10-1-2026

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXVI N o . 34

Harvey’s Sells, But Eateries Moving In

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Best Buns, Wonder Among New Offerings by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

This week marked two major developments on the Falls Church development front. First, Thomas Harvey announced on social media that he’s sold his pioneering restaurant, Harvey’s, on W. Broad after only four years in business. Second, three new eateries are opening. Wonder Food Hall is now at 100 W. Broad Street in the former Brown’s Hardware location, bringing multiple restaurant concepts together for dine-in, takeout and delivery. Lil’ Cakes and Creamery joined Modera Founders Row at 120 Founders Avenue with gourmet cupcakes, ice cream, milkshakes, cookies, cake jars and more, and Best Buns Bakery and Burgers is opening this week at Commons Park in West Falls, combining a from-scratch bakery with breakfast, sandwiches,

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Table Of Contents News Briefs Sports Editoral Local Art Calendar Classads

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BEST BUNS READY to rise at West Falls. Best Buns Bakery & Burgers will open Thursday, Oct. 1, at the rapidly growing West Falls development next to Meridian High School. The new restaurant arrives as Falls Church’s dining scene continues to expand. (Photo: News-Press)

From Facebook to Falls Church: Connecting Your Data by Nick Gatz

Falls Church News-Press

Federal contracting records and a county business listing connect a Falls Church mailing address to a roughly $1.47 million ICE intelligence contract for Silo licenses, though the News-Press found no evidence of wrongdoing by the contractor. There’s also a tool ICE bought that can watch phones across whole neighborhoods, and an ICE legal analysis concluded it needs no warrant, according to 404 Media. And in one Homeland Security test, a job that took federal analysts about

four hours took software under a minute. Falls Church doesn’t have Flock, and that is not the good news you think it is. Start with what the public record shows. A September 2025 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement award with a total value of approximately $1.47 million purchased Authentic8 Silo licenses for ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ Office of Intelligence. The contractor tied to that award is also listed by Loudoun County in its Active Business Accounts, current as of July 1, 2026, at a Falls Church mailing address. The record does not

establish that the Silo work was performed at that address. The procurement was not for cameras or agents. It was for software. That distinction matters. The News-Press found no evidence that the contractor associated with the award surveilled Falls Church residents, operated surveillance cameras here or engaged in wrongdoing, and for that reason we are not identifying the company or its specific mailing address. What matters to this investigation is the technology the federal government purchased and what government records and other documented sources show about its

capabilities and use. Never heard of Silo? Most people haven’t. It’s made by a company called Authentic8. The industry calls one of its functions managed attribution: an investigator works inside an isolated browser designed to separate online research from the investigator’s normal network and organizational identity. The Brennan Center for Justice, which obtained ICE records through Freedom of Information Act litigation, published emails in which an ICE Combined Intelligence Unit, staffed

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F���� C����� N��� B����� Falls Church Recycling Extravaganza

On Saturday, October 3, residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste, drop off electronics and scrap metal, recycle textiles, and use secure on-site document shredding. The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. through 1 p.m, at 7100 Gordon Road. Proof of residency is required. Residents will be asked to stay in their vehicles and allow event staff to remove items from their car. For a complete list of accepted and not accepted items, visit: fallschurchva.gov/604/RecyclingExtravaganza.

Little City Fall Community Clean-Up Volunteers are requested to help keep the Litty City clean on October 3, from 10 a.m. to noon. This event is open for families, groups, and individuals. Wear clothes that can get dirty and closed-toed shoes. Cleanup gear will be provided and no registration is required. Meeting location is the Community Center at 223 Little Falls St.

Inaugural Little City Holiday Market Consider this very early notice of the first inaugural Little City Holiday Market to be held Saturday, December 12, from 3 – 9 p.m. on Little Falls Street between Broad St. and Park Ave. The street will be car-free that day so that vendors can display locally made goods, gifts, food, and more. From 5 – 10 p.m., the market will overlap with Little City Sips. Purchase a drink at participating restaurants and take it to go. (Must be 21+ to purchase an alcoholic beverage.) The market will be free to attend. Details can be found at: visitfallschurch.com/holiday-market/.

AT LAST WEEKEND’S PACKED BENEFIT for Equality Northern Virginia at Freddie’s Beach Bar, l. to r., Equality president Christopher Conception, Go Gay DC coordinator T.J. Flavell and Freddie’s owner Freddie Lutz were on hand. (Photo: News-Press)

Peter and Stephanie Oppenheimer return home after their home was destroyed by a falling tree in 2024. Over 50 neighbors and friends came out to welcome them home. (Photo: Gary Mester)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 | PAGE 3

LOCAL

Restaurant Changes Reshape Falls Church Dining Scene

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salads and burgers. Thomas Harvey’s move to sell his restaurant is huge news, because few in the restaurant community in F.C. have done more to stoke a community spirit in the Little City to promote local businesses than he has. He told the News-Press that all the factors that have impinged on his small business contributed to the difficult decision he had to make. Here’s what he wrote this week on social media: “Well the cats out of the bag I guess. I had to make a difficult decision recently and have sold Harveys to an amazing group of people. Andy, Parul and Sam share the same goals that I have had for Harvey’s. I believe I have left my dream in some good hands. Since starting the build out in April of 2021 I have been lucky enough to watch something I always dreamed of doing become reality. “When Harvey’s opened its doors March 2022 I remember sitting up all night not being able to sleep because I

was worried people would not like what we had built. Man was I wrong. Thank you to everyone who has come in and supported us at Harvey’s. Right off the bat I met so many of you amazing people. Other restaurant owners came in and introduced themselves and offered help and guidance. In the beginning it never felt like competition between us but a bond of brother/sisterhood. Even when the chains started showing up we pulled together. “Harvey’s will stay Harvey’s and my amazing staff will be staying on. To all staff past and present I cannot thank you enough for all you have done. I might have dreamed up Harvey’s but you all made it what it is. I cannot be more proud of all of you. I cannot thank you enough. I will miss working beside all of you but I know you will continue to make Harvey’s home to good food and friends. “To all of you who have come to dine at Harvey’s thank you for your support. I have gotten to know a lot of you and even become close friends with a lot of

you. Thank you for making my vision become truth. Thank you for coming in and supporting. “To my wife Inna, Family and Business Partners. You all have stood beside me in the good and bad times. The last few months have been some of the hardest of my life and you all lifted me up at every point. “Please continue to support all small

Friday October 2: 11am - 9pm Saturday October 3: 11am - 9pm Sunday October 4: 12pm - 8pm

businesses. Falls Church gave my dream a home and it continues to live on. I will not be a stranger to Falls Church, the little city means to much to me. “For now it’s on to the next adventure. Not sure what that is yet. I’m excited to see what the next path is. Come by and see me before I go. I’ll be there through the end of September. Thank you for everything.”

6795 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22044

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LOCAL

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

How Your Digital Footprint Became a Powerful Surveillance

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by Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations employees, discussed potential use of Silo; the Brennan Center says the software can integrate automated internet collection. That is where the Falls Church connection becomes relevant. It is not evidence that someone sitting in Falls Church is watching you. It is evidence that sophisticated investigative technology purchased for a federal intelligence operation can pass through an ordinary commercial relationship carrying a local mailing address. The NewsPress also found other Northern Virginia contractors advertising or performing federal homeland-security and intelligence work, but their identities are not necessary to establish the point and we are not identifying them here. Nothing reviewed for this story establishes that those businesses surveilled Falls Church residents or commit-

ted wrongdoing. This story isn’t about who sits in an office or rents a mailbox. It’s about what the government can buy, what the technology can connect and how fast it’s all growing. The Camera Was the Easy Part After more than a year of writing about AI, Big Tech, government databases and surveillance for this paper, I’ve come to think the camera may be the least complicated part of the story. You already know Falls Church doesn’t have Flock, because we told you. “We don’t have any fixed cameras across the city and specifically Flock, we don’t have any relationship with them,” Police Chief Shahram Fard told the News-Press. Around us, everybody’s backing off. Arlington ordered all 41 of its county-leased Flock cameras pulled, Fairfax County paused new stationary installations, and Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said, “I do not think there’s a role for Flock in this community.” So we’re off the hook, right? Not so

fast. Follow the data past the camera and things get a whole lot bigger. The Numbers Flock runs about 120,000 AI-powered cameras nationwide, according to Sen. Josh Hawley’s office. At least 159 Virginia law-enforcement agencies use automated license-plate readers, including 137 that use Flock Safety, according to a 2025 Virginia State Crime Commission survey, and data from five cameras in the little Shenandoah Valley town of Bridgewater had been accessed 6.9 million times from around the country over 12 months. Five cameras, nearly 7 million accesses. No kidding. Location data doesn’t even need a camera. The Federal Trade Commission said Virginia-based Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel claimed to process more than 17 billion location signals a day from about a billion phones, and alleged the data could reveal visits to clinics and houses of worship before the FTC restricted the companies’ sale of sensitive location data.

Then there’s what ICE can buy. The Intercept reported that ICE users ran 1,211,643 searches of the commercial database LexisNexis in seven months of 2021. In 2023, the outlet reported that the agency was pulling in 30 million new licenseplate records a month through LexisNexis, could put 2,500 plates on a watchlist at once and could search back five years. Our own senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, note that ICE alone received $75 billion, “more funding than that allocated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” Meanwhile, Virginia law makes our police delete most plate-reader data after 21 days. Twenty-one days here, five years there. Virginia’s rule binds Virginia cops. It does not require that outside commercial archive to be deleted after 21 days. And your phone? In January, 404 Media reported that ICE bought access to a tool called Webloc that, according to the outlet, can monitor phones across entire neighborhoods using commercial location data, and

that an ICE legal analysis concluded no warrant was needed. No warrant, for a whole neighborhood. Your street. Your kid’s school. Your doctor’s office. The data comes from apps already sitting on your phone. Remember Feb. 4, 2004 On Friday, Oct. 9, Hollywood drags us all back to Facebook with “The Social Reckoning,” Aaron Sorkin’s companion to “The Social Network,” starring Mikey Madison as whistleblower Frances Haugen and Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. Here’s a date I doubt the movie dwells on. On Feb. 4, 2004, Wired reported that the Pentagon had killed LifeLog, a DARPA project aimed at turning a person’s life into a machine-readable record of messages, purchases, travel and experiences. That same day, a Harvard sophomore named Mark Zuckerberg launched thefacebook. com. No, the Pentagon didn’t hand

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OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 | PAGE 5

Sports

Meridian Mustangs Sports: This Week’s Recap, 9/22 - 9/28

BY DINOS SIMCOX

Mustangs football got back on track with a huge win over Fauquier on Friday, Sep 25. The Mustangs dominated the entire game, posting an impressive box score of 41-6 over the Falcons. Junior running back Noah Mayer opened the contest with an electric 66 yard touchdown run, setting the stage for the Mustangs’ stellar rushing attack to completely take over the game. The defense was also very strong, forcing key turnovers and not allowing the Fauquier offense to gain any traction.The Mustangs’ patter of winning one game and losing the next has continued throughout this season, but the Mustangs will look to finally break that streak with a win over their next opponent, James Wood. Field hockey won both their games last week, beat-

ing top teams Kettle Run and Sidwell Friends, 1-0 and 2-0 respectively. With these victories, as well as their 3-1 win over Fauquier last week, the Mustangs sit solely atop the district standings with an undefeated record of 10-0. They have crucial contests against Fauquier and Kettle Run at the very end of their schedule, but until then, Meridian will continue putting one foot in front of the other and maintaining their lead in the standings. Fortunately for the Mustangs, their games against Kettle Run and Fauquier are both at Meridian, so the Mustangs will have an advantage in both incredibly important games. Boys volleyball has had an impressive turnaround to their season in the past few weeks, winning their last three games, all in sweeps, after starting the season a dismal 1-5. This past week, they swept Yorktown

3-0, which raised their record up to 4-5 on the year. There are still plenty of games left in the season, and if the Mustangs continue this form, they could be looking at a very strong record come the end of the campaign. Girls volleyball split their two games this week, putting their record at 9-2-1. Their lone win this week did come against Meridian’s rivals Brentsville, as the Mustangs pulled off a 3-1 win over the Tigers. They were swept by George C. Marshall a couple days later, but their record is still very strong, and the Mustangs have stayed incredibly consistent all season. The Mustangs look primed for a high playoff seeding, albeit with plenty of games still to play. Meridian golf placed third at the Northwestern District tournament, just ten points behind the winning school,

Fauquier, and only six points behind second place Kettle Run. This result was unfortunately not enough to advance the Mustangs to the Region 3B tournament as a team. However, freshman Jackson Sharon shot an excellent 75, which was

good enough for runner-up as an individual. This means Sharon advanced to the Region 3B Tournament, the final tournament before states. If Sharon can place sixth or better as an individual, he will advance to the state championships.

Mustangs Junior Zorah Randhawa(#1) looks for an open teammate. (Photo: Dinos Simcox)

PAGE 6 | OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026

Since 1991, an award-winning LGBT-owned general interest community newspaper. Vol. XXXVI, No. 34 OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Member, Virginia Press Association •

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classified & Legal ads classads@fcnp.com letters to the editor letters@fcnp.com News & Notes newsandnotes@fcnp.com Obituaries obits@fcnp.com subscriptions distribution & delivery delivery@fcnp.com www.fcnp.com The News-Press is certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to publish official legal notices including probate, abc notices, small and foreign estates. We will provide the appropriate paperwork. A comprehensive book on the 36 year history of the News-Press, “The Life and Times of the Falls Church NewsPress”: by Charlie Clark (History Press, 2023), can be purchased at local bookstores or online. The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area to over 140 locations. Offices are at 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2025 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper. A searchable archive of all issues of the Falls Church News-Press since 1991 can be found at bit.ly/44kt6Sc.

Editorial

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The Plight of Harvey’s

News of the sale of Harvey’s restaurant by its founder Thomas Harvery is particularly troubling, and not a good sign going forward for Falls Church. It should send a signal that the City has a lot more it needs to do to help make sure all the businesses opening here now will be able to make it. We could publish a list of the restaurants, for example, that we think are in trouble, but there is no point to it. We obviously wish success to everyone, and mean that sincerely. It is evident to us, however, that more needs to be done to be sure everyone makes it. Some businesses take a much more cavalier attitude on this, but for most of our locally owned ones, it is a different story. Like Thomas Harvey, their own sweat and tears have gone into their dream and also the limits of their financial resources. Thomas Harvey was right in telling folks at City Hall that a lot more needs to be done. He has reached the limit of his personal commitment but we still need to hear from the wider Falls Church community that there is a dedication here to turning our situation around. We grew too fast, but to us, that is not the problem. We still do not have the level of commitment to a sincere ongoing effort at promoting the Little City to the wider world. It needs a solid financial commitment to achieve that, not just an idle passing effort. It is not money spent, but investment in the future we’re talking about. The City needs to be prepared to invest seriously in the future of its business community, otherwise, all the effort to promote her businesses will ultimately fail. Most local businesses are somebody’s dream. Nowhere has that been clearer than in the case of Harvey’s. We can only hope that our new City Manager, Seth Hendler-Voss, can see this and act proactively to change the culture of the Little City in response. It is not that we lack the product. We have them all in spades. Great restaurants, great entertainment venues. But what will make it all work is a new attitude at City Hall, one which puts the results of our economic bottom lines at the top of our attention spans. Not hit or miss approaches that become indifferent to outcomes. We all need to look at the tragedy of Harvey’s as a sign. Its owner took the trouble to find a buyer who is not going to evaluate for a few months and make another tough decision. But the effort to succeed needs to follow the urge to succeed. It’s a community commitment to an outcome we’ve never really had before in Falls Church, but one the entire community needs to be committed to.

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OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 | PAGE 7

Local Art

Friends Old And New at The Studios at 307 Open House

BY MARK DREISONSTOK

Visitors to the Studios at 307 East Annandale Road this past weekend enjoyed the annual autumn open house of art. We met both new and old friends during our visit. Among the new was David Barr, a mixed-media artist whose screen paintings reflect various time periods and styles, including retro sci-fi art. His Falls Church connections run deep, including his murals in the Little City (including at the police station) as well as an acrylic and screen print on wood panel of the Art Deco marquee of the historic State Theatre. An artist we did not meet but whose work we admired was Aminah Ahmad, who specializes in painting tall ships and storms at sea, one of which reminded us a bit of the Flying Dutchman legend. A calmer

mood at sea is described in the exhibition card for this artist’s “Victory Alas:” “ The boat catches the last wind of the day, its sails opened beneath a sky slowly giving itself over to evening. … There is no grand arrival here. No shore, no crowd, no moment of triumph. Only the quiet movement of a boat continues onward. Perhaps that is the victory.” We visited again with Meaghan DeCelle, whom we met last fall when she had just started renting a small studio at 307. While her style is modern, she often reaches back to the classics. She showed us two recent sketches (charcoal and conte on paper) she made of characters from Charlotte Brontë’s novel “Jane Eyre.” First there is Jane herself, gazing intently and dressed in period costume, and then there is the brooding Mr. Rochester, in all his complexity of character.

It would not be a visit to 307 without catching up with Dave Curtis, a constant presence at the Falls Church artist colony. A prolific artist, he paints 44 canvases per year. Mr. Curtis’ style of choice is Surrealism, and one oil canvas we found of interest was “Stairway to Oblivion,” in which we see an ancient pyramid along with a faded George Washington in the desert. The painting reminds us, according to the artist, that all great civilizations must eventually pass. Mr. Curtis, incidentally, has an intriguing solo show “Jungian Surrealism: The Art of Dave Curtis” in the Muse Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center, the former prison in Lorton, running through November 1. A more traditional canvas we saw in Stuart Allison Hindle’s “Washington in Spring,” though we did not have the opportunity to meet the artist in person. As we approach the colder tempera-

tures of fall, this oil on panel looks back on the spring spirit of the Nation’s Capital, with the iconic Washington Monument surrounded by budding green trees and pink cherry blossoms. The visible brushstrokes lend the painting life and vibrance. We recommend readers visit the 307 studios, whether during an open house or during a weekday, to meet local artists and enjoy the great diversity of their works.

Meaghan DeCelle, “Mr. Rochester.” (Photo: Courtsey)

Meaghan DeCelle, “Jane Eyre.”

David Barr, “State Theatre #1.”

(Photo: Courtsey)

(Photo: Courtsey)

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Augustine’s Work Saved My Life Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

I have found the new pope’s latest published work, “I am a Son of St. Augustine, Pope Leo XIV on His Favorite Saint,” fascinating on a number of levels. Born Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo was elevated last year to become the first ever pope of the Catholic Church born and raised in the U.S. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost was raised in a family of French, Italian, and Spanish descent. He entered the Augustinian novitiate in 1977, earned a mathematics degree from Villanova University, and later completed a doctorate in canon law in Rome. Ordained as a priest in 1982, he spent more than two decades in Peru serving as a missionary, teacher, and pastor, ultimately holding dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. From 2001 to 2013, he led the global Augustinian order as Prior General. Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015, called him to Rome in 2023 to head the influential Dicastery for Bishops, and made him a Cardinal that same year. Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, he was elected pope on May 8. It appears clear that Francis worked tirelessly to ensure the swift succession of Pope Leo, which prevented what otherwise would have surely devolved into an epic long-term political struggle with forces arrayed with the old order mobilized to prevent another Francis-style progressive Pope from ascending to the papacy. Few expected the swift succession of Leo as one, who, if anything, at least has matched the progressive fervor of Francis, if not more so. It was an act of political genius to cause this to happen so quickly and smoothly. Augustine wrote the City of God in the decade of 413 to 425 a few years after the sacking of

Rome by the Visigoths in 410. In it, he refuted the pagan notion that Christians had brought the sacking on themselves due to an unwillingness to accommodate to the religious cults that had evolved by then. His argument between the City of God and City of Man was thorough and compelling, as his detailed refutation of the cults that had come to dominate the faith were ruthless and spot-on. The sacking, though less than a total rampage, came after long negotiations with the Roman ruler at the time failed repeatedly. But it marked the first time in over 800 years, since a Gallic attack in 390 BCE, that Rome fell to a foreign force and it caused a major freak out across the western civilized world at the time. Fast forward to the U.S. in the 1970s and the decadence that had taken over many large urban areas then. It was the era that laid the groundwork for the AIDS epidemic that kicked off in 1981 and led to two dozen years of an incurable, horrible death that took a million lives in the U.S. alone. Very little has been accurately reported or appreciated about this savage scourge and what it did to creative life in America. What I can say is that in 1978, as a hedonistic rampage was peaking, I chose to take on the challenge of reading Augustine’s The City of God for reasons not clear to me at the time, except that I was engaged in a massive personal struggle to avert the hedonistic scourge of the time. Over the course of that year, I read all 800 pages of the work, writing massive notes in the margins, and took it with me everywhere. Everywhere I sat down for a few moments, I read more. I still have that book somewhere in one of the boxes that I filled and put into storage when I moved a year ago. It became like a sacred monument for me when the AIDS epidemic actually kicked off in the summer of 1981. Like all other gays, I lived in mortal fear of the virus until it finally became clear I did not have it, a good three years after the epidemic hit. Augustine’s work saved my life, of this I have no doubt.

COMMENT

A Penny for Your Thoughts

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor

Presidential Executive Order 14428 is both a surprise and a disappointment. The Trump Administration revoked an Obama-era Executive Order that encouraged state and local governments to coordinate activities that help restore the health of the Bay and the many tributaries in its 64,000 square mile watershed. There are six states (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York) and the District of Columbia and 1800 local governments in the watershed, so the demand for restoration affects such disparate locations as the Chemung River in New York and the Potomac and James Rivers in Virginia. The original 1983 Chesapeake Bay Agreement barely mentioned local government responsibilities, but the renewed 2000 Agreement included more than 120 references to local governments, due in part to active petitioning by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and other Mid-Atlantic regional councils. Local governments insisted that the Bay Agreement should be voluntary and based on good science, voice, equity, (the last three criteria have survived, but voluntary has become more regulatory). Goals included upgrades to drinking water and wastewater treatment plants for water quality, local stream restorations to reduce incised banks and improve tree cover, and improved stormwater struc-

tures such as storm sewers and ponds. Such actions reduce sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Bay waterways, protect Bay fisheries, and increase submerged aquatic vegetation, the underwater grasses necessary for healthy crab production. Addressing those goals takes resources – money, staff, planning, engineering and, ultimately, construction. Fairfax County maintains 1600 miles of stormwater pipes and conveyance channels and also has responsibility for wastewater (sewer) mains that serve nearly every residential, commercial, and industrial property. Rates paid by water and sewer customers support the daily maintenance and delivery needs of the systems, but larger upgrades and new infrastructure need extra resources for projects. In 2010, Fairfax County instituted a new stormwater tax to address the backlog of stormwater projects demanded by customers and constituents. It took about ten years of discussion and debate before the Board of Supervisors finally agreed on a fee system that would get the job done without imposing more onerous requirements on the real estate tax. The current rate is $0.0325 per $100 of property valuation, or less than $250 annually for a $750,000 property. There was some consternation when the tax first was imposed, but constituent demand for remediation projects to alleviate flooding and improve local streams

quickly overcame initial objections. Other local governments in the watershed adopted similar fees, and the State of Maryland adopted a statewide “flush tax” that sunsets in 2030. It is curious that Trump’s Executive Order impugns local and state governments about affordability while, at the same time, it is his war with Iran and imposition of tariffs on allies that has made affordability out of reach of many American families. The White House has no authority over local and state tax policy, and by resetting Fuel Economy standards (CAFE) for gasoline and diesel vehicles, Mr. Trump has increased air pollution particulate deposition on Bay waters. It is true, as the Executive Order restates, that federal, state, and local initiatives and programs have made significant improvements in Chesapeake Bay water quality. In fact, in my almost thirty years’ work on Bay issues as a local government official, I have seen improvements I did not think were possible in my lifetime. I also like on-theground projects that create the most “bang for the buck” for water quality, but ensuring clean water and a healthy Chesapeake Bay is not cost-free. In his zeal to overturn his predecessors’ actions in so many areas, Mr. Trump is ignoring his responsibility to support established federal partnerships that expand what states and local governments can accomplish together. Stormwater management fees, wastewater service rates, local expenditures, and federal and state grants are investments in the future, for the Bay, the watershed, and all its communities.

City of Falls Church Crime Report

Week of September 21 - 27, 2026 Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Sep 21, 1:44 p.m., a male, 46, of Annandale, was arrested for shoplifting. Attempted Unlawful Entry, Shirley St, Sep 21, 10:38 p.m., a female, 63, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for attempted unlawful entry. Trespassing, Shirley St, Sep 22, 3:24 a.m., a female, 63, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for trespassing.

Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, Gibson St, Sep 22, 8:44 p.m., a male, 75, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested on two outstanding warrants from another jurisdiction. Destruction of Property, W Broad St/S Washington St, Sep 23, 2:46 a.m., a street sign was destroyed. Driving under the Influence, Hillwood Ave/E Annandale Rd, Sep 27, 1:49 a.m., a male, 28, of Fairfax County, was arrested for driving under the influence. Fraud – Credit Card, S Maple Ave,

Sep 27, 7:53 p.m., an unknown suspect opened credit cards in the victim’s name.

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Family Fun Night The Falls Church Chamber hosts another Family Fun Night at Jefferson District Park on Wednesday, October 7, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Bring your friends, family, neighbors and employees for a fun evening out. Small local businesses KiPS Family Gymnastics and Easterseals are providing kids’ activities and games, the Volunteer Fire Department members will open the ambulance for tours and answer questions, and everyone can play a round of mini golf and enjoy dinner. In the case of rain, the event will be postponed to the following evening, Thursday, October 8. Tickets are available for purchase on the Chamber website: fallschurchchamber.org.

Virtual Employer Open House NOVA Business Engagement & Career Services is hosting a Virtual Employer Open House on the first Wednesday of every month with the next one set for October 7, 1 - 2 p.m. Participants will learn about opportunities to recruit and engage with NOVA Students and Alumni, partnership opportunities, and discuss trending workforce topics. Register for the Zoom meeting through their website at the following link. (The page displays the date of the April session but when you click the register button you’ll be taken to the October 7 event.) loudounpossible.com/events/nova-business-engagement-career-services-employer-open-house.

Chamber Breakfast with Sen. Salim The Falls Church Chamber hosts Virginia State Sen. Saddam Salim at the October networking breakfast. In conjunction with his business roundtable series and 2027 legislative session planning, this event invites you to share your thoughts on local business issues. This month, they are meeting at Café Kindred on Thursday, October 8, 8 – 9 a.m. Bring your breakfast to the back table and join the conversation. No reservations necessary.

Kids’ Coverage When School’s Out Now that schools are open and the kids have settled in, Arlington Magazine offers regional options for coverage when parents encounter early releases and days off. The Falls Church locations highlighted were Tea with Mrs. B, which offers Manners and Tea camp, Dynamic Gymnastics offers tumbling and more, and Jhoon Rhee offers Tae Kwon Do in Fun Days camps. Other opportunities to consider include Code Ninja in Arlington and KiPS Family Gymnastics offers half-day camps as well as Parents Nights Out.

Little City Concerts Opening Concert Little City Concerts opens its 4th season on Saturday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Falls Church Episcopal. This performance features a musical cross-cultural collaboration between hip hop artist Christylez Bacon and Chinese guzheng player Qi Yu. The Oak Street Elementary School Choir will perform a short musical selection. 50% of ticket sales will be donated to the Falls Church Education Foundation’s Family Assistance Fund. Students are admitted free.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.

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OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 | PAGE 9

Our Man In Arlington B��� F������

The Federal government has had a far-reaching influence on Arlington for most of our history, with dramatic effects beginning with the creation of many new jobs during World War I … and then the New Deal … and then World War II … and then the rise of “Government Contractors,” with much office space located in the Crystal City area. These new jobs required more housing, accelerating our growth in many ways. There were many challenges in handling that growth, and I think it is fair to say that our County Board has responded to those challenges in thoughtful (if not always perfect) ways. One of the biggest challenges in today’s world, not only for the County Board but also for our entire community, relates to that ever-present influence of the Federal government. Historically, one of the most significant examples of the difficulties that arise from the reliance on the Federal government relates to the Congressional legislation in the 2000s known as BRAC —the acronym for the Base Realignment and Closure law. This legislation authorized the Department of Defense to reorganize and streamline military installations and infrastructure. Instead of closing traditional military bases, the BRAC process focused on moving defense agencies out of leased commercial office space. An estimated 20,000 military and civilian defense jobs were relocated out of Arlington. The departures emptied about four million square feet of leased office space in Arlington. Commercial sub-markets suffered widespread office vacancies as defense contractors also packed up to stay close to their military clients. Over several years, the County Board and staff responded by working to revitalize the affected areas (resulting, among other projects, in National Landing). The actions of the Federal government continue to affect life in Arlington. Some people have used the phrase “the Trump Effect” in referring to the actions (and announcements) of the Trump administration in the past 20 months. The most immediate effect began in early 2025, with the DOGE cuts in federal employment. Reports have indicated that 62,000 jobs were lost in 2025 in the DMV region. Though it is difficult to place a number on job losses for Arlington’s citizens,

I believe most of us know quite a few people who lost their jobs, causing serious economic difficulties. In 2025, the County Board, in partnership with many civic groups, responded by providing assistance for those who lost their jobs, with job fairs and employment counseling. The County Board in 2025 added $11 million to its Economic Stabilization Reserve, as a buffer to insulate County residents against the growing economic uncertainties. This reserve was used in 2025 to fund emergency food aid, and to provide financial assistance to our “social-safety net” non-profits. These responses from the County were reactive in nature. But now, in 2026, the actions of County officials have taken on a different form, becoming not only more pro-active, but also confrontational in nature, bringing Arlington into the maelstrom of national politics. This conflict is due, in part, to the County’s “Trust Policy” limiting interactions with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Capitol Hill, the House Judiciary Committee opened an investigation into Arlington’s alleged “sanctuary policies,” and issued a report on September 21, strongly criticizing Arlington officials. Part of this report is based on a closeddoor deposition of Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington and Falls Church. Having read the Committee report, and portions of the redacted testimony of the Commonwealth Attorney, I realize I cannot even begin to summarize the key points at stake here. The best I can do is offer my general opinion that whenever you have a House committee requiring closed-door testimony, followed by the release of redacted testimony, something does not feel right. Meanwhile, the County Board continues to be proactive in other ways. Last month the County Board set aside $50,000 for grants to support families whose primary wage earner has been detained by ICE. Grants of up to $2,000 per family will be distributed by Arlington Thrive, the non-profit organization that provides emergency financial assistance and support services to local residents facing sudden financial crises. Stayed tuned for more responses to, and consequences of, the Trump Effect on Arlington. The next two years may be a bumpy ride for all of us in Arlington.

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PAGE 10 | OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026

Senator Saddam Salim In the last quarter of the year, Virginia’s legislative process quietly goes into a very productive phase, as boards, commissions, and legislative working groups meet and discuss issues for potential bills in 2027. Some have mandates from the General Assembly to issue formal reports responding to specific questions. One such legislative working group convened to discuss a legal framework for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles. While this group was initially created after the House of Delegates considered legislation in 2025, it never met in 2025. This led me to introduce my bill, SB670, in 2026, a framework for autonomous vehicles that passed the Senate 35-4. That vote sent a clear message: the Senate of Virginia knows autonomous vehicles are coming, and we want to ensure they are operated safely and responsibly on Virginia’s roads, while protecting Virginians. The working group met 5 times in 2026, but was unable to reach a consensus on many of the details. This is not unusual, as these groups are designed to bring together parties with competing interests. The report this workgroup issues will be an interesting glimpse into the competing interests of the auto manufacturers, professional drivers, consumer safety advocates, and local governments, all of whom will seek to convince the General Assembly that their ideal legislation is the right policy for Virginia. Another legislative workgroup is analyzing SB717, my bill to increase development of housing near major transit hubs like the Silver Line. This workgroup was created through language in the state budget directing the Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Department of Housing and Community Development to conduct a statewide review of opportunities and obstacles for transit-oriented housing. That report is due in December, a short time before the next legislative session begins, but its findings will help craft policy to build more housing that takes advantage of our existing transportation infrastructure. The Joint Commission on Health Care and the Health Insurance Reform Commission are permanent commissions with the task of studying Virginia’s healthcare system and insurance market. Our goal in the Senate Democratic

COMMENT

Caucus has been to bring that number to zero, so that every individual legally present in the Commonwealth of Virginia has access to the healthcare system when they need it. Through Medicaid Expansion, the Affordable Care Act, and Virginia’s Health Insurance Marketplace, the number of Virginians without health insurance coverage had been brought below 7%, the lowest it has ever been. Federal cuts in Trump’s H.R.1 are threatening to reverse that progress. New work requirements for Medicaid mean more than 300,000 Virginians are at risk of losing coverage unless they are able to document suitable work or an exemption, and more than 24,000 of them live in Fairfax County, Fairfax City, or Falls Church. New citizenship requirements mean many legal residents will no longer be eligible for either Medicaid or premium assistance under the ACA, making health insurance impossible to afford. The vast majority of those impacted by this change live here in our community. Creative legislation and targeted budget measures to ensure healthcare is available and affordable for everyone will be one of our top priorities next year. Finally, two of my bills about artificial intelligence were reviewed by commissions: SB585 about landlords using AI to set rent, and SB586 about health insurers using AI to deny claims. They were sent to the Virginia Housing Commission and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science for study in part because of President Trump’s threat to cut funding to states that regulate AI. While I do not expect either to issue a formal recommendation for a bill, the reports create a greater awareness of the issues among both legislators, the professional staff of the commissions, and the public. In the case of healthcare, a recent lawsuit claims that one insurer’s AI tool erroneously denies claims 90% of the time. In one year, an idea that nobody ever heard of can become a well crafted policy with broad support if enough people lean in and do the work. Virginians are counting on it, because the rent is too high, and an erroneous claim denial in a critical healthcare situation could have life altering consequences. I know that these are the kinds of problems facing families in my district every day, and I will continue to work to find solutions that can make all our lives better.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C. Council Advances Virginia Village Redevelopment by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

At this Monday’s lengthy Falls Church City Council meeting, after an extended discussion, the Council granted first reading (5–2) to zoning amendments governing the Virginia Village affordable housing redevelopment, with direction to staff to refine language around building heights, parking requirements, and “back of house” protections (garages, trash, loading areas) along the Winter Hill edge before second reading on October 26. Two amendments to lower height caps and extend the lower-height “B zone” further toward the Tax Analysts building both failed; the council majority preferred to preserve flexibility for the interim agreement negotiations with developer Urban Atlantic. The council referred a proposed amendment to the Broad and Washington special exception — allowing a Pilates studio in a previously prohibited use category and reducing required ground-floor retail square footage — to the Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority for a public hearing on November 9. A Residential Tenant Relocation Policy was adopted unanimously (7–0), establishing a priority ranking system for displaced tenants competing for the same unit during redevelopment. Mayor Hardi said she would circulate a draft letter, with the council’s support, opposing proposed federal changes to the 2030 census methodology. The public comment period closes around October 13. Vice Mayor Laura Downs participated electronically from St. Louis, Missouri, for medical/family reasons. Council Member Erin Flynn participated electronically from Minneapolis, Minnesota, for personal work travel. Both electronic participation motions passed 5–0 (with the absent remote members not yet connected). All seven council members were present and voting throughout the meeting. The clerk summarized written public comments received since the last meeting. The majority concerned the Virginia Village redevelopment, with residents urging restoration of the 40-foot height limit across the full 150-foot Winter Hill buffer, protections against parking structures and service areas along the Winter Hill and Big Chimneys Park edges, adequate parking, tree preservation, and attention to construction impacts on neighboring foundations. One commenter provided information on a new historic eligibility determination for Virginia Village. Additional written comments addressed the West Broad multimodal project, construction on Washington at East Columbia Street, and a request to restore the city’s historic markers. Library Director Megan Dotzler presented the Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s FY 2026 annual report. Highlights included:

Awards from the Virginia Public Library Directors Association for impactful technology use (the Falls Church History Room Digital Archive), Staff Member of the Year (Peter Sullivan), and the Gold Standard of Excellence rating. Adult services librarian Paula Hawkins was co-recipient of the City of Falls Church Employee of the Year Award. 594 programs were held with 15,269 attendees; items checked out increased 9% over FY 2025 to over 554,000. The library proactively secured new book vendors before the closure of Baker and Taylor, avoiding any service disruption. Council noted interest in trend data over multiple years (staff indicated FY 2021–2026 statistics are available) and suggested outreach to residents in new multifamily buildings. A discussion of e-book lending clarified that the library purchases one copy per e-book title, mirroring a physical book; early returns free the copy for the next patron. One resident raised solar panel efficiency and seasonal affective disorder concerns related to shadow impacts. A representative of the Coalition for Smarter Growth spoke in support of the Virginia Village zoning amendments, endorsing by-right redevelopment for projects meeting affordable housing thresholds, low parking minimums, and urging the council to restore height bonuses and setback relief that had been removed in the latest draft. A community member requested that the Juneteenth and other culturally significant programs supported historically by local nonprofits — particularly the Tinnerhill Heritage Foundation — receive adequate city funding, and expressed concern about the arts and humanities grant process. A resident raised concerns about the towing company Pete’s Towing photographing individuals without consent in a CVS parking lot and being told the city had employed them to enforce parking rules Mayor Hardi clarified the city does not have a contract with Pete’s Towing and asked the resident to leave contact information for follow-up. In his report. F.C. City Manager Seth Hendler-Voss stated: There’s a new agreement with Fairfax County Department of Family Services to roll out a domestic violence investigation screening tool for the police department, ahead of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Happy Moon Festival wishes to the Vietnamese community; the event took place the prior day. The final Sunset Cinema screening of the season will be Jumanji on October 16 at 6:45 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park. A successful St. James Nuns Run took

Continued on Page 14

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 | PAGE 11

CALENDAR

This Week Around Falls Church

Thursday, October 1 Falls Church Fiber Artists

Mary Riley Styles Library

10 a.m. - Noon

This meet-up is for knitters and crocheters 18 years+. Free. 210 N. Virginia Ave.

Fall Storytime

Mary Riley Styles Library

10:30 - 11 a.m.

For ages 18 months to 4 years with a caregiver (younger siblings are welcome). Space often fills before start time. Please choose only one storytime per week to attend. Mary Riley Styles Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave. mrspl.org.

Playtime with Early Literacy Center Mary Riley Styles Library

11 - Noon

Free play for an hour after story time. No registration required. For Preschool (ages 2-4). 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Virtual Book Club

Folger Shakespeare Library (Online)

6:30 p.m.

Guest speaker Dr. Ashley Buchanan discusses “Diavola” by Jennifer Thorne. The Folger website describes the book as “vacation-Gothic,” with humor. This online event is free, but registration is required. Visit: folger.edu.

Friday, October 2 Fall Baby Time

Mary Riley Styles Library

10:30 - 11 a.m.

Free Storytime includes songs, stories, and rhymes. For ages 0-24 months with a caregiver. Older siblings are welcome. Tickets are distributed beginning at 10 a.m. and space often fills up. Please choose only one storytime per week to attend. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Saint Katherine’s Greek Festival Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church

11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Enjoy homemade Greek food, live music, pastries, and authentic Greek dancing. Friday through Sunday, check each day for specific hours. 3149 Glen Carlyn Rd.

Saturday, October 3 Civitan Open Air Flea Market Civitan Market

7 a.m. - 1 p.m.

This popular flea market features over

100 vendors selling everything from books and clothes to furniture, jewelry, records and more. Located in the I-66 garage in North Arlington at 15th and North Quincy Streets. Held on the first Saturday of the month from April thru November.

Falls Church Farmers Market City Hall Parking Lot

8:00 a.m. - Noon

This award-winning market is open yearround. 300 Park Ave.

Bystander Training Workshop

10 Things Your Cat Wants You to Know Mary Riley Styles Library

2 - 3:30 p.m.

In my experience, all top 10 cat requests are usually “feed me” but Certified Cat Behavior Consultant Lisa Stemcosky will offer educated advice on how to interpret cat body language, play and hunting behavior, multicat relationships and environmental needs. Free, Adults 18+. Registration is required. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Little City Concerts

The Falls Church Episcopal

7:30 p.m.

Oktoberfest

Litty City Concerts opens its 4th season with a musical cross-cultural collaboration between hiphop artist Christylez Bacon and Chinese guzheng player Qi Yu. The Oak Street Elementary School Choir will open the concert with a short musical selection. Fifty percent of ticket sales will be donated to the Falls Church Education Foundation’s Family Assistance Fund. $25 general admission, free for students/youth. 166 E. Broad St for accessible parking. Ticket link: littlecityconcerts.org/tickets-1.

11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 4

Meridian High School

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

This free interactive workshop will teach you how to respond safely and effectively if you witness someone being demeaned, bullied, harassed, excluded or treated unfairly. For teens and adults. To register, email socialjusticefc@gmail.com. Location is 121 Mustang Alley.

Town of Vienna

This 17th annual celebration features vendors, food, live entertainment on three stages, free kids’ activities, a beer/ wine garden, games. Free admission, all ages welcome. Church Street. For more info: viennaoktoberfest.org.

Out of the Darkness Walk Mosaic District

11 a.m. Check-in

Sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (Fairfax), this walk helps raise awareness about suicide prevention, honor those we’ve lost, and support individuals impacted by suicide. Check-in starts at 11 a.m., with the event beginning at 12:30 p.m. For details and to register, visit: afsp. org/Fairfax.

Saint Katherine’s Greek Festival Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church

11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Enjoy homemade Greek food, live music, pastries, and authentic Greek dancing. Friday through Sunday, check each day for specific hours. 3149 Glen Carlyn Rd.

Backyard Bash

American Legion Post 130

2 - 7 p.m.

American Legion Post 130 hosts its annual Backyard Bash, rain or shine, with a horseshoe tournament, cornhole tournament, kids’ games, food, a firepit, hot beverages, prizes, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. Admission is $10 per person; children 12 and under are free. Open to the public. 400 N. Oak St. 703-533-1945.

Saint Katherine’s Greek Festival Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church

Noon - 8 p.m.

Enjoy homemade Greek food, live music, pastries, and authentic Greek dancing. Friday through Sunday, check each day for specific hours. 3149 Glen Carlyn Rd.

Board Game Sunday Mary Riley Styles Library

1 - 4 p.m.

Enjoy modern board games and meet new people. In partnership with the Northern Virginia Board Game Group. Newcomers welcome and instruction by experienced players will be available. Free, Adults 18+. 120 N. Virginia Av e.

Blessing of the Animals Dulin Church

4 p.m.

The community is invited to join Pastor James Henry for the Blessing of the Animals, to take place on the front lawn of the church at 513 E. Broad St. All animals are welcome.

Ancient Airs and Dances Concert Church of the Holy Comforter

4 p.m.

Ensemble group “Gut, Wind, and Wire” presents music of the 16th and 17th centuries. Free with a reception afterward to meet the performers, Ronn McFarlane (lute), Mindy Rosenfeld (wooden flutes), and Mark Cudek (cittern and viol). 543 Beulah Rd NE, Vienna. More info: holycomforter.com/events.

Monday, October 5 Fall Storytime

Mary Riley Styles Library

10:30 - 11 a.m.

For ages 18 months to 4 years with a caregiver (younger siblings are welcome). Space often fills before start time. Please choose only one storytime per week to attend. Mary Riley Styles Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave. mrspl.org.

Playtime with Early Literacy Center Mary Riley Styles Library

11 a.m. - Noon

Free play for an hour after story time. No registration required. For Preschool (ages 2-4). 120 N. Virginia Ave.

City Council Work Session City Hall

7:30 - 11 p.m.

Open to the public, though the public is not generally invited to speak. Visit the fallschurchva.gov calendar section for link to watch online. 300 Park Ave., Dogwood Room A and B

Tuesday, October 6 Book Club: The Serviceberry

Mary Riley Styles Library

questions. 300 Park Ave, East Wing, Second Floor.

Mindfulness Meditation Mary Riley Styles Library

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Take some time to slow down with this free meditation workshop for adults 18+. No prior meditation experience necessary. 120 N Virginia Ave.

Silent Reading Club Mary Riley Styles Library

6 - 7 p.m.

Enjoy a quiet hour of reading to yourself among other book enthusiasts. Free, Adults 18+. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Framing the Work of Svetlana Alexievich Mary Riley Styles Library

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Cynthia R. Doell will discuss the work of Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich. Registration is required. Free, Grades 9-12 and Adults 18+. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Falls Church Writers Group Mary Riley Styles Library

6:30 - 8 p.m.

All types of writing are considered in this feedback-based workshop. Free, Grades 9-12 and Adults 18+. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Join the Tuesday Morning Book Club for a discussion of The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Free, Adults 18+. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Community Mending Circle Mary Riley Styles Library

6 - 7:30 p.m.

This is a self-guided gathering to mend clothing and other textiles. Free. Adults 18+. 120 N. Virginia Ave.

Cybersecurity & Fraud Awareness The Women’s Center (Online event)

6:30 - 8 p.m.

Discussion led by Kedric Edwards, IT Security Operations Manager, and Kasey Flanagan, Fraud Mitigation Manager, both at Northwest Federal Credit Union. Free. Register for Zoom link through the Women’s Center page on Eventbrite: eventbrite.com/o/3604452779.

Wednesday, October 7 Ask the Council Session City Hall - Oak Room

9 - 10 a.m.

The public is invited to attend this informal session and ask Council members

Have events? Send an email to calendar@fcnp.com Free Events to the public post free or $20 for paid events.

PAGE 12 | OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 PUBLIC NOTICE Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@ fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva. gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month. Architectural Advisory Board Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Board of Equalization City Employee Review Board Economic Development Authority Historic Architectural Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission Planning Commission (10/31 Closing Date) Public Utilities Commission Towing Advisory Board Board of Zoning Appeals (10/31 Closing Date) Regional Boards/Commissions Community Criminal Justice Board Coordinating Council for the Aging and Adults with Disabilities Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The following was given first reading at the September 28, 2026 City Council meeting. A public hearing and possible recommendation for City Council action is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

C L AS S I F I E DS

may also be sent to jtrainor@fallschurchva. gov. Remote participation information at www. fallschurchva.gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING A Planning Commission public hearing and possible recommendation to City Council is scheduled for October 21, 2026, at 7:30 pm, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on the following: (TO26-30) Resolution to Amend the Voluntary Concessions, Community Benefits, Terms And Conditions (VCs) Associated with the Broad and Washington Mixed-use Development Project Special Exception Entitlement (SEE), Approved by Resolution 2021-03, dated January 25, 2021, to Reduce the Minimum Amount of Required Ground Floor Space for Retail Sales and Restaurant Uses from 6,500 sf to 3,700 sf and to Delete “Studios, including yoga” from the “Prohibited Uses” List on the Site Located at 111 E. Broad Street (Real Property Code 53-104-037) on Application by 124 E Broad Street LLC (Owner) The Owner seeks to amend the Voluntary Concessions approved by the City as part of the Broad & Washington Special Exception (Resolution 2021-03), to allow “exercise studios” on the ground floor, where they are currently prohibited, and to reduce the minimum square footage for ground-floor retail and restaurant uses from 6,500 square feet to 3,700 square feet.

(TO26-15) Ordinance to Amend the Text of City Code Chapter 48, “Zoning,” Article I, “In General,” to Add a Definition for “Social Services”; Article IV, “Districts,” Division 1, “Generally,” to Clarify Optional Redevelopment Opportunities Throughout the Code; Article V, “Supplementary Regulations,” Division 2, “Off-Street Parking Requirements,” to Add Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements for Townhouses and Multifamily Units Within the Virginia Village Affordable Housing Zoning District; Division 3, “Reserved,” to Add Regulations Governing the Virginia Village Affordable Housing Zoning District; and to Amend Divisions 4 and 5 by Renumbering to “Division 4” the Content of the Existing Division 5 “Mixed Use Redevelopment Regulations,” and Renumbering to “Division 5” the Content of the Existing Division 4, “Filling Stations and Public Garages;” and to Amend Division 7 “Site Plans,” Section 48-1137 “Required Information,” Subsection 5, to Allow Exceptions for Certain Developments Within the Virginia Village Zoning District

The materials for the above item will be available on the city’s webpage prior to the public hearing: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/PC. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. For copies of materials and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov.

The proposed amendments to the Zoning Code would have the effect of establishing a new Virginia Village Affordable Housing Zoning District permitting redevelopment to occur at a higher density than what base-level zoning districts permit when substantial affordable housing is contributed.

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Promote your upcoming auctions statewide! Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audience. Call this paper or Commonwealth Media Solutions 804-521-7570, advertising@ commonwealthmediasolutions.com

The purpose of the proposed district is to achieve a significant amount of new affordable housing units at 60% Area Median Income (AMI) or below. All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to jtrainor@fallschurchva. gov. Remote participation information at www. fallschurchva.gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov.

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fcnp.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

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CLASSIFIED ADS Got something to sell? A service to offer? A job to fill? A room to rent? Get the word out in the Falls Church NewsPress! $20 for up to 20 words. 50¢ for each additional word. Advertise your: • Yard & Garage Sales • Homes & Apartments for Rent • Items for Sale • Help Wanted • Local Services • Lessons & Tutoring • Pet Services • Child Care • Home Improvement • Landscaping & Lawn Care • Cleaning Services • Moving Sales • Furniture & Antiques • Cars & Bicycles • Community Announcements • Lost & Found • Business Opportunities • Professional Services • Clubs & Organizations • Special Events BIG OR SMALL, GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT! Email your classified ad to classads@fcnp.com.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2026 | PAGE 13

Fall Real Estate Guide

Coming Oct 8th, 2026 For Advertising Information: sjohnson@fcnp.com

O D E S G A M E S O O

A K V T N E V D F K S

M C I C A R E O T T R

N I E H E R N O F D O

E S N R E S B F K O D

I U N R B E L E C T N

V M A G R E E B L G E

I U F F A M N E V E V

B E E R G A R D E N C

K S G A M G F O O M A

T S H C R U H C S U M

Vienna

Food

Games

Oktoberfest

Vendors

Music

Church St

Beer Garden

Celebrate

G A M E S E

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conservation and racial justice. Peter found joy in gardening, nature, good food and gatherings with family and friends. He had an exceptional gift for connection – whether with lifelong friends or perfect strangers – and was well known for his warmth, empathy and genuine interest in others. He is survived by his wife Riva Spear Adriance; his three children Shira, Joel and Dena, as well as their spouses and his four grandchildren. Peter will be remembered above all for his steadfast faith, moral clarity and deep kindness – qualities that shaped both his family and his lifelong service to humanity. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Falls Church Community Center on October 10, 2026, at 3 pm. Riva Adriance will be present, along with many whose lives have been touched by Peter’s amazing spirit.

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Peter McLeod Adriance – September 28, 1947- November 7, 2025. Peter Adriance, a long time Falls Church resident, passed away in Montreal Canada, on November 7th, 2025. The Adriance family lived in Falls Church from 1992 to 2019. Peter was known for his work with the Village Preservation Society, the Social Justice Committee, and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and as a devoted member of the Baha’i Community of Falls Church. He had a lasting impact on the Little City. For example, the Tinner Hill Mural on Washington Blvd., was due in large part to Peter’s inspiration and devotion to the Tinner Hill story. Peter earned a B.A from Alfred University and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He dedicated more than 25 years to public service as the Representative for Sustainable Development of the U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs. In this role he worked internationally to advance environmental stewardship and foster cooperation among faith communities. He was also a founding member of the International Environment Forum. As a member of the Baha’i Faith, Peter was guided by its principles of unity, compassion and service. He served in numerous voluntary and leadership roles within the Baha’i community and was active in the city organizing for civic causes, including environmental

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Brother Kitten — the undisputed joy of our house. We don’t discuss his age because it’s a sensitive subject and he gets VERY angry. He loves watching TV, although baseball is absolutely unacceptable. And nothing ruins his weekend faster than watching us pack up and leave for another softball tournament. He has opinions. He holds grudges. He expects everyone to follow his schedule. And when we finally come home, he makes it very clear that our absence has been documented and will be addressed accordingly. Basically, it’s Brother’s house. We just live here.

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place over the weekend with off-duty police support. The second Police Academy is underway with 10 enrollees. Work on the Sherrow Avenue Bridge replacement is being prepared; one lane will be maintained for pedestrian access to the school. Officers Blurton and Sinez completed field training and are now full officers. Two staff members, Niki and Katelyn, are upcoming Council Government Institute for Regional Excellence graduates. The towing incident raised in public comment prompted a council request for staff and the city attorney to examine what authority the city has to limit surveillance and privacy concerns by towing companies, and to share the issue with the reconstituted towing board. If local authority is insufficient, adding the matter to the city’s legislative priorities was suggested. Mayor Hardi requested that crosswalk thermoplastic markings near Oak Street Elementary School be refreshed and that the police department conduct extra enforcement near the school. Principal Planner Laura Arseneau and applicant’s representative Lauren Riley presented a request to amend the voluntary concessions for the Broad and Washington devel-

opment at 111 East Broad Street to: (1) allow exercise studios (specifically a Pilates use) on the ground floor, where they had been prohibited, and (2) reduce the minimum required ground-floor retail/restaurant space from 6,500 square feet to 3,700 square feet. The applicant noted the remaining vacant ground-floor space (~2,800 sq ft) has been actively marketed for retail and restaurant uses without success, and that Jet Set Pilates has expressed strong interest. Additional updates since the prior work session: the applicant agreed to language requiring the space to revert to retail/restaurant use if no longer used as an exercise studio; approval was received from city staff for a new paver specification to replace damaged pavers along East Broad Street; and the applicant is exploring installation of a stop bar at the garage exit on East Broad Street. Council discussion touched on shared parking between the Pilates studio, Creative Cauldron, and potentially Whole Foods; whether the space had restaurant ventilation built in; and a broader interest in revisiting the prohibited uses list across the development. Staff noted a broader review of voluntary concessions is already underway. The motion to refer to the Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority and schedule a public hearing for November 9 passed 7–0.

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Inside the Network Linking Your Data, Devices and Daily Life

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LifeLog to Zuckerberg, and no spy agency secretly built Facebook. There’s no credible evidence for any of that. The real story is wilder than the conspiracy theory. The government shelved its plan to record your life, and within a decade more than a billion of us were doing it ourselves, for free, one friend request, tagged photo and check-in at a time. Nobody had to plan it. We built the file ourselves. Washington Stares at the Pole On Sept. 23, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee chaired by Missouri Republican Josh Hawley held a hearing titled “Always Watching: Flock’s Nationwide AI Surveillance Network.” Hawley had invited the CEOs of Flock Safety, Axon Enterprise, Motorola Solutions and Verkada. His office said all four declined. Days earlier, asked about Flock aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump said, “I sort of like them, because of law enforcement. Some people don’t. They think it’s an infringement. But I like them.” That’s the camera fight, and it’s scrambled party lines all over the country. The bigger AI fight blew up on Sept. 29. After a White House lunch with technology executives including Zuckerberg, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, Trump announced a voluntary industry accord on “super intelligence,” his preferred term for artificial intelligence, and said he was seeing “tremendous self-policing” by the industry. The same day, Sen. Mark Warner, with Sens. Brian Schatz and Andy Kim, asked the Senate to pass the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026, which would create an AI Safety Board, require developers of the most advanced models to give the board access at least 45 days before release and impose fines of up to

$250,000 per violation, per day. Sen. Ted Cruz objected. Done. Warner’s bill targets powerful AI models, not how agencies connect your records, but the timing says plenty. Changing the name, Warner said, “does nothing to address the very real risks that come with increasingly powerful AI systems.” He added: “The question is whether Washington is going to act before something goes seriously wrong — or wait until afterward to ask why we didn’t.” Richmond Tried. A Judge Said Not So Fast. Virginia thought it had done something about ICE this year. Senate Bill 783, from Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim of Fairfax, and House Bill 1441, from Del. Alfonso Lopez of Arlington, required local agreements with ICE to carry a dozen new conditions, including limits on surveillance technology. The Justice Department sued in June. On Aug. 31, a day before the Sept. 1 deadline, Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Payne temporarily blocked most of the law’s restrictions as applied to Virginia’s existing 287(g) agreements, while the restriction on entering new agreements remained in place. Attorney General Jay Jones says he’ll appeal. Even if he wins, a state law can boss around a sheriff a lot easier than it can reach a federal agency or a national data broker. Marcus Simon’s Question Del. Marcus Simon, who represents Falls Church, responded to my plate-reader reporting with the question nobody wants to answer. It “raises an important question that I don’t think we should dismiss,” he wrote: “whether any amount of regulation can make a comprehensive database of people’s movements, and all the information it contains, truly safe from abuse.” Virginia’s 2025 law, House Bill 2724, requires a legitimate pur-

pose for searches, audit trails and deletion of most data after 21 days. But “passing rules and making sure those rules are followed are two different things,” Simon said. Then Indianapolis supplied a realworld example of the risk. On Sept. 23, prosecutors charged five current and former officers with fraud and official misconduct over what charging documents called “thousands of impermissible searches” of Flock’s network, including one officer accused of tracking 11 people, most of them strangers, among them his ex-wife. Those cops had rules too. The Shopping List In a Jan. 29 letter to the DHS inspector general, Warner and Kaine didn’t pull punches. “We are deeply concerned that ICE’s surge in brutality against American communities is being facilitated by the inappropriate and unsupervised use of surveillance technology,” they wrote, according to 404 Media. Their list reads like a shopping cart: ad-tech data, 30 proposed social-media surveillance contractors, iris scanning, Palantir, Paragon Solutions, Clearview AI, PenLink phone tracking, and reports that DHS personnel got into Flock without official access. Those are the senators’ concerns, not findings of wrongdoing. Within days of their Jan. 29 letter, the DHS inspector general informed the senators that his office had initiated an audit examining how DHS components collect, store, use and share sensitive personal data and whether those practices comply with law. Congress has taken one real swing at purchased data: the House passed the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act in 2024, while a Senate effort to attach it to FISA reauthorization failed 31-61. A less settled question is what happens after data is in hand, when software helps analysts determine that a plate here, a phone there and a face somewhere

else may belong to the same person. Four Hours. Under One Minute. Here’s the number that ought to stop everybody cold. ICE’s Repository for Analytics in a Virtualized Environment, called RAVEn, was built with machine learning and graph analysis for Homeland Security Investigations. DHS reported that, in one representative test, analysts manually combining information from two commonly used datasets needed about four hours. RAVEn completed the same task in less than a minute. For much of the history of record-keeping, one of the practical protections around your privacy wasn’t a law or a judge. It was human time. Somebody had to pull the file, compare addresses and untangle three spellings of your name. Cut four hours to under a minute and every database the government can already reach gets more powerful overnight, without collecting one new record about you. It’s already producing answers. 404 Media reported in January that ICE uses a Palantir-built app called ELITE that maps potential deportation targets, brings up dossiers and provides a “confidence score” for how likely someone is to be at an address, using addresses from the Department of Health and Human Services among other sources. A camera collects. A database stores. Software can help analysts determine which records appear to refer to the same person, identify relationships among records and assess where a person may be located. That’s the part that gets far less attention in Congress than the camera on the pole. It Started Next Door Falls Church has been near the center of this idea for 30 years. In 1995, Capital One co-founder Richard Fairbank told The Washington Post that the credit-card business

“isn’t really a banking business. It’s an information business.” The company, spun off from Richmond’s Signet Bank and headquartered just outside the city line at a Falls Church address on Fairview Park Drive, reported by 1998 that its data warehouse held basic information on 120 million households. It was not a spy operation, and it would be nonsense to call it one. It was proof that information plus computing plus prediction could remake an industry. Falls Church doesn’t have Flock. What we have is a front-row seat to the much bigger machine that systems like Flock feed. Continued online at FCNP. com: the full story of Feb. 4, 2004; the casino software that In-Q-Tel, the investment firm the CIA created, helped finance; the $775 million sale that carried powerful data-mining technology into the private sector; the ICE operation targeting parents and relatives of unaccompanied migrant children that used Palantir-built software and resulted in 443 arrests; and the NSA’s search engine designed to make more than 850 billion records searchable. Disclosure: AI tools assisted with editing and fact-checking; the facts were verified against the sources cited.

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