Falls Church News-Press 9-8-2022

The Falls Church Economic Development Authority (EDA), in the City’s first official public meeting at City Hall following the unofficial conclusion of summer marked by the Labor Day weekend this Tuesday, had a thick agenda and topping it was an item to consider funding with $900,000 in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars the formation of a few key “parklets” in the South Washington area of the City.

The panel voted unanimously to divert funding from other earlier-identified projects, namely, the Business Opportunity Investment Program and the George Mason University Small Business Development program, to the parklet development plan.

The final decision will be up to the Falls Church City Council later this month, but a major plus for these projects is that they can be made ready in a

Rep.

Upbeat Democrats gathered in Falls Church’s Cherry Hill Park on Labor Day this Monday described signs of a major, seismic shift in the U.S. electorate as the nation moves closer to the November

Fall 2022: Health and Wellness Guide

The Falls Church News Press proudly presents its Health and Wellness guide! Take a look at articles focusing on physical, mental and emotional health, as well as how you can keep track of your wellness!

See PageS 11-22

Little

midterm elections here.

that he would be contributing $1 million of his own money to the Democratic caucus in Richmond. Marking Labor Day, Beyer noted that a massive change in the mood of the nation is reflected in September 8 - 14, 2022

“The tide is turning,” beamed State Del. Marcus Simon. He proudly claimed Virginia as a “sanctuary state” where women from states with uncompromising conditions are flocking to ensure access to a woman’s health needs.

Falls Church Area High School Sports

School sports are beginning to get into the thick of their seasons! Nick Porr and Ryan McCafferty roundup last week’s area sports teams, including field hockey, football, volleyball ,golf and cross country.

See Page 23

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

Falls Church NEWS BRIEFS

New Covid-19 Vaccines Booster Is Now Available

The Moderna and Pfizer bivalent Covid-19 vaccine boosters are now available at Fairfax Health Department vaccine clinics, according to the Fairfax Health Department that covers the City of Falls Church. A statement stipulates that “appointments are strongly encouraged, as there may be wait times for walk-in service.”

Appointments for getting the new updated booster from the Fairfax Health can be made at www.vaccines.gov and www.vacunas.gov.

On the subject of why to get the new booster, the Fairfax Health Department reports the following:

“More than 90 percent of Covid-19 cases are currently caused by the highly transmissible BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. The new updated booster targets Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, as well as the original Covid-19 strain.

“Recent data suggests Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness at preventing infection or severe illness wanes over time, especially for certain groups of people, such as people ages 65 years and older and people with immunocompromised conditions. The emergence of Covid-19 variants further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against Covid-19.”

“CDC recommends Covid-19 vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and boosters for everyone 5 years and older, if eligible.”

September 11 Memorial Ser vice Set Sunday AM

The September 11 Memorial Service will be held this Sunday, September 11 at 11 a.m. honoring the almost 3,000 lives lost on 9-11-2001, in New York at the twin towers of the World Trade Center, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and in Arlington, Virginia at the Pentagon Building.

It will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. The September 11 Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery is located near the traffic light at S West Street and Lee Highway.

The featured keynote speaker will be State Sen. Chap Petersen.

There will also be a speech by local resident Major Joanna Forbes, a U.S. Army Minister and a performance by the Falls Church Concert Band.

The ceremony is sponsored by the Falls Church American Legion Post 130, the Falls Church Area Veterans Council, the Catholic War Veterans and the National Memorial Cemetery

State Del. Special Election Set Jan. 10; Frisch Running

Fairfax State Del. Mark Keam announced this week he is stepping down from his seat in the Virginia General Assembly after repre-

senting Tysons, Vienna, and Oakton for over a decade.

In an email message to supporters, Keam announced this morning (Tuesday) that he has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert in order to work in President Joe Biden’s administration.

Karl Frisch, who represents Providence District on the Fairfax County School Board, announced his candidacy almost immediately, positioning himself, he said in a statement, as “a progressive fighter who will oppose Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda.”

Frische said, “We need someone who will stand up to Governor Youngkin and the farright — someone who will work every day to protect our world-class public schools, defend reproductive freedom, build an economy that works for everyone, prevent gun violence, heal our planet, and preserve our democracy.”

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Holly Seibold was going to challenge Keam for the Democratic nomination in 2023, when all 100 House of Delegates seats will be up for grabs.

Founder and executive director of the nonprofit Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters (BRAWS), which delivers menstrual supplies and clothes to those in need, Seibold has confirmed that she is now planning to compete for Keam’s seat in the special election.

Originally elected to the House of Delegates in 2009, Keam was the first Asian-born immigrant and first Korean American to serve in the General Assembly.

Arlington Awards to Clark, Riley & Silverman

On Thursday, November 10 at noon, the 29th annual Spirit of Community Awards and Luncheon will bring together business, civic, and philanthropic leaders, as well as Arlingtonians from all walks of life, for a celebration of individuals who have made Arlington a better home for everyone. This year’s celebration will be the first in-person event in three years.

For the first time in 29 years, three extraordinary people will be honored with The William T. Newman Spirit of Community Award. Individually and collectively, these recipients represent the passion, commitment, and community advocacy that define the Award and the absolute best vision of what Arlington can be. The award recipients are Portia Clark, a community organizer and advocate, particularly for youth, for three decades; Mark Riley, who oversees the Arlington Turkey Trot, which benefits local safety net organizations; and Dr. Mike Silverman, the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Virginia Hospital Center.

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Parklets a ‘Novel Idea’ in the United States and Falls Church

short period of time, even though documents on the City’s website show that the matter has been under discussion since at least 2017.

“Parklets” are a novel idea in the U.S. and in Falls Church are modeled on the remarkable success of the “Mr. Brown’s Park” that is currently thriving in the first block of W. Broad St.

The EDA heard a report from the City’s chief planning czar James Snyder based on recent years’ discussions in the City’s Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation about four prospective locations for small, Mr. Brown’s Park-like spaces, including a proposed triangle park at Annandale and S. Washington, a spot for a plaza outside City Hall, a space identified as the “Hillwood Alley” across from the newly revamped intersection at S. Washington and Hillwood, and a couple blocks over by the intersection of S. Washington and Maple.

At the suggestion of EDA board member and former F.C. City Councilman Ross Litkenhous, the options are limited to the S. Washington area options where they

would optimally help promote the businesses in that area. That took the City Hall option off the list.

A parklet is described as “a sidewalk extension that provides more space and amenities for people using the street.” They are defined as “installed on parking lanes and use several parking spaces, typically extended out from the sidewalk at the level of the sidewalk to the width of the adjacent parking space, intended for people.” They are defined as “offering a place to stop, to sit, and to rest while taking in the activities of the street.”

A parklet, according to a report, “may be thought of as permanent, but must be designed for quick and easy removal for emergencies or other reasons such as snow removal without damage to the curb street, always open to the public.” However, some cities have allowed restaurants to create parklets that are not open to the public such as Long Beach, California, Fargo, North Dakota and Montreal, Quebec. San Francisco has been credited with introducing the first parklet in 2005.

In August 2012, according to a report in Wikipedia, the School of Architecture at University of

Southern California published a graduate thesis “Experimenting with the Margin: Parklets and Plazas as Catalysts in Community and Government,” which provided a comprehensive history of the creation of parklet and plaza programs in four California cities. In September 2012, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs published a report, “Reclaiming the Rightof-Way: A toolkit for Creating and Implementing Parklets”, examining case studies for parklets in seven cities across North America.

Based on this, in February 2013, The San Francisco Planning Department published a Parklet Manual which served as a comprehensive overview of the goals, policies, process, procedures and guidelines for creating a parklet in San Francisco. The manual also served as a resource for those outside of San Francisco working to establish parklet programs in their own cities.

In 2011 the Union Square Business Improvement District installed the most ambitious parklet, a two-block long installation along Powell Street near Union Square, funded by a corporate donation by Audi.

Since then, parklets have sprung up in Phoenix, Philadelphia, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Jose, Dallas, Seattle, San Diego, Vancouver, British Columbia, Minneapolis, Chicago, Santa Monica, and Morro Bay, Calif.

told the News-Press, “It was very clear at last night’s EDA meeting that, after a detailed briefing by Planning Development Director Jim Snyder, that all of the EDA members enthusiastically support the proposed Parklet Development Plan. It is important to

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‘Strong Push’ in Senate to Block Passage of Legislation of Trump’s Schedule F

the highest percentage of support for organized labor in the U.S., now up to 71 percent, the highest number in a century and a half, since prior to the Civil War.

He cited the recent passage in the House of the PRO Act (Protecting the Right to Organize) by a 225-206 margin. While it won a half dozen Republican votes, it faces a steeper challenge in the Senate, where among its detrac tors for the time being is Virginia’s U.S. Senator Mark Warner.

He said there is a strong push in the Senate led by Virginia’s

other U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to block passage of legislation to reinstate Trump’s Schedule F, which would make it possible for any chief executive to fire a civil servant.

He said momentum is now swinging in favor of three first time Democratic women congressmen from Virginia – Elaine Luria, Jennifer Weston and Abigail Spanberger – who were elected in 2020 and now have

two of them will be present for a major fundraiser hosted by the LGBT+ Democrats of Virginia at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Pentagon City, tonight (Thursday).

Beyer said he’s heartened by the recent gains for President Biden and the Democrats for getting major legislation passed in recent weeks, including the massive climate change and job-creating legislation that sets a bottom of a 15 percent corporate tax,

politics, greed and narcissism.”

In an Arlington event featuring Beyer and his two opponents on the ballot this November, Republican nominee Karina Lipsman and independent Teddy Fikre, there was little stomach for Beyer’s rivals to adopt a proTrump posture, or even an antiabortion one, with Lipsman saying that she will respond to the will of the voters on the abortion and gun issues in the election.

John Garamendi, Allen Lowenthal and Amata Radewagen, followed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

He said he was most impressed by the appreciation shown the delegation by the Taiwanese leadership, which has been shaken by mainland Chinese encroachments closer to the island, with missiles being fired over the island, than at any point since the 1982 (“Six Assurances”) agreement

The Nightmare After Gorbachev

Paul Krugman

Most articles on the death of Mikhail Gorbachev dwell on the political failure of his reform project. The Russian Federation, the main successor state to the Soviet Union, has not, to say the least, become a democratic, open society. Ukraine may finally have gotten there, but that very success is probably one major reason the country is now fighting for its life against Russian invasion.

What I’ve been reading has placed less stress on the economic failures of post-Gorbachev Russia. Yet those failures were spectacular and surely helped pave the way for Putinism. So let’s talk about how badly things went wrong in the 1990s.

First, some background: Nowadays everyone views the old Soviet Union, with its centrally planned economy, as an abject failure. But it didn’t always look that way. Indeed, in the 1950s and even into the 1960s, many people around the world saw Soviet economic development as a success story; a backward nation had transformed itself into a major world power (killing millions in the process, but who’s counting?). As late as 1970, the Soviet Union’s success in converging toward Western levels of wealth seemed second only to Japan’s.

Nor was this a statistical mirage. If nothing else, Soviet performance during World War II demonstrated that its industrial growth under Josef Stalin had been very real.

After 1970, however, the Soviet growth story fell apart, and by some measures, technological progress came to a standstill.

Economic stagnation may not fully explain the rise of Gorbachev. But the increasingly obvious failure of centrally planned economics surely helped set the stage for reform. The Soviet Union crumbled; Russia turned away from socialism and toward a market economy.

And the results were disastrous.

I don’t know if it’s widely appreciated just how poorly the Russian economy performed during the Boris Yeltsin years. But the numbers are sobering. Real gross domestic product per capita fell more than 40 percent. That’s substantially worse than America’s decline during the worst of the Great Depression.

In the early 1990s, Russia also suffered from extreme inflation, reaching a peak of more than 2,000 percent at an annual rate. No, I didn’t accidentally add extra zeros.

I’ve seen some suggestions that the economic plunge in Russia and other formerly planned economies wasn’t as bad as the numbers say, because statistics from the Communist era, when the economy may have been producing a lot of stuff nobody actually wanted, may have inflated the true level of output. But there’s plenty of other evidence for a collapse in living standards. Among other things, there was a plunge in life expectancy.

Nor can we say that these short-run costs were an inevitable consequence of the transition from socialism to capitalism. As a 2001 International Monetary Fund paper pointed out, Russia’s performance after liberalization was far worse than that of other “transition” economies.

So what went wrong? There were intense debates about that issue in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which as far as I can tell never reached a consensus; then everyone moved on to other issues. But there were a few plausible stories, not mutually exclusive. They include the following:

— At first, Russia only moved partially to a market economy, and the partial privatization wasn’t systematic. The result was an awkward mix of government and private enterprise that was the worst of both worlds.

— Where it did privatize, Russia did so without the institutions — things like security

Continued on Page 7

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Debates and yard-sign shouts over the proposal to allow more “missing middle housing” are highlighting gaps in incomes, perceptions, values and generational loyalties.

The rising public interest prompted the county board to offer 11 inperson or online “community conversations” and three “information sessions” from Sept. 12 — Oct. 25. They’re billed as an opportunity for residents to “learn, listen, reflect, and share their perspectives with county board members and neighbors.”

Four sessions were added after the first batch quickly filled.

The issue is shaping up as central to November’s county board race, in which Democrat Matt de Ferranti is the only incumbent facing voters. “Missing middle housing types are necessary because the status quo on housing is not sustainable,” he says on his website, calling the plan to loosen zoning “inextricably linked to the inclusive, equitable recovery we need.” De Ferranti has expressed discomfort with the high-end option of eight-plexes in single-family areas.

Independent Audrey Clement has made “Stop Missing Middle” the capstone on her campaign signs, saying the plan will fail economically while bringing “overcrowded schools, increased traffic congestion on neighborhood streets, and additional flood-inducing runoff due to fewer trees and more pavement.”

Independent libertarian Adam Theo supports “expanded housing options for the middle class,” having co-founded the Arlington branch

of YIMBYS of Northern Virginia (for “Yes, In My Backyard”).

I queried the Northern Virginia Apartment Association, and Executive Director Patrick Algyer expressed hesitancy about loosening zoning countywide. “NVAA supports thoughtful, increased development by focusing on maintaining and redeveloping existing stock in Metro corridors,” he said, encouraging “creative redevelopment of underutilized commercial and mixed-use buildings.”

Most yard signs you see were distributed by two anti-upzoning volunteer groups, who generated over 3,400 signatures on a change.org petition. Rick Epstein, a retired attorney who lives in Arlington Forest, is a leader of Arlingtonians for Upzoning Transparency, a group of central and south Arlingtonians whose website doesn’t list its leaders by name. His group has handed out 600 signs reading: “Save Our Neighborhoods,” “No Duplexes Here,” and “No “2-8Units” in single-family areas.

What’s the problem with duplexes? I asked. “Duplexes are fine” as housing options, he said, but not in single-family localities.

Retired attorney Peter Rousselot for two years has criticized missing middle for Arlingtonians for Our Sustainable Future, which has distributed about 230 of 400-plus illustrated yard signs ordered. They read: “Arlington missing middle vision vote no.” Asked for clarification of the word “vote,” he said it’s a compression of three pleas: that county board members vote no, that citizens vote against board members

who voted yes, and that the board consider a referendum on the issue.

The pro-missing-middle forces at the Alliance for Housing Solutions have distributed 125 “Arlington for Everyone” signs, with more on order, staff say. They read: “Yes to Diversity, Yes to Lower-Cost Housing, Yes to New Neighbors, Yes to Missing Middle.”

Luca Gattoni-Celli, a business researcher who founded YIMBYs of NoVA—its youthful leaders are profiled on its website--told me “it is not a pure numbers game. We always expect to be outnumbered by folks opposed to development and new housing. That is partially because many future residents of unbuilt housing do not even know they could end up living in Arlington.” Opponents’ criticisms “are all over the map,” he added. He calls for positive rhetoric, expecting debate to get “uglier and weirder.” ***

After months of covid-related delay, the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington will reopen, with a celebration ceremony, in a new location at 3045B Columbia Pike, Sept. 16 from 4 — 6 p.m.

Museum president Scott Taylor, in sharing space with the Columbia Pike Partnership, will continue the institution’s unique exhibits on the enslaved community at Arlington House, Freedman’s Village, school desegregation and 1960s lunchcounter sit-ins. “We are mixing exhibits with a little art,” he says. “I think I’m safe saying that every time you visit you will learn something new.”

‘Missing Middle’ Housing Is Needed

Unquestionably, the biggest issue to be addressed at the local level now is that of affordable housing, providing for enough of it to be available to anyone who wants or needs it. Those who resist such moves, in hopes of holding onto their single family home neighborhoods, for example, will find themselves having to step over thousands of homeless people resorting to makeshift, cardboard “Hooverville” dwellings the way some parts of the country already are.

Back during the last Great Depression, when millions of Americans were forced into homelessness and the president then, Herbert Hoover, deployed U.S. troops to break up rallies by tens of thousands of U.S. war veterans petitioning for their overdue bonuses, known as the “Bonus Army,” the result was a landslide election of his bitter foe, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in the first of four consecutive lopsided presidential elections.

Now, the U.S. is confronted with a similar crisis, one of homelessness in the face of the greatest period of prosperity in the nation’s history. Housing is not something that the federal government customarily addresses but it is left to local government to take up the issue. The best approach is to quietly and sanely make important strides toward availing everyone of a roof over their head. A nation that wants to call itself “great” cannot endure without providing the basics of food, medical care and housing to all of its citizens. Just as it is obscene how the prescription drug industry holds so many American seniors hostage to insanely expensive help (thank goodness President Biden’s anti-inflation law last week began to take up that issue), so it is that basic housing needs cannot be met for those millions among us who cannot afford its basic costs.

We know that the technologies are readily at hand to put “tiny houses” in place affordably for everybody with basic plumbing and electricity. Seeing it through needs legislative lift. We can hardly consider it anticompetitive to deny it to the most needy. If it helps one person get on his or her feet to make a positive contribution to society, then it will be a boon to us all.

Neighboring Arlington is facing a major dust-up over the issue of adopting so-called “missing middle” zoning to allow for more affordable housing options (like duplexes) within its single family home districts. We could not more strongly affirm the need for these new housing options, minimally so even school teachers and police officers can afford to live in the communities where they work, but insist the same kinds of changes are needed in Falls Church.

We encourage the Falls Church City Council to take the initiative here to set an example for our Arlington neighbors with decisive moves that will diversify the City’s housing stock. making it more affordable to thereby contribute to the City’s reputation as the most example-setting progressive community in the state and most desirable place to live, too.

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Narrow Intersections

Editor, I’d like to thank Mr. Olesen for his extensive answer. However, I still strongly disagree with his arguments. Narrower intersections will not stop irresponsible drivers from running stop signs, speeding or texting.

I’m not against saving lives, I kind of support it, but any effort should be within reason, not just to spend some money and report activities.

I urge Mr. Olesen (and all fellow citizens) to take a look at the Park/N Maple intersection. I assume the white lines mark the place of the new curb - on the Kaiser Permanente corner the sidewalk is to be extended by some 7-8 yards!

With this new “modern” design, if you’re driving a car (no chance for any truck) west on Park and want to make a right turn uphill to N Maple, you’d have 3 options:

1. Before starting the turn, move as far left as you can into the opposite (eastbound) lane of Park Ave.

2. When turning, take the ENTIRE left (opposite, southbound) lane of N Maple.

3. Start turning, then stop, reverse, adjusting your course, and continue.

Simple geometry.

So, what’s the safest?

Maybe there are other options? Please explain to me, I’m honestly open to hear about it.

Simeon Savov City of Falls Church

The Falls Church NewsPress is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area. Offices are at 105 N. Virginia Ave.., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. © 2022Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.

Pedestrian Safety

Editor,

There’s been a conversation back and forth regarding the narrowed crosswalks on Park Avenue. I’m not sure a two-lane road needs a narrower crosswalk, but I do think the City should be taking steps to address pedestrian safety elsewhere.

First, many residential streets only have a narrow sidewalk on one side. Quite often, homeowners and businesses neglect keeping their foliage trimmed, to the point that an already narrow sidewalk becomes impassable, forcing walkers into the street. It’s even a bigger problem for people with mobility issues. Public Works should make it a priority to drive around the city streets on a schedule and send notices to everyone who has let their bushes and hedges grow out into the sidewalk. Or maybe I should start carrying pruning shears with me!

Second, could someone PLEASE fix the syncing of the walk signal with the traffic lights at W Broad and Virginia and Pennsylvania? A good 55 seconds goes by when a No Walk signal displays crossing Virginia, despite the light still being green for drivers on W Broad.

I don’t understand the purpose of requiring pedestrians to push a button to get the walk signal. It’s not as if the light changes upon doing so. How about having the lights work like anywhere else I’ve lived: Light turns in one direction, Walk signal appears in the opposing direction. No button needed. Then pedestrians wouldn’t need to decide if it’s safe to cross the street.

Chris Raymond City of Falls Church

Sept. 1 ‘Wild Side’ Article Correction

In last week’s “Walk on the Wild Side” article, the author misspelled artist Freya Christensen’s name, leaving the “a” off.

The News-Press regrets this error. Freya Christensen’s work, along with other local artists can be seen at the Falls Church Arts Gallery at 700 West Broad Street, Falls Church. For more information , please visit www. FallsChurchArts.org.

We’re in the Middle of an Ongoing Fascist Coup in the U.S.

2 and 3 as needed.

As the Fall 2022 midterm election season kicks into high gear, it is important not to lose sight of the unprecedented situation the nation now faces. We are, dear reader, smack in the middle of an ongoing fascist coup effort and it has two equally important elements.

President Biden, in his series of powerful speeches over the last week, has put a qualifier on the term “fascist,” but anyone with knowledge of and insight into the rise of fascist movements in Europe in the last century has to agree that we are seeing a repeat in the U.S. of the same kinds of movements

Editor’s Essay Commentary

that put Hitler and Mussolini in power in the 1920s and 1930s, and wound up costing tens of millions of lives on battlefields and in concentration camps.

Donald Trump is a fascist. He may not say so publicly, perhaps, but the idea of being identified with Hitler thrills him.

The critical elements of a fascist movement are: 1. An arbitrary deviation from truth and

2. A willingness to resort to violence in the lack of adherence to the rule of law.

History has no examples of stopping such a movement short of serious bloodshed. If it were to be stopped short of armed conflict in the U.S. now, it would be a veritable miracle. Though our elected and other leaders should do everything they can to achieve a peaceful outcome for the restoration of civility and the rule of law in the U.S,, they should also be prepared for the worst. I say this with the utmost

Nightmare after Gorbachev

Continued from Page 5

regulation, rules against predatory behavior and general rule of law — a market economy needs to function.

— Haphazard privatization created a proliferation of monopolies, whose efforts to extract as much as possible from everyone else turned them into the modern equivalent of robber barons — the old barons, not Gilded Age industrialists — who hobbled commerce across the board.

— Chaotic privatization also created a class of oligarchs: men with vast, unearned wealth. “Property is theft!” declared anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon; well, in Yeltsin’s Russia, much of it really was. And the power of the oligarchs surely distorted economic policy.

How much did each of these factors contribute to the postGorbachev economic disaster? I don’t know, and I suspect few, if any, other people do either. But Russia in the 1990s clearly offers a lesson in how not to transition

to a market economy.

The problems of the 1990s culminated in a financial crisis in 1998. After that, the Russian economy finally stabilized and resumed growth; unfortunately, it did so under the leadership of a guy named Vladimir Putin. It’s doubtful whether economic recovery required the fall of democracy, but that’s how it worked out.

This story may not be over.

(Are such stories ever over?) I hope, of course, that Ukraine will defeat this invasion; if it does, one large part of the former Soviet Union may finally have achieved a durable democracy.

And it’s possible to imagine a democratic Ukraine growing increasingly integrated with the European economy, showing a way to combine democracy with prosperity.

But that’s for the future. The sad historical truth is that Gorbachev’s political legacy was, to an important degree, poisoned by Russia’s economic failure.

gravitas and urgency.

I am convinced of this based on the content of Trump’s latest speech last weekend. While it can be readily critiqued and dismissed as full of the usual lies and hate mongering, evidence for some of Trump’s growing dementia, it matters only insofar as it is seen as a call to arms to his most committed troops, the shock troops of his violent movement.

Trump has been unleashed again, and he will use his cunning to dominate the Republican Party this fall. No matter how many of his endorsed candidates lose, the whole fall election process will matter to him only as momentum building for his 2024 fascist coup.

There are three elements behind this movement. The first is the influence of a hostile foreign power, Moscow, for whom Trump works. The second is the phalanx of powerful right wing

U.S. political and corporate forces that fund the GOP and its candidates’ bids for power at all levels of U.S. political life, from local poll workers to high profile U.S. Senate candidates and everything in between. The third is the rank and file of deluded citizens who can’t detect how this man is defrauding them, fleecing them, and more than willing to lie, cheat and otherwise do anything in his power to disown and disenfranchise them.

All three of these elements are required for this fascist movement to succeed, and right now, all three are in full bloom.

To the extent there may be some second thoughts by the second or third groups, the first one, Moscow, will function as the leader, training and preparing to deploy paraprofessional assassins and terrorists and, like Trump himself, totally willing to turn their fire on both groups

This includes but is not limited to use of intimidation and blackmail, and these tools have clearly been used on key political leaders, including even Trump himself, and inclusive of the likes of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who took a refresher course in his own supple moral captivity with a trip to Moscow, himself, not long ago. Oh, the videos that Putin has, or has convinced his minions he has!

Sadly, this fall we will begin to see an unprecedented scale of escalating physical violence directly on the electoral process. Many of the assassins will be directly Moscow-trained. Putting down this fascist movement will require great resolve and courage on behalf of everyone who is committed to doing so. The enemy has already breached the major media and U.S. judicial system. It won’t be easy.

EDA Chair Young: ‘Much Work to Do’

Continued from Page 3

note that such a program would be consistent with the direction provided by the City Council, as well as the intent of the ARPA grants, that these funds be used for long lasting, impactful projects that will benefit the entire community in both the short and long run.”

Young added, “We have much work to do to properly plan and implement these projects which are focused on the continued revitalization of the South Washington Street corridor, a long-neglected part of the City’s business community.”

Falls Church Vice Mayor Letty Hardi, who is a Council liaison to the quasi-independent EDA, also told the News-Press after Tuesday’s meeting, “I love the idea of adding more parklets across the city and build off the success of Mr Brown’s Park, especially to promote more economic activity of nearby businesses.”

She added, “South Washington has traditionally been underin-

vested so that corridor is ripe for more outdoor gathering spots, seating, and green space. With the completion of the South

Washington Street improvements and new intersection at South Maple, parklets would be a great addition.”

Books NicholasbyF. Benton

Nicholas F. Benton

A Penny for Your Thoughts News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Getting elected to public office, at any level of government, can be an exciting and heady experience, but election comes with a whole new set of rules, especially about what is yours, and what belongs to the public entity. That’s what former President Trump was advised, repeatedly, and what untold numbers of elected officials and public employees have practiced during their tenure. In most situations, what you do to carry out your official duties – be it emails, letters, handwritten notes, recordings, or any other documentation – is work product, subject to certain rules and regulations, depending on the level of government.

Under the Presidential Records Act of 1978, nearly every slip of paper, electronic communication, etc., of a president is historic, and must be preserved for the presidential archives. Of course, any national intelligence documents must be handled even more carefully and specifically, and never become personal property of any elected official, not even a president of the United States.

Fairfax County does not have national intelligence documents, but has a myriad of rules and responsibilities for its employees, including members of the Board of Supervisors. The mere fact of running for office means filing of periodic campaign finance reports and, if you win, an annual financial disclosure of everything you (and family members living in your house) own. Not timely filing of the annual report may be subject to sanctions. Essentially, everything an elected official does is subject to public scrutiny. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) identifies procedures for the public to access county documents and work product. A request for information does not have to mention VFOIA directly, but most requests now are considered VFOIA-able, even though sometimes it might be easier to answer a simple direct question with a simple direct answer. When most county business was done on paper, a VFOIA request required going through lots of

files by hand, examining each piece of paper to determine if it was responsive to the inquiry, and keeping track of staff time to bill the requester. Today, most files are electronic, so a few key words can search thousands of documents quickly, but each of those documents must be examined by staff to determine if they meet the definition of a “public document” under the act. When a VFOIA request was made for three years of my appointments calendar, I could have redacted personal appointments and family engagements, but that would have taken a lot of time, for which the requester would be charged, so I simply provided everything on paper. The only charge was for copying. Whether they were awed by the breadth or disappointed in the mundane, I never heard from them again.

A recent VFOIA request asked for documents from multiple agencies and staff for the period of 2016 to 2022. More than 40,000 documents were identified, and billable costs could amount to thousands of dollars, so the requester may be asked to revisit the scope of the inquiry. In another case, a VFOIA requester asked for all emails and documents that mentioned him or his street address. When the search was completed, all he got were copies of his own emails and correspondence with the county, essentially communications that he had generated.

VFOIA applies to almost all paper and electronic communications of a public official, but it does not include unwritten communications, such as a telephone conversation (unless the conversation was recorded and transcribed) and does not require the official to explain any comments made in the requested documents. No “what did you mean by that” or “why did you say that.” Just the documents, Ma’am. Let the documents speak for themselves.

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

Shoplifting, Hillwood Ave, August 29, 1:03 PM, two unknown suspects took items of value and ran from the store. Suspects described as a black male with dreads and a black female. Last seen entering a black vehicle and going eastbound on Hillwood.

Counterfeiting-Forgery, Wilson Blvd, August 30, 3:34 PM, checks which had been placed in a USPS mailbox at 6763 Wilson Blvd on July 29 and August 18 were intercepted by unknown suspect(s) and altered. Investigation continues

Drunk in Public, Hillwood Ave, August 31, 4:44 PM, a white male, 50, of no fixed address, was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Drunk in Public, N Washington St, September 1, 11:25 PM, a white male, 65, of Arlington, VA, was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Fraud, W Greenway Blvd, September 2, 6:31 PM, an incident of fraud was reported.

Drunk in Public, S Washington St, September 4, a white male, 55, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Black Business Leaders 2023

Nominate a deserving leader from your organization for Virginia Business magazine’s first annual Black Business Leaders awards. Nominees will be featured in the February issue of Virginia Business. The magazine is seeking to feature executives from industries ranging from banking, law, defense, real estate, education, nonprofits, manufacturing, insurance and more. Nominees must be in senior executive-level positions or be the owners or co-owners of a business. The deadline is October 7 via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BL2023.

City Businesses Highlighted

Northern Virginia Magazine published their top ten places to shop and dine in Falls Church City, all of which are Chamber members. Congratulations to Falls Church Antiques Annex, Lemon Lane, Rare Bird Coffee, New to You, Thompson Italian, State Theatre, Bakeshop, Preservation Biscuit Company, Audacious Aleworks and Historic Eden Center.

Public Comment Period on Transportation

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is seeking public input on Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan, TransAction, with goals to enhance mobility, increase accessibility and improve resiliency by planning for an equitable, sustainable and safe multimodal transportation network. The draft TransAction Plan addresses regional transportation needs through 2045 and is comprised of 429 candidate transportation projects totaling more than $75 billion. The public is invited to comment on the region’s transportation future, including a proposed regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, a range of technologies including progress towards vehicle electrification, among others. The Public Comment Period runs through September 18 at 11:59 pm via Voicemail: 571-354-0065; Mail: Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22031. *When providing comment, the public is asked to provide their first and last name, email address, zip code and feedback on the TransAction Plan. If also commenting on the project list, please provide the project ID and/or project name.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

SIA Scotch will provide 11 small business owners of color with $10,000 plus mentorship from Carin Luna-Ostaseki, founder of SIA Scotch. Eligible business owners must be 25 years of age or older as of November 1. Specific eligibility requirements are outlined on the grant page that applicants should review before applying. Applications close on September 26. For more information, visit https://www.siascotchwhisky.com.

Northrop, Air Force Modernizing B-2 Bomber

Northrop Grumman continues to collaborate with the U.S. Air Force to integrate a radar aided targeting system (RATS) and other new capabilities into the defense contractor’s B-2 Spirit Stealth heavy bomber. RATS is meant to enable B-2 to fully employ the B-61 mod 12 nuclear bomb, with the integration expected to conclude the ongoing nuclear modernization of the bomber. Northrop is also incorporating crypto communications capabilities to secure various high-frequency transmissions and allow the use of advanced communication devices in future operations.

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.

Fall Health & Wellness Guide 2022

New York Times writer Joshua Needelman shares the stories of three individuals who quit their job for their physical and mental health and how it changed their overall life.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 12

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Why is there such a backlog in children receiving an autism diagnosis? This article takes a look at that answer and local programs trying to alleviate this wait time for the better.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 15

U.S.

The average life expectancy of Americans fell precipitously in 2020 and 2021, the sharpest two-year decline in nearly 100 years. This article examines this decline in life expectancy. SEE STORY ON PAGE 20

How Quitting a Job Changed My Work-Life Balance

by Joshua Needelman New York Times

In September 2021, Evelyn Lai sat at the brown teak desk in her childhood bedroom and looked out the window. She felt just as uncertain as she had two decades ago.

“I remember sitting at that same desk when I was applying to colleges,” Lai, 36, said.

Now she was recalibrating her life. Feelings of professional burnout had left her crying on a street in downtown Austin, Texas, three months earlier. It was more than a year into the pandemic, on her day off, which she had been spending with her mother and sister. She was finally overcome by a panic attack.

Lai had been working 50 hours per week as a pediatric nurse practitioner at a community health clinic in southeast Austin. Some of her patients at the clinic, which Lai said served a primarily Latino population, didn’t have access to clean water. Some had family members who had been picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some had lost loved ones to Covid. As Lai walked past people drinking and laughing at a trendy Austin cocktail bar, she reached a breaking point. Her mother placed an arm around her, and she struggled

to catch her breath.

“It was jarring to see that and then think about the world I’d be going back to at work,” Lai said.

So instead she went home. After considering a career as a writer for pharmaceutical companies, she realized that she wasn’t ready to give up seeing patients. Four months later, she started a job as a pediatric nurse practitioner at a hospital in Seattle with compassionate colleagues and a less hectic schedule. She now mostly spends her free time out in nature, walking along a local river and in the mountains.

For many of the more than 50 million who’ve quit their jobs since the start of last year — a wide-scale phenomenon known as the “great resignation” — the shift has represented a moment of great personal exploration. Finally afforded the space to consider what matters most, some are now reconsidering their work-life balance. Some have made drastic changes, and others, like Lai, discovered a renewed purpose in longtime goals.

“It took a while to find this job, or, for this job to find me,” Lai said with a chuckle.

Here are some stories of people who’ve rerouted their lives and careers and feel more fulfilled because of it.

‘I’d rather have freedom than a bunch of stuff in my basement’

On a sunny mid-June morning, Jim Walker, 53, took in the view from the roof of a riverboat, sitting beside a man old enough to be his father. As the boat sailed across Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, Walker recalled recently, the man pointed to Naval Station Newport, where he and his wife had gotten married 65 years earlier.

Walker, an ordained pastor who quit his job in June 2021 to become a tour guide, listened as the man described his wedding day. “Sometimes people don’t need to hear me speak,” Walker said. “They need an ear to share the thing that’s on their heart.”

Walker began church work at 24. But when his church in the Pittsburgh area temporarily shut down in 2020, he moved his services online and had some extra time to think. His most enjoyable experiences as a pastor, he realized, had come when he led congregants on mission trips and engaged in volunteer work. He wanted more freedom.

After acting on a longtime desire to become a freelance tour guide, he moved into a room in his brother’s home. Walker has spent much of the past year on the road, hosting tours in Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Hawaii

and elsewhere.

“Now I find myself interacting with all kinds of people from around the world,” Walker said, “and helping people connect to the important things.”

WAS IT WORTH IT?

Walker feels the transition has given him more opportunities to use the “gifts I’ve been given.” He still uses the skills he has honed in the pulpit, but with a new congregation every week. “I’ve had to make sacrifices to do it,” he said. “But I’d rather have freedom than a bunch of stuff in my basement.”

‘I was transformed’

Daniel Raedel had become a therapist because he wanted to help LGBTQ youth make sense of the world. He saw his younger self in the college students he met with. But as the pandemic wore on, and his clients’ mental health issues intensified, Raedel, 31, became anxious and depressed himself. He began waking up with a feeling of dread and started limiting his food intake.

“I felt like I couldn’t put my own oxygen mask on,” Raedel said, referring to the universal commercial airline directive to parents in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. “I couldn’t help others with theirs.”

Raedel quit his job at the University of Colorado Boulder and ope-

ned a small private practice to help his husband pay the bills. But he also took time to look inward. Raedel tapped into his long-dormant artistic side and enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program. He also re-imagined his physical appearance: He bleached his hair, grew out his fingernails and wore dresses. Eventually he came out as nonbinary. (Raedel uses he/they pronouns.)

“I’d never had, like, a year, to nurture that artistic self,” Raedel said. “Parts of my identity that were more latent were expressed. I was transformed.”

He eventually did return to to an academic setting, landing a job as a clinical psychologist at Yale University, where he integrates art into his practice: Raedel encourages students to bring pen and paper to doodle on during therapy sessions, and to try dripping water on their skin at home as a way to connect with their bodies.

WAS IT WORTH IT?

Raedel feels more equipped to help students after undergoing his own personal transformation. He’s also enrolled in a philosophy doctoral program at the University of San Diego that is focused on education and social justice, which he believes will bolster his practice even more. These days, Raedel’s oxygen mask fits just fine.

Bruxism: an oral health problem that makes you grit your teeth!

Bruxism refers to involuntarily grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw for prolonged periods, especially during sleep. Stress, poor dental occlusion, sleeping on one’s back, respiratory disorders, tobacco use and certain types of medication are all considered contributing factors. Bruxism may cause:

• Tooth and jaw pain

• Head, neck or ear aches

• Early wear of teeth (which leads to increased sensitivity to hot and cold, and a higher chance of developing fractures and infections)

• Loosened teeth or tooth loss

• Problems chewing

• Restricted jaw mobility

Treating bruxism requires an accurate diagnosis, first and foremost. Has your significant other noticed that you grind your teeth in your sleep? Do you experience chronic toothaches or migraines? If so, consult your dentist without delay. He or she will be able to evaluate the condition of your teeth and, if necessary, refer you to other health professionals for help (a physician experienced in the treatment of sleep disorders, for example).

Bruxism is a tricky condition to cure; in fact, treating bruxism requires eliminating the source of the problem via appropriate courses of action like orthodontic treatment or

Floss like a boss

relaxation exercises. Botox injections could also help correct the problem by relaxing the muscles in the jaw. Lastly, to prevent damage to the jaw and teeth, your dentist may also prescribe a bite guard to wear at night.

October is National Dental Hygiene Month. Could there be a better time to perfect your flossing technique? Practicing this habit every day can protect you from gum disease and dental decay and even reduce your risk of getting heart disease. Despite a controversial move in 2016 by the federal government to remove flossing from its recommended health practices, dentists and dental hygienists continue to recommend the habit. The benefits to patients are clear, even if there is a lack of well-designed studies to support the long-held wisdom.

ACE YOUR TECHNIQUE

Share this flossing formula with your family. If you need further guidance or a demonstration, it’s best to consult with your dental hygienist.

1. Take an 18-inch stretch of dental floss and wrap it around both of your middle fingers, leaving only a short distance of floss unfurled between your fingers.

2. With your thumb and forefinger, guide your floss around your tooth in a C-shape.

3. Gently move the floss up to the gumline and then down along the side of the tooth to scrape off the plaque.

4. Repeat until every tooth edge has been cleaned. Floss every day for best results.

In addition to the above, remember to floss all sides of every tooth, even the ones at the very back of your mouth.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

by Michael Repie, Ph.D. Senior Director of Clinical Services Dominion Hospital

Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our nation today. Talking about suicide can be difficult. In order to help raise awareness, and open the dialogue, September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. There are an average of 123 suicides each day in our country, and suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for those age 25-34, and the third leading cause for those age 15-24.

While there is no single cause for suicide, there are risk factors and warning signs which may increase the likelihood of an attempt. Learning them can save lives. Some studies suggest that 9 out of 10 individuals who die by suicide give very clear warning signals to those around them. Some include:

• Talking about suicide and/ or having a preoccupation with death

• Looking for access to lethal

means (guns, pills, knives, etc.)

• Mood swings or personality changes

•Hopelessness

• Self-loathing/hatred

• Neglecting to take care of one’s appearance

• Changes in eating and sleeping habits

• Saying goodbyes

• Withdrawal from friends, families, and usual activities

Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their own life. Some include:

• Mental health conditions such as depression, substance use problems, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, serious health conditions including pain, and traumatic brain injury

• Environmental conditions including access to lethal means and drugs, prolonged stress such as bullying, relationship problems, or unemployment, and stressful life events such as rejection, divorce, financial crisis, or exposure to another person’s suicide.

• Historical factors such as previous suicide attempts, a family history of suicide, or childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma

One serious new tool to help prevent suicide is the recent rollout of 988. After years of advocacy and preparation, 988 is now available nationwide as the new number to contact for mental health, substance use, and suicide crisis, as a simple, easy to remember way for people to get help. This new number will allow people to quickly connect with support during a crisis, 24/7, no matter where they live.

What is the difference between 988 and 911? 911 had been utilized for all emergencies, including mental health emergencies. Mental health crisis calls to 911 may result in potentially dangerous and traumatizing outcomes when police are called. Despite best efforts, 911 dispatchers often have not received specific training on how to handle mental health and suicide related calls.

988 calls will be handled by National Suicide Prevention Lifeline counselors, highly trained to as-

sist people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Please help spread the word!

What else can you do to support the cause? There are many other ways to get involved this month and beyond. Share information about suicide and suicide prevention on social media to help reduce the stigma. Introduce and keep dialogue going with family and friends about the need for increased awareness and support. Volunteer at a local crisis shelter or other organization. Never be reluctant to get involved and always take any reported de-

sire or intent to harm oneself seriously. Remember suicide is preventable!

Dominion Hospital is a 116bed free standing psychiatric hospital in Falls Church, with inpatient and outpatient services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults, and specialty programs for Complex Trauma Disorders, Eating Disorders, and Substance Use Disorders, in addition to Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and School Refusal. For more information, or to schedule a free, confidential assessment, call 703-538-2872.

Autism Awareness: What is Known and What is Being Done

by Kylee Toland Falls Church News-Press

In recent years, it has been thought that there is an autism epidemic due to rising rates in the United States. However, reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show there is no autism epidemic, but rather an autism diagnosis epidemic.

Twenty-two years ago, the CDC reported one in 150 children were diagnosed with autism; that rate now stands at one in 44 children being diagnosed. This shows that improvements are being done to properly diagnose a child with autism, but the question still stands: Why is there a wait time for an autism diagnosis?

To receive a diagnosis, families can be put on a “waitlist” for an evaluation, which can last up to one year depending on the organization and the greater number of children in need of this kind of service. Luckily, there are local organizations in the DMV area that specialize in trying to alleviate the wait time for children and their families.

Recently, Behavioral Framework, a “leading provider” in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, opened Pathways Diagnostic Center, which helps alleviate the year-long wait times for children to receive an autism diagnosis. CEO of Behavioral

Framework Kyle West and his wife Angela came up with the idea of Pathways Diagnostic Center after seeing the wait times families had to go through to receive a diagnosis through local hospitals.

Based in Rockville Maryland, Behavioral Framework and Pathways Diagnostic Center is trying to offer D.C., Maryland and Virginia families “the best autism care that we can offer.” With the opening of the center, West said he and his wife hope there will be an “increased access to care.” The program offers both a clinic-setting or home-based therapy when a child is diagnosed, as well as further testing at another medical site.

As for why there seems to be such a backlog in children receiving an autism diagnosis, West said there are not enough provi-

ders who specialize in diagnostic work. This led Pathways Diagnostic Center to hire Dr. Andrea Howard, an autism diagnostic specialist who is able to “devote 100 percent of her time to doing autism diagnostics.” This allows Howard and the 500 employees working for Behavioral Framework to make sure families do not have to wait for an extended amount of time for a diagnosis.

Opening this past summer, Pathways Diagnostic Center is focused primarily in providing children and their families an autism diagnosis, but West said they have seen younger adults use the center as well. The overall goal of Behavioral Framework and Pathways Diagnostic Center is for people to know that “it’s available,” as well as “a very welcoming intake process.”

“The autism diagnosis really is a journey, and that’s where we came up with the name ‘Pathways,’” West said. “It’s not an end, it’s not a beginning, it’s another step on the journey.”

Verbal Beginnings, a mental health clinic in Columbia, Mary-

land, provides a program called “New Beginnings” to help families on a waitlist receive diagnostic services to children in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. On their website, they state their overall goal is to “help families obtain the diagnostic clarity that is necessary to initiate intervention services for their children.”

The program schedules families for an appointment with the

organization, where they then partake in a comprehensive evaluation that includes the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition. After the evaluation, families receive a comprehensive evaluation report and “review results, clinical impressions and recommendations for intervention services” with a licensed psychologist at Verbal Beginnings.

KYLE AND ANGELA WEST are the creators of Pathways Diagnostic Center (Photo courtesy: Nadine DiStefano)

Migraine Treatment Has Come a Long Way

by Melinda Wenner Moyer New York Times

If you don’t suffer from migraine headaches, you probably know at least one person who does. Nearly 40 million Americans get them — 28 million of them women and girls — making migraine the second most disabling condition in the world after low back pain. Several studies have found that migraine became more frequent during the pandemic, too.

I get migraine headaches, but thankfully they’re more bizarre than excruciating. Every few weeks, ocular migraine clouds my vision with strange zigzagging lights for a half-hour; and once or twice a year I get attacks that cause temporary memory loss. (One came on while I was grocery shopping, and I couldn’t remember what month or year it was, what I was there to buy or how old my kids were.)

Despite its ubiquity, research on migraine has long been underfunded. The National Institutes of Health spent only $40

million on migraine research in 2021; by comparison, it spent $218 million researching epilepsy, which afflicts one-twelfth as many Americans. Why is this devastating condition so woefully understudied?

“It’s a woman’s disease,” explained Dr. Robert Cowan, a neurologist and a former director of the Stanford Headache Program. In other words, he said, sexism almost certainly plays a role in medicine’s apathy toward the condition.

The good news is that over the past several years, the medical establishment has become more interested in the issue, and a handful of new treatments for migraine have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Some of them are quite promising. Here’s what migraine sufferers should know about today’s treatment landscape.

Recognize the symptoms of migraine and get a diagnosis.

Far too many Americans with migraine suffer in silence.

“Fewer than 30 percent of people suffering with migraine seek medical advice, and only some of those patients will receive an appropriate migraine treatment,” said Dr. Santiago Mazuera, a neurologist at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute in Baltimore.

Migraine is a neurological disorder and it differs from garden-variety headaches. People are likely to suffer from migraine if they have had at least five headache attacks in their lives, each lasting between four and 72 hours, and if the pain fulfills two out of these four criteria: It throbs or pulsates; it is on one side of the head; it is moderate to severe; it worsens with activity. Also, these attacks must cause either nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.

If you think you might have migraine, see your primary care practitioner, Mazuera suggested. “There is better understanding of migraine within the primary care community in recent years and more knowledge about the newer treatments,” he said. But if

you’re not getting the help you need, you might want to see a headache specialist or neurologist, said Dr. Seniha Ozudogru, a neurologist at Penn Medicine. People with migraine are also at increased risk for other disorders, including heart disease, stroke, epilepsy, anxiety and depression.

Try lifestyle changes and first-line treatments to start.

If you have migraine, consider keeping a headache diary, or downloading a migraine app, to identify possible triggers. Women, for instance, often have migraine pain right before their period; it can be treated in a variety of ways, including with an estrogen patch, Cowan said. Other common migraine triggers include stress, too much or too little sleep, caffeine, alcohol, weather changes, certain foods, dehydration, light and particular smells, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

Often, triggers are partial and additive: You might not get a mi-

graine attack after drinking one glass of red wine, but a glass of red wine and a bad night’s sleep might do it, Cowan said. A headache diary can also help you identify your triggers and figure out if you have chronic migraine, which is defined as having headaches on 15 or more days per month for more than three months, and when at least eight of those headaches have migraine-like features.

Based on your symptoms and their frequency, your doctor may recommend a preventive migraine treatment to stop the headaches from starting. These types of medicines include antidepressants like amitriptyline, blood pressure medications such as propranolol and epilepsy drugs including valproate, Cowan said.

The problem with these drugs is that often “they have nasty side effects,” Cowan said, so they aren’t always recommended but every time I exercised, I felt lightheaded and faint.

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Drs.

Both

Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children. We have created a warm, caring environment that allows our patients to feel comfortable and safe. We take time to listen to our patients so that we can truly understand their individual needs and goals for their dental health.

doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years. We are proud to have served the community in ways beyond dental care.

Your doctor might suggest taking medication at the onset of migraine to ease your symptoms, in addition to or instead of preventive treatments. For treatment of migraine after onset, doctors have long prescribed triptans — drugs such as sumatriptan that reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels — and anti-inflammatory pain medications such as ibuprofen. But these methods don’t always work either, and triptans can cause side effects like nausea and dizziness.

If you can’t get relief, discuss new treatments with your doctor

Over the past five years, a handful of new drugs and devices have been approved for prevention and acute treatment of migraine.

Many of these drugs block the activity of a pain-related protein called monoclonal antibodies that are periodically injected or administered intravenously. There are also pills, called gepants and ditans (with brand names like Nurtec ODT,

Ubrelvy and Reyvow) that can be taken at the onset of migraine to block the activity of CGRP.

Rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) has been approved by the FDA to both prevent and treat migraine, Ozudogru said, which is notable because most drugs do only one or the other.

These drugs don’t seem to have significant side effects, Cowan said — though they can cause mild nausea — yet they aren’t usually prescribed until after a person has tried several first-line treatments. That’s in large part because the new drugs are expensive, he said. Ozudogru said some doctors are also cautious about trying the latest treatments because they are so new, and nobody can say how safe they are over the long term. Among other things, CGRP helps the body heal from strokes, so drugs that inhibit CGRP activity might hinder recovery in someone who has a stroke, she said.

Another medication that has been approved to treat chronic migraine in particular is the cosmetic drug Botox. It is injected into areas around the head and neck and is thought to work by blocking chemicals that carry

pain signals to the brain. “I like Botox a lot,” Cowan said. But, he added, “not everybody can tolerate being stabbed in the head 31 times, even with a tiny needle.” Usually, too, Botox treatment is repeated every 12 weeks.

Several medical devices have also been approved in recent years to manage migraine. “These have good data,” Cowan said, and they are ideal for people who can’t tolerate medicines or are pregnant. Gammacore, a hand-held device, targets the vagus nerve in the neck. Nerivio, a smartphone-controlled device worn on the arm, uses electrical signals to disrupt pain pathways. Cefaly stimulates the trigeminal nerve on the forehead, and Relivion stimulates the trigeminal and occipital nerves.

Although these newer devices and treatments are promising, many patients struggle to get them covered by health insurance, Mazuera said. And they can be pricey: The list price for some monoclonal antibodies is more than $650 per monthly injection, and the Cefaly device costs $379. However, the Coalition for Headache and Migraine

Patients, or CHAMP, has guides available to help patients navigate treatment costs using pharmaceutical company savings cards and financial assistance plans; and the Patient Advocate Foundation has resources available for handling insurance denials and appeals, among other things.

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What are the causes and consequences of malocclusion?

Malocclusion is a misalignment between the upper and lower rows of teeth as they approach when the mouth closes. Normally, the canines and maxillary (or upper) incisors fall in front of the lower teeth, leaving a small space in between with little overlap. In the case of malocclusion, however, the upper teeth fall too far behind or in front of the lower teeth.

CAUSES

While malocclusion is often hereditary, other contributing factors exist, such as:

• Missing, crowded or misaligned

teeth

• Excessive thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use

Mouth breathing

• Abnormal swallowing

• A cleft palate

CONSEQUENCES

Malocclusion can have a significant impact on a person’s oral and overall health. Poor dental occlusion (how the upper and lower teeth touch when the mouth is closed) can make chewing more difficult and lead to premature wear of teeth,

in addition to causing muscular tension, jaw pain, digestive problems, migraines and troubles enunciating. Bruxism (grinding or clenching of the teeth) can also result in malocclusion. Furthermore, not only do crooked or overlapping teeth cause aesthetic issues, but they’re particularly difficult to brush, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Thankfully, various treatments (braces, oral surgery, etc.) are available for people of all ages to help correct dental problems like malocclusion Consult your orthodontist or dentist for more information!

Orthodontic care: seven oral hygiene tips

Everybody knows that basic oral hygiene involves brushing one’s teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily and making regular visits to the dentist. But what’s the protocol if you wear braces?

It’s very easy for food to get caught in braces and their various parts (brackets, elastics, etc.). Therefore, without proper oral hygiene practices, leftover food particles can develop into plaque, increasing the risk

of diseases and disorders of the teeth and gums. Moreover, teeth may look yellowed or stained once braces are removed. For an effective orthodontic treatment and a lasting white smile, follow these seven tips:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, ideally after every meal or snack.

2. Use a manual or an electric

soft-bristled toothbrush (electric models are great for ease of use and convenience).

3. Clean each bracket thoroughly by making small circular motions with your toothbrush. Remember to take your time and be gentle!

4. Make sure to brush the entiresuface of each tooth, including below and above the brackets and along the inside (or chewing

surface) of your teeth.

5. Floss under and around each tooth at least once per day. If necessary, use a floss threader to reach difficult spaces near the gum or under dental appliances.

6. Use a water flosser in addition to your toothbrush for optimal cleaning results.

7. Rinse your mouth properly after every cleaning (or after a meal if you’re unable to brush).

What to Know About Medical Marijuana

by Josh Trupo Falls Church News-Press

Medical marijuana is taking the country by storm. Back in 1937, with the implementation of the Controlled Substance Act, it was made illegal at the federal level and was given a Schedule 1 classification by the DEA. Schedule 1 drugs, like heroin, are said to have “a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.”

However, doctors have pushed back against this for some time, culminating in California’s landmark 1996 legalization of medical marijuana. Since then, 36 states, including Virginia, have followed suit and made the move to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

So, which is it? Does marijuana have scientifically recognized medicinal properties? Or is the federal government correct in keeping it at a Schedule 1 classification?

According to physicians across the country, marijuana does have numerous medicinal uses. It can function as a stabilizer, lessening the seve-

rity of, and in some cases even completely removing, the sorts of seizures and tremors in patients with mild to severe epilepsy. It is a much safer and less addictive painkiller than the likes of Oxycontin. It can help clear up glaucoma in the eyes and is now being prescribed for its efficacy in managing depression, anxiety, eating disorders and PTSD.

Marijuana has two major chemical components that play a part in its medicinal use. There is CBD, cannabidiol, which researchers are finding may be the most important ingredient leading to marijuana’s medicinal properties. CBD, unlike the other major component, tetrahydrocannabinol –or THC – is not psychoactive. This means that, for those who are uncomfortable with the mind-altering high associated with marijuana, low THC strains can and have been made to provide the benefits of marijuana with none of the cloudiness. CBD can be found in plant form, where you break it up and smoke it the same way you would regular, high-THC marijuana. It can also be an ingredient baked into foods, pills, and even creams, removing the need for inhaling potentially harmful smoke

into the lungs.

Many doctors are still researching the differences in these two chemical components to marijuana. They are looking to discover where inside the molecular makeup the benefits are found. Many professionals who deal with epilepsy, chronic pain, or PTSD do not wish to experience the psychoactive effects of marijuana on a daily basis. However, there is some research showing that a certain degree of THC may be necessary for the marijuana to be as effective as possible at treating medical issues.

With Virginia’s recent recreational legalization of marijuana, doctors are urging caution and temperance. As a way to take the edge off, not unlike having a glass or two of whiskey on the weekends, there is nothing to be worried about, they say. Marijuana is not physically addicting, and many have and will continue to use it for fun and recreational use.

However, for those who may need it for medicinal purposes, doctors strongly advise that patients do not self-medicate. While not physically addictive, marijuana can become psychologically addictive, meaning that the brain can become

dependent on the rush of dopamine and serotonin – two chemicals in the brain associated with positive emotion. In self-medicating, one may find oneself in a position of being unable to naturally produce these chemicals at the rate one once did.

Instead, for anyone who believes marijuana could be an effective treatment, it is strongly advised to discuss the option with a doctor, who can monitor how much and how often the drug is used.

Now in Virginia, one can be approved by a healthcare provider for a

Virginia medical card online with Leafwell. Via telemedicine, a patient can meet with a provider and discuss qualifying conditions. The whole process takes 15-30 minutes. If approved, Leafwell will email the patient the certification which can be used to purchase medical cannabis products in Virginia immediately.

Also, as of July 2022, the state application process (which could take up to two months) is no longer required, eliminating a barrier and expanding access across Virginia.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA is taking the country by storm, although facing backlash (courtesy Photo)

U.S. Life Expectancy Falls Again in ‘Historic’ Setback

by Roni Caryn Rabin New York Times

The average life expectancy of Americans fell precipitously in 2020 and 2021, the sharpest two-year decline in nearly 100 years and a stark reminder of the toll exacted on the nation by the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, the average American could expect to live until age 76, federal health researchers reported Wednesday. The figure represents a loss of almost 3 years since 2019, when Americans could expect to live, on average, nearly 79 years.

The reduction has been particularly steep among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, the National Center for Health Statistics reported. Average life expectancy in those groups was shortened by 4 years in 2020 alone.

The cumulative decline since the pandemic started, more than six and a half years on average, has brought life expectancy to 65 among Native Americans and Alaska Natives — on par with the figure for all Americans in 1944.

In 2021, the shortening of life span was more pronounced among white Americans than among Black Americans, who saw greater reductions in the first year of the pandemic.

While the pandemic has driven most of the decline in life expectancy, a rise in accidental deaths and drug overdoses also contributed, as did deaths from heart disease, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, the new report found.

Until now, experts have been accustomed to measuring life expectancy changes in increments of months, not years.

“Even small declines in life expectancy of a tenth or two-tenths of a year mean that on a population level, a lot more people are dying prematurely than they really should be,” said Robert Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the NCHS.

“This signals a huge impact on the population in terms of increased mortality,” he added.

Dr. Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, characterized the diminution of life expectancy in the United States as “historic.”

While other high-income countries were also hard hit in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, most had begun to recover by last year, he said.

“None of them experienced a continuing fall in life expectancy like the U.S. did, and a good number of them saw life expectancy start in-

ching back to normal,” Woolf said.

Those countries had more successful vaccination campaigns and populations that were more willing to take behavioral measures to prevent infections, such as wearing masks, he said, adding: “The U.S. is clearly an outlier.”

But the coronavirus was not solely to blame. Long-standing health problems — rooted in poverty, discrimination and poor access to health care — left Native Americans and Alaska Natives particularly vulnerable to the virus, said Dr. Ann Bullock, former director of diabetes treatment and prevention at the federal Indian Health Service agency and a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

One in seven Native Americans and Alaska Natives has diabetes, the highest rate among racial or ethnic groups in the United States, and many struggle with obesity or excess weight. Both conditions make people more susceptible to severe Covid-19, and crowded multigenerational housing adds to the risk.

“There is no doubt Covid was a contributor to the increase in mortality during the last couple of years, but it didn’t start these problems — it made everything that much worse,” Bullock said.

Average life expectancy in these populations is now “lower than that of every country in the Americas except Haiti, which is astounding,” said Noreen Goldman, professor of demography and public affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

The continued plunge was all the more upsetting because it occurred after a successful vaccination campaign, she said, adding: “The Native American population did quite well in the vaccination efforts, and that made us feel that 2021 would not be as devastating as 2020.”

“That was wrong, and it’s pretty hard to swallow,” she added.

White Americans saw the second-largest decline in average life expectancy in 2021, a drop of 1 year, to 76.4 in 2021 from 77.4 in 2020. The decline was steeper than that among Black Americans, at seven-tenths of a year. That was followed by Hispanic Americans, whose life expectancy dropped only two-tenths of a year in 2021.

But both Black and Hispanic Americans were hit hard in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Average life expectancy for Hispanic Americans fell by 4 years, to 77.9 from 81.9 in 2019. The figure for Black Americans declined almost as much, by more than 3 years to

71.5 years in 2020.

White Americans experienced the smallest decline during the first year of the pandemic, a drop of 1.4 years to 77.4 from 78.8. For white and Black Americans, life expectancy is now the lowest it has been since 1995, federal researchers said.

Asian Americans held the highest life expectancy among racial and ethnic groups included in the new analysis: 83.5 years, on average. The figure fell only slightly last year, from 83.6 in 2020.

It was the largest reduction in life expectancy in the United States over the course of a two-year period since the early 1920s, when life expectancy fell to 57.2 in 1923. That dropoff may have been related to high unemployment and suicide rates during an earlier recession, as well as a steep increase in mortality among nonwhite men and women.

Although the U.S. health care system is among the best in the world, Americans suffer from what experts have called “the U.S. health disadvantage,” an amalgam of influences that erode well-being, Woolf said.

These include a fragmented, profit-driven health care system; poor diet and a lack of physical activity; and pervasive risk factors such as smoking, widespread access to guns, poverty and pollution. The problems are compounded for marginalized groups by racism and segregation, he added.

The result is a high disease burden among Americans, and shorter life expectancy compared with that in comparable high-income nations

over the last two decades, Woolf said.

Over 1 million Americans have died of Covid-19, and more died in 2021 than in 2020 despite the availability of vaccines. To date, only two-thirds of Americans are fully vaccinated, and only one-third have had a booster shot.

“The white population did worse in 2021 than communities of color, besides Native American and Alaska Natives,” Woolf said. “I think that’s very telling: It reflects the greater efforts by Black and Hispanics to get vaccinated, to wear masks and take

other measures to protect themselves, and the greater tendency in white populations to push back on those behaviors.”

The longevity gap between men and women also grew by a couple of months in 2021. American women can now expect to live 79.1 years, almost 6 years longer than men, whose average life expectancy was 73.2 last year, according to the new data.

The longevity gap between the sexes has been increasing for more than a decade, after narrowing between 2000 and 2010 to about 5 years.

COVID HAS PLAYED A LARGE part in the drop in life Expectancy. . (Photo: New York Times)

AMERICAN DEATHS during the pandemic have caused a lot of loss.

(Photo: New York Times)

& WELLNESS

FDA Clears Path for Hearing Aids to be Sold Over the Counter

by Christina Jewett New York Times

The Food and Drug Administration decided to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter without a prescription to adults, a long-sought wish of consumers frustrated by expensive exams and devices.

The high cost of hearing aids, which are not covered by basic Medicare, has discouraged millions of Americans from buying the devices. Health experts say that untreated hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline and depression in older people.

Under the FDA’s new rule, people with mild to moderate hearing loss should be able to buy hearing aids online and in retail stores as soon as October, without being required to see a doctor for an exam to get a prescription.

The agency cited studies estimating that about 30 million Americans experience hearing loss, but only about one-fifth of them get help. The changes could upend the market, which is dominated by a relatively small number of manufacturers, and make it a broader field with less costly, and perhaps, more innovative designs. Costs for hearing aids, which tend to include visits with an audiologist, range from about $1,400 at Costco to roughly $4,700 or more.

“This could fundamentally change technology,” said Nicholas Reed, an audiologist at the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We don’t know what these companies might come up with. We may literally see new ways hearing aids work, how they look.”

The FDA’s final rule takes effect in 60 days. Industry representatives say device-makers are largely ready to launch new products, though some may need time to update labeling and packaging or to comply with technical details in the rule.

Dr. Robert Califf, the FDA commissioner, said the move is meant to “unleash the power of American industry” in a way that could have global influence.

“Hearing loss has a profound impact on daily communication, social interaction and the overall health and quality of life for millions of Americans,” Califf said during a news briefing. “This is a tremendous worldwide problem

where I think American ingenuity can make a huge difference.”

The White House hailed the move as a signature accomplishment for President Joe Biden, who signed the Inflation Reduction Act on Tuesday. That legislation includes other health measures, such as caps on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, that are likely to be popular among midterm voters.

The hearing aid change eliminates the requirement to see an audiologist for a hearing examination and fitting, a process not often covered by insurance.

Federal officials estimated a $2,800 savings on the cost of a pair of hearing aids. Brian Deese, White House director of the National Economic Council, said making the change was a “top priority” for the president.

“This is going to make a really concrete difference in the lives of millions of Americans,” Deese said.

Whether it will make a difference at the voting booth remains to be seen, said Jonathan Oberlander, a professor of health policy at the University of North Carolina. He termed the FDA’s move a “consolation prize” of sorts, given the Democrats’ unsuccessful efforts to expand basic Medicare to cover vision, dental and hearing. The upside, though, is that some of the hearing aids should be on store shelves by the time voting begins.

Hearing loss is associated with dementia, isolation and other health problems in older adults. Yet the barriers to getting hearing help have included costs that are not covered by Medicare. There is also stigma — such as appearing “old” — that comes with use.

April Shrum, 45, of Bremerton, Washington, has been willing to get hearing aids for years, but has been unable to get them covered by her insurance. She said she lost some hearing firing guns while training to deploy to Iraq about a decade ago. But her hearing loss never tested to a level that qualified her for coverage.

“I don’t have to have a prescription for it,” Shrum said, “which means I can buy them myself and it’s fantastic.”

Broader appreciation for the importance of keen hearing for adults is off-kilter: A recent survey found that people ages 50 to

80 were twice as likely to plan on taking their pet to the veterinarian in the coming year than to get their hearing checked.

“It breaks my heart a little bit,” said Sarah Sydlowski, associate chief improvement officer of the Cleveland Clinic’s Head and Neck Institute and lead author of the study. “I think our biggest challenge as a profession and as a health care system is to make sure that people understand that hearing is incredibly important. It deserves their attention, it deserves their action.”

The over-the-counter shift has rankled some of the nation’s audiologists, the professionals who guide people through the process of choosing the best hearing aid, adjusting the settings and achieving the right fit. The new move eliminates the long-standing requirement that consumers start the process of getting a hearing aid with them. But some in the profession see opportunity.

“The hearing health care professional is not going to go away,” said Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, a consumer group. “The over-thecounter rule opens a new avenue that is huge for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to take that step sooner than later. And that’s what we’re really excited about.”

The change has been percolating for years. In 2016, a proposal for the FDA to approve overthe-counter hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss was released in a report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. The following year, Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., introduced a bill enabling the agency to make the change. Congress approved the legislation and President Donald Trump signed it into law.

Finalizing regulations has moved slowly since then, with some conflict over details, like how the federal rule would interact with state laws on hearing aid returns or warranty policies and how much the devices should amplify sound.

Biden issued an executive order in July 2021 calling for greater competition in the economy, which urged the FDA to take action “to promote the wide availability of low-cost hearing aids.”

That rule was issued in the fall of 2021, followed by a period of public comment. The Hearing Industries Association, an industry group, submitted a 45-page comment letter warning the FDA about companies that had come on the market in 2018, after the initial law passed, selling hearing aids that “were ineffective, of poor quality, and in some cases, dangerous.” The organization offered detailed advice on how to avoid a repeat scenario.

“We applaud the action to increase access to care for persons who have difficulty and encourage them to seek a professional,” to help navigate their options and the fitting process, said Kate Carr, president of the trade group. Other organizations raised concerns that the FDA would be creating a safety issue by allowing new hearing aid makers to develop devices that allow users to hear loud sounds.

Warren and Grassley released a joint report accusing the “dominant hearing aid” makers of engaging in an “astroturf lobbying” effort by flooding the FDA with repetitive comments steering the agency toward a new generation of hearing aids that would be “less effective, protecting manufacturers’ existing market share and locking in their competitive advantage.”

The logic is simple: The less effective an OTC hearing aid is, the more likely consumers will be forced to abandon these op-

tions and instead opt for more expensive, prescription devices sold by the manufacturers that dominate this line of business,” the senators’ investigative report said.

The FDA reviewed more than 1,000 comments submitted about the rule and made a handful of changes in the final version released Tuesday. They include lowering the maximum sound output of the devices and revising the insertion depth limit in the ear canal. The rule also requires that the hearing aids have a user-adjustable volume control and simplified wording on the product label.

John Prouty, 65, of Santa Rosa, California, said Tuesday that he would be watching the changes in the hearing aid field carefully. He said he recently underwent a test and discovered he had experienced some hearing loss.

“I don’t think it has had a huge effect on my ability to understand and stay in a conversation,” Prouty said. “My wife may disagree.”

He said he was not ready for hearing aids and felt even less so after finding out the devices would cost up to $8,400 for a pair and services. Prouty welcomed the new policy, saying he hoped it would encourage the kind of consumer electronic advances that had revolutionized phones and watches.

“I’m looking forward to this,” he said.

HEARING AIDS could soon be more easily accessible. (Courtesy Photo)

Why Is Pickleball So Popular?

by Juno DeMelo New York Times

Now that their son is grown and their water-loving Labrador retriever has passed away, Kristen Miller and her husband, Scott Miller, have decided to fill in their San Diego swimming pool. “No one uses it, there’s a drought and we’re in our 60s,” she said. “We decided YOLO, like the kids say. We’re going to put in a fricking pickleball court.”

Kristen Miller is one of more than 4.8 million pickleball players, or “picklers,” in the United States, according to a 2022 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Pickleball, often described as a combination of tennis, PingPong and badminton, grew nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it America’s fastest-growing sport.

A college tennis player, Miller picked up pickleball two years ago after a friend needed to round out a foursome. Now she plays twice a week and hopes to play even more once her backyard court is complete. “We know if we have people over and we have paddles, everyone can go out and hit the ball,” she said. “Not everyone’s going to put a swimsuit on at 60.”

The sport has trended older in the past — half of all serious pickleball players (those who play eight or more times a year) in 2021 were 55 and older, according to the USA Pickleball Association. But the vast majority of casual players are younger than 55, and the fastest-growing segment of all pickleball players are younger than 24.

How is the sport able to appeal to both retirees and younger devotees? And regardless of your age, can you actually work up a sweat? Here’s what the experts say.

Most Anyone Can Play.

Many racket sports have a steep learning curve, even at the beginner level. “In tennis, the balls are all over the place,” said Ernie Medina Jr., an assistant professor of public health at Loma Linda University and pickleball coach who was introduced to the game in 2016 by his mother.

“In pickleball, you’re hitting a plastic Wiffle-like ball, so it’s less bouncy and doesn’t fly as fast through the air,” Medina said.

“And the paddle is much easier to handle because it’s shorter and lighter than a tennis racket.” You also serve underhand in pickleball, and underhand serves are easier to hit and return.

Besides being easier to learn than tennis, pickleball is also slower paced and there’s less ground to cover; you could almost fit four pickleball courts onto one tennis court, and most picklers play doubles. Some research suggests that it may be safer than tennis for people with heart issues, too.

“Because the paddle’s so small, pickleball is great for hand-eye coordination as well as neuromuscular coordination,” said Heather Milton, a clinical exercise physiologist at the Sports Performance Center at NYU Langone Health. “You’re moving in different planes, not just forward like you do when you’re walking or cycling, which is good for your agility. And because there’s rotation involved, you’re working your core along with your upper and lower extremities.”

Players can get sprains and rotator cuff pain, among other injuries. To prevent injury, players should do a pregame warm-up, keep a wide, ready position stance during the game, avoid backpedaling to return a shot sailing overhead and wear shoes designed for lateral movement.

As for accessibility, pickleball can be played standing or in wheelchairs, indoors or out. There are more than 38,000 indoor and outdoor courts in the U.S. To find one, use the Pickleball+ app, or put your ZIP code into the USA Pickleball Association’s court locator website. You can even use sidewalk chalk or painter’s tape to make your own court in a driveway or cul-de-sac — Medina once set up a court in the hallway of a conference venue. Then roll in a portable net. A USAPA-approved set of two paddles and four balls costs about $60.

It’s a Good Workout (No, Really)

Yes, pickleball has a low barrier to entry. But that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.

In one of the few studies that has been done on pickleball, researchers found that compared with walking at a self-selected pace for half an hour, people who played doubles pickleball for half

an hour had 14 percent higher heart rates and burned 36 percent more calories. Another study from Western Colorado University found that picklers averaged a heart rate of 109 beats per minute and burned 354 calories per hour, which qualifies it as a moderate-intensity workout alongside hiking, yoga and water aerobics. The players also saw significant improvements in their cholesterol levels, blood pressure and maximal oxygen uptake, a measure of cardiovascular fitness, after playing for an hour every other day for six weeks.

What’s more, you can ramp up the intensity in a number of ways. “If you are more competitive with pickleball, you absolutely could have a more intense workout,” Milton said. Practice can also up the burn. “In a game, you have to rally, stop and reset, so there are more gaps,” Medina said. “ When I drill, I get more of a workout. Drilling makes you better, so you can have longer, more intense rallies. It’s a double benefit.”

And finally, you can play singles instead of doubles. “With a singles match, you’re definitely going to be covering more of the court, moving more and burning more calories,” said Lance Dalleck, a professor of exercise science at Western Colorado University and an author of the Colorado study. “Pickleball is not just a good workout, it’s a great workout.”

It’s Addictive

Less than one-quarter of U.S. adults get enough physical activity, and that percentage decreases with age. One of the main barriers to exercising is a lack of social interaction, a big source of motivation.

But while 50 percent of people quit exercising six months after starting, research shows that picklers keep coming back to the court again and again, primarily because the game is so social. Pickleball can also improve your well-being. According to another study of picklers age 50 and older, those who were more serious about the sport tended to be more satisfied with their lives. The same researchers found an inverse relationship between “serious leisure” — in this case, playing pickleball competitively — and levels of depression.

Like Medina, I too have a (step) mother who preaches the gospel of pickleball. Last spring, my husband took a pickleball lesson while we were on vacation in Kauai, Hawaii, but I chose to stay in the pool. Last month, my curiosity finally got the better of me, and I asked a pickler friend-of-afriend whether she could round up a foursome.

It was 100 degrees when we met at an outdoor court in Portland, Oregon. The other three women were all regulars, one of them a highly rated doubles player who made it to nationals last year. I’ve always been a decent athlete (my father was a squash pro, so I grew up around racket sports) but besides the occasional game of cornhole,

I’ve never really played anything that requires hand-eye coordination.

After about 10 minutes of warm-up hits and explanation, I had the basics down. I missed a few serves and more than a few shots once we started to play in earnest, but I was able to rally and even volley almost immediately. Despite my inexperience — and the sunscreen-melting heat — I was soon in a flow state, punctuated by laughter and light trash talk. “Aha,” I thought, somewhere toward the end of the first match. “Now I get why people are so obsessed with pickleball.”

Being in the zone was nice, but so was victory: My partner and I won two out of three matches. But mainly I was struck by how much fun the game is. (Participants in the walking study found pickleball 150 percent more enjoyable than taking a stroll.) Most points in pickleball are won on a line just 7 feet from the net, so it’s easy to chat between serves. And it’s hard to take yourself too seriously when the most savage shot is called a “dink” that you hit into a zone called “the kitchen.”

“I’ve had a hoarse voice since I started playing pickleball because I’m constantly shouting and laughing,” Medina said. “I can’t even sing in my choir anymore.”

The game is so much fun, Miller said, you don’t realize you’re getting exercise. “It’s something you can do besides going out to eat or going out drinking.”

PICKLEBALL HAS GAINED POPULARITY and is attracting a new following. (Photo: New York Times)

Falls Church Fall Sports Getting into the Thick of Their Seasons

by Ryan McCafferty and Nick Porr

As the calendar flips from August to September, high school sports are beginning to get into the thick of their seasons.

Meridian:

The Mustangs’ football squad dropped to 0-2 on the season after getting trounced by Kettle Run on Thursday night by a score of 58-13. They did score their first points of the season, however, and will be back in action against Madison County on Friday the 9th as they continue to seek their first win. The JV squad also fell to Kettle Run on Wednesday, losing 13-18.

Meridian field hockey defeated Brentsville 8-0 on Wednesday at home, moving to 2-1 on the year. Their homestand will continue this week with a pair of matchups against Heritage and Lightridge on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile the JV team is now 3-0 after beating Brentsville 2-0 on Wednesday.

Volleyball finally played their first home game of the season, defeating CD Hylton 3-0 on Tuesday.

Falls Church:

After a dominant 35-0 home win against local rivals Meridian to open the season, Chantilly High School (1-0) brought Falls Church football (1-1) back down to earth in an explo-

sive 42-0 rout. Senior running back Jakob Madaj tormented the Jaguars, scoring two rushing touchdowns and 145 rushing yards on a team-high 14 carries.

Falls Church will have a chance to get back on track at the winless Hayfield Hawks (0-2) on Friday night.

Field Hockey continued their struggles this season, dropping to 0-4 on the season losing at home to Lake Braddock and on the road at Herndon.

Volleyball started their season off with mixed results, downing King Abdullah Academy in three sets Tuesday, two days before they would fall to Lake Braddock 3-1.

Falls Church golf moved to 2-2 following a 166-144 loss in a match against Thomas Edison, while Boys Cross Country finished 2nd and Girls finished 4th in a meet at Mason District Park. Junior Haley Heironimous set a new course record at Mason with her 20:19 finish.

Marshall:

Field Hockey continued their undefeated start to the season, dropping Robinson High School 2-1. The team that went just 1-5 last season has already surpassed expectations at 3-0 and has a chance to move to 4-0 against W.T. Woodson on Tuesday night.

Bouncing back from a loss against Washington-Liberty,

Falls Church School News & Notes

Meridian Recognized by College Board

The following Meridian students have been selected as College Board National Recognition Program awardees. Congratulations!

National African American Recognition Award: Ava Smith, Jasmine Rodriguez-Black, Zoe Clement

National Hispanic Recognition

Award: Alex Schwartz, Hana Saldate, Jocelyn Ripley, John Doebel, Naomi Holliday, Sophia Koo, Stella Turner

Jaguar Pantry Update

Falls Church High School’s first big event of the year is this coming Saturday, September 10th. Thanks to the Jaguar football team for providing the muscles to move

the full bins into pantry storage at CityLight Church!

There is a need for heavy lifters (9 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.) during the Food for Neighbors collection event, and large vehicles (10:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.) to move bins to the pantry storage. Please look at the SignUp Genius for all the details. https://www.signupgenius. com/go/2022-09-10-falls-church

Join the Jaguar Pantry Volunteer team. They need volunteers during weekdays and some weekends for various ongoing tasks including: sorting and organizing, moving food between locations, moving or delivering food to families, etc. https://bit.ly/ FCHSPantryVolunteerSignup The Jaguar Pantry works closely with the Social Workers at FCHS and supports the community by collecting, organizing and distributing food, hygiene products and cleaning supplies to around 80 families

Marshall Football (1-1) defended home field with a 35-7 win against McLean. An impressive 196 yards on just 14 completions from senior quarterback Jeff Ryder lead the way for the Statesmen.

Coed golf played Langley on the 1st but neither school has reported a result. Regardless, they will face Yorktown in a match Wednesday.

Volleyball also had a match against Langley, falling 1-3 on the road. They play Herndon Tuesday night.

Justice:

Justice football fell to 0-2 after a 42-6 loss to the Mount Vernon Majors. A 6-7 deficit after one quarter gave high hopes for a competitive game, but the Majors rapidly pulled away with two touchdowns in the second.

The Wolves will have another tough matchup ahead of them this Friday when they go up against the undefeated Robinson Rams (2-0).

Volleyball won in dramatic fashion, defeating Lake Braddock 3-2.

Tuesday afternoon Coed Golf will play Thomas Jefferson at Pinecrest Golf Course, and boys cross country will compete in an Invitational Saturday.

Following the cancellation of Tuesdays game against Herndon, Justice field hockey will continue their season with a tourney opening against Wakefield on Friday.

once a month.

Please send questions and comments to pantry@fchsptsa.org

Falls Church PTSA Meeting

Parent’s should mark their calendars and join Falls Church High School for their PTSA meeting on Thursday, September 15 at 7 p.m. .The PTSA meetings offer an open forum for two way communications with the high school’s administration and their PTSA team.

At this meeting, Dr Nowak will give updates on the new school year to date, the renovation and the new phone policy.

Mary Ellen Henderson Spirit Night

Good goes beyond the sub.

Join this Thursday, September 8th in support of the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. They’re donating 15 percent of sales in support of this fundraiser. So stop by, enjoy some great subs and help Jersey Mike’s support this worthy cause. Valid only at: 1108-A West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA. (703)-534-7827

Volunteers Needed

Justice High School’s Athletic

Boosters need help. They squeaked by with a low number of super

hard working volunteers last year. Their concession stands need more volunteers. They are back to full concession stand sales this season.. Their concession stands are 100 percent volunteer run.

All net profits of each event go to support every team. FCPS provides no budget to the athletic office. All funds generated for athletic accounts come from ticket sales and booster donations — a majority of which comes from concession sales. “It takes a village” to support an athletic program — please sign up.

KICKING OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, Stripes the Oak Street Tiger, Gertie the JTP Giraffe, and Danny, the Mt Daniel Hippo, mingled with OSE Principal: Karim Daugherty, JTP Director: Amanda Davis, and MD Principal: Tim Kasik. (Photo: Mike Sakata)

MERIDIAN VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY captured a decisive win for their home opener on Wednesday, 8/31. (Photo: Bella Gardner)

MUSTANG VARSITY FOOTBALL will host a home game on Friday, September 9th at 7 p.m. (Photo: Miles Peirre)

Community News & Notes

Encore Learning Celebrates Twenty Years

Encore Learning, an Arlington, VA based nonprofit that provides college-level, noncredit courses, special events and clubs, is celebrating 20 years of bringing world-class courses, events and clubs to lifelong learners over age 50.

The celebration is on Monday, September 12, 2022 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m in Van Metre Hall, George Mason University’s Mason Square at 3351 Fairfax, Drive, Arlington, VA. The event is free and requires advance registration. The celebration will include a short, exciting program (begins at 3:00 p.m.) and recognition of 20 years of accomplishments. They will also honor special volunteers and salute a vibrant future. A social hour with light refreshments will follow the program.

Encore Learning is now in its

40th semester and has over 900 active members. Over the past 20 years, they’ve served over 3,500 members with courses, clubs and Special Events in Fine Arts, Theater & Music, Health and Wellness, History, Law, Politics, Literature & Writing, Science & Technology and Social Sciences, all at a reasonable cost.

The organization is located on George Mason University’s Arlington Campus, which is where most of the in-person classes and events are held, although many of their offerings are virtual via Zoom.

Bethesda Arts Festival Accepts

Three Falls Church Residents

On Saturday, October 8, Bethesda Row’s Arts and Entertainment District will transform into a massive outdoor art gallery featuring ceramics, drawing,

fiber, glass, printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, sculpture, and other disciplines from over 160 carefully jury-selected artists around the country. The 25th Annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival, which has been recognized as one of the most important art events in the country by Art Fair Sourcebook and Sunshine Artists, will run from Saturday, October 8 (11 a.m. — 6 p.m.) to Sunday, October 9, (10 a.m. — 5 p.m.).

This year the Bethesda Row Arts Festival has accepted three Falls Church residents into the show, one being a silversmith and internationally recognized operatic tenor. Please find more about the Bethesda Row Arts Festival We thought you may be interested in featuring them in an article. One is not only a silversmith but an internationally recognized operatic tenor. Please find more about the festival at bethesdarowarts.org, as well as more about the FC artists.

Body Dynamics Inc. Hosts Open House

Body Dynamics Inc. is hosting an open house on Saturday, September 254 and Saturday, September 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 410 South Maple Avenue Suite #100, Falls Church.

ENCORE LEARNING is celebrating 20 years of bringing “worldclass” courses, events and clubs to lifelong learners over the age of 50. Based in Arlington, Encore Learning is a nonprofit organization and has over 900 members. The celebration will take place Monday, September 12 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Van Metre Hall, George Mason University. (Photo Courtesy: Terry Smith)

The open house event will showcase Body Dynamics’ services and allow participants to ask questions. Light refreshments will be served. New clients, who attend the Open House, will receive 50 percent off their first fitness, massage, or nutrition session or 10 percent off their first PT session!

Personal Property Tax Rate Lowered as Bill Increases

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY is the nation’s largest singleday volunteer event for public lands. Volunteers are needed for Lake Fairfax Park as a stewardship celebration will take place on Saturday, September 24 from 9:15 a.m. until noon. Volunteers will be led by FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole and plant trees, remove invasive plants and contribute to the overall beautification of the grounds at Lake Fairfax. Breakfast will be provided followed by remarks from local officials. (Courtesy

cancel out the total increase in all vehicle values. The increase varies widely from year, make, model, and type of vehicle. This year about 85 percent of vehicles owned by City residents increased in value, compared to 15 percent of vehicles increasing in value last year.

The tax is due October 5 and can be paid online at www.fallschurchva.gov/Payments. Payment can also be mailed or placed in the yellow drop box outside the City Hall main entrance; please include payment and the bill stub. The mailing address is Treasurer, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046.

National Public Lands Day: Volunteers Needed

all beautification of the grounds at Lake Fairfax. This event is ideal for school service hours and corporate group projects. Volunteers 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is generously supported by the Fairfax County Park Foundation. For more information and to sign up, check the PSA.

Oak Hill Manor Open House Event Returns In Person

OAK HILL MANOR in Annandale is holding a special, once-ayear open house on Saturday, September 17 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Photo Courtesy: Cindy Fortuno)

Vehicle owners in the City of Falls Church will likely see an increase in the Personal Property Tax (also known as the Car Tax) when bills are delivered to mailboxes this week. In April, City Council approved a 14 percent temporary decrease in the personal property tax rate to help with the expected increase. The rate for this year is $4.30 per $100 of assessed value (down from $5.00).

The decrease in the rate will not

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Join FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole on the last stop of her 420 parks tour for a community stewardship celebration at Lake Fairfax Park. Activities run from 9:15 a.m. until noon on Saturday, September 24.

Volunteers will enjoy a light breakfast, followed by remarks from local officials. Expert naturalists will be on hand to help volunteers plant trees, remove invasive plants and contribute to the over-

The historic Oak Hill Manor in Annandale, Virginia, holds a special, once-a-year open house, allowing visitors to take a closer look at local history. This private residence will once again open its door on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 12 — 4 p.m. Parking will be off site at 4414 Holborn Ave. at the Nancy Sprague Technology Center in Annandale; a free shuttle bus service will provide visitors with transportation to the Manor. Limited onsite handicapped accessible parking is available at the site, located at the side entrance at 4716 Wakefield Chapel Rd. The Manor, done in a Georgian style of architecture, was constructed circa 1790 on the historic Ravensworth tract by Richard Fitzhugh, a descendant of

Photo: Cindy Fortuno)

one of the first land-grant holders in Northern Virginia. The 1940s brought renovations to the house by restoration architect Walter M. Macomber, done in the Colonial Revival style. The name “Oak Hill” is derived from two large oak trees on the property. In 2004, Oak Hill was listed in the National Register of Historic Places; that same year, the Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and Seville Homes agreed to a historic and conservation easement to preserve the privately owned Oak Hill home and its property, including 200-year-old boxwoods. In addition to the tour of the first floor and grounds, outdoor interpretive programs help educate visitors about what life was like at Oak Hill, also highlighting the experiences of the enslaved people who lived on the property before and during the Civil War. For more information about Oak Hill and

this year’s event, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/oak-hill.

Outdoor Movies Return to Falls Church’s Cherry Park

Falls Church City’s Sunset Cinema will be held on three dates this fall — Friday, Sept. 23, Friday, Sept. 30 and Friday, Oct. 7. The first movie will be “Encanto,” sponsored by Welcoming Falls Church, an organization supporting refugees and immigrants. The next two movies on the schedule will be “Sing 2” and “The Goonies.”

Sunset Cinema takes place at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Avenue) and is sponsored by the City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and a picnic along for the movie. Drinks, popcorn and snacks will be available for purchase. In the case of inclement weather, screenings will be moved into the Community Center as available. For more

information, visit fallschurchva. gov/sunsetcinema.

Tickets On Sale for Tina Turner Musical

Tickets are currently on sale for “Tina — the Tina Turner Musical” at Washington, DC’s National Theatre, located mere steps from the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. “Tina” will play for three weeks only, from October 4 — October 23. Tickets can be purchased online at broadwayatthenational.com or in person at the box office located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. Box Office hours are Monday — Friday, 12 — 6 p.m., with extended evening and weekend hours during performance days. The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, with one intermission.

Annual Food Drive

Welcoming Falls Church is partnering with Columbia Baptist Spend Yourself Food Pantry again to begin collecting for the annual food drive starting on Sunday, Sept 11th. You can drop off these items at our Ice Cream Social, as well as locations around Falls Church throughout Welcoming Week. Sign up to host a location for food drive drop offs in your neighborhood. We will stop officially collecting on September 16, but direct donations to the food pantry are always welcome and appreciated.

Founders Row II Project Site Approved

The Founders Row II mixeduse development project recently received site plan approval from the Planning Commission.

The building layout and vehicle entrances are conditionally approved pending a City staff final administrative review of the Site Plan to clean up any remaining details.

After which, the developer can apply for a demolition permit followed by a building permit. Construction should start later this year.

Here Comes The Senior Olympians

The opening ceremonies of the 40th Northern Virginia Senior Olympics will take place, Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. 2nd St. Arlington.

NVSO Chair Herb Levitan, Arl., said, “The public is invited to attend the opening starting at 9:30 a.m. and stay for seven track events that will follow.”

Competition will take place at 25 different venues throughout Northern Virginia and continue through Saturday, Sept. 24. Chair Levitan reported that 831 senior adults are participating, a 20 percent increase over last

year. They will be competing in 70 plus events. “Pickleball, track, field and table tennis have garnered the most registrants. The oldest participant is Vera Punke of Arlington, age 107 who is registered to play duplicate bridge. The complete schedule of events is on the NVSO website, www.nvso.us . Results of each event will be posted on the website as the competition continues. All events are open to the public. For more information, check the website or email nvso1982@ gmail.com.

Annual Civil War Books, Relics and Memorabilia Show

The Annual Civil War Books, Relics and Memorabilia Show will be held at the Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge on Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25. The event will run from 10:00 – 6:00 both days. Admission is $5.00 per person. Vendors are welcome. For additional information, please call Bud Mayo 703-3891505 or mayo5304@cox.net

FOR YEARS, RESIDENTS ACROSS VIRGINIA have been a part of the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child, which helps millions of children in need through gift-filled shoeboxes. On September 8th at 7:00 p.m., there will be a project leader workshop at Expectation Church in Fairfax.

With local experts throughout the DMV, Fulcrum Properties Group is positioned to meet the needs of The Little City... and beyond!

We Work Where We Live

THE 40TH NORTHERN VIRGINIA SENIOR OLYMPICS

will take place Saturday, September 10 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, starting at 9:30 a.m. Competition will take place at 25 different venues throughout Northern Virginia and continue through Saturday, September 24.

(Photo Courtesy: Lydia Patrick)

(Photo: Angela Amos)

FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR

FCNP Featured event ay

because September

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

PROJECT LEADERS WORKSHOP. For years, residents across Virginia have been a part of the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child, which helps millions of children in need through gift-filled shoeboxes. The Project Leader Workshop is an opportunity to learn how churches and groups can bring hope to children through shoebox gifts. Expectation Church, 11924 Braddock Rd., Fairfax. 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE. The Inova Blood Donor Services supports 9/11 Day by offering the community an opportunity to honor those who lost their lives and the heroes who responded following the tragic events of Sept.11. Support your community by volunteering or donating blood with IBDS and help ensure blood is available for local patients in need. VFW Post 9274 (7118 Shreve Rd., Falls Church) 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

TRUCK & TOSS. Experience some of the area's best food trucks, sample local beers, and play cornhole for a cause! General admission covers 3 generous food truck tastings, and unlimited craft beer samples. Grace Christian Academy (3233 Annandale

Rd, Falls Church). 4 p.m.

GARFIELD MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH'S FALL YARD SALE. Come participate in Garfield Memorial Christian Church's amazing annual Fall yard sale event on Saturday, September 10th, between 9:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m. Enjoy live music while you shop or sell. 1731 Great Falls St, McLean.

ROSSLYN JAZZ FEST. Jazz is back in Rosslyn this milestone year. The festival is bringing a diverse lineup of four fantastic acts to the stage: Cimafunk, Mwenso & The Shakes, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, and Groove Orchestra. Gateway Park (1300 Langston Blvd)

1 p.m.

YOGA AT SHIPGARTEN. Roll out your mat in the grassy field of Shipgarten, the premier food and beergarten experience in Tyson's Corner. First, enjoy a yoga flow for all levels, led by Hillary. Then, sip a beverage (alcoholic or nonalcoholic; included) and stay to play and eat. 7581 Colshire Drive, Mclean. 11:00 a.m.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

SEPTEMBER 11TH MEMORIAL SERVICE. The September 11th Memorial Service will be held this Sunday, September 11th at 11 a.m. honoring the almost 3,000 lives lost on 9-11-2001, in New York at the twin towers of the World Trade Center, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and in Arlington, Virginia at the Pentagon Building. National Memorial Cemetery, 7482 Lee

Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. Phone: 703-560-4400

BOOK SALE Join us for our quarterly Friends of the Tysons-Pimmit Library Used Book Sale, September 8-11, 2022, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. each day. Peruse our collection of nearly 15,000 books and media for sale in Children’s, History, Fiction, Mystery, Biographies, Self-Help, Home, Sports and Hobbies, Business, Politics, Cookbooks, and more!

KUNDALINI YOGA. Don't miss out on this special offering of Kundalini Yoga in our Salt Room! Experience the benefits of salt therapy as you breathe in micro-particles of salt that help to cleanse the respiratory system and rejuvenate the skin. 929 W Broad St, Falls Church. 11:00 a.m.

—1p.m.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

BASH BOXING POP-UP IN THE PARK. The Arlington-based boxing-inspired full-body group fitness experience is opening its doors later this year. Join us for a 45-minute bodyweight beginner-friendly sweat session. Strawberry Park (Fairfax, VA). 6 p.m. p.m. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

CULINARY KIDS. It's Culinary Literacy month at the library. Come hear a story and prepare a delicious afternoon snack to enjoy! If you have questions about the appropriate age for a program or its content please call the branch at 703-790-8088 (option 4). Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 4:30 — 5:30 p.m.

13 is International Chocolate Day! Whether you prefer your chocolate dark, milk, or white, with or without nuts, there is barely anyone who can resist its fla vor. While no one needs an excuse to enjoy some chocolate, today is the perfect day to indulge in your favorite chocolate delicacy without any guilt. Because chocolate is so loved around the world, there couldn't just be one date to celebrate it. While many people associate chocolate with something that is unhealthy, there are many benefits to having a moderate amount of dark chocolate every day. Dark chocolate has many antioxidants, which help with your heart and circulation, reducing the risk of strokes, and it also reduces cholesterol and regulates your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. If this wasn't enough, dark chocolate has been proven to improve your mood, by releasing endorphins when you eat it.

BASH BOXING POP-UP on Monday, September 12 allows participants for a boxing-inpsired group fitness experience at the Mosaic District from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Photo Courtesy: Alexa Garcia)

TRUCK & TOSS is Annandale's "premier" food truck, craft beer, cornhole festival, along with children's activities and a craft market. The festival will be held at Grace Christian Academy in Annandale on Saturday, September 10 and begins at 4:00 p.m. . (Photo courtesy: Julie Crain)

JOHNNY BURGIN is a blues guitarist and harmonica player from Williamsport, PA. Since 1997, he has released ten recordings under his own name and has played on numerous other recordings as a sideman. Burgin will be performing at JV's Restaurant on Thursday, September 8 at 8:00 p.m.

CALENDAR

Outpost (444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA ). 8 p.m. (571) 378-1469

TYLER GOLDSTEIN. Dogwood Tavern (132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA) 9:30 p.m. (703) 237-8333

SWELL BAND. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8:30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

BIG TOW . Mark’s Pub (2190 Pimmit Dr, Falls Church). 8 p.m. (703)-356-3822

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

LADYWOOD. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington

Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 7:30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

JOHNNY BURGIN BAND FROM CHICAGO.

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8 p.m. (703) 2419504

GREAT NORTHERN. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St, Falls Church,

LIVE MUSIC THEATER & ARTS

VA) 7:30 p.m. (703) 237-0300

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

DAN AND CHUCK. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N Washington St, Falls Church) 5:30 p.m. (703) 5329283

FISHBONE. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA) 8:00 p.m. (703) 237-0300

THE MERCENARY HOUSE BAND. Solace

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

CREATIVE CAULDRON CABARET SERIES. Every weekend through September, Creative Cauldron is saluting the best musical and musical theater talent in the DMV with a cabaret series! This Friday, September 9, Sarah Anne Sillers (SHOUT!

The Mod Musical) and Joshua Simon (Beauty and the Beast) reunite at Creative Cauldron with their husbands, pianists Andrew Kullberg and Brandon Scott Heishman, for a one-night-only musical “double date," and Saturday, September 10, Susan Derry of Broadway and Bold New Works returns after her recordbreaking holiday cabaret for a tour de force of musical theater and opera with her humor and signature soprano voice.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

“WILD”—AN ALL-MEDIA EXHIBIT. Thirty-one artists will be featured in an all-media exhibit inspired by the word “Wild” at the

Falls Church Arts gallery from August 20 to October 2. The theme for this exhibit was selected in collaboration with Falls Church Arts Instagram followers who narrowed down a list of words that represented possible show themes. Falls Church Arts Gallery is at 700-B West Broad St. (Route 7), Falls Church. 9:00 a.m.

HOST & GUEST. This Synetic classic, based on a Georgian epic poem, tells the ancient story of a family who takes in a lost stranger to discover he is from an enemy clan, and their valiant attempt to save him when their village wreaks vengeance. Performed around the world, Host & Guest is a timely and relevant tale of war, strife, the beliefs that tear us apart, and the humanity that brings us together. Synetic Theater (1800 S Bell St, Arlington) 7:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

AN EVENING WITH THE WASHINGTON BALLET.

The Washington Ballet celebrates one of the most beloved works by choreographic master George Balanchine alongside a trio of original works including choreog-

rapher Silas Farley’s commissioned work Werner Sonata & The Washington Ballet’s own Andile Ndlovu, a lively celebration of the creative process and a showcase for

the company’s diverse range of talents Filene Center (1551 Trap Road, Vienna). Tickets start at $30. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

(Photo: Johnny Burgin)

"LOOK IN HER EYES" by Matthew Malone and Kurtis Ceppetelli is just one of of the many artworks displayed in the Falls Church Art Gallery for their "Wild" all-media exhibit. The exhibit includes works by 31 artists in the local area. (Photo Courtesy: Michele Black)

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

The following, regarding “Founders Row” (110 Founders Ave.), was heard at the August 8, 2022 City Council meeting. A public hearing and final City Council action is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

(TR22-35) RESOLUTION TO AMEND

RESOLUTION 2018-37 TO CHANGE THE APPROVED VOLUNTARY CONCESSIONS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AMENDED AND DATED FEBRUARY 22, 2021 (RESOLUTION 202107) TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF THEATER SEATS REQUIRED AND PROVIDE FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY UNTIL THE THEATER LEASE IS EXECUTED FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS “FOUNDERS ROW” ON APPLICATION BY MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL TRUST (FOUNDERS ROW HOLDING, LLC)

(TR22-36) RESOLUTION TO ADOPT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND FOUNDERS ROW HOLDINGS LLC

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www. fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

THE FOLLOWING, REGARDING “FOUNDERS ROW” (110 FOUNDERS AVE.), PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 AT 7:30 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE MATTER MAY BE HEARD.

(TR22-35) RESOLUTION TO AMEND RES-

OLUTION 2018-37 TO CHANGE THE APPROVED VOLUNTARY CONCESSIONS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AMENDED AND DATED FEBRUARY 22, 2021 (RESOLUTION 202107) TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF THEATER SEATS REQUIRED AND PROVIDE FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY UNTIL THE THEATER LEASE IS EXECUTED FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS “FOUNDERS ROW” ON APPLICATION BY MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL TRUST (FOUNDERS ROW HOLDING, LLC)

ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 300 PARK AVENUE, FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA. FOR MEETING INFORMATION VISIT WWW.FALLSCHURCHVA.GOV/364/

PLANNING-COMMISSION. COMMENTS MAY ALSO BE SENT TO GFULLER@FALLSCHURCHVA.GOV. FOR COPIES OF LEGISLATION, CONTACT THE CITY PLANNING OFFICE AT (703248-5040) OR PLAN@FALLSCHURCHVA.

GOV. THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IS COMMITTED TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY, CALL 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

GARY FULLER, DEPUTY PLANNING DIRECTOR AUCTIONS

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

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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 3678530. Toll free call (888) 5513247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

BACK IN THE DAY

Falls Church News-Press

Vol. VII, No. 25 • September 4, 1997

Whittier, Marriot & State Theatre at Mercy of BZA for Parking Variances

Three vital new Falls Church developmental projects come before the City’s Board of Zoning Appeals next week needing relief from the City’s parking laws in order to push ahead with their plans. Relief is sought from the stiff code parking rules.

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Falls Church News-Press

Vol. XXII, No. 27 • September 6, 2012

Snyder Returns, Tilts Council to Use Surplus for Technology Upgrades

With Vice Mayor David Snyder away on business most of August, three members of the Falls Church City Council seeking to use a portion of the $3.4 million surplus from the last fiscal year budget to fund needed school technology upgrades could not muster a majority.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CORA BROCK. I am 11 years old and a rising 6th grader at Mary Ellen Henderson. I would like to submit my dog, Daisy, for Critter Corner. She is a 4 year old pitbull mix and often misunderstood. She loves to hangout in the backyard on a sunny day. She is the best.

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

Mustang Athletic Hall Of Fame Announces 2022 Class

BY JOEL HAMME FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The Mustang Athletic Hall of Fame Committee for Meridian High School (formerly, George Mason High School) has elected three coaches, seven athletes, one program supporter, and one multi-year team as its 2022 Hall of Fame Class. The class, plus one additional athlete who was previously elected, will be honored at ceremonies to be conducted on October 7-8 - the ninth inductions in the history of the Hall. They join 50 athletes, four coaches/administrators, and five teams that have already been inducted into or recognized by the Hall.

Tom Horn: During his 20 year tenure as Athletic Director, Mustang teams won 45 state championships in nine different sports, and seven new teams were added as inter-scholastic

sports. He was also a successful football and baseball coach with teams winning district championships in both sports.

Jenn Parsons Fees: Her girls’ soccer teams garnered eight straight state championships (2008-15), and she was awarded multiple State Coach of the Year honors as well as being the Spring 2011 Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year in girls’ soccer.

LaBryan Thomas: Coach T’s girls’ basketball teams earned three state championships (2009, 2010, and 2012) while making five straight final four appearances (2009-13), and he was named Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year in girls’ basketball in 2013 as well as State Coach of the Year in 2012.

Kim Kenny (2009): Twotime first team All-State in girls’ soccer where she played on two state championship teams

(2008-09) and was State Player of the Year in 2009. Starting center and major contributor on the girls’ basketball team that won the state championship in 2009.

Clare Trevisan (2014) : Three-time first team All-State in girls’ soccer and two-time State Player of the Year (2013, 2014). Played on four straight state championship teams (2011-14).

Grant Goodwin (2016): Twotime first team All-State in boys’ soccer and State Player of the Year in 2016. First male athlete to play on four state championship boys’ soccer teams (201316).

Elliot Mercado (2016): Three-time first team All-State in boys’ soccer and State Player of the Year in 2015. Holds school records for single season and career goals. In basketball, scored over 900 points in his career and was second team All-

Since 1991, the News-Press has been on a mission to

recognize and appreciate

State his senior year when the team went 29-1.

D’Montae Noble (2016) : Three sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. All-time Mustang career rusher in football with over 5,000 yards. First team All-State his senior year. Starred in rugby at Kutztown University where he was a 7s All-American. Currently plays for the LA Giltinis in Major League Rugby.

Miller Surette (2016): Won four individual state championships in boys’ swimming and was a member of six state championship relay teams. During his career, the Mustangs won three state championships in boys’ swim and dive (2014-16).

Robert Tartt (2016): Career 1,000 point scorer in boys’ basketball and was first team All-State his senior year when the team was undefeated until losing in the state semi-finals. Later played at Marymount

University and Northern Virginia Community College.

Lindy Hockenberry (Program Supporter): Over her long teaching career at the high school, Lindy has attended countless athletic contests, including many in sports that attract less attention. For her boundless enthusiasm and dedicated fandom, she is the first Program Supporter to be inducted in the Hall.

2014-16 Boys’ Soccer Teams: Captured thee state championships and lost only two matches in three years. An illustration of their dominance: season goal differentials were 139 in 2014, 157 in 2015, and 139 in 2016.

Kan Tagami (2012) will also be inducted. He was a member of the Hall Class of 2019 but was unable to attend ceremonies at that time. Kan won two state singles titles in boys’ tennis and was a member of three state championship teams (2010-12).

Now,