Falls Church News-Press 10-22-2020

October 22 – 28, 2020

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FOU N D E D 1991 • V OL. X XX NO. 36

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Affordable Housing Revisited By F.C. Council

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New Report Outlines 11 Policy Recommendations

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

“Across the country, the current stock of both market and committed affordable rental housing is at risk due to a competitive housing market, increasing costs of construction, restrictive zoning codes and profitfocused developers. Overcoming these obstacles necessitates intervention,” said a new report from the National Housing Trust unveiled to an online meeting of the Falls Church City Council and other local entities this Monday night.

At its work session Monday, the City Council joined with other City boards and commissions to review a National Housing Trust set of 11 recommendations for reviving an effective affordable housing policy, ending a decade of practical inaction in the City. The Council heard a report from the Trust and the Federal City Council, retained to complete a study by the City’s

Continued on Page 5

THE PLEIN AIR ART FESTIVAL, hosted by Falls Church Arts, concluded on Saturday right outside of City Hall. For more information on the winners, see the news item on page 11 (more photos will be posted online). (P����: C������� M������ B����)

Warren Pace, Seminal F.C. Schools Superintendent, Dies at 92

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent-Emeritus Dr. Warren Joseph Pace passed away peacefully in his home at the age of 92 last Sunday, Oct. 18. Dr. Pace served as the superintendent of the F.C. City Schools from 1971 to 1991, a key two-decade period

when, under his leadership, the F.C. system became the first in the U.S. to incorporate the International Baccalaureate curriculum and first gained fame as, by some measures, the finest in the nation.

He was, in the words of former FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Stuart Roberson, characterized by a “genuine, gentlemanly nature and compassion” that all who encountered

or worked with him experienced.

Roberson, who maintained a close relationship with Dr. Pace over the years, characterized him as “an educational icon in the City that so dearly loves its schools and which lovingly bestowed upon him the title of Superintendent Emeritus.”

Following his retirement in 1991, he and his wife, Mary Hall Pace, continued as important mem-

bers of the Falls Church community, being leading members of the historic Falls Church Episcopal Church, and who remained loyal stalwarts among the “continuing Episcopalians,” working from 2006 – 2014 to re-establish ownership of church property by the Episcopal Diocese after an arch-conservative

Continued on Page 4

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David and Alison Kulman of Falls Church will have to relocate their family of four close their family of four close to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia so their sons Eli and six-yearold Jacob — can receive life-saving bone marrow transplant.

SEE STORY, PAGE 8

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Ghouls and ghosts have seemed a bit too real as the world struggles with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t spooked Falls Church residents from pulling off their own modified ways of showing their Halloween spirit while staying safe from Covid-19.

See Story, page 15

3 P���������� H����������� �� W. B���� A������� An adult and two minors were hit by a car at the intersection of W. Annandale Road and W. Broad St. around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to police. F.C. City police said all three victims were taken to Virginia Hospital Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

See News & Business, page 17

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 Comment .......................... 7,10,12,13 News & Notes................................... 11 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18 Business News ................................. 19

PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2020 | PAGE 3

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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PAGE 4 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020

LO CA L

Former Superintendent Remembered For Bringing Prestige To F.C. School System

Continued from Page 1

breakaway group had occupied the church property for seven years before the courts rightfully restored the land to the Episcopal Diocese.

Dr. Pace was a member of the church from 1955 until his death last weekend.

Born on June 19, 1928, in Albemarle County, Virginia, Dr. Pace was the son of John Pendleton Pace and Virginia Dillard Pace. He earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1948; his M.Ed from the University of Virginia in 1954; and his D.Ed from American University in 1969.

He began his career as a high school math teacher in Charlottesville. He found his calling in school administration and served as an elementary school principal in Bristol, Virginia before settling in Fairfax County to become principal of Franklin Sherman Elementary and the first principal of Longfellow Intermediate schools.

His success as an administrator led him to become Fairfax

County Public Schools Areas 3 and 4 Administrator of Intermediate Education and Social Studies.

Dr. Pace then became Superintendent of Falls Church City Schools serving 20 years from 1971 until 1991.

Under his tenure, the Falls Church City school system gained recognition as one of the finest in the nation. George Mason High was rewarded as among the top ranked high schools in the country, introducing the International Baccalaureate curriculum in the early 1980s. He was honored as the National School Administrator of the Year in 1983.

The advancement and development of Falls Church City Schools stand among his proudest accomplishments.

Dr. Pace was a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors, University of Virginia Alumni Association and the Virginia Education Association.

Dr. Pace was known for setting an example of quiet strength and love that all his family and associ-

ates sought to emulate. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years Mary Hall Pace, for whom he had an enduring love and a partnership based on mutual support and respect.

Dr. Pace is survived by daughter Mary Warren Pace Sciba (Kenneth); sons Dr. Warren Joseph Pace, Jr. (Denise) and Dr. John Hall Pace (Maria); granddaughters Deirdre, Emily, and Diana; grandsons Jeremy and Johnny; great-granddaughters Indigo and Shreya, and great-grandson Ishaan. Dr. Pace is also survived by his older brother Wesley Emory Pace of Knoxville, Tennessee (formerly of Blacksburg, Virginia).

Honoring his legacy, current FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, in a statement to the NewsPress, stated Monday, “Today I was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Warren Pace. I am reminded daily that the work I do in FCCPS is a privilege and is built on the shoulders of giants. Dr. Pace was one of the biggest of giants that helped FCCPS become the amazing

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DR. WARREN PACE with his wife, Mary. (C������� P����) system it is. His memory and legacy will live on for years to come in our Little City and in the City of Falls Church Schools.”

Dr. Roberson, in his statement, said “Leslie and I are deeply saddened to learn of Warren’s passing.

Mary and Warren Pace warmly and graciously welcomed our young family into their home when we

became part of the Falls Church community.

“In 1991, he clearly wanted this then 35-year old superintendent to not be intimidated at the prospect of following an educational icon (my words) in the City that so dearly loves its schools and which lovingly

Continued on Page 18

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 | PAGE 5

Policy Recommendations Include Dedicated Funding, More Units

Continued from Page 1

Housing Commission, that included recharging an affordable housing fund and establishing changes in single family housing zoning to allow for the construction of “accessory dwelling units,” also known as “granny flats,” in residential neighborhoods, an idea that won favor with most of the Council members present.

Recommendations also included a provision for an annual contribution to an Affordable Housing Fund, a dedicated portion of tax revenues to such a fund, a direct cash contribution to the fund by developers in lieu of providing a percentage of new units as affordable, the application for Virginia’s new $75 million so-called “Amazon REACH” funds for affordable housing in the region.

It was particularly stressed that the City’s leadership must win over the citizenry of the benefits of new affordable housing because it helps spur the economy and also address the community’s values of diversity and equity.

“We are going to have to sell a new more robust policy on the idea

that we are a community for all the people,” said Council member Letty Hardi, who has been a driving force behind the new revival.

She added that a new policy coheres with the recent thrust for social justice as “allowing more affordable housing is a tangible way to do more” in that area.

The work session included members of the City Council, Planning Commission, Housing Commission, Human Services Advisory Council and Economic Development Authority.

Priorities included a strategy for retaining the 96 affordable units in The Fields, a housing complex that currently provides affordable units based on a subsidy agreement with the City buy that is due to expire within the next decade. Introduced for the first time was the notion of exchanging a zoning change that would permit the owners of The Fields a special exception to a more dense development of their property in exchange for keeping 96 units there now as affordable.

Council member Phil Duncan told the News-Press after the meeting, “I have a lot of thoughts about

housing affordability, why we must address this issue more aggressively and how we can do so in a fiscally responsible manner,” and he said “it was encouraging to hear everyone on the Council praise the National Housing Trust report and the several clear ‘to do’ policy options for preserving our existing affordable housing stock and adding new supply.”

As the City has “consistently shown a positive, can-do attitude about meeting big challenges, now we need to boldly and thoughtfully address housing affordability and simultaneously, stormwater management, and I’m hopeful we’ll pull the community together and make progress on both,” he said.

“For there to be real progress towards this goal, City staff must continue to educate and garner genuine buy-in and commitment to affordable housing from both the City Council and residents,” the report stated.

It is notable in this context that all three candidates running for the open seat on the City Council on Nov. 3, vacated by the death of Councilman Dan Sze in July,

citizens, the National Housing Trust report stressed the need to win over the public on the idea as a measure that can allow homeowners and ability to remain in their homes.

“A financial barrier often stops homeowners from constructing accessory homes. Providing incentives to homeowners who agree to designate an accessory home as affordable can include waivers for permitting fees, property tax abatements, or low-interest loans. The financial impact of these incentives is far lower than the cost to subsidize affordable housing through other existing programs.”

have made the need for affordable housing front-burner issues in their campaigns. Debbie Hiscott, Joshua Shokoor and Simone Pass Tucker have made the issue a primary focus of their campaigns, and as a member of the Housing Commission, Shokoor was in the meeting Monday and spoke up on behalf of crafting short, medium and long-term policies to address the need.

In light of efforts in Montgomery County, Maryland, by the elected officials there to adopt an accessory dwelling unit policy, and the strong resistance that it met from some

Status Update on Wednesday, September 28

City of Falls Church Date Cases Hospitalizations Monday, October 19 75 13 Thursday, October 15 75 13 Monday, October 5 72 13 Monday, September 28 70 13 Thursday, September 24 70 13 Monday, September 21 68 12 Wednesday, September 16 66* 10* Monday, September 14 67 11 Wednesday, September 9 66 11 Wednesday, September 2 66 11 Monday, August 31 66 11

Deaths 7 7 7 7 6 6 6* 7 7 7 7

# Cases per 100,000 People 507.7 507.7 487.4 473.9 473.9 460.3 453.6 453.6 446.8 446.8 446.8

*NOTE: These numbers went down as the Virginia Department of Health found that the individuals lived in the Fairfax County part of Falls Church, not the City of Falls Church.

PAGE 6 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 

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E D I TO R I A L

The News-Press Endorsements

It’s still almost two weeks before Election Day on Nov. 3, but the stupendous turnout of voters casting ballots early — due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic and new laws that make it so that no excuses for voting “absentee” need to be provided — have made the usual ritual of endorsements by your local newspaper almost completely moot. That said, this for all who’ve not yet voted.

Never in our 30 year history of doing such things has the choice been more obvious for us to endorse in a presidential race. Our choice of former vice-president Joe Biden has never been easier, nor more important for us to publicly pronounce. Mr. Biden represents a solid, reliable choice for a national return to normalcy from the standpoint of a preponderance of both parties. He’s proven it through his long political career, and while there are reasons for almost everyone to be critical of some of the things he’d done, it’s all been done with a dignified love of country and the values of democracy. In that sense, he’s the polar opposite of the man who is the most dangerous threat to our national way of life on many levels. For U.S. President, Joe Biden.

For U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative from the 8th District, we are proud and honored to once again endorse our Democratic incumbents.

For U.S. Senate and House, Mark Warner and Donald S. Beyer, Jr. For the City of Falls Church’s special election to fill a seat vacated on the Falls Church City Council for a one-year unexpired term, we’ve been impressed by all three candidates who’ve qualified for the ballot this fall. For whomever doesn’t win, we sincerely urge such persons to stay active in the community and to seek service on a board or commission and to run again for a seat on the Council in just a year from now when three seats for full four-year terms will be up for grabs. The two young, lesser-experienced candidates are products of the Falls Church School System and bring intelligent, profound moral imperatives that this year’s national Black Lives Matter and other expressions of a new zeal for cultural equality and reckoning represent. While Debbie Hiscott is a more experienced long-time member of the community and proven effective advocate for its schools, she also shares the same values. For Falls Church City Council vacant seat, Debbie Hiscott.

For the Constitutional Amendment to establish a mechanism for a more bipartisan and objective redistricting process, the measure on the ballot was the product of an earlier time in Richmond when the need to avoid a badly-gerrymandered redistricting process was shared by a nearly-evenly split state legislature. Since then, however, the Democrats have won decisive margins in Richmond and now feel risking the process to a bi-partisan approach might yet invariably be tilted to a GOP majority. For the Constitutional Amendment No. 1, Vote No.

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F.C. City Development Would Benefit from Cohesive Vision Editor, While I support having a Whole Foods, a new home for Creative Caldron, the 21 affordable housing units among the 300+ for profit residential rental units, and significant additional revenue for the City, the development’s large footprint combined with its blase facade is aesthetically disappointing.

Driving along Broad Street, one passes the new Founders Row devel-

opment. While still under construction, it more and more seemingly resembles the Spectrum mixed use complex anchored by Panera. Both have a U shaped footprint with a center courtyard, ground retail, and several stories of residential space above. As a layperson, both these developments also resemble the Harris Teeter complex, another large 6 story apartment building with ground retail. The Broad and

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Washington Project would further solidify a theme of massive mid-rise multi-family residential with ground retail along Broad Street. In a high cost of living area like ours, understandably mega multi-family mixed use projects are what is needed to generate revenue for the developer, its investors, and the City. Among the stakeholders, the City has the longest and broadest investment horizon. Whatever is built will be here well beyond the 20 year Whole Foods initial lease. In the interim it will also serve as a precedent to shape development and aesthetics in the downtown area. For these reasons, the architectural design should

elevate beyond the functional to offer visual interest and a timeless quality that honors the historic charm of the Little City.The “general good of the community,” as you aptly put it, is best served by preserving that which makes our city a great place to live.

Perhaps now is the time for the City and its residents to discuss and commission renderings of what we want our city center along Broad and Park Streets to ideally look and feel like in 10, 20, 30 years. Such an overarching roadmap will empower the City to steer development and not simply be a product of it Shelly Wang Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CO MME NT

OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 | PAGE 7

Candidate Statements for Virginia's Senatorial Election

By Mark Warner

By Daniel Gade

Challenger

Incumbent

I’ve spent nearly 30 years in the Commonwealth, first as a businessman, and later as a public servant helping Virginians get ahead of the challenges facing the country. As Governor, I oversaw the largest ever investment in education while balancing the budget and making the Commonwealth the best managed state and best state for business. More recently, as Senator, I’ve expanded resources for Virginians, no matter their background, by bolstering telehealth, broadband connectivity and portable work benefits.

Today, the nation is reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, the resulting economic downturn, and a long-overdue reckoning with racial injustice. And even before the pandemic, Americans were facing a changing economy, making it harder to ensure everyone got their own fair shot to succeed.

To ensure we get the Covid-19 pandemic under control we must listen to the scientists and experts. There must be a national plan for widespread testing and contact tracing of the virus along with a plan for the procurement and distribution of PPE to local health workers, first responders, front-line and essential workers. State and local governments need the support and flexibility to meet the needs of their localities, while schools and childcare centers should be allowed to make decisions that best support students, educators, and parents. Congress should work to mitigate economic downturn by supporting small businesses and providing payroll support to keep workers employed. As well, we should make targeted investments to support long-term growth by investing in communities who are the hardest hit, including minority and low-income communities. Further, to help all Americans we should focus on quality education and training for workers, including targeted loan forgiveness to give individuals reprieve on their crushing student debt during the pandemic, and then make important investments in reskilling and life-long learning programs as the country begins to recover.

I am committed to continuing to champion economic opportunities for all Virginians.

Whether it's increasing investments in lowincome and minority communities, or giving workers the ability to move up the career ladder by supporting smart upskilling proposals, I am working so that all Virginians have that opportunity to succeed. I support ensuring that we have a fair and equitable tax system that invests in workers similar to investments made in innovation, research and development. I am fighting to counter the growing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party by supporting American values and making sure key industries in America have the federal support they need to compete, and win. I have continued to cut unnecessary red tape to ensure small businesses can thrive in the economy, and ensure

I am not a career politician, nor am I interested in power or prestige at the expense of the American citizen.

Instead, this is about honoring the sacred values that began and will sustain our Republic and about serving the people of the Commonwealth.

Since I was seventeen, I have served the American people, and I look forward to serving Virginia in the Senate.

I will fight for Virginia with the same oath, but on a new mission.

I am running for the US Senate because our freedoms are still worth fighting for.

Bipartisanship

that workers get fair pay. I also believe more must be done to ensure more equality for all Americans, including by supporting common sense criminal justice reforms such as the historic Justice in Policing Act. As Senator, I have a proven history of bringing a bipartisan approach to problem solving, with over 55 bills signed into law, almost all with strong bipartisan support.

Just this summer, the President signed my bipartisan bill which will make a record investment in National Parks, and also create 10,000 jobs in Virginia.

There is no more sacred right as an American than the right to vote. We must take steps to restore and strengthen the promise of the Voting Rights Act. I am an original co-sponsor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will restore the full protections of the original, bipartisan Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013.

As Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I am proud of the work that our Committee has done to secure our elections against foreign interference. Our five-volume, comprehensive review of Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election is the only bipartisan review of what happened in 2016.

I am committed to supporting bipartisan solutions that can keep our election system secure, safe, and free of any foreign influence. Voting security also means finding ways to get ahead of innovations in technology, and I have been a leader in the Senate on ways to regulate our social media companies by forcing them to counter misinformation, limit manipulative tactics and protect individuals' data and privacy.

We are at a critical time in our country, and I am focused on doing what is best for Virginians.

Senator Mark Warner is one of two Virginia's representatives in the U.S. Senate

Covid-19 has created a situation where leaders no longer have a choice on what we are going to work across the aisle to solve.

Now our businesses need help, our health care capacity is being strangled and parents are seeing firsthand what’s going on in our kids’ schools.

I am in this race to solve hard problems like these. Mark Warner had a chance to deliver much-needed relief to Virginia families, including additional testing and vaccine funding.

Sadly, he voted to withhold relief from Virginia families because it was a Republican proposal.

Career politicians like my opponent view this crisis as a tool to push a partisan agenda and score cheap political points, not solve hard problems like I have done in 25 years of military service.

Once we win this war against COVID19, I will work with Democrats and Republicans to regain our record economic growth, reform a health care system that puts patients first and ensure our education system meets the needs of a post-coronavirus America.

Supreme Court I believe a judge or justice should interpret the Constitution as our founders wrote it and not be swayed by political forces.

My opponent prefers a justice who will legislate from the bench, ignore the Constitution and rule in favor of whatever the party demands.

The president’s authority to appoint judges and the Senate’s responsibility to advise and consent do not expire during elections.

The Senate has a duty to hear the president’s nominee and give her a vote. I fully support Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

She is an accomplished jurist, mother and role model.

In 2016, “Flip” Mark said the Senate should “#DoYourJob”, giving Merrick Garland a hearing and an up-or-down vote.

In this, I agree with Mark.

However, “Flop” Mark now has switched his position because it’s politically expedient to do so.

Now the Senate should do its job and give Barrett a hearing and an up-or-down vote.

Federal Role on Handling Covid-19 The federal government has unique abilities.

First, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies can leverage their expertise and resources to assist the local leaders who are on the front lines of Covid-19.

Second, the federal government can direct emergency resources to local governments. Mark Warner, remember, voted against that just a few weeks ago, hurting Virginia and Virginia families.

Third, the federal government can and should secure our borders, rethink the nature of our relationship with China, and prepare for the next pandemic by securing our supply chain for pharmaceutical products and personal protective equipment.

Daniel Gade is the Republican Party's candidate in the election for one of Virginia's U.S. Senate seats

NEXT WEEK The News-Press will conclude it's Point-Counterpoint series in the October 29th issue by featuring candidate statements from Incumbent President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.

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PAGE 8 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C. Brothers’ Shared Condition Has Them Fighting For Life

by Christopher Jones

Falls Church News-Press

For the next nine months, David and Alison Kulman of Falls Church will have to relocate their family of four close to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia so their sons — eight-year-old Eli and six-yearold Jacob — can receive lifesaving bone marrow transplants.

Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, an outpouring of support from the Falls Church community has buoyed the family’s spirits and will help defray the Kulman’s considerable medical costs.

“Two of the most vivacious, charming, silly, and caring brothers that you will ever meet,” were how their parents described Eli and Jacob, students at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Mount Daniel Elementary School. And that spirit has shone through their lifetime of debilitating autoimmune disorders: deadly food allergies, chronic infections (including MRSA), esophagitis, thyroid disorders, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a connective tissue disorder), alopecia, eczema, anxiety and delays in growth.

According to Alison, each of the boys has had to endure, “25 under-anaesthesia procedures apiece,” so far in their young lives, “plus so many illnesses and hospital stays.”

In 2018, doctors diagnosed both of the boys with an extremely rare genetic disease known as IPEX Syndrome (for Immunodysregulation Polyendocrinopathy Enteropathy X-linked). Caused by an obscure genetic mutation in the FOXP3 gene, the syndrome interferes with T cell production and essentially turns the immunity system against the host.

Chances of having the genetic mutation are less than 1 in 1.6 million. In the whole world, only 300 cases are known — ever. “The prognosis for kids with IPEX is bleak: doctors have said that, without treatment, the boys may not live past the age of 30,” the Kulmans wrote in a Sept. 29 family blog post. “Luckily, bone-marrow transplants have shown to be a successful treatment — or even a cure — for IPEX Syndrome.”

For the family, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions just getting to this stage in the boys’ treatment.

As the two brothers continued to suffer illnesses, treatment windows narrowed. Procedures

set for the summer had to be postponed because of the Covid19 pandemic. With the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus, everyone had to stay at home — unless they had to see a doctor.

Promising gene therapies are not yet fully tested.

Doctors presented the family with a Catch-22 scenario: The kids would have to be “well enough to receive a transplant, but sick enough to need it — and not be killed by the process,” Alison said. “So, since we never know what cold is going to turn into pneumonia, or what infection might come along, we needed to do this before things got worse.”

To find bone marrow donors for Eli and Jacob, the Kulmans turned to BeTheMatch.org, the world’s largest online marrow registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program.

Fortunately, they were able to find an anonymous matching donor for both of the boys. Prior to the transplants, Eli and Jacob will need to undergo chemo treatments in Philadelphia so their immune systems will accept the shock of the transfusions.

And a stroke of good fortune for the Kulmans was a remarkable 501(c)3 charitable organization called the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), which stood by ready to help the family and community raise the considerable funds required to meet expenses (with 100 percent of donated funds dedicated to the children’s care.)

Though the family has medical insurance, out-of-pocket costs will be huge.

The bone marrow procedures alone can cost as much as $1 million apiece, before insurance.

The pricey costs of associated travel, rental expenses, pharmaceuticals, follow-up procedures, mental health counseling, and other contingencies must also be paid. Moreover, the expenses will continue over the boys’ lifetimes.

Setting their initial community fundraising target goal at $100,000, the Kulmans knew they had a daunting task before them, but also that such an amount could only offset a fraction of the total lifetime costs. “We didn’t want to look greedy,” Alison said, “so we set the goal at the lower end, not really knowing what it was going to look like.”

The Kulmans were also able to assemble a highly effective and motivated group of close friends

ELI (RIGHT) AND JACOB KULMAN are both afflicted with a serious autoimmune disorder that causes their bodies’ immune system to turn against itself. Bone marrow transplants are seen as the best way to combat the condition, though the procedure comes at a huge cost. (Courtesy Photo) to serve on their COTA Committee (taking care of communications, event planning, logistics, and web/blog development). COTA Staff members have also been helpful with online support, fundraising strategies, accounting, and community outreach.

Launching a website (COTAforEandJ.com), a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a blog, the team began planning, promoting and holding a series of fundraisers in the community, including: a fall photo fundraiser, a Bingo night, t-shirt and wristband sales, a paint night, a 31 gift bag event and a virtual magic show. Falls Church businesses, the school PTA, and school leaders have all stepped up to help spread the word.

To their delight, the Kulmans have so far raised over $70,0000.

“We are absolutely blown away by the support we have received from COTA in honor of the Kulman family,” said Catrina

Tangchittsumran, the Community Coordinator for the campaign.

“We’ve been pretty frenetic in our pace, trying to keep up because people have just been so generous in both their contributions and also sharing the information, spreading the word, and telling family and friends about our events…It’s been a really wonderful response.”

For Katie LaBrie, the website coordinator on the COTA Team, the success of the Kulmans’ COTA campaign so far is clearly due to the remarkably appealing qualities and spirit of the whole Kulman family.

Of Eli and Jacob, she said: “There’s a reality to having such a life-altering condition — so, of course they’ve had to deal with that — but, they’ve rolled with the punches....They are always the most smiley kids you’ll ever see.”

They “love school, reading, hanging out with friends, dancing, and spending as much time in

front of a screen as their parents, Ali and Dave, will allow.”

LaBrie describes Alison and David as a “Super-Mom” and “Super-Dad” who are extremely generous in their support for their kids and for others.

“Just the fact that we’ve raised [the funds] we’ve raised in such a short amount of time, I keep telling Ali and Dave, it’s a great testament to who they are. They’re very personable people and they make connections very easily.

And, not just acquaintances. They really do become good friends to the people they meet. So, everyone’s willing to give back.”

“Falls Church is such a unique little city,” LaBrie continued. “It has a great PTA for all the elementary schools together and they’ve been sending out messages and tweeting and things like that….

More people than I can count have offered to do things to help the family get ready for the kids’ procedures.”

OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2020 | PAGE 9

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

NEWS BRIEFS Deadlines Loom for Voting in Advance of Nov. 3 The City of Falls Church Voter Registrar’s Office reports as of last Friday, 38.8 percent of eligible voters had already cast their ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Deadlines are fast approaching.

For example, persons planning to vote by mail, must request a ballot no later than Oct. 23, this Friday. This can be done online at vote.elections.virginia.gov. If mailed, a completed ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 3 and arrive in the Falls Church City Registrar’s Office by noon on Friday, Nov. 6. Those who believe they’ve applied for a mail-in ballot but haven’t received it can contact the F.C. Registrar’s Office (703-248-5085). Ballots may also be hand-delivered or placed in the City’s election dropbox in front of City Hall, 300 Park Ave.; such hand-delivered ballots must reach the Registrar by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 3). Citizens may also vote early in person at City Hall Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Next Saturday, Oct. 31, is the last-day to vote early in-person.

There are special curbside voting provisions available to voters over the age of 65 or with physical limitations. Persons should call the Elections Office at 703-248-5085 (TTY 711) once arriving or should call ahead and make an appointment. In-person voters must bring a valid Voter ID, which as of July 1, 2020 includes their Voter Information Notice (Voter Card) or a utility bill with their name and registered address on it. Valid Photo IDs, such as a Virginia Drivers License, US Passport, or Employment Badge, are still accepted as Voter IDs, as well.

Northam Boosts Virginia Covid-19 Response With Multiple Bill Signings Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today announced he has signed 16 new laws and proposed changes to five bills that will support the Commonwealth’s ongoing Covid-19 response and advance criminal justice reform. “I am proud to sign new laws that strengthen our COVID-19 response efforts and make our criminal system more equitable,” said Governor Northam. “I am grateful to legislators for their hard work this session, and look forward to signing more critically important legislation in the coming days.”

Governor Northam signed the following laws to support Covid-19 response and recovery efforts: House Bill 5041 (Delegate Head) and Senate Bill 5042 (Senator Kiggans) require the Board of Health to establish protocols related to safe nursing home, hospice, and nursing facility visits. House Bill 5048 (Delegate Sickles) and Senate Bill 5090 (Senator Dunnavant) provide additional clarity to the Virginia Department of Health regarding publication of disease outbreak data. House Bill 5093 (Delegate Watts) and Senate Bill 5117 (Senator Deeds) allow a $500 civil penalty for violations of a Governor’s Executive Order, instead of the Class 1 misdemeanor currently dictated by Virginia Code. House Bill 5047 (Delegate Murphy) strengthens Virginia’s anti-price gouging laws during declared states of emergency. Senate Bill 5039 (Senator Marsden) establishes a formal program for the purchase and distribution of personal protective equipment during a public health threat. House Bill 5087 (Delegate Tran) extends the date by which the Virginia Employment Commission is required to establish and implement a short-time compensation program and removes the program’s sunset clause. Senate Bill 5083 (Senator McClellan) requires Virginia school boards to publicly post their plans and strategies for mitigating the spread of Covid-19. Senate Bill 5017 (Senator Boysko) grants the Commonwealth the ability to establish and enforce health standards at local correctional facilities used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal agencies. Governor Northam signed the following laws to reform criminal justice and policing: House Bill 5098 (Delegate Askew) increases the penalty for falsely summoning or giving false reports to law enforcement officers due to an individual’s race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. House Bill 5072 (Delegate Lopez) and Senate Bill 5024 (Senator Lucas) allow the Attorney General to open investigations related to a suspected “pattern or practice” of misconduct among law enforcement officers. House Bill 5062 (Delegate Mullin) and Senate Bill 5033 (Senator Surovell) restore the practice of requiring judges to dismiss charges when both parties (prosecution and defense) agree. Governor Northam proposed changes to the following bills: House Bill 5046 (Delegate D. Adams) and Senate Bill 5080 (Senator Barker) expand Medicaid coverage of telemedicine care. Governor Northam added an emergency clause to make this legislation effective immediately upon passage. House Bill 5115 (Delegate Price) expands eviction protections for Virginians who experienced a loss of wages due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Governor Northam added an emergency clause to make this legislation effective immediately upon passage. House Bill 5058 (Delegate Hope) and Senate Bill 5029 (Senator Lucas) prohibit law enforcement from initiating traffic stops in certain instances. Governor Northam amended this legislation to ensure law enforcement can initiate a traffic stop when an individual is driving at night without the use of both headlights and/or without the use of both brake lights.

Highest Risk Traditional door-to-door trick or treating Trunk or treat events Crowded events, especially indoor gatherings and/or where there will be screaming (like in Haunted Houses)

Medium Risk Goodie bags from a social distance, like at the end of a driveway Low or no-touch trick-or-treating Outdoor, distanced, costume parade Outdoor, distanced movie night

Low Risk Pumpkin carving at home Outdoor, distanced pumpkin carving with friends Outdoor scavenger hunt for decorations in your neighborhood Virtual costume contest

Remember: a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth face covering.

National Memorial Park Burial Plots Available For Sale

7482 Lee Highway Falls Church, Virginia

A beautiful and peaceful final resting place.

Plots available in various sections of the National Memorial Park, including adjacent plots. Perpetual care included.

Contact Cynthia Whitt for more information.

423.869.6394 or Cynthia.Whitt@LMUnet.edu www.LMUnet.edu

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PAGE 10 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

G u e s t C o m m e n ta ry F.C. Schools Celebrate Business Partnerships This Week

By Eliot Corwin

What does it mean to be a Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) community partner? Let me tell you about my experience volunteering at George Mason High School (GMHS) for the Career Chats.

I’ve visited GMHS several times to talk with students about my career as an athletic trainer and entrepreneur.

Each time I’m one of about 40 enthusiastic volunteers who take time out of the work day to tell our career stories. The students are assigned to small groups, based on their interests.

It is a little awkward at first, but as we share our own journeys from high school to professional life, students ask great questions, and enjoy our informal conversation. It is very rewarding.

This is just one way of many ways to be a community partner.

That’s why FCCPS is celebrating Community Partnership Week.

Our local schools benefit tremendously from the services, money, and expertise donated by business and community partners.

These relationships provide opportunities for students, tools for teachers and classrooms, and an avenue for community members to get involved in the community’s schools.

More than five hundred businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and individuals partner with FCCPS every year.

There are five FCCPS schools and seven School-Affiliated Organizations (SAO) — PTAs, Athletic, Band, and Choral Boosters, and the Falls Church Education Foundation. Partners work with schools

and SAOs in a great variety of ways.

Who are all these partners?

Some partnerships between our schools and community go back decades and some are brand new in others. In 2020, partnerships are more important than ever, and everyone is welcome to participate! Take

“Our local schools benefit tremendously from the services, money, and expertise donated by business and community partners.” a look at the FCCPS website to see the Community Partnership Directory at www. fccps.org. You will recognize familiar local businesses, city government departments, and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals who share their professional expertise.

What do partnerships do for our schools?

They work with teachers to provide real-world perspective to school-based experiences. They donate money, food, and supplies to programs. They hold dineout fundraisers.They sponsor Falls Church Education Foundation and All Night Grad

Celebration programs. They collect holiday gifts and donate meals for families.

What do partnerships do for students?

Partners introduce students to opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access, providing new ideas and broadening students’ horizons. Partners provide opportunities for students to serve the community. FCCPS has a culture of care and student volunteers help many local organizations during school or as part of extracurricular activities.Partners open doors to students and their families to local organizations that may be new to them

What do partnerships do for businesses?

People who partner with the schools get a tremendous amount of benefit from working with the schools.They are sharing expertise that they’ve learned over many years. They are helping to prepare students to enter careers that matter. Partners are building a pathway to bring new talent into their career area.

Why support partners?

The first step is easy. Get out there and show appreciation for the generosity of these partners. Support the businesses that are committed to our schools. Shop there.

Eat there. Recommend them. Thank them.

Most are small businesses, and if we want to be able to rely on their backing, we need to support them as well.

There’s a direct connection between supporting community partners and the

taxes that your family pays. When you spend your money in the City of Falls Church, supporting the partners who support the schools, the sales and meals tax you pay goes into the City’s budget, helping to fund the schools and general government. Spending your money locally, with community partners, is a Quadruple Win! 1. You get the great goods, food, and services you need close to home.

2. You thank a local partner and help them build their business.

3. You help to fund the City’s budget.

4. You get to feel virtuous every time you order takeout, shop for gifts, get your car repaired, or visit the dentist.

How can you be a partner?

If you would like to get involved by sharing your personal expertise with schools, FCCPS will be glad to build a partnership. GMHS will be holding four virtual Career Chats for high school students this year. We need lots of people to tell their career stories, and inspire students. There are other opportunities listed on the FCCPS website. Learn more by contacting Marybeth Connelly connellym@fccps.org Thank you to all the partners that help make our schools full of so many wonderful experiences and opportunities, and thank you to all those who shop at, work for, and otherwise support these businesses and help make these valuable partnerships possible.

Eliot Corwin, owner of Advantage Trainers, serves as the Chairman of the FCCPS Business in Education Partnership.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NEWS-PRESS & HELP US KEEP COMMUNITY JOURNALISM ALIVE & WELL IN THE LITTLE CITY. Since 1991, the News-Press has been on a mission to provide independent and honest journalism to the Falls Church community. We recognize and appreciate the support the City, its businesses and residents have shown us for the past 29 years.

Now, we need your help to continue with our mission.

If you find value in our work and believe the News-Press contributes to the betterment of the Falls Church community, please consider becoming a member today and help us keep you informed on all the happenings — big and small — in The Little City.

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OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 | PAGE 11

C�������� N��� � N���� Update on School Renaming Consideration Process The first of two public hearings on the renaming consideration for George Mason High School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School will be held on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. Community members who want to register to speak at the second hearing on Oct. 29 should visit bit.ly/schoolrenaming. Community members may also submit feedback via a survey on the website.

The survey is open through Oct. 28. A timeline for this process, possible costs associated with a name change, and background on George Mason and Thomas Jefferson can also be found on the website. Questions may be directed to renamingquestions@fccps.org.

Creative Cauldron Holds Movie Premiere The Creative Cauldron is debuting an original movie in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church) on Saturday, October 24 at 7 p.m.

The movie, “Cinderella’s Dream: Movie Musical,” will showcase the Creative Cauldron’s acclaimed Learning Theater program that has

pivoted in the time of Covid-19 to create an original movie, complete with professional special effects and musical scores by Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith.

When Ella has trouble fitting in at school, she turns to her old favorite fairy tale for guidance — and falls in. But is this Cinderella the meek, marriage material she always knew? And are there somehow more stepsisters? The theatre group will be having a home town socially distanced premiere in the park to celebrate. Very limited tickets available. Learn more at creativecauldron.org/cinderellas-dream-movie. html.

F.C. Arts Crowns Winners Of Plein Air Festival Artists competed for over $4,800 in prizes at the socially distanced Falls Church Arts Plein Air Festival competitions on Oct. 17 at the grounds of Falls Church’s City Hall.

The event featured 60 artworks created during the previous week by 23 artists who painted outdoor scenes around the city, and works completed by 14 artists during a three-hour “Quick Draw” competition that morning.

The festival competition drew

SLIGHTLY LATE, but Saint James School Girl Scout Troop 1109 were the featured artist(s) at Art and Frame Falls Church’s FIRSTfriday event to start October. Special guests in Falls Church City Council member Phil Duncan (foreground, left) and Mayor David Tarter (center, wearing t-shirt).

All the artwork sold, and the proceeds go to Smile Train, which provides life changing surgeries to children with cleft palates around the globe. (P����: C������� B�� R����) over 180 onlookers who cast votes for their favorite artwork, with Rajendra KC winning the $350 People’s Choice Award for his “Northside Social.” That same painting also won the $1,000 Rock Star Realty Group Artists’ Choice Award.

The festival juror, Lynn Mehta, chose the remaining prize winners: “Farmers’ Market” by Rajendra

KC won the $1,250 Beyer Auto Group Plein Air Prize. The $500 Barb Cram Prize, awarded in honor of Falls Church Arts’ beloved past president, went to Jill Banks for “Pumpkins for Sale.”

Robert Gilbert’s “West End Park” captured the $500 Kensington Prize, and Ingrid Matuszewski took home the $250 Young Group Prize for her “Step off the Beaten

Path.” William Hendricks’s “Isaac Crossman Park” and Tracy Burk’s “The Birch House” garnered $100 gift certificates from Falls Church Distillers and Solace Outpost, respectively.

The June Beyer Art Quick Draw Prizes went to Jill Banks ($350, “House on the Hill), Tracy Burk ($250, “The Shed”) and Rajendra KC ($150, “Harris Teeter”).

Send Us Your News & Notes!

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

Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave #310, Falls Church, VA 22046

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PAGE 12 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Absentee in-person voting continues robustly at the satellite polling locations in Fairfax County. At the Mason District Governmental Center, lines are uniformly long as voters queue up as far as a block and a half away from the entrance. Most voters report that the wait is two to three hours, and most people are very patient. If you requested a ballot by mail, and have completed it but do not wish to return it by mail, you can utilize the ballot drop box located in the lobby.

You do not have to wait in line to use the ballot drop box. Masks or face coverings are required when you come in to vote or drop your ballot.

Unfortunately, some folks apparently think the rules do not apply to them. On Saturday, I heard from constituents who praised the set-up, the volunteers, and the election officials who made the wait a “safe, welcoming and secure experience.” That ended when the voters attempted to get back to their vehicle in the parking lot. The Republican information table was placed right at the walkway, negating a six-foot separation between people, and the volunteers there had removed or completely lowered their masks. When asked to please use their masks, one of the female volunteers refused, saying “my body, my choice.” (Does she also support reproductive choice?) When another voter noted that “I am wearing my mask to protect you,” the male volunteer called him a Nazi! When one of the voters quietly indicated she was going to report their behavior to the (non-partisan) election officials inside the polling place, the “choice” woman said “I don’t care what those damn Biden supporters do.”

This is democracy? Voters exercising their precious right and responsibility to vote are called Nazis?

Health precautions like wearing masks are ridiculed?

No wonder democracy seems to be endangered. In a recent book, “How Democracies Die,” authors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt note that the “rules of the game” — those unwritten norms of behavior that are not written into the U.S. Constitution but are universally understood — are under attack. Toleration — where rivals can agree to disagree, sometimes vociferously but not to the death, as well as forbearance — using power sparingly instead of as a bludgeon have long provided the necessary guardrails for democracy to thrive. When those norms lose their underpinnings, the structure collapses, taking with it our treasured democratic ideals and spirit. Naysayers might object to that

characterization, that they simply are exercising their constitutional rights but “our democratic system, and our country, require respect for our Constitution, and the laws and norms of political and civic behavior,” as Federal District Judge William E. Smith wrote in an opinion last week (U.S District Court for the District of Rhode Island, C.A. No. 18-645 WES).

The issue was a class action suit brought in Rhode Island by students arguing for an adequate civics education. Judge Smith dismissed the suit, denying the relief sought, but commended the plaintiffs for bringing the case forward, and he called out the need to “…educate our children on civics, the rule of law, and what it really means to be an American, and what America means. Or, we may ignore these things at our and their peril.” Public education has been lauded as the “great equalizer” for rich and poor alike, and the public school movement, which dates to the mid-19th century, helped level the field and provide an awareness of civic and moral responsibilities worthy of all citizens. In his 2019 Federal Judiciary report, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that “We have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside.”

One suspects that the volunteers at the Republican information table got a civics education in school, but they left their lessons in the classroom rather than practicing them in today’s toxic political atmosphere.

Judge Smith expressed his concern: “We are a society that is polarized as much as any time in our history.”

He went on to say that “…survival of our democracy will not happen just because we want it to; we will have to work for it,” and that will be a struggle against old known, and some new, forces. Establishing our democracy was a bold and chancy step for the Founding Fathers and Mothers. Maintaining our democracy cost blood and treasure across many decades. Improving and preserving our democratic values and ideals will mean hard work for all of us — respecting ideas, as well as differences, working to find common ground, resolving significant social and economic issues, and moving our nation forward.

Democracy is worth it, and it starts with our votes.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h

CRIME REPORT Week of Oct. 12 – 18, 2020

entered a parked vehicle and stole several items of value.

Larceny-Theft from Motor Vehicle, 300 blk Wrens Way. October 13, unknown suspect(s) unlawfully entered a parked vehicle and stole several items of value.

Forging and Uttering Bank Notes, 1100 blk W Broad St. October 17, a male, 56, of Silver Spring, MD, was arrested for forging and uttering bank notes and possessing fictitious identification.

Larceny-Theft from Motor Vehicle, 300 blk Wrens Way. Between October 12 and October 14, unknown suspect(s) unlawfully

Obstruction of Justice, 1000 blk W Broad St. October 17, a female, 34, of Adelphi, MD, was charged with obstruction of justice.

www.FCNP.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Delegate Marcus Simon’s

Richmond Report Last week the Virginia General Assembly wrapped up one of the most special of Special Sessions in recent memory. It was special not simply because it was called by the Governor outside of our normal annual schedule. It was also the first session conducted almost entirely remotely with virtual sessions conducted by Zoom on the House Side.

It was also probably the most productive and likely most impactful session we’ve ever held.

Our ability to make improvements to Virginia voting laws that made the logistics of putting on an election during a pandemic possible would have been a remarkable achievement during a “normal” special session. But this Special Session was extra special.

We also passed an ambitious package of important police reform and criminal justice reform bills, which we funded while having to plug a 9-figure hole in the biennial budget we passed in March.

Legislation — The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) will be tasked to develop a mental health awareness response and community understanding services (Marcus) alert system throughout the Commonwealth next year under the provisions of Delegate Jeff Bourne’s HB 5043.

We finally took care of a bizarre oversight in Virginia that made us one of a handful of states where it wasn’t expressly illegal for law enforcement officers to engage in sexual activity with any detainees in Del. Karrie Delaney’s HB 5045.

We banned the use of chokeholds (HB 5069) and no-knock warrants (HB 5099) while passing a robust police demilitarization bill prohibiting law enforcement agencies from acquiring military grade weapons and vehicles (HB 5049).

My bill requiring decertification of law enforcement officers who have been terminated for misconduct or quit while an investigation is pending will keep bad officers from jumping from one jurisdiction to another (HB 5051), while other bills increase vetting and training requirements.

HB 5055 requires localities to establish a law-enforcement civilian oversight committee that may investigate and issue findings on civilian complaints regarding officer conduct.

To protect consumers, we passed legislation to prohibit price gouging

of goods and services during a state of emergency (HB 5047). Another bill, HB 5050, authorizes the Governor to purchase and distribute PPE to non-governmental entities during a declared state of emergency due to a public health threat.

The Budget — Because of the pandemic, we also needed to address a reforecast state budget. Unsurprisingly, we weren’t able to maintain all the funding that we originally outlined earlier in the year.

We allocated Federal Cares act funds to K-12 education to help with school reopening and virtual programs, unemployment assistance, direct aid for utility customers, Covid-19 testing and contact tracing, broadband accessibility, PPE purchasing, and mortgage and rental assistance. We also ensured that there is funding for the November election, providing for additional cleaning services, PPE, and drop boxes. While some of the CARES Act funding remains unallocated, we will be sure to utilize all the funding before the end of year deadline.

To further help utility customers, the budget extends the disconnection moratorium until 60 days after the state of emergency ends. It also establishes a universal moratorium on evictions through the end of the year.

Starting in the new year, individuals will be able to apply for a Rent and Mortgage Relief Program, which will create affordable payment plans.

Over $140 million will be spent over the next two years on critical behavioral health services and DD waivers. There is also $7 million for the Virginia Federation of Food Banks.

I even had a budget amendment that came from constituent casework, which was ultimately included in the final budget. The amendment provides that the DMV must allow individuals who are 65 or over and individuals with an underlying medical condition to make all needed transactions electronically or through the mail during the state of emergency.

You can review the complete budget conference report online at budget.lis.virginia.gov.

So, although the Special Session may be going on a bit longer than we thought it might, there is no question that we are making progress in the area of criminal justice reform and that we are making the state budget stretch as far as it can. I haven’t missed a single say of the Session Special and I’ve got the receipts.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

This is Now Genocide

Two weeks to Election Day 2020 in what is by far the most bizarre and troubling 365 24-hour spins through its course in our solar system in Earth’s recent (since science afforded mankind the ability to know where we are) history.

Only the best imaginations, methinks, could conjure the story that not even a compilation of page one headlines in the most recent 100 days could adequately represent. An airborne pestilence shows up amid the most powerful political association known and its leader, rather than spearheading a frontal attack against it, is so far gone from reality that he wittingly or not contributes to its spread, angrily condemning what will eventually become millions of his subjects to FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS painful and ugly deaths.

What kind of twisted, if creative, mind comes up with such a bizarre scenario? And we can’t even know, at this juncture, how it plays out, or maybe we can but few are willing to actually face that.

This really is a lulu. The collective sensibility of our culture is working overtime to corral this reality into the domain of the knowable, sensible linearity of a small-mind rendering. So all we see on our TV screens are numbers, numbers that count for infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

But in reality, we’re besieged with a massive assault not on our respiratory systems, but our species’ vascular systems far deadlier over time, far more consequential for our evolved species to cope with.

All our hopes, even for the most conscious among us, lies with a vaccine that may or may not prove effective in the coming period. It’s the fail safe.

For Christ’s sake, people, can’t you see what’s really happening here?

Is our chronic passivity so enhanced in the last 100 years or so of reductionist game playing that as a culture we cannot freak out about this?

Well, maybe, calmly and dispassionately we are holding out for the November 3 election. That’s when all of this will turn around, and we’ll get on with fixing things. That’s what all our pundits are telling us.

Of course, you or I may never see that if we’re among the 250,000 in the U.S. dead or dying right now. November 3 is meaningless to us. It applies only to the living, or the still to be living.

That’s fine, but maybe next time you’re not going to be among the lucky ones. Nor am I. You’re going to care a hell of a lot more when it’s you who are sick, trust me. So am I. When that happens, it won’t matter a hoot whether the illness is being caused by Covid-10 virus or something else entirely. You and I, when we get sick, are going to care a helluva lot more either way.

Just to make a point, I lived through the AIDS horror. Yes, from that I got a good sensuous jolt of terror, a continuous jolt that was like holding a finger into a live electric socket for, like, some 15 years.

Agreed, the human emotional system simply can’t handle that kind of overload, so all of us at risk then became for much of it, as Pink Floyd would say, “comfortably numb.”

It was always there, though, whether you could identify a time when it might have bitten you or not. The terror was constant. It was a middleof-the-night panic.

In that period, from 1981 to 1996. Every at-risk person who did not come down with it, with its 100 percent rate of unbelievable suffering and fatality, lived with the fear of its imminent visitation.

Ah yes, that was a time, a time of an emotional blur, a time of mass traumatic stress syndromes that blew previous case studies of posttraumatic versions out the water. I hardly remember anything from that time, anything that I could connect to a human emotion, anything except vague death threats from angry in-laws in the event I became one of those (a victim).

Why do you think LGBTQ culture continues to be defined as little but a glorified, tacky Marti Gras?

Humanity has no choice but to get really serious about Covid-19 and its eradication.

CO MME NT

OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

 Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

For decades, the fraternal organizations, lodges and service clubs that once dominated civic life have been rowing against the current. Their efforts at recruiting among Baby-boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and Gen Zers is like pulling teeth for the shrinking roster of community activists who were such joiners in the postWorld War II period.

My recent chats with doers of good works from the Optimist Club of Arlington, the Kiwanis Club of Arlington and the Woman’s Club of Arlington show they’re struggling not only against the “Bowling Alone” trends among youth who prefer fellowship online.

The pandemic has also crimped the style, if not the generosity, of the luncheon groups (and their international bodies) that do so much for needy students, the food insecure, youth athletes and Christmas tree buyers.

The North Arlington Kiwanis, which usually lunches at Knights of Columbus, have been meeting by Zoom, said stalwart Edd Nolen. The current membership of 48 is tiny compared with the 140 he recalls in 1994. “My first awareness of the Kiwanis was my dad’s activities in my hometown in Alabama,” Nolen remembers.

“That’s how a small town like Arlington functioned — if you didn’t belong to the Kiwanis or the Lions, you were not going to go anywhere in that commu-

nity. I sense the same thing around here.”

But today’s Kiwanis have had to discontinue their annual pig roast after the workload became too heavy. “The decline in community spirit is because people are busier today and doing things in a different way with the Internet, emailing and texting,” Nolen adds. “Now people may help with a food drive but then move onto something else, without real long-range commitment.”

The Woman’s Club of Arlington, said president Deneise Boyd, has been “fairly steady with 23 active members,” down from 120 at its peak after World War II. The club with its own building on South Buchanan St. has continued its outreach, but has confined meetings to Zoom (not all members participate). “Keeping our members engaged has been a goal,” she said.

Longtime member Sandy Newton said the Woman’s Club “has been fortunate that other organizations have sought us for use of our parking lot for dancing, acting, flea markets and food distribution for Barcroft families. This month a `Bike Garden’ will be installed for families. It was only in August that some of our renters returned with strict social distancing. We are hoping to attract more members by being relevant in their lives through activities that might draw them in.”

The local Optimist Club, which recently resumed in-person (but socially distanced) lunches at

Washington Golf and Country Club, has 41 members, probably half what it attracted in the 1950s or 60s, said member Frank O’Leary, the retired Arlington County treasurer. The group’s “socializing strategy has been unsuccessful, because no one wants to physically get together,” he said. “So much of this is out of date” in that young people don’t “hang out physically but in chat rooms, and they have a far larger set of people with whom they’re interacting.”

It isn’t just service clubs that suffer, O’Leary added. “Any organization I’ve been in has the same problems — today’s veterans do not join the VFW or go to the hall.

The formula doesn’t work because of changes in society. It may be the twilight of these sorts of organizations.” *** My self-effacing high school classmate Kathy Sibert beamed (behind her facemask) at the Oct. 13 “virtual Facebook” ribbon-cutting for the “Sibert House” apartment building for those transitioning from homelessness.

Having retired in January after 11 years helming the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Sibert spoke in front of the blue awning that now bears her name at 1124 N. Kennebec Street.

“We’ve moved over 350 people” from the temporary shelter “to homes, with a 95 percent rate of keeping them housed,” she said, thanking donors, county board members and the nonprofit’s board. “Now there’s a safe, quiet place for Arlington’s most vulnerable to succeed.”

CA L E NDA R

PAGE 18 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020

FALLS CHURCH

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CALENDAR LOCALEVENTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 Halloween Scavenger Hunt. In lieu of the normal Halloween Carnival due to the Covid19 pandemic, the City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department is hosting a HallowScream Scavenger Hunt around parks in The Little City. Between Oct. 23 – Nov. 1, six signs will be hidden in six different City of Falls Church parks. Each sign will have a letter. Find all the signs and unscramble the letters to reveal the Hallow-Scream code word, and participants will win a Hallow-Scream Scavenger Hunt t-shirt. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/1763/ Halloween-Scavenger-Hunt.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 Falls Church Farmers Market To Go. The Falls Church Farmers Market has converted to a preorder, to-go event. All orders must be placed in advance of Saturday’s market which will be open from 8 a.m. – noon for preorder pick-up only in front of City Hall (300 Park Ave.).

In-Person Early Voting. The last two Saturdays in October (Oct. 24 & 31) are open for early inperson voting for City of Falls Church voters. All visitors to City Hall must wear a mask or face covering. Voters must bring a valid Voter ID, which as of July 1 includes their Voter Information Notice (aka Voter Card) or a utility bill with their name and registered address on it. Valid Photo IDs — such as a Virginia Drivers License, U.S. Passport or Employment Badge — are still accepted as Voter ID as well. Voters over the age of 65 or with physical limitations may vote curbside outside City Hall. They should call the Elections Office at 703-248-5085 (TTY 711) once they’ve arrived or call ahead and make an appoint-

ment. Be advised that the Falls Church Farmers Market occurs in the City Hall parking lot every Saturday morning from 8 a.m.

– noon and parking will not be available directly in front of City Hall at that time. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9. a.m.

– 5 p.m.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The public can drop-off pills for disposal with the City of Falls Church Police Department.

Drop off any expired, unused, or unwanted pills and patches free and anonymously. Vape pens and eCigarettes are also accepted as long as the battery is removed. Note that police cannot accept liquids or needles/ sharps at this event. At the last Take-Back Day event in October 2019, Americans turned in over 882,919 pounds of unwanted medicines through over 6,174 collection sites nationwide. In Virginia alone, 23,958 pounds of unwanted medicines were collected at 203 sites state-wide.

For more information, visit the DEA Take Back Day website at takebackday.dea.gov. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dia de Muertos / Day of the Dead. Interested attendees can come celebrate the Day of the Dead with park staff for a night of family fun. Participants will make calaveras, the decorative sugar skull masks and costumes, hear holiday lore and see some live animals. Afterward, the group will go on a night hike through the candlelit forest. For families.

Register children and adults; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. To register, contact 703-228-4747. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). 6 – 7:30 p.m.

VIRTUALEVENTS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 City Council Meeting (online).

MARS RODEO will be performing at JV’s Restaurant on Friday. (Photo: MarsRodeo.com ) City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues and the public is invited to speak. All participating members of the City Council will be present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic meeting via www.fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings. The meeting may also be viewed on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35). Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. The virtual meeting will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2, adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID19 declared emergency. 7:30 – 11 p.m.

St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-2370300.

(6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Sol Roots Band Live. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504.

Born Cross Eyed. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m.

703-858-9186.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

Feel Free. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-237-0300.

LIVEMUSIC

Brad Pugh. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9 p.m.

703-237-8333.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 Jehovah’s Favorite Choir. The State Theatre (220 N Washington

Andrew Renner (5 p.m.) and Josh Allen Band (7 p.m.). Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 703858-9186.

Mars Rodeo. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 5:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

The Cassaday Concoction. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703237-0300.

Bad Influence Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 City Farm Band. JV’s Restaurant

Jamison Greene Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 Shree. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9 p.m.

703-237-8333 Lady Limbo Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Frank O — Singer/Songwriter Open Mic. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-8589186.

Form of Expression. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 7 p.m. 703237-0300.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 | PAGE 15

SAD-O-WEEN NO MORE! The Halloween window painting normally run by Falls Church Art’s Marty Behr was picked up George Mason High School’s PTSA president Mary Asel to the great relief from the community. And Sleepy Hollow resident Cat Tallant’s last minute decision to bring her haunted path back to her front yard has been well received by her neighbors (especially the younger ones). (Photos: News-Press)

Halloween Festivities Stave Off Virus Cancellations By Adapting

by Matt Delaney

Falls Church News-Press

Ghouls and ghosts have seemed a bit too real as the world struggles with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t spooked Falls Church residents from pulling off their own modified ways of showing their Halloween spirit.

Government officials have spent the weeks leading up to one of the calendar’s more social holidays by urging against its traditions.

Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross wrote in her News-Press column last week that “Handing treats to children door-to-door is not recommended this year, nor are tailgate-type handouts in large parking lots, referred to as ‘trunk or treat.’” The City of Falls Church sang the same tune in its own notice Wednesday, saying people were safest at home and that a costume mask is a not a good substitute for a cloth face covering.

Residents, however, responded to the political encouragement to abort this year’s festivities by instead getting creative with how it’s celebrated.

Within the City was last weekend’s revival of the annual Halloween Window Painting event.

Normally organized by Falls Church Art’s Marty Behr, the arts group said at the start of the month that it would be forgoing its yearly

event. Enter George Mason High School’s Parent-Teacher-Student Association, led by President Mary Asel, who said she took over the “well-oiled machine” that Behr had spent over a decade assembling.

The community response was overwhelmingly positive.

“There are lots of groups and families that look forward to doing the painting every year,” Asel said, noting that everyone came prepared with their own masks and adhered to social distancing. “In the 2020 spirit, it is a smaller effort this year, but I think it’s still a really lovely effort.”

Asel rounded up some “volunteers” (i.e. her two teenage sons) to man the paint-mixing table at Mr. Brown’s park this past weekend. There, some groups who had arranged to take up painting some businesses were met by passersby who joined in on the spot to help out.

All in all, Asel estimated that at least a dozen businesses — who she said were also eager to participate — have offered up their windows.

And while Asel could only get her sons to sacrifice their Saturday and Sunday mornings just once, she’s not stopping other groups who have reached out about painting. She also said that some who participated in years past had gone off on their own and started painting business windows.

One of the City-run efforts that serves as a good candy bonanza for younger children is the annual Halloween Carnival. That event taking place in the community center’s basketball court predictably forced it to be called off, but Scarlett Williams, the City’s special events program supervisor, has rolled out two events in its stead to give kids a reason to dress up.

First is the (free) Hallow-Scream Scavenger Hunt that takes place throughout six of the City’s parks.

Starting on Friday and running until next Sunday, Nov. 1, costumed kiddos will have to find six Halloweenthemed pictures hidden at Lincoln Park, Crossman Park, Cavalier Trail Park, West End Park, Cherry Hill Park and Howard E. Herman Park.

Those who find all six pictures and decipher the code word they spell out by Nov. 1 will get a free t-shirt.

The community center is also holding Halloween Pop-Up events on the big day, with Pumpkin Painting in Cherry Hill Park; Birdhouse Painting in Berman Park and Scarecrow Making in Frady Park. This event requires registration to make sure social distancing is followed, so those interested should go to webtrac.fallschurchva. gov/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/wbsplash. html?wbp=1.

Outside of City limits people are getting equally crafty about how they give kids their trick-or-treating

thrills.

The Jefferson Village Civic Association, which is based out of the Jefferson Village neighborhood just south of Lee Highway along Graham Road, is hosting a Halloween Grab & Go next Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 – 4 p.m.

The Fall Fest — complete with a bouncy house and kids gathering together in costumes — is usually the association’s biggest event.

Devin Pharr, the association’s chair, said they nearly didn’t even attempt to hold something tailored to Covid safety protocols this year, though in his words, “That’s not what we’re about. It’s not just about planning when things are good; it’s about planning when things are hard, too.”

For this year, the group is having families come out to the intersection of Marshall Street and Custis Parkway. That’s when a steady procession of children in their holiday garb will parade down the street and pick up individual gift bags of candy at separate stations.

The hope of the association is that it will replace that night’s usual rounds of trick-or-treating for antsy parents. But he’s not expecting kids to make it the smoothest production.

“It will be like when you see people in a marathon — how they set up stations of water on the route, but don’t do a very neat job of picking up a cup,” Pharr said. “It’s

going to be similar, though not quite as fast, but possibly just as messy considering it’s kids.”

And a final staple of the Halloween season locally is Cat Tallant’s Haunted Path at Sleepy Hollow, in the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood.

The nurse who works around Covid-19 patients was having anxiety over even putting together her often-extensive haunted house display around the front and back of her house.

After waffling on the decision, she finally committed to setting up what she called a “Spider Walk” in the front of her house that’s less congested and easier to progress through for interested families. Kids will still be able to pick up candy at the end of their trip through the haunted path and will witness her new blow-spider (hence the name).

She hasn’t spent too much time getting the word out since it’s been such a late decision, but she is happy about putting it out for the neighborhood’s children.

“We’re just happy to be able to do something that the community and the kids can look forward to during this time, that’s really why we did it,” Tallant said. “These little kids don’t even have their friends to play with. It’s really, really sad.”

The path goes live on Oct. 30 & 31, and runs from 6 – 9 p.m. both days.

PAGE 16 | OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2020

CLASSI F I E DS

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

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© 2020 David Levinson Wilk

Across

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1. Weed 6. Allen’s replacement on “The Tonight Show” 10. ____ Nostra 14. “What ____ in the neck!”

15. Slimming surgery, informally 16. Dye that makes blue jeans blue 17. Gibberish 19. What “I” or “me” refers to 20. City on the Seward Peninsula 21. Life ____ know it 22. Frozen aisle icon 29. “Ooky” TV family name 30. 1961 Michelangelo Antonioni drama 31. Polite rural reply 32. Floor 34. Pan Am rival 35. “Here’s where you wow them before the curtain falls!” (or what’s seen in 17-, 22-, 51- and 57-Across) 39. Mahershala ____, Oscar winner for “Moonlight” 42. Like many taste tests 43. Anthony Hopkins’ “Thor” role 47. Creature that carried Zeus’ thunderbolts 49. Undesirable condition 51. Clive Cussler bestseller made into a 1980 film 54. Kristoff’s reindeer in “Frozen” 55. Apt rhyme for “casino” 56. Many a Generation Z member, now 57. Generally 63. “Look ____” (Vince Gill hit) 64. Minus 65. Led Zeppelin’s “Whole ____

STRANGE BREW

1. Weed 6. Allen's replacement on "The Tonight Show"

Love” 66. Pretty cool, in slang 67. Ancestry.com diagram 68. Cold shower?

OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2020 | PAGE 17

DOWN

1. Pinup’s leg 2. “The Problem with ____” (2017 documentary about a Simpsons character) 3. Subject of a 10-part 2017 Ken Burns documentary on PBS, for short 4. Schooner part 5. Assumed name 6. Liquid-____ 7. ‘Til Tuesday singer Mann 8. Police alert, for short 9. Aussie animal 10. Othello’s supposed rival for Desdemona’s affection 11. Amount of power equal to a volt-ampere 12. Wrong start?

13. Sitcom character who was 229 years old 18. Does laps, maybe 21. Dancer de Mille 22. Johnny’s replacement on “The Tonight Show” 23. Words of tribute 24. The Mormons, for short 25. Shish kebab meat 26. Antelope with twisty horns 27. The Soup ___ (“Seinfeld” character) 28. Drink that’s often iced 32. Like ____ out of water 33. 60 secs.

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

36. “Hedda Gabler” playwright 37. Overabundance 38. “Buenos días!”

39. Earth Day’s mo.

40. Provide for tenancy 41. “Uncle!”

44. “SNL” castmate of Gilda and Chevy 45. Dictator ____ Amin 46. It’s served by JFK and LGA 48. In ____ (so to speak) 49. Have an objection 50. Snorkeling sites 52. Undo 53. Nerve-racking 56. Wee bit 57. Sandwich that’s often stuck with toothpicks 58. “So’s ____ old man!”

59. Co. acquired by Verizon in 2015 60. Numbered hwy.

61. Verizon forerunner 62. “Mangia!”

Last Thursday’s Solution D A I S

R E N E

N S F W

C H E T

B A S S Y

O N I C E

O Z N R O O C O M M A O S C I G A A A R K N A R N O S E R C A S U L D E N A S M I F A M T N S D

O V U L A R

M E N O R A H

T I C E O R C H U R R A E N

A D N S I C

L E G H A A F I C R I T Y A R E B S C H T H E F I O L O R O A R T H E R I T A T I M

O C U L I

V O L V O

E L L E N

D O M O

D O I N

E L K S

W A S I

E D I T

B O A T

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

10. ____ Nostra 14. "What ____ in the neck!"

15. Slimming surgery, informally 16. Dye that makes blue jeans blue 17. Gibberish 19. What "I" or "me" refers to 20. City on the Seward Peninsula 21. Life ____ know it 22. Frozen aisle icon 29. "Ooky" TV family name 30. 1961 Michelangelo Antonioni drama 31. Polite rural reply

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

1 NICK KNACK

© 2020 N.F. Benton

10/18/20

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

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PAGE 18 | OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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25 � 10 Y���� A�� �� ��� N���-P���� Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 31 • October 19, 1995

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 34 • October 21, 2010

School Board Taps Patricia Dignan as New Superintendant

Ex-Mayor Says Bye to Falls Church

Dr. Patricia J. Dignan, formerly Superintendent of the Milan, Michigan, Area Schools, was named the new Superintendent of the Falls Church City Schools Tuesday night at a special School Board meeting. Dr. Dignan began work yesterday following her retirement earlier this week from the Milan school system.

Daniel Gardner, who had the second-longest term of service as mayor of Falls Church in the City’s 60-year history from 2000-2006, cautioned the City not to “become too insular” in some parting comments to the NewsPress as he and wife Deborah leave Falls Church for a new homes in Rockville, Md. and Lake of the Woods, Va.

Teague Guy, Mason Grad & F.C. Resident, Dies at 27 Teague Matthew Guy was born in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 4, 1993, lived in Falls Church, Virginia and died at the age of 27 on Oct. 19, 2020. Teague was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was eight months old. Despite the health challenges he encountered throughout his life, he did not dwell on the negative.

Rather, he accepted his fate, endured all of the challenges and complications and still made the best of every day. He had the support of dedicated and determined medical professionals (doctors, nurses, therapists, etc.) and was the beneficiary of the extreme generosity of two organ donors and their families. He had his first double lung transplant on June 11, 2015 and his second Sept. 5, 2020. Teague died from complications of the second transplant.

Teague attended Falls Church City Schools from kindergarten through his graduation from George Mason High School. He earned his BA in English Literature with a minor in Philosophy from Marymount University in 2019.

He is remembered as an absolutely amazing person with a wry sense of humor and thoughtful and reflective soul. He had a deep compassion for issues that affected the people he cared about. Teague treasured the company of his friends and family.

He loved games of all types and was heavily invested in game culture; video games, phone games, board games and collectible card games (especially MTG which printed the first version the year he was born.)

He spent a good deal of time learning the nuances of every game to the point where his knowledge was encyclopedic. He liked to win but he loved to play.

He is survived by his parents, Tim and Kathy and his brother, Michael and sister-in-law Angela in addition to his paternal grandmother, Dottie, fourteen aunts and uncles, nineteen first cousins and scores of friends and extended family. Teague was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Don and Nancy Kay, his Aunt Betsy and his paternal grandfather, Jim. Teague will be profoundly missed by all those who knew him.

Teague would like you to spend some time gathering with friends in person or virtually and play a game of your choice. COVID protocols (limited capacity and time, masks and physical distancing) will be in place during visitation with the family at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA on Friday, Oct. 23 from 4 – 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church, 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA

Warren Pace

with the Falls Church superintendents who succeeded us. In our last phone call, placed during the pandemic, I was comforted that he was in a good spot, with excellent care, and, in his trademark way, showing great sensitivity to the challenges faced by educators today, especially those he loved and nurtured so dearly in Falls Church. Warren’s leadership example and human spirit will continue to inspire and live within all of us he touched.”

Visitation will be held today,

Continued from Page 4

bestowed upon him the title of Superintendent Emeritus. Ever since, and especially during our service in Falls Church, Dr. Pace was a confidante, an adviser, and a dear friend.

“His genuine, gentlemanly nature and compassion created a bond between the two of us which has lasted to this day. We enjoyed many lunches together

TAZZY is all ready to greet trick or treaters this Halloween...in body. Whether they’re there yet in spirit is to be deteremined.

TEAGUE MATTHEW GUY on Saturday, Oct 24 at 1 pm, also with limited capacity and precautions. For those wanting to attend the service virtually they can be viewed at https://m. facebook.com/MurphyFallsChurch/.

We are planning a celebration of life in Aug. 2021 when we can all be together safely. For those wanting to attend the services in person please RSVP to Murphy Funeral Home at 703-533-0341, to specify a attendance time for the memorial gathering and mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to the charity of your choice or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Make a Wish Foundation or the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 – 8 p.m. at the National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church. Funeral Service and Committal Service will be held on October 23, 2020 at 1 p.m. at Prize Hill Cemetery Chapel, 3291 Boonesville Rd, Free Union, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to The Falls Church Episcopal, or Meals on Wheels through Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2020 | PAGE 19

We are OPEN and ready to safely serve your dental needs!

Currently accepting new patients

Falls Church Welcomes Dogtopia Opening Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly, Council Member Phil Duncan, Council Member Letty Hardi, EDA Member Erin Messner, and members of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed Dogtopia of Falls Church to The Little City on Oct. 14. Included in the photo is Dogtopia owner Jim Hannesschlager (fourth from the left) and manger Cat Michael (second from the left.) Dogtopia is located at 108 W. Jefferson Street in Falls Church.

Rejuvenate Hair & Skin Opens in Falls Church Rejuvenate Hair & Skin has opened in Falls Church at 140 Little Falls, Suite 206. Rejuvenate H&S specializes in hair extensions, hair replacement, and skin care services. The salon is owned and operated by Tina Khan, who has more than 23 years of experience as a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician having trained in well-known salons and training academies in Sri Lanka, Australia, Dubai and in the US with Loreal, Keune, Schwarzkopf, Nimue,Wella, Sothys, Dermalogica, and Image, among others. The salon follows all CDC requirements including temperature check upon arrival. Appointments are required to allow for thorough disinfecting between clients. For more information, including a full menu of services, visit www.rejuvenatehairandskinva.com.

F.C Chamber of Commerce Hosting Virtual Networking Event The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce is hosting a virtual networking event with Mission Lofts on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Mission Lofts is a recently renovated building that offers 156 new loft-style apartments with live/work floor plans, and a variety of residential amenities. The event will include an online tour of the uniquely designed building located at 5600 Columbia Pike in Falls Church. For more information, visit www.FallsChurchChamber.org.

Estein USA & Vanderbilt Properties Acquires 3170 and 3180 Fairview Park

Listen to all parts of the News-Press in the debut of our News-Pod, hosted by Matt Delaney.

A joint venture between Estein USA and Vanderbilt Office Properties has acquired 3170 and 3180 Fairview Park, a 175,000-square-foot office building complex in Falls Church for $87.5 million. Marcus Partners, which purchased the property in 2017, sold the building after making capital improvements that included the addition of high-end eatery Bistro in the Park, a 5,000-square-foot fitness facility and a 100-seat auditorium with an additional 100-seat conferencing facility. The property is currently 98 percent occupied and includes notable tenants General Dynamics Information Technology, Capital Caring Health, Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund and Balfour Beatty.

Look for its release Friday morning at 10 a.m

 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.

fcnp.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 20 | OCTOBER 22 - 28, 2020 Dear Falls Church, I love this community and have dedicated the past several years advocating on behalf of both renters and homeowners over local concerns of housing affordability. I am a proud lifetime resident, and the only candidate who has worked in City Hall, served on a board or commission, and co-authored a policy document for Falls Church. I have a Master's in Public Policy and work daily on policy issues to address disparities among the most underserved populations across the nation. Now I am running for City Council, because I know we can live up to the expectations we set for ourselves, and realize the progressive ideals we consistently espouse. I am asking for your vote, because together we can turn words into action and promises into policy!

Please join us in realizing our City’s vision for creating a more welcoming and inclusive community for all Falls Church families.

VOTE SHOKOOR FOR FALLS CHURCH CITY COUNCIL

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