January 28 - February 3, 2016
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. XXV No. 49
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week Fairfax Water May Seek Alternative Site
In reaction to a major public protest, the Fairfax County Water Authority may be looking for an alternative to a Lee Highway site in the heart of Merrifield. See News Briefs, page 9
Jimmy John’s Opens on Leesburg Pike in F.C. The sandwich shop Jimmy John’s opened its doors Wednesday on Route 7 in Falls Church. The Illinois-based chain is located in the new commercial building at 7121 Leesburg Pike along with Conte’s Bikes, Computer Wingman and an ABC Store.
F.C. Crews a Match for ‘Snowzilla’ Mega-Storm, Recovery Continuing B lizzard B aby
Dedicated Work & New Equipment Mitigated Blizzard
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
to increase teacher compensation and maintain class sizes. “That is a directly related to the School Board’s work plan and the priorities of the community to increase teacher compensation to be competitive and to maintain class sizes,” Jones said. “When you see that dollar amount what you’re really seeing is that 85 percent of our budget goes to staff
A number of factors contributed to the ability of the City of Falls Church, its public works team and citizens, to maintain during possibly the heaviest snow storm, a veritable blizzard, in regional history last weekend. According to City Manager Wyatt Shields, the snowfall totals in the City ranged from 22 to 27 inches, possibly the “largest single snow event” at least in the recent era. “I know of no other with more,” he said. The snow was also accompanied by high wind conditions throughout. But despite all that, there were no power outages reported and by early Monday, a lane for vehicular passage was cleared to every house in the City, making Falls Church the first jurisdiction in the region to accomplish that. New equipment and a new approach have also contributed to minimizing the impact of the storm, known most commonly, or as they say these days, “trending” mostly as “Winter Storm Jonas” and “Snowzilla” (“Snowmageddon” remains the premier moniker for the big one of 2010). The City’s public works staff, totaling 20, was helped in its work by four new dump trucks that were able to both plow and remove snow. The trucks were recently acquired to replace old ones by votes of the Falls Church City Council, two in Fiscal Year 2015 and two more this fiscal year, at a cost of about $90,000 each. They were all delivered in the last year. “Not only were they more reliable, with no major breakdowns,
Continued on Page 4
Continued on Page 5
See Food News, page 23
David Brooks: Stay Sane, America!
In January of 2017 someone will stand at the U.S. Capitol and deliver an Inaugural Address. I am going to spend every single day between now and then believing that neither Donald Trump nor Ted Cruz nor Bernie Sanders will be standing on that podium. See page 14
Press Pass with Cricket Tell the Weather Cricket Tell the Weather leader Andrea Asprelli was introduced to American folk and bluegrass nearly ten years ago, when she was studying abroad in Canterbury, England. See page 24
ENJOYING THE FALLING SNOW, Nicole and and 14-month-old Effie Newman catch snowflakes on their tongues during the Blizzard of 2016 which dropped more than two feet of snow on Falls Church last weekend. See more photos of Falls Church’s time with “Snowzilla” on pages 10 and 11. (Photo: Nicole Newman)
Regional Education Study: F.C. Teacher Salaries #2 in Region by Drew Costley
Falls Church News-Press
Index
Editorial..................6 Letters....................6 News & Notes.10-11 Comment......... 14-17 Sports..................18 Food & Dining......23
Calendar.........26-27 Classified Ads .....28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword...........29 Business News....30 Critter Corner.......30
The City of Falls Church spends the second highest amount of money on its students in the Washington, D.C. region, according to a report recently released by the Washington Area Board of Education. Falls Church City, which will spend $18,032 per student in fiscal year 2016, is second to Arlington County, which will
spend $18,616 per student in fiscal year 2016. The amount that Falls Church is spending on its students has steadily risen from $16,991 in fiscal year 2014, whereas Arlington County, which has perennially had the highest per student spending rate has stayed relatively flat. Dr. Toni Jones, superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools, attributed the increase in spending per student to the desire
PAGE 2 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 3
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F.C. Schools’ Teacher Salaries #2 in Region Continued from Page 1
salaries and wages and benefits. Everything else is relatively flat. “So when you’re talking about a per student amount that means that we are compensating our teachers competitively to get the best and the brightest in Falls Church. And we want to maintain class size so we have to hire more teachers to keep class sizes at 20 for elementary and at 24 for middle school and high school.” Several members of the Falls Church community have expressed concern with the amount of money being budgeted for schools, specifically on teacher salaries. Falls Church City, which has an average teacher salary and benefits package of $109,934 for fiscal year 2016, is second in the region to Montgomery County, which has an average salary and benefits package of $111,860. Arlington County is third in the region with an average salary and benefits package of $108,368.
“When the School Board looked three years ago at where we were in the region with salaries…. We were almost dead last in the region for beginning salaries, we were almost dead last in the region for our high end salaries,” Jones said. “And we were kind of in the middle of the pack for the salaries for teachers that had 10, 11 or 12 years of experience.” Although, Jones said, Falls Church City school teacher compensation was in the middle of the pack in terms of mid-career educators, there was a gap of $22,000 when compared with neighboring school systems. “When a teacher can go right next door, when you’re talking about $15,000 or $20,000, it’s a significant enough amount of money that if they have kids in college or they have daycare expenses, it makes a difference. “And it doesn’t mean we have to be dollar-for-dollar because Falls Church is a great community and we have a lot of resources other districts don’t have, but the
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM Cost Per Pupil FY 2014
Cost Per Pupil FY 2014-2016
PAGE 4 | JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Cost Per Pupil FY 2015 Cost Per Pupil FY 2016 $20,000
$17,500
$15,000
$12,500
$10,000
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School Board wanted to make sure that we were in 3 – 5 percent of the highest salary in the region. That’s our goal.” For the fiscal year 2016, Falls Church City’s salary for teachers who are just starting out with a bachelor’s degree is $49,350, which leads the region. Falls Church also leads the region in compensation for teachers who
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are just starting out with a master’s degree with a salary of $54,750. “It was very intentional. We were almost last in the region,” Jones said. “But to close that gap and to really be competitive and get the best coming out of college it was only about $3,000. It wasn’t $15,000 or $20,000, so that was the easiest gap to close. And we think that’s a big recruitment tool
for young people just coming out of college who really want to go to the best school division.” In the Washington Area Board of Education report there was a correlation between school districts that spent more per pupil and compensated its teachers better and test scores. Four out of the
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 5
F.C. Responds to Weekend Blizzard Continued from Page 1
but they were much more powerful,” Mike Collins, director of Public Works for the City, told the News-Press yesterday. In storms like this one, such equipment takes a terrible beating, but these trucks did not miss a beat, he said. But it was the public works staff that gets the lion’s share of credit, Collins and Shields agreed. They were on the scene from Thursday night through Tuesday, working in two shifts and sleeping and resting during their breaks at the City’s Property Yard on Gordons Road. Tuesday night was “the first time most of them were able to sleep in their own beds since last Thursday, Collins said. “I am very pleased. They did a terrific job.” As the efforts to clear City’s streets continue, the City crews are in consultation with the City School System to make sure bus routes are clear. The schools announced yesterday that they will also be closed this Thursday. Also, citizens and businesses are reminded that they are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes and establish-
ments. In addition to the high quality of performance by the crews and their new equipment last weekend, other factors that worked in favor of mitigating the potentially monstrous impacts of the storm included the role of Dominion Power in paring back tree branches and other foliage from power lines, something that has been its ongoing policy since Hurricane Isabel in 2003 knocked out power to a large part of the City for days. Also, the winds, which officials feared would trigger power outages, turned out to do the opposite, Shields said, because they were just strong enough to blow accumulations of snow and ice off power lines and trees, instead of knocking the lines down. Then there was a new approach to the snow removal off of streets, Collins recounted, which was aided, of course, by the new equipment. “Once we cleared a path to every house in the City by Monday morning, we decided not to continue plowing many of the roads further, because that would have led resulted in countering the efforts of many citizens trying to clear out their driveways and
parking spots on the streets by plowing snow back onto them. Due to the massive volume of snow dumped onto the City, the decision was also made in certain areas to actually pick up and remove the snow, not just piling it up in neighborhoods. This required streets to be temporarily closed in some areas, such as on S. Virginia Ave. leading into Winter Hill, which was closed for much of the day and clean ups continued yesterday. Finally, Collins said a contributing factor were citizens who were positive, complimentary and cooperative in what often became a collective effort. “We got a lot of positive feedback and in many cases partnered with citizens to dig out an area,” Collins said. Falls Church Mayor David Tarter wrote the News-Press yesterday with the following assessment, “Falls Church and the entire D.C. metro region experienced one of the largest snowfalls on record last weekend. Despite the historic nature of the storm, City staff was up to the challenge...I’m proud of City staff for their hard work and dedication to the community. As we work toward a full
ONE OF FALLS CHURCH’S NEW TRUCKS helping with snow removal in the City Wednesday. (P����: N���-P����) recovery, I would like to remind folks to clear the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses, drive carefully, watch out for pedestrians and children at bus stops, and to take extra time and care as they travel City streets.” When the snow and wind started up midday Friday, the City and environs quickly became like ghost towns as the streets emptied and almost every business shut down. One exception was Ireland’s
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Four Provinces, which right in the center of town was determined to stay open to serve adventurous patrons who would take the trouble to get there. It was actually very busy Saturday night, owner Colm Dillon reported. It helped that some of his employees live only a couple blocks away. According to Susan Finarelli of the City’s Public Information Office, David and Rebecca Tax of Continued on Page 22
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PAGE 6 | JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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Vol. XXV, No. 49 January 28 - February 3, 2016 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •
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City of F.C. Wrestles ‘Snowzilla’
Twice in the last six months, the venerable New Yorker magazine dedicated its venerable cover to the subject of climate change with cartoons, one last July depicting an elevated old New York subway track with its pylons underwater, and one this month showing the ice rink at Rockefeller Center, with the giant Christmas tree above, converted into a swimming pool chocked with summer resort-like bathers. The idea that the mid-Atlantic and northeast coast of the U.S. would be turned into a new Florida by global warming was beginning to make gains in the imaginations of mankind this winter until, of course, old Winter Storm Jonas, or the Snowzilla, suddenly dumped two or more feet of thick snow on top of us last weekend. What are we to make of this? Just as suddenly as the big dump hit us, now the Weather.com page is forecasting temperatures rising toward 60 degrees early next week, even before the month of January is out. We are reminded of the old Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared.” Prepared, that is, for whatever may be in store. Prepared the way many weren’t for this last storm, especially its brief preview last Wednesday night when barely an inch of snow unexpectedly dusted the region and because it was quickly iced over with no salting, traffic became highly treacherous and was ground to a dead stop throughout the area for hours. Yes, be prepared. Like when you didn’t have the generator ready this time. When the gas was old and the battery worn out, and suddenly you needed it and it wouldn’t turn over. The best theories out there are that if mankind can act quickly enough now to prevent the process that is threatening to make this planet uninhabitable for life as we know it, that will still come only after a lot of turbulence. Because things have already gotten as bad as they have, it will be a close call at best, the experts are saying. Be prepared! Fortunately, as almost a matter of routine, the City of Falls Church, in terms of responses it was capable of, was prepared for Jonas/ Zilla last weekend, with new equipment and good morale among the public works troops. They deserve great kudos for a job very well done. Luckily, the City of Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, Falls Church’s doppelganger on the Atlantic shore, was prepared, too, having spent years reorganizing and grooming its beach front to repel the kinds of tides that were threatening to sweep over the sand and wreak havoc on the boardwalk and beyond. Despite having suffered when Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, the many beachfront resort communities in Gov. Chris Christie’s New Jersey were unable to expend the resources to insulate themselves sufficiently from the enormously damaging impacts a repeat heading into last weekend. The losses suffered as a result are still being assessed. But Falls Church was like a good Boy Scout this time.
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Thanks for Stranger’s Help While Stranded
Editor, Often I read heartwarming stories about strangers helping those in need. Never did I expect myself to become a beneficiary so soon. On Wednesday evening, before the projected weekend snowstorm, I was stuck on patches of ice on West Street. Some other cars were also stopped and people were on their cell phones calling for help. I came out of my car, pondering my options. I had no phone with me. I
must have looked lost. One of the residents came out of the house and asked me if I needed any help. He offered to push my car but I said I was scared and asked if he could help me drive it out of that icy spot to the curb away from other traffic. He hopped into my car and after some spinning, expertly steered it to a safe parking spot alongside the curb. He advised me to walk home as there were many more treacherous icy patches ahead. I thanked him
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for his help and advice. It took me an hour or more to walk home in the cold but all through the long walk my heart was warm. I was grateful to this stranger’s kindness. Along the way I witnessed many skids, a few accidents, long lines of traffic on Lee Highway, people honking and walkers in both directions who have abandoned their cars. Thursday was a totally different scene. West Street looked completely innocent of fender benders. I was able to retrieve my car and continue my way to work late but safe and happy to be alive and living among great people like the Williams on West Street. Thank you. HH Li Falls Church
Why Did VDOT Take So Long to Plow Side Roads? Editor, Why did VDOT wait three days to plow the side roads, until there was so much snow it couldn’t be moved with the trucks with plows that it contracted. Monday morning I watched two trucks with plows take three hours to try to clear out the intersection at Jefferson and Marshall near Route 50. They finally pushed all the snow to the last block of Marshall
More Letters on Page 22
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 7
The Long-Term Effects of Partisan Redistricting B� E���� S������� � S��� F���������
The recent town hall with the city’s General Assembly representatives provided an example of participatory democracy at its finest: A good turnout of citizens and city officials, raising their concerns in civil language and asking thoughtful questions at the beginning of the annual legislative session. Nevertheless, the session also highlighted one of the biggest threats that our democracy now faces: the long-term negative effects of partisan redistricting. This so-called gerrymandering amounts to letting politicians choose their voters instead of enabling voters to choose the politicians who will represent them. Sen. Dick Saslaw has been around the General Assembly long enough – 40 years, 36 of them in the Senate – to understand the challenges faced by those seeking to reform the system. Saslaw addressed the issue of redistricting reform in his opening remarks at the town hall, and noted in a lighter moment that “good” redistricting occurs when your own party draws the maps and “bad” redistricting occurs when the other party does it. In 2011, when Republicans controlled the House of Delegates and Democrats controlled the Senate, members of both parties missed a rare opportunity to promote a bipartisan proposal that would turn the pro-
cess over to an independent commission, as many states have already done. Instead, the Republican-controlled House developed the plan for the House and the Democraticcontrolled Senate developed the plan for
“Unfortunately, the redistricting process in Virginia now amounts to an incumbent protection plan.” the Senate. At the town hall, Sen. Saslaw defended his party’s handiwork, correctly observing that the Senate’s redistricting map led to a chamber whose partisan split is much closer to that of the whole state than is the case in the House of Delegates. But the League was disappointed when Saslaw found fault with one of the independently developed maps on the basis that it pitted too many incumbents against one another. Unfortunately, the redistricting process in Virginia now amounts to an incumbent protection plan. In the General Assembly elections last November, most voters had no choice of who would represent them. In only 49 of the state’s 140 legislative races did both major parties even bother to field
a candidate. Even when a Republican and a Democratic faced off, the margin of victory averaged nearly 20 percentage points. In only six of the 100 races for House seats was the margin of victory fewer than 10 percentage points. In the case of the City of Falls Church, State Rep. Marcus Simon faced no opposition; Sen. Saslaw defeated his sole opponent, a member of the Independent Green Party, by a margin of 74 to 24 percent. It is no wonder that statewide voter turnout last November dropped to the lowest level since Virginia began keeping records in 1970. The protection of incumbents, and the creation of very safe districts, leads to another negative result. The League of Women Voters of Falls Church was distressed that of the 15 candidates who faced opponents on last November’s ballot in the city, Saslaw was the only one who did not respond to the League’s request for biographical information and answers to four issue-related questions. At the town hall, Saslaw said that he had adopted this posture toward all questionnaires, having felt burned in the past when he had to provide “yes” or “no” answers on complex issues. Further, he contended that after his many years in public office, the voters know where he stands on the issues. For the record, the League asked Saslaw and his opponent: “What changes in Virginia’s method of drawing election district lines (redistricting) would you support to increase the number
of contested elections and increase voter turnout?” Because Saslaw did not represent the City of Falls Church at the time of the 2011 redistricting, many city residents would have little knowledge of his positions on that issue. Saslaw defended his failure to respond to the League by citing his quarterly newsletters to constituents (communicating on issues of Saslaw’s choice), and pointed to other legislative colleagues who do not respond to questionnaires. He asserted that members of the Senate only support redistricting reform bills because they know these bills ultimately will be defeated in the House, and said he had not yet read SB 59, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Jill Vogel and Democratic Sen. Janet Howell, designed to promote a fair and non-partisan approach to redistricting, and eliminate consideration of the addresses of incumbents. Now that the Falls Church City Council has adopted redistricting reform as one of its priorities for the current legislative session, it is time for Sen. Saslaw to not only show real leadership on this issue but also to communicate with his constituents as if his reelection depended on it.
Ellen Salsbury is president of the League of Women Voters of Falls Church. Sara Fitzgerald is a member of the redistricting task force of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Q������� �� ��� W��� Are you happy with the City of Falls Church’s efforts removing snow after the blizzard? • Yes
Last Week’s Question:
Will the shooting at the State Theatre affect your decision to attend shows there in the future?
• No • Don’t know
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& 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.
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PAGE 8 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
WABE Study Continued from Page 4
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“I’m just chillin’, about to go visit my friend who works there,” said Alex, who’s visiting the United States from Ukraine, as he pointed to Stratford Motor Lodge.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
highest middle and high school breakfast and lunch prices and the second highest elementary school breakfast and lunch prices in the region. Falls Church City Public Schools stopped accepting federal reimbursements in recent years for its middle and high school meals, because they felt the students needed more food than they would have been required to offer according to federal regulations. “We implemented them and it only took us a few months to realize that these federal requirements are not right for our children or school system,” Jones said. “So the board supported the effort to completely take our food service off the national school lunch program at the secondary level….80
percent of what we serve we make from scratch. We use fresh vegetables. We truly have a restaurantstyle food service program and take a lot of pride in that. And the federal guidelines limited what we could offer our students. For example, if we have a 200 pound football player and we can only give him three chicken nuggets in October when he’s going to have practice after school, that doesn’t work. “So we saw our food service program radically start declining because students couldn’t eat the lunch because they weren’t getting enough to eat, so we made a change and that’s reflected in the price. We had to make up the difference in order to serve healthier and what we thought was a better menu for our students.”
five school districts who either spent the most on a per pupil basis or spent the most on compensating teachers had the highest scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test in the region. Falls Church City boasted the highest average score on the test and the highest percentage of seniors taking the test in the region. Jones said that spending on students and teacher compensation were not the only reasons for the high achievement of students in the Falls Church City Public School system. “I think our student achievement is attributed to our entire community. We have great teachers, we have families and we have people who are supportive of public education,” Jones said. “When we came out of the recession the City made a decision to restore funding to the school system at a level so that we can maintain, where in some localities around us that has not been the case. So I attribute high student achievement to the entireFALLS com- CHURCH'S BEST KEPT SECRET munity.” Falls Church City also has the
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JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 9
Fa l l s C h u r c h
Va. Senate Committee Kills Gun Retailers Bill The Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted kill a bill patroned by State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), that would allow localities to prevent firearm retailers from operating within 1,000 feet of a school’s property. Firearm retailers are allowed through an exception in federal law to operate within the 1,000 feet so-called “Gun Free Zone” surrounding schools. Localities do not have the authority in Virginia to deny a firearm retailer a use permit, even when the retail shop would be within 1,000 feet of a school. Senator Favola said, “Localities should have the authority to determine whether firearm retailers should be allowed next to our schools. This is not about gun control, this is about empowering localities to make the decisions that reflect their communities’ values and protecting children from unnecessary risk.”
Fairfax Water May Defer to Alternative Site In reaction to a major public protest, the Fairfax County Water Authority may be looking for an alternative to a Lee Highway site in the heart of Merrifield. The Greater Merrifield Business Association successfully diverted the water authority attention away from the Lee Highway property, reported Karen Hammond of the business group. The authority is now looking at property on Mayberry and Ransall Road. A public hearing for the Mayberry and Ransall location will take place Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Water Authority offices, 8570 Executive Park Avenue. Merrifield Business members say they are planning to show up to support this alternative spot. It is considered more central than the Lee Highway location, allowing the water authority to better reach Falls Church and Fairfax City customers in response to emergencies.
4 Minimum Wage Bills Fall in Va. House The Virginia House of Delegates Commerce and Labor Subcommittee effectively killed four bills that would have raised the minimum wage in Virginia, and one bill that would have guaranteed paid sick leave for employees of certain businesses. This was one in a series of party-line votes. Northern Virginia lawmakers Ken Plum, Paul Krizek, Mark Levine, Alfonso Lopez and Marcus Simon authored the bills in question. “Virginians deserve to go to work and be able to support their families by earning a livable wage and being able to take care of themselves and their families when they’re sick,” said Del. Jeion Ward of Hampton, a member of the subcommittee.
‘Prison Kids’ Shown in Culmore Saturday A screening of a new documentary film, “Prison Kids, A Crime Against America’s Children” and discussion of juvenile justice reform opportunities in Virginia will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at Culmore United Methodist Church at 5901 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. Liz Ryan, president and CEO of the national Youth First Initiative will facilitate the discussion.
Va. Senate Clears Equal Rights Amendment On Wednesday, the Equal Rights Amendment cleared the floor of the Virginia Senate for the fifth time in six years. Sponsored by Senator Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), the bill passed 21-19 on a near-party line vote with most Senate Republicans opposed. Speaking to the bill on the Senate floor, Sen. Surovell said, “Virginia is one of 22 states that currently has gender equality in our Constitution. Section 11, Article 1 of the Constitution of Virginia currently says that, ‘all people have the right to be free from government discrimination on the basis of religious conviction, race, color, sex, or national origin.’ So equal rights have been codified in our Constitution since 1971. This is something that isn’t new to Virginia. It is a Virginia value.”
Housing Protection Bill Advances A handful of Virginia Senate Republicans and Democrats agreed on something today: LGBT people deserve protections if they work for the state and they shouldn’t be discriminated against when trying to find a place to live. S.B. 12 would add “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the list of protected classes in state employment. Currently, someone who works for the state could be fired for being gay, at least if Gov. McAuliffe hadn’t signed an executive order providing those protections. The committee then voted in favor of the bill, 9-4 with three abstentions. Sen. Wexton’s S.B. 67 , which would expand protections in housing for LGBT Virginians, was before the same committee for the ninth year in a row.
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PAGE 10 | JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016
‘Snowzilla’ Hits The Little City
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JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 11
FALLS CHURCH CITY RESIDENTS made the best of it after a blizzard dumped more than two feet of snow on The Little City last weekend. From sledding and snowmen to shoveling, snow caves and more, the City had a lot of fun with “Snowzilla.” (Courtesy Photos)
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes Local Tai Chi School Offers Free Class for Lunar New Year Sun & Moon Taiji One is hosting a free class for those who are interested in learning tai chi on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 7:55 – 8:55 a.m. in celebration of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Monkey. The event will take place at Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, which is located in Falls Plaza Shopping Center at 1136 W. Broad St., Falls Church. Reservations are recommended. For more information, call 301-512-5071 or email SunAndMoonTaijiOne@gmail. com.
F.C.’s Temple Rodef Shalom Hosts Beit Café Show Temple Rodef Shalom is hosting a beit café, or coffee house, show on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7:30
p.m. The show will feature musical performances in a wide variety of genres, including jazz, folk, rock, classical and klezmer and stand-up comedy. Dessert and beverages will be served at the event. Admission is $18. For more information or to buy tickets, visit rodefperforms.eventbrite.com or templerodefshalom. org.
F.C. Garden Club Hosts Herb Gardening Program The Falls Church Garden Club is hosting a program on all aspects of growing and using herbs on Monday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 130 at 400 N. Oak Street. Sue Clark, Green Spring Master Gardener, will be teaching the program. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 703-533-1945.
Thomas Jefferson Library Hosts Book Sale The Friends of the Thomas Jefferson Library are hosting a special book sale on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson Library, located at 7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. There will be books for the whole family, including a special children’s book section. All proceeds from the book sale will go to benefit Thomas Jefferson Library’s programs and services. For more information, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/tj or call 703-573-1060.
Shepherd’s Center Seeking Volunteers to Help Seniors Shepherd’s Center of McLeanArlington-Falls Church is seeking volunteers to help senior citizens get to and from medical and therapy appointments, the pharmacy and
MEMBERS OF DAISY SCOUT TROOP 3850, which is based in Falls Church, stand with Falls Church police officer James Brooks on Monday, Jan. 11 during their visit to the Falls Church Police Department. The Daisies made cards thanking the officers for their service to the City. (Photo: Courtesy of Eric Hammerschmidt)
grocery store. The mission of the Shepherd’s Center is to give senior citizens free transportation. The center also needs volunteers willing to visit seniors in their homes and to make phone calls from time to time to let lonely seniors know they have not been forgotten. In many cases, Shepherd’s Center volunteers are the only contacts some seniors have with anyone. No long term commitment is required and you accept to take someone only when your schedule permits. For more information, call 703-506-2199 or email info@ scmafc.org.
F.C. Valentine Tea Scheduled For February 14 The City of Falls Church’s Valentine Tea is slated for Sunday, Feb. 14 from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse. A costumed docent will host this holiday themed tea. Guests will enjoy
sandwiches, assorted sweets, warm scones and a bottomless cup of tea in the lovely dining room. A tour of the historic home is included. Reservations required. Admission is $30. For more information, email Amy Maltese at amaltese@fallschurchva.gov or call 703-248-5171.
Winter Reading Program at F.C. Library Begins Feb. 1 The Winter Reading Program at Mary Riley Styles Public Library is starting on Monday, Feb. 1. The program, which lasts through Tuesday, March 1, gives children ages five and under an opportunity to win a free book. Children have to read 40 books to receive a free book. Those who read an additional 40 books will receive a raffle ticket to qualify them for a prize. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/1686/ Winter-Reading-Program.
SUN & MOON TAIJI ONE poses for a photo whilst celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year and Year of the Monkey. The local tai chi school will hosting a free class for those who are interested in learning tai chi on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 30. (Photo: Courtsy of Sun & Moon Taiji One)
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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
Arlington Philharmonic Hosts Screening of ‘Maestro’
The Arlington Philharmonic is hosting a screening of the new documentary “Maestro” at Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, located at 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington, on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. The documentary is about storied conductor Paavo Jarvi. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer an advance screening of this marvelous film to our community,” said Scott Wood, music director for the Arlington Philharmonic. An audience question and answer session with the film’s director and producer, David Donnelly, will follow the screening. Admission to the screening is $30 per person in advance and $40 at the door. The event will begin with live music and light fare, which will begin at 6 p.m., and then the film, which runs 81 minutes, will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, visit arlingtonphilharmonic.org.
The Arlington Players to Perform ‘Deathtrap’ The Arlington Players are gearing up to perform “Deathtrap,” the longest running comedy-thriller to ever show on Broadway, at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, located at 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington. “Deathtrap” opens on Friday, Jan. 29 and runs through Saturday, Feb. 13. There will be a meet and greet with the cast of the show after the Sunday, Jan. 31 matinee show. According to a press release from The Arlington Players, the show is “an exquisite blend of mystery, plot reversals and humor.” With its Tony Award nomination for Best Play, Deathtrap will surprise you and hold you in its spell to the final moment. Ira Levin, author of both
Rosemary’s Baby and The Stepford Wives, wrote this classic. The production will be run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the show are $21.50 for adults and $15.50 for children 18 an under and seniors 60 and over. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online. For more information, visit thearlingtonplayers.org.
Va. Dental Association To Give Free Oral Cancer Screenings The Virginia Dental Association has partnered with the Fairfax County Park Authority to offer free, two-minute oral cancer screenings at two recreation centers in the area on Friday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. as part of the association’s “Where’s the Chair?” series. Mobile dental chairs will be set up at Audrey Moore Recreational Center, located at 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale, and Spring Hill Recreational Center, located at 1239 Spring Hill Road, McLean. The event is part of the Virginia Dental Association’s “Open Wise” campaign. “We are excited to bring our ‘Where’s the Chair?’ campaign to Fairfax County,” says Dr. Richard Taliaferro, president of the Virginia Dental Association. “We expect to catch the public by surprise with the dental chair in such an uncommon place, but every Virginian needs to be screened for oral cancer so why not take the message right to the people?” For more information, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/ moore or fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ rec/springhill.
Bethel United Church of Christ Hosts Film Screening The Bethel United Church of Christ is hosting a film screening
LO CA L on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. at the church, located at 4347 Arlington Blvd., Arlington. The church will be screening “An Ordinary Hero,” a film about the legendary civil rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. A panel discussion featuring Mulholland will follow the film screening. Attendees can park at the Red Cross building near the church. The event is free, but donations will be accepted and will go to benefit the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation. For more information, visit BethelUCC-va.org.
Arlington Co. Honors Struggle For School Integration Arlington County is hosting a film screening and community conversation about the historic fight black residents waged to desegregate Stratford Junior High School, which presently houses the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program. The screening and conversation, which will be held in H-B Woodlawn’s Stratford Auditorium, located at 4100 Vacation Lane, Arlington, is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 2, with the film screening starting at 6 p.m. and the community conversation set for 7:30 p.m. “It’s Just Me...The Integration of the Arlington Public Schools” is the documentary that will be screened. And at least two of the four black students who were the first to attend Stratford in 1959, Michael Jones and Gloria Thompson, will join community activists, Arlington residents and other members of the community in the conversation following the screening. Drew Costley of the Falls Church News-Press, a 2004 graduate of H-B Woodlawn, will be the moderator for the community conversation. For more information, visit arlingtonva.us/events.
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PAGE 14 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
NATI O NA L
Stay Sane America, Please! In January of 2017 someone will stand at the U.S. Capitol and deliver an Inaugural Address. This is roughly the place where Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan once stood. I am going to spend every single day between now and then believing that neither Donald Trump nor Ted Cruz nor Bernie Sanders will be standing on that podium. One of them could win the election, take the oath, give the speech and be riding down Pennsylvania Avenue. I will still refuse to believe it. Yes, I know what the polling evidence is telling us about Trump, Sanders and Cruz, but there are good reasons to cling to my disbelief. First, these primary campaigns will not be settled in February. They won’t be settled in March or April. Sometimes a candidate can sweep Iowa and New Hampshire and cruise to the nomination. But that NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE candidate has to be broadly acceptable to all parts of the party. Trump, Cruz and Sanders are not. As Jay Cost writes in The Weekly Standard, “This could mean a lengthy nomination battle that stretches all the way to the California primary in June.” On the Republican side the early primaries and caucuses allocate delegates proportionally. Only 16.2 percent of the delegates overall come from winner-take-all states. That means the delegate-getting war will be a slog. The first day when any candidate could rack up a big winner-take-all delegate harvest is March 15, an eternity from now. More than half the delegates will be allocated after that date. Second, Cruz and Trump will go after each other with increasing ferocity over the next many weeks or months. There is a decent chance, given their personalities, that they will make each other maximally unattractive and go down in each other’s death embrace. Third, the Trump and Sanders turnout problems are real. Trump is doing very well among people who haven’t voted in the past four elections. It’s possible he has energized them so much they will actually caucus and vote, but you wouldn’t want to bet your gold-plated faucets on it. People who don’t vote generally don’t vote. Sanders is drawing support from nonvoters, too. Sanders is up in some polls overall, but he trails big time among people in Iowa who caucused in 2008 and among those who are definitely registered to vote. It’s quite possible that the big story post-Iowa will be how badly these two underperformed. Fourth, establishment Republicans who are softening on Trump because they think he is more electable than Cruz are smoking something. According to a Pew Research survey, a majority of Americans think Trump would make a poor or terrible president. Chuck Todd ran through Trump’s favorable-unfavorable ratings on “Meet the Press” on Sunday: Among independents, Trump is negative 26 points; among women, negative 36; among suburban voters, negative 24. Is the Republican Party really going to nominate one of the most loathed men in American public life? Fifth, America has never elected a candidate maximally extreme from the political center, the way Sanders and Cruz are. According to the FiveThirtyEight website, Cruz has the most conservative voting record in the entire Congress. That takes some doing. Sixth, sooner or later the candidates from the governing wing of their parties will get their acts together. Marco Rubio has had a bad month, darkening his tone and trying to sound like a cut-rate version of Trump and Cruz. Before too long Rubio will realize his first task is to rally the voters who detest or fear those men. That means running as an optimistic American nationalist with specific proposals to reform Washington and lift the working class. If he can rally mainstream Republicans he’ll be at least tied with Trump and Cruz in the polls. Then he can counter their American decline narrative, with one of his own: This country is failing because it got too narcissistic, became too much like a reality TV show. Americans lost the ability to work constructively to get things done. Finally, eventually the electorate is going to realize that in an age of dysfunctional government, effective leadership capacity is the threshold issue. That means being able to listen to others, surround yourself with people smarter than you, gather a governing majority and above all have an actual implementation strategy. Not Trump, Cruz or Sanders has any remote chance of turning his ideas, such as they are, into actual laws. In every recent presidential election U.S. voters have selected the candidate with the most secure pair of hands. They’ve elected the person who would be a stable presence and companion for the next four years. I believe they’re going to do that again. And if they’re not, please allow me a few more months of denial.
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David Brooks
Michigan’s Great Stink In the 1850s, London, the world’s largest city, still didn’t have a sewer system. Waste simply flowed into the Thames, which was as disgusting as you might imagine. But conservatives, including the magazine The Economist and the prime minister, opposed any effort to remedy the situation. After all, such an effort would involve increased government spending and, they insisted, infringe on personal liberty and local control. It took the Great Stink of 1858, when the stench made the Houses of Parliament unusable, to produce action. But that’s all ancient history. Modern politicians, no matter how conservative, understand that public health is an essential government role. Right? No, NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE wrong – as illustrated by the disaster in Flint, Michigan. What we know so far is that in 2014 the city’s emergency manager – appointed by Rick Snyder, the state’s Republican governor – decided to switch to an unsafe water source, with lead contamination and more, in order to save money. And it’s becoming increasingly clear that state officials knew that they were damaging public health, putting children in particular at risk, even as they stonewalled both residents and health experts. This story – America in the 21st century, and you can trust neither the water nor what officials say about it – would be a horrifying outrage even if it were an accident or an isolated instance of bad policy. But it isn’t. On the contrary, the nightmare in Flint reflects the resurgence in American politics of exactly the same attitudes that led to London’s Great Stink more than a century and a half ago. Let’s back up a bit, and talk about the role of government in an advanced society. In the modern world, much government spending goes to social insurance programs – things like Social Security, Medicare and so on, that are supposed to protect citizens from the misfortunes of life. Such spending is the subject of fierce political debate, and understandably so. Liberals want to help the poor and unlucky, conservatives want to let people keep their hard-earned income, and there’s no right answer to this debate, because it’s a question of values. There should, however, be much less debate about spending on what Econ 101 calls public goods – things that benefit everyone and can’t be provided by the pri-
Paul Krugman
vate sector. Yes, we can differ over exactly how big a military we need or how dense and well-maintained the road network should be, but you wouldn’t expect controversy about spending enough to provide key public goods like basic education or safe drinking water. Yet a funny thing has happened as hard-line conservatives have taken over many U.S. state governments. Or actually, it’s not funny at all. Not surprisingly, they have sought to cut social insurance spending on the poor. In fact, many state governments dislike spending on the poor so much that they are rejecting a Medicaid expansion that wouldn’t cost them anything, because it’s federally financed. But what we also see is extreme penny pinching on public goods. It’s easy to come up with examples. Kansas, which made headlines with its failed strategy of cutting taxes in the expectation of an economic miracle, has tried to close the resulting budget gap largely with cuts in education. North Carolina has also imposed drastic cuts on schools. And in New Jersey, Chris Christie famously canceled a desperately needed rail tunnel under the Hudson. Nor are we talking only about a handful of cases. Public construction spending as a share of national income has fallen sharply in recent years, reflecting cutbacks by state and local governments that are ever less interested in providing public goods for the future. And this includes sharp cuts in spending on water supply. So are we just talking about the effects of ideology? Didn’t Flint find itself in the cross hairs of austerity because it’s a poor, mostly African-American city? Yes, that’s definitely part of what happened – it would be hard to imagine something similar happening to Grosse Pointe. But these really aren’t separate stories. What we see in Flint is an all too typically American situation of (literally) poisonous interaction between ideology and race, in which small-government extremists are empowered by the sense of too many voters that good government is simply a giveaway to Those People. Now what? Snyder has finally expressed some contrition, although he’s still withholding much of the information we need to fully understand what happened. And meanwhile we are, inevitably, being told that we shouldn’t make the poisoning of Flint a partisan issue. But you can’t understand what happened in Flint, and what will happen in many other places if current trends continue, without understanding the ideology that made the disaster possible.
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NATI O NA L
What Are the Odds? Bookies Like Trump
When I was a much younger political activist, every election was seen as a life-or-death situation, as likely to trigger or not a nuclear war, and so on. Unfortunately, this coming U.S. presidential election in the U.S. is stirring up similar visceral feelings. Back in the day, when I was sure that doomsday was about to happen in the impending general election, I visited a major donor, an unpretentious, scruffy but very wealthy older gentleman whose Cadillac was dusty because he drove it through his orange orchards. I assured him that a catastrophe was about to happen on election day. He leaned back in his office chair and picked up the phone to place a call, obviously a direct line to someone, because he didn’t have to say a word when it was FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS answered. All he said was, in his big bellowing melodious voice, “What are the odds?” stretching out and almost singing the last word. He listened, and hung up the phone. “Nothing to worry about,” he told me. Out of sympathy, I guess, he still wrote me a check, but it wasn’t to empty his bank account as a panicky gesture to forestall Armageddon. Of course, within that week it was confirmed that he, and his Vegas bookie, were right. The outcome wasn’t even close. So this time, on the eve of the first presidential primary (the Iowa caucuses) of the 2016 campaigns, my thoughts go back to that earlier time, especially as the news now comes that London bookies are now predicting that Donald Trump will actually win the GOP nomination, something they hadn’t acknowledged until only very recently. These odds-makers don’t play, they’re dealing in real money and often an awful lot of it. Thus, while CNN and “Meet the Press” knock themselves out to rehearse every nuance of the campaigns, and everybody is citing the latest polls of likely voters, etc., etc., the cool, cold odds numbers from the many websites that calculate such things seem relatively final and unforgiving. Read them, turn off your computer, and switch your TV to the Cartoon Channel. On the eve of Iowa, here’s what they’re saying, taking a random site for its predictions: Yes, according to it, the news about Trump is true. He is now calculated as an even chance to win the GOP nomination, way ahead of everybody else. Sen. Marco Rubio has the next best odds, at 9/4, followed by Sen. Ted Cruz at 6/1, Jeb Bush at 9/1, Chris Christie at 22/1, John Kasich at 40/1 non-candidates Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney at 50/1 each. Ben Carson is at 100/1, Mike Huckabee at 150/1, Rand Paul at 150/1, Carly Fiorina at 150/1, Rick Santorum at 250/1, and Jim Gilmore at 250/1. Up until only recently, of course, it was a far different picture, with Bush having the best odds even as Trump’s campaign was refusing to unravel the way so many predicted. Now, even as The Donald still upsets the scions of the GOP establishment, apparently they’re having to come to grips with his odds-on role as the favorite. They know, as well, that neither Iowa nor New Hampshire will decide anything. It’s not about conventional politics. The Frankenstein monster that the GOP unleashed in reaction to the Obama administration’s initiatives, especially to Obamacare but also much more, has now morphed into a tall, bellowing humanoid figure that may not exactly have electrode bolts sticking out the sides of its neck, but has artificial hair stuck on the top of its head that may be covering something up there. This monster, the creation of the “grass tops” (a D.C. phrase that is contrasted to “grass roots” because it is heavily funded to superimpose on an angry rabble the programmatic contents and mobilization strategy of a “movement”) so-called Tea Party and its undeniably racist core, which Trump’s own utterances are now confirming, is now completely out of control! (By the way, the odds-makers have the following outcomes for the Democratic side: Clinton is the overwhelming favorite at 1/5, followed by Sanders at 7/2, Vice President Biden at 16/1 and O’Malley at 100/1).
JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 15
Nicholas F. Benton
Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
Hillary Clinton Stumbles In October, when Hillary Clinton made a spectacle of the congressional Benghazi committee during a marathon interrogation that seemed designed to make a spectacle of her, she emerged stronger than ever. Her polls numbers surged. That performance had come on the heels of a strong debate performance the week before in the first Democratic presidential debate. She had bolstered the image she wanted to project: strong, smart, capable and battle-tested. But now, on the verge of Monday night’s Democratic town hall in Iowa and with Bernie Sanders’ poll numbers climbing not only in Iowa, but also in New Hampshire, the Clinton campaign seems increasingly desperate and reckless. I noticed the turn in the last debate as Clinton seemed to me to go too far in her attacks on Sanders, while simultaneously painting herself into a box that will be very hard to escape. She wrapped herself in President Barack Obama’s legacy so tightly that she could hardly breathe, NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE and then built an image of herself as a practical politician who could build on Obama’s accomplishments by taking small steps and negotiating tough deals. But practicality and incrementalism, as reasonable as that strategy and persona may be, are simply no match for what animates the Sanders campaign – a kind of kinetic idealism. His is a passionate exposition of liberalism and democratic socialism in its most positive light. But, let me be clear and unequivocal: I find his earnest philosophic positions to be clear and often laudable, but also somewhat quixotic. I think that he is promising far more than even he knows he can deliver, and the electability question is still a real one, even though polls now show him matching up well against possible Republican opponents. For instance, Sanders’ plan for universal health care is an admirable ambition of any true liberal, but as presented seems to me unworkable, and the prospect of getting it passed through this Congress or any Congress that vaguely resembles it is nil. Congress has voted to repeal Obamacare, which is far shy of Sanders’ proposal, more than 60 times. Suggesting that it would pass something even more expansive is mere fantasy. When Sanders is pressed on how he will accomplish his ambitious goals, he often responds with the
Charles M. Blow
nebulous answer that it will require a “political revolution,” which seems to mean energizing and engaging an unprecedented number of new voters who would not only ensure his election but flip control of the Senate and possibly the House. Interesting, but also unlikely. Go talk to all the Blue Dog Democrats who lost their seats in the wake of Obamacare passage. Go talk to all the voters who are being disenfranchised by new voter suppression laws. Go talk to all the poor people who live in states where conservative voters ensure Republican leadership, and therefore prevent Medicaid from being expanded in their states. There are political realities that exist in America that can be changed sometimes, and often are, but that are not often subject to sea changes. Furthermore, Sanders likes to tout that he doesn’t have a “super PAC” and doesn’t want one. That is a principled position. But the Republican candidate will have the support of many super PACs, awash in hundreds of millions of dollars in dark money, and the Republican nominee himself might even be a billionaire. They are going to beat Sanders like he is a nail with the “socialist” label and his proposal on new taxation. Middle of the spectrum Middle America is likely to be very susceptible to this negative messaging. But instead of Clinton finding a way to express that her plans are more tangible than Sanders’, and her chances in the general election are stronger than his, she and her campaign have made some incredulous inferences about Sanders’ honor. The swipes at him as being soft on the gun industry as some way of cozying up to it, or of being antiObama because he wanted Obama to be stronger in pursuing a liberal agenda, or that he wants to scrap Obamacare, simply do not connect. Sanders may be a dreamer, but he’s not dishonorable. Trying to sully him in this way only sullies her. There are a tremendous number of echoes starting to be heard between the way Clinton ran against Obama, and the way she is running against Sanders. Clinton has what political insiders call the “firewall”: Overwhelming support among black and Hispanic voters in Southern and some Western states. But a win by Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire could supply a boost of momentum that could greatly erode the Clinton firewall. If Clinton can’t find a positive, energetic message to project, and soon, she is going to be swept away by Sanders.
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PAGE 16 | JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
The snow hanging off the roof defies gravity. How long can it teeter on the edge without crashing to the deck below? 40 hours so far... This historic blizzard reminded me of the January 1966 storm that also shut down the region. As young college graduates in our first Capitol Hill jobs, my roommate and I rode the AB&W bus (this was pre-Metro) from Old Town Alexandria every day. During the storm, the bus drivers stopped at King Street, cognizant that they risked becoming stuck if they ventured further south. The walk in the blizzard down the middle of Washington Street to our little apartment was surreal – no traffic, just a few stalwarts trudging homeward. It also was my first experience with a run on grocery stores. The little neighborhood market looked like a locust plague had passed – no milk, no eggs, no bread. We bought the last package of Brown ‘n Serve rolls on the shelf, and rushed home with our treasure. In that storm, before the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Water Act, etc., snow was loaded onto dump trucks, which went to the no-longer-used, but still standing, old 14th Street bridge deck, and dumped the snow onto the frozen Potomac River below. When the thaw came, it was curious, and a bit bizarre, to watch the snow mountains float freely down the Potomac. Decades later, the region is dealing with the probable after-effects of such former practices. Who knows what was in the snow dumped into the river – road salts, oil, antifreeze, rubble, sediment – the corrosive and damaging elements that made the Potomac unfishable and unswimmable at the time, and contributed to the decline of the Chesapeake Bay
and its fisheries that local governments face today. It will be interesting to judge the after-effects of this blizzard on the Bay report card issued annually by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Major weather events can sabotage the restoration activities for the Bay and its tributaries, which include local streams and waterways. In the midst of the storm cleanup, there were lots of friendly efforts to help get back to normal. A neighbor and his son dug out their driveway, and then cleared a path down a steep hill to dig out a neighbor’s driveway and cars. Fortunately, strong sunshine and clear skies brightened the task, and black pavement was soon uncovered. Postal deliveries in some Mason District neighborhoods will be difficult due to snow piled high on VDOT rights-of-way, blocking mail boxes. Kudos to the plow jockeys who worked tirelessly through the storm, and after, to make roadways passable. One can only imagine the challenges facing plow drivers during a storm like this one. Equipment breakdowns, and exhaustion, were not unusual. Humvees from the National Guard were brought in to aid public safety personnel in responding to calls for service. A special thank you also to the folks who staffed the county’s Emergency Operations Center. Long shifts and sleeping on cots or the floor were de rigeur for those assigned. On this bright, sunny day, it looks like the snow overhang actually may melt before it crashes!
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Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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C ancer C hro n icl e s
The Unfathomable, Part 2
Why were all of these answers similarly insufficient for me to fully believe in a life after death with God? What was more, these adults who were guiding me in spiritual wisdom didn’t come across as particularly scientific in the way they answered my questions. The certainty of their beliefs did not have that foundation of “healthy skepticism” that we were being taught as essential to critical thinking in school. You would think that on an issue of such importance these adults would have taken the time to hypothesize, test, and analyze their spiritual theories; the same way that scientists test their theories until they are accepted as fact. I wondered if I, a mere child compared to these adults, maintained a higher level of scientific skepticism, then might it be possible that they were missing something? Might they, in the pursuit of quelling their own fear of that black expanse that I had envisioned as a child, have overlooked some crucial fact? Might they be blinding themselves to some great scientific truth? To this day, I still don’t have a definite answer to all these questions about the universe and existence. I don’t believe anyone does. All I can say is that these were thoughts that occupied my mind growing up, prior to ever having been diagnosed with cancer and since then, I’ve grown up a great deal more. I won’t try to cram five years of life-altering moments and experiences into this one column, but in the words of the Ghostbusters: I have talked to God and he has talked to me. I have physically felt what it is like to be in his presence, to have his hand actually resting on me. I have lost my faith completely, and then found it again, twice. I have had glimpses of what heaven really is and the amazing promise that lies before me. I have stared Death in the face multiple times and said “no.” Eventually my fear of Death began to give way a bit and I learned to use my awareness of its presence for a richer life. And now, after having this unique opportunity to almost “hang out” and get to know Death better over the years, I realize that he (or she I guess) is only as good or bad as you make him out to be. I long for a new body, a new vehicle for my soul that isn’t constantly fighting against me. I want to be able to eat food again and enjoy the taste. I want to run outside and enjoy the weather instead of collapsing 100 yards out the door, feeling the fluid around my lungs contracting tight against my chest. I want to sing again without feeling pain and exhaustion throughout my body. And mostly, I want to meet my creator and finally rest in the peace of knowing him fully. I wake up in the morning sometimes and I feel like a stranger to this world. Someone passing through who is ready to move on to the final destination. Are there good things left for me in this earthly life? I hope so. I’ve decided to move forward with the experimental immune therapy trial and sign yet another consent form just as I’ve always done. I am optimistic that this will produce good results, just as so many other treatments have in the past despite the slim chance of success they offered me. I’ve outlived my relapse prognosis by at least two years at this point, and life has continually surprised me with unexpected gifts during that time. I hope that this will be the same. In the meantime, I will attempt to find some peace and rest in the image of hope I now have for life after death. I count myself lucky to have been given these years of trial and growth to develop an assurance, even an eagerness, for the eternal life the Bible promises. I will continue to draw my strength and courage from this promise, even when it feels like I’m drowning.
Samuel Waters
Editor’s Note – Samuel Waters passed away yesterday morning. He was rejected for the experimental program he referred to here because he was deemed too weak. A 22-year-old from Falls Church and graduate of George Mason High School, Waters was a vocal performance student at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and was home battling the progression of the cancer, rhabodomyosarcoma, that he had been fighting for five years. An obituary will appear in next week’s edition.
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Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
Count among Arlington’s notable yesteryear residents “Old Blood and Guts.” Gen. George S. Patton Jr. (1885-1945), famous for leadership in two World Wars, ivoryhandled pistols and slapping scared soldiers in Sicily, was colorfully portrayed by George C. Scott in the 1970 movie. Stateside, Patton’s life’s drama unfolded at homes in and around Fort Myer, the sites of which are traceable. The respected but resented officer was stationed four times in the Washington area, I was told by Kim Holien, retired as historian at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Patton and his wife Bea “were very socially oriented, because they were upper-crust and because that was a way to keep his name and face in front of the powers that be in the slow promotion system between the wars.” Patton was first stationed in Arlington in 1911, when the ace horseman joined the 15th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer. He was already mingling with superior officers, lawmakers and Cabinet members, wrote Patton biographer Stanley Hirshon. In summer 1912, the 26-year-old VMI grad traveled to Stockholm to compete in the Olympics pentathlon. Patton developed “the last official saber for the Army,” Holien says. Following action in World War I in France, he returned to Fort
JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 17
Myer as a major and squadron commander and helped prepare the 1921 dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After finishing at the Army War College in June 1932, Patton and his wife rented a two-year-old house in Rosslyn. It boasted “a gas stove and furnace, five bedrooms, four rooms for servants, two guest rooms, and a flower garden,” Hirshon reports. One letter from Patton’s wife, copied to me by the Huntington Library in California, contained, rather than a street address, “RFD #1 Roslyn or Ft. Myer if you trust Georgie to bring it home.” From this house Patton learned of the “bonus marchers” near the Capitol – 17,000 impoverished World War I vets demanding back pay. Patton saw the marchers as “revolutionists” and “a mob” and helped put them down (one protester being a soldier who once saved Patton’s life). In 1935, the Pattons bought land from Fort Myer and built a home at North 12th and Nash streets. It was later described as an elegant two-story fieldstone, with dark wood paneling, crown molding, hardwood floors and a spacious kitchen. The Pattons lived there six years, and after Pearl Harbor it was sold to the Devers family for their fledgling Congressional School (originally a farm on Carlin Springs Road). In 1960 a fire forced Congressional to move to today’s location on Sleepy Hollow Road. The Patton home was razed
in 1963. Patton back in 1938 had been promoted to commander at Fort Myer. He was one of the last to live in Quarters 8 on Grant Ave., Holien said, before Gen. George Marshall assembled senior officers at other nearby quarters for security and communication. That was after Patton in 1935 designed the Old Post Chapel “top to bottom, doing extensive research on a tight budget,” Holien said. Yet a chapel plaque mounted in 1955 credits Patton’s former boss, Gen. Kenyon Joyce. That, historian Holien assured me, was due to the famous falling out between Patton and Dwight Eisenhower in Europe before Patton’s death in a car accident. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and the Joyces dedicated the plaque – with Patton’s role nearly forgotten. *** The late Arlington librarianhistorian Sara Collins shared with me an intriguing Arlington story she was never able to verify. Allegedly, the reason Arlington separated from Alexandria County in 1920 was a misunderstanding by the Army. A military parade near our courthouse to celebrate the end of World War I was supposed to include a flyover from aircraft at Fort Myer. But no planes appeared. When questioned, the Army said its pilots flew over the City of Alexandria but found no parade. That, the tale goes, was the last straw for Arlingtonians, and the General Assembly acted that year to make our county master of its own destiny.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT Week of Jan. 18 - 24, 2016 Aggravated Assault, 220 N. Washington St. (State Theatre) On Jan. 18, three victims were shot and treated at local hospitals. Public Drunkenness, 306 Hillwood Ave. On Jan. 18, a male, 27, of Vienna, was arrested for Public Drunkenness. He was also served a warrant for Failure to Appear in Fairfax County General District Court for Failure to Pay Child Support.
arrested for Prostitution and Keeping a Bawdy House. Driving Under the Influence & Narcotics Violation, 100 block Little Falls St. On Jan. 23, a male, 23, of McLean, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Possession of Marijuana.
Stolen Vehicle, 586 Washington St. (Victory Comics) On Jan. 20, police received a report of a stolen van. Prostitution, 300 W. Broad St. (Stratford Motor Lodge) On Jan. 21, a female, 57, no fixed address, was
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MAKING A SPLASH in the 200-yard freestyle, George Mason High School freshman TJ Roche won with a time of 1:56.94, which quali�ied him for the state championships. (P����: C�������
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Mason Swimmers Triumph at Manassas Park Quad Meet BY ARI AUTOR
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS
George Mason High School Mustang swimmers continued their successful season by triumphing in the Manassas Park Quad Meet on Saturday, Jan. 16. With the girls’ team scoring 164 points and 148 for the boys, Mason placed first overall with a 312-point finish against division 2A teams from Madison County, Strasburg and Stonewall Jackson high schools. Racing to earn spots for districts, regionals, and beyond, Mustang swimmers dominated multiple events. In the boys’ 200-yard individual medley Freshman Adam Janicki finished first in 2:16.88 with Christian Autor placing second. Freshman Sigrid Edson (2:39.40) placed first for the girls with Cara McFall finishing second.
In the boys’ 100-yard backstroke, Freshman TJ Roche qualified for the State Championships with the winning time of 1:01.34. Ryan Fry finished in second. Sophomore Hannah Rollins won the girls’ 100-yard backstroke (1:09.16) with Sieglinde Thetard taking second place. Additional state championship times were earned by Sigrid Edson (1:07:57), second in the girls’ 100yard butterfly, and TJ Roche, first finisher in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle (1:56.94). The Mustangs won both 500-yard freestyle events, with Sophomore Noah Surette finishing in 5:45.16 for the boys’ team and Senior Brady Furleigh in 6:13.41 for the girls. In the girls’ 100-yard free, Senior Julianne Kelly took first (1:02.29). Winning relays at the meet included the 4 x 50-yard free relay
consisting of senior girls Erin McFall, Francesca King, Julianne Kelly and Brady Furleigh, with their time of 1:51.73. In the 4 x 100-free relay, Mason girls took both top spots with Seniors Blaise Sevier, Celia Geiser, Sieglinde Thetard and Brady Furleigh winning in 4:25.70, followed by the team of Sydney Marple, Hannah Hiscott, Julia Howard and Sigrid Edson in second. Mason also won the 4 x 100-yard boys’ free relay with Junior Daniel Reinfurt, Freshmen Matthew Ng, Ryan Fry and TJ Roche (3:43.91). With the Mustangs’ last meet snowed out, top Mason swimmers return to the pool this Saturday night for Districts in Manassas. Coaches Jack Cashin and Karen Hamill hope to reschedule the missed meet to round out the regular season.
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SCHOLASTIC BOWL On Saturday, Jan. 16 Mason’s Scholastic Bowl team competed and won the Conference 35 championship, beating Central (305-60) and then Clarke County twice at Strasburg High School. The Monday before the conference tournament, January 11, was the last regular season meet, where Mason beat Clarke County and Rappahannock County (180-165) at Central High School. These big wins completed their Bull Run District regular season with an undefeated 12-0 record and the Bull Run District regular season championship.
Mason’s leading scorers this season have been juniors Jimmy Ferguson and Joseph Snitzer, with junior Annie Parnell and senior Cole Casteel also contributing significant scoring in the tossup rounds.
VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL George Mason High School’s boys varsity basketball team beat Central High School 72-54 on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Mason’s game against Strasburg High School for Wednesday, Jan. 27 was cancelled. The team’s scheduled to play William Monroe High School at home on Friday, Jan. 29.
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JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 19
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THE THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BAND plays during the school’s band and chorus concert. The band and chorus played to a full gym. The band will perform several times this spring and the band will perform at a spring concert in June. (P����: C������� �� FCCPS P����/C������� A�� A����)
F.C. Residents Earn Academic Honors Across the Nation
VOLUNTEERS PAUSE FOR A PICTURE during The Congressional Schools of Virginia’s 2nd Annual Service Day, which was held on Monday, Jan. 18 as part of the National Day of Service. The effort bene�ited several local organizations. (P����: C������� �� C���� P����)
Congressional School Hosts Annual Day of Service The Congressional Schools of Virginia hosted its 2nd Annual Service Day on Monday, Jan. 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as part of the National Day of Service. The volunteer effort lasted from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and benefited several local organizations. Volunteers made 240 Power Packs for students at Sleepy Hollow Elementary, delivered five boxes of clothes, jackets, socks and shoes to Willston Multicultural Center, made 28 creative pillowcases for children at Inova Children’s Hospital and provided assistance to three organizations at
the Jewish Community Center through Volunteer Fairfax. For more information, visit congressionalschools.org/serviceday.
McLean HS Puts ‘Goldilocks On Trial’ in New Show TheatreMcLean, the theater program at McLean High School, is gearing up for its production of “Goldilocks on Trial,” which will have a two-night run on February 6 and 7 at the school’s Burks Theatre, located at 1633 Davidson Road, McLean. The play, which was written by Fairfax County educator and playwright Ed Monk, enters a
courtroom where Goldilocks was accused of breaking and entering. Will she be found guilty and sent to jail or will the truth come out? “‘Goldilocks on Trial’ is a perfect second show for TheatreMcLean. I wanted to bring a children’s show to McLean so all family members could enjoy the theatre,” said McLean High School theatre teacher and director Phillip Reid. “With ‘Goldilocks on Trial’, students are able to create big absurd characters and a show that is fun for all ages.” Showtimes for the play are 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on February 6 and 11 a.m. on February 7. Tickets cost $10. For more information, visit TheatreMcLean.org.
Several Falls Church residents recently earned academic honors from colleges, universities and other academic institutions across the nation. Sophia DeLeo and Noah Saberhagen made the dean’s list at the University of Hartford. Jacob King, a political science major at Oklahoma State University, made the president’s honor roll at the university, where students must receive all A grades in order to earn the distinction. Morgan Laverty and Julia Saltzgiver made the dean’s list at the University of Delaware, where students must earn a grade point average of 3.33 or higher while being enrolled in the university full time. Haley Zullo made the dean’s list at Virginia Commonwealth University.
F.C. League of Women Voters Register Mustangs The Falls Church League of Women Voters’ Service Committee registered voters at
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George Mason High School on Thursday, Jan. 21. Students who will be 18 by the November 8 presidential election are also eligible to vote in the March 1 primary. Mustangs registered to vote outside of the cafeteria at Mason from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Students may be the main targets of the League’s voter registration efforts, but new staff and faculty who are residents of any Virginia locality can vote during the League’s registration drives. For more information, visit lwvfallschurch.org.
Flying Club Opens at George Mason High School The Flying Club is one of the newer clubs at George Mason High School. The club was created for students who are interested in drones and model airplanes. Members of the club learn about aviation, share news and videos, fly club drones and design plans for building their own. A recent AT&T STEM grant will support the purchase of hardware and controls to build three new mini-airplanes and a drone.
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PAGE 20 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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Isolated Elderly BY MATLIDA CHARLES
KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
The news coming out of Maine was beyond sad: An elderly woman was found dead in her home, and she’d been dead for two years. Getting beyond the shock of that is difficult. We ask: How could something like that happen? How could no one notice the disappearance of another human being, a neighbor? When the former teacher first moved to her rural property she’d been friendly with others, but later she became reclusive. Because being alone seemed to be her preference, neighbors didn’t bother her. The police had been called a few times to do a wellness check, but when the door wasn’t answered, they were unable to press the issue. Eventually, because taxes went unpaid and foreclosure was imminent, the police did break in
and discovered the woman. How many of us heard this story on the news and said, “That could be me”? How many of us, because we don’t have nearby family or friends who are still living, could be in that same situation? We need to explore our resources now, before it’s too late, and set up a system whereby we won’t be left unnoticed for long periods of time, even as we guard our privacy. The best way to ensure senior safety is with a phone-in program, where seniors are called every morning or have to call in to say they’re OK. It’s available in many localities. For very private people, this non-intrusive program can be a lifesaver. If no one answers the phone, a contact or the police will be called. Short of that, we can arrange with a neighbor that we’ll open a certain window curtain every
morning. Or we’ll swap phone calls. Or we’ll collect the newspaper off the porch. Think about these things now, and put something into practice. *** Sometimes we find scams where we least expect them. Lumos, the company that makes brain games for the computer and phone apps, has been cited by the Federal Trade Commission for telling us lies. Lumos advertised that its games would help increase cognitive behavior and put off brain decline, including mild cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Lumos even claimed to help with traumatic brain injury, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and stroke. It also has children’s products and cited “improved performance” in school and athletics. The big problem: The company didn’t have any research to back up its claims about what the products would do. The FTC alleged unfair or deceptive acts and false advertising, and ordered Lumos to stop making claims unless it has clinical testing of the products to prove what they do. Additionally,
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Lumos was ordered to disclose its relationship with any person who gives it an endorsement. In one batch of testimonials, consumers were entering a contest to potentially be rewarded with an iPad or a trip to San Francisco for saying nice things about the product. If you are currently a customer or have been a customer in the past, you will be hearing from Lumos. The company was ordered to provide a list of all customers who’ve purchased monthly or lifetime subscriptions to products between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2014, and to send all those cus-
tomers an email or app message notifying them of all of the above and providing a way to instantly end their subscription. The FTC fined Lumos $50 million but it will have to pay only $2 million to the FTC. The consumers who got scammed, however, apparently won’t get any of that money in the form of refunds. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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LETTERS
TO THE
Continued from Page 6 Street before it intersects Route 50, where it has made driving impossible. What a waste of time and resources to wait so long to plow the side roads. At how many other intersections was this costly and inefficient scenario enacted? Keeping up with the snow would have enabled the plows to move the snow in a much safer and more efficient manner. I look out now and see a truck returned to plow about eight feet of surplus snow into the bottom of my driveway so I won’t be able to get out in the morning. As a senior with double hip replacements, this makes life very difficult for me, and for many thousands of other citizens affected by VDOT’s exceptionally poor and inefficient planning for snow removal. Diana Artemis Falls Church
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Editor, While the City Council may get a few complaints from time to time, I had a pretty nice surprise Saturday walking around the City of Falls Church in the middle of a historic snowstorm. City plows are out struggling to get on top of a real mess, which as I write this is getting even worse; the streets are impassable, everyone is hunkered down in their homes (most likely watching a lot of TV); and, only “mad dogs” and our dedicated city workers are out in the cold and blowing snow fighting the good fight. So, as I walked by a busy maintenance worker, wearing all weather gear and clear-
EDITOR
ing his city truck half stuck in a drift, it was a real treat when he returned my wave with a wave and a really friendly smile. Then I realized I recognized our City Manager! We talked and laughed for a minute in the wind; he couldn’t have been nicer and more upbeat. In fact, our most senior City officer, who could easily have spent the weekend in a warm office or in his home pretending to lead by calling staff on his phone, was not only out there in the cold leading the ground war against the storm, he was upbeat and radiated what passed for happiness at the opportunity. Who do you write when the top dog does something that deserves recognition? The City Council, the ones who hired him – good job on that one. Bob Pender Falls Church
When Clearing Snow from Sidewalks, Businesses Should Do What’s Right Editor, I commend the majority of businesses that cleared their walks by Tuesday, enabling me to walk to the CVS for necessaries. But what kind of human being decides to remove snow only to the exact boundary of their property and no further, and leaves 10 feet of a mountain of icy snow between their business and the next? Really? How would you feel if your mother or grandfather encountered such dangerous conditions? I don’t want to hear you did what was legally required. Do what’s right. Chris Raymond Falls Church
Falls Church Digs Out from ‘Snowzilla’ Continued from Page 5
Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and Mike’s Deli delivered food to the public works crews at the Property Yard, and a number of individual citizens did as well. With the storm raging Saturday, news crews from all the local TV channels were moving around in their four-wheel drive units, including up and down Route 7 traversing Falls Church between Tysons Corner and Bailey’s Crossroads. In Bailey’s Channel 4 reporter David Culver was reporting on the snow when a crew of volunteers shoveling the snow at a fire station behind him decided that, for the camera, they would start throwing the snow on each other. It was hilarious. The Rev. John Ohmer emailed his parishioners that the Falls Church Episcopal would open up for a single informal service Sunday morning for anyone living close by enough to get there.
The same morning a couple blocks away, the Falls Church Community Center was opened for free play, but citizens were cautioned by a City email blast that there was no place to park anywhere around it. A number of scheduled events, of course, were canceled or postponed. A City forum on a vision for the W&OD Trail set for last Saturday was called off and reset for the same time and place this coming Saturday morning. The same for a Falls Church League of Women Voters forum last Sunday afternoon. It will be this coming Sunday afternoon. Performances at the ArtSpace of Falls Church by the Creative Cauldron were also called off last weekend, and Producing Director Laura Hull said that critical rehearsal time was lost for its world premiere show, ‘Monsters of the Villa Diodati,” which will now begin with previews this Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Jimmy John’s Now Open In Falls Church The sandwich shop Jimmy John’s opened its doors Wednesday on Route 7 in Falls Church. The Illinois-based chain is located in the new commercial building at 7121 Leesburg Pike along with Conte’s Bikes, Computer Wingman and an ABC Store. Serving French bread subs, clubs on thicksliced 7-grain bread and “slims” which ditch the toppings and sauce, Jimmy John’s also offers catering and delivery to a limited area. Jimmy John’s 7121 Leesburg Pike | Falls Church jimmyjohns.com
Local Market Keeps F.C. Stocked During Blizzard Two feet of snow doesn’t really bode well for commerce but the blizzard of 2016 was good for at least one business here in The Little City. While most stores and restaurants closed up shop during the weekend storm, Falls Church’s The Local Market
FO O D &D I NI NG
stayed open through it all – and thrived. “We decided before the storm that we were going to be here for our customers as long as possible,” said owner Patrick Fleming. And they stuck to that plan. Open at 9 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Fleming and co-owner Tamara Powell kept Local Market customers wellstocked throughout “Snowzilla” by making food runs all weekend long. With their regular bread supplier, Firehook, all the way out in Chantilly, they were able to stay stocked with runs to Alexandria’s Great Harvest on Saturday and with help from Falls Church’s-own Kendall’s Cakes on Sunday. Fleming even offered free delivery to any customer during the storm. The days leading up the blizzard were busy for The Local Market, too. So much so, that Monday through Sunday was Fleming and Powell’s biggest sales week since they bought the store last July. “Having big sales numbers is important to us, of course,” said Fleming. “But in terms of pure fun, it’s really great to be here for people and serve them in this way.” The Local Market 246 West Broad Street | Falls Church
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JIMMY JOHN’S is now open on Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. (P����: N���-P����)
Peking Gourmet Named Top 10 Chinese Restaurant in U.S. Falls Church’s own Peking Gourmet Inn has been named one of the top 10 Chinese food restaurants in the country, according to a new list from Time Out North America. Peking Gourmet was number 10 on the list of 17 top U.S. Chinese dining destinations, bested only by restaurants in much larger cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Time Out cites
the Falls Church restaurant’s Peking duck, obviously, and the “feast of dark, rich meat and crackling, glistening golden skin accompanied by unusually delicate pancakes, housemade hoisin sauce, and green onions grown on the family farm.” Peking Gourmet’s lamb dishes and jeo-yen shrimp are also recommended in the write-up. Peking Gourmet Inn 6029 Leesburg Pike | Falls Church pekinggourmet.com – Jody Fellows
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Andrea Asprelli, a fiddler, singer/songwriter and leader of Cricket Tell the Weather, was introduced to American folk and bluegrass nearly ten years ago, when she was studying abroad in Canterbury, England. “I didn’t intend to go there for music, I just met a bunch of musicians while I was there,” Asperelli said. “And I thought they would all be into Irish and English folk, but they all loved American music. So I got on board with them there.” She said that the musicians over there listened to a lot of Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch and Del McCoury. “I don’t know how they got into it, but there was scene out there,” Asprelli said. “And I grew playing classical music, so I wanted to do something different and I started playing with them and they dumped a bunch of music on me before I left and I came back to the states, listened to it a bunch and then found a bunch of people to play it with.” Eventually that led Asprelli, who started CRICKET TELL THE WEATHER (C������� P����) playing classical violin at age five, to form “We live in such a visual-heavy age when Cricket Tell the Weather in 2012 with Jason album…. So that stuff has a less of a deviation, Borisoff. The group released its self-titled I think my style is more rooted in traditional we’re all posting photos and videos everyfolk and bluegrass from bluegrass melodies where,” Asprelli said. “So I was just looking debut album independently in April 2014. at different photos that we have and thinking The album has firm rooting in traditional and instrumentation to folk stories.” Asprelli admitted, though, that her style has that those are only telling one side of the story. American bluegrass and folk music, but is noticeably influenced by classic and indie not escaped the influence of the 90s pop music We only put our best pictures forward and that rock. “There’s a lot of different stuff on that she grew up listening to. “We were practicing sort of thing. But we never know the full story. “So it’s a song about when you’re reminiscalbum and definitely indie rock,” Asprelli said. yesterday and I said ‘That line sounds like it “But since recording that album we’ve sort of came from a Blink-182 song’. I can’t help it,” ing about someone or something your memory can get kind of clouded and is not totally trustshifted. We had some different members and she said. “I’m a child of the 90s.” Cricket Tell the Weather’s new album Tell worthy and you can look at a photograph or on that album there’s a lot of different singers the Story Right is due out this summer, but letter and try to piece together what was going and a couple different songwriters. “And now the songs have shifted more Asprelli said that the group will play songs on or what happened, but it’s more nebulous towards my style. The songs that you hear that from the album at their show at Bikentic on than that.” have more of my voice on them are characteris- Sun, Jan. 31 as part of the Stone Room Concert • For more information about Cricket Tell tic of what we’re going to be putting out going series. The album’s title comes from a line in the Weather, visit crickettelltheweather.com. forward and what’s going to be on the new the first single off the album, “Photographs.”
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JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 25
Creative Cauldron Welcomes ‘Monsters’ in New Play BY PATRICIA LESLIE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Dark and stormy days and nights will fill the stage at Creative Cauldron beginning this weekend when the theater debuts a world premiere musical based on a real 19th century event, “Monsters of the Villa Diodati.” The title comes from the memoirs of an actor in the show which will star Alan Naylor as “Percy Bysshe Shelley,” Sam P. Ludwig as “Lord Byron” and Caitlin Shea as “Mary Shelley.” In a summer without sun, it was a world of darkness, covered by grey skies and ashes from a volcanic explosion in Indonesia. It was 1816 where friends met at a mansion near Lake Geneva, Switzerland (which still exists!) drawn by common interests in composing tales of horror, and it spawned the creations of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and The Vamprye by “John Polidori” (David Landstrom), physician to Lord Bryon and another guest at Diodati. Also present was “Claire Clairmont” (Catherine Purcell), Mary Shelley’s stepsister, who
had a fling with Lord Bryon and bore a daughter he stashed in a convent where she died at the age of five, but that’s another story. And maybe, another play. Naylor and Ludwig each won the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical,” Naylor, recipient of the Helen Award for his role in Creative’s “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” and Ludwig won the Hayes Award for an Olney Theatre production. The name Stephen Gregory Smith, who wrote “Monsters” and is a Helen Hayes winner himself, will be familiar to Falls Church playgoers since he wrote and directed the popular 2012 Creative Cauldron production, “Cole Porter: You’re the Top!” and he and “Monsters” composer, Matt Conner, wrote the lyrics for the new show. The duo has collaborated on other productions, including last year’s “The Turn of the Screw” at Creative and “Night of the Living Dead,” a musical based on the 1968 classic of the same name. One night before a rehearsal, Smith talked about his newest play.
Sam Ludwig, Catherine Purcell, Caitlin Shea, David Landstrom and Alan Naylor perform a scene from “Monster of the Villa Diodati.” (P����: C������ �� K���� W�����, K� P����������) The 1816 event “when stars collided” is “the most famous literary happening ever,” he said. “Two hundred years later and we’re still talking about it. Lord Byron is the biggest rock star on the planet. People dress like him.”
It was a “summer of free love, the 1970s in the 1800s. Percy Shelley did not believe in marriage or monogamy,” Smith said. It was also a time of a lot of drug use and sexual experimentation, said Laura Connors Hull, Creative Cauldron’s producing director.
The “monsters” in the title are those within us like “the toil of an artist’s creations and the effects on everyone else,” said Smith. “You have to be responsible for what you say and the damage [it] can create.”
CA L E NDA R
PAGE 26 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Community Events
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
Early Literacy Center. Explore educational and manipulative items to teach early literacy through play on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday every week. This program is for ages birth to five years. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Youth Services Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 11 a.m. – noon. & 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. 703-248-5034. Teen Knitting Club. Children in grades 5 – 12 come together to share projects, ask advice or learn how to knit. All skill levels welcome. Scrap yarn and needles available for beginners. Registration required. Limited to 15 participants. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Youth Services Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 7 – 8 p.m. 703248-5034.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
Where’s the Chair?. The Virginia Dental Association will provide screenings for oral cancer. Spring Hill Recreation Center (1239 Spring Hill Road, McLean). Free. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. vadental.org.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
Lunar New Year Celebration. Sun & Moon Taiji One will be hosting a free class in celebration of the
Lunar New Year. Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do (1136 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 7:55 – 8:55 a.m. sunandmoontaijione.com. Open House: W&OD Master Plan – The City’s Greenest Street. Members of the community are invited to review and provide feedback on the proposed master plan for the W&OD Trail. Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Free. 10 – 11:30 a.m. fallschurchva.gov/ WODMasterPlan. Book Sale. Used adult and children’s books for sale. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Conference Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 703-248-5034. F.C. Farmers’ Market. Vendors offer fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, plants, and wine. City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m. – noon. 703248-5077. Concert. The Tempest Trio will play a concert featuring Beethoven, Bernstein and Dvorak. St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church (3241 Brush Dr., Falls Church). Free. 4 p.m. odeonchambermusicseries. org. Beit Café. This lively beit café (coffee house) show will feature
&
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Send community event submissions to the News-Press by e-mail at calendar@fcnp. com; fax 703-342-0347; or by regular mail to 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.
musical performances and stand-up comedy. Dessert and beverages will be served. Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland St., Falls Church). $18. 7:30 p.m. rodefperforms. eventbrite.com.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
5th Annual McLean Chocolate Festival. The Rotary Club of McLean is hosting this event featuring some of the finest chocolate in Northern Virginia. McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Free. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. mcleanchocolatefestival.org. Forum. The League of Women Voters of Falls Church is hosting a National Issues Forum called “Assessing the Relationship Between Money in Politics and Free Speech Under the First Amendment.” Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Free. 3 – 4:30 p.m. lwvfallschurch.org.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Winter Reading Program. Children five and under can sign up for the Winter Reading Program. Read 40 books to receive a free picture book after the end of the program. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m. 703-248-5034.
Preschool Storytime. Stories, finger plays and songs for children ages two – five on Monday and Thursday every week. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Youth Services Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 10:30 – 11 a.m. & 3 – 3:30 p.m. 703-248-5034. Herb Gardening. The Falls Church Garden Club will host a program on growing and using herbs taught by Sue Clark, Green Spring Master Gardener. American Legion Post 130 (400 N. Oak St., Falls Church). Free. 7:30 p.m. 703533-1945.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Preschool Storytime. Songs, movement, and stories for ages 18-36 months. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Youth Services Room (120 N. Virginia Ave. Falls Church). 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. 703248-5034.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Early Release Wednesday: Valentine’s Day Crafts at the Library. Children in grades K – 5 an create Valentine’s Day cards or collages. Registration is required and space is limited to 15 participants. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Youth Services Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 3 – 4 p.m. 703-2485034.
Theater Fine Arts THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
“The Critic & The Real Inspector Hound.” Experience a madcap night of life in the theatre with two classic behind-the-scenes comedies, “The Critic” and “The Real Inspector Hound.” First, playwright and adaptor Jeffrey Hatcher (The Government Inspector) returns with a fresh take on Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 18thcentury romp “The Critic.” Then the laughs continue with Tom Stoppard’s absurdist tourde-farce, “The Real Inspector Hound.” Through Feb. 14. Shakespeare Theatre Company (450 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $44 – $92. 8 p.m. shakespearetheatre.org
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
“Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose.” It‘s all about the story, George Rose would instruct
fellow actor Ed Dixon over the course of their 20 year friendship. And boy, did Georgie have quite a story. Dixon chronicles his relationship with his friend and mentor, the Tony Award-winning character actor George Rose. Filled with witty reminiscences and tantalizing us with anecdotes, snippets of song and dance and Dixon‘s pitch perfect impersonations of the colorful and famous, “Georgie” is a one-man, one-act play that is as hilarious as it is poignant and powerful. Through Feb. 7. Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $45. 8 p.m. sigtheatre.org.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
“Between the Riverside and Crazy.” Irrepressible ex-cop Walter Washington is facing eviction, City Hall, and the recent death of his wife. Clinging to both his grievances and the palatial rent-controlled
apartment he shares with his ex-con son and a ragtag surrogate family, Walter needs to shake the past – but isn’t ready to move on. Through Feb. 28. Studio Theatre (1501 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $20 – $86. 2 p.m. studiotheatre.org.
“Monsters of the Villa Diodati.” This is the opening night of Creative Cauldron’s new musical written by Stephen Gregory Smith and Matt Conner. The musical draws its inspiration from events surrounding a famous gathering of 19th century writers on Lake Geneva during the stormy summer of 1816. While entertaining one another with ghost stories, Lord Byron, their host, offered his guests a challenge: who among them could write the perfect tale of terror? Through Feb. 22. ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple St., Falls Church). $24 – $26. 8 p.m. creativecauldron.org.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
CA L E NDA R
live_music&nightlife THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 J��� A����� B���. 9:30 (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25. 7 p.m. 202-265-0930. K���� W����� � R���� R����. The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-5497500. L�� R�������. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $25. 8 p.m. 202-337-4141. D��� C������� B��� ��������� B���� S����. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. T�� B��� �� C������ A����� ��������� B���� S��� �� G���� D��, D�. R����� ��� P���� L��� �� T�� B������, J���� M�������� �� E���� C�������, A��� P���� ��� T�� H��� R���� �� T�� E�����, W������ ���� J���� �� W�����, T�� L���� S� ��� S�� �� S����� W����� ��� R���� H����� L������ �� T�� C����������. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340. B���� F�����. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
U������ P����� R����. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283. W��� D������. The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $75. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.
A����� W������. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $45 – $50. 8 p.m. 202-3374141. T�� A�������� ���� A�� P���. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Road, Vienna). $22. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. S���� D������. 9:30 (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25. 8 p.m. 202265-0930. DJ N���� – T���������: ‘70� ��. ‘80� D���� P����. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). Free until 10 p.m.; $5 after 10 p.m. 8 p.m. 703-237-0300. S���� ���� J���� F������. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $12. 8:30 p.m. 703-5228340. T�� P��������� B���. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. A������ S��...��� T�� C���. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $12 in advance; $15 day of the show (Mainstage). 9 p.m. 202-6677960. B���� S������. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
S����� �� R��� S�������. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). 4 p.m. 703-522-8340. H�����, W����� ��� D�����. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. B�� T��. Clare and Don’s Beach
JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 27
Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-532-9283. S���� �� ��� 90� – A P���� ���� T�� B������ T�����. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $15 in advance; $18 day of the show. 7 p.m. 703-237-0300. G�� M��’� C����� �� W���������. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Road, Vienna). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1900. F��������. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8 p.m. 703-522-8340. E����� ���� C��� S������ � T�� S����. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $15 (Mainstage). 9 p.m. 202-667-7960. N� S�����: ‘90� D���� P���� ���� DJ� W��� E������ ��� B���� B������. 9:30 (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $16. 9 p.m. 202265-0930. C���� W����� ��� T�� S���������� S������. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9:15 p.m. 703-241-9504. H������. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703237-8333. B�� B��: A K-P�� D���� N���� ���� DJ� D������� � C�����. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $5 (Backstage). 10 p.m. 202667-7960.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
T�� G��������. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church).4 p.m. 703-241-9504.
D���� C������. The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $49.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. T�� P���� K���� ���� H���������. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8 p.m. 703522-8340. M������ G���. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504. DK�DK ���� ���� ��� ��� ����. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-525-8646.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1
D����� F���������’� M�������� M������ ���� S��� R����� G������� � D���� P����. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). 7:30 p.m. 202-667-7960. C����� C�����. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $20. 8 p.m. 202-337-4141. V������ K����� � T�� W���� N���� ���� L��� C������������. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-525-8646.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
E���� W���� ���� L���� D���. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $12 (Backstage). 7:30 p.m. 202-667-7960. S������. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $20. 8 p.m. 202-337-4141.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Y���� G�����. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $12 (Backstage). 7:30 p.m. 202-667-7960.
P������� A����... Saturday, February 6 – Winter Crafts at the Library. Combat cabin fever with our fun winter craft workshop! Take your time and create at our mixed media stations,
terrific for children in grades K – 4. Registration required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church) Free. 1 – 2:30 p.m. 703-248-5034.
Saturday, February 6 – 9th Annual Chinese New Year Festival. The Asian Community Service Center will hosting an event featuring live performance including
dragon and lion dance, a Han Costume Fashion show, delicious Asian foods, writing Chinese names, language, craft and business booths, children world, and also a lunar new year dragon parade. Luther Jackson Middle School (3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church). Free. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. chinesenewyearfestival.org.
Sunday, February 14 – Valentine Tea. Bring someone special to tea at the historic Cherry Hill farmhouse. A costumed docent will host this holiday themed
tea. Guests will enjoy sandwiches, assorted sweets, warm scones, and a bottomless cup of tea in the lovely dining room. A tour of the historic home is included. Reservations required. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). $30. 2 – 4 p.m. 703-248-5171.
C������� S���������� 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.
Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Fax: 703-342-0347; Attn: FCNP Calendar Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
PAGE 28 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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Public Notice PUBLIC NOTICE The Board of Zoning Appeals of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on February 11, 2016 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following subjects: New Business: a. Variance application V1577-15 by Priya Krishnan, owner and applicant, for a variances to Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow (1) a front yard setback of eighteen (18) feet instead of thirty (30) feet along the Jackson Street frontage; and (2) a front yard setback of eighteen (18) feet instead of thirty (30) feet along the
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ABC LICENSE ASIAN NINE, INC, Trading as: Side
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We are pleged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for
We are pledged to the letter achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonand spirit of Virginia’s policy wealth. We encourage and for achieving equal support advertising and housing marketing programs in which opportunity throughout the there are no barriers to obtaining housing because ofWe race,encourcolor, Commonwealth. national origin, sex, age religion, and support advertiselderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advering and marketing programs tised herein is subject to in which there are no Virginia’s fair housing law whichbarillegal to advertise “any riersmakes to itobtaining housing preference, limitation, or because of race, color, discrimination because of race,relireligion, national origin,sex, gion,color, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or elderliness, familialto make status handicap or intention any such preference, limitation, or handicap. All real estate or discrimination.” This newspaadvertised herein is subject per will not knowingly accept advertising for fair real estate that to Virginia’s housing violates the fair housing law. Our law which makes it illegal readers are herby informed that to all dwellings advertised in this advertise “any preference, newspaper are available on an limitation, or discrimination equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing because of race, color, relicomplaint call the Virginia Fair Office origin, at (804)sex, gion,Housing national 367-8530. Toll free call (888) elderliness, familial status 551-3247. For the hearing call (804)or 367-9753. or impaired handicap intention to make any such preferEmail: fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov. www.fairhousing.vipnet.org ence, Website: 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) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
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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
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Across 1. Memo-heading initials
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1. Memo-heading initials 4. Afts and eves 7. “They call me ____!” (classic 1967 film line) 14. i piece? 15. Have something 16. Male prom date : boutonniere :: female prom date : ____ 17. Ripen 18. Beats by ____ (audio equipment brand) 19. Submits via USPS 20. Inflicts harm after splitting into groups of two? 23. Without company 24. Fr. miss 25. Insect in a vespiary 28. Soccer star Lionel who went pro at 13 32. Affects the world through diplomatic agreements? 38. Org. for the Suns or the Heat 39. Sushi eggs 40. Goose egg 41. Contents of some wells 43. Communicates, but not all at once? 47. Simple-living sect 48. Grain, e.g. 49. Looking up 52. Punching bag in the back of the mouth, in cartoons 56. Brings commodities from abroad using seaside locations? 62. Primed 63. Biblical verb ending 64. Signs off on 66. Uranus’ largest moon
JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 29
67. When repeated, a Latin dance 68. Drain-clearing chemical 69. Vidal who was flown to Hollywood to cut Mia Farrow’s hair for the film “Rosemary’s Baby” 70. Trivia whiz Jennings 71. Turn blue, say
33. Learn fast, say 34. Spelling of “90210” 35. Goes down in the west 36. Shredded 37. Online destination 42. Hit from the ‘60s? 44. Commercial bribes 45. Feng ____ 46. Miles away 49. Civil eruptions 50. “Labor ____ vincit” (Oklahoma’s motto) 51. Tiffs 53. Sweater style 54. Words before river or wazoo 55. Celeb who once released a pink lipstick called “Lindsay” 57. Member of Clinton’s cabinet for all eight years 58. TLC, e.g. 59. Slugger Musial 60. Blabbed 61. Vodka in a blue bottle 65. Be cognizant of
DOWN
1. Org. that approves new pharmaceuticals 2. Berra whose 2015 New York Times obit read “Yankee Who Built His Stardom 90 Percent on Skill and Half on Wit” 3. Agenda part 4. Go by bike 5. Chef Batali 6. Like disciplinarians 7. Year Theodore Roosevelt took office 8. Equine color 9. Common game show prize 10. Like the teaching offered in a madrassa 11. Pesto ingredient 12. She’s a hip-hop fan 13. Have a feeling 21. “Come to ____” 22. Certain playoff game 25. Come out on top 26. Both: Prefix 27. ____ folder 29. Wyoming senator Mike 30. Option on “Wheel of Fortune” 31. NFL Pro Bowler Warren who competed on “Dancing With the Stars”
CHUCKLE BROS BRIAN & RON BOYCHUK
Last Thursday’s Solution L I A M
E N D O W
V O I L A
V A S I T T A M Y
T H A T
4. Afts and eves
Sudoku
7. "They call me ____!" (classic 1967 film line)
Level: 1 2 3 4
D E I C E
I N N E R
I W O S A I T K E E A K O L V A A N D U I T M S
A N A K I N
L E M O N
B E I N G
A D S
F A I M T E S T W L I V A E A C H O C T P I G I V S N I T E C
C O M E T
O W E D
A L O T A K E Y J A R O L A T E S A R A E I T A G P C C E H M E R
A N S
D O N H O
C A B E R N E T
I L I E D
S L O M O
M O D E
By The Mepham Group
14. i piece? 15. Have something 16. Male prom date : boutonniere :: female prom date : ____ 17. Ripen 18. Beats by ____ (audio equipment brand) 19. Submits via USPS 20. Inflicts harm after splitting into groups of two?
1
23. Without company 24. Fr. miss
LOOSE PARTS
25. Insect in a vespiary
DAVE BLAZEK
28. Soccer star Lionel who went pro at 13 32. Affects the world through diplomatic agreements? NICK KNACK
1
© 2016 N.F. Benton
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
1/31/16
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk. © 2016 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 30 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
C������ C�����
BACK IN THE DAY
laz y The dog. c k q u i fox sly p e d jum e r o v lazy the g . d o is Now time the all for o d g o to cows
20 s Yearo Ag
e c o mthe to of aid i r t h e re. pastu w N o the is e t i m all for o d g o to cows e c o mthe to
20 � 10 Y���� A�� �� ��� N���-P���� Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 45 • January 25, 1996
It is no the timw e for g o all o cows d to go to the aid of the pa stu ir re. *** **
Falls Church News-Press Vol. XV, No. 47 • January 26, 2006
10 Year s Ago
Thr ow it up. Pour it up It now is the time for all go od cows to go the to aid
Non-Hearing as Only 3 Show To Speak On School Budget
Del. Hull Invokes Soccer Mom Wrath With Bill to Limit Athletic Fields Use
Only three persons came to address the first public hearing on the proposed School Board budget for the upcoming fiscal year at City Hall last night. The hearing, which lasted no longer than 10 minutes, was in sharp contrast to one year ago, when 17 speakers turned out to register loud protests against proposed cuts in the School budget and an announcement was made of a petition drive to win support for more funding.
A bill introduced by Falls Church Del. Bob Hull (D) designed to reduce noise in residential areas by limiting use of athletic playing fields has generated an enormous uproar among the Northern Virginia sports community, sending so-called “soccer moms” and sports supporters into a tizzy. The outcry has the bill, dubbed the “Home Serenity and Tranquility Act,” in line for a quick demise, but not before a fiery public debate brought the issue of athletics and residential rights....
F� � � � C � � � � �
B������� N��� � N���� F.C. Businesses Must Clear Snow From Sidewalks Falls Church businesses, as well as residents, are required to clear sidewalks along their property lines. Failure to do so makes pedestrian travel unsafe and can result in fines. Businesses leasing space should check their lease or with their landlord to determine who is responsible for snow removal. For more information about the policies relevant to your location, visit www.fallschurchva.gov/199/Snow-Removal-Policies, www. fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/utilities/snow_removal.htm, emergency.arlingtonva.us/weather/snow-ice/snowremoval-ordinance.
F.C. Chamber Young Professional Meet Up Rescheduled The theater outing hosted by ’47, Inc. to see Creative Cauldron’s “Monsters of the Villa Diodati” has been rescheduled from Thursday, January 28 to Thursday, February 4. ’47, Inc. is a Falls Church Chamber of Commerce initiative for young professionals and entrepreneurs from local business as well as other rising leaders from local government, education, and public safety organizations that hosts monthly socials to provide networking opportunities. “Monsters of the Villa Diodati” will be performed at ArtSpace Falls Church Thursdays – Sundays from Sunday, January 31 – Sunday, February 21. For more information about the Creative Cauldron performance, visit www.creativecauldron.org. For more information or to RSVP for the event, contact Brian at bcreswick@chartiscorp.com.
THIS IS REESE, a Golden Retriever who had a great time during Snowzilla. She cruised the streets and sidewalks on her tie-dye sled from Brown’s Hardware and ended the weekend meeting her doppelgänger “snow dog” outside Mad Fox Brewery! Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
Make Your Pet a Star! Critter
Corner
Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Snap a pic of your critter and email it to: CRITTERCORNER@FCNP.COM OR mail it to Critter Corner c/o Falls Church News-Press 200 Little Falls Street #508 Falls Church, Va 22046
Bikenetic Hosting Concert Jan. 31 Bikenetic is hosting a Stone Room Concert featuring Cricket Tell the Weather with Herb & Hanson on Sunday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) Cricket Tell the Weather is an award winning singersongwriter based acoustic string band out of New York City. The full service bike shop is located at 201 W. Jefferson Street in Falls Church. Tickets are available at cricketweather.bpt.me. Additional information is available at www.stoneroomconcerts.com.
RPAI Acquires Merrifield Shopping Center Retail Properties of America, Inc. has acquired Merrifield Town Center II in Falls Church for a gross purchase price of $45.7 million. The 138,000 square foot property currently consists of 76,000 square feet of retail space and 62,000 square feet of storage on 8.2 acres of land. The property is adjacent to Merrifield Town Center, which the Company acquired in January 2015, and features a strong demographic profile, with population of 142,000 and average household income of $141,000 within a three-mile radius. The company plans to redevelop the property into a mixed-use project that will be integrated with Merrifield I and serve as a complement to the adjacent Mosaic District, a 31-acre mixed-used urban-centric project comprised of retail, office, residential and hotel uses. Retail Properties of America also purchased the Shoppes at Hagerstown. Additional information is available at www.rpai.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.
Offices in: Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Wytheville, Virginia
JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016 | PAGE 31
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Directory Listings: Call Us at 703-532-3267
n
ACCOUNTING
Diener & Associates, CPA. . . . . . . . . 241-8807 Eric C. Johnson, CPA, PC . . . . . . . . 538-2394 Mark Sullivan, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-4511 Hahn & Associates, PC, CPAs . . . . . 533-3777
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ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
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ATTORNEYS
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Falls Church Antique Company . . . . 241-7074 Antique Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-9642 Mark F. Werblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9300 Sudeep Bose, Former Police Officer. 926-3900 Janine S. Benton, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . .992-9255
AUTOMOTIVE
Beyer Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5000 Koons Used Car Outlet . . . . . . . . . . 533-3363
BANKING
Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. . . 519-1634 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-3505 TD Bank/www.TDBank.com . . . . . . . 237-2051
BOOK BINDING
BCR Binders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9181
3 months - $150 6 months - $270 1 year - $450
Business Directory n
n
n
CLEANING SERVICES
Maid Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823-1922 Acclaimed Carpet Cleaning . . . . . . . . 978-2270 Claure. Zenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571-235-4295 A Cleaning Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892-8648
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HEALTH & FITNESS
n
n
HOME IMPROVEMENT
n
PHARMACY
n
PHOTOGRAPHY
n
REAL ESTATE
DENTISTS
Family Dentistry, Nimisha V Patel . . . 533-1733 Dr. William Dougherty . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-3300
EQUIPMENT RENTAL/SALE
VA Outdoor Power Equipment . . . . . 207-2000
n
n
EYEWEAR
n
FLORISTS
n
FRAMES
n
n
GIFTS
n
n
HANDYMAN
Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-6500 Falls Church Florist, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 533-1333
n
Art & Frame of Falls Church . . . . . . . 534-4202 Stifel & Capra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-0770 Doug’s Handyman Service . . . . . . . . 556-4276 Your Handyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571-243-6726
1 Line Maximum
(30 characters + Ph. #, incl. spaces)
n
Vantage Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-0565 Jazzercise Falls Church . . . . . . . . . . 622-2152 FC Heating & Air Service . . . . . . . . . 534-0630 Your Handyman LLC . . . . . . . . . . 571-243-6728 Joseph Home Improvement . . . . . . . 507-5005 Picture Perfect Home Improvements 590-3187 One Time Home Improvement . . . . . 577-9825
INSURANCE
Allstate Home Auto Life Ins. . . . . . . . 241-8100 State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5105
MASSAGE
www.healthybyintention.com. . . . . . . 534-1321
MEDICAL
PET SERVICES
Apex Pet Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-8012 Feline Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920-8665 Broad Street Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . 533-9013 Gary Mester, Event, Portraits . . . . . . 481-0128 Mary Sandoval Photography . . . . 334-803-1742 Merelyn Kaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .790-9090x218 www.helpfulmortgage.us . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222 Casey O’Neal - ReMax . . . . . . . . . . . 824-4196 Rosemary Hayes Jones . . . . . . . . . . .790-1990 The Young Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-8800 Tori McKinney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 867-8674 Shaun Murphy, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . 868-5999
Dr Gordon Theisz, Family Medicine . 533-7555
n
TAILOR
Academy of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938-8054 Foxes Music Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7393
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TAXES
MUSIC
OPTOMETRIST
Tailor Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-8886 Beatson Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 798-3590
Dr. Alison Sinyai, Family Eye Care . 533-3937
All numbers have a ‘703’ prefix unless otherwise indicated.
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PAGE 32 | JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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