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February 14 – 20, 2019

FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE

FOU N D E D 1991 • VOL. XXVIII NO. 52

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Former City of Falls Church developer Todd Hitt has pleaded guilty to eight securities fraud schemes that resulted in losses to investors of about $20 million. SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 9

Ferment Calling for Ouster of Top 3 State Elected Officials Cooling Gov. Northam, AG Herring Hit for Racism, Lt. Gov. Fairfax for Rape Allegations

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

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The News-Press has announced the dates for Falls Church Restaurant Week 2019 with the seventh annual Little City event set for the end of March.

SEE BUSINESS NEWS & NOTES, PAGE 14

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It was reported late Wednesday that the total taxable assessed value for all properties in Falls Church, as of Jan. 1, is $4.28 billion, a 3.35 percent increase from last year. SEE PAGE 4

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Sierra Hull felt the borders of her bluegrass roots were too constricting and decided to expand her musical horizons. SEE PAGE 23

INDEX

Editorial............... 6 Letters.............6, 8 News & Notes 10–11 Comment ..... 12–13 Business News . 14 Sports ............... 16

Calendar ..... 18–19 Classified Ads ... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ........ 21 Crime Report .... 22 Critter Corner....22

The frantic tempo of calls, demands and promises of action of leading Democratic officials that attended the first days of the dizzying sequence of ugly revelations and charges involving Virginia’s three top state elected officials, all Democrats — Gov. Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring — in the last two weeks has cooled in recent days, maybe due at least in part to a less than enthusiastic participation by the party’s rank and file. Meetings called by Arlington Democrats in the last days and an array of email comments and many other communiques sug-

gest this. Under the leadership of Arlington Democrats’ chair Jill Caiazzo, two “listening sessions” were held in the last week to sound out Democrat constituents on the crises, one focused on the race issue last Thursday, and a second on the sexual assault issue Sunday night. Nuance prevailed in both, with issues of due process, definitions of consent, overly quick condemnations, racial factors in passing swift judgments being aired. On the weekend of Feb. 1-2, swift and strident demands came from virtually all Democratic elected officials in the state, not to mention from Republicans, that all three officials resign for their roles, in the cases of Northam and Herring, in wearing raciallyoffensive “blackface” makeup in

the 1980s and, in the case of Fairfax, in the face of allegations of sexual assault and rape in the last two decades. But things began to change beginning with Northam the day after damning evidence was first revealed against him on Feb. 2, when he held a press conference refusing demands to resign in the context of rescinding a dayearlier apparent confession that a medical school yearbook photo showing an offensive blackface makeup next to another with Ku Klux Klan garb actually were of him. That happened just as earlier allegations against Fairfax, who would have been Northam’s successor had he resigned, resurfaced from a woman, associate college professor Dr. Vanessa

Tyson, claiming he had assaulted her in his hotel room during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. Even though the Washington Post had vetted that allegation last year and determined it could not be corroborated, and Fairfax insisted the encounter was “consensual,” a cascade of Democratic elected officials’ demands for Fairfax’s resignation, on top of Northam’s, ensued almost instantly. The ink on headlines about that had barely dried when Herring, who would be second in line of succession to replace the governor behind Fairfax, stepped forward with his own confession of a party where he wore blackface in college.

Continued on Page 5

Popular Falls Church City ‘Pillar’ Gary LaPorta Dies Suddenly BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Longtime City of Falls Church resident, business owner, Chamber of Commerce leader and civic activist Gary LaPorta died suddenly at his home in the City last Friday. City of Falls Church Police were called to his apartment in the 301 W. Broad building Sunday for a welfare check at the request of his daughter, who lives near Roanoke, and found him deceased, according to reports. LaPorta, 72, was recovering from a heart attack shortly

before Christmas. A employee of the Commissioner of the Revenue office at City Hall, he was given a “clean bill of health” following surgery and a recovery period in an area hospital following that incident and had returned to work. In the meantime, LaPorta was elected president of the City’s Citizens for a Better City (CBC) organization last month. A veteran and widower, a native of Cold Springs, New York, since moving to Falls Church he ran a popular local business that drew busloads of touring miniatures collectors, known as Miniatures from the Attic. He

was a two-term board chairman of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and an activist in support of a range of local causes from involvement in support of the Falls Church City Schools to being a board member of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee. He was also involved as a volunteer with the Creative Cauldron theater troupe, the Falls Church League of Women Voters, a City task force on parking and towing and was a member of the City’s Employee Advisory Council.

Continued on Page 4

GARY LAPORTA. (P��: B�� S�� P��)

PAGE 2 | FEBRUARY 14 - 20, 2019

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PAGE 4 | FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Overall F.C. Real Estate Assessments Up 3.35%

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

According to a press release from the Falls Church City Hall issued late Wednesday, the total taxable assessed value for all properties in Falls Church City, as of Jan. 1, 2019, is $4,283,488,712, a 3.35 percent increase from a year earlier.

New construction, valued at $44.75 million, accounts for 31.7 percent of the increase in assessed value in the City, and market appreciation accounts for the remainder. Residential new construction accounted for $38.1 million of growth; commercial new construction account for $6.5 million of growth. Overall commercial property

values in the City increased 4.3 percent since January 2018; overall residential real estate values increased 2.93 percent over the last year. Single family home and townhomes had varying changes but overall were up 2.87 percent and 1.02 percent respectively; and residential condominiums had varying changes but overall

GARY LAPORTA at the podium accepting the “Pillar of the Community” award at the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce Gala in 2018. (Photo: Brenda Schrier Photography)

Longtime City of F.C. Resident & Activist, Gary LaPorta, Dies

Continued from Page 1

“Gary LaPorta made Falls Church a better place by making it his home,” said Falls Church Vice Mayor Mary Beth Connelly in a statement to the News-Press this week. “He was relentless in pursuit of the common good as a volunteer, leader, entertainer, employee, neighbor and friend.” Also as a representative of the Falls Church City School System, Connelly said that “LaPorta was a valued school partner. In addition to attending numerous public meetings and

asking great questions, he volunteered in the schools whenever he could.” She cited among his contributions to the schools the following: He served on the Business in Education (BIE) Advisory Committee for many years. Starting in 2006, he hosted a series of Thomas Jefferson Elementary fourth grade field trips at his Miniatures From the Attic to learn about area, perimeter and scale by measuring for a doll house. He donated a Harry Potter dollhouse to TJ and visited classes while winning the Acacia Bank Good Guy

Award for his efforts. At Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School he served for several years as a competition judge and he volunteered as a guest reader at Mt. Daniels’ Read Across America events. School Board member Lawrence Webb wrote that he was “a true pillar of the community in Falls Church.” “Gary was a great man and friend. He was the heart and soul of our community,” wrote Sally Cole, executive director of the F.C. Chamber of Commerce. “He was one of the most loyal, selfless, and supportive people I have

increased 4.91 percent. As set forth in the Virginia Constitution, real estate is supposed to be assessed at 100 percent of fair market value. The City’s Office of Real Estate Assessment calculates property value annually using mass appraisal techniques that are standard in the real estate assessment industry. City assessments will be ever met. He was a great friend to me personally and professionally, as he was to many in our community. He was a fixture at Chamber events and a tireless supporters of the Chamber, its events, and community events. His life here was too short but the impact he made will be felt for generations. He was a good man, one of the best men I have ever had the opportunity to know.” With the Falls Church Chamber, he was the recipient of the Pillar of the Community Award in 2018, the Commander Hap Day Memorial Appreciation Award in 2013, and served as a the Chamber’s board chair in 2007 and 2008, was vice chair of its membership committee in 2006, 2016-2018, Chamber legislative committee vice chair 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014, Chamber secretary 2017-2019 and on the Chamber board of directors from 2005-2010 and 2013-2019. LaPorta’s boss in the Commissioner of the Revenue office, Tom Clinton wrote, “Gary was great to have as a friend, great to have in the office, and great to have in the community. He was always giving back to Falls Church City and in so many different ways.” In comments to the NewsPress, F.C. Watch Night co-founder Barbara Cram wrote “He shared so much of himself with others and was so kind and wise...I have lost a very good friend. I love Gary. He was selfless in his service because he loved helping others. He has such a great spirit of joy and sharing the good things in life.” She added, “He was just a common sense person with a huge heart and always looking out for his friends and making new ones! He was always available for lending a helping hand. I will think of him when I see the stars twinkle at night. He leaves

mailed to property owners later in February, and updated and more detailed assessment information will be posted on the City website by next Tuesday. The assessments announced this week will be the basis for decisions the City Council will make later this spring on its operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. a big space to fill here in our hearts and in our City.” Peg Willingham on behalf of the Falls Church Democratic Committee wrote, “Gary was a wonderful man whose warm smile, kind heart and generous spirit will be greatly missed. As an active and dedicated member of the F.C. Democratic Committee he was always quick to volunteer, contribute and welcome others. Whether it was registering voters, seconding motions at meetings, staffing booths at festivals, or tending bar at our annual potluck supper, Gary radiated positive energy and made everyone around him feel special.” Chamber member Gordon Theisz wrote, “When you think of Falls Church, you think of Gary. He was ever present. He was a friend to everyone.” Planning Commissioner Tim Stevens wrote, “Always an upbeat person who looked for ways to make a positive contribution to everything he was involved with.” Local residents Dennis Szymanski wrote, “Such a good guy. Always engaging and interesting to talk with” and Karen Akers wrote, “Gary was one of the finest human beings I ever knew.” Local activist Ken Feltman added, “Gary worked, almost always successfully, to find solutions to problems and contentious issues. He and I had a ‘pancake compact,’ as each time one of us had pancakes, one or both of us would contribute $5 to a local charity.” Former City Council member Johannah Barry wrote, “He was a gem.” Delegate Marcus Simon has expressed an interest in obtaining a formal commendation in his memory from the Virginia State Legislature. Funeral arrangements are pending and were not available at press time.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Va. Leaders Continued from Page 1

Between Friday, Feb. 1, when the first yearbook evidence against Northam surfaced thanks to a right wing website, and Monday, Feb. 4, when the Herring news hit the papers, the Virginia Democratic Party went from being on a historic roll, holding all three statewide offices and gearing to win control of the state’s Senate and House of Delegates in this year’s elections, to being seemingly in total disarray and writhing on the floor. Pundits were astonished that Northam had not consented to resign in the first 24 hours of his scandal, and his lengthy press conference on Saturday was characterized as awkward and desperate. He apparently hurt his cause when he volunteered to being a Michael Jackson fan in college and dressed in blackface at a party. But clearly, blackface is a cruel form of racial prejudice in the long and unsavory history of Virginia as the capital of a Confederate insurgency that sought to rend the United States in two in defense of slavery, a popular legacy that has been car-

ried forward to include the naming of the official University of Virginia yearbook “The Cork and Curls,” alluding to how blackface is applied, to this day. Many Democratic officials deferred to the calls of the Democratic Black Caucus of the legislature for resignations by Northam and Herring, joining in solidarity with those calls. The judgments against Fairfax were equally swift, with pronouncements by Democratic elected officials on social media setting off firestorms, though definite evidence of a lack of consensus became clear as the comments piled up. The momentum began to fade overall by Feb. 7. An editorial in the Falls Church News-Press read, “How ironic that for all of the ugliness of the pasts from which they may have come, our leaders in Virginia today who are being so harshly judged now all chose in their adult lives to walk the paths of equality, justice and healing.” The Virginia House Democrats issued a statement from Richmond later that day which dropped all references to resignation demands while affirming a “deep and unequivocal disappointment in our governor and attorney general,” and “a continuing monitor-

LO CA L ing of the allegations against the lieutenant governor.” “This is not a partisan problem,” the statement read. “This weekend we will be speaking with our constituents about their thoughts on how we best move forward as a Commonwealth past these difficult days and toward a place of healing,” and “doing the (legislative) work our constituents elected us to do.” On Friday, Feb. 8, news of a second woman, Meredith Watson, making allegations of rape against Fairfax (claimed while both were students at Duke University in 2000) surfaced, and that afternoon State Del. Patrick Hope of Arlington rekindled the call for immediate judgment by stating that, despite Fairfax’s denials, if Fairfax did not resign by Monday, he would introduce a formal call for his impeachment in the state legislature. Issues swirled around the questions of the formalities of impeachment on the weekend, and by Sunday night’s “listening session” in Arlington, some were accusing Hope of “unilateral grandstanding,” even though a former Hope aide present insisted that such an approach is not in the delegate’s nature. County Party chair Caiazzo conceded she was conflicted on the best

FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 5

response to the crisis, but ended the meeting by affirming the importance of Democrats “not losing traction on our progressive agenda,” and the need “to still focus on what we want to accomplish.” Fairfax called for the FBI to conduct an independent investigation of the allegations against him. This Monday, Hope dropped his plan to initiate impeachment proceedings against Fairfax, and Northam announced that he is dedicating the final years of his term as governor to focusing on civil rights concerns, issuing a press release on Tuesday noting that since he took over just over a year ago, “the civil rights of 10,992 Virginians previously convicted of a felony” had been restored, including the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for public office and become a notary public. “This is an important achievement that marks my administration’s unwavering commitment to fairness, rehabilitation, and restorative justice,” the statement said, noting that the effort built on the reforms of two of his predecessor governors, Robert McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe. For its scheduled monthly meeting next week, the Falls Church City Democratic Committee chair Peg Willingham sent out a memo

Tuesday urging board members to “share their own thoughts” on the “current political situation in Virginia,” but suggested that members of the group “do not address other persons directly or comment on what they have said.” Yesterday morning, respected Virginia Democratic figure Lawrence Roberts, former counselor to Sen. Tim Kaine and the Democratic National Committee, who has remained as Fairfax’s chief of staff in the wake of other staff resignations, issued a statement on social media saying, “I go to work today as a long-time supporter of the Violence Against Women Act and its reauthorization. I also go to work today as a continued supporter of our lieutenant governor.” He added, “I do not see those as inconsistent statements because of my firm belief that the lieutenant governor has not committed such violence against anyone ever. Women and men deserve to be heard and given safe space to tell their stories, to be understood, and to ensure that encounters are assessed fairly and with sensitivity to all concerned. For both women and men, we have a long way to go in our society to make that possible. Continuing on such a journey in a purposeful and timely way is essential.”

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E D I TO R I A L

A Really Good Guy

Nobody’s perfect, of course. But when it comes to leaving a good impression on almost everyone one has come across, accomplishing that is getting about a close as one can hope for. Falls Church’s very own, very original Gary LaPorta passed away suddenly last weekend just when we all least expected it. He had, after all, survived a heart attack in December and most often these days the surgical and rehab measures for one who survives that normally means he will subsequently outlive almost everyone else around. He seemed in excellent health and even more sparkly than ever, loving life and everyone in it for the extra lease he’d been provided. So the close call in December proved to be a trial run, too, for all who cherished his role in the Falls Church community when it happened. Many were profoundly impacted, made more conscious of his positive role among us, even as he played it down, in his modest fashion, and tried to convince us that his quick return to work, and his tireless volunteer and local engagement efforts, meant that nothing had really happened at all. For all the wonderful impressions he made on people in Falls Church, and evidence of that is found in the news article published on page 1 in this edition and in the scores more comments posted on social media since the news of his death was reported last Sunday, Gary lived alone in an apartment right in the center of the Little City. He had for years since his wife’s passing, and as tough as that can be for some, especially when distress might strike, for Gary he turned the entire city into his living room from the 8 a.m. Chamber board meetings to the late night final curtains on the Creative Cauldron’s stage. At every step of the way, he was lighthearted, humorous, genial and welcoming, even as he held to his firm views. He fit the prevailing ethos of Falls Church to a tee, and as a result he contributed significantly to it. He was for economic growth, for improving the schools, for free and fair elections, for equality. As a Chamber board member in 2006, he stood out for his outspoken support when the Chamber board became the only in the state to take a formal stand against the Marshall-Newman amendment that called for installing prejudice against same-sex couples in the state constitution. Gary was best at greeting people, which was why he enjoyed volunteering to do just that at innumerable public events, including welcoming and handing out name tags at the monthly luncheons of the Chamber of Commerce. He was the one who made sure attendees placed their business cards in the basket for the drawing at the end of each luncheon to dole out the table centerpieces. There are lots of ways in life to be the best. We almost all agree that he was.

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Asking F.C. High to Change Its Name is Repulsive Editor, I wish to disagree with the recent Letter to Editor requesting a name change to the 75-yearold name of Falls Church High School. As one of nearly 25,000+ FCHS alumni, this idea is repulsive, to be blunt. We love our high school’s name, complete with its historical ties to Falls Church (whether village, town or city) and

don’t see any reason to change. A little history review: Fairfax County paid for the original building at Cherry/Hillwood in 1945 in the then Town of Falls Church. The new county-owned school took in the students from the town’s Jefferson High (Jefferson Institute on Broad/Cherry) to help educate all local students. Once the town became a city in

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1948, it chose to build its new high school in 1951 and named it George Mason Jr./Sr. and we have happily coexisted since contrary to Mr. White’s claims of violence. Indeed, the 1954 FCHS Yearbook notes the longing remorse of the yearbook staff at the separation: “Perhaps the saddest event of our Sophomore year was the split (1951-1952) with our city classmates, who transferred to George Mason.” No violence noted there. Finally, if not yet clear that we, the alumni of Falls Church High, do not welcome the idea of changing our name to suit some non-Falls Church High person. Please look at

our mailing address, it is 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042. Go Jags! And go Mustangs, too! We are family! Craig Day Falls Church

Double Standard When It Comes to Virginia Democrats Editor, Your editorial entitled “The Sins of Virginia” is offensive.

Letters Continued on Page 8

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 7

Defending Democracy & Empowering Voters B� J�� B��

On Feb. 17, the League of Women Voters of Falls Church will be commemorating the National League of Women Voter’s 99th birthday. We invite all members of the Falls Church community to join us in a lively celebration of this important anniversary, remembering above all the power of engagement and the basic and sacred right to vote. The core values of the League, education and engagement, are increasingly important in our contentious political world. Voters want information on candidate positions, local referenda, and broader issues of national and international importance and look to the League as the reliable source for balanced, credible material on which to base their decisions at the ballot box. At the same time, the League is an activist, grassroots organization that believes citizens should play a critical role in advocacy and engagement. Is it possible to advocate a position while maintaining an apolitical stance? The League has almost 100 years of experience at creating and maintaining this very important balance and values its role as honest broker. The League’s presence in Falls Church began on May 1, 1951, and since that time, members have been extraordinarily active in a range of issues surrounding the City and its residents. A League bulletin published in June 1951 proudly reported, “Since the April meeting, the League has sent out a candidates’ questionnaire, run a candidates’ meeting, held a Finance Drive, published a

pamphlet on the Bond issues, attended the State Convention, sent a representative to the Citizen’ Advisory Committee on the Budget and put out numerous types of publicity.” Later that year, the League sponsored a foursession workshop on the School Budget.

“We bring local elections and community and national issues to the public arena.” From that auspicious beginning, the League continued to address other pertinent issues in the City. The mid-‘50s saw the League deeply involved in integration in the public school system of Falls Church. The League maintained its position on integration in the face of strong interest in the dissolution of the public school system in Virginia and promoted local options on school attendance laws and tuition grants. The League urged that black students be automatically assigned to the City schools unless they specifically requested the opportunity to finish their education where they had been attending previously. The late ’60s saw the League undertaking a three-part study investigating fair housing, housing supply, and solutions to the affordable housing shortage. The League took a leading role in the community in pressing

for a Fair Housing Ordinance and the establishment of a Fair Housing Commission. Since that time, the League has grown in number and joins 14 Leagues in the Commonwealth of Virginia, working to ensure all voters’ voices are heard. The League has studiously maintained its apolitical stance, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. We bring local elections and community and national issues to the public arena, ensuring that all participants have an equal voice and platform to be heard. The local Falls Church League is encouraged by both the National League, the Virginia League, and the National Capital Area League to explore a range of issues that are of most immediate concern and relevance to local politics. There is no shortage of engaging and immediate topics! Here in Falls Church, citizens have come to depend on the League’s Voter’s Guides and candidate forums. The League, often with other civic organizations such as the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, and with our neighboring Leagues in Arlington and Fairfax, sponsors popular issue forums where a range of speakers provide context to local issues and the public is encouraged to engage with local leaders. Recent examples include the role of money in politics, the right to work laws in Virginia, election integrity, school safety, and moderated discussions in the Oxford debate style regarding local bond initiatives. In addition to voter registration this past

fall, and a Spanish language edition of the Voter’s Guide available at all three polling places, League members also collected signatures for the OneVirginia2021 petition (redistricting reform in the Commonwealth). This issue crosses all party lines and seeks to ensure fair and equitable representation in precincts throughout the Commonwealth. The League continues to engage a new generation of voters. It is the only League in the Commonwealth with an active unit at the high school level. In its inaugural year, the LWV- George Mason High School unit will be observing the legislative process in Richmond later this month and moderating a candidate forum on April 7. The League also has been creative in its outreach, creating numerous opportunities for citizens to engage. Members of the Falls Church community have joined with League members for “Sips and Civility” at a number of local venues to play civics trivia games, write “get out the vote” postcards, and meet regularly over coffee in order to stay informed about state legislation and learn the basic tools of hands-on political activism. Thoughtful and informed engagement in the political process is both a right and a privilege, critical to the survival of our democracy Please visit our website, my.lwv. org/virginia/falls-church, to join, contribute to and support our mission. Johannah Barry is a member of the League of Women Voters of Falls Church’s management team and a former F.C. City Council member.

Q�� W�� Should any of Virginia’s leaders resign after recent scandals? If yes, who? • None should resign • Yes, all three

• Northam

• Fairfax

• Herring

• Northam, Fairfax

• Northam, Herring

• Fairfax, Herring

Log on to www.FCNP.com to cast your vote

Last Week’s Question:

Do you approve or disapprove of the modification to F.C.’s West End project?

FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientiﬁc polls.

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS] The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor

& Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

Email: letters@fcnp.com | Mail: Letters to the Editor, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church 22046 | Fax: 703.340.0347

PAGE 8 | FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019

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TO LETTERS THE EDITOR Continued from Page 6

Democrats and Republicans have overwhelmingly joined voice to condemn Governor Northam, as they should. But you excuse the

Governor’s obviously racist and offensive behavior because, in your words, Northam “has contributed to racial equality … matched by few” and view him as merely a reformed product of a racist Virginia history.

LE TTE RS Your piece provides no evidence of his reformation other than perhaps his party affiliation. Meanwhile, in many prior articles you label Republicans and all Trump supporters as racists for much less or no specific transgression whatsoever. For a reality check, perhaps you might recall that southern Democrats — like the Governor himself at least through college —

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have been the source of the most vile racist acts in our American history; the Democratic Party is the historical home of slavery, Jim Crow, and the KKK. Despite this history, you transparently believe that Democrats walk “the paths of equality, justice and healing.” Meanwhile, in past editorials, you have haphazardly thrown stones of condemnation at Republicans and judged them as racists. I’m not sure which is less forgivable, a Governor who has managed to get elected despite his stupid, racist actions, which further perpetuate the racist history of his political party, or an editor who sees the world through a black and white lens and projects propaganda that Democrats are good and deserving of forgiveness and Republicans are evil, no matter what they actually say or do. If I have mischaracterized your views, then I look forward to reading of your uncast stone the next time any Republican commits a similar sin. But I am not holding my breath. Jeff Robinette Falls Church

Since When is Studying Bible a ‘Hard Right’ Position? Editor, In his Feb 7. “Richmond Report,” State Senator Dick Saslaw made a confusing comment about some Senate approved “bills that go contrary to gun safety and social

issues promoted by the hard right.” He singled out SB 1502, which requires Virginia school districts to offer an elective credit high school course in Old and/or New Testament. From his syntax, I’m not sure if Saslaw thinks the bill goes “contrary” to the “hard right” or is advocated by it. SB 1502 mandates school districts to offer a high school elective to students interested in learning about the Bible, to familiarize them with the “literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy” it contains. Given that book’s foundational role in shaping the culture and society in which Americans live, such familiarity is hardly something exotic. For most of U.S. history, it would have been presumed a basic component of literacy. Hopefully, that is not — and should not be — now deemed the preserve of the “hard right.” John M. Grondelski Falls Church

Correcting the Record On Dover’s Political Career in F.C. Editor, In the recent article on former Falls Church mayor Dale Dover’s passing, it states that he did not run for re-election. In the 1994 election, Dale did run for City Council reelection, along with candidates Jim Slattery, Sam Mabry and myself. William Singletary Falls Church

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a superbly prepared Sunday brunch! We’ve reserved the afternoon for you and your family to join us. We are a community of happy hearts, endless hugs and profound professionalism. We cherish the fact that every single day, we get the chance to contribute care, attention and friendship to our residents. We have plenty more to share with you and someone you love, too. Introduce yourself to us. Tell us your story. We are listening.

HE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF HIS DISABILITY.

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FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 9

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F.C. Developer Todd Hitt Pleads Guilty, Faces 20 Years Former City of Falls Church developer Todd Hitt, who until recently loomed large in the City as a developer and philanthropist, has pleaded guilty in the Eastern Federal District court in Alexandria to eight securities fraud schemes that resulted in losses to investors of about $20 million, the court reported Wednesday. Hitt will be sentenced on June 21 and could be sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to court documents, Hitt, 54, solicited some $30 million from investors for a variety of real estate and venture capital investments in the Washington, D.C. area from 2014 through August 2018. The investments included Hitt’s solicitation of approximately $17 million from investors to purchase a five-story office building adjacent to a planned future stop on the Silver Line in Herndon. Hitt’s fraudulent conduct resulted in investor losses of approximately $20 million. Hitt made false statements and material omissions to investors by failing to disclose that a significant portion of the monies raised were commingled with other unrelated investment projects, used for personal spending to support an extravagant lifestyle and new investor funds were used to pay off old investors in a Ponzi-like scheme. Hitt pleaded guilty to a charge of securities fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $5 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, according to the court.

City Will Gain $ from West End Changes, Litkenhous Says In voting 5-1 to adopt modifications to the interim West End commercial development plan Monday night adding real estate tax deferrals and new greater density for residences, the Falls Church City Council has boosted the estimated annual revenue yield the City can expect to gain from the project by an additional $500,000 or more per year. This is according to Council member Ross Litkenhous, who did an extensive “back of the envelope” calculation during Monday’s Council meeting, and came up with the figure that, net, the City will gain an added $565,000 per year in revenue from the extra 150,000 square feet of residential development that is included in the changes. That is after an estimated cost to the City of new school aged children. The extra 150,000 square feet will include 50,000 square feet of senior restricted housing and 100,000 square feet of condominiums and “micro units” of an average 600 square feet. Voting against the modification was Councilman David Snyder, and Councilman Dan Sze was absent.

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Suspect Sought in F.C. Gas Station Armed Robbery A man held up a gas station in Falls Church Saturday night and police are asking the public for help. City of Falls Church Police say the suspect, described as a 35-40 yearold black male, about 6′ tall wearing a black sweater, clean shaven with a slim build, entered the Shell Gas Station at 6623 Wilson Blvd. around 7:10 pm. on Feb. 9, implied he had a hand gun and demanded cash. Police ask anyone with information to call them at 703-248-5053.

Police Search for Missing Endangered 21-Year-Old F.C. Man Police are searching for a missing 21-year-old from Falls Church who is considered endangered due to mental and or physical health concerns. Fairfax County Police detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating Brandon White who was last seen on Thursday, Jan. 31 in the 3100 block of Monticello Dr. in the Falls Church area of Fairfax when surveillance footage shows him being picked up by a 4-door sedan just after 11 p.m. Police describe White as 5’7″, 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police believe the owner or occupants of the car may know of White’s whereabouts. Police ask anyone with information on White’s disappearance to contact Detective Brian Byerson at Brian.Byerson@fairfaxcounty.gov or their Brandon White. major crimes bureau at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submit- (Photo: Fairfax County Police) ted anonymously by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-TIPS. They can also be sent in via text by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637).

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PAGE 10 | FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019

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News-Press

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes

EIGHTH-GRADER ADRIANNA LECKOW (back row, middle) won The Langley School’s 2019 National Geographic Bee, making this the fifth consecutive year that she qualified for the school-wide Bee and moving her one step closer to the national championship. As Langley’s winner, Adrianna will take a qualifying test to determine state competitors. Up to 100 of the top scorers on this written exam from each state will then face each other in their statewide Geography Bee this spring. (Photo: Courtesy Rohini Winters)

More Students Recognized For Academic Honors The following are a number of students who received Dean’s and President’s List distinctions at their respective universities. DeSales University Dean’s List — Jessica Gliot from Falls Church. Baylor University Deans List — Bridget Sojung Park and Emily Louise Roesch, Hankamer School of Business, both from McLean. Champlain College Dean’s List — Louis Klarfeld from Falls Church, majoring in game production management. University of Alabama — Pierce Stegman from Falls Church, President’s List.

Clemson University Dean’s List — From Falls Church, Elliot A. Mercado, majoring in bioengineering and Samuel Wirth, majoring in genetics. James Madison University President’s List — The following students are from Falls Church: Katherine Bloom; Victoria Corlett; Samantha Fitzgerald; Emily Hoang; William Meara; Stephanie Post; Sean Senft; Ryan Strand and Helen van Wijngaarden. These James Madison University’s Dean’s List honorees are from Falls Church — Shiri Abramovitch; Alexa Aggen; Marie Bisson; McKayla Bobitski; Jonathan Epp; Jane Greenhalgh; Amber Greve; Harry Thomas Hammond;

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY NICK! Falls Church’s most colorful characters came out in droves to celebrate the News-Press’ big cheese this past weekend at Mad Fox Brewing Company. If only Nick had the patience to wait for the rest of his staff to show up (which we did, for the record) we could’ve made him look even more popular. Oh well, there’s always next year. (Photo: News-Press)

Christopher Ho; Nathan Huynh; Charles Jackson; Claire Jermakian; Ethan Keck; Kristopher Krueger; Joseph Lampman; Zachary Lang; Abigail Langan; Allison Leung; Jack MacPherson; David Martinez; Robert Martinez; Noel Mikkelsen; Erin Paulson; Elijah Poole; Robert Quave; Leith Rayes; Jhosselin Rocha; Christina Roman; Cintia Samaha; Alan Sarson; Annette Schlitt; Alexandra Stenseth; Grace Tiernan; Victor Trindade; Sara Zhu; Seyedkamyar Zojaji and Anna Connole. University of Dayton Dean’s list — Mary Catherine Donovan from Falls Church. University of Delaware Dean’s List — Elizabeth Dodge from

Falls Church. Florida Institute of Technology Dean’s List — Samuel Naeher from Falls Church. Fairfield University Dean’s List — Conor Lyons from Falls Church and Molly Hilliar from McLean. Drake University Dean’s list — Carmen Palumbo from Falls Church.

Artist Reception for Helen Power at Creative Cauldron Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Avenue) is celebrating the work of Helen Power with a reception for the artist on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 4 – 6 p.m., highlighting her solo exhibit, “Bolts from the Blue.”

Power’s work is expressive and vital; full of color yet gentle in nature. The exhibit runs from Feb. 15 – March 10 in tandem with Creative Cauldron’s bluesy musical fable, Thunder Knocking on the Door.

Islamic Relief USA Awards Grant to F.C. Mosque Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit humanitarian and advocacy organization, recently awarded a $15,000 grant to Dar-al-Hijrah mosque (3159 Row St., Falls Church) to help provide food to families who weren’t receiving compensation due to the partial shutdown of the federal government.

Send Us Your News & Notes!

The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!

Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046

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FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 11

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GIRL SCOUT CADETTES from Troops 3054 and 3484 came together to work on their aMaze Leadership Journey last weekend and had help building trust from K9 Officer Karlinsey and his partner Stryker, and Officer Jen Wood, an inspiring female officer on the City of Falls Church Police. (P��: C�� R�� W��) Food bags were provided to individuals with a federal employee or federal contractor identification card. Many of the individuals who visited work in mostly low-paying jobs in the cleaning or security services industries. Many or all of them will not receive back pay. Each bag contains $150 worth of food and other items that are expected to last for one to two months. Contents included: meat (chicken, beef, or fish), cooking oil rice, beans, flour, sugar, cereal/ oats, peanut butter, tuna, pasta, and pasta sauce. Recipients were also given a $25 gift card that will enable them to buy perishable foods, such as milk, eggs, or other culturally traditional items. “The folks coming in to pick up their bags are blown away by the generosity of what’s included, and filled with gratitude for this lifeline in their moment of need,” said Tahani Jabarin, director of the Social Services Department at Dar-al-Hijrah. “Many who came were not previously familiar with Dar Al-Hijrah, or had ever even been to a mosque for that matter. We were able to share information about our self-sufficiency classes, food bank and other programs, many of which are funded

by Islamic Relief USA as well. Several stayed for free wellness checks at our Community Health Day.”

Valentine’s-Themed Event At One More Page Books Interested attendees can join the staff at One More Page Books (2200 N. Westmoreland St., Falls Church) on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. for My Bloody Valentine, a meet and greet with local authors of the Mystery Writers of America association whose books run from cozy to downright creepy. New York Times best-selling author Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow Mysteries), Agatha Award Winning author G. M. Malliet (Max Tudor Mysteries) and others will be on hand to talk mysteries and murder.

F.C. Democratic Committee Meeting Next Wednesday The Falls Church City Democratic Committee’s next monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). For more information, contact fallschurchdems@gmail. com

Food Drive Held at West Broad Street Giant This Saturday, Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. there will be a “Stuff the Bus” food drive at the West Falls Plaza Giant (1230 W. Broad St. Falls Church). Interested donors are encouraged to purchase food and other needed items in the Giant and help stuff the Fastran bus in the parking lot to benefit needy families in Falls Church. The food goes directly to Falls Church Community Service Council, Inc. (FCS) — a nonprofit organization that helps to feed local needy families and individuals. For more information about FCS see fcswecare.org.

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THURS. NOV. 1 • 1PM - 8PM The Maui Jim Representative Will Be On Hand To Show The Newest In Sunglasses And Frames

Bryan Jernigan Joins McLean Art Society on Feb. 22 Bryan Jernigan, a well known local artist, will be the speaker and demonstrator at the Friday, Feb. 22 meeting of the Mclean Art Society, taking place from 10 a.m. – noon at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., Falls Church). Jernigan describes his work as characterized by color, interlocking organic forms and decisive brush work. All guests are welcome. For more information, contact 793-790-0123.

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PAGE 12 | FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019

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A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Happy Valentine’s Day! The history of Valentine’s Day is unclear. Did it start as a pagan fertility observance? A Christian martyr story? Whatever its origin, Valentine’s Day is an economic success story, with millions of greeting cards, bouquets, and candy (mostly chocolate) purchased and presented as tokens of love and admiration. Sadly, not much love and admiration, or even civility, is on display in some of our political processes today. Tomorrow is the deadline for a resolution, at the federal level, of the president’s demand for billions of dollars for a border wall, and Congressional opposition to that demand. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees again are at risk of being furloughed as the spectre of another government shutdown looms. Using employees’ livelihoods as a cudgel in this conflict not only is unacceptable; it is mean-spirited and dangerous, creating needless financial emergencies for hardworking families. Fairfax County’s new and updated Community Emergency Response Guide recently was released, and a copy of the extensive guide soon will be available in each Supervisor’s office and each branch of the Fairfax County Public Library system. However, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home or office to access the guide. Simply log on to www. fairfaxcounty,gov/emergencymanagement/cerg, for all the information you and your family may need to make an emergency kit and a plan, what steps to take during emergencies, such as flooding, gas leaks, power outages, and other useful information and guides to resources. In a presentation last Saturday, Seamus Mooney, director of the county’s Office of Emergency Management, reminded civic association leaders that “An emergency happens to someone else; a

disaster happens to you.” The Emergency Response Guide is designed to help avoid that disaster. Simple steps taken now can help ensure your personal safety before emergency personnel can get to the scene. A “72-hour emergency kit” for your home and office should provide enough supplies to help you survive for three days without any additional aid. Food, water, first aid supplies, a change of clothes, walking shoes, and flashlight are just a few of the items suggested. Family records (birth and marriage certificates, adoption papers, naturalization forms, insurance and financial records, for example) should be readily available to pick up and go in the event of an emergency. Make copies of the original documents and put the copies into a gallon size zip-lock bag, along with your emergency kit. This will make the recovery process go more smoothly and quickly. Similar information about your pets, especially rabies vaccinations, can go into the same plastic bag. Don’t forget to update the information as needed. Want to do more? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trains volunteers in neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools in basic disaster response skills, including fire suppression, and search and rescue, to augment our professional public safety personnel. CERT is just one of many opportunities for volunteers to use their skills, or receive training, to help neighbors. On this Valentine’s Day, in addition to the usual flowers and candy, sign up for CERT and other volunteer groups. Your neighbors will love you for it!  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

From the Front Row: Kaye Kory’s

Richmond Report It is profoundly disappointing to Democrats in the General Assembly to be focused on negotiations with Republicans on budgetary priorities, while so much our attention is seems inevitably to be drawn to the painful shortcomings of our state leaders. The outrageous inequities of the Ryan-McConnell tax bill, ironically offered many state governments, including Virginia, the opportunity to offset the Federal government’s giveaway to the wealthy (including wealthy Virginians) by redirecting the so-called state tax windfall that Virginia receives to programs that benefit lower income residents. The arithmetic is a bit complicated, but the total dollars “in play” are large enough that if Democrats had the courage and political power to execute an audacious progressive vision, we could have an impact on the working poor that is in the same ballpark as Medicaid expansion had last year. My Republican colleagues would prefer simply making “technical adjustments” in Virginia tax law that would have the effect of passing through tax reductions to Virginians would have the same distribution of benefits across income levels as the Federal program. The argument in favor of this is simple enough: the benefits should be distributed in proportion to the taxes paid. That’s one way of looking at it. The practical effect of this approach, though, is to perpetuate and reinforce the inequity of the Federal cuts — particularly since we are eliminating the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit. Both the Senate and the House of Delegates have versions of the budget that attempt to achieve a middle ground. Both versions also deal with a problem that I have not yet mentioned. Since we haven’t yet enacted the rules, the Virginia Department of Taxation currently can’t process state tax returns. Many taxpayers are anxious to file as soon as possible, because they anticipate refunds. In addition, for legislation enacted to be effective immediately (i.e. emergency legislation), it must pass by a margin of 80 percent in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. Failing to receive 80 percent would mean that the statute would

not take effect until July 1, which would then become the earliest date for beginning the processing of tax returns and much-awaited refunds. To meet this challenge, both the Senate and the House of Delegates versions of the tax reform (conformity and internet sales tax actions) bill enable the return most of the state’s windfall to the taxpayers with the addition of a Taxpayers Relief Fund (which is unappropriated to date) while reserving some portion of the total to fund relatively uncontroversial needs. For example, the Senate version would allocate funds to provide a 5 percent salary increase to Virginia teachers. The House funds the 5 percent teacher raise also. This teacher pay raise is long overdue, but there are possible complications which haven’t been resolved. No doubt, including this “goodie” in the budget mix would be as irresistible to the electorate as it is to many of my colleagues. This complicated introduction is necessary because my real purpose in this column is to discuss the potential conflict between political courage and political expediency. The solutions currently on the table that could resolve the returns processing logjam, make structural change to our tax law with relatively little benefit to those most impacted by historical income inequity. With Governor Northam’s commitment — which we don’t now have — and Democratic solidarity in the legislature, progressives would be in a position to do something great, in accordance with our values. The challenging test for progressives is that this approach would result in somewhat higher total state taxes paid by middle and upper income Virginians, many of whom are Democratic voters, including many of my constituents. No doubt, achieving this goal would not be pretty — think shutdown — and the political fallout in November could well be punishing. The choice between courage and expediency is difficult, but definitely coming our way.  Delegate Kory represents the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She may be emailed at DelKKory@house. virginia.gov.

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FEBRAURY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 13

Wall Street Eats Newspapers

This week it is not the Russians, or Trump and the National Enquirer that a new, heavily-researched expose in the Washington Post has brought front and center as guilty parties in the would-be destruction of America and her democratic institutions. It is the third leg, so to speak, of an ugly Martian war machine of utter destruction (as imagined by H.G. Wells in his “War of the Worlds” fantasy of over a century ago), Wall Street and its indifferent, insatiable designs. It’s Wall Street’s so-called “hedge funds,” to be exact, and they’re ripping to shreds the public’s ability to know by systematically buying and dismantling newspaper organizations FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS across the nation. Most newspapers are vulnerable these days because the combined effects of alternative media (the Internet and organizations that masquerade as news, like Fox News) and declining advertising revenues that are the result of competition and the general “new normal” downsizing of the U.S. economy. The numbers are staggering with 45 percent of newsroom positions having vanished just between 2008 (the Great Recession) and 2017. Some 1,800 newspapers, primarily weeklies, have disappeared from the U.S. landscape since 2004, according to the University of North Carolina’s School of Media and Journalism, leaving 171 counties without any paper and roughly half the 3,143 counties in the U.S. with only one newspaper, usually a small weekly. In this context, reverting to digital alternatives has also proven wanting, as the bulk of advertising revenues derived from that source have already been gobbled up by Google and Facebook, collecting 57 percent of all the digital advertising revenue in the U.S. last year. In addition, sites like Instagram, Amazon, Snapchat and Twitter, none of which are news organizations per se, also corner large shares of the ad revenue market, according to a recent article by Paul Farhi in the Post. This has led to the recent stunning announcements of huge newsroom layoffs of online news sources like Buzzfeed, showing zero net revenue despite a $300 million budget, Yahoo, the Huffington Post and the Daily Beast, among others. So, from top to bottom, except where an incredibly wealthy individual is willing to subsidize a news organization, such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos with the Washington Post, everybody is hurting. There is nothing on the horizon to suggest a change for the better, either. It’s in this context that, as the Post’s Jonathan O’Connell and Emma Brown reported this week (“Hedge Fund Guts Newspapers As It Profits from Their Land”), Wall Street asset-stripping operations like Alden Global Capital and their fronts like Twenty State Holdings and Digital First Media are coming after newspapers, including with a present, attempted hostile takeover of Gannett News, to sell off their tangible assets — mostly real estate holdings — and leave the remains (the newsrooms) writhing in pain and paralysis in snow-bound gutters. This approach has led to the veritable demise of formerly proud urban daily newspapers like the Denver Post (long after its rival, the Rocky Mountain News, went under) and Gannett’s USA Today. This is a horrible, predatory process that does not constitute capitalism, but the lowest form of bottom-feeder exploitation, and the losers are not the ailing news organizations themselves, so much as the American people and the health and stability of the national democratic process that depends on public information to survive. The bloodthirsty wretches of Wall Street who fever over the carcasses of once proud newspapers neither know, nor care, anything for what makes for a truly free society. They’re so deeply wallowed in their own cultural perversions that they wouldn’t know a moral argument for preserving democratic institutions if it hit them in the face. I’ve experienced this first hand with my own newspaper, the Falls Church News-Press, now going on 30 years of consecutive weekly publication. That criminal enterprise known as a bank, Wells Fargo, called in my line of credit a decade ago simply because they surmised that the paper wasn’t going to make it. Well, we’re still here and the debt has been paid. But, unfortunately, so is Wells Fargo.  Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Nicholas F. Benton

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

During the grandiloquent debate several years back over whether Arlington should allow backyard chicken coops, references were made to the glories of household egg production practiced by our forebears. Last month I got to chat with one such natural foods practitioner: The almost-80-year-old Sam Day, an exemplar of our county’s salt-of-the-earth workforce. I was also able to update him on county preservation developments in his own chicken coop story. Growing up in the 1940s on N. Kenmore St. in the Maywood neighborhood (at 21st Ave., “the only avenue in Arlington,” he notes), Day helped with his father’s egg business. Behind the 1908 house in which Sam Day was born was the two-story “chicken house” built in 1920. “The chickens didn’t run loose,” he assured me. But the birds were fed well enough to support a basement egg distribution operation that endured for 35 years. As a boy, Sam and three siblings helped judge and grade the eggs (looking for blood spots, considered a flaw). The family sorted them — medium, large, extra-large, jumbo and double yokes. Then they packaged them, first in brown bags, later in boxes

they made with a hand-operated machine. “Some eggs were brown” from Rhode Island Red hens, he says. The Days would pack 30-dozen crates in a gutted 1935 Dodge for delivery to regular customers in North and South Arlington, as well as across the Potomac. Because the customized car held only two people, Sam would catch the old Arnold bus at Quincy St. at Wash. Blvd., ride into Georgetown and transfer at Wisconsin Ave. to meet his dad at Massachusetts Ave. They delivered eggs until 7 or 8 p.m. every day but Wednesdays and Sundays. Customer demand exploded. So his father began driving weekly out to farms near Culpeper. “He bought them as is,” Day remembers, “and while most farmers cleaned their eggs, one didn’t.” So it was left to the Day kids to brush away the manure. Sam played the egg man until he began junior high in 1951 at the still-under-construction Stratford building, before moving on to Washington-Lee High. While the egg profits allowed his siblings to attend American University, Sam tried it but chose a different path. “I wanted a job where I didn’t have to depend on anyone else,” he said. First he went full-time delivering eggs. Then he landed a job driving a delivery truck for Schlitz beer out

of a warehouse at Four Mile Run and Walter Reed Dr. Putting in 60-70 hours a week, Day married, and, with two children, bought a house in 1964, mortgaged “for $169 a month.” His father retired from the egg business in 1968. When his mother died in 1995, the Kenmore St. house (their home for 70 years) was sold. The chicken house fell into disrepair. Last year, the home was purchased by Tom and Chrissi Gelson, from Marion, Mass. “We knew it was one of the oldest homes in Maywood, and the chicken coop one of the oldest agricultural outbuildings standing in Arlington,” Tom told me. During renovations — still ongoing under strict guidelines of Maywood and the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board — they kept only the shed’s brick chimney as a memory. “We wish we could have restored the chicken coop,” said the new owner. “But much of it collapsed years ago because of disrepair.” *** Update on a traditional rivalry: At the Jan. 26 high school basketball game between Yorktown and Washington-Lee, an unusual ritual unfolded. In a nod to the recent fight over renaming W-L, Yorktown Patriots taunted the Generals by sporting T-shirts reading “Beat W-?” They chanted, “What’s your name?”

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B�� N�� N�� Falls Church Restaurant Week Dates Announced, Sign Up Now Open The Falls Church News-Press has announced the dates for Falls Church Restaurant Week 2019 with the seventh annual Little City event set for next month from March 25 – 31. The culinary event features the best restaurants in and around Falls Church offering diners special lunch or dinner dining deals all week long. The initial lineup of restaurants participating in Falls Church Restaurant Week 2019 include Celebrity Delly, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Dogfish Head Alehouse, Dogwood Tavern, Falls Church Distillers, Fava Pot, Idylwood Grill, J V ’ s Restaurant, La Cote d’Or, Lazy Mike’s Deli, Liberty Barbecue, Northside Social, Pizzeria Orso, Present Restaurant, Sifiz Cafe, Taco Bamba, Takumi and Yume Sushi. Restaurants interested in participating in F.C. Restaurant Week should email the NewsPress’ Jody Fellows at jfellows@fcnp.com. Additional Restaurant Week information can be found at fcrestaurantweek.com.

Presentation on Health Insurance at Next F.C. Chamber Luncheon Karen Hammond of The Hammond Agency will present to the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce about the recent changes to legislation that have impacted health insurance coverage for businesses that provide insurance to employees and to individuals. The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m at Mad Fox Brewing Company. Tickets with advanced registration are $27 for members, $32 for nonmembers. An additional $5 will be charged for walk-ins should space be available. For more information or to register, go to www.FallsChurchChamber.org or contact the Chamber at 703-532-1050 or info@FallsChurchChamber.org.

the

presents

7th Annual

Aldi Ribbon Cutting Set for Next Thursday Morning Aldi will host a grand opening for its new Falls Church location at 155 Hillwood Avenue on Thursday, Feb. 21 following a ribbon cutting at 7:50 a.m. Attendees can receive a free eco-friendly bag (quantities limited) and a chance to win free produce for a year. The first 100 customers will be entered to win a Golden Ticket worth up to $100. Aldi is the brand name of two German family owned discount supermarket chains with more than 1,600 stores in the US and a total 10,000 stores in 20 countries. For more information, visit www.aldi.us and then click on “Grand Openings” on the bottom right side of the homepage.

1st Day of Classes at Tom Dolan Swim School Announced The new Tom Dolan Swim School at 6112 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church has announced that its first day of classes will begin on Saturday, Feb. 23. Owned and operated by Olympic Gold Medalist Tom Dolan, the swim school’s tagline “Swim Thru Life” and seeks to encapsulate his passion for the sport of swimming as a life skill, not an activity. Dolan says “Swim Thru Life” is not about winning races and medals but about having the confidence to be a champion in life. For more information or to register, visit www. tomdolanswimschool.com.

New Vape Store Opens on W. Broad St.

Little City. Big Eats. FCRestaurantWeek.com #FCRESTAURANTWEEK

Tobacco Hut and Vape Village has opened at 1055 W. Broad Street. The vaporizer store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm. For more information, visit tobaccohutandvapevillage.business.site.

F.C. Massage Envy Moves to Lee Highway The Falls Church Massage Envy has moved from its location on W. Broad Street to 7395 Lee Hwy Suite H. Massage Envy is a nationwide wellness franchise that provides massage and skin care services as integral parts of total body wellness. For more information about the services offered visit www.massageenvy.com.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Escape Room Helps Singles Break Out of Post Valentine’s Day Low by Matt Delaney

Falls Church News-Press

Valentine’s Day is here and for some, it’s a reminder that love just isn’t in the cards right now. But instead of dwelling on what could’ve been, think about what could be! And what better way to meet people than being blindfolded and handcuffed in a room full of strangers who all want to escape with you? That’s exactly what the team at Breakout Games in Falls Church, an escape room-themed company that tasks groups with solving a series of puzzles in an hour in order to exit the room, was thinking by offering a unique ambiance for the dating world with its singles mixer this Friday. The idea was originally concocted by game lead Meghan Belk who then sold Breakout’s general manager Forrest Bowen on the concept as well. After schmoozing Breakout’s bigwigs at its corporate headquarters to sign off on the idea, the local Falls Church store

will be the company’s first ever to do an event of this kind. “We thought it’d be a great way for people to see each other’s true colors since they come and work together under pressure,” Belk said. “You get to know people very quickly in that type of situation and it’s also just a lot of fun. It takes the awkwardness out of getting to know people.” Romance isn’t totally unheard of in these escape room events. One customer proposed following an escape room session, and Belk admits she and her husband participate in the escape rooms all the time. To set the mood for the mixer, the team at Falls Church Breakout wisely chose the “Kidnapping” room, which really does have the participants start out blindfolded and handcuffed to start their 60 minute timer. Normally when teams complete the challenge they’ll have a quick powwow about the experience and take a group photo next to one of the Breakout logos in the lobby.

A new twist the single’s mixer is bringing is that participants will fill out short informational cards, so if they do happen to a find a Ms. or Mr. Right while frantically figuring their way out of the room, they can share it with them. Even better, Bowen notes the local Breakout is continuing its partnership with Mad Fox Brewing Company, which will host the escapees for some drinks on-the-lamb. Any couples that do hit it off outside of the Breakout environment are welcomed back for a 50-percent discount during their next visit. So far no one has signed up for the mixer, but per Bowen, that’s not unusual. The nature of the business is last minute and the Breakout Falls Church team is optimistic they’ll be able attract some singles to the event. Part of the genius of the mixer, after all, is it’s the day after Valentine’s Day, and just so happens to be on a Friday. Bowen and Belk think they offer an opportunity for people to shake off their Valentine’s

FEBRUARY 14 - 20, 2019 | PAGE 15

SINGLES WILL GATHER in Breakout’s lobby before escaping the “Kipnapping”-themed room at the mixer. (Photo: News-Press) blues in an abnormally good way. With online dating becoming the norm and people creating connections in more desensitized ways, a mixer in an atmosphere made up of stress and cooperation can forge some more lasting bonds. Bowen’s seen it first hand. “A little while ago we had a bunch of tech employees from a company come in for a group outing. These people had worked and corresponded with each other online for years, but never met before,” Bowen said. “They met for the first time in our lobby and it was super awkward, but once they finished up the escape room they came out and were slapping hands and having a good time.”

Normally when a team fails to finish the escape room, they’re only left with “the shame of their own incompetence” as Belk adding jokingly. But an added bonus with failing to escape on Friday might dispel any notions about a fellow participant being Ms. or Mr. Right. Half the battle in dating is knowing what doesn’t work for you anyways. If it’s any consolation, Bowen noted that singles that do return with a different someone to try the escape room again aren’t losing their discount. So really, what do you have to lose? Breakout – Falls Church is located at 1073 W Broad St #201, Falls Church.

SPO RTS

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Mason Boys Open Playoffs on High Note with 66-46 Win by Matt Delaney

Falls Church News-Press

George Mason High School’s boys basketball team made quite an entrance into the postseason with a 66-46 throttling of Madison County High School in the Bull Run District tournament semifinal this week. Tuesday night’s action featured a Mason (16-7) team that looked poised — in spurts — to cause some trouble in the playoffs. Defensively, the Mustangs choked off the Mountaineers’ strengths in their versatile point guard and rangy post player down low, keeping their effect on the game inconsequential. And on the offensive end, Mason had supplemental scoring from role players such as senior guard Scott Graffam and big impact from 25-point-scoring sophomore guard Deven Martino. Martino seemed to find the twine with a smooth shot or crafty drive to either stem the momentum from Madison County or cement it in the Mustangs’ favor all night. “I don’t usually have game’s shooting like that,” Martino said. “But I just got some shots up before the game, and obviously

SOPHOMORE GUARD DEVEN MARTINO gets the steal that started Mason’s 10-2 run after halftime. The run sealed the game for Mason while Martino tallied 25 points. (Photo: Carol Sly) during and after practice, so I was feeling good.” The mention of spurts earlier is because Mason could’ve put this game out of commission by halftime. The Mustangs only had to wait until the opening minutes of the third quarter to do it, but this time of year where seasons end when the clock expires, it’s best not to dally. Madison County last held the lead when it was up 8-6 midway

through the first quarter. What followed was a 16-0 Mason run that went from the end of the first through the start of the second quarter, with Martino, Graffam, senior guard Max Ashton, senior forward Hollman Smith and senior guard Jay Nesson all getting in on the scoring spree. After Ashton hit a three and Smith sank a pair of free throws to build the lead to 27-10, the Mustangs began to relax. Foul

trouble for Smith and Nesson played a part in the three and a half minute lull where Madison County shrank the deficit to 33-20, but it was enough for Mason to lose its vise grip over the game. “You let down a little bit and you see what happens, but halftime came at the right time,” Mason head coach Chris Capannola said. “And that start to the third quarter was beautiful.” That it was. Martino forced

a steal on the Mountaineers’ opening possession and assisted Smith’s breakaway layup before draining two threes and a finishing a drive of his own to start the second half on a 10-2 run. Up 43-22, Mason had successfully subdued any Madison County hopes of winning and kept the visitors at the comfortable distance throughout. A 48-32 lead at the start of the fourth quarter was stretched back out to blowout proportions when Smith and Ashton added two points apiece to go with Martino’s eight, making the game 60-36 with under five minutes remaining. Heading into the postseason, Capannola expected to keep the rotation tight, but nine players saw the floor on Tuesday. Their contributions could be crucial going forward. “We need to give Max and Hollman a break. If these kids are gonna handle the ball, not make mistakes and hit the open shot, then we’ll go with it as long as we can,” Capannola added. Mason will play a to-be-determined opponent in the District final tonight at home.

There’s a time to check whether your kid’s in the right car seat. This isn’t it.

Car crashes are a leading killer of children 1 to 13. Is your child in the right car seat? Don’t think you know. Know you know.

safercar.gov/TheRightSeat

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

AS A REWARD for earning 800 Tiger Stripes, Thomas Jefferson Elementary’s students and staff got to deck themselves out in ‘80s-themed attire. For being born roughly 20 years after the decade, the students sure embodied the spirit of the ‘80s well (nice job mom & dad). (P��: FCCPS

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S�� N�� N�� Noonan Nominated for Superintendent of the Year The Falls Church School Board congratulated Dr. Peter Noonan at its meeting Tuesday night on his being nominated for Virginia Superintendent of the Year from Region IV. Noonan is one of eight finalists out of the 134 superintendents. Final selection will come in the Spring.

Marshall Academy Co-Hosts Engineering Conference In recognition of National Engineers Week, Marshall Academy, a Governor’s STEM Academy, and George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering will partner to host the third annual National Engineers Week Youth Conference beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, at GMU’s Fairfax campus (4400 University Dr., Fairfax). The conference is designed for students in grades 7-12. The conference will feature two keynote speakers: Atif Qarni, Virginia Secretary of Education, and Aisha Lawrey, director of engineering education with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Conference workshop sessions include a wide range of

engineering fields including bioengineering, civil, mechanical, systems, as well as cybersecurity and computer science and technology. Attendees will get insider tips on how to pursue an engineering degree and network with guest speakers and future engineers and information technology (IT) professionals. Hands-on activities include opportunities to design and build structures, learn about smart home technologies and wearable technologies, explore nanotechnology as it applies to prosthetics, apply computer science to solve problems in medicine, develop cybersecurity strategies that keep devices safe and observe robot and drone demonstrations. Attendees should register online in advance. Parents are also asked to register with their child, as minors must be accompanied by their parent(s).

Students Can Help Name New Road Next to School The school access street on the new George Mason High School/ Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School campus needs a name, and the School Board is inviting Falls Church City Public Schools students to make suggestions.

The street will follow the existing unnamed entrance from Haycock Road, and pass in front of both schools before exiting the campus on Leesburg Pike. Both Henderson and Mason will have their addresses on this street. Students are encouraged to talk to their school’s administrators about how to nominate names. The suggestion period is open until the end of today.

Mason Scholastic Bowl Season Ends in Region Meet Last week, George Mason High School hosted the Region meet for Scholastic Bowl, competing against Clarke County, Luray and Robert E. Lee high schools. Questions for the competition are complex and wide-ranging covering history, science, poetry, literature, art, geography, grammar, current affairs and more. Mason won its first match against Robert E. Lee 195-165; lost its second to Clarke County 310-65 and while Mason was up at the end of the second set against Luray, Mason fell by a final score of 210-175, concluding its season. Clarke County finished first and advances to the state tournament.

FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 17

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FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS

Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5034.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Teen Advisory Board. For volunteers in Grades 7-12, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meets monthly during the school year to give teens a voice in the library. Teens who participate in TAB earn volunteer hours. Registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 6:30 – 7 p.m. Call 703-248-5034 or email teen volunteer coordinator, Lauren Miller, at juv@fallschurchva.gov.

Friday Matinee: “The Lego Movie.” Re-watch the original before you see the sequel. The Lego Movie (PG) will be shown at Mary Riley Styles Library Conference room. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 3 – 5 p.m.

Middle School Book Club. February Book: “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. Book Club for grades 6-8. Limited copies of the book are available to borrow from the Youth Services Desk. Registration Required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N.

the

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Farmer’s Market. The award-winning, year-round market is filled with fresh local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and much more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – noon. 703-248-5034. Sing Books with Emily. A singing storytime with illustrated songs. Emily’s repertoire includes hun-

presents

dreds of songs to delight audiences of any age, many enhanced by instruments like guitar, glockenspiel, kazoo, foot tambourines and limberjack. Come and join the musical fun with illustrated song! Fun for the whole family! No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 11 – 11:45 a.m. 703-248-5034.

Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 2 – 4 p.m. 703-228-6535.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Tiny Tot. Tiny Tot programs provide opportunities to interact one-on-one with young children while discovering nature. Each program will engage children with hands-on learning and may include a variety of activities like songs, crafts, finger plays and mini-hikes. Adults must remain during the entire program. Ages 1 – 3. $5 fee due upon registration. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 10 – 10:45 a.m. 703-228-6535..

R.I.P. — Remove Invasive Plants. Interested attendees who want to restore habitat and increase native species diversity are encouraged to participate in this event. Work parties are held every month and are making a difference with the return of ferns, wildflowers and the animals that depend on them to areas once covered in destructive invasive plants. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S.

the 7th Annual

List of participating restaurants coming soon to FCRestaurantWeek.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Preschool Storytime. Stories and fun for ages 0-5. Followed by playtime with the Literacy Center toys. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-248-5034.

THEATER&ARTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Step into Harlem for a swinging, dancing celebration of big band and the songs of Thomas “Fats” Waller. This sultry Tony Award®winning musical tribute features all of Waller’s beloved tunes including “The Joint is Jumpin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Handful of Keys” and more. A cast of Signature favorites including Nova Y. Payton (“Jelly’s Last Jam”), Kevin McAllister (“Titanic”) and Iyona Blake (“Titanic”) strut the stage while “Jelly’s Last Jam’s” Mark G. Meadows tickles the ivories. Signature Theatre (420 Campbell Ave., Arlington) $65 – $74. 8:30 p.m. sigtheatre.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 “Thunder Knocking on the Door.” This bluesy show is an intoxicating musical fable filled with humor, heart and the extraordinary music of three-time Grammy award winner Keb’Mo’. In a small Alabama town, a mysterious Blues guitar-

#FCRESTAURANTWEEK

Little City. Big Eats.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

playing stranger named Marvell Thunder arrives at the door of the Dupree family and brings a challenge for the offspring of late Jaguar Dupree, the only man who ever outplayed him in a “cutting contest”. Thunder offers Glory Dupree, Jaguar’s blind daughter, a Faustian bargain: if he wins the contest he gets Jaguar’s guitar, and if she wins she gets her sight back. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church). $32. 7:30 p.m. creativecauldron.org.

“The Brothers Size” From the cocreator of the Academy Awardwinning film Moonlight comes a story of family, devotion, and belonging. Deep in the Louisiana bayou the hardworking and steady Ogun Size is reunited with his aimless younger brother recently released from prison. Flights of poetry, music, and West African mythology. 1st Stage Theatre (1524 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons) $39. 8 p.m. 1ststagetysons.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 “Admissions.” Bill and Sherri are the white, progressive-and-proud headmaster and dean of admissions at Hillcrest, a mid-tier New Hampshire boarding school. Over the last fifteen years, they’ve worked to diversify the school’s mostly white population. But when their high-achieving son Charlie’s Ivy League dreams are jeopardized, the family’s reaction blasts open a deep rift between their public values and private decisions. Studio Theatre (1501 14th St. NW Washington, D.C.) $20 – $101. 8 p.m. studiotheatreorg.

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Randoll Rivers Elvis Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504. Peter Flemming. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-2378333. Vienna Fundraiser: Vienna is for

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(art) lovers Valentine’s Day bash! w/ Mary Lou and the Drugstore Lovers + Fat Chance + Mudlark. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25 – $50. 7 p.m. 703255-1566.

FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 19

1964 The Tribute. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $38 – $42. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Karl Stoll & The Danger Zone. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Too Blue Band. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. Josh Allen Duo. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-241-9504. Gerry Timlin (encore performance the following night at the same time). Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W. Broad St., Falls Church) 7:30 p.m. 703-534-8999. An Evening with Chuck Prophet & Stephanie Finch. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

CHUCK PROPHET will be at Jammin’ Java tomorrow. (Photo: ChuckProphet.Com) Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-2419504.

Sidejam. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703532-9283.

Judo Duval — Paul McCartney Tribute. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Masters of Hawaiian Music. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $25 – $30. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900.

Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St. A, Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Wicked Jezabel. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

DJ VER1TAS. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St. A, Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-8589186.

Dead Tongues with Special Guest Molly Sarle. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Justin Shapiro. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

Young Relics. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Swell. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

Don Zientara, Joshua Palace. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-5258646.

JC and The Lava Lamps. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St. A, Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. The Stranger — A Tribute to Billy Joel. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $17 – $20. 9 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Exaggerations. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. Killer Deluxe with Todd Wright + Tommy Gann. Jammin’ Java (227

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Bentwood Rockers. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd.,

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 The Restless — The Revolution is Love Album Release Live. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7 p.m. 703255-1566.

The Yachtsmen, George Trouble. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-5258646.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 VA Music Adventures Presents: Love Is In The Air: Jazz to Warm the Heart. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Cherish The Ladies. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $22 – $27. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Majestic: Drag Show. Diva Lounge (6763 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 571-234-2045.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Mommy and Me with Dotty Westgate – Music and Movement for babies & toddlers. Famille Cafe (700-A W. Broad St. Falls Church). 10 a.m. 703-570-8669.

Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046

Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.

PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 14 - 20, 2019

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The City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 7:30 PM in the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Cafetorium, 7130 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043 to consider the following: RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL REGARDING THE FY2020-FY2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM Information on or copies of the proposed Capital Improvements Program (CIP) can be viewed at the Community Planning and Economic Development Services Counter or City Clerk’s Oﬃce at City Hall (temporary location), 400 North Washington St., Falls Church, VA, Monday through Friday (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). You may contact the Planning Division at plan@fallschurchva. gov with any questions or concerns. This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711) The above legal advertisement shall run on Thursday, February 7, 2019 and Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Auction PUBLIC AUCTION In accordance with the Virginia Self-Storage Act, section 55-419 F, notice is hereby given that the contents of the following rental storage spaces located at Fort Knox SelfStorage will be oﬀered for sale:727 Tiﬀany Cave, 123 James Laird. Sale will be held online at storagetreasures. com. Pictures can be viewed at that site. Bidding will begin at 1:00 pm on February 20 and will conclude at 1:00 pm on February 25 winning bidder will be required to pay a $100.00 per unit refundable clean-out deposit (cash). Other Payments by Credit Card Only

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

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Planning Division 300 Park Avenue Falls Church, VA 22046 Please call Shaina Schaffer at 571-4197268, or email at sschaffer@fallschurchva. gov to confirm the receipt of this ad and if you have any questions.

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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) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

VISIT US ONLINE

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A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

48 54

43 46

24 28

19 21

Across

1. “Didn’t you get the ____?” 5. Nobel-winning father-and-son physicists 10. “Where America’s Day Begins” 14. It’s often brown or blue 15. Message to one’s followers 16. Until 17. Detective novelist in the same 61-Across as a children’s author? 20. Nashville’s home: Abbr. 21. TV host who won a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor 22. Bethesda-based research agcy. 23. Light lunch choice 25. Spy fiction author in the same 61-Across as a novelist who depicts the Chinese-American experience? 27. Not post28. Tree whose name sounds like a letter of the alphabet 30. Successful turn in the game Battleship 31. Harmonizers with soprani and bassi 33. Civil War fighters 36. NFL Hall-of-Fame coach Greasy 40. Poet of the Middle Ages in the same 61-Across as a popular western dime novelist? 43. Longtime NBC newsman Roger 44. He was emperor at 16, dead at 30 45. Big ____, nickname of baseball’s David Ortiz 46. Microsoft Word creation, briefly 48. Remarks around cute babies 50. Bench press target, for short 51. Fantasy writer in the same 61-Across as a horror novelist?

STRANGE BREW

1. "Didn't you get the ____?"

FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 21

56. Frank who directed “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” 58. Cry with one card in hand 59. Poetic nights 60. Bouquet holder 61. Where writers often intermingle ... or this puzzle’s theme 66. Finishes, as a cake 67. Planet between Mercury and Earth 68. Neutrogena competitor 69. “Your point being ...?” 70. Show host 71. Smears, as a reputation

DOWN

1. Morning or night lead-in 2. Pitching stat 3. Some holiday greenery 4. Milo of “The Verdict” 5. Bygone bomber whose name is a call in bingo 6. Symbol of wisdom 7. “You there?” 8. Tailor again, as a skirt 9. Stem the flow of 10. Extra product 11. Ivy League sch. in Philly 12. Web site? 13. Like old, neglected sweaters, maybe 18. Archaeologist played by Harrison Ford, informally 19. Diego Rivera portrayer in the 2002 film “Frida” 23. Wolfgang Puck restaurant 24. Republican-turned-Democrat U.S. senator Specter 25. 11-year old, e.g. 26. Really went for

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

29. Fumble 32. “Don’t mind ____!” 34. “Later!” 35. Scrawny one 37. Like singing in a shower 38. Recipient of Jesus’ healing 39. Emmy-winning Susan Lucci role 41. It’s often found in a bed 42. “____ goes it?” 47. Split with an ax 49. Lasting reminder 51. Paul Simon’s “Me and ____ Down by the Schoolyard” 52. Madison Sq. Garden player 53. Dull drills 54. Against a thing, legally 55. Justin Timberlake’s original group 57. Fancy neckwear 60. Workbench gripper 62. That, in Tijuana 63. Prompt 64. Good listener? 65. GPS part: Abbr. Last Thursday’s Solution G O T E M

U T E R I

A S P C A

F T O R D

A L P A T H

T P I O X C I N N A J H I H T O M A K E D E D D C A R O H A R I S A T S

A D O G

S E N A

T O F U

D R O W I C H C O E A I D Y S E T H S H I H I L A S T

A L I G H I E R I

A R T E

S O D I U M

A G E N T

E U N L S T U E S T S O N A L

L A D S I C A L N T L Y G H I T E A C H S T E E C H E S A S E B R A S E A S I A A D S N E E A B S

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

5. Nobel-winning father-and-son physicists 10. "Where America's Day Begins" 14. It's often brown or blue 15. Message to one's followers 16. Until 17. Detective novelist in the same 61-Across as a children's author? 20. Nashville's home: Abbr. 21. TV host who won a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

22. Bethesda-based research agcy. 23. Light lunch choice 25. Spy fiction author in the same 61-Across as a novelist who depicts the Chinese-American experience? 27. Not post28. Tree whose name sounds like a letter of the alphabet

NICK KNACK

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

2/17/19

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2019 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019

dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . pas

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BACK IN THE DAY

20 � 10 Y�� A�� N��-P��

Falls Church News-Press Vol. VIII, No. 49 • February 18, 1999

Planners Give Marriott Final OK With only five members present, the Falls Church Planning Commission sailed through a set of unanimous votes Monday night, including giving final site plan approval to the Marriott Corporation’s Brighton Garden assisted living project in the 500 block of West Broad St.

It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVIII, No. 50 • February 19, 2009

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C�� C�� 10 Year s Ago

It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the the ir pas ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

Area Arts, Education & Social Efforts Counting on Stimulus

Virginia’s social safety nets, as well as her arts and education efforts are looking to President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package signed into law Tuesday to mitigate what would be recessionary consequences throughout the Commonwealth.

F.C. Artist & Aviator Lucille Mellema Dies Lucille Jordan (Mellema) left her rural North Carolina home at 18, and came to the Washington, D.C. metro area at the start of U.S. involvement in WWII. After which she met and married Ben Mellema, a veteran WWII paratrooper (11th Airborne). In the early part of 1961 the couple moved from Arlington to Falls Church City with their infant son, Kevin, in tow. Lucille Mellema put in over 35 years service as a statistician for the Civil Aeronautics Board, until it was dissolved and remaining

portions absorbed into the Department of Transportation, which she retired from. Flying was her true passion. As a member of the Ninety-Nines, she counted amongst her friends Fay Wells, one of the original pioneering 99 aviatrix members (namely Amelia Earhart and 98 of her less famous contemporaries, back when there were only 117 licensed women pilots in the country). The last 20 years of her life Alzheimer’s made its slow inexorable deductions. Always having been one for in-

C � � � � � F� � � � C � � � � �

CRIME REPORT Week of Feb. 4 – 10, 2019 Destruction of Property/Larceny – Theft from Building, 172 W Annandale Rd (Winter Hill Apartments), between 4:00 PM on Feb 01 and 9:00 AM on Feb 04, unknown suspect(s) took signage, and damaged the walls and ceiling of the laundry room. Hit and Run, 444 W Broad St (Spectrum parking lot), between 10:45 AM and 11:30 AM on Feb 03, a blue BMW was struck by an unknown vehicle which failed to stop at the scene. Simple Assault, 500 blk Roosevelt Blvd, Feb 04, 11:23 PM, police were notified of an assault which had occurred earlier. Following an investigation, police arrested a female, 36, of the City of Falls Church, for Domestic Assault. Simple Assault, 6763-R3 Wilson Blvd (Diva Lounge), Feb 05, 1:17 PM, police were notified of an assault which had occurred several days earlier. Investigation

continues. Drunkenness, 6751 Wilson Blvd (Eden Center parking lot), Feb 05, 5:05 PM, officers observed an intoxicated subject on the premises. Police arrested a male, 46, of Falls Church, for Drunk in Public. Larceny - Shoplifting, 134 W Broad St (CVS), Feb 06, 12:31 PM, an unknown suspect took merchandise from the store without paying. The suspect is described as a white male, 35-40 years of age, approximately 5’10” tall and weighing 280 lbs, bald with a brown goatee, and wearing a black shirt and jeans. Investigation continues. Smoking Violation, 6757-24 Wilson Blvd (Le Billiards), Feb 06, 2:21 PM, police issued a summons to Quang Le, 50, of Burtonsville, MD for Smoking in a Prohibited Area. Smoking Violation, 6797-50

teresting art and design, she got a heavy immersion in it. During the ﬁve year run of the ‘Art Beat’ column here in the Falls Church News-Press she had an almost daily diet of art hopping. She visited virtually all of the known art galleries and art museums in the greater Washington area. Preceded by her husband, she will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. JFK has the Perpetual Flame. She will have the perpetual ﬂow of planes passing by. Wilson Blvd (Hung Cafe Billiards), Feb 06, 2:32 PM, police issued a summons to a male, 48, of Gaithersburg, MD for Smoking in a Prohibited Area. Hit and Run, 100 blk N Virginia Ave, between 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM on Feb 04, a black Dodge was struck by an unknown vehicle which failed to stop at the scene. Trespass, 6795 Wilson Blvd (Eden Center), Feb 08, 2:23 PM, officers responded for a complaint of a previously banned subject on the premises. Police arrested a male, 60, of no fixed address, for Trespass After Banning. Simple Assault, 1200 blk W Broad St (Falls Plaza parking lot), Feb 08, 9:28 PM, police responded for complaint of an assault. All parties involved were identified, and the victim declined to press charges. Armed Robbery, 6623 Wilson Blvd (Seven Corners Shell), Feb 09, 7:10 PM, an unknown suspect approached the front counter, implied he had a handgun, and demanded cash. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 35-40 years of age, 6’ tall and of average build, cleanshaven, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Investigation continues.

IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER. Maggie Kamens, a Falls Church resident, looks forward, expectantly, to spring. A 12 year-old rescue Lab mix, she’s already dreaming about the dazzling array of flowers that will soon be with us, replacing our recent snowy carpets. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

Falls Church’s Billy N. Reid Dies at 79 Billy N. Reid (79) of Clearfield, Penn. (formerly of Falls Church, Va) was called to be with the Lord on Feb. 5. Billy is survived by his wife, Rose Reid, former Resident Manager of Lee Square Apartments. Visitation will be on Thursday Feb 14 from 6 – 9 p.m. Service on Friday, Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m., Moser Funeral Home, Warrenton, Va. Billy will be laid to rest at Culpeper National Cemetery with Military Honors. He is survived by his brother, Jim, a sister-in-law, two nieces and a nephew.

BILLY N. REID

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FEBRUARY 14 – 20, 2019 | PAGE 23

with

Sierra Hull

FEBRUARY

Frida

Justin Shapiro Dogwood Tavern 10 p.m. 132 W, Broad St., Falls Church 703-237-8333 • dogwoodtavern.com

day

Satur

Exaggerations JV’s Restaurant 4 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church 703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com

DJ VER1TAS Falls Church Distillers 9 p.m. 442 S. Washington St., Falls Church 703-858-9186. • fcdistillers.com

Sund

Bentwood Rockers

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Part of growing up is realizing that, just like old clothes, old pieces of your identity don’t fit. You may not totally clean house on your wardrobe, but you make enough room for it to take on a new feel. That’s the situation Sierra Hull found herself in, when she felt the borders of her bluegrass roots were a bit too constricting and decided to expand her musical horizons. She’ll be sharing her evolution on stage at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C. this Saturday. Hull is only 27, but she’s lived a full life as a musician thanks to a serendipitous screw-up. She had grown up a fan of bluegrass music, but the full-sized fiddle her father purchased for an eight-year-old Hull was too big for her. She learned some basics on the mandolin instead and immediately fell in love with the eight-stringed instrument. Little did Hull’s family know, she would become a wunderkind with the mandolin, making her debut at the Grand Ole Opry at age 10, performing at Carnegie Hall by the time she was 12, signing to Rounder Records when she was 13 and releasing three albums before she turned 20. All along Hull had supportive parents who were more concerned about her trying to nurture her love for the music than to catch some sliver of the spotlight. They took her to jam sessions and lessons and, most of all, made her rapid rise feel more organic than surreal. “It’s not something I thought too much about,” Hull said. “I felt like I had been [playing music professionally] for so long, because I started so young, it felt like a real natural progression. But things changed as Hull entered her late teens and early 20s. The joy she once derived from being purely a bluegrass musician didn’t

SIERRA HULL (PHOTO: S��H��.C��) feel as prodigious as much as it did a pigeonhole. She wanted greater freedom musically, but first she wanted the freedom to write different music and experiment with new sounds. Similar to how her rise naturally progressed, so did her feelings toward branching out into new music. It started with her asking, “What kind of musician am I at heart, beyond just traditional bluegrass?” From there Hull began writing and playing more music unencumbered by people’s idea of how she should be writing and performing. She wanted to write without the constraint of a genre or without expectations. And while there was some external pressure to stay confined in bluegrass, Hull admits she was imagining that pressure as much as anything. Rounder Records, still her label today, was supportive of her getting more creative. Hull just had to get comfortable with the idea herself. “I always do what I need to do to get myself

where I want to go, but I also hate disappointing people,” Hull added. “Fighting against people’s preconceived notions of who I am, and trying to show a different side of me where I haven’t had a chance to do it yet but I knew had been there, it was tough. But I realized I was looking for something more and I had to find a lane that I needed to be in.” Ever the virtuoso on the mandolin, Hull’s revised sound still pays homage to bluegrass with the twanging strings of the banjo and upright bass flanking her. The tunes she creates, however, range from brooding melodies to soothing harmonies, a noticeable change from the often upbeat music bluegrass is associated with. All Hull has to do is keep trusting in herself, and she’ll continue to nestle into the lane in which she belongs. Sierra Hull with be performing at The Hamilton (600 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.) on Saturday, Feb. 16. Tickets can be purchased at bandsintown.com/e/100506626.

Bluegrass JV’s Restaurant 1 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church 703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com

These singles whet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week:  Nicholas Benton – For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her by Simon & Garfunkel 

Jody Fellows – In a Drawer by Band of Horses 

Matt Delaney – Pablo Escobar by Kali Uchis

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 24 | FEBRUARY 14 - 20, 2019

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