January 26 – February 1, 2017
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d ed 1991 • Vol. X X V I No. 49
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week Police Investigate Gunshots on Jackson St. Falls Church City Police are investigating after a report of several shots fired on a residential street in Falls Church early Monday morning. See News Briefs, page 9
‘Fitz’ Sworn in as F.C. Police Dog
As part of a wider ceremony for the Falls Church Police Department at the Council chambers of City Hall last Thursday morning, the department swore in its first police dog to join the force in a half-dozen years.
Benefits of Laptops for All Touted At F.C. Schools’ Budget Hearing Teachers Laud Values, Upgrade $ Mitigated By Trade-In Values
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
none of which are friendly to the current almost 200 residents. Option One is a renovation of the existing building, requiring current residents to move out for two years, and with rents rising significantly upon its reopening. Option Two would involve a demolition of the building and the construction of new town houses catering to families with children and including a clubhouse. It was pointed out that Aimco has a “byright” entitlement to do this without any approvals from the City needed at all.
The Falls Church School Board reviewed the technology component of the City’s public school system – centered on the policy of providing a computer tablet to every child – and learned that upgrading it with new computers as part of a new four-year contract will not be as pricey as earlier thought because of the ability to get back $279,337 in trade-in refunds from existing, outdated models. The board requested a review of comparable prices and capabilities of the Apple Macbook Air it is currently utilizing with other options, such as the Google Chromebook. The board is moving toward the final version of its budget submission to the City Council by the middle of next month. “It is our energy,” said Steve Knight, head of the Schools’ Technology Advisory Board, told the School Board about the growing use of tablets from the top to the bottom of the school system, now enhancing the system’s ability to offer International Baccalaureate, known as IB, curricula at all levels. Going with a new four-year plan with Apple’s Macbook Air will cost the system $64,192 the first year (based on the trade-in revenues), and then $342,829 for each of the following three years. George Mason High School math teacher Jennifer Jayson told the School Board, “Technology is ubiquitous in our lives today and it is important that our students leave high school knowing how to use technology responsibly, efficiently and effectively.”
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See News & Notes, page 12
Frank Bruni: The Wrong Way to Take on Trump
You know how Donald Trump wins? I don’t mean a second term or major legislative victories. I’m talking about the battle between incivility and dignity. See page 15
Mustang Boys Hoops Top Central, 63-45
With the Conference 35 tournament approaching, George Mason High School’s varsity boys basketball team moved into favorable position with a crucial win over conference rival Central High School last week. See Sports, page 18
Index Editorial..................6 Letters....................6 News & Notes.12-13 Comment......... 14-17 Sports..................18 Calendar.........20-21
Business News....22 Food & Dining......23 Classified Ads......28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........29 Critter Corner.......30
PART OF THE PUBLIC that attended Tuesday night’s F.C. School Board budget hearing and meeting at the Schools’ central office. (Photo: News-Press)
Merrill House Apartments Now Facing Possible Demolition by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
The iconic but aging Merrill House apartments, one of the few large-scale, all-residential properties in the City of Falls Church, across E. Fairfax St. from the historic Falls Church Episcopal, may be demolished and replaced by its Denver-based owners, the F.C. Council’s Economic Development Committee learned last week. The leadership of the Aimco Company flew in from Denver for the meeting. The family-owned company has 193 properties in 22 states, including 27 in the
Washington, D.C. area with 7,300 apartments, took control of Merrill House in 2000 when controversy ensued from its increase in rents at that time. Merrill House was originally built in 1964. The seven story structure has 159 apartments in seven stories, and it has had a net negative fiscal impact on the City estimated at about $600,000 per year. With the building showing definite signs of aging after more than 50 years (as confirmed by those who were taken on a guided tour of the site after last Thursday’s midday meeting), the Aimco owners want to do one of four things,