, August 24, 12:00 – 1:00 pm – The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is hosting a free online session for small businesses across industries that wish to take advantage of remote work. The webinar will review the advantages and challenges for consideration, and steps to build a successful and high-performing remote team. Tammy Bjelland, CEO of Workplaceless is the speaker and the link will be shared upon registration. clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=70430004

Celebrity Chef Features Pho

Saturday, August 19, 12:30 pm – NUE hosts Phomakase: Culinary Journey of Pho by Nikki Tran. NUE is collaborating with celebrity chef, Nikki Tran, where guests will embark on a multi-course exploration of Pho – from the North, South, and Central regions as well as creations from Lang Son Province and Nikki’s Houston-inspired Cajun Pho. The menu weaves in the story of the boat people for a fully cultural experience. The fee without beverages is $125 and reservations may be made at NUE.

Rinearson Receives the Arc Award

Robin Rinearson, celebrating the second anniversary of Jake’s Ice Cream, has received the Catalyst of Change award from The Arc of Northern Virginia. This is given annually to a resident of an organization that advances civil rights for the developmental disability community. Rinearson opened Jake’s Ice Cream two years ago and is training staff for the new Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn in Seven Corners, both of which employ those with disabilities and give them the opportunity to build community. The grand opening hasn’t yet been scheduled. Rinearson has advocated for the inclusion of adults with disabilities through outreach and testimony.

Northrop Space Force Payloads

Northrop Grumman has completed the integration of U.S. Space Force (USSF) payloads on the two satellites it is building for the Space Norway-led broadband mission. It has also completed the thermal test of the first satellite. USSF partnered with Space Norway, a subsidiary of the Norwegian government, to continue providing satellite communications for U.S. personnel operating in the Arctic region.

 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.

Noonan Reveals ‘Secret Sauce’ for Success of FC Schools

the system’s schools are “excel lent or good,” that 90 percent of employees consider the City’s schools “good places to work,” that 90 percent of parents con sider the system safe for their children and with top levels of communication and quality of education, and that 96 percent of students in the system “have an adult they can turn to” if needed.

These affirmations were pre sented in stark contrast to state wide surveys showing 72 per cent of educators are suffering from low morale and 67 percent are “less than satisfied” with their jobs and over 12 percent of teachers leaving their jobs in the last year.

Noonan said he considered the Falls Church system’s com mitment to “invest in people” to be the key to such results. Now, all the teachers and staff at all levels are salary and mar ket competitive and the system is paying for language classes for its employees and its provision for six weeks of paid family leave for all employees is unique in the entire state.

The system also offers an additional two days of religious leave, and health insurance for its part time employees. These features and more are examples of the “wellness, equity and belonging” goals of the system, he said. “This is our secret sauce.”

It underscores his emphasis on the “culture” of the system that reaches below the surface to its “deep culture.” Noonan quipped that in terms of importance, “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” and is centered on the notion that the system’s leaders should “treat staff how they would like to be treated.”

Asking the question, “What is the culture of the school?” and focusing on the best answer is what everyone should focus on, he said.

He said the list of attributes that need to be considered to answer that question include “climate, mission and vision, language, humor, routine rituals and ceremonies, norms, roles, symbols, heroes, values and beliefs.”

“Culture is a powerful source of leverage, going beyond what we say to what we do, and how

years each) were:

Lisa Allan (Oak Street elementary) and Katie Clinton (Extended day care). For 25 years honored were Katie Tsai (food services) and Brian Walsh (Meridian H.S.) and for 20 years were Karen Bevan (Mt. Daniel), Chris Capannola (Meridian), Julie Huber (Oak Street and Mt. Daniel), Tereza GarciaRodriguez, Carlos Mejia and Molly Narburgh (custodial services), Molly Narburgh (central office), Tito Sorto (food services) and Kim Tanner (Mt. Daniel). For 15 years were Julie Custerr (Mt. Daniel), Surabhi Dobhal (Meridian), Farrell Kelly (Henderson), Lynette Kemp (Meridian), Alison Klink (Mt. Daniel), Leah Partridge (Henderson) and Carey Pollack (Meridian).

Other recognitions of anniversary employees went to Chief Academic Officer William

Bates, Meridian Associate

Principal Peter Laub, Secondary Schools head Valerie Hardy, Henderson Associate principal Steve Pickering, Director of Custodial Services Eduardo

Molina, Director of Food Services Richard Kane, Director of Early Childhood Education

Amanda Davis, Mt. Daniel

Principal Tim Kasik, Oak Street

principal Karim Daugherty and FCCPS Chief Operating Officer Kristen Michael.

Fay Says ‘Thank You’ to Little City for Welcoming Homestretch

work-oriented programs for a number of reasons,” Fay said. “They don’t have the funding to permit it.”

A challenge Fay said he and Homestretch faced during his time as executive director was a change in government policy that affected the organization’s funding. A major funder in terms of homeless policies was the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which Fay said created a set of mandatory guidelines for organizations receiving funds that “prohibits the kind of depth and individualization” that Homestretch offers.

“Right now, the only government funding we receive is from the City of Falls Church,” Fay said. “That’s our last remaining source of any government funding…otherwise, it’s the community and our local residents that make Homestretch possible.”

Under Fay’s leadership, Homestretch has proven gradu -

ate success through various outcome studies. The most recent 2023 study by the organization found nearly 90 percent of Homestretch’s graduating families never returned to homelessness and the majority of families continued to use the skills provided at Homestretch to acquire further education, skills and greater financial security.

“I just want to say ‘thank you’ to the City of Falls Church,” Fay said. “I think we should all be grateful that a city like Falls Church would welcome a program like Homestretch.”

On what he believes his successor, Barfonce Baldwin, will bring to the table at Homestretch, Fay said Baldwin has “years of experience” working with homeless populations, trafficking survivors and people who have survived domestic and genderbased violence. His advice for Baldwin is to “trust the staff” at Homestretch, who have an “enormous amount of experience and understanding” about the goals of the organization.

“[Baldwin] has the same energy and vision that I did when I came [to Homestretch],” Fay said. “She’s made a great impression on our board and staff.”

Although his position as executive director will end at the beginning of September, Fay said he would like to write and present on Homestretch conferences, while promoting the concepts that underlie the organization’s model and give people “faith” that there are solutions to homelessness. Outside of this, Fay said he would like to begin illustrating for children’s books, something he had done in the past, while also spending time with his new grandson.

“I think it is the belief that every life, no matter how seemingly broken, is salvageable and worth our investment,” Fay said when asked by the News-Press on what he wants his legacy to be at Homestretch. “If we believe that we provide the right resources in the right environment, most people will latch on to that and can reignite their hope.”

Robbie Robertson’s Anti-War

‘Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’

As the world mourns this week of the loss of one of its truly great rock lyricists and performers, Robbie Robertson, at age 80, there is one important point I would like to inject in the amassing narrative about him while people are still paying attention.

It has to do with perhaps his most iconic song, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” written very early on in Robertson’s career and first recorded in 1969 by Robertson’s group, The Band, in only its second album. The mesmerizing song has been recorded dozens of times by the best performers of that period, and it was Joan Baez’s version in 1971 that became the most popular, though my favorite is the recording of a live version by the Jerry Garcia Band in 1991 because of its slower tempo.

When I first heard The Garcia Band version I was immediately smitten, and was sure it had to have been based on some original song from that post-Civil War era because of its vivid imagery and down home storytelling. It is to me the kind of song that had enough historical content to have been made into an entire movie, or mini-series. Actually, Robertson’s hobbies earlier in life in New York City had included collecting movie scripts.

My point in invoking that song and those lyrics is to insist adamantly that they do not in any way constitute a pro-Confederate sentiment. If anything, it was the opposite. That is, the song is about the personal horror and tragedy of being roped into a war, period.

The first-person voice in the song, originally sung by Levon Helm, is a dirt farmer in Tennessee with no stake in the outcome of the war, but who laments what the war did to him and his family. He and his relatives were among the over 600,000 Americans who lost their lives over just four years in that terrible

war, driven to fight by the brutal insistence of slave-owning plantation owners who were willing to send their own sons and those of poor southern families, such as the one cited in the Robertson song, into battle to get slaughtered in order to prop up their immoral racist system.

Joan Baez, the anti-Vietnam war activist, surely recognized this about the song when she recorded a version in 1971 that readily became its most popular rendering. While it is probably true that pro-slavery proponents of the Southern Jim Crow laws and Lost Cause movement sought to associate the song with their pro-Confederate causes, ignoring its true content, Robertson may not have been politically attuned enough to recognize that subtle attempt to rip if off. But in my view, the sincere pathos in the song overrides any feeble attempt to draw an unintended pro-Confederate inference from it.

The song’s story line begins with, “Virgil Kane is the name, and I served on the Danville train, ‘til Stoneman’s cavalry came and tore up the tracks again.

“In the winter of ‘65 we were hungry, just barely alive. By May the 10th, Richmond had fell. It’s a time I remember oh so well.”

Then after the refrain, “The night they drove old Dixie down and the bells were ringing, the night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singing. They went, ‘Na, na, la, na, na, la,” the comes to the next verse of narrative,

“Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me, ‘Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E. Lee,” the lyric goes. It proceeds to “Now, I don’t mind chopping wood and I don’t care if my money’s no good. You take what you need and you leave the rest. But they never should have taken the very best.”

After the refrain line again, it goes, “Like my father before me, I will work the land, and like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand…He was just 18, proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave. I swear by the mud below my feet, you can’t raise a Kane back up when he’s in defeat.”

Refrain: “....All the people were singing…” The war was over.

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

The wrecking ball looms on the property long occupied by the now-disbanded Arlington United Methodist Church at 716 S. Glebe Rd.

In another sign of demographic and cultural change, Sunrise Senior Living is proceeding with plans to replace this 1947-vintage Protestant spire and Georgian red brick sanctuary with a retirement community.

Unless some preservationists deliver a miracle.

Gerry Deavers has attended the church since 1955, recalling fondly his wedding there and the daily music from the carillon that rang across the Alcova Heights neighborhood. He recounts the congregation’s history dating back to entries on Civil War maps (the only other local church on those maps is Mount Olivet on N. Glebe Rd.). From a small schoolhouse off Columbia Pike in Penrose, the early Arlington Methodists, among them one Sarah Baily, created Hunter’s Chapel (Louise Hunter gave the land), which was demolished during the war. In 1893, a successor was built at Pike and S. Edgewood St., and then came the existing large-scale version that housed an Arlington religious community expanding after World War II.

By 2015, a congregation of some 3,000 that had to put out extra chairs had dwindled to a few hundred. Their fellowship disbanded in 2015.

Deavers is pressing Sunrise to

preserve the sanctuary and tower as “a compliment to the new development, rather than just another bland, boring group of buildings so typical of today.” Future Sunrise residents would have a place to attend church, while management gets some revenue from weddings and concerts, he notes.

Sunrise declined to comment on the proposal.

But inquiries to county permitting staff confirmed that the company’s site plan is headed for the Planning Commission in September, having already been reviewed this spring by the Site Plan Review Committee after public feedback. Historic Preservation Planner Lorin Farris said staff reviews confirmed that there are no historic designation protections for the property. “The discussions over the past two years have been focused on influencing the proposed design of the new construction to be sensitive to the existing architecture of the neighborhood.”

But several activist groups are on the case. The Arlington Historical Society (on whose board I serve), which recently received a query from an outof-towner seeking his ancestor’s grave on the church’s original site, negotiated with construction firm PWC Companies for photos and to salvage a stained-glass window. But no other access (or archaeology) was permitted.

Tom Dickinson, who runs a preservation group called Save Historic Arlington, implored his followers on Nextdoor to blitz the

county government with protest. “This proposed massive destruction and wholesale transformation/development of this unique historic property is adverse and detrimental to the greater longterm interests of the neighborhood, the county and the region,” he wrote. “This former house of worship uniquely represents a time and a place when churchgoing, activity, and support were major components of community cohesion and integral to life in Arlington.”

Eric Dobson of Preservation Arlington told me it was “unfortunate that the church didn’t have this conversation when they sold the property.” They might have obtained some kind of protective easement as a condition of sale.

***

More proof that Arlington is the center of the universe.

My wife and I recently thought we should re-examine our wills. In a safe place in our home has long rested a photocopy, but the original that the probate world requires was with a downtown law firm.

Trouble is, that firm went out of business. I kept Googling and Binging, even calling the D.C. Bar. Their suggestion was to search for former partners by name. Bingo, found one. Reached him. Yes, firms that dissolve are supposed to contact clients to arrange document distribution. Somehow we fell through the cracks.

Astonishingly, this attorney had our will — in his basement. And he lives walking distance from our house. He made the delivery in person.

Task Force Sought to Study Football-Brain Impacts

Our owner-editor Nicholas F. Benton has announced this week that, with the beginning of another school year, he will petition the Falls Church School Board to establish a task force to look into the implications for students of new reports of the link between tackle football and chronic, including fatal, brain injuries and diseases. A study out last week from the Boston University’s CTE Center identified a link between effects on the brain of repetitive head impacts from tackle football and not only the deadly “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” (CTE) but also now, the degenerative neurological disorder known as Parkinson’s Disease.

According to the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, Parkinson’s is second only to Alzheimer’s Disease as a degenerative brian disorder. It is described on their website as “a slowly progressive disease, which causes a gradual loss of the nerve cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Because dopamine carries signals to the part of the brain that control movement and coordination, decreased dopamine levels lead to the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: Resting tremor, generalized slowness (bradykinesia), stiffness of the limbs (cogwheel rigidity), as well as other motor manifestations of Parkinson’s disease such as small handwriting, decreased facial expression, soft speech, and difficulty swallowing. As the disease progresses, postural instability develops, resulting in a slow, imbalanced shuffling gait, which can result in falls.”

Repetitive head impacts from tackle football that have been tied to long-term neurological consequences, like CTE, as have been reported repeatedly in the News-Press. But there hasn’t been much research on the link between tackle football and Parkinson’s disease. “Playing tackle football could be a contributing risk factor to Parkinson’s, particularly among people already at risk due to other factors,” said corresponding study author Michael Alosco, associate professor of neurology at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. “However, the reasons for this relationship are not clear and we also know that not everyone who plays tackle football will develop later-life neurological conditions, meaning many other risk factors are at play,” he added. In the study, the researchers looked at 1,875 sport participants — 729 men who played football, predominantly at the amateur level, and 1,146 men who played non-football sports who served as the control group.

Benton said the latest study results reported this week coincidentally corresponded with news that a lifelong friend of his, now in his 80s, a college football star on the west coast, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “We often discussed the possibility of his suffering some or other form of neurodegenerative disease that could be revealed as he grew older,” Benton said, “but actually now confronting this diagnosis comes as a terrible, terrible blow.”

“Given the great value placed on knowledge and learning in the Falls Church School System, it seems acutely ironic that such a potentially neurologicallydamaging practice as tackle football continues to be so popular at the system’s Meridian High School,” Benton said.

P�������

1.

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2023

For the Fourteenth 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, 39 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.

Read on for all of your selections in the News-Press’ 2023 Best of Falls Church.

International Little City Experience

Bar/Brewery

Dominion Wine & Beer 107 Rowell Court, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Solace Outpost, Audacious Aleworks

RUNNERS-UP: Haandi Indian Cuisine, Yayla Bistro, Maneki Neko, Panjshir, Koi Koi Sushi and Roll

RUNNERS-UP: Memorial Day, Taste of Falls Church, Tinner Hill, Harvey’s

Photos by Brian Reach, Kylee Toland, Albert Ting

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2023|

READER VOTE WINNERS

Winners

Best American Outside Dining

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack 130 N. Washington St,. Falls Church

Dogwood Tavern 132 W Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

Brunch

Northside Social 205 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Northside Social, Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Harvey’s

RUNNERS-UP: Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Harvey’s, Lazy Mike’s Deli, Ellie Bird

Treats and Sweets New Restaurant

Bake Shop

100 E. Fairfax Street, Falls Church VA 22046

Ellie Bird

125 Founder’s Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Cafe Kindred, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Harvey’s, Ellie Bird, Kate’s Crepes

Lunch Spot

Lazy Mike’s Deli 7049 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Little City Creamery, Baked Goods by Jessica, Sweet Frog, Happy Tart

Professional Services:

Diener & Associates CPAs

125 Rowell Court, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Chasin’ Tails, Roll Play Viet Grill, NUE: Elegantly Vietnamese, Kyo Matcha

Mortgage

Julie Andre UNFCU 8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 620, McLean, VA 22102

RUNNERS-UP: Northside Social, Harvey’s, Cafe Kindred, Ireland’s Four Provinces

Doctors

Northern Virginia Pediatrics 107 Northern Virginia Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Broad Street Partners, Glass House, BlueHiki, Arden Financial

RUNNERS-UP: Wells Fargo, Truist, PNC, Burke & Herbert

RUNNERS-UP: PMA Health, Virginia Health Care, Solano Spine & Sport Chiropractic, Primedocs

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2023| READER VOTE WINNERS

Real Estate Agent

Tori McKinney

2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22201

Winners

Real Estate Group

ROCK STAR Realty Group 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22201

Dentist

William V. Dougherty lll, DDS 200 Little Falls Street, Suite 506, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Chris Earman, Alison Miller, JD Callander, Susan Tull O’Reilly

Retirement Community

The Kensington Falls Church 700 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: McEnearney, JD Callander and Ed Blanchard Team, The Gaskins Team, Peake Management, Inc.

Live Entertainment

State Theatre 220 North Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Nova Premier Dental, Growing Smiles, Love and Miller, West Broad Dental

Home Improvement

Brown’s Hardware 100 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Goodwin House, Sunrise, Verso Founders Row, Vinson Hall

New Business

Ellie Bird

125 Founder’s Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Dogwood Tavern, Virginia Dream FC

Builder

Zimmermann Homes Falls Church, VA

RUNNERS-UP: Marshall Roofing, Siding & Windows, Foxcraft Design Group Inc., House Doctors, LIG Residential

Dry Cleaners

Spectrum Cleaners 450 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Skin Lab Med Spa, The Polite Dog, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids

RUNNERS-UP: Foxcraft Design Group, Cottage Street Homes, Greenbuilt Homes, TriVista USA

RUNNERS-UP: Hillwood Cleaners, Classic Cleaners, Zips Cleaners

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2023| READER VOTE WINNERS

Auto

Smokey’s Garage

1105 W Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

Winners

Nail/Day/Skin Spa

Rex Day Spa 510 South Washington Street, Suite B, Falls Church, VA 22046

School

Meridian High School 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Beyer, Falls Church Auto Repair, Integrity, AA Automotive

Fitness/Yoga

Balanced Female Fitness 124 N. Washington St., Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP: Skin Lab Med Spa, Nail Bonita, Grace Nails, Nails For You

Fitness/Yoga

Mind Over Mat Pilates 807 Jackson St, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Saint James Catholic School, Congressional, Grace Christian Academy, Pinecrest School, Kenwood School

Barbershop

The Neighborhood Barber Shop 417 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Honest Soul Yoga, Club Pilates, Tinner Hill Cross Fit

Specialty Store

Dominion Wine & Beer 107 Rowell Court, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Honest Soul Yoga, Club Pilates, Tinner Hill Cross Fit

Specialty Store

Brown’s Hardware 100 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Nash Hair Design, Perfect Endings Hair Design, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, Kess Hair & Skin Care

Specialty Store

Doodlehopper 4 Kids 234 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Stylish Patina, Disturbingly Delicious

RUNNERS-UP: Stylish Patina, Disturbingly Delicious

RUNNERS-UP: Stylish Patina, Disturbingly Delicious

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2023| READER VOTE WINNERS

Winners

Physical Therapists

Avalon Physical Therapy

200 Little Falls Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

Pet Services

Falls Church Animal Hospital 1249 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

Architect

Moore Architects

105 North Maple Ave, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Advanced Kinetics, Ascension Chiropractic

Garden Services

Merrifield Garden

12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030

RUNNERS-UP: Dude’s Dog House & Spa, Posh Pets, Dogtopia, Polite Dog

Ophthalmologists

Point of View

701 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Dubro Architects, Lee Design Studio, TriVista USA, MGMA Design

Orthodontist

Dr. Berman & Masoud 311 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Meadow Farms, All Green, Rimble Landscaping, Rainbox Landscaping

Property Management

Globe Trotter Properties

3033 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 770, Arlington, VA 22201

RUNNERS-UP: Northern Virginia Ophthalmologist, Ann Nguyen, Peter Ellis, Mark Falls

Camp

Falls Church City Camps

RUNNERS-UP: Merrifield Orthodontics, Dr. Scholar

Therapist

Sunstone Counseling 124 East Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Buzzuto, Peake Management, Inc., Lig Residential

RUNNERS-UP: Congressional Camp, Creative Cauldron, Camp Rodef Shalom, Pinecrest

RUNNERS-UP: Center for Cognitive Therapy, Jessica MacNair

A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

A telephone survey, and subsequent column in The Washington Post , got me thinking more about the past, present, and future of newspapers, and the press and journalism overall. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t read a newspaper every day, weekends included. Starting the day without a newspaper at breakfast creates a gap that can confound me the rest of the day. The tactile feel of the paper, the distinctive aroma of ink on paper, the “struggle” to fold the paper into readable squares or rectangles –are part of my morning routine. Perhaps it is a habit, but reading the newspaper grounds my day, capturing what may have happened previously, as well as planning activities and setting goals for today and coming days.

The phone survey asked, “how do you get your news –newspapers, television, radio, social media?” Depending on the answer, the next question asked to identify the name of the news purveyor. Quite frankly, I didn’t recognize many of the titles listed, but they did reflect the myriad of languages and cultures in our region. The “Press” section of my Rolodex (yes, I still depend

on an expansive old-fashioned Rolodex!) includes business cards for Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Spanish language print reporters, who can do a very good job of bringing local news to their readers.

Our location in the white-hot global center of politics means that the focus of much of our news is national and international, and local activities are pushed aside in favor of the latest indictment or scandal. Don’t get me wrong. My affection for newspapers over other sources is that newspaper articles can drill down on the issues and provide background information that broadens understanding of an issue – if you are willing to spend time reading. Too often, I’ve found, people glance at the headline and assume they know the story, and the outcome. A good reporter, and editor, can lure you into the heart of the story, not unlike an adventure. The Washington Post column referenced above focused on a small-town weekly, the Rappahannock News , in rural Virginia, and the mostly positive local news that it publishes. Anniversary celebrations, a new eatery opening, life passages, civic meetings are the kind of everyday activities that

City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT

Week of August 17 - 23, 2023

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Aug 7, 8:40 PM, unknown suspect entered a business and took an item of value without paying. Suspect described as male, wearing a white shirt, white shorts and white shoes and wearing a black backpack.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Aug 8, 12:08 PM, a business reported that on July 20, an unknown suspect took an item of value without paying. Suspect described as male, 5’7”, short hair, no facial hair, wearing khaki pants and a white and blue stripe polo.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Aug 8, 1:28 PM, an unknown suspect entered a business, argued with an employee, removed an item of value, and left the store without paying. Suspect described as male wearing a green baseball cap, white shirt, blue jeans and white shoes. A male of Falls Church was located and arrested on Aug 12, while committing another shoplifting offense.

Shoplifting, S Washington St, Aug 9, 3:49 AM, unknown suspect entered a business and took an item of value without paying. Suspect described as male driving a white Toyota.

occur in all communities, and need to be highlighted, lest we lose track of all those things that make up our local communities. Locally owned newspapers, like the Falls Church NewsPress , are becoming a rarity as conglomerates in search of more financial profit or message control gobble up what used to be independent sources for news. Keeping that local focus strengthens neighborhoods and improves communication, and reminds us that we have a lot to appreciate and support as divisiveness and political polarization swirl at the national and international level. It’s the local stuff – traffic, getting the kids to school, grocery shopping, what to have for dinner, laundry, whether today is an in-person or remote job day –that occupies most of our time, effort and, perhaps, frustration. Even in the National Capital Region, we all are local in some way, and the local newspaper plays a significant role. Let’s keep it that way!

 Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Marcus Simon’s Richmond Report

There were two big stories in the news last week about the state-bystate effort to protect abortion access and freedom to make medical decisions governing bodily autonomy.

In Ohio, voters soundly rejected a Republican-backed effort to change the rules to prevent voters from updating their state constitution to guarantee abortion access. This vote in a state with a Republican-controlled state legislature and a state that has become increasingly Republican in recent elections was seen as a sign of just how potent the issue of abortion access can be in state level elections — even elections held in odd years and at odd times.

Also last week, we learned a Republican candidate for the House of Delegates was caught on tape advocating for a “total ban” on abortions in Virginia. In recorded conversations obtained by the Washington Post, Republican John Stirrup, running in one of a handful of truly competitive seats this November in Prince William County said, “I am in favor of a complete ban,” and “I’d like to see, you know, a total ban.”

He’s up against Democratic nominee Josh Thomas, a veteran of the Marine Corps and an abortion rights supporter who advocates for leaving Virginia’s abortion laws as they are today.

abortion laws will stay as they are today, with residents of the Commonwealth remaining free to make their own medical decisions in consultation with their medical providers. Virginia is the only state in the south to not have instituted abortion restrictions after the Dobbs decision. And this is only because Democrats currently hold the state Senate.

With control of both the House and Senate, we can pass a resolution to put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot that would make access to abortion a constitutionally protected right in Virginia, just as it was at the federal level before the Dobb’s decision.

On the other hand, if Republicans are able to use Governor Younkin’s vast financial resources to tip the balance in a handful of House and Senate seats, we face the possibility of a Republican trifecta. With no check on their power to rewrite Virginia law, there is no doubt such a result would pave the way for restrictive abortion laws that severely curtail access and wind back the clock on hard-fought advancements.

Larceny/Fraud, N Underwood St, Aug 9, 10:30 PM, Items which had been placed in a USPS mailbox at E Columbia and Forest Drive on August 5 were intercepted by unknown suspect(s), altered and used fraudulently.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Aug 11, 12 PM, unknown suspect entered a business and took an item of value without paying. Suspect described as male wearing a black t-shirt, black denim jeans and a black trucker ball cap.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Aug 12, 2:07 PM, unknown suspect entered a business and took an item of value without paying. Suspect described as a male, wearing a white t-shirt and sneakers, blue jeans, and a green baseball cap. A male of Falls Church, was located, arrested and additionally charged for a prior shoplifting offense.

Stolen Vehicle, Mustang Alley, Aug 12, 3:21 PM, unknown suspect stole a 2012 Freightliner M2 truck from a construction site and left the area. Suspect described as male, wearing all black, with long black dreads with brown tips, and a beard. A short while later the truck was involved in a major accident on I-395 which involved multiple jurisdictions. A warrant for Grand Larceny Auto was obtained for a male of Brandywine, MD. He is being held in DC pending multiple charges from other jurisdictions.

Stirrup is not the only Republican office-seeker or elected official in Virginia to be caught on tape expressing support for the most extreme abortion restrictions. Last year, unsuccessful congressional candidate Yesli Vega was recorded making controversial statements in questioning the need for rape exceptions to an abortion ban. Governor Glenn Youngkin himself whispered his desire to ban abortion to supporters in a caught-ontape moment in 2021.

Then, Youngkin was recorded telling the Family Foundation he’d sign the most restrictive abortion legislation they could get to his desk at what he thought was a closed event.

In Virginia, we can’t put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect abortion access without the help of the General Assembly, and that won’t happen if we elect state legislators who want a total ban on abortions. That makes this fall’s election the closest thing we will get to a referendum on abortion access in Virginia.

If Democrats can regain control of the General Assembly, Virginia’s

In the year plus since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Republican-controlled legislatures have shown us repeatedly what they are capable of – from drastically reducing access to outright bans. So, when the Virginia GOP says it will support a total ban and Governor Youngkin says he’ll sign any abortion ban that reaches his desk, believe them.

Although Falls Church is very likely to elect candidates supportive of Virginia’s existing abortion laws, you can still impact the results statewide. Some of the handful of districts that are true toss-ups are within relatively easy driving distance of the Little City. And there are things you can do from the comfort of your own home to mobilize voters and let them know what’s at stake in these key districts.

Let us not underestimate the significance of the choices we make in the voting booth. Our decisions in this election will reverberate for years to come, setting the course for the future of Virginia and its commitment to abortion access. Stand up, be counted, and make your voice heard – for the sake of the future we want for our Commonwealth.

Delegate

ABC NOTICE

Cafe K Inc Trading as Cafe K, 3040 Williams Drive Ste 102, Fairfax, 22031. The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Mixed Beverages Restaurant. Yoon Jung Lee, Managing Member Cafe K Inc. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

Double Down Hospitality Inc Trading as Garden Social, 4363 John Marr Drive, Fairfax, 22003. The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Beer and Wine On and Off Premises, Mixed Beverages license. Millie Mikyong Lee, President of Double Down Hospitality.

NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

Settle Down Easy Brewing 2822 Fallfax Drive in Falls Church. The Above establishment is applying to the Virginia ABC board for a Retail license to sell beer, wine and cider.

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 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200

FOR

SALE

National Memorial Park Four desirable lots in National Memorial Park Falls Church Va. BLOCK F LOT 8 SITES 1 2 3 4. All four lots $6500.00 or two lots $$3500. No singles. Phone 814-592-1554 leave message if no answer.

AUCTIONS

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Now Offering Financing! Ronnie Jenkins II Windows, Siding, Roofing and Gutters!

FREE Estimates! Call 804-739-8207 for More Details! American Made Products!

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, we’re waiving

DIVORCE-Uncontested, $475+$86 court cost. WILLS-$295.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twentyone days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol.

His first football season, Isaiah told us, ‘Wear a jersey with my name on it. I

THIS IS AN AD THAT SAYS YOU SHOULDN’T DRIVE HIGH

THIS WEEK AROUND THE DMV

THURSDAY AUGUST 17

Arts and Humanities Council

Arts and Humanities Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.

Joe Baione

Jazz Trio/Quartet

Joe Balone Jazz Trio/Quartet performs a free concert as part of a free concert series, Thursdays through September 7. The Boro Park (8350 Broad St., Tysons, VA), 5:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

RC Car Racing

Showcase your speed at RC Car Racing night on the second floor plaza. All materials provided; free event. Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

FRIDAY AUGUST 18

Quintango

Quintango performs as part of the 2023 Summer Cabarets Concert Series, summer weekends through August 26. Tickets at bit.ly/FCNP0723sc. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

Hot Girl Summer Comedy Showcase

Some of the finest ladies in the district come together for the Hot Girl Summer Comedy Showcase! Enjoy barbeque, craft cocktails, and the funniest ladies in D.C.! Tickets at bit.ly/FCNP0823hg. Fat Pete's BBQ (3704 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC), 8:00 p.m. — 9:45 p.m.

SATURDAY AUGUST 19

F.C. Farmer's Market

Shop the award-winning market every Saturday, year-round! Come at 9:00 a.m. for a free session of Laughter Yoga, a practice of intentional group laughter, breathing, and stress relief. Accessible for all and wheelchair-friendly. City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Founders Row Day of Play

End summer with a bang during this day of free fun in the sun, featuring a DJ and food trucks, plus plenty of games and activities for all ages! Founders Row (109 Founders Ave., Falls Church), 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

So Long SplashdownSummer

Enjoy an afternoon of free family fun to celebrate the end of summer, with inflatable water slides, a foam pit and splash pad, sand art, music, games, and a grilled lunch and snow cones for dessert! Fairfax United Methodist Church (10300 Stratford Ave., Fairfax, VA), 12:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.

CityFest DC 2023

Celebrate D.C.'s vibrant culture with live music, art galleries, food vendors, and more. Tickets at bit.ly/ FCNP0823cf. Culture House DC (700 Delaware Ave. SW, Washington, DC), 12:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Lesson Zero

Lesson Zero performs a free concert at the Arlington County Fair.

Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 Second St. South, Arlington, VA), 5:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

Ocho de

Bastos

Latin pop group Ocho de Bastos performs. Mosaic District (2905 District Ave., Fairfax, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Luminous

Opening reception for Luminous, an all-media exhibit featuring 52 works from 48 artists. Participating artists will be on hand to answer questions about their process and inspiration. On display in the FCA gallery through October 1. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Country & Classic Rock Concert

Free country and classic rock concert on the plaza. Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons, VA), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Favorite Child

Favorite Child performs in the 2023 Summer Cabarets Concert Series, weekends through August 26. Tickets available at bit.ly/FCNP0723sc.

Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY AUGUST 20

Arlington County Fair

Wednesday through Sunday, enjoy exhibits, midway rides and games, entertainment, and vendors. More at arlingtoncountyfair.us. Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 Second St. South, Arlington, VA), 11:00 a.m. — 10:00 p.m.

Run to End Hunger

A three kilometer run along the W&OD trail, from Dominion Hills Park to Madison Manor Park and back. Afterwards, join a family and dog friendly gathering with music, burgers, and hot dogs. Tickets at bit. ly/FCNP0823eh. Dominion Hills Park (1060 N. Liberty St., Arlington, VA), 11:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Sweat

Sweat tells the story of a group of friends who spend their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs working together on the factory floor... until layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, pitting the friends against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat. Through September 16. Keegan Theatre (1742 Church St. NW, Washington, DC), 3:00 p.m.

Guilty of Journalism

Kevin Gosztola, author of Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange, takes the stage to share his experiences investigating the criminalization of journalists for reporting the truth. Busboys and Poets (4251 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

MONDAY

AUGUST 21

Govt. CommitteeOperationsMeeting

Government Operations Committee meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 1:00 p.m.

TUESDAY

AUGUST 22

School Board Work Session

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) School Board work session. Attend in-person or virtually at bit.ly/FCNP0823sb.

FCCPS Central Office (150 S. Washington St., Suite 400, Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 10:30 p.m.

The Bridges of Madison County

A sweeping musical romance of desire and sacrifice based on the best-selling novel. After marrying an American soldier to escape Italy at the end of World War II, Francesca builds herself a home in Iowa, raising two children and settling into a steady but unremarkable routine. Then one day she meets Robert, a charismatic photographer, who awakens her passion and changes her life forever. Signature Theatre (3200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23

Part-Time Job Fair

Coincides with GMU Welcome Week. Network with on-campus employers and local companies with part time job openings. Dewberry Hall at GMU Johnson Center (4477 Aquia Creek Ln., Floor 1, Fairfax, VA), 11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Heidi Martin Ensemble

Heidi Martin performs a free concert. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 6:00 p.m.

THE CAST OF SWEAT, showing at Keegan Theatre now through September 16. Back row (from left): Susan Marie Rhea, Lolita Marie, Andres F. Roa, Jon Townson. Front row (from left): Jamil Joseph, Bowen Fox, DeJeanette Horne, Santina Maiolatesi, Deimoni Brewington. (Photo: Mike Kozemchak)

Meridian Fall Sports Set to Begin, Football Optimistic on 2023 Season

by Ryan McCafferty

Last season, the football team at Meridian High School struggled mightily due to exponential roster turnover and a lack of experience at most key positions. That being said, freshman starting QB Cruz Ruoff and the Mustangs showed plenty of growth throughout the year, and look to be even more improved in 2023.

Every key starter with the exception of Josh Wattles and Kyle Jinks will return from last season’s team, including Ruoff, RBs Omar Dabbourah and Alden Harrison, and receiving threats Luke Russell and James Teague. Martin Kraft, Duke Dawson, and Matthew Downs are among the other notable

names returning to the offense.

Many of those same names will also be featured at various defensive positions, though head coach P.J. Anderson says that he’d like to have less two-way action this season, keeping his players fresher on both sides of the ball. Domanic Zacharias-Martin is one name who has stood out to the coach throughout practice sessions as a standout contributor.

“I’m very excited for what’s to come, not just this year but the next several,” said Anderson via phone interview. “I think we should be vastly improved on both sides of the ball… we had a very young team (last year) that had zero varsity experience, and now we have varsity experience.”

The LGBTQ+ Reach

by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press

Newspaper SLAPPed for Basic Reporting

A Wisconsin business owner, Cory Tomczyk, called a 13-year-old boy a f*g at a Marathon County Board meeting on Sunday, according to four eye-witness accounts. The Wausau Pilot & Review, a Wisconsin nonprofit news site that reported the story, is now facing closure due to legal fees resulting from a defamation lawsuit from Tomczyk — even though a judge threw out the lawsuit in April. The Pilot & Review has seen over $150,000 in legal fees defending itself, which its founder and editor says threatens the site’s existence, during a time when the area’s local newspaper, the Wassau Daily Herald, is already struggling to survive.

What’s SLAPP?

Other than something this writer has had to re-type every time, SLAPP is also an acronym for strategic lawsuits against public participation. Basically, SLAPP is when news sources are sued into the ground with frivolous lawsuits — where the point isn’t to win; it’s just to put a heavy enough financial burden onto the source to cause critical damage.

Anti-SLAPP laws, which the GOP has targeted in the Trump era of free-press-bashing, would

normally protect the Pilot & Review. With an anti-SLAPP lawsuit, the entity being sued can move to strike the case because it involves free speech; if the plaintiff cannot show enough evidence, the case is dismissed — and the would-be defendant can recuperate legal fees.

Wisconsin has no anti-SLAPP laws (Virginia does).

Buy-owa?

Republican Presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis donated $95,000 to Iowa-based “The Family Leader Foundation.” The group, affiliated with the Family Research Council (designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center), is run by influential evangelical Bob Vander Plaats. Two-thirds of Iowa Caucus goers in 2016 identify as evangelical.

Vander Plaats says his endorsement cannot be bought.

LGBTQ+ Vets Sue for Honor

Last Tuesday, Queer Veterans sued the U.S. Department of Defense to reclassify dishonorable discharges due to sexual orientation (of which there are an estimated 100,000). An “honorable discharge,” which the group is seeking in a class action lawsuit, would

The Mustangs open their season on Friday, August 25th, at home against McLean. Meanwhile, other fall sports at Meridian include field hockey, volleyball, cross country, and golf. Look out for both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams to make some noise this year – the boys return nine of their top ten performers from last year’s 9th place team in the State Meet, while the girls return eight of their top ten from a team that placed 4th. Tucker Albaugh (24th individually in States last season) and Molly Moore (15th) are set to respectively headline those teams.

Best of luck to all Mustang teams this fall!

allow them access to healthcare through Veterans Affairs, financial aid for college and loans, and repair their reputations and resumes.

Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government has begun raiding establishments that provide services to queer people, or “institutions where homosexual acts are carried out.”

In the city of Addis Ababa, officials posted on Facebook that “if there is any sympathy for those who commit and execute this abominable act that is hated by man and God, [we] will continue to take action.”

AP vs. GOP

The College Board, which runs the AP program for High Schools, has seen itself dragged into the GOP culture wars.

In Florida, AP Psychology’s inclusion of sexual orientation has caused the course to be removed from many school curricula, in fear of it violating new “Don’t Say Gay” laws.

The Arkansas Department of Education has decided not to award full credit for AP African American Studies, in response to a Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) war against recurring GOP boogeyman “Critical Race Theory.”

HELLO, MY NAME IS ALAN and I just moved to Falls Church a few months ago with my family who rescued me all the way in Iowa! I love it here so far! Especially this sunny window where I can sit and watch the pretty birds

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

Community News & Notes

Robust Registration Underway for 2023 NV Senior Olympics

Registration opened July 6 for the 2023 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics. Registration is online at www.nvso.us through Thursday, Aug. 24. Events begin Saturday September 9 and continue until Sunday, September 24.

Most events are in five or ten year age groups and by gender. Registration is online only at www. nvso.us . Registration fee is $20 which covers unlimited events. There are additional fees for ten pin bowling, orienteering, cycling and 3 par, 9 hole golf.

Adults 50 years of age by Dec. 31 who live in a sponsoring jurisdiction are eligible to participate. Members of the general public are welcome to watch those participating. For additional information, email, nvso1982@gmail.com.

Junior League of NoVa Awards Metro DC & NoVa NonProfits

The Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) is proud to announce the awarding of nearly $20,000 in grants to five nonprofit organizations in the Metro DC and Northern Virginia area.

The organizations receiving grants are Bethany House of

Northern Virginia, The Salvation Army, Women Giving Back, Homestretch Inc., and Arcadia Food Inc. Each organization has a unique mission and approach to providing essential services and support to women and children in crisis.

SkyPoint FCU Celebrates 55 Years, Focusing on Goals

On Tuesday, August 8, SkyPoint Federal Credit Union (FCU), a premier, member-owned financial institution, serving Montgomery County, MD; Frederick County, MD; Arlington County, Alexandria, and Falls Church, VA; and the District of Columbia, celebrated its’ 55th anniversary and focusing on near and long-term goals.

Their goals included: Placing greater emphasis and commitment to members particularly those who are underserved or marginalized.

SkyPoint recently obtained the certification of Community Development Financial Institution and is dedicated to meeting each member and potential member and helping them on their financial journey; providing business solutions including business accounts, loan products to help small businesses sustain their financial security and reach their goals and contribute to the prosperity of neighborhoods; balancing technology with in-person interac-

tions; commitment to employee satisfaction and growth including setting career goals and strategies so that each employee is an expert in their role.

Tysons Library Quarterly Book & Media Sale Coming Soon

On Thursday, September 7 through Sunday, September 10 from 10 a.m. — 5 p.m., the Tysons Pimmit Regional Library will hold its quarterly book and media sale for all ages and interests. Donations of books and media are appreciated. Volunteers are welcome and needed. Contact 703338-3307 or tysonslibraryfriends@ gmail.com for more information.

Retired FCCPS Teacher Offers Free Math Tutoring Program

Mr. Block is a retired Falls Church City secondary school math teacher offering free group math tutoring to students in Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. Students who participate will be expected to do community service to “pay it forward.” The opportunity to tutor other kids who are in lower levels/ grades or other charity work will be made available.

The first session will be held on Monday, August 28 at the Starbucks on Broad Street. Students will attend one of the two sessions each week.

Please contact Mr. Block at joelblockmath@gmail.com if interested in participating.

Alexandria Law Firm’s Backpack Giveaway a Success

Alexandria law firm Blaszkow Legal, PLLC, held their inaugural Project Backpack event on the campus of John Adams Elementary School, in Alexandria on August 12. Approximately 2,000 people attended the event, where the Alexandria law firm distributed nearly 700 backpacks, filled with necessary school supplies to students.

Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson attended and assisted with the distribution of the free backpacks. On behalf of the law firm, Joe Blaszkow received a Certificate of Appreciation presented by School Principal Alicia Kingcade.

“Luminous,” on View at F.C.

Arts from August 19

Fifty-two works of art from 48 artists will be on view during “Luminous,” an all-media exhibit at Falls Church Arts from August 19 — October 1. The show will open on August 19 with an opening reception from 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

The Juror’s Choice Award will be announced at this time. Participating

artists will be on hand to answer questions about their process and inspiration. Members of the public are invited.

The exhibit theme, “Luminous,” was selected by social media followers through a bracket-type elimination. One hundred seven artists submitted 259 images.

Sunset Cinema Viewer’s Choice Available to Vote for

The 20th Annual Sunset Cinema series returns this fall for three nights of family-friendly films at Cherry Hill Park on September 29, October 6, and October 13.

Cast a vote at surveymonkey. com/r/3TYSZLK for the viewer’s choice movie before August 25.

Falls Church Tech Support Grows

Marcin Zmudzki announced that Ula Piotrowska, of Arlington has joined Falls Church Tech Support as a cybersecurity specialist. She brings knowledge of the most recent IT security challenges at a time when ransomware and other attacks are escalating. Marcin Zmudzki is the owner and manager of Falls Church Tech Support, providing IT consulting and IT management services.

VOCALIST WESLEY DIENER (left), returned from Chicago to Creative Cauldron last week. He is a product of this area, the son of prominent F.C. businessman Michael Diener. (News-Press Photo)

MODELS POSE after taking the “runway” at Mr. Brown’s Park to show off fall looks during a New To You and Lemon Lane fashion show, which also featured a kids show. (Photo: Brian Reach)