October 12 — 18, 2017
FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE
FOU N D ED 1991 • VOL. XXVI I NO. 34
F���� C����� • T����� C����� • M��������� • M�L��� • N���� A�������� • B�����’� C���������
I����� T��� W��� C������ A�������� ‘I��������� P������’ D��’ By a unanimous vote in its first order of business Tuesday night, the Falls Church City Council put Falls Church on record with only 55 other U.S. cities to declare the second Monday of October, normally recognized as Columbus Day, “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 9
A������ S����’ R��� �� R���������
F.C. Chamber of Commerce Votes Its Support for School Bond Referendum Economic Benefits F ��� D �� �� F ���� C ����� Of New High School Cited in Statement
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
and celebratory events ran from Friday night through midday Sunday. After the City of Falls Church was incorporated as an independent city in August 1948, and therefore totally responsible for its own school system, one of the first moves was a voter approval of a $700,000 bond referendum in 1949 authorizing the purchase of 25 acres at the corner of Leesburg Pike and Haycock Road and more acreage at what became the Mt. Daniel Elementary.
At its monthly board meeting Tuesday morning, the 15 members present of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse a “yes” vote on the $120 million Falls Church school bond referendum on the ballot next month. Chamber executive director Sally Cole reported that almost the entirety of Tuesday’s meeting was devoted to a thorough discussion of the subject, based on the recommendation of the board’s Legislative Committee that it go on record in favor of a “yes” vote. In a statement released by the Chamber board Tuesday, it was stated that the passage of the bond referendum “will have a profound impact on the City of Falls Church,” adding, “The Chamber board believes the presence of a new, modern high school is very important to attract new business and new revenue to the City.” It continues, “A new high school would be more environmentally efficient, safer for teachers and students, be ADA compliant, and would help maintain or increase property values.” It noted that passage of the referendum “would enable up to 10 acres of the property to be developed for commercial tax generating purposes,” while, “on the other hand, incurring such debt is risky given economic uncertainties and doing so would necessitate significant increases in residential and commercial property tax rates.”
Continued on Page 4
Continued on Page 5
Most people know Tony Suggs as a hardworking employee at Koons Ford Falls Church, a motivational speaker, author and devout Christian. He’s also the subject of a new documentary, “Out of the Ring, Still in the Fight,” screening next week in Alexandria. SEE PAGE 8
P��� K������: V������� �� ��� H�����
Until recently, Virginia seemed to be emerging from some of the darker shadows of its history. The state is becoming more ethnically diverse, more culturally open; it is, you might say, becoming more like America. But is Virginia’s apparent moral progress an illusion? SEE PAGE 14
M���� F������� D���� 1�� G��� �� Y��� George Mason Mustang football suffered its first defeat of the season last Friday, losing 22-21 at home to an aggressive Strasburg Rams squad. SEE SPORTS, PAGE 20
INDEX
Editorial.................6 Letters...................6 News & Notes10–11 Comment ........ 12-14 Calendar .......18–19
Sports .................20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........21 Business News ...22 Critter Corner......22 Classified Ads .....23
A YOUNG ATTENDEE takes a break in a wheelbarrow at Farm Day in the City of Falls Church last Saturday. The 24th annual event took place at Cherry Hill Park in the Little City and included hayrides, pumpkin painting, cider pressing, tours of the historic farmhouse and more. (P����: G��� M�����)
Program of Dedication Found for New GM High School 65 Years Ago BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
An original copy of the 12-page program provided to all who participated in an October 1952 threeday dedication of the new George Mason High School campus in Falls Church was stumbled upon late last week and was shared via the school’s website. As citizens of Falls Church today are faced with the responsibility of voting on a $120 million school bond referendum next month for a
new George Mason High, the vivid reminder of the 65-year-old dedication of the original school footprint has underscored the importance of the upcoming vote. Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly, who came across the original program, posted it on the daily morning briefing site for the schools this week. Falls Church citizens of that era were clearly very proud of their new school, as a perusal of the the Dedication Ceremony program makes clear. The dedication was billed as “A Festival of Progress,”