Falls Church News Press August 28

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Inside This Week

Continued on Page 5

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August 28 - September 3, 2008

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More Letters on Page 6

August 28 - September 3, 2008

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going for the gold.” Warner relegated Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain to the ideas and mistakes of the past, linking him to President George Bush. “McCain promises more of the same,” he said. “A plan that would explode the deficit that will be passed onto our kids. No real plan to invest in our infrastructure. And his plan would continue spending $10 billion a month in Iraq. That’s four more years that we just can’t afford.” On health care, Warner intoned, “Just think about this: in six months we will have an administration that actually believes in science,” adding, “Then we can again lead the world in life-saving and lifechanging cures.” Some of Warner’s keynote remarks were also delivered by him at a Falls Church fundraising event last Friday hosted by the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club at a home in the Lake Barcroft area. In his senate race against former

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, Warner is given strong odds in his effort to turn the seat held by retiring Sen. John Warner from Republican to Democrat. His pro-science and technology, pro-future orientation has been a hallmark of his campaigns from over a decade ago, articulated in an interview he held in the office of the News-Press in 1996, and were key in his forging a bipartisan alliance to get elected governor of Virginia in 2000 and passing measures in Richmond to bring the state’s fiscal house in order. In another major political event in Falls Church last weekend, Obama’s Falls Church headquarters was officially opened to a mass of enthusiastic supporters Saturday afternoon. Free hot dogs were handed out, and a reported 866 people signed up to volunteer for the campaign. U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, in his own race for a tenth term, delivered fiery remarks in support of the Obama-Sen. Joe Biden ticket. On Sunday, an annual cookout held at the home of Del.

Jim Scott featured Democratic congressional candidate Gerry Connolly, currently chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He’s also given strong odds to turn the 11th District, currently represented by retiring Rep. Tom Davis, from Republican to Democrat. Republican candidates were nowhere to be found in Northern Virginia the past week. McCain’s only campaign offices in Virginia, to date, are located in Virginia Beach and Roanoke. Connolly’s GOP opponent Keith Fimian limited his public activity to blast emails to the media. Tonight, the Obama campaign has rented the State Theatre and its giant screen for a public showing of Obama’s acceptance speech from Denver on TV. On Labor Day, Falls Church Democrats will host an ice cream social in Cherry Hill Park at 3 p.m., and Mark Warner’s next major appearance in the area will be at a debate with Gilmore hosted by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 18.

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August 28 - September 3, 2008

the neighborhood if the developer built large townhouses, or even went for a zoning change to put a large-scale mixed use project there? With Winter Hill’s proximity to the new $317 million Atlantic Realty City Center project, such a zoning change approach may not be out of the question,

Maller noted. The notion of the FCHC selling the Winter Hill property did not come as a surprise to either Mayor Robin Gardner or Council member Nader Baroukh in interviews with the News-Press. Baroukh, who said his involvement as a member of the Winter Hill Community Association of town house owners in the same neighborhood

Page 5

as the 83 affordable units in question would not prevent him from acting objectively on such matters, said his major concern was that the FCHC work closely with the City Council in whatever it wants to do. “A lot more policy work needs to be done,” he said. “When it comes to ‘special exception’ or zoning issues, the City has a lot of control.”

But he said he would not want the FCHC to continue pursuing a policy of concentrating affordable units in one place, as with the City Center South Apartments, but to “disperse them throughout the community.” Issues of fiscal impact on the City will also be paramount for him, he said. Mayor Gardner said that while selling Winter Hill and allowing a private developer to build

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larger, market-rate dwellings would not be out of the question for her, she said she would adamantly oppose any efforts to change the zoning to allow more density. “We’ve already done enough to disrupt that neighborhood with the City Center and Pearson Square developments,” she said. “I’m resolved to retain the character of the neighborhood going forward.” “Putting market-rate units there would almost certainly increase the property values of all of us,” Bernadette Fancuberta, president of the Winter Hill Community Association, told the News-Press, “But it is difficult to comment because there is so much uncertainty.” She is troubled, she said, that so many of these questions went unanswered in the rush to approve the City Center South Apartments. The FCHC’s Jackson, who still claims that the original plan to renovate the existing Winter Hill units and sell them to first-time homebuyers is the best plan, said that nothing will happen until the City Center South Apartments plan wins approval for $12 to $16 million in tax credits from the Virginia Housing Development Authority in Richmond next year.

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Maureen Dowd Antipathy for Hillary Tiresome Editor, Maureen Dowd enough already! I won’t posit that your obsession with Hillary Clinton is motivated solely by misogyny but what did this woman do to you - steal your prom date? You have committed a fatal sin for journalists - you are tiresome. Actually you passed that benchmark articles ago. Kathleen Doran Gerrity Via the Internet

China’s Gym Medals Should Be Stripped Editor, In response to Mike Hume’s “Picking Splinters” column last week, throw him a red herring.

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Suggesting (and formally investigating) the age of the athletes was not solely based on the “suspicions of American coach Marta Karolyi and a pair of Chinese news articles.” They were official registration lists previously posted on the Big Brother fascist State’s official “General Administration of Sport of China” website in 2004,2005, and 2006. Everybody else has to play be the rules, they should too. The medals should be taken away from them. Ken Stein Via the Internet

High Praise for Moran’s Lead On Autism Editor, Regarding his column last week, I salute Congressman Moran for his leadership on the important

issue of autism. As a wife of an active duty Marine and parent of a young child with autism, it is humbling to see how our leaders on Capitol Hill have responded to our military families with special needs. It is time to also provide the medically necessary care for the children of our brave and heroic military retirees. While it is still not clear what causes autism, we do know that intensive and early intervention works to help these children lead full, active, safe, and independent lives. At a time when our military families sacrifice so much and face such extreme circumstances, improving the quality of life for our military children should be a top priority. My thanks to Congressman Moran and Congressman Miller for their actions on behalf of this underserved patient population. Semper Fi! Karen Driscoll Via the Internet

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Facing $400 Million Deficit, Fairfax Co. Sets 20 Public Meetings In an extraordinary move, Fairfax County officials announced today that no fewer than 20 public “dialogue sessions� with the public are being set between September and November, months in advance of next year’s budget deliberation process when the county’s Board of Supervisors will face a projected $400 million deficit. According to a county press release, the deficit “must be addressed through a combination of spending reductions and other strategies.� The 20 meetings are intended to glean public sentiment prior to County Executive Anthony Griffin’s presentation of a proposed budget to the supervisors in February. In addition, a budget hotline has been established at 703-324-9400, and comments can be made online at www. fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.

Teachers and staff of the Falls Church City School System were honored at an annual convocation breakfast and ceremony at George Mason High School Monday that included the confirmation of the appointments of Mary McDowell as the Interim Principal at George Mason H.S. and Vincent Baxter as principal at Thomas Jefferson Elementary. Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin moderated the ceremony, and presented longevity service awards to employees of the system, based on increments of five years. The longest-serving employee honored Monday was George Mason H.S. guidance counselor Nancy Goldman, who has completed 25 years. Honored for 20 years service were Maria Chico, Kathy Halayko, Marie Harbison and Jean Lewis. Those who completed 15 years included Lisa Allan, Katie Clinton, Paul Ferentinos, Nancy Hendrickson, Bobby Kaplow, Pamela Keller, David Morales, Denise O’Neil and Patricia Smith. All schools in the Falls Church system begin classes next Tuesday.

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Obama Speech Watch Party at State Theatre Thursday The Obama Presidential Campaign has rented the State Theatre for a free-admission party to watch on the State’s giant TV screen the acceptance speech of presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama this Thursday night. Doors will be open at 7 p.m., ward meetings to discuss how people can get involved in the campaign will begin at 8 p.m. and Obama’s speech will begin about 10 p.m. There will be a cash bar and food service. Persons under 18 must be accompanied by an adult in accordance with the State’s house rules.

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DWI-Related Deaths Down Sharply in Fairfax County According to Fairfax County Police, four people in Fairfax County have lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes so far this year, compared to 13 for the same period a year ago. As of Aug. 20, officers arrested 1,975 people for driving while intoxicated, compared to 1,578 for the same period of 2007. In the county police’s latest sobriety checkpoint operation last Friday night, eight arrests for DWI and one for drunk in public were made in Franconia. County police were joined by Virginia State Troopers in the cooperative effort. Trespasser Enters Falls Church Home Fairfax County police responded to the 2800 block of Hollywood Road in Falls Church, seeking a man who entered an apartment there at 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, and touched the leg of a 45-year-old woman who was sleep in the apartment at the time. The woman awoke and reached for a telephone, and the man fled through a sliding glass door. The suspect was described as black, about 5 ft. 10 in. with a medium build. He had short, black hair and was not wearing any clothing. Those with information are urged to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-8477. Correction: Tom Horn Still at Mason A.D. Helm The News-Press apologizes for publishing a letter to the editor in last week’s edition that contained a significant factual error. The letter claimed that Tom Horn was leaving as athletic director at George Mason High School, which is untrue.

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August 28- September 3, 2008

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DEARBORN, Mich. – The fun and games may be in Denver, but this year’s presidential election will likely be decided in critical states like Michigan, where many Democratic voters, despite being hammered by a wicked economy, are ambivalent at best about the candidate at the top of their party’s ticket. You could easily get the impression, through casual conversations, that Michigan will be a cakewalk for Barack Obama. Most people you talk to say that they plan to vote for him. Nearly all working families have been touched by the downturn, which has been longer and more severe here than in most other parts of the nation. Relatives in different parts of the state are seeing less of one another because of high gasoline prices. Auto industry workers, traumatized by the number of colleagues who have been laid off, worry that they will be the next to go. The anger at George W. Bush is white-hot.

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Margaret Schlack, who is married and the mother of four, talked about the election after attending Sunday services at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Livonia, a largely white, working-class suburb of Detroit. “This area has seen a lot of economic trouble,” she said. “A lot of people are out of work. The housing market is just awful. And I don’t feel that John McCain cares about the average person.” She said she plans to vote for Obama. Jack Davis, an assembler at an auto-parts plant in Grand Rapids, said of Obama: “I don’t care if he’s polka-dot as long as he can get us out of this mess.” Obama was up by two to seven points in the most recent statewide polls. And he hopes to get a bounce from this week’s convention and his selection of Joe Biden as his running mate. So what’s the problem for the Obama campaign? The problem is the dog that isn’t barking. Talk for more than a few minutes with an Obama supporter in a white middle-class or work-

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Eclipsing even the most memorable performances at the Beijing Olympics, the record-smashing achievements of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt and the breathtaking opening and closing ceremonies, was the grand and triumphant appearance of Sen. Teddy Kennedy at Monday’s opening night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. This was an epochal achievement, a garland-strewn burst across a lifetime-long marathon’s finish line, fending off adversity and fatigue to once again rally his party with an inspiring, magnificent paean to unity, hope and purpose. Stunning courage and resolve was written all over the ailing senator’s face and body language. He rejected his doctor’s advice against showing up, ignored a chair placed for him s behind the podium, and stood strong to firmly deliver one of the most memorable speeches of this writer’s memory. There were many tears, including from Kennedy family members, among the thousands of delegates and others witnessing the speech in person, humbling salve that heals divides and evokes the deepest wellsprings of resolve. Despite being stricken with brain cancer earlier this year, Sen. Kennedy could not have done more for his party, his ideals and his most heartfelt causes than to open the Democratic convention with the kind of speech he gave Monday. There have been many special Kennedy moments in the last 50 years of this nation’s history. They’ve all be occasions when those of us old enough to remember can recall everything about where we were and who we were with when they happened. There are such special moments in all our lives. I have been at the bedside of a family member as he was born, and another as he died. Kennedy moments have impacted the personal lives in an entire nation in similar ways. I was in my high school cafeteria watching TV with other students as JFK delivered his great “ask not” inaugural address in January, 1961, and Robert Frost couldn’t read his poem with the glare. I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of my college when I heard on the radio that JFK had been shot in November, 1963. At graduate school, I was in my apartment dozing off when news came over the TV of the assassination of Robert Kennedy in June, 1968. I moved to another apartment in San Francisco when, in July, 1969, I watched the moon landing, the culmination of JFK’s initiative from earlier in the decade. I was at Madison Square Garden in August, 1980 when Teddy Kennedy delivered one of the great political speeches ever at the Democratic Convention. These were all deep-impact moments for the entire U.S. population, as was this Monday’s speech. They’ve been augmented in my personal experience by Ted Kennedy’s stinging renunciation of Bush’s invasion of Iraq and lack of the so-called “weapons of mass destruction” in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., and my opportunity to chat casually with him when he showed up at a fundraiser for Rep. Jim Moran in Arlington in 2006. One more point is worth noting, contrasting Teddy Kennedy this week to the Beijing Olympics. Kennedy spoke eloquently about his brother’s vision and will to achieve a manned mission to the moon. “He rose to the challenge,” Kennedy said of JFK, and he equated reaching the moon with “scaling the heights,” declaring that with November’s election, “We can do it again.” With his classic Bostonian accent, he invoked the “bold endeavor,” dropping the “r” at the end of it. That notion of breaking out of constraints, certainly exhibited by Teddy, himself, in making it to the podium Monday, can be set in relief against the central image of the mammoth, almost intimidating, Chinese opening and closing Olympic ceremonies. Those ceremonies’ dominant artistic form was the perfect circle. I could not help but think while watching, “But, there is no freedom in a circle.” A circle depicts a closed system, a single, solitary truth, state of mind, or state. The circle, itself, is an inert boundary condition that restricts any impulse within it to violate, deform or break out of it. It’s a construct of the human mind found nowhere in the dynamic, real natural universe. That’s in stark contrast to the image provided by Kennedy on Monday, that of a rocket to the moon, fired away from planet Earth, breaking its constraints as a fundamental affirmation of the very nature of human creativity, will, visionary spirit and freedom.  Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

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DENVER – I’ve been to a lot of conventions, and there’s always something gratifyingly weird that happens. Dan Quayle acting like a Dancing Hamster. Teresa Heinz Kerry reprising Blanche DuBois. Dick Morris getting nabbed triangulating between a hooker and toes. But this Democratic convention has a vibe so weird and jittery, so at odds with the early thrilling, fairy dust feel of the Obama revolution, that I had to consult with Mike Murphy, the peppery Republican strategist and former McCain guru. “What is that feeling in the air?” I asked him. “Submerged hate,” he promptly replied. Ah, yes, now I recognize that sulfurous aroma. There were a lot of bitter Clinton associates, fundraisers and supporters wandering the halls, spewing vindictiveness, complaining of slights, scheming about Hillary’s roll call and plotting trouble, with some in the Clinton coterie dissing Obama by planning early departures, before the nominee even speaks. At a press conference with New York reporters on Monday, Hillary looked as if she was straining at the bit to announce her 2012 exploratory committee. “Remember, 18 million people voted for me, 18 million people, give or take, voted for Barack,” she said, making a faux pro-Obama point. She keeps acting like her delegates are out of her control, when she’s been privately egging people on to keep her dream alive as long as possible and no matter what the cost to Obama. Hillary also said she was happy about the choice of Joe Biden because he added “intensity” to the ticket. Ouch. Ed Rendell, the governor of Pennsylvania who is planning to vote for Hillary in the roll call, compared Obama to the passive-aggressive egghead Adlai Stevenson and told The Washington Post that Obama gives six-minute answers and “is not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with.” I’ve never actually seen a convention where the energy was so absorbed by people who had lost the nomination, rather than the one who had won. At a meeting of the Democratic women’s caucus on Tuesday, 74-year-old Carol Anderson of Vancouver, Wash., a former Hillary volunteer, stood in the back of the room in a Hillary T-shirt and hat signed by Hillary and “Nobama” button and booed every time any of the women speakers mentioned Obama’s name. She’s voting for McCain and thinks the Democrats put up a minority to stop another minority so that the boy’s club would not be breached. She had nothing

nice to say about the Obamas. What about the kids, I asked her. “Adorable,” she agreed. Well, I said, Michelle raised them. “I think her mother does,” Anderson shot back. “I wonder if Michelle would give the Queen one of her little knuckle punches?” Bill Clinton is brooding in his hotel suite at Brown Palace Hotel, like the outcast Grendel lurking on the outskirts of the town where young Beowulf lived. Bill’s pals said he was still gnawing at his many grievances against the younger version of himself he has to praise Wednesday night; the latest one being that the Obama folks, like all winners, wanted control over Bill’s speech, so that he did not give a paean to himself and his economic record, which is what he wanted to do, because he was insane that Obama said a couple critical things about his administration during a heated campaign. Finally, Obama had to give in on Monday and say he would allow the ex-president to do exactly as he likes, which is what he usually does anyhow. Obama’s pacification of Bill made his supporters depressed and anxious that he was going to be a weaker candidate than they had hoped and fearful that, as in Obama’s favorite movie, “The Godfather,” every time Democrats try to get away, the Clintons pull them back in. “People just constantly underestimate the narcissism, beyond narcissism, of the Clintons,” said one top Democrat. “They keep thinking they can manage them. I wish Obama would just tell them ‘Shut up. You guys have only cared about yourselves for much too long. Get over it.”’ And Democrats have begun internalizing the criticisms of Hillary and John McCain about Obama’s rock-star prowess, worrying that the Invesco Field extravaganza on Thursday, with Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, will just add to the celebrity cachet that Democrats have somehow been shamed into seeing as a negative. So that added to the weird mood at the convention, with some Democrats nitpicking Obama’s appearance, after Michelle’s knock-out speech and the fabulously cute girls, with a reassuring white family in a town he couldn’t remember at first. They wondered why he wasn’t wearing a tie, fearing he looked too young, and second-guessed Michelle’s green dress, wondering if it clashed with the blue stage, and fretted that there wasn’t a speaker Monday night attacking McCain and yelling about gas prices. “We’re seeing a train wreck all over again,” said one top Democrat. “I’m telling you, man, it’s something about our party, the shtetl mentality.”

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August 28 - September 3, 2008

For Barack Obama to become president, the Democrats have to stop acting like bureaucrats and sell their candidate, while tearing down John McCain. The national convention must transform sonorous issues into sellable sound bites and overcome Republican attempts to smear Obama. Here are four things the Democrats need to accomplish at their convention if they hope to retake the White House: Unite the Party: Hillary and her increasingly irrational supporters need to get a grip and move on. The election was hers to lose and she did so by not planning past Super Tuesday, giving Obama a string of caucus victories that propelled him to victory. As a result of this monumental strategic blunder, Obama pulled ahead and Clinton fought back, turning this once warm and fuzzy primary into a political brawl. I know feelings were hurt and egos were bruised. There are also many women who are bitterly disappointed because they wanted to see a woman president. The incessant whining of Clinton CLIENTf 2 13:55 6/6/01 JC 65 DOLEV supporters, however, 124847 is beginning to work the last nerve of Democrats who actually want to win. Obama and Clinton’s policies were often so close as to be nearly indistinguishable. It is simply inconceivable that one could support Clinton and then opt for McCain -- unless race plays a pivotal factor in the decision. That’s right, I said race. How else could a Clinton-supporting woman 2.062" now vote for John McCain, who will put Roe v. Wade in jeopardy? How could such a person who professes to care about women’s issues vote for McCain when it is obvious that a barrier breaking black man will do more to help a woman get elected as president in the future? It Bible Correspondence Courses are available free of charge from WORLD WIDE BIBLE STUDY. does not make sense unless there is an ulterior, underlying motive. CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION are issued to each student who completes a course. 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Whether buying or selling …if you need a Realtor who really KNOWS the City of Falls Church — Call me! Louise Molton, Realtor City Resident and Business Owner Weichert Realtors Office: 703.821.8300 Direct:703.244.1992 Email: louise@agentlouise.com

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Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Snap a pic of your critter and email it to: CRITTERCORNER@FCNP.COM OR mail it to Critter Corner c/o Falls Church News-Press 450 W. Broad Street #321 Falls Church, Va 22046

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The Community Business Partnership is hosting a free seminar on Small Business Resources every Thursday in their offices located at 7001 Loisdale Road in Springfield. The CBP, known for “Building Business in Fairfax and Beyond”, provides a vast array of resources and services through its Business Finance, a Business Incubation, Financial, Small Business and Women’s Business Centers. On September 4 the seminar will take place from noon to 1 p.m., on September 11 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., on September 18 from 8 – 9 a.m. and on September 25 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Attendance in this class provides the opportunity to take advantage of the CBP’s other business building courses. For more information call 703-768-1440 or visit www.cbponline.org.

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The Original Pancake House has signed on as a sponsor of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce’s Mini-Golf Family Fun Night. OPH will treat attendees with wraps during the picnic style event that will include unlimited access to miniature golf and softball and baseball batting cages. The event is a terrific opportunity for business leaders to network with friends, family and staff members in an informal, relaxed and fun atmosphere. The annual Mini-Golf Family Fun Night will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30 at Upton Hill Regional Park. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for kids, and free for children 6 and under. Call 703-532-1050 or email info@fallschurchchamber.org for more information. Red, White & Blue Wine and Gourmet Shop is now hosting wine tastings Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m. The new Falls Church wine store, which also offers micro-brewed beers, fine cheeses and gourmet items, is owned and operated by Adam Roth (also a co-owner of Argia’s Italian restaurant), James Roth and Harry Silverstein. Red, White & Blue is located at 127 S. Washington Street. For more information call (703) 533-WINE (9463) or visit redwhiteandbleu.com. Jenna Caudillo, of myNeighborsNetwork.com, is serving as chair of the marketing committee for the Fairfax Partnership for Youth’s Third Annual Changing Lives-One Youth at a Time Awards Breakfast. Nominations are sought for outstanding youth between 5th and 12th grades. Nine distinguished awards will be presented with monetary awards totaling $5,000, sponsored by the Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation. Winners will be recognized at an awards breakfast on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Reston with Art Monk delivering the key note address. For nomination information and forms, see www.fairfaxyouth. org. The nomination deadline is September 15, 2008. Limited sponsorship opportunities available as well, see website for information. According to the 2008 Digital Counties Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties, Fairfax County is one of the top digital counties in the nation for jurisdictions with populations over 500,000. All U.S. counties were invited to respond to a questionnaire including more than 100 measurements and data points about online service delivery, infrastructure, architecture and governance models. Fairfax County received third place in the 500,000 or more population category, ranking in the top five for the fourth consecutive year. The county’s E-government program addresses the digital divide for residents and businesses through multiple access channels and has been successful in creating a government without walls, doors or clocks. The program features many information delivery methods, including the Web, customer information kiosks, Interactive Voice Response via touch-tone phone and a cable TV government channel. Through the county’s E-government platforms, people can complete services online such as paying taxes, locating facilities and transportation routes, reporting property and zoning concerns, accessing general court information, and registering for parks and recreation classes. For more information visit fairfaxcounty.gov. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is soliciting nominations for its Torchbearer Awards to honor Virginia companies whose business achievements and corporate citizenship have made a lasting impact on the prosperity and quality of life in the Commonwealth. The nomination deadline is September 1. Nominees may be from any industry but must be based in Virginia. There will be one state winner and four regional winners who will be announced at a gala banquet concluding the 2008 Virginia Economic Summit on October 29 at the Richmond Marriott. For a copy of the Torchbearer Award nomination form or for more information about the Summit, visit www.vachamber.com. Interested in buying an established business in Falls Church? According to bizbuysell. com there are nine businesses for sale in the City of Falls Church including the Meineke franchise, a well known tanning salon, and a coffee shop. To find businesses available for purchase visit the site and select you location of choice almost anywhere in the world. Already have a business but looking for a location in the City? A listing of available commercial space, including photographs, can be found on the City’s website at www.fallschurchva.gov. Click on “Business Services” and then on “Business Assistance”. Scroll half way down the page and click on “Business Site or Building Location Assistance.  The Business News & Notes section is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@ fallschurchchamber.org.

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irelands four provinces restaurant and pub While waiting to see how much damage this week’s hurricane will do, it is a good time to review recent developments in the world’s petroleum and economic situations for their relevance to peak oil. Should it look as if the current hurricane is going to tear up the Gulf oil fields and the coastal refineries, it might not be a bad time to go out and fill your tank for U.S. gasoline stocks are unusually low. Any supply or refining disruptions in the next week or so have a good chance of resulting in spot shortages of gasoline. These shortages in turn just might lead to the fabled “run of the pumps� in which 230 million drivers rush to their gas stations and start topping off tanks. In a matter of hours millions and millions of gallons would be transferred into consumer’s tanks and it likely would take weeks to sort out the ensuing mess. At a minimum it would give those people running for President or Congress in November something to talk about. If it happens, it will be fascinating to watch. Even if this year’s hurricanes once again miss the oil patch, there will be enough else going on this fall that bears watching. With the Olympics winding down (the Para Olympics run until 17 September), China will soon be getting back to normal. Factories will reopen, trucks will start to roll, and Beijing’s economy supposedly will return to its accustomed ten percent annual growth accompanied by a five percent annual increase in oil consumption. Or will it? So far this year, China has endured crippling snow storms, a massive earthquake and a no-holds-barred effort to put on the most successful, expensive, and flawless Olympiad in world history. All this took a lot of oil and, through June, China imported oil products like there was no tomorrow. Imports underwent a substantial drop in July and August, however, when a not inconsequential piece of China’s economy shut down in order to hold down air pollution during the Olympics. China’s massive jump in imports likely had a lot to do with the rapid run-up of oil prices this spring and their

equally precipitous drop when Beijing cut imports in July. Where China’s economy and oil imports goes from here is the question of the hour. The Chinese frequently and firmly announce that their economic engine has become so large and powerful that it no longer matters what happens in the U.S. and European economies. China’s domestic market coupled with those of the rich oil-exporting states will be enough to sustain rapid economic growth. However,

as economic difficulties in the U.S. and other OECD countries continue to grow, many are starting to doubt Beijing’s claim that it is now immune from the world economy. China is currently undergoing the worst electricity shortage in recent years due to inadequate coal production. Coal exports have already been restricted and seem likely to be halted altogether if the shortages get worse. This in turn will lead to much higher world coal prices and shortages across Asia and Europe as consumers lose access to Chinese coal. Some believe China’s economy, along with much of the world, is headed to a severe downturn that will slow economic growth and demand for oil. Others suspect that, at least for a while, China may once again step up oil imports to compensate for inadequate coal production. There obviously is too much going on here to make a responsible forecast as to how all this is going to sort out, but the course of world oil prices and demand over the next year or so depends on the answer. The major unknown for the rest of the year is the course of the world’s economy. While some optimistically foresee a slump lasting only a few quarters, more are talking about major dislocations to the

world’s financial structure that could reverberate for years. We are already starting to see that the lack of energy resources is causing serious problems across the sub-continent of Asia where electricity shortages and production cutbacks are endemic. As these problems are caused by inadequate rain, coal, oil, and natural gas, it is unlikely that much can or will be done about them in the near future. In the meantime, the geological peaking of world oil production is coming along right on schedule. Last week the Mexicans announced a major drop in output from their flagship Cantarell oil field. Russian production is stagnant and world exports are slowly starting to fall. Unless a major economic crash intervenes to muddy the waters, it should soon be obvious to all but the most biased observers that world oil production will peak within the next few years. There is a world wide race going to between contracting economies and world oil production, the score of which will be kept in the price of oil. In the last few months OPEC production has increased a bit due to a more stable Iraq, increased Saudi production and scattered increases elsewhere. However, we are likely getting close to the last feasible increase in world oil production. Some OPEC members are already muttering that they deserve prices closer to $150 a barrel than $100 for their oil and hinting that if prices fall much further there will be production cuts. Those who follow the status of new oil production projects say that if demand holds up, we might see some increases in production for another 24 to 36 months, but then depletion of existing fields will overtake production from new projects, shortages will develop, and prices will rise precipitously. Starting with the current hurricane, it is going to be an interesting ride. ď ľ Tom Whipple is a retired government analyst and has been following the peak oil issue for several years.

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KENWOOD SCHOOL

Dedicated to Educational Excellence since 1957 All school experiences at Kenwood are challenging and exciting. Small classes provide opportunities for students to work to their highest potential. Individual progress is carefully guided to stimulate curiosity and creativity. Our strong academic environment fosters a solid foundation of skills and study habits necessary for future success. Each student’s intellectual growth, personal self-discipline, social values, and emotional maturity are the result of a school philosophy that emphasizes a joy and love of learning. Kenwood School prides itself on providing educational excellence at an affordable price.

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Earlier this month, Capital Hospice invited the News-Press to its annual Point of Hope Camp, which took place Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 3. This year Point of Hope set up at Camp Ramblewood, located in the green backwoods about an hour northeast of Baltimore, Md. Capital Hospice has served the region for 30 years with facilities in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, providing terminally ill individuals with services and medical attention aimed at “palliative treatment,” or the general improvement of the patient’s quality of life and to ease their suffering. “Palliative care” distinguishes hospices from other medical options in that attempts at curing the patient are not pursued. Much like the quality of life care Capital Hospice provides its patients, its annual Point of Hope Camp offers individuals and families a weekend to regain peace of mind and to piece together their lives after the death of loved ones. The camp engages its 219 attendees in activities one would find at typical summer camps – arts and crafts, relaxation sessions, theater performances and the like – remains unique, providing not only fun and excitement, but the tools to cope with loss. Philip Carpenter, the camp’s director since 2000, noted that most losses are recent, occurring between three and 24 months ago. The camp doesn’t replace grief, but it does do its best to give attendees an “emotionally safe” place to express their feelings, said Spencer Levine, who acts in part as the camp’s spokes-

person, and Director of Communications for Capital Hospice in Falls Church. Levine was kind enough to take another role to his busy schedule, acting as the News-Press tour guide and liaison for the greater part of Saturday. Spending the Day Arriving on Saturday morning, this writer joined the attendees a day into their activities. They had either driven here yesterday by themselves or taken Capital Hospice’s offer of three chartered buses to navigate to Camp Ramblewood, tucked well into the idyllic calm of rural Maryland. Levine escorted me from the parking lot to the central hub of Point of Hope, a large compound of different segments and responsibilities – mess hall, craft rooms, a lecture/activity room and a wraparound veranda that overlooked the (often crowded) swimming pool. True to its name, Ramblewood seems to ramble down the hill where the main compound sits, down to the pavilion and pond, across the way to the cabins that line the forest perimeter. Farther up a hill, a barn overlooks the rest of the camp. Each part of the campground houses an activity, the cabins as lodges. Campers apply in advance to come to Point of Hope, Levine explained, not all of them having lost their relatives in hospice care. Additionally, schools have referred children and their fami-

lies to the camp. When they come to Point of Hope, the attendees are organized by age group – adults, teenagers and children – who are then directed by the camp’s staff. The staff behind the Point of Hope operation consists of volunteers; their duties are wideranging, from manning the mess hall to bonding with the children as “big buddies,” with some running the larger scene. Carpenter is aided by walkie talkies and his ever-attentive assistant camp director Julie Weatherington who in her normal capacity serves as Capital Hospice’s outreach coordinator in Prince William County. Levine noted that many of the staff volunteers involve their families, too. Weatherington’s son Derek and daughter Hanna are both volunteers this year. “Many [volunteers] are health care providers who help and support what we do,” Levine added, like Scott Berger, a bereavement counselor with Point of Hope for five years now. This year, his wife Christine joined him. “It’s the first time I feel I can give back” as a member of the support staff, she said. The “big buddies” constitute a major part of the camp experience for the children and teenagers whom they shadow throughout the daily activities and rituals. “For the kids camp, the function for the buddy is an escort,” Levine said, noting that for older children and

teens, the role changes. “Sometimes teens want to speak to a non-judgmental adult, someone to listen and provide comfort.” Adults, on the other hand, meet with facilitators who manage their group discussions and therapy sessions. “Adults grieve in a systematic way – not eating, sleeping, talking or working,” Weatherington said. They differ from children, who “need things interpreted for them. Otherwise, they see their parent crying and feel responsible somehow.” All campers participate in “healing circles,” which she explains are usually eight to a group and led by licensed social counselors. These intimate group sessions allow participants frank and open sharing of their stories and emotions. They also discuss topics provided by the counselor geared toward understanding their situations. One of the session topics, “Wishes and dreams,” explored what campers wish they could be and what they will be in light of the loss, said Weatherington, stressing also the importance of security within and out of the circles. “What’s said here stays here. Given the emotional sensitivities that might arise in these activities, Levine explained that “no one is forced to participate with anything.” At any point in the day, he said, participants may use their time to reflect by themselves in the tranquility Ramblewood affords, or attend any of the scheduled events, including the healing circles, but extending to “very therapeutic” art and performance sessions such as yoga or theater. “Camp is not a one-size-fits-all template.” Creating and Performing Down at the open-air pavilion, which children had decorated with commemorative flags for the deceased, a group of children and their big buddies joined some members of D.C. theater troupe Arena Stage on a large floor space fit for country square dancing. It worked out just fine for Arena Stage’s purposes, too, leading the large ensemble in several theater games and warm-up sessions to engage the “rainbow of emotions” grieving campers might experience. “You can also show

emotions with your body,” said one of the actors. The session concluded with a series of tableaux – frozen scene performances – by campers. Heading toward the barn where teens met with grief counselor Kathy Elias and several art therapists for a face mask project, we came across Jesselyn Ombac, Sara Woody and Weatherington’s daughter, Hanna. They comprise Point of Hope’s recreations team that orchestrates the camp’s “fun and exciting” events. At the moment, the three young volunteers were armed with hose and balloons, busily preparing for the postlunch water balloon toss. “When I was in high school and college, I didn’t have the time to volunteer,” said Ombac, echoing her colleagues’ reasons for coming out to Point of Hope. Inside the barn, Elias and her coterie of art therapists assisted the teens at various stages of having their faces encased in paper-maché and laying their visual impressions to dry. Identity served as the project’s theme, she said, raising plenty of questions for the teen-aged artists who would later decorate their face masks. There was “plenty of room” for teens to explore who they are in light of the loss and who they want to be, she continued, noting teens tend “to hide their true emotions” behind “a mask.” On the face of the paper mask, she instructed the teens to depict what they presented to world, while on the mask’s interior, to demonstrate the reality inside them. “Who knows what they’ll look like in the end?” Elias opined. “Or, what they want to expose to the world?” Meeting the Campers Sharing loss is very personal at Point of Hope, yet the intimacy of campers’ stories does not deter them from being told. At one point in the mess hall, a couple traded tragic tales of their lost son with a young foreigner. Strangers bonding out of empathy is a familiar sight across Ramblewood. During a lull in activities, Weatherington interviewed campers – from among the attendees, big buddies and staff – for an end-of-camp video compilation. It was a firsthand chance to hear the intimate stories of the adults and children, outside of their therapy sessions and the camp atmosphere. They are individuals and families seeking some understanding about their losses. “They feel alone,” Carpenter said about the initial feelings at camp. A day into activities, how-

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ever, some campers felt uplifted by the camp. Gayle Hudson, of Clinton, Md., found comfort “sharing stories and hearing I am not alone.” Hudson and her daughters lost several family members within the previous three months, leading her to seek out time for the family to relax and have a chance to “mourn and grieve [for] one grandparent who died in December and then another grandparent that died in February.” The Chen family suffered the loss of a husband and father. Lana Chen brought her daughter Alexandra “Zan,” 10, and son Carson, 8, to the camp following the death of her husband. “My husband had care at the hospice,” Chen said, “but surprisingly I didn’t hear about it directly from the staff there.” Instead, she discovered Point of Hope through her local pastor and a referral from the children’s school counselor. Having spent no more than 24 hours at the camp, Chen shared thoughts of her own search for mutual support and understanding. “I guess I expected it to be kind of what it is: some group sessions with speakers and counselors leading small group discussions; and some relaxation time. I wasn’t sure about the physical activities,” she said. “I like the whole idea of coming together, too, physically ... we’re entering the camp together with, you know, our expectations and even on the drive here I talked to them about it,” she went on. “One of the top reasons I came is because I was looking forward to meeting campers who were in a similar situation to mine. You know, as much as you love your close family and friends, they are in a different situation from you. So, I would say it’s been really great just meeting other people.” As far as the physical activities she had been unsure of

at first, Chen said, laughing, that she enjoyed the massage, as well as the art and performance therapy sessions. Of Arena Stage’s workshop, she felt that “it was enjoyable to work on ... vignettes and express an emotion through these tableaux.” “I enjoyed the yoga classes. I thought that was a great connecting piece,” Chen added. “In this more remote rustic setting,” she said, Camp Ramblewood, “is almost in itself therapeutic because you’re away from the stresses of life.” Her children agreed. Carson enjoyed a game of “Go Fish” with Derek Weatherington, and Zan spoke highly of the camp’s exercises, time at the pool and of friends she made during her short stay at Point of Hope. Both of them recall the positive impact of, in Zan’s words, “people coming together to talk about ones they miss.” Despite a weekend’s separation from Carson and Zan, Chen believes “it’s great that each of the kids have their own place and the big buddy.” “At the same time, if they need to connect with me they can.” The common emotions that pull individuals to Point of Hope attracted Jennifer Betts of Baltimore, who lost her mother in 2002 under hospice care. The hospice inspired her to volunteer as a part of the support staff last year, she said. Now, Betts is a member of the nurse team that issues prescribed medications to campers; and she also aids the kitchen staff. Like the Chens, she enjoys the company of “passionate, like-minded” volunteers. “That’s where the strength comes from.” As a “big buddy” for the past 12 summers, Bern Beidel of Centerville, Va. employs plenty of strength and energy, flitting across camp between activities and the pool as, this year, he

escorts the young Charles Lamb, who recently lost his father. Beidel’s wife Donna has also been active with Point of Hope as a former camp office manager. “I take every camp for a new and unique experience,” he said of his approach to new camp communities and the children for whom he plays a major role each time. “What I really try to do is come each year with a clean slate. Some years [are] more difficult than others; some years the losses are more recent.” After more than a decade of service, Bern notices a “common thread that year after year uniquely amazes” him, awed by “how quickly these children bond together. It’s almost instantaneous by Friday afternoon. I think it’s that common [unspoken] emotional thread they feel that defines why they’re here.” “Sometimes they’re pleasantly surprised that it is a camp experience, and it’s not what they may have come thinking,” he continued. “They’re hungry to be with other kids and to have a good time. And the fact that they all shared that life, whoever it is – father, mother, sibling, grandparent – it pulls them together, bonds them. I just sit back in awe at it, and every year when I leave and drive back to Virginia, I think about how special that is.” He added: “To support Hospice in what I believe is an unbelievable community effort ... I don’t know if it gets any better than that.” Also attending the camp are several fervent donors, among them Sue Handley, who is a big buddy to a 7-year-old this year. When she first heard of Point of Hope Camp, Handley remembered her own difficult past and coping at the age of 15 with the loss of her mother to cancer. “I thought, I could have been one of those children,” she said, describing Capital Hospice’s camp as a “really wonderful environment.”

Another donor, Linda Dunleavy, whose husband died eight years ago in hospice care, was motivated to give back to the community that “helped me,” she said. “This is my way of helping them.” During her time at Point of Hope, Dunleavy surveyed many of the on-going events, and like Handley, she called the weekend camp “a most fantastic cause.” Outside of camp, both women labor to “spread the word of the hospice,” said Dunleavy. For the past three years, she has chaired the women’s golf tournament committee, which alongside a yearly gala and other major events, is one of Capital Hospice’s largest annual fundraisers. “Kids should not have to pay to come.” Last year, Dunleavy recalled, the golf tournament entertained about 80 donors with lunch, a round of golf and a dinner that included a “really fantastic” PowerPoint presentation of the previous camp put together by Weatherington. Carol Kennedy, who organizes many of the fundraisers, added that last year’s net gross was around $35,000. This year’s tournament occurs on Sept. 22. The golf tournament is one fundraiser in a packed schedule, as Kennedy laid out the year’s charity events, ranging from balls to sailing regattas. Coupled with sponsorships from

major donors like Booze Allen Hamilton, Capital Hospice’s reach is far-ranging, thanks to its donors’ continuing support in promoting awareness of the hospice’s programs. The Future Under the helm of Carpenter and Weatherington, Point of Hope looks to expand its operations in coming years. The camp directors envision specializing the camp to fit the needs of young adults by providing them a separate camp from the older adults. Widening the camp’s appeal hasn’t been that hard, Weatherington said. “We max our camp out every year.” Weatherington also expresses interest in a “reunion camp” where former campers could share their progress and reunite with the friends they made during their camp experience. “Society doesn’t give us a lot of time to grieve,” she pointed out, allowing people merely weeks or a few months to cope with loss. The power of one weekend, however, seemed capable of bringing some hope to dealing with the impact of death. After camp, “we hear from [guidance counselors] of a dramatic difference” in children, she said. It is the least a weekend-long camp could hope to accomplish in anyone’s life.

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Lunch Dinner ri 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri 5pm-9pm dults - $7.75 Adults - $8.95 s (2-10) - $3.75 Kids (2-10) - $4.50 Sat. & Sun. 11:30-9pm Adults - $8.95 Kids - $4.50

703-573-6000

www.theha w rvestmoonrestaurant.com (Graham Center across from Loehmann¶s Plaza) 7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, V VA 22042

the center

dance company

OPEN HOUSE & REGISTRATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Summer Special: Free Sonicare Flexcare Toothbrush For New Patients (value $170) Since 1968

703.532.3300

We Welcome New Patients! Call Today to Make An Appointment www.DoughertyDDS.com 200 Little Falls Street, Suite 506 Falls Church, VA

Our state-of-the-art dance training facility is moving dance forward in Northern Virginia.

Classes begin Tuesday, September 2nd Visit www.arldance.org to see our complete catalog of classes for dancers of all ages!

Mention this ad and your first class is FREE with registration! The Center Dance Company

ĊČČĊũ 1+(-ũ /1(-%2ũ . "ũěũ ++2ũ '41!' ĐćĊēĐĐđēĊććđũũěũũwww.arldance.org

August 28 - September 3, 2008

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Level: 1 3

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SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

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© 2008 David Levinson Wilk

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 www.sudoku.org.uk

1

Across 1. Award given by the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences 5. "The Grapes of Wrath" family 10. It may drop as one's amazement rises

8/31/08

© 2008 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

13. 1961 space chimp 14. Actress Harmon 15. "Munich" actor Eric 16. Prefix with sphere 17. Safari spottings 18. Some old theaters 19. Quantity of paper belonging to a '60s TV character? 22. "____ the Walrus" 23. Culture-supporting org. 24. 1991 Tony winner Daisy 27. Some cap tossers 29. What producers at Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records like to hear? 33. Like Saturn

Last Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

35. Before, to poets

D E S A L P D E A T G R E T I R E B E O N S S W J A S I A N O T I A W E M C P R O U T I N T A G E E

A C U M S O N D H B E C V S O F T H E S L O N I O H N D E F I C A U M A D L T S D A S A T I N E T O

E R O I C A

N A M E O F

O R N E

N A H S

P E S E I L

A I L S N I E S H E N N A N B I E S I D E T A N E S A P E L P I C A P E I R R A C O C L V E E E D

S P R G E L E T S K G S

August 28 - September 3, 2008

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Page 34

Do you see a BALLFIELD? THEN YOU SEE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY COALITIONS.

They help community groups organize resources and fight to keep kids away from drugs. Contact a community coalition and find out what your group can do.

www.helpyourcommunity.org or 1-877-KIDS-313 Y O U

G E T

M O R E

W H E N

Y O U

G E T

T O G E T H E R

Office of National Drug Control Policy

NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR ID ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAs. Office of National Drug Control Policy -Newspaper (4 1/4 x 3 1/2) ON2TK3-N-09176-C B&W “Ballfield” - screen: 85 Film at Horan Imaging: 212-689-8585 Horan Ref#:126952

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August 28 - September 3, 2008

Page 35

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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Memory Lane Professional Photography & Videography Wedding, Portraits & Special Events

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(703) 869-9372 (703) 205-9051 Email: Trinidad.miranda@yahoo.com

Benton & Potter, P.C. www.bentonpotter.com

Government contract law, all areas of business and corporate law.

Specializing in custom firplaces, patios, walkways, walls, driveways. Small and large repairs. Free estimates Licensed and insured.

All work guaranteed. 703-496-7491

www.motternmasonry.com

James Roofing & Home Improvements Roof Replacements Rubber Roofs • Flat Roofs Leak Specialists • Roof Coatings Chimney • Repair Facia&Soffit Decks Built&Repaired • Coatings Wood Repair • Drywall Repair Gutters • Siding • Ext.&Int. Painting 24 hr. Emergency Service

Licensed Free Estimates 703-593-3383

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Spring Cleanup, mulching, mowing, edging, trimming. Residential & Commercial Tree Service & Snow Removal

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Weaver Enterprises

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Kitchens & Baths Additions • Sunrooms • Decks Porches • Garages • Basements Free Estimates Call 703-503-0350 Licensed and Insured

VICTOR BLAISE DEVELOPMENTS Repairs – Remodels – Handy Services Call for our summer specials Offering Military & Senior Discounts

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CLEANING SERVICES Mike’s Carpet Cleaning 5 Rooms deep cleaned only $98 •Stretching•Mold Remediation •Oriental Rugs•Upholstery•Pet Problems • 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage We Clean the White House! Call Mike 703-978-2270

Grand Opening!

Ballet • Jazz • Tap • All Ages 109 Park Avenue, Falls Church

(703)532-2221 FCSchoolofBallet.com

Make a Joyful Splash! with

Eileen Levy Create unique art masterpieces using acrylics, water-based oils, pencils and an innovative variety of tools and brushes. Held at 111 Park Avenue Falls Church on Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Cost: $90 On-going monthly enrollment Enroll on-line at www.creativecauldron.org Or call 571-239-5288

FOOD & DINING

Ledo Pizza Caterers Tysons Station • 7510 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA

(703) 847-5336

Pizza • Pasta • Wings • Subs • Salads • Desserts

Liberty Chem Dry

Superior Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Residential and Commerical

703-533-0239

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Business & Service Directory 1 x 1” Ad 3 mo. = $220 • 6 mo. = $400 • 1 yr. = $725 1 x 1.5” Ad 3 mo. = $330 • 6 mo. = $600 • 1 yr. = $1100 1 x 2” Ad 3 mo. = $440 • 6 mo. = $800 • 1 yr. = $1450

1 x 2” 1 x 1.5” 1 x 1”

Page 36

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Mayor Robin S. Gardner . . . . . . . . . . Vice Mayor Harold Lippman. . . . . . . . . . . City Council Nader Baroukh. . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Maller . . . . . . . . . . . . . David F. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel X. Sze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence Webb . . . . . . . . . . . City Manager Wyatt Shields. . . . . . . . . . . . . Home Page <www.fallschurchva.gov> * Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

city calendar

august 28 Community Center Closed for Annual Maintenance (Walk-In Registration Available) 29 Community Center Closed for Annual Maintenance (Walk-In Registration Available) 30 Community Center Closed for Annual Maintenance (Walk-In Registration Available)

Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-Noon

31 Community Center, Library Closed

SEPTEMBER 1

City Hall, Community Center, Courts, DMV Select, Library, Schools, Senior Center, Sheriff’s Office Closed

No Yard Waste, Bundled Brush, or Special Collections Labor Day

National Preparedness Month

2

City Council Work Session, 7:30 p.m.

Planning Commission, 7:45 p.m.

3

General District Court in Session

Falls Church Cable Access Board, 7 p.m. Recreation & Parks Advisory Board, 7 p.m.

Architectural Advisory Board, 7:45 p.m.

4

Book Discussion Group, 7:30 p.m.

5

FIRSTfriday Event

Sunset Cinema, 8 p.m.

6

Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-Noon

Recycling Extravaganza, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Recycling Center

The Week

703-534-8644 703-237-9089 703-992-9433 703-731-8433 703-241-0419 703-538-5986 703-532-1043 703-248-5004*

2009 City Decal Information

In early September, you will receive your City decal with your Personal Property bill. In an effort to make sure that decals are placed on the correct vehicle, the year, make and model of the vehicle will be printed on the front of the decal. REMINDER: Even though you have your decal, Personal Property payments are DUE on Oct. 5, 2008. Your current BLUE 2008 decal will be valid until Nov. 15, 2008,howeverthereisnoneedtowait,install your RED 2009 decal when it arrives! Questions? Please contact the Treasurer’s Office at 703-248-5046 (TTY 711) or treasurer@fallschurchva.gov.

Register for the City’s Online Newsletter at www.fallschurchva.gov

Register to Receive Emergency Alerts

provided as a public service by the city of falls church

Questions or Comments? City of Falls Church, Harry E.Wells Building, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church,VA 22046 703-248-5003 (TTY 711) The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

Labor Day Holiday Schedule COMMUNITY CENTER MARY RILEY STYLES PUBLIC LIBRARY SENIOR CENTER CITY HALL COMMUNITY CENTER COURTS DMV SELECT OFFICE MARY RILEY STYLES PUBLIC LIBRARY SCHOOLS SENIOR CENTER SHERIFF’S OFFICE GEORGE LOCAL TRANSIT YARD WASTE/ BUNDLED BRUSH/ SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

CLOSED Aug. 31

CLOSED Sept. 1

NO SERVICE Sept. 1 NO PICKUP Sept. 1 For information, call 703-248-5081 (TTY 711).

Northern Virginia Senior Olympics Registration Deadline Sept. 5 The deadline to enter the 2008 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) is Friday, Sept. 5. This year’s NVSO competition begins Saturday, Sept. 20 and runs through Thursday, Oct. 2.

bait casting, backgammon, golf, miniature golf, basketball free throw, bowling, softball hit and throw, and chess. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded after each event.

Men and women, ages 50 (by Dec. 31, 2008) and older, who live in one of the sponsoring jurisdictions are eligible to compete. Events are held in nine different venues throughout Northern Virginia.

The registration fee is $10 which includes one event; additional events are $1 each. There are also additional fees for bowling, golf and miniature golf. For more information and a registration form, call 703228-4721 or download from www.novaseniorolympics.com.

This year’s events include track and field, swimming and diving, pickleball, tennis, table tennis, yoyo tricks, eight ball pool, ice skating, shuffleboard, bunco, Frisbee throw, women’s 3x3 basketball, team line dancing, Scrabble, duplicate bridge, chess, cribbage,

NVSO is sponsored by Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.

Police Department Offers Free Rape Aggression Defense Course The City of Falls Church Police Department is offering a free Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women, 12 years of age and older. The course is offered in four, threehour sessions. Classes will be held at St. James School (830 W. Broad St.,) on Tuesdays, Sept. 16 and 23 and Thursdays, Sept. 18 and 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that addresses awareness, prevention, risk reduction, risk avoidance, and the basics of hands-on selfdefense training. R.A.D. is not a martial arts program. Nationally

Growing Green Recycling Extravaganza and Paper Shredding Event Sept. 6 The public is invited to bring unwanted items to the City of Falls Church Semi-Annual Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, Sept. 6.This is an opportunity for the community to bring electronics (including computers, printers, scanners, TVs and more), cell phones, clothing and textiles, bicycles,printer cartridges,eyeglasses,hearing aids,and medical supplies for recycling,reuse,or donation. For a complete list of acceptable items, visit www.fallschurchva.gov. PNC Bank is sponsoring a paper shredding event in conjunction with the Recycling Extravaganza. Residents can shred up to three file boxes of personal documents, at no charge! The Extravaganza is held from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m.at the Falls Church Property Yard, across from the Recycling Center,located at 217 Gordon Road.The event is cosponsored by the City of Falls Church Department of Environmental Services and the Falls Church Environmental Services Council. For more information,please call the Environmental Programs Specialist at 703-248-5176 (TTY 711) or visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

5th Annual Sunset Cinema Features Three Blockbuster Hits Three Fridays in September The City of Falls Church Recreation & Parks Division presents the 5th Annual Sunset Cinema in the Park three Fridays this September. The screenings begin at 8 p.m. and are free to the public. Moviegoers are invited to bring blankets, bug spray, and picnics and watch three great movies under the stars. Popcorn, drinks and candy will be available for purchase. The screenings will be held at Cherry Hill Park, located at 312 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046. In the case of inclement weather, the screenings will be cancelled. For more information, call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711).

Preschool Open House Parents interested in enrolling their children ages 3-5 in the City of Falls Church Preschool Program are invited to meet the teacher, ask questions and check out the room. The Open House will be held at the Community Center on Friday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. Call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711) for more information. certified R.A.D. instructors from the City Police Department teach the course. Participants are required to attend all four sessions. For more information and to register, email jcarter@fallschurchva.gov or ksdempsey@verizon.net.

FOR THE WEEK of

Saturday, Sept. 13 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cherry Hill Park • 312 Park Ave. Visit www.fallschurchva.gov for more information.

Sept. 5 Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG, 2007) Sept. 19 Enchanted (PG, 2007) Sept. 26 Horton Hears a Who (G, 2008) 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 703-248-5077 (TTY 711). Falls Church Recreation & Parks Division 223 Little Falls Street Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5077* Phone Numbers Open Gym/Weather Hotline 703-248-5125* Special Events Hotline 703-248-5178* Fax 703-536-5125 Senior Center 703-248-5020*/21* Community Center Hours Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - Midnight Saturday 8:30 a.m. - Midnight Sunday Noon - 6 p.m. Open Gym Hours Open Gym hours are updated on a bi-weekly basis and are also posted on the Open Gym Hotline, 703-248-5125*. All hours are subject to change. * Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Page 37

ly Focus

Chairman: Ronald Peppe II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice Chairman: Susan Kearney . . . . . . . . . . . School Board Rosaura Aguerrebere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Hyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kieran Sharpe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Wodiska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superintendent: Dr . Lois Berlin . . . . . . . . . . .

government and the falls church city public schools

august 28-september 3, 2008

For more news about the Falls Church City Public Schools visit: www.fccps.org

SCHOOL CALENDAR DATES ARE SubjEcT To chAngE

Division falls short in one category

“AYP is determined primarily by achievement rates in mathematics and reading and by achievement rates in sub-populations

determined by various factors such as socioeconomic status, race and disability,” FCCPS Testing Coordinator Juanita Briscoe said. “Our school division’s testing target in reading was 77 percent. The division’s economically disadvantaged students scored 75.7 percent.” Economically disadvantaged students scored well in mathematics. The testing target was 75 percent and the group exceeded the target with an 83.7 percent passing rate. Virginia’s testing targets increase in all subject areas each year. “We want all of our students to be proficient in all academic areas,”

FCC-TV Spotlight: FCCPS Convocation Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch the Falls Church City Public Schools Convocation event . Help the FCCPS welcome our new faces, and recognize those who have served our students for many years . You can catch the FCCPS convocation on FCC-TV at the following times: • Friday, August 29 at 12:00 p .m . • Wednesday, September 3 at 8:30 a .m .

• Monday, September 1 at 7:30 p .m . • Sunday, September 7 at 11:00 a .m .

FCC-TV airs on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2 . For a complete schedule of the variety of community programs on FCC-TV, visit www.fcctv.net .

BIE Partner of the Week Cheryl McMillen President Falls Church Kiwanis Little League School Involvement: Loaned yards of patriotic bunting to FCCPS to use for back-to-school convocation festivities for all employees . Why Cheryl is a BIE partner: “It makes sense for the local Little League to partner with the local schools . Many of our players attend Falls Church city schools . We’re glad to support the schools as part of this program that welcomes teachers .” For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps .org .

Foundation Footnotes join FcEF as a member Join the Falls Church Education Foundation by becoming a member to ensure that our students are prepared to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st century. Annual memberships start at $180. Members receive the Foundation’s newsletter, Foundation Footings, and other benefits. Membership donations provide unrestricted funds for FCEF’s operations and annual programs such as its Teacher Grant Program. Membership information and forms are available at www.fcedf.org. Click on “Join the Foundation”. Members can also donate to the membership program online by going to “Donate Today”. The Foundation is a registered as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For information about the Falls Church Education Foundation, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at denglander@fcedf.org. School content published in The Weekly Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, contact the Falls Church City Public Schools Communications Office. Phone: (703) 248-5699 Fax: (703) 248-5613.

703-536-8638 703-536-7564 703-237-6993 703-536-3130 703-533-1248 703-248-5601*

* Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

All Schools Meet Federal Testing Targets At the individual elementary, middle and high school levels, Falls Church City Public Schools performed well on the Standards of Learning (SOLs) tests for the 2007-2008 school year. Each school made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in all target areas as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The school division as a whole, however, made AYP in 28 out of 29 objectives, with a deficiency in reading among economically disadvantaged students.

703-534-4951 703-532-0321

Superintendent Lois Berlin said. “We are studying the individual student reports to determine where the deficiencies are and to develop a plan of action to ensure all students are succeeding.” Under NCLB guidelines, at least 50 students must meet sub-group criteria in order to be counted. The division’s economically disadvantaged student population is so small, only the school division as a whole, rather than individual schools, had enough students to be counted as a sub-group. The Falls Church City School Board’s strategic plan includes a heavy emphasis on data-driven decision-making. Staff members

receive training to disaggregate student data to identify academic areas that may need additional attention and resources to ensure student success. Two years ago, middle school teachers and administrators successfully addressed a deficiency in mathematics skills among the school’s students with limited English proficiency (LEP). After assessing the data, the faculty developed targeted classroom activities and a Saturday Academy to help support this sub-group. The following year, this sub-group made AYP in all target areas.

New Teachers Report for Duty When the school bells ring for the first time next Tuesday, 28 teachers will be among the new staff members calling Falls Church City Public Schools home. In addition, two current staff members are moving to new roles; Vincent Baxter is now New teachers received a welcome gift bag filled with items principal of Thomas donates by area businesses through the FCCPS Business Jefferson Elementary in Education Partnership (BIE) during orientation last School from assistant week. All other FCCPS staff members returned to work principal at Mary Ellen Monday, August 25. Henderson Middle here last year. George Mason School and Rachel Hutchison also welcomes Asheesh Misra becomes a full time psychologist from Marshall High School as its after serving in an internship new IB coordinator.

August 12:45 p.m. Meet the Teacher (TJ) 28 1:30 p.m. Kindergarten Meet the Teacher (MD) 2:00 p.m. 1st Grade Meet the Teacher (MD) 2:30 p.m. Pre-School Meet the Teacher (MD) 4:00 p.m. Mason at Rapp. Co. (Golf) 7:15 p.m. Mason at Potomac Falls (Volleyball) 29 7:30 p.m. JEB Stuart at Mason (Football) September 2 First Day of School 9:00 a.m. PTA Kindergarten Coffee (MD) 4:00 p.m. Strasburg @ Mason (Golf) 3 9:00 a.m. PTA Kindergarten Coffee (MD) 7:30 p.m. PTSA (GM) 5 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Page County (Football) 8:30 p.m. Back to School Social (GM) 6 8:30 a.m. Mason @ Gettysburg Inv. (Cross Country) 10:00 a.m. Senior Car Wash (GM) (MD) Mt. Daniel Elementary (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High Check the FCCPS Web site for more calendar information. www.fccps.org

Mustang Football 2008 All games are at 7:30 p .m . 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/26 10/03 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31 11/7

JEB STUART at Page County STONEWALL JACKSON at Luray GOOCHLAND MANASSAS PARK at Eastern View MADISON COUNTY at Clarke County at Strasburg

Bold indicates Home Games

The 10 Rules of School Bus Etiquette Parents can help ensure their children’s safety while waiting for and riding the school bus by doing the following: Accompany your child to the bus stop and teach your child these bus stop safety rules: • Be at the bus stop five minutes before expected time.

• Informing the bus driver of any serious medical conditions your child has. • Making sure your child is dressed appropriately for weather conditions. Following these simple rules will help students stay safe on and around the bus.

• Walk and do not run to and from the bus. • Stand at least ten feet from the road. • Await your turn to get on the bus. There is no need to push and shove. • Always obey the bus driver. His or her job is to look out for your safety. • Move quickly away from the bus. • Wait for the driver to signal before crossing the street. • Never crawl underneath a school bus. If you do drop something, tell the driver and he or she will tell you what to do.

Many bus stops are in front of your neighbor’s houses. Please remember when you are standing at the bus stop to not be loud and disruptive, be conscience of homes and yards, and do not leave your trash in yards or climb trees.

Page 38

August 28 - September 3, 2008

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to

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Any Service or Repair

STANDARD OIL CHANGE

20% OF O F OFF Doesn’t Include Brakes B or A/C.

$175 75

$19 95 CH HECK FLUIDS, OIL, LUBE & FILTER MOST CARS NOT VALID WITH OTHER OFFERS

R Rotate and Bala alance 4 Tires es s

$2995 Used Tire Sale

Pre Owned Tires Excellent Condition

$19 95

Mounted and Balanced

August 28 - September 3, 2008

Page 39

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be!

Visit Us Online

Snap a pic of your critter and email it to: CRITTERCORNER@FCNP.COM OR mail it to Critter Corner c/o Falls Church News-Press 450 W. Broad Street #321 Falls Church, Va 22046

www.fcnp.com News•Photos•Online Polls•Sports and More

Page 40

August 28 - September 3, 2008

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