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PAGE 14 | SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 6 , 2021

LOCAL

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C. School Board Candidates Respond ToF.C. Education Association

Introduction by Farrell Kelly, President, Falls Church City Education Association:

The Falls Church City Education Association (FCCEA) is an organization which independently represents members throughout the Falls Church City Public Schools. While FCCEA is not able to, nor would it want to, make any endorsements for specific School Board Candidates, we wanted to take an opportunity this year to give candidates a chance to share their feelings on issues and questions that might be important to both our members and the larger community. To this end, we have put together a short questionnaire which School Board candidates were eager to complete. We will share these responses with our members, and the Falls Church NewsPress has agreed to help us share these responses with the community at large. These are responses to the last two questions asked by the Education Association. All five questions and answers can be viewed on fcnp.com.

Q. If you could lobby to change one policy at the state or local school board level, what would it be and why?

Kathleen Tysse

I find the unequal funding of schools in our country unconscionable. If I could successfully advocate for one change at the state level, it would be to change the percentage of school funding that comes from the state versus local funding. The perpupil spending in FCCPS is 1.5 times the average across the state and I would like to see every student in Virginia (and nationwide) have access to similar funding. All students deserve an education as excellent as an FCCPS education.

Lori Silverman

I support universal pre-k as a funded mandate, similarly to what one of our gubernatorial candidates is talking about in his campaign. This ensures that every student has access to an equitable education at the early, critical years.

Tate Gould

With the ability to lobby for any change, I would focus efforts at the state level, specifically changing how our commonwealth funds its schools. Virginia places a significant burden on local funding, ranking it almost last in the 12 southeastern states, with barely 13 percent of state expenditure being invested locally for elementary and secondary education. This places a significant burden of responsibility on localities, especially smaller communities like FCC that are required to increase taxes significantly in order to provide a top quality education and pay teachers and staff at a competitive scale compared to larger, neighboring districts. By changing the state funding formula, this reduces the strain for localities to bear the burden of funding its schools, typically one of the largest line items on city budgets and reduces the inequity of school funding for all districts that is closely tied to property tax values.

Courtney Mooney

I would like for us to seriously consider a test-to-stay program for our school where kids who have been identified as a potential Covid contact/exposure do not have to wait for contact tracing or quarantine as long as they have a negative rapid Covid test. Rapid testing is very effective for identifying viral loads that may be high enough to make someone infectious to others. Over 98 percent of the time, the contact tracing/exposure events lead to healthy children needlessly being kept out of school and they never go on to test positive for Covid. These pauses are extremely disruptive to classrooms, kids, and families when they happen. We could cut down on them tremendously by providing periodic rapid testing over several days and allow kids to continue to come to school even in the event of an exposure as long as they test negative. Several other states are already doing this and many European countries have already dropped all other mitigation measures in lieu of providing simple, quick, accessible rapid testing (or PCR in some cases) in order for school to get back to normal. If we could cut through any red tape and obstacles within our state to put such a program in place for our system, I would lobby for that.

Jerrod Anderson

I do not want to answer this question in ignorance. I did sporadic research on the topic of education as part of my graduate school work and worked on specific projects within a public school system, but I do not feel qualified to give a specific recommendation. Broadly, I would want any change in policy to increase the flexibility districts and teachers have in providing education.

Ilya Shapiro

I’m concerned that board governance has sometimes focused too much on cosmetics or other secondary matters and too little on substance. For example, following state law, our board adopted a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy this spring, which includes a commitment to “promote anti-racism.” But what does that mean, for both students and teachers, who will be evaluated on that standard? Nobody in good faith can disagree with making our schools open, welcoming, and accessible to all, but the school board missed an opportunity to set positive expectations, especially in light of heated controversies in other districts. I want to make sure we’re not airbrushing America’s and Virginia’s troubling history on race, but also not using guilt, shame, or political advocacy as teaching tools. I will encourage my colleagues to focus on how well our schools are serving our students. In-person, effective educational programming must be at the top of our list of priorities; with our great resources, we can meet each child’s needs.

David Ortiz

In general, I support the existing policies of the Falls Church City Public Schools and the Virginia Department of Education. These policies do not appear to impede the ability of the Falls Church City Public Schools to achieve their mission and near-term goals. If elected to the School Board, I would seek to ensure continued alignment of our educational standards, instructional approaches and methods, curriculum, and assessment mechanisms through appropriate policies.

Q. What are your top three school board budget priorities?

Kathleen Tysse

I understand there have been significant gains in employee compensation over the past several years, but I would like to see FCCPS consistently lead the region in this department at every level of the salary schedule. In addition, I strongly support the piloted program to open school enrollment to our employees’ families and would like to see that program eventually expanded to eliminate any tuition — and without lotteries or caps. I also strongly support our small class sizes, but have concerns about the caseloads of our specialists and support staff. I would like to ensure that our specialists and support staff across the system, such as social workers, guidance counselors, Special Education teachers, Enrichment teachers, ESOL teachers, etc. have smaller caseloads in order for them to most effectively serve their students.

Lori Silverman

Ensuring that teachers are adequately compensated for summer school so we can be properly staffed and offer summer school to any family who wishes to enroll in summer school. During Covid, this is especially important, but this should be offered every year.

I know this falls under Capitol Improvement Plan, but updating Oak Street Elementary to a level that meets the needs of students, teachers, and staff is a priority.

We need to ensure that our diversity, equity and inclusion policy puts money in the classroom to implement the curriculum. I would want the teachers to help and be heavily involved in the process, given their expertise, to determine what exactly that looks like to them. But now that we passed the policy, we need the curriculum in the classrooms and the money to implement the programs.

Tate Gould

1) Increase efforts to mitigate the academic delays/losses experienced with students from Covid, particularly for those students at learning risk: We must ensure all learners who were academically impacted by the virtual learning experience are provided resources and adequate support to get caught up to their potential. Evidence-based strategies, such as those outlined by the Institute of Education Sciences, advocate for the use of onsite school-based tutors, specialized remediation curriculum, and increased in-class supports. These low-cost/ high impact methods provide support for all students who are struggling to catch up. 2) Continue our focus on adequately compensating and incentivizing our FCCPS teachers and staff. Along with continuing our city’s strides on ensuring competitive pay for our teachers and staff, we have the ability to provide support for voluntary teacher incentive programs that help encourage teachers who pursue leadership opportunities in their field, such as National Board Certification or other distinctions that go beyond the basic certification of licensing. Our FCCPS teaching core are talented, experienced, and continual learners and as such, should be afforded the opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for going above and beyond. 3) Maintaining fiscal accountability and responsibility: As school board members, we must ensure we are fiscally responsible with the budget decisions and financial planning. I fully understand the role required to ensure working with other school board members, the superintendent, as well as other city leaders to balance needs and wants in a community with finite resources and the purchase of the new school.

Courtney Mooney

1) Learning loss/ Mental Health budgeting 2) Math/ Science support and ensuring that portion of our curriculum is where it needs to be 3) Professional and technical training exposure/ opportunities for students. College is not for everyone nor should that be the only expectation.

From a general budgeting perspective, I think it is imperative the board has a strong understanding of whether or not we are maximizing our tax dollars and spending money in places and for programs and people that are effective and make sense. This past year the school budget accounted for 41 percent of our overall city budget. As board members we must be accountable and responsible stewards of our community members’ money and spend it wisely.

Jerrod Anderson

What are your top three school board budget priorities?

Priority 1: ensure that staff compensation (both pay and benefits) remains competitive with surrounding districts. School staff are our number 1 educational resource, and compensation makes up 85 percent of the schools budget.

Priority 2: as capital improvement projects arise (for example, Oak Street Elementary is scheduled for capital improvements in 2026), we should ensure that improvements or additions address the needs of the school community at those locations and that these projects are also used to increase the sustainability of our physical plant.

Priority 3: explore the feasibility of expanding on the current pilot project for non-resident employee student tuition waivers

Ilya Shapiro

1) Greater transparency regarding the use of federal and state Covid-relief funds, particularly in light of recent drops in standardized test scores. We must be using that money as long-term investments in improving educational opportunities, rather for short-term operational spending. 2) Work with the city council to ensure that educational needs are properly respected given that FCCPS represents nearly half of the city budget. Council members can give valuable advice, and have final authority over the budget, but sometimes pushback might be needed if there are attempts to influence what are properly school board decisions. At the same time, the school board shouldn’t simply rubber stamp and advocate before the city council for the budget that the superintendent proposes. The board is an independent body with a fiduciary responsibility to our community and a responsibility to oversee the central FCCPS office. 3) Make sure that the secondary campus is properly insulated from the development and future operation of the commercial property on the old high school site. I wholeheartedly welcome that development -- we need to broaden our tax base and keep more consumer dollars in Falls Church -- but it shouldn’t disrupt students and staff.

David Ortiz

My top three budget priorities are: (1) competitive compensation and professional development for teachers; (2) sufficient resources to support the mental health and emotional growth needs of our students; and (3) resources to promote equity among all students.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 6 , 2021 | PAGE 15

Virginia 2021: The Race for History, Numbers and Trends

by Marrett Ceo

Special To The News-Press

With Labor Day now behind us in 2021, the Virginia campaign for the three statewide campaigns, Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General, along with all 100 members of the House of Delegates, is in full swing and early voting has now begun. Parades, events, phone banks, speeches, video ads, VIP visits and possible door to door canvassing is expected to ramp up until Election Day on November 2. However this statewide election will definitely be like no other of its kind since possibly 1989.

Virginia has a lot of pressure when it comes to elections and trends. Unlike neighboring states like West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina for example, Virginia has a statewide/local or national race every single year. Additionally, unlike most other states that elect governors in even numbered years, only VIrginia and New Jersey elect their chief executives in odd numbered years. What happened in the statewide elections in the past tends to foretell what happens in the next year’s congressional races across the nation.

Former Governor Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic nominee, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, is hoping to become only the first person since Mills Godwin to be elected again as Virginia governors cannot run for consecutive terms. Godwin was elected both in 1965 and in 1973. Godwin’s first election was as a Democrat before switching to the Republican party that year.

Glenn Youngkin, a former CEO of hedge fund The Carlyle Group and the GOP opponent is a political novice to Virginia and national politics, running for office for the first time. He bested six other candidates in several rounds of a primary earlier the summer. Two of his opponents included a former House Speaker and a state senator from the Richmond area.

According to recent data by The Washington Post and the Schar School for Public Policy at George Mason University, McAuliffe is up by 3 points among likely voters 50-47 percent, with a slightly wider range of 6 points among registered voters. President Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020, and outgoing Gov. Ralph S. Northam won by 9 points in 2017. At their first debate on September 16 at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy Va., McAuliffe went after Youngkin as an extremist because of ties to Trump, Youngkin’s apparent plan to ban abortion, his antivaccine policy and record of sending jobs overseas at Carlyle. Youngkin tried hard to come across as more moderate, that he has encouraged people to get vaccinated and says that he is against the Texas abortion ban (even though on tape caught saying he would like to ban abortion).

One trend that has usually been the norm in Virginia, since the 1970s, is that the party which controls the White House, loses the governor’s race in Virginia the next year. This fact has been true and consistent, until McAuliffe was able to stop the trend in his first election in 2013.

According to the poll, voters right now who usually vote in elections right now are pretty much evenly split, 49 percent leaning towards McAuliffe and 47 percent for Youngkin. McAuliffe does hold a commanding 18 percent lead among voters who said they will probably vote 50-50, and 48 percent of people polled didn’t know anything about Youngkin. Two thirds of the people polled also were following the governor’s race very closely and informed well.

If McAuliffe wants to repudiate California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his successful election in the recent recall election where Democratic enthusiasm and turnout was paramount to Newsom holding onto his job, McAuliffe must keep those factors forefront, along with strong fundraising to hold onto his slight lead or even watch it grow going into November 2. In 2017, both of the candidates for governor, now Gov. Ralph Northam and then-nominee Ed Gillespie raised a combined $66 million. To date, McAuliffe and Youngkin have raised $67,138,002 according to the non-partisan Virginia Public Access Project. Princess Blanding, an independent, has raised $21,856.

However, with President Biden’s poll numbers in the mid 40s amid rising Covid 19 numbers and a catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, along with former President Donald Trump out of office and not attending any local rallies, could lead a possible path for Youngkin to close the gap and/or squeak ahead of McAuliffe in the closing days of the campaign.

Down the ballot in the lieutenant governor’s race, no matter who wins, it will be a woman presiding in the president’s chair in the state senate chamber. Former GOP Delegate Winsome Sears of Hampton Roads faces off against current Del. Hala Ayala of Woodbridge. Ayala won a six way primary in June for her nomination, Sears went through a similar nomination in May. Ayala, is a cybersecurity specialist from Prince William County, and was elected in the 2017 blue wave that brought 15 women to the House, while Sears chose not to run for a second term and also unsuccessfully challenged US Rep. Bobby Scott and also was director of a woman’s shelter. Outgoing Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, the second African American elected to statewide office since Wilder, lost in the June primary to McAuliffe and will cede to the winner of the race.

Only one woman in Virginia history has served in statewide office: Mary Sue Terry, who was attorney general for two terms. She won on the tickets with then.-Gov. Gerald Baliles and then-Gov. Doug Wilder, before losing her own run for governor in 1993. Two other women have also run for lieutenant governor, former US Rep. Leslie Byrne in 2005, and former Secretary of FInance Jody Wagner. They both lost their respective races to former lieutenant governor Bill Bolling.

The Attorney General’s race pits another member of the House of Delegates versus a Democrat who would make history. Normally, if one party controls the AG office and not the lieutenant governor’s, it can be expected that the two office holders then will run and most likely secure their parties’ nominations. If one party controls both down ballot offices, usually both office holders reach a personal agreement, where one will run for governor, while the other may seek re-election. If the office holder who runs for governor wins, the agreement is he/she will support the other candidate to avoid a nasty intra party nomination process.

Perfect examples of both of these include 2017, when Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring agreed that Northam would run for governor and Herring would run again for re-election. A similar agreement happened in 2009, when then-Lt. Gov. Bolling ran for reelection, while Attorney General Robert McDonnell ran for governor and Bolling supported him. The favor was supposed to be returned in 2013 when Bolling was preparing to run for governor. Republicans expected thenAttorney General Ken Cuccinelli to run for reelection. Cuccinelli surprised many when he decided to run for governor and his supporters secured a convention style nomination which favored his candidacy and Bolling withdrew and didn’t run for a third term.

Herring could make history by securing an unprecedented third term. No Democrat has done this since Abram Penn Staples, who served from 19341947 when he resigned to be appointed to be judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals.

Herring, a former state senator and Loudoun County supervisor, was expected to be in the primary for governor, and originally he announced he was. But the combination of a blackface scandal involving Northam and Herring himself, added to the addition of McAuliffe and Fairfax (who was engulfed in a scandal of his own), and other candidates proved to be too crowded in a very expensive primary. McAuliffe, going in would have had both the name recognition, as well as known results and even some incumbency and a tremendous fundraising advantage.

Challenging Herring is Del. Jason Miyares. His family fled Cuba when he was younger, he formerly was a city of Virginia Beach prosecutor. Miyares also was the campaign manager for Scott Rigell in 2010 when Rigell defeated then-US Rep. Glenn Nye in the 2nd congressional district. The Virginia State Bar hosted a debate between Miyares and Herring shortly after each candidate won their respective primaries. No other debates are currently scheduled for the AG race, as more attention and fundraising has gone to the governor’s race.

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PAGE 16 | SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 6, 2021

CALENDAR

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR

LOCALEVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Baby Storytime. Parents and their children can join Tysons-Pimmit Library for rhymes, songs, stories and activities to build an early literacy foundation. Meets in person at Tysons Pimmit Library. Space limited to 15 children with one caregiver each. No registration, customers will be allowed in on a first come, first served basis. This class is best for babies 0-18 months and their caregivers. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10:30 — 11 a.m.

PTA Meeting. This event will be inperson (masked) in the Innovation Commons (3rd floor) area of Meridian High School. (There will also be a Zoom option). Each PTA will have a very brief member meeting, and then Dr. Noonan will report on how the start of the school year is going and what’s ahead this year for FCCPS. 7 — 8 p.m.

Sunset Cinema: A League of Their

Own. Those interested can join the City's Recreation and Parks Department for Sunset Cinema in Cherry Hill Park. This week’s movie will be "A League of Their Own" (rated PG). Visit www.fallschurchva. gov/SunsetCinema for more details. (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). 7:45 — 10 p.m.

Falls Church Farmers Market. The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday at City Hall, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and more. For more information, visit fallschurchva. gov/547/Farmers-Market-To-Go. (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 8 a.m. — 12 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

Recycling Extravganza. Residents of Falls Church are welcome to bring items such as paper, clothing, bicycles, hazardous household waste, metals and more. A full list of what items will and will not be accepted can be found on fallschurchva.gov. Proof of residency is required. (217 Gordon Rd., Falls Church) 9 a.m. — 2 p.m.

Kids In the Kitchen. Join TysonsPimmit Library outside for a fun nutrition lesson and a healthy snack. This is an interactive experience that engages kids to form healthy eating habits and learn basic cooking skills. Snack ingredients will be provided. Best suited for ages 3-8. Weather permitting this event will be held outdoors in the grass. Limit one adult per child registered. (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10 — 11:30 a.m.

Paws to Read With Lucy. Those interested can visit Thomas Jefferson library to read aloud to Lucy, a trained therapy dog. You may bring your own book or choose one from the library. Walk-ins welcome. Age 6-12. (1545 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 2 — 3 p.m.

City Council Work Session. The City Council meets in-person in City Hall’s Council Chambers. In-person capacity may be limited due to Covid-19 safety, and all attendees must wear a mask and stay socially distant at all times. The meeting can be viewed live online (fallschurchva.gov/ CouncilMeetings) or on FCCTV (Cox channel 11, RCN channel 2, Verizon channel 35). Please note that there is no public comment at a work session. (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) 7:30 — 11:00 p.m

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4

VIRTUALEVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

City Council Candidate Forum. Falls Church League of Women Voters and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society are hosting a virtual candidate forum for City Council candidates in order for voters to learn more about the candidates ahead of the election. To attend the forum, please register at http://evite.me/HpxdnS5YcJ. If you register, you will be sent a Zoom link before each event. You may suggest questions that you would like the candidates to answer by emailing lwvfallschurchva@gmail.com. For any general questions about the forum, please email Barbara Lipsky at blipsky@cox.net. 7:30 p.m.

Quixote Nuevo. This inspired adaptation—set to the spirited sounds of Tejano music—reimagines Cervantes’ beloved knight Don Quixote as a brilliant, bilingual professor whose fantasies take center stage in a Texas border town. Along with his trusty sidekick, this modern-day Quixote journeys through the desert, tilting at patrol drones instead of windmills as he searches for long-lost love. With humor and pageantry, Quixote Nuevo breathes new life into one of literature’s most

THEATER&ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

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CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 6, 2021 | PAGE 17

vibrant characters to ask the classic question: when times are tough, how do we keep dreaming? Quixote Nuevo is sponsored by Doug and Lorraine Bibby. Quixote Nuevo runs approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. Patrons must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination upon entry and wear masks while attending performances at our theatre, with limited exceptions. https://www. roundhousetheatre.org/On-Stage/ Explore/Quixote-Nuevo. In person Wednesday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Oct.3. Streaming on Demand beginning Thursday, September 23. $60+. s Church) 6:30 — 8:30 p.m.

Lady Limbo. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Pile O’ Rocks. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2370300.

Kentucky Avenue. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Keiko Matsui. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

LIVEMUSIC

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Jimmy Smooth & the Hit

Time Live and in concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1

Josh Allen Band Live. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703241-9504.

Two By Sea. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Trial By Fire. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $15-20. 7 p.m. 703237-0300. Dan & Chuck. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church) 7 p.m. 703-5348999

Preacher Lawson with Brian

Glowaki Live. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

Sean McConnell Live and in

Concert. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $27+. 8 p.m. 703255-1900.

Jordy Searcy Live and in

Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $13. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Shartel & Hume Band Live and

in Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703241-9504.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

Jill Matundan. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Mike Tash, Mary Shaver & Bob

Mallardi Live and in Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504.

Funktronics. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-8589186.

The Cactus Liquors Live and In

Concert. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Damien Jurado & Okkervil River

Live. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $27+. 8 p.m. 703-2551900.

Weathers Live and In Concert.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $35. 8 p.m. 703255-1566.

Gabe Stillman & Sol Roots Live

and in Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

COUNTRY POP GROUP Honey County will bring their tour to Jammin' Java in Vienna on Tuesday, October 5. The duo's songs have been featured in shows such as True Blood and

Yellowstone. (Photo: Maranda Nichols Persco)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3

Hyjynx. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). $10. 3:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Brook Yoder. Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W Broad St., Falls Church) 4 p.m. 703-534-8999

Cosmic Carl’s. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Back to the 90s. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Albert Cummings. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

The Stylistics. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $65. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4

AJ Smith Live and In Concert.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703255-1566.

Toad the Wet Sprocket with

Althea Grace. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $75. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5

UrbanArias: UNKNOWN. Honoring the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $44. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1900. Honey County. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Toad the Wet Sprocket with

Althea Grace. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $75. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6

Birdtalker. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $17. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Gaelic Storm. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

Jim Messina. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $47. 8 p.m. 703255-1900.

Calendar Submissions

Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, 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 18 | SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 6, 2021

SPORTS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Meridian Football Battles Brentsville In Tight Contest

by mike abler

Falls ChurCh News-Press

Last Friday night the 3-1 Meridian Mustangs faced off against the 2-1 Brentsville Tigers, each looking to gain an edge in the standings.

At first, neither team could get deep down the field. Each drive stalled and ended with punts. It was a battle of wills to see who would break and draw first blood.

Meridian’s QB Rice Evans, was uncharacteristically inaccurate throughout the majority of the first half. With 1:26 left in the first half, he broke through with a 51-yard bomb to Senior RB Graham Kelgar for a touchdown. Brentsville was looking to get on the board when they got intercepted allowing Meridian to take a 7-0 advantage heading into halftime.

The Mustangs opened the second half with the ball but were forced to punt. Brentsville QB Caleb Alexander drove his team down the field and scored when the sophomore QB ran for a 19-yard touchdown. The Tigers would miss the extra point attempt allowing Meridian to maintain a very slim lead.

On their ensuing drive, Meridian faced a 3rd and 5 on their own 25-yard line. Evans unleashed a deep throw to Senior RB George Papadopoulos for a 75-yard touchdown pass. This scoring drive would give the Mustangs a 13-6 lead after they missed the extra point.

The Mustangs came in riding a high power offense that looked to continue their early season success. However, Brentsville would respond by scoring 17 unanswered points. Alexander scored on a second rushing touchdown to make it 13-12. The Tigers would fail their 2 point conversion attempt and quickly get the ball back to score another touchdown. This time they were able to convert a 2 point play to give them a 20-13 lead. Late in the fourth quarter, they added a field goal to end their scoring run with a 23-13 lead.

Late in the game with only 51 seconds left on the clock, Meridian faced a fourth and 2 when Rice threw a 31-yard pass to Felgar to get the first down. Rice followed that up with a 20-yard completion then finished off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass. Meridian kicked the extra point cutting the deficit to 23-20. Meridian now faced with needing an onside kick, failed to recover.

Brentsville would run out the clock and rise to 3-2, while the Mustangs saw their two-game winning streak end in a 23-20 defeat and fell to the same record. There were several failed 3rd down conversions and many costly penalties that hurt the Mustangs performance.

MERIDIAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS watch their team from the sidelines in a close game against rival

team, Brentsville. . (Photo: Mike Abler)

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