August 22 — 28, 2019
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXIX No. 27
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week City Harris Teeter No Longer 24 Hours
Touting its 24-hour service when it opened three years ago in the middle of downtown Falls Church, the Little City’s Harris Teeter is no longer open for allhour grocery shopping. See News Briefs, page 9
Dominion Camera Celebrates 50 Years
Dominion Camera’s 50th anniversary is a celebration as much as it is a testament to its graceful swim upstream in the face of a rapidly changing industry.
F.C. Schools’ Stellar SOL Results Precede Start of New School Year Teachers Readied, Classes Slated to Begin on Sept. 3
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
See page 8
Cash Withdraws from F.C. Council Race
First-time candidate Thomas Cash announced his withdrawl from the race for three contested Falls Church City Council seats in this upcoming November’s election. See News Briefs, page 9
Press Pass with ‘Italian Bred’
Comedian Candice Guardino aims to show hilarity with her own family experience with a onewoman show/musical, “Italian Bred” playing for one night at the State Theatre this Saturday. See page 17
22 NEW TEACHERS joining Falls Church Public Schools with the start of the school year this fall dined at the City’s Liberty Barbecue as part of their orientation this Monday. (Photo: News-Press)
Repaving Done of 63 City Parking Slots in Downtown Falls Church
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Index
Editorial................6 Letters..................6 News & Notes.10, 11 Comment.... 14,15 Business News.16 Calendar..... 18,19
Classified Ads... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword........ 21 Crime Report.... 22 Critter Corner.... 22
The long-awaited repaving and restriping has finally occurred this week of the City of Falls Church’s 63 free public parking spaces behind street-fronted businesses and the newly-refurbished pocket park along the east side of the 100 block of W. Broad St. in the City’s downtown. The work by City Public Works crews results in, among other things, the addition of eight spaces, including two new acces-
sible parking spaces. Coming soon will be special markings to help make clear to drivers which spaces are free to park in for two hours as City-owned spots, and which are privately owned by retailers, where vehicles might be in jeopardy of being towed if not used solely for the purpose of patronizing those businesses. Confusion and painful towing practices in the area have reigned in the block for many years. Council member Letty Hardi, a key instigator in getting the project done, told the News-Press the
project was one of the key recommendations from the City’s parking working group that she heads. “I’m personally thrilled to see it happen,” she said. In addition to the resurfacing and restriping, Hardi said the next step will be to paint the City’s public spaces bright green along with lettering to denote the spaces’ two-hour limit. Hardi said the new colored signage should make it easier for visitors to find the public spaces and should be com-
Continued on Page 4
As Falls Church’s vice mayor, whose day job is the Falls Church public schools outreach director, said in an interview Monday, when it comes to Standards of Learning testing assessments, outcomes represent “a metric but not a goal.” That said, the Falls Church City Public Schools’ results announced last week were top or among the very top in the state. For the first time in four years, the City schools reached a 90 percent pass rate or better in SOL assessments across all content areas, according to the Virginia Department of Education. Based on data released last week, FCCPS students were tops in all Virginia in both Writing and History and Social Sciences, tied for third in Reading and Science, and tied for sixth in Math. The news precedes the moves, now in earnest, toward the beginning of the new school year, marked this time by the fact that construction of the new George Mason High School, with some deep digs onto former sports fields at the campus site is well along already. The new school is going up adjacent the existing high school buildings and is scheduled for completion by the end of next year. With some fall sports team practices already underway, the first phase of the new year began with the orientation of 22 new teachers this week, commencing with a lunch at the City’s popular Liberty Barbecue on Monday.
Continued on Page 5
PAGE 2 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
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AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 3
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PAGE 4 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
Lot Repaving
Continued from Page 1
pleted sometime in the next few weeks based on paint availability. The repaved lot was expected to be open for public use yesterday. Along with the repaving effort, the City has permanently closed an alley in the middle of the block adjacent the newly-renovated park. The move “will provide safety for the increased pedestrian traffic to the downtown park, as well as provide additional programming and leisure space next to the park,” a City press release stated. Five other entrances to the lot, from West Broad, Maple Ave., Park Ave. and N. Washington St., will remain operative. More electrical power is also being added to the park which will provide more overhead lighting and power for music and other public events there. Already, a plethora of free public events are scheduled in the park, including lunches, sprinklers, community chess, “Fit4Mom” sessions and yoga lessons. The improvements are being paid for with a portion of the City’s hotel taxes and are based on studies and recommendations made by
LO CA L the City’s Economic Development Authority with the aim of “adding to the vibrancy of the downtown shopping, dining and events district.” A formal dedication of the new downtown pocket park, which eyewitnesses confirm is already being heavily used in the evening hours, is being scheduled for late September, after the City Council is expected to formally designate its name at its Sept. 9 meeting (the front-runner in that regard is “Mr. Brown’s Park,” in memory of the late Hugh Brown and his family predecessors who’ve run the local hardware store in the block for well over a century). Meanwhile, up W. Broad Street at the City’s west end, a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for this Monday morning to kick off the West Falls Church and Joint Campus Revitalization District Multimodal Transportation Project that will expend $15.7 million of Northern Virginia Regional Transportation Authority funds in a major makeover of the W. Broad (Route 7) and Haycock/Shreve Road intersection. The project is part of the larger West Falls Church Economic Development Project that includes the construction of a new George Mason High School and, immediately following that, the dense mixed-use economic development
of 34 acres adjacent the intersection known as the Little City Commons. The multimodal project being launched Monday (the event will be on the high school parking lot grounds at 10 a.m.) will include the construction of intersection and signal improvements, bus stop enhancement, pedestrian and bicycle access improvements. Being near the West Falls Church Metro station, “It is expected to provide expanded travel choices and meet demand and capacity needs,” according to a NVTA statement. More specifically, they involve intersection upgrades at or near the Chestnut Street and W. Broad/ Route 7 intersection, Haycock Road and W. Broad Street/Route 7 intersection, the Haycock Road and the schools’ access road intersection off Haycock, a high-intensity pedestrian-activated crosswalk on Haycock, sidewalk widenings, bus stop enhancements, bicycle access upgrades and utility undergrounding and relocation. In addition to Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, Councilman David Snyder, the City’s representative on the NVTA board, other City officials and NVTA Chairman Martin Nohe will be on hand, along with representatives of the Little City Commons development team
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
AFTER REPAVING, there will be an additional eight public parking spots due to a more ef�icient layout. (P����: N���-P����) of EYA, PN Hoffman and Regency. After Labor Day on Sept. 2, the City Council will convene on Sept. 9, and the Economic Development Authority will meet on Sept. 10 to advance its work on wayfinding and parking studies for the City. An ongoing challenge for the Economic Development Office is the effort to find a tenant to fill the recently-vacated Mad Fox Brewing Company space. That closing, plus the closing of the Locker Room sports bar and plans for Plaka Grill to move further up the street, leaves a “black hole” in the 400-500 blocks
of W. Broad, as a tenant of The Broadway mixed-use development described it at this week’s meeting of the City Council’s Economic Development subcommittee. The City’s Becky Witsman said there is still interest in the Mad Fox site by other brew pub operations, and that her office is looking at options to be able to enhance the prospects for retail in those blocks, such as with parking modifications. But prospects for such things as “tenant improvement allowances” from the City are not now in the cards.
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F.C. Schools, Teachers Ready for New Year Continued from Page 1
Next Tuesday, the entire system’s teacher and staff population will be on the job, with an annual convocation assembly at the high school set for Tuesday morning. There, Superintendent Peter Noonan will deliver the keynote, the high school music department will provide entertainment and teachers and staff reaching milestones in their careers in Falls Church will be honored. Classes are set to commence on Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day (they begin next Monday in Fairfax County). William Bates, the system’s new chief academic officer, told the News-Press at the new teacher luncheon this week that everything is being readied for a smooth start to the new school year. He said that while the system is celebrating the outstanding SOL scores announced last week, that include the fact the system has a 100 percent graduation rate, “there is still work to do to close some gaps.” The school system’s three main goals, he said, are to increase student participation in International Baccalaureate programs now
available at all grade levels, to do more to create a caring community, and to close achievement gaps. He said the emphasis on a “caring community” is aimed at “educating the whole child,” and “increasing engagement by going above and beyond, to be more invested in the learning process, and giving back to the schools and community.” Bates, originally from western Pennsylvania, comes to Falls Church, on the job here as of Aug. 1, from the Baltimore County Public Schools, and from Fairfax County public schools prior to that. Responding to the SOL score results posted last week, Superintendent Noonan said, “We are very proud of the work of our students and teachers. This is evidence that we are finding ways to meet the needs of the vast majority of the students we serve.” He added that, “While our achievements in the aggregate are excellent, we have a way to go to ensure true equity for all of our students. We look forward to continuing our work on behalf of all students.” Overall FCCPS SOL results pass rates for the 2018-2019 school year are: History and
AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 5
Social Sciences 95 percent – No. 1 (in Virginia); Writing 90 percent – No. 1; Reading 91 percent – tied for No. 3; Science 91 percent, tied for No. 3; Math 91 percent – tied for No. 6. “We are pleased with these numbers, but especially so in the substantial growth shown by all of our subgroups in the areas of math and science,” added Jeanne Seabridge, director of Teaching, Learning, and Achievement for the division. “The results are also helpful in pointing out areas in need of improvement and we will continue to sharpen our focus on closing all gaps.” According to the state Department of Education, the results reflect changes in student test-taking patterns last year caused by a revision to the commonwealth’s diploma and school accountability standards and the introduction of new mathematics tests in all grade levels. At the statewide levels the overall pass rates in the five tested content areas are: History and Social Sciences – 80 percent, Writing – 76 percent, Reading – 78 percent, Science – 81 percent, Math – 82 percent.
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PAGE 6 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
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E D I TO R I A L
Newspapers & Democracy
It’s becoming almost a monthly theme in the columns of the Washington Post’s Margaret Sullivan, the demise of local newspapers and the consequences. On July 8, she wrote under the headline, “A City Losing Its Eyes, Ears and Voice,” about the demise of the lone daily newspaper in perhaps the largest U.S. city now lacking one, Youngstown, Ohio. A 150-year-old daily, The Vindicator, she reported, suddenly announced to the city’s immediate metropolitan area’s 500,000 residents that it will cease publication as of the end of August, next week. Now comes her latest, in the Post’s August 19 edition, about the imminent merger of two major newspaper giants, the Tysons Corner-headquartered Gannett chain and the New York-based GateHouse Media, a projected $1.4 billion deal that portends only bad things for the local newspapers all across America they collectively own, and the general public that relies on them. As Sullivan writes in this week’s column, entitled, “The News Gets Worse for Local Journalism,” the real loser is democracy itself. The demise of local newspapers represents “a crisis that threatens American democracy.” She adds, “Local newspapers, despite all their flaws and limitations, have been a trusted, and necessary, source of information for citizens across the country.” She is right when she adds, “When local news withers, bad things happen, studies show. People vote less, and they vote in a more politically polarized way. Political corruption has more opportunity to flourish, unnoticed by a local watchdog, and municipal costs may rise.” The nation has lost over 2,000 local papers in the last 15 years, and many others have been hollowed out when taken over by New York hedge funds (as in the case of the Denver Post) or others, like Gannett and GateHouse Media, that are more beholden to their shareholders than readers. The latest merger, if it goes through, promises deep cost cuts that will come as a result of it. Most likely to go, as Sullivan notes, are “the people who make a local newspaper worth reading.” Ironically, in Falls Church, which continues to enjoy a quality local newspaper carrier-delivered free to every household every week, when the City government ignores this amenity, it shows in feeble public responses to its initiatives. Recently, in this city of 15,000, less than 100 responded to a major survey the City government circulated solely online, even though as much effort went to that effort as would have had the questionnaire been placed in the paper. Moreover, basing city policy on the responses of less than 100 citizens made the whole enterprise almost counterproductive, since the results were certain to be skewed in favor of the existing limited pool of citizen activists who are already the most opinionated. It shows that when it comes to engaging the public, online tools will never match what tactile, well-distributed newspapers can. Their (our) survival is a matter of paramount importance.
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We’ll Get What We Deserve If Va. Dems Win Control Editor, Marcus Simon’s Richmond Report in last week’s paper certainly gives some interesting ideas for what Virginia will look like in 2020 if the Democrats flip control of the house. Among them: Virginia’s poorest will be hardest hit by Greenhouse Gas Initiatives that work to replace cheap energy with expensive
renewals. Included in this will be a wealth transfer to Virginians who want subsidized solar panels for their homes. Businesses will fail, jobs will be lost and hours will be cut under a $15 minimum wage initiative. Why bother learning the lessons from what we’ve already seen happen in Seattle, San Francisco, and New York?
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While not incarcerating people for marijuana possession definitely has appeal, we can also expect one side effect that is easily observed in places like Portland and Seattle — the smell of marijuana smoke being everywhere in public, including the parks where our children play. That’s just a few of Simon’s visions for the commonwealth. To paraphrase H.L. Mencken, if Virginians decide Democrat control of our legislature is what we want, we’ll get what we deserve and get it good and hard. Jeff Walyus Arlington
[ LETTERS ] Send us a letter and let us know what you think. Email letters@fcnp.com Fax 703-342-0347 Mail or drop off Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls Street #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
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AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 7
Change the Course of a Child’s Life With Your Tennis Shoes B� R���� B����
How do you create change? As residents of the National Capital Area, we have access to the high-profile streets and monuments where banners, posters and parades make the news for national and global issues. If you’re someone who prefers a more low-key approach for local results, I invite you to dig out comfy tennis shoes and sign up for Sunday, Sept. 29 the 7th Annual Teddy Bear 5K & 1K, hosted by Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center. The event raises much-needed funds for the nonprofit preschool that gives 80 children, ages 2, 3 and 4, a high-quality preschool experience at a rate that’s affordable to low-income families. Come 9 a.m. on Sept. 29, you’ll join other area residents, some pushing children in strollers, some pumped for a spirited run vying for prizes, and some out for daily exercise at their own pace. The 5K starts at Pimmit Hills Park at 2061 Arch Drive, and runs through Pimmit Hills Neighborhood, west of Falls Church City. To ramp up the fun, mascots from local organizations will lead the 1K at 10 a.m. on Griffith Drive, the first street of the 5K, which will be closed to traffic. Everyone is welcome and everyone’s effort is rewarded with a pint-size teddy bear when they cross the finish line. Along the 5K course, you’ll read signs of the compelling need for preschool for
kids from low-income families, and for kids from any income-level with a special need. By age 3, children growing up in affluent families hear up to 30 million more words than children in lower-income
“Learning gaps take a toll on children. After years of failure, by middle school children are prone to drop out before graduating.” families. A child who has a developmental delay that is identified and treated before age 5 has a better chance of overcoming the delay with better skills, than a child diagnosed later, even with more intense therapy for years longer. Children who start kindergarten ready for school have an 82 percent chance of mastering basic skills by age 11 vs. a 45 percent chance for children who started school not ready. So, what change will you create with a walk or run in the Teddy Bear 5K & 1K? You’ll be eliminating the cascade of
problems that start with a “learning gap.” Children who start kindergarten without English language or the emotional ability to withhold a tantrum if upset, are unlikely to hit the critical benchmark of being able to read by third grade, a predictor of high school graduation. They are the 7 percent of children in Fairfax County who failed to graduate on time in 2018. Learning gaps take a toll on children. After years of failure, by middle school children are prone to drop out before graduating. They are prey for gangs. Or seeking a purpose and an emotional attachment, they become teenage parents. Without education or skills, their future of financial struggle and poverty is predictable. The antidote to the learning gap is the chance for a child to spend his early years in a high-quality preschool such as Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center. Children are immersed in classrooms equipped with learning tools that are in short supply in low-income families — books, building blocks, art supplies, and most importantly, time with caring, educated adults who nurture their language development. Children whose family speaks another language at home are bilingual when they start kindergarten. What’s more, children who need special services such as speech therapy or support for emotional traumas receive weekly services at no additional cost or time away from their hourly jobs for
parents. The result is an equal opportunity for each child to be prepared to benefit from the area’s strong local public schools. You can change the course of their lives by coming out on Sunday, Sept. 29 for the Teddy Bear 5K & 1K. Register at: www.athlinks.com/ e v e n t / 2 0 1 9 - t e d d y - b e a r- 5 k - 1 k - w a l k run-86494. • Register by Aug. 30 and you’ll be guaranteed a tee-shirt in your size; • Make an additional donation: $25 buys books for five classrooms; $35 pays for art supplies for a special class project for four classes; $110 gives 80 children breakfast and two healthy snacks for two days. • Encourage family, friends and neighbors to join you; • Pick up your tee-shirt and packet of goodies Saturday, Sept. 28, 2:30 – 5 p.m. at Road Runner Sports on Broad Street. • Continue the festivities at the free, annual Pimmit Hills Day in Olney Park. Come and meet some of the children who will have a brighter future, thanks to your action. Learn about Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center’s preschool program, at fcmlcc.org or call 703/534-4907. The Center has a limited number of openings this fall for children from income-qualifying families. Renee Boyle is development director for Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center.
Q������� �� ��� W��� Have you visited Falls Church’s newly-renovated downtown park? • Yes • No
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Does Falls Church have a housing crisis?
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& Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.
Email: letters@fcnp.com | Mail: Letters to the Editor, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church 22046 | Fax: 703.340.0347
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PAGE 8 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
ACE PHOTO AND DOMINION CAMERA OWNER Mohsen Jalali (left photo – left) is briefing a customer on some of the equipment options that would work best for him. Other shoppers went to talk to a host of vendors from major camera companies that were on-hand for the anniversary sale in July. (Photos: News-Press)
Dominion Camera’s 50th Year Signals Rare Success in Fluid Business by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
Dominion Camera’s 50th anniversary is a celebration as much as it is a testament to its graceful swim upstream in the face of a rapidly changing industry. A Falls Church institution since former owner Tony Socarras moved the business within City limits in 1969, the camera store for both professionals and amateurs and known for its increasingly inimitable service of inhouse film development reached the half-century mark in July. Ace Photo owner Mohsen Jalali and longtime Ace employee Gary Henry’s joint purchase of the store in 2014 was a sign of belief in the brand Socarras built as well as the two new owners’ savvy to more than tread water. “The business, in 50 years, has gone through a complete evolution. From the analog world of film to what we see with digital today. To be able to weather that change and to be able to grow the business is pretty amazing,” Henry said. Jalali added later, “We
didn’t purchase Dominion Camera for what it had in it; we bought it for the 45 years of business and the value of its goodwill and trust that customers would come back. And in the five years since purchasing we’ve shown growth.” The store was bleeding out when Jalali and Henry first took it over from Socarras. The then-85-year-old former owner was struggling to keep his inventory at a competitive level since he had to dedicate funds to support his ailing wife. Customers were starting to find alternatives to Dominion Camera, causing the business to suffer. It convinced Socarras to part ways with his baby before its value was irreparable. Soccaras would visit Jalali at Ace Photo on occasion to restock his store and the two developed a professional relationship in the 20-plus years working with each other. According to Jalali, Socarras had expressed interest in selling Dominion Camera as far back as 2008 before the attention he needed to devote to his wife finally pushed him to do so.
The July anniversary celebration was intended to be for Socarras as much as it was for Jalali and Henry’s revival of the store’s role as a local enterprise. Unfortunately, Soccaras, who is now 90, couldn’t be reached after multiple attempts from Henry for the event. Customers took full advantage of the specials offered for the anniversary. Jalali and Henry decided to treat the event as they do Ace Photo’s semi-annual sale, giving customers in Falls Church and Arlington access to deals that store goers in Ashburn get in April and November. That also meant a host of representatives from major companies camera producers such as Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus and Panasonic turned out to showcase their wares. Manh Phung used to be more dedicated to his photography hobby. A recent visit to Ace Photo and a chat with Jalali about the upcoming sale at Dominion Camera lured Phung to Falls Church where he purchased some new gear. Phung hopes — with
a little help from the fact that he shelled out some serious money — it will spur him to pick the hobby back up. Jimmy Mejia, another anniversary customer, is just getting into photography. He stopped by Dominion Camera for the first time to stock up on some basic gear, but was more drawn by how they develop film inside their own premises. It was important for him that the store offered that service at a reasonable price. Henry notes that’s arguably one of the most attractive elements of the Falls Church location. Along with being able to restore old photos and even colorize them — “A lost art,” said Henry — Dominion Camera can also process film and print big blow-up photos that patrons might frame and place at the top of their stairwell, for instance. Many photographers are shocked they even receive negatives once their processed film is returned. “That sets us apart that we can do on film processing premises,” as opposed to having to send it out to a third party, Jalali said. “A
lot of people don’t want negatives to go out, or places process the negatives then destroy it. We’re accommodating to our customers’ demands; it’s why we bring them in.” That uniqueness hasn’t made maintaining steady growth any easier. Jalali mentions that big box retailers based out of New York City or who use Amazon to offer pricing that brick-and-mortar operations like Dominion’s make it hard to compete. It’s a complex formula to pull off on top of the industry’s constant churn in trends, but one that Henry and Jalali are able to mostly perfect thanks to one defining factor. “People want a personal touch. They don’t want to just be a number on a crate or box,” Jalali said. “Customers come in and ask the weirdest questions, but we always have someone who can provide an answer. When it comes to this business it’s a bit more technical and you need to have more knowledge. It helps build support from our repeat customers.”
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NEWS BRIEFS City of F.C. Harris Teeter Ends 24 Service Touting its 24-hour service when it opened three years ago in the middle of downtown Falls Church, the Little City’s Harris Teeter is no longer open for all-hour grocery shopping. The West Broad St. supermarket reduced its all-day-and-night hours effective Wednesday when it commenced with the new operating hours of opening at 5 a.m. and closing at midnight daily, the News-Press confirmed. When asked about the hours, a Falls Church Harris Teeter representative said the reduction was a “company approach.” An official Harris Teeter spokesperson told the News-Press “a variety of factors, such as: community landscape, lease requirements, as well as other economic considerations” contributed to the decision. Other area Harris Teeter stores that similarly have or are currently in the process of reducing hours include the Lee Harrison Shopping Center, Barcroft, Crystal City and Shirlington locations. Despite the reduction, Harris Teeter will still have a slight edge on business hours over its nearby competitor, Giant Food (1230 W. Broad St.), just up the block. Giant opens at 6 a.m. daily and closes at midnight everyday but Sunday when it closes at 11 p.m. Harris Teeter is located at 301 W. Broad St. in Falls Church.
Candidate Withdraws from F.C. Council Race Thomas Cash, a candidate for one of three contested Falls Church City Council seats up for bid this November, announced today that he is dropping out of the race. In a post on Facebook Friday afternoon, Cash said that “due to unforeseen events” he will be tabling his Council bid. He left the possibility of running again in the future, signing his post “Until 2021.” Cash dropping out of the race leaves four candidates for the three seats: incumbents Mayor David Tater, Councilmembers Phil Duncan and Letty Hardi along with Stuart Whitaker.
Mandatory Evacuation of 40+ Munson Hill Apartments This Week An apparent mandatory evacuation of part of Munson Hill Towers in Falls Church is relocating multiple residents to an Arlington hotel for up to the next two weeks. According to an email and notice sent by Munson Hill management and forwarded to the News-Press by a resident affected by the evacuation, a health hazard was discovered during flood repairs and the apartment complex is evacuating 46 units from the sixth floor as a precautionary measure.The notice, which was sent Tuesday, stated the evacuation is “mandatory and immediate” and gave residents until 9 p.m. that night to retrieve any belongings. Access to apartments after 9 p.m. on Tuesday will not be permitted, it said. Residents are being relocated to the Key Bridge Marriott hotel in Arlington, according to the email, through Tuesday, Sept. 3. Relocated residents will receive a $60 a day “rental concession” for “inconvenience and to assist with food” during their time at the hotel, the email said. Munson Hill Towers is located at 6129 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church.
Vincenz Named to LGBT Journalists’ ‘Hall of Fame’ Lilli Vincenz, a pioneering LGBT activist, area resident and friend of the News-Press (her partner, Nancy Davis, worked at the FCNP for years), has been named to the “Hall of Fame” of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association in advance of its annual national conference in New Orleans at the end of this month. Vincenz is a path-breaking journalist and pioneer of the gay rights movement beginning in the early 1960s. She joined the Mattachine Society of Washington in 1962 as one of their first lesbian members and served as editor of its monthly magazine. She filmed the 1968 Annual “Reminder Demonstration” in Philadelphia and the first Christopher Street Liberation Day march in 1970. Vincenz wrote a bi-weekly column for the New York-based GAY magazine and was a frequent contributor to other community publications. In 1969 in Washington, D.C., she co-founded The Gay Blade, an independent gay newspaper, later renamed The Washington Blade.
F.C.’s ‘Stonewall 50’ Panel Video Now Online The video of the “Stonewall 50 Panel” held in June in Falls Church is now posted on YouTube. The five-segment program, co-hosted by the News-Press and the Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and held at the F.C. Episcopal, features State Del. Danica Roem, Del. Mark Levine, Stonewall riot eyewitness Don Davenport, F.C. Presbyterian’s Diane Maloney and the F.C. NewsPress’ Nick Benton, can be accessed by searching for “Stonewall 50 Falls Church.”
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PAGE 10 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
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Community News & Notes F.C. University Women in Search of Storage Space
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, Dr. Peterson Huang offered custom made dual-laminate athletic guards at no charge for George Mason High School’s football team. Huang and his team visited Mason last week to take impressions from over 40 athletes. (Photo: Courtesy Dr. Peterson Huang)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS shortstop Trea Turner dropped by the community center to visit with Falls Church Kiwanis Little League players and encourage registration for Fall Ball. Read more online at fcnp.com. (Photos: News-Press)
The Falls Church branch of the American Association of University Women is in jeopardy of discontinuing its annual book sale due to a lack of storage space. After 30 years of sorting and storing donated books for the book sale at a member’s home, that option is no longer available. The AAUW needs about the equivalent of a two car garage — about 400 square feet — for storage of the books, and about the same area — approximately two parking spaces worth — which can be outside, for the sorting done in the fall and spring. It needs to be accessible by a truck for moving the books to the Falls Church Community Center at the time of the sale and, if possible, should be at ground level or accessible by elevator. For the last 30 years Falls Church AAUW has sponsored a used book sale which has allowed the group to provide $300,000 in scholarships for girls in the Falls Church community. The sale is AAUW’s primary means of earning the money given to girl graduates each year to continue their education — girls from George Mason High School, Falls Church High School and Justice High School. Many of AAUW’s scholarship recipients are the first in their families to go on to higher education. These funds also allow the group to fund programs at Aurora House, the AVID Program at Justice High schools and many other projects. The annual book sale has allowed AAUW to continue its mission to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. AAUW hopes and believes that a community member may be able to give the group some leads, has an unused garage or knows of a church or community that may have the available space.
Community members interested in helping out the AAUW are encouraged to contact Sarah John at sarahjohn2857@gmail.com, Diane Bodeen at Bodeendv@verizon.net or Aida Loomis at aLoomis@gphone.com or phone the AAUW at 703-400-3749 or 703637-4488.
Bailey’s X-Roads Needs Toiletry Donations The Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter (3525 Moncure Ave, Falls Church) is very low on deodorant and fullsize toiletries and is seeking donations. These are essential pieces to a complete Welcome Home Basket, which have become more important as shelter staff have been housing people at a high rate. Anyone hoping to maximize the impact of their donation is encouraged to purchase a 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and bodywash product to cover all the bases. There is an up-to-date list of specific items requested for clients who are in search of or just starting new jobs. To find out what items are needed right now, contact Leo Patrician at lpatrician@ newhopehousing.org or 703-8207621 ext.218.
F.C. Residents Graduate From Space Academy Falls Church residents Audrey Pounds and Ava Wodiska recently graduated from the Space Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, Space Camp Robotic, Aviation Challenge, U.S. Cyber Camp and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Official Visitor Center. The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem solving.
Send Us Your News & Notes!
The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!
Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
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AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 11
ENTERING HIS FIRST year as the head of Congressional School, Edwin P. Gordon A SCENE from the most recent American Association of University Women’s book discussed his approach to running the school and what new elements he will sale could be no more without a proper storage space. Read more about AAUW’s oversee in an online exclusive at fcnp.com. (P����: N���-P����) search for a space on page 10. (P����: C������� S���� J����) This program is specifically designed for trainees who have a passion for space exploration. Audrey and Ava spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated space mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon or Mars. The crew participated in experiments and successfully completed an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk. Audrey, Ava and the crew returned to earth in time to graduate with honors. Space Camp operates yearround in Huntsville, Alabama and uses astronaut training techniques to engage trainees in realworld applications of STEM subjects. Students sleep in quarters designed to resemble the ISS and
train in simulators like those used by NASA.
McLean Center Classes Now Open for Registration Registration is now open for McLean Community Center’s (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) fall session classes and activities. MCC provides a convenient and affordable continuing education resource for area residents, from infants through senior adults. Special Events, day trips and tours, as well as programs and day trips for area teens sponsored by the center’s Old Firehouse are some of the other fall activities the Center offers. Tax district residents receive a discount on fees,
as do seniors age 60 or older for classes that are more than $50. A wide range of culinary arts classes for adults, such as Cuban Cuisine and Fall Seafood. Some other classes of interest include Dog Training and First Aid with CPR. The Senior Moments Adult Learning Program offers workshops of interest to seniors age 50 and older, with the popular Technology Tutoring Workshops, which assists seniors in using their Apple devices, returns in September. Children can sign up for extracurricular activities, with a few beiing Improv for Kids and Teens and Chess Club. The Center offers 24-hour online registration. To view
Got Lunch? OPHRESTAURANTS.COM 7395 Lee Highway 703-698-6292
detailed descriptions of classes or to register, visit the Center’s Website, mcleancenter.org. Online registration is not available for tours and day trips. Contact the registrar at 703-744-9365, TTY: 711, for registration options. For more information, call the Center at 703-790-0123, TTY: 711.
Timber Lane Elementary Welcomes New Principal Benjamin Chiet, who currently serves as the assistant principal at Terraset Elementary, has been named the new principal of Timber Lane Elementary, effective August 21. Prior to coming to FCPS in 2017, he served an assistant principal at Catoctin
Elementary School in Loudoun County from 2014-17 as well as the dean of students at John W. Tolbert, Jr., Elementary School. Chiet worked as a health and physical education teacher for eight years prior to becoming an administrator. He has provided the leadership required to implement and sustain The Positivity Project—a program designed to help students build positive relationships with their peers, as well as adults. Chiet earned a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology as well as a master of arts degree in teaching from James Madison University. He also holds an endorsement in Educational Administration and Supervision K-12 from George Mason University.
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A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
Watching a building being constructed is fascinating, as foundations are poured, bearing walls erected, and levels rise, one by one, to transform the community skyline. Likewise, when a building no longer serves its designated purpose, because of obsolescence or market changes, careful deconstruction, and recycling of the materials, slowly reverses the process and, unlike Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat, not even the smile is left. Four Fairfax County buildings, three of which were built in Mason District, are good examples of the options that can be considered for vacant or obsolete structures. The Massey Building was a 1960s creation that served as the county government center for three decades until a new government center campus was constructed a few miles west. Most county government offices were located at the Massey Building, and the Board of Supervisors met there, too. Facilities were pretty sparse; a former female Supervisor told me that there was one ladies’ restroom in the board area, to serve five female Supervisors, and female staff. It wasn’t today’s familiar stalls, but a single toilet fixture. The move west wasn’t because of the bathroom facilities, but potty parity would have been a great incentive! The Massey Building then became the headquarters for Fairfax County police and fire departments, until a new public safety center was built on the government center campus earlier this decade. Implosion, while dramatic, was not an option, because of nearby structures, including the courthouse and the Adult Detention Center, as well as required asbestos remediation. The Massey Building has been disappearing slowly during the past couple of months, as materials are removed and recycled. The old 1960s vintage office building at 5827 Columbia Pike similarly was removed during the past year, in preparation for development of the
southeast quadrant of Bailey’s Crossroads. In the interim, a “pop up” park, with landscaping, play area, and programming space, will open soon. The yellow shade structures already are in place, providing a bright spot to define the temporary space. Two other buildings have been repurposed, not dismantled. The former office building at 6245 Leesburg Pike was in foreclosure when the Fairfax County School Board obtained it to relieve overcrowding at Bailey’s Elementary School. The building exterior maintains the previous skyline, but the interior, except for the corner elevator core, was completely rebuilt in just nine months, creating three levels of modern classrooms for third, fourth, and fifth graders at the renamed Bailey’s Upper Elementary School. An adjoining gymnasium was added later. Bailey’s Upper is the first urban style public school in Fairfax County, but not the last. An exciting building repurposing is underway at 5600 Columbia Pike, where a vacant building, formerly occupied by defense contractors, is being transformed into live/work units. Ranging from 700 to 1000 square feet or so, each unit will feature full size kitchen appliances, laundry facilities, bathrooms, and sizable closets, in addition to living and bedroom space. Sliding pocket doors make the most of the open space concept, and the views from the upper floors are stunning. Common area amenity space includes conference areas, social gathering spots, even a pet washing area! The parking deck and familiar skyline are maintained, but new entrances and parklike landscaping add a pedestrian friendly vibe at this gateway to Fairfax County. The first units in the project are anticipated to be available this November. Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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John Gaul, SINCE 1925. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t look his best. Now, he and 1 in 6 seniors face the threat of hunger and millions more live in isolation. So pop by, drop off a hot meal and say a warm hello. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels at AmericaLetsDoLunch.org
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
A Simple Parable To Unite Us
As Trump continues his presidential crawl descending to the lowest pit of hell, in a manner that could enlighten a new edition of Dante’s Divine Comedy, the brazen obscenity that this man represents should question what kind of decent morality can the nation and the majority of its people, well meaning, articulate to bring this to a certain halt. Stepping up to accept this important task is perhaps the most significant thing a leader of the Trump opposition can do, even if not the most popular for the humorless circus the major media has turned the race to elect an alternative into. I thought we might get it from an unlikely but refreshing source, the campaign of the openly-gay mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg. He came FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS into the race with a strong message grounded in valid moral imperatives, laced with a commitment to universal human values arising from his own growth, development and struggle as a gay person with a mission to improve all humanity. But we’ve not been hearing about that lately, as his campaign has gotten drowned out by his noisier rivals and his own campaign’s perceived imperative to join the chorus of all the fundraising appeals. On the other side, the contemptible sellout by phony “rock star” hypocrites of the fake evangelical Christian movement, ignoring Trump’s locked-in determination to wind up in the fiery abyss, callously back this cretin and turn their congregations into mewling, hateful copies of their own blackened hearts. The major media calls this the “religious” component in the election. Readers interested in the modern roots of this phenomenon as a battering ram against progressive societal impulses can check out the mini-series on Netflix based on Jeff Sharlet’s powerful expose, entitled, “The Family.” Otherwise, among the most articulate and reasonable profaith alternatives that get no play in the media, the likes of the Sojourners, progressive strands of mainstream Protestant denominations (Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, the United Church of Christ), or even columnists like the Washington Post’s Michael Gerson, are kept on the political sidelines. The strongest voice globally, Pope Francis, is also muted as out of bounds for U.S. elections. Gerson’s latest column, “The Reputation of the Gospel is at Risk,” has repeated a theme he’s frequently echoed, that persons of faith are being sold out by their leaders who are backing Trump, who is about as un-Christian as you can get, and they need to wake up. Paul Musgrave’s op-ed in Sunday’s Post, “Plato and Proust Can’t Save Silicon Valley” is a variation on this theme, noting that the amorality of the tech sector, steaming along without regard for the human moral consequences of their inventions and applications, has, far from advancing the uplifting values of the Enlightenment that informed the American revolution and its democratic goals, sparked a “Dark Enlightenment,” a scary techno-reactionary philosophy of a new fascist order with Peter Thiel as among its apostles. Now that’s nasty. But Musgrave’s pessimism on the subject is grounded in his lame conclusion that cutting our culture off from the humanities in education would “cut the world off from its own past.” Lord help us, there’s a lot more relevance to the humanities than as dead relics of the past, as Musgrave suggests. They may be all that can save us. On the same theme, the current New Yorker magazine features an article by Andrew Marantz, “Silicon Valley’s Crisis of Conscience,” that is even more frightening. It suggests the place for Silicon Valley leaders to go in order to find a moral ground is none other than the infamous “Esalen,” one of the original new age-generating social engineering experiments that began society’s descent into chaos in the 1970s. Esalen and the “Dark Enlightenment” may seem like opposites, but are the flip side of the very same coin. There’s a very simple remedy that’s in what most reasonable people can find in their New Testament. That is, that the core of religious faith is rooted in one of its most plain passages, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Let’s start there. Come on, Mayor Pete, pipe up! Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
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Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
It’s been four months since the county peppily unveiled demanding new complications for recycling. “Arlington County is asking residents to stop placing glass in their blue recycling carts,” said folks in the solid waste office. “A significant drop in the market value of glass recyclables means it is no longer economically or environmentally sustainable for the county to collect them via single-stream recycling.” Using new authority granted the county manager by the board on April 25, our green planners suggested that do-gooders such as I buy fewer products in glass containers. We should reuse more existing glass containers and — least conveniently — we should deliver glass to either of two recycling centers (one at N. Quincy St. and Washington Blvd., the other at 2700 S. Taylor St.) The policy took effect Aug. 1. To keep things sorted, I dutifully purchased a new recycling can to separate glass beer bottles and discarded pickle jars from the bin on my back porch now reserved for newsprint and cardboard. I heroically placed the county’s “no glass” reminder decals on my old bin. I selflessly set up a new bag to store the plastic grocery bags the stores will now take back. Then I tossed an array of glass containers in boxes and drove them to the recycling site behind
the WashingtonLiberty High School baseball field. Not much fun. Shards of glass lay on the lot’s ground, perhaps the result of the too-tiny access holes in the large steel dumpsters. The bottles make an upsetting shattering noise when they hit bottom. It took me a while to insert them all, spawning evil thoughts that my willingness to go to such lengths for greenness may eventually fade. So I queried Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services to vent. Spokeswoman Katie O’Brien explained that “glass is one of the heaviest items in Arlington’s residential recycling stream, making up about 22 percent of the total. It has a negative market value in this region because of lack of nearby glass processing facilities and the difficulty with separating it from other recyclables,” she said. Might citizens get tired of this new command to separate? “We understand this may not be convenient for everyone,” O’Brien replied. “We also ask that people incorporate trips to the drop-off center into their normal routine of grocery shopping or other activities. We are exploring adding additional glass-only drop off sites throughout the county.” Arlington is not alone in this new demand. Prince William County banned glass from recycle carts in March. Other areas have similar problems disposing of it, an exception being Montgomery
County with its dual-stream approach, as NPR reported, that preserves the purity of discarded glass and keeps it marketable to end users. Nationally, the Glass Packaging Institute continues to push recycling. “Glass bottles and jars….can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality,” it says. “The container and fiberglass industries collectively purchase 3.35 million tons of recycled glass annually, which is remelted and repurposed for use in production of new containers and fiberglass products.” Arlington does allow an escape hatch for the annoyed. “For those who are unable to drop off their glass, we ask that they place it in their black trash carts for pickup,” O’Brien told me. “If any of these variables change in the future, we will reexamine the policy.” *** Arlington shows up in the newly opened American Civil War Museum in Richmond. On display is a bedsheet on which a hospitalized Confederate soldier in July 1861 sketched routes to the First Battle of Bull Run. Clearly labeled are “Arlington Heights,” the Potomac River, Alexandria (the street grid of Old Town), Fairfax and Centreville. Most odd is the marking for a 27-mile “race course” depicting stick-figure human runners and horsemen. The map’s accuracy was vouched for by Gen. P.T. Beauregard.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
B������� N��� � N���� Grand Opening for Merrifield Music School This Weekend Crescendo Studios is hosting a grand opening for its new music school in the Merrifield area of Falls Church on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event will include live music, dancing, food trucks, face painting, caricatures, a moonbounce and a dedicated indoor space for young kids to be supervised indoors.. Crescendo Studios is a music school that focuses on individualized education for students interested in the art of music. Crescendo Studios is located at 8101A Lee Highway. For more information, visit www. crescendostudiosva.com.
4 Bands Featured at Command Performance Open House Saturday Command Performance AV in Falls Church is hosting an open house in collaboration with MoFi Distribution and featuring IsoTek’s “headmaster” Keith Martin, visiting from the UK on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Featured brands will be TAD, including the award winning ME-1 loudspeaker, Koetsu, SolidSteel and of course IsoTek. Music will be from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs with MoFi Distribution’s Jon Derda and Ben Newhall spinning several unreleased UltraDisc One-Step test pressings. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a series of giveaways. Command Performance is located at 115 Park Avenue, Suite #2. For more information, visit commandav.com.
Free Yoga Class at Downtown F.C. Park 125 Rowell Ct, Falls Church (703) 241-8807
Karma Yoga will provide a free yoga class at the City of Falls Church’s new downtown park, located on the north side of the 100 block of W. Broad Street, on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. Karma Yoga is a community owned studio offering a variety of classes with a focus on the Baptiste-style Vinyasa Journey Into Power. While the class will take place in the park, Karma Yoga is located at 246-A W. Broad Street in Falls Church. For more information about the studio, visit www.karma.yoga.
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Bad Axe Throwing, the world’s largest urban axe throwing club, will open in early Sept. in the Mosaic District at 2985 District Ave Suite 195. The grand opening will include free open house on Friday, Sept. 6 from 5 – 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 from noon – 11 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 8 from 2 – 9 p.m. A founding member of the World Axe Throwing League, Bad Axe Throwing was founded in Ontario, Canada by CEO Mario Zelaya in the fall of 2014 and now has 40 clubs across Canada and in the US. The facility will be open every day from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. for birthday parties, corporate events, bachelor/ette parties, and facility rentals. Walk-ins will also be available at certain times.
Halloween ‘Selfie Museum’ Opens in Tysons Sept. 13 American Scream, a Halloween “selfie museum,” will open in Tysons Corner Center on Friday, Sept. 13. American Scream features interactive Halloween and horror sets and activities based on current pop culture and ancient legends. Selfie opportunities include the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, an ancient Egyptian tomb, and the mouth of a giant clown. American Scream will be open select days Sept. 13 – Nov. 3 on the lower level near Lord and Taylor. Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 17
with
Candice Guardino
AUGUST
23 y
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Justin Shapiro Dogwood Tavern 10 p.m. 132 W. Broad St., Falls Church 703-237-8333 • dogwoodtavern.com
24 day
Satur
Steve & Jess JV’s Restaurant 4 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church 703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com
My Generation Falls Church Distillers 8 p.m. 442 S. Washington St., Falls Church 703-858-9186. • fcdistillers.com
25 ay
Sund
BY MATT DELANEY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Family’s central role in our lives is a bit odd considering you’re bonded by blood instead of choice. The built-in attachment can prove challenging at times, but also rewarding in a way few other relationships can match. Comedian Candice Guardino aims to show the hilarity in both sides of her own family experience with her one-woman show/musical, “Italian Bred” playing for one night at the State Theatre this weekend. Guardino always enjoyed taking the stage throughout high school and college while growing up in New York City’s forgotten borough of Staten Island. But performing itself didn’t satisfy her as much as the thought of creating characters did, causing her to look inward for inspiration. The warm (if off-color) interactions she’d had with her family already filled her standup routines, so, Guardino thought, why not turn it into a cohesive production? “It was easy because I have kind of been doing impersonations of them my whole life,” Guardino said. “For my comedy sets I would do one character at a time for about 10 or 15 minutes, so once I figured out how to combine them all in a single 60 minute story it came naturally.” The narrator for “Italian Bred” is Guardino in her present day form, but she constantly turns the clock back to herself from ages six to when she was in college. Some moments she touches on include when her grandma — who Guardino says treated her like a 30-year-old wise woman by the age of five — taught her how to make meatballs or faked an illness to get front row seats for them at a play. More intimate flashbacks touch upon when Guardino had her first period, which, in a family that interrogates you
CANDICE GUARDINO in “Italian Bred.” (C������� P����) for closing your bedroom door, could prompt laughs. What proved most challenging for Guardino was integrating the musical aspect into the play. She saved herself some effort by parodying popular songs, with slight alterations to avoid copying and pasting a hit into her work. But Guardino went to great lengths to ensure the music wasn’t an overt embellishment, and instead, a compliment to the story she was telling. “It adds a whole new layer to a one-person show because I wanted people to forget it was only me up there,” Guardino added. “ If the music comes in and there’s a band playing, if feels like a full theatrical experience as opposed to an hour-long stand up routine.” It’s why Guardino coined the term “theatrical comedy” to advertise her show. And also why virtual cameos from Mario Cantone
(“Sex and the City”) and Steve Schirripa (“The Sopranos”) on a big screen in the play’s background further differentiate her performance from a pack of comedy specials. Her Italian upbringing also has some unique perks, with local eatery The Italian Store promoting Guardino’s show in lead-up to her Saturday performance. Even with a title nodding at her Italian heritage, Guardino taps into the coming-of-age travails everyone goes through. Her post-show interactions with audience members prove as much. Now, it’s up to Falls Church to see if Guardino can bring that relatability to the State Theatre stage. “Italian Bred” will be showing at the State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church) at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24. For tickets, visit thestatetheatre.com.
Dixieland Direct Jazz Band These singles whet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week:
JV’s Restaurant
1 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church 703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com
Nicholas Benton – America by Simon & Garfunkel
Jody Fellows – Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand by Primitive Radio Gods
Matt Delaney – Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 Fox 5 Zip Trip Live Broadcast. Interested residents can come to the lawn of Cherry Hill Farmhouse for Fox 5’s LIVE broadcast as they drop by Falls Church as a part of their summer of “Zip Trips” to various communities throughout the Washington, D.C.-MarylandVirginia area. Attendees can meet their favorite Fox 5 hosts and enjoy music and entertainment. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). 6 – 11 a.m. 703-248-5210. Night Insects Campfire. The whole family is invited to join the staff at the Long Branch amphitheater for some old-fashioned fun. This program will be filled with entertaining activities that may include stories, special ani-
mal guests, games, songs and s’mores. For families with children ages 3 and up. Children and adults must be registered; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. A $5 fee is due upon registration. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. 703-228-6535.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 Farmers Market. The award-winning, year-round market is filled with fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and much more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 8 a.m. – noon. 703-248-5034. Summer Scavenger Hunt. Interested attendees can have fun as the group searches for signs of summer before time runs out. For families with children ages 5 to 12 years old; families are welcome
to attend. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 2 – 3 p.m. 703-225-6535.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 Morning Yoga at the Downtown Park. A free class with Karma Yoga. Attendees are asked to bring their own mat. Downtown Park (100 block of W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9 – 10 a.m. 703248-5210 (TTY 711). R.I.P. — Remove Invasive Plants. Interested attendees who want to restore habitat and increase native species diversity are encouraged to participate in this event. Work parties are held every month and are making a difference with the return of ferns, wildflowers and the animals that depend on them to areas once covered in destructive invasive plants. This is a continuing project occurring about
Let's ! e g l i n m Fla
Join us at Chesterbrook Residences on Saturday, August 24 from 4 to 7 pm for a Community Barbecue Dinner! Enjoy dancing and music by DJ Leo. $20 per person; tickets available at the door. Cash or check written to Food for Others. Stop by and flamingle with us! Great for all ages!
once per month on Sundays or Mondays to reclaim the natural area near the Powhatan Springs Skatepark from invasive plants and make room for an improved natural habitat. Powhatan Springs Park (6020 Wilson Blvd Arlington., Arlington). 2 – 4 p.m.
MONDAY, AUGUST 26 West Falls Church Transportation Project Groundbreaking. Interested residents can join City of Falls Church leaders, representatives from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and other local officials to celebrate the start of the multimodal improvement project that will commence near the sites of the High School Campus and future Little City Commons developments. George Mason High School parking lot (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10 – 11 a.m. 703-248-5477.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 “2019 Summer Cabaret Series.” Every summer weekend at Creative Cauldron features a cabaret or concert by some of the most spectacular talent the DC area has to offer! Grab a table for two or a table for four and enjoy your favorite musical standards from the Broadway, Tin Pan Alley, Folk Jazz, pop and classical canon and be entertained in an up close and personal cabaret space. Creative Cauldron (410 S Maple Ave., Falls Church). $18 – $22. 8 p.m. creativecauldron.org.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 “Assassins.” From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, nine would-be and successful presidential assassins inspire each other to pull the trigger and change their worlds in a perverse, wry and thrillingly entertaining vaudeville. Directed by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, a cast of Signature favorites including Nova Y. Payton, Tracy Lynn
Many children in our neighborhood are hungry during weekends when they don’t have access to school meals. All proceeds benefit the Food for Others Power Pack Program which helps provide food for local kids. It will also be your last chance to sponsor a flamingo for our yard. Don’t miss it!
A Caring Assisted Living Retirement Community
2030 Westmoreland St. | Falls Church 703-531-0781 | chesterbrookres.org Coordinated Services Management, Inc.—Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981. A nonprofit, nondenominational community sponsored by Chesterbrook Residences, Inc.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Olivera, Evan Casey, Bobby Smith and others explore Sondheim’s stunning music and sardonic lyrics in a fascinating examination of the twisted American Dream. Signature Theatre (420 Campbell Ave., Arlington) $56 – $95. 2 p.m. sigtheatre.org.
“No Exit.” Sartre’s classic existentialist play consists of two women and one man who are locked up together for eternity in one hideous room in Hell. The windows are bricked up, there are no mirrors, the electric lights can never be turned off, and there is no exit. The irony of this Hell is that its torture is not of the rack and fire, but of the burning humiliation of each soul as it is stripped of its pretenses by the cruel curiosity of the damned. It is an eternal torment. Artspace Herndon (750 Center Street, Herndon) $20. 7:30 p.m. darkhorseva.com.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 “Shear Madness.” First seen in Boston in 1980, and opening here at the Kennedy Center in 1987, the show reinvents itself every performance— pulling from the news of the day, and on-goings of the DMV, to improvise timely witticisms and gags. Set today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon, this record-breaking comedy is Washington’s hilarious whodunit. After more than 12,000 performances, the show has stayed in great shape. The Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW Washington, D.C.) $50. 8 p.m. kennedy-center.org.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 DC All Star Funk. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Scott McMahon. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-2378333. Roots Of Creation with The Loving Paupers. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
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AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 19
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $35. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1900. Karaoke. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-8589186. Miyavi. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $35 – $75. 8:30 p.m. 703-2370300. Dave Chappell Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 IRITS. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703532-9283. Happy Hour: Acoustic Soul. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-2419504. Parthenon Huxley & Friends feat. Ricky Wise, Dave Phenicie, Ben Hoyt and Keyboardist Daniel Clarke. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Farruko with Lary Over. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $40. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Patty Reese. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. $5 Comedy Night. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $5. 9 p.m. 703237-0300. Just Stones Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. Justin Shapiro. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 Ceres Fundraiser. Jammin’ Java
STING will be at Wolf Trap on Monday. (Photo: Sting.com) (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 1 p.m. 703-255-1566. Steve & Jess. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. Curtis Knocking. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Sing-A-Long: Sound of Music. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $25. 7:15 p.m. 703-255-1900. My Generation. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. Italian Bred. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $30. 8 p.m. 703-2370300. Josh Christina Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-
9504.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 Dixieland Direct. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-241-9504. Jumpin’ Jupiter. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-8589186. Katie Henry Band. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-532-9283. Ricky Parrell featuring Justin Stanton of Snarky Puppy CD Release Party. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. The Spooks, Tyrone and the
Peoples’ Network. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.
MONDAY, AUGUST 26 Sting with Joe Sumner Live and in Concert (encore performances will take place the following two nights at the same time and price). Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $45. 8 p.m. 703-2551900.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 Live Album Recording “Freshmen” Starring Izzy Salhani feat. Ray Easter. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $15. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28 J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band) Live and in Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25. 7:30 p.m. 703255-1566.
Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.
PAGE 20 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
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For Sale ATTENTION REALTORS ADVERTISE your listings regionally or statewide. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions that get results! Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net
Help Wanted/Drivers HELP WANTED / DRIVERS NEED CDL DRIVERS? Advertise your JOB OPENINGS statewide or in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions to reach truck drivers. Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net
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Public Notice PUBLIC NOTICE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA On Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 7:30 p.m., the Planning Commission will hold a public meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, to consider the following items: VARIANCE APPLICATION V1607-19 BY COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH TO SECTION 48-1102(A)(1), TO ALLOW A STEEPLE HEIGHT OF 125 FEET INSTEAD OF THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED HEIGHT OF 70 FEET FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING ADDITION, AND A NEW STEEPLE ON PREMISES KNOWN AS 103 WEST COLUMBIA STREET, RPC #51-103-024 OF FALLS CHURCH REAL PROPERTY RECORDS, ZONED T-1, TRANSITIONAL.
PUBLIC AUCTION In accordance with the Virginia Self-Storage Act, section 55-419 F, notice is hereby given that the contents of the following rental storage spaces located at Fort Knox Self-Storage will be offered for sale: 00123 Johanna Hernandez. Sale will be held online at storagetreasures. com. Pictures can be viewed at that site. Bidding will begin at 1:00 pm on August26thand will conclude at 1:00 pm on June 30thwinning bidder will be required to pay a $100.00 per unit refundable clean-out deposit (cash). Other Payments by Credit Card Only
Auction CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND TRUCKS AUCTION
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 from 9 am – 3 pm. Large selection. Bid onsite at 192 Industrial Park Road, Pearisburg, VA or online at www.motleys.com/industrial. Motleys Industrial. 877-MOTLEYS. VA16
ATTENTION AUCTIONEERS ADVERTISE your upcoming auctions statewide or 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
(TO19-05) ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 44, “VEGETATION,” AND CHAPTER 48, “ZONING,” OF THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE TREE COMMISSION TO THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION On Monday, September 23, 2019 at 7:30 p.m., the City Council will hold a public hearing in the City Hall Council Chambers to consider the same item (TR19-05) described above. For a copy of the staff report or the Ordinance, contact the City Clerk’s office at 703-248-5014 or cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov. The application and materials for the Variance application described above can be viewed at the Permit Counter, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church. 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 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).
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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.
KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG By Eileen Levy
I cleaned the shelf, Swept the floor, Doesn’t look like my room Anymore!
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Crossword
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© 2018 David Levinson Wilk
1. Rankle 4. Simmer, as eggs 9. Transport de Montréal 14. Gift for which you might reply “Mahalo” 15. “Madly for ____” (1952 presidential campaign slogan) 16. Where “they tried to make me go,” in an Amy Winehouse hit 17. Birth announcement info: Abbr. 18. “The Sound of Music” girl who’s “sixteen going on seventeen” 19. Keats and Yeats 20. NBA member since 1949 23. Bombeck who quipped “The only reason I would take up jogging is so that I could hear heavy breathing again” 24. Diplomat’s bldg. 25. “Yes, there ____ God!” 28. WNBA member since 1997 34. “____ go bragh!” 35. College person with a “list” 36. WNBA member since 1999 42. “I, Claudius” attire 43. “I, Claudius” setting 44. NBA member since 1967 51. “Mr. Robot” network 52. “You sti-i-i-ink!” 53. Onetime electronics giant 55. “Swish!” ... or the letters already provided in this grid 61. Put up with 63. Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Bobby 64. Texting counterpart of “TY” 65. Calf-length dresses
STRANGE BREW
Across 1. Rankle
66. ____ Edibles (food shop on “The Facts of Life”) 67. Brooklyn Brown or Newcastle Brown 68. Best Buy buy 69. Carne ____ (taco option) 70. Cryptanalysis org.
AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019 | PAGE 21
DOWN
1. “Will ya look at that!” 2. Like many evangelicals 3. Directive to Kate in a Cole Porter musical 4. ____ Alto, California 5. One-eyed Norse god 6. Actor Guinness 7. Something to try 8. Jewish campus group 9. Onetime Dr Pepper rival 10. Workplace fairness agcy. 11. Alter ego of “Batman” villainess Lorelei Circe 12. Year of the ____ (2008 or 2020) 13. Delivery people, for short 21. Spotted à la Tweety Bird 22. “Eww, you’ve said quite enough!” 26. Record label for Otis Redding 27. “The Fountainhead” author Rand 29. Kyoto cash 30. Neighbor of Wash. 31. Sue Grafton’s “____ for Ricochet” 32. Big name in soup 33. Big name in ice cream 36. Cattle calls 37. Family of reptiles that includes collared lizards and horned lizards, to a zoologist
JOHN DEERING
Sudoku
38. Hip-hop artist with the #1 album “Hip Hop Is Dead” 39. Excessively 40. “The Walking Dead” channel 41. Albanian currency 42. Night that “Friends” aired: Abbr. 45. Med. exam involving an injection into the forearm 46. “Impressive!” 47. “Heck if I know” 48. Verb whose past tense is formed by moving the first letter to the end 49. ____ Alley 50. Balloons 54. Discombobulated 56. Garfield’s frenemy 57. Silent approvals 58. Rowlands of “A Woman Under the Influence” 59. Pitt of “The Big Short” 60. Major or minor in astronomy? 61. Tsp. or tbsp. 62. Roy G. ____ (rainbow mnemonic) Last Thursday’s Solution I G L O O
M O O R E
A N I S E
C A R P E D V I M E I M
A C F I Y N B I N G J O H O D A E R S O L S T R E H E H A N S I S H P U R E A D G L C F O I N K S W N Y L E S E A X S A D
D O E Z N S Y H P E T C H A P E E S B O S S W H M E E I D E M E N E N A
S T T E R E S A
H O A R
D U G U I P O T A W B O
R A R E C O I N S
U N D I L U T E D
B Y E I T S S O
B E A U T
A S K T O
Y E E S H
By The Mepham Group
Level 1 2 3 4
4. Simmer, as eggs 9. Transport de Montréal 14. Gift for which you might reply "Mahalo" 15. "Madly for ____" (1952 presidential campaign slogan) 16. Where "they tried to make me go," in an Amy Winehouse hit 17. Birth announcement info: Abbr. 18. "The Sound of Music" girl who's "sixteen going on seventeen" 19. Keats and Yeats
1
20. NBA member since 1949 23. Bombeck who quipped "The only reason I would take up jogging is so that I could hear heavy breathing again" 24. Diplomat's bldg. 25. "Yes, there ____ God!"
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
28. WNBA member since 1997 NICK KNACK
© 2019 N.F. Benton
1
8/25/19
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2019 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 22 | AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Fitzgerald Launches Organizing Drive To Defeat Cherry Hill Park Referendum
Moran, Howard Dean Prevail in Town Hall Scrum With Hecklers
Falls Church City Council member Merni Fitzgerald began yesterday an organizing drive to defeat the referendum on Cherry Hill Park that will appear on the November ballot in City. She’s issued a letter to friends and political supporters urging them to attend a meeting next Thursday to form a so-called “Cherry Hill Park Coalition”
Twelve major “myths” circulated by opponents of health care reform were systemically dispelled, and a strong case for the “public option” made, by U.S. Rep Jim Moran and former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean in front of over 2,500 rowdy citizens and national TV cameras at a town hall meeting in Herndon Tuesday night.
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CRIME REPORT Week of Aug. 12 – 18, 2019 Trespass, 200 blk S Washington St, Aug 12, 6:40 PM, a male, 61, of no fixed address, was issued a summons for Trespass Drunk in Public, 800 blk S Washington St, Aug 14, 4:36 PM, a male, 42, of no fixed address, was arrested for Drunk in Public and on 5 outstanding warrants from Roanoke, VA. Destruction of Property, 200 blk E Fairfax St, between 10:30 PM, Aug 15 and 10:57 AM, Aug 16, unknown suspect(s) destroyed the driver side mirror of a Honda Civic.
Identity Theft, 400 blk S Maple Ave, Aug 16, 11:29 AM, an incident of identity theft was reported. Drunk in Public, 100 blk E Annandale Rd, Aug 8, 11:08 AM, a male, 63, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for Drunk in Public Larceny-Shoplifting, 400 blk W Broad St, Aug 16, 3:01 PM, three unknown suspects shoplifted multiple valuable items. Suspects described as: 1) black male wearing a blue soccer jersey with white stripes down the shoulder, 2) black male wearing a black dorag with a red Capitals shirt, and 3) black male wearing a fitted ball cap and wearing all black. Last
seen running toward Chanel Terrace. Investigation continues Assault, 300 blk W Broad St, Aug 17, 5:26 PM, a male, 61, of no fixed address, was arrested for Assault, Disorderly Conduct and Drunk in Public. Drug/Narcotic Violation, 100 blk N Cherry St, Aug 18, 2:50 AM, following a traffic stop, a male, 31, of Germantown, MD, was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana. Smoking Violation, 6700 blk Wilson Blvd, Aug 18, 11:19 AM, a male, 49, of Falls Church, VA, was issued a summons for Smoking in a Restaurant. Motor Vehicle Theft, 1000 blk E Broad St, between 9:20 PM, Aug 17 and 12:34 PM, Aug 18, several vehicles were stolen from a dealership. Two were recovered in the City of Falls Church. Investigation continues.
There’s a time to check whether your kid’s in the right car seat. This isn’t it.
Car crashes are a leading killer of children 1 to 13. Is your child in the right car seat? Don’t think you know. Know you know.
safercar.gov/TheRightSeat
RILEY MELLON happily chews her stick and lies in the summer sun. She loves summer, but won’t be missing the season that much longer as activity at the bus stop will pick up again with school returning in less than two weeks. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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Tori@ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com 2101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
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