Still Has Big Budget Surplus
Robust economic development provided the City of Falls Church with a significant net surplus in revenues over expenditures in the last fiscal year, but the challenge will be to address how things will go going forward in the face of the mass federal layoffs, firings and government shutdown impacts that the Trump administration has been inflicting, impacting this region especially hard.
A final report of the City of Falls Church budgetary performance for its FY25 fiscal year that ended last June 30 showed a healthy net surplus of revenue over expenditures. But some areas signaled a cause for concern going forward, as the Falls Church City Council discussed at its work session Monday night, following the report’s initial unfurling at a meeting of the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee the previous Friday morning.
AClassicalRadioStationOvercomingTrump’sCuts NOT BACH-ING DOWN
Nicholas F.
“Defunded But Not Baching Down!” So the new t-shirt declares.
With the massive cuts in federal programs impacting almost every aspect of the regional and national economy alike, the future of many of the nation’s most important health, food and housing programs are looking grim. On top of all that, programs that advance soft diplomacy worldwide and soothe the human soul, to help us all to keep affirming that life is worth living and fighting for justice and peace are at risk of being shut down too.
Not the least of these is the Washington, D.C. area’s only classical music station, WETA Classical, which hundreds of thousands of listeners rely on for their sanity, and an appreciation of the uplifting, universal values of beauty and creativity.
WETA, with its offices down the road in Shirlington, has been on the air 24-7 through the thick and thin over many years here, through the Great Recession and the Covid pandemic, with comforting voices spinning the hits, so to speak, from Handel, to Haydn, to Mozart to Beethoven, to Schubert, to Brahms, to Dvorak, Saint Saens, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and on and
on and on and on.
Always strapped for funds, even with the almost 10 percent of them coming from the federal government, the station has famously carried out week-long fund raising drives from among its listeners twice a year, offering coffee mugs, umbrellas and CDs as thank you’s for the most modest to the most generous contributions. Listeners donate 20 to 25 percent of the budget to the station, but are being called upon to do even more now.
The most recent one, conducted earlier this month, offered a new gift, a t-shirt with the slogan, “Defunded and Not Bach-ing Down.” The defiant
music-lovers slogan was chosen from among a set of options by listeners, and characterized the most recent drive. Many listeners, says Mary Stewart, station vice president for external affairs, including many firsttime respondents, gave more than the usual in reaction to the Trump administration’s cutting off of federal dollars.
Many station supporters appreciate that WETA Classical is still playing its music as presented by live, on-the-air announcers, who routinely add a compassionate and caring tone to their work. It’s one thing to
THE D.C. REGION’S ONLY classical music radio station, and one of the few in the U.S., Classical WETA, 90.9 FM, is fighting to stay on the air despite having all its federal funding cut by Trump. Veteran announcer Nicole Lacroix seated is shown here at their Shirlington studio with Mary Stewart, external affairs vice president. (Photo: News-Press)
by
Benton Falls Church News-Press
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
Falls Church Business News & Notes
Humanitarian Award
Robin Rinearson had a long career as a pediatric eye doctor but changed course to establish businesses for special needs adults. Last month she was recognized with the Humanitarian Award from the Illinois College of Optometry, her alma mater. During the pandemic, her nephew, Jake, became unemployed when the company couldn’t make accommodations for adults with disabilities. This led Rinearson to open Jake’s Ice Cream in 2021 and later opened Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn. Today Jake’s Ice Cream has added cookies and ice cream cakes and pies, and Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn caters corporate events.
Real Estate Lending
The Washington Business Journal reported on the 19 fastest-growing real estate lending banks in the DMV and the top two have locations in Falls Church. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. retained the top ranking from last year, and United Bank also retained the number 2 spot from last year.
Webinar: Starting a Business
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is hosting a session on the legal and administrative steps to start a new business on Wednesday, October 15, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Participants will learn the essential steps to include legal forms, tax registration and filing, naming your company, finance and accounting, and foundations for your business plan. Bernard Ferret, Senior Business Counselor, Mason SBDC and Serial Entrepreneur is the speaker. This is online and free, and the link will be shared upon registration. https://clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop. aspx?ekey=110450034
Credit Union Merger
Arlington Community Federal Credit Union has plans to merge with Commonwealth One Federal Credit Union. The local FCUs share a commitment to community impact and financial education. The name will eventually change to CommonWealth One FCU to reflect expansion beyond Arlington. It is expected that they will legally merge in mid-2026 and then operationally in early 2027.
Falls Church Farm Day
Falls Church hosts Farm Day this weekend, October 11, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Enjoy family-friendly activities to include a petting farm, pony rides, pumpkin decorating, birdhouse painting, blacksmith demonstrations and tours of the historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse and barn. The event is free though some activities will require ticket purchases. Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Park is located at 312 Park Ave., Falls Church.
Arctoberfest
The Arc of Northern Virginia invites you to a Halloween Extravaganza, Arctoberfest on Saturday, October 18, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. and again, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. The afternoon session features a scavenger hunt, face painting and more family-friendly fun. The evening session features a costume contest and DJ dance party with a sensoryfriendly hour 6:00-7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Contact; Lois Gaul lois.gaul@ thearcofnova.org
Walk With Me
Easterseals DC MD VA hosts it’s annual Walk With Me at National Harbor Waterfront Plaza on Saturday, October 18, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. There are opportunities to walk, run, or walk with pets. Easterseals provides early education, healthcare, and employment services for families and veterans in our area. Join the walk to support their efforts. https://business.fallschurchchamber.org/events/details/walkwith-me-10-18-2025-81756?calendarMonth=2025-10-01
Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.
Another Hefty Budget Surplus Challenges F.C. Council to Find Uses
For the past year, the City’s commitment to economic development saved the day, with a robust increase of funds from licensing and permits boosting the total into the plus column.
While revenue from real estate, personal property, sales, meals and business license taxes came in a total $465,861 below budgeted expectations, a half percent off, revenues from other sources, mainly greater returns on investment due to higher than expected interest rates, up a whopping 56 percent, and, more importantly, licenses and permits, mostly associated with new commercial development, up 18 percent over budgeted expectations, drove an overall increase in revenues to the City, which combined with some under-budget spending, produced a 2.6 percent net increase in overall revenues.
Sales and meals taxes, two critical indicators of where the City may be heading in the wake of its two-decades-long strong economic development, were both significantly below budgeted expectations, however. Sales taxes were 2.3 percent below and meals taxes 10.4 percent below budgeted expectations, though both were up overall from the previous year.
City Manager Wyatt Shields signaled in the meeting last Friday that “a key barometer” for the meals and sales categories is online
sales, and that measure was down 6 percent. Also, City Treasurer Jody Acosta reported that the number of citizens seeking help with their real estate taxes has tripled in the last year.
With its net surplus, however, the City staff has recommended a variety of ways of expending the funds, which all must be for one-time uses, including adding $1 million to its reserve fund balance and funding a list of minor uses that the Council will vote on in the coming month.
The surplus will contribute nothing to the City’s schools under the existing revenue sharing agreement, however, as funds calculated for that 50-50 sharing agreement are only allowed from local tax revenues, and those were down, not up.
The City staff recommendation for allocating the surplus also includes nothing for enhanced City Hall communications with citizens, a need that dominated discussion at a recent City Council candidate forum. A suggestion from Council member Laura Downs at Monday’s work session came in light of her observation campaigning for re-election door-to-door. She said she encountered numerous citizens who do not use the Internet frequently, or at all, and they feel left out of the loop on community events and issues, and so she recommended a small portion of the surplus be used for a weekly City ad in the News-Press.
Other items that the City staff rec-
ommended the surplus be used to fund included a solid waste transition cost, organics bins, Sherrow Ave. and Cameron Ave. demolition, Arts and Humanities Council, emergency financial assistance, Vietnamese community outreach, Planning Commission increase in pay, vehicle surplus sales, augmentation of a two percent transient tax for business district improvement, the Founders Row theater rebate, and urban forestry contributions. A recommended $1,022,129 would be added to the capital reserves.
While the fiscal year ending report was
for the year ending last June 30, a better indicator of the direction of the City’s resilience in the face of the mass federal and contractor layoffs in the region will come with the release of the numbers for the first quarter of the current FY26 fiscal year (from this July through September), which will be released in mid-November. It is hoped that, once again, the City’s level of economic development will mitigate otherwise downward trends, as evidenced by the announcement today that the City had just received a $460,000 check from the Founders Row project.
Streets: Emphasizing bikeability, walkability, and pedestrian safety, addressing neighborhood traffic calming and congestion, and working to beautify the city by expanding the
Services: As a current member of the City Council’s Government Operations Committee, exploring staffing needs and process improvements in our city offices and considering ways to keep the public better informed about issues before the Council.
Schools: Utilizing extensive knowledge of the School Board budget, the City Council/ General Government budget, and the revenue sharing agreement to ensure the schools are fully funded, especially if enrollment increases.
Stewardship: Seek a balance of lowering the real estate tax rate while also retaining enough revenue to support our city staff, our schools, public works, and infrastructure projects. Continue to work with City Council colleagues to craft a thoughtful approach and encourage compromise when necessary to build consensus and find balanced solutions that reflect both data and community input.
• Elected to the Falls Church City School Board in November 2019; served as Vice Chair for one year, and as Chair for two years.
• One of only six FCC residents ever elected to both the City Council and School Board.
• Current President of the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School PTA and President of the FCC Elementary PTA (2017-2018).
• Board member of the Falls Church Education Foundation.
Classical WETA ‘Won’t Bach Down’ Overcoming Trump Budget Cuts
Continued from Page 1
listen to a work on a CD or from an online streaming service, it’s another to hear it coming from a live person in the local area with local commentary.
Take the case of Nicole Lacroix, who has been with the station for over 30 years. Then there is John Banther, Linda Carducci, James Jacobs, Bill Bukowski, Rich Kleinfeldt, Evan Keely, Chip Brienza, and Marcus Pfeifer, household names for regular listeners, even though they’d never recognize them on the street.
For all the claims that classical music is passe, Classical WETA does very well, respectively, as the fifth or sixth most listened to station in the D.C. Metro area. “We have a strong and loyal audience,” Stewart tells the News-Press . But whether they open their pockets enough to overcome the loss of federal funds will be the challenge.
The station recently added a third streaming service to its offerings, in addition to WETA Classical (airing the radio broadcast) are Viva La Voce and now Virtuoso, done not in reaction to the federal cutbacks, but as more of an opportunity to spread the music that was months in the planning.
Still, the station has had to lay off five percent of its staff and folks hope there will be no more if the public steps up to help.
But many studies have shown the benefits of classical music, in particular, for enhancing brain function. According to the Musicnotes blog, the numerous benefits include the following:
Cognitive Enhancement: One wellrecognized benefit of classical music and its effect on the brain is enhanced cognitive activity. Studies have led to the term “The Mozart Effect,” a relationship between classical music and better spatial-temporal reasoning. Years of research have revealed that classical music stimulates cognitive function, supports memory, increases attention span, and improves problem-solving. Processing classical music’s complex harmonies and structures gives the brain a workout, keeping it sharp.
Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Escaping stress and calming anxiety is challenging in a world of digital alerts and never-ending tasks. Not only do these issues put you in a bad mood, but they also take a toll on your physical health. Anxiety and stress can lead to high blood pressure and other diseases. Research has shown that classical music
may help lower stress, blood pressure, and heart rate. Classical music with slow tempos and soothing melodies had a more significant impact.
Sleep Quality Improvement: Another connection between classical music and the brain is the impact on sleep patterns. Quality sleep is critical to good mental health but challenging when distracted or stressed. Turning to classical music can help. Soft harmonies serve as a calming force that enables you to get to sleep
faster and wake up less often. Because most classical music lacks lyrics, the listener doesn’t need to catch up on words and can drift off to peace more quickly.
Mood Elevation: Music is a great way to shake a bad mood, especially classical music. Following the instrumentation and emotions woven into classical compositions can be entertaining, sparking the release of dopamine, a
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The News-Press is certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to publish official legal notices including probate, abc notices, small and foreign estates. We will provide the appropriate paperwork. A comprehensive book on the 36 year history of the News-Press, “The Life and Times of the Falls Church News-Press”: by Charlie Clark (History Press, 2023), can be purchased at local bookstores or online. The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area to over 140 locations. Offices are at 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2025 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper. A searchable archive of all issues of the Falls Church News-Press since 1991 can be found at bit.ly/44kt6Sc.
Weigh In, Readers, For Downs’ Initiative
As we prepare our crowdfunding campaign in an effort to restore the home delivery of our paper, we admonish our readers to step up to help us do more to serve the City of Falls Church that we love and have served for, lo, these 34 years, and counting. We ask you to contact F.C. City Council members and urge them to support their colleague Laura Downs’ proposal for a weekly City ad in our paper to better inform the F.C. citizenry.
A brave Falls Church City Council member, Laura Downs, told her colleagues at a work session this Monday that a small portion of the $2.6 million surplus in the City’s last fiscal year budget should go to securing a weekly ad in this paper, the News-Press , that the City would use to inform the public of important matters, including events.
Downs’ suggestion came, she said, from her going door-to-door in the City for her re-election campaign and learning that there are many citizens, especially older ones, who do not use the Internet and thereby do not get information from the City, which is currently limited to a once-weekly online communique. Downs said that an ad in the News-Press would address that situation. Her idea led to no comments except by City Manager Wyatt Shields, who said his staff’s proposed list of expenditures was sufficient.
This is a matter of importance not so much for the News-Press as it is for all the citizens of the community. It should be the City government’s responsibility to make sure all of its citizens are as fully informed as possible about its goings on. It is a matter of transparency and community engagement, both.
We ask you, Dear Reader, to weigh in on behalf of Down’s proposal.
Last week, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger said this about newspapers in general: “Newspapers, once powerful institutions in their communities, are but a shell of their former selves. At least six once-daily newspapers in Virginia are no longer dailies. Many no longer have local opinion pages. The result: Candidates no longer pay much attention to them.”
Well, that may be true for most of Virginia, but not for the City of Falls Church. This community has been blessed by the ongoing existence of a bonafide local newspaper. We have been at this for three dozen years, with no intention of going anywhere. We feel strongly that the City government needs to recognize the importance of this increasingly rare asset and to use it to the benefit of its constituents along the lines Council member Downs has now proposed.
A final vote on the matter of allocating surplus money from the last fiscal year is coming up next month. Now is the time that the voices of our readers need to be heard. Please pitch in to support Downs’ proposal on behalf of all citizens and your local newspaper, as well.
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Letters to Editor
Noonan Issues
His Endorsements
Editor,
As our community considers who will serve on City Council, I strongly support Laura Downs and Marybeth Connelly. Their vision, values, and proven service align with what Falls Church most needs today. Having worked with both in multiple capacities, I have seen firsthand the qualities of leadership they bring—qualities that will serve our city well in the years ahead.
A core responsibility of the City Council is ensuring a strong, collaborative relationship with our public schools. The vitality of Falls Church depends on the strength of our school system, which supports both our children’s future and our city’s economic stability. Laura and Marybeth understand this deeply. They recognize that schools and city government must work together, not in competition but in partnership, to keep Falls Church thriving.
Both approach complex issues with care and thoughtfulness. At a time when local government can mirror national partisanship, they model something different: listening, understanding multiple perspectives, and building consensus. They are not leaders who rush to judgment; instead, they
invite dialogue, ask good questions, and seek solutions reflecting community values.
They also excel at communication. Too often, government processes feel inaccessible. Laura and Marybeth work to make the government transparent and understandable. They translate complex issues clearly and respond thoughtfully to residents. Whether long-time homeowners, new families, or small business owners, all community voices are heard and respected.
In my professional and community work, I have collaborated with them on projects that mattered deeply to our city. From those experiences, I can attest to their skills, integrity, and optimism. Leadership is not only about accomplishments; it is about how one leads. Both elevate conversations, unify rather than divide, and act with a strong sense of responsibility to the public good.
Falls Church has long prided itself on being a little city with big opportunities. Laura Downs and Marybeth Connelly will ensure that tradition continues. I urge my fellow residents to support them in the upcoming election.
Respectfully, Peter Noonan Falls Church Resident and Retired FCCPS Superintendent
The News-Press Endorses in Falls Church This Fall: For City Council
Marybeth Connelly, Laura Downs, David Snyder, Arthur Agin.
For School Board
Kathleen Tysse, Anne Sherwood, MK Hughes, Sharon Mergler.
From the Sept. 18 N-P Editorial:
“We are confident in our endorsement decisions, also, not only because of what we’ve observed with our own eyes and ears covering local government here week in and week out for, low, these many years, because we because we have sought important counsel from among those who work behind the scenes in City Hall and at the City schools. We are mainly motivated by a desire to get it right for our readers and all citizens of Falls Church.”
Classical WETA Radio Station Fights to Keep Its Music Alive
neurotransmitter that can boost your mood. It’s not uncommon to feel joy while listening to the beauty inherent in the music.
Brain Plasticity Enhancement: The benefits of classical music and its effect on the brain won’t end when the song does. With regular listening, the stimulation from classical music can help form new connections in the brain. The brain’s ability to change, called neuroplasticity, allows you to increase your capacity to learn and remember new information. People of all ages can benefit from playing classical music, which can help with brain development in young children while supporting the cognitive health of older people.
Concentration and Attention Improvement: Distractions are at a peak today, with screens and gadgets everywhere. Many people are also constantly encouraged to switch between tasks, lessening their attention span and focus. The structure of classical music can enable the mind to concentrate, creating a better environment for sustained focus and attentiveness. It sets the stage for productivity, working, and accomplishing goals that require a careful approach.
Creativity Stimulation: It’s fun and fulfilling to create, but sometimes, you need help developing new ideas. The relationship between classical music and the brain can encourage free thought and emotional intro-
spection. Classical music is about making intellect and emotion meet, which is a perfect breeding ground for creative thought. By analyzing classical compositions’ complexities and emotional stories, listeners can unlock new ways of thinking and foster innovation.
Then there is taking into account the role of music in society more generally. Recall that in The Republic, Plato outlined a detailed vision of an ideal society governed by reason and justice, and within this framework, he assigned a significant role to music in shaping moral character and maintaining social stability. Far from seeing music merely as entertainment, Plato regarded it as a powerful educational and ethical force, capable of influencing the soul and, by extension, the order of the state. Plato’s concern with music extended beyond melody to include rhythm and harmony, both of which he believed could cultivate order in the soul. Music was to him a form of moral training, instilling virtues even before ratio nal understanding developed. This educational role of music made it foundational to Plato. Music is not neutral; it is formative. Its proper use contributed to the education of virtuous citizens, he argued. for creative thought. By analyzing classical composi tions’ complexities and emotional stories, listeners can unlock new ways of thinking and foster innovation.
station. (Photo: Courtesy)
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Real Estate Guide
Thursday, Oct. 9thTH
Fall 2025
Welcome to the Falls Church News-Press Fall Real Estate Guide!
In this special edition, we spotlight the Little City’s dynamic housing market, highlight key local trends, and share expert advice for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re on the hunt for your dream home or preparing to list your property, this guide offers the insights you need to approach the season’s opportunities with confidence.
Falls Church Homeowners Urged to Prepare for Winter Season
According to a national survey, 60 percent of homeowners admit to delaying needed maintenance or repairs, and many of those issues balloon in cost over time. Among homeowners who eventually face major repairs, more than 40 percent say the problems could have been prevented with earlier upkeep. A single roof issue or water intrusion can spiral into mold, structural damage, or HVAC strain that is far costlier than small fixes done on schedule.
Heating and cooling systems are among the top concerns. Homeowners are advised to have their HVAC system inspected and serviced before the first chill sets in. Dirty filters make systems work harder, wearing out parts prematurely and raising energy consumption. Changing filters regularly can reduce strain and improve efficiency. The Department of Energy estimates that replacing clogged filters can lower a household’s energy use by up to 15 percent. In Falls Church, where many older homes still rely on aging furnaces, a tune-up in the fall can mean the difference between steady warmth
and an emergency service call during January’s coldest nights. It’s also a good time to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as the risk of leaks and heating-related hazards rises during colder months.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends monthly testing and annual battery changes.
Gutter and roof maintenance is another high priority. Clogged gutters can lead to overflow, ice dams, and foundation leaks, while missing shingles or cracks in the roof can allow water intrusion that may go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. Roof repairs can run anywhere from $300 for minor patching to more than $7,000 for major replacements. Experts suggest checking from the ground with binoculars or hiring a professional for a full inspection, which typically costs between $120 and $350. In the City of Falls Church, where tree-lined streets drop heavy foliage through October, local roofers say clogged gutters are among the leading calls they receive by late November.
Sealing drafts at windows, doors, and utility openings can also save money. Proper weatherstripping and caulking can cut heating
bills by as much as 20 percent, according to energy efficiency studies. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that sealing air leaks can save the average household between $200 and $400 annually. Inspecting chimneys or fireplaces is equally important. Creosote buildup or cracks can spark chimney fires, and annual cleaning is recommended for wood-burning systems. Professional chimney sweeps generally charge $150 to $300, a small expense compared with the average $10,000 in damages from a house fire. Dryer vents, often overlooked, should also be cleared to reduce fire risk and improve efficiency. Clogged dryer vents are estimated to cause nearly 3,000 home fires in the United States each year.
Yard and exterior work round out the checklist. Trimming overhanging tree limbs reduces the chance of roof damage during storms, while clearing debris helps prevent pest problems. Tree trimming services vary widely but average around $250 to $500 per tree. Outdoor gear like grills, hoses, and furniture should be covered or stored to protect them from weather damage. Garden hoses,
if left connected, can freeze and burst, potentially damaging pipes inside the house. With Northern Virginia’s fluctuating fall temperatures—60 degrees one day, freezing the next—local plumbers say they often receive emergency calls in December for burst hose bibs that could have been prevented with a simple disconnect in October.
Fall preparation is not just about avoiding damage but also about efficiency and safety. A home that is properly sealed and maintained will not only use less energy but will also be less prone to hazards. Roof and chimney work is safer and more effective in fall than during winter’s icy conditions, when repairs become both riskier and more expensive. Experts also recommend homeowners have their plumbing checked for insulation. Even a single burst pipe in winter can cause water damage averaging $5,000 or more, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Experts advise homeowners to start early, breaking the checklist into manageable chunks by zone—attic, exterior, and mechanical systems. Budgeting for repairs or replacement parts, such as shin-
gles, caulk, or filters, helps avoid delays. Keeping records of maintenance dates and photographs of any damage can also help with future work and potential insurance claims.
Home maintenance professionals say the difference between a $50 fix in October and a $5,000 emergency repair in January often comes down to timing. For example, clearing gutters in the fall costs little more than a Saturday afternoon, while failing to do so can lead to water seeping into basements or damaging foundations. Similarly, resealing windows for under $100 in supplies can translate into hundreds of dollars in heating savings.
The reality, professionals say, is that small preventive acts now pay off big when temperatures plunge. A modest investment in maintenance today can stave off serious headaches and expenses tomorrow. In Falls Church and across Northern Virginia, where winter storms can arrive quickly and cold snaps are unpredictable, fall is the season for homeowners to take stock, act early, and prepare for the challenges the coming months inevitably bring.
by Falls Church News-Press
F.C. Homes Embrace Indoor-Outdoor Living as Design Trend Grows
by Falls Church News-Press
Across the country and increasingly in Falls Church, homeowners are rethinking the traditional divide between indoor living spaces and the outdoors. The concept of “blurring the lines” between inside and outside has become one of the strongest design movements of the past year, weaving together architecture, landscaping, and lifestyle trends into a single vision. While homeowners once thought of the backyard or front porch as separate from the living room or kitchen, more people are designing their homes so the two worlds feel like one continuous experience.
The appeal is obvious. During the pandemic years, many residents discovered how valuable even a small balcony, patio, or backyard could be when indoor activities were restricted. That appreciation has not faded. Instead, architects, builders, and homeowners are finding new ways to maximize natural light, incorporate greenery, and make outdoor areas functional year-round.
Large sliding glass doors, folding panels that open entire walls, and sunrooms that feel like extensions of the main house are among the most
sought-after renovations.
National surveys back up the trend. According to the American Institute of Architects’ 2024 Home Design Trends report, demand for features like outdoor living rooms, covered patios, and transitional spaces grew by more than 20 percent compared to five years ago.
Houzz found that more than half of homeowners planning major remodels in 2025 said they wanted to better connect indoor and outdoor areas. Locally, Falls Church architects confirm the interest is surging. “Clients want flexibility,” said one area designer. “They want to host a dinner that starts inside and flows seamlessly to a deck or patio, or they want a quiet morning space where opening a wall of windows brings in the garden.”
Falls Church has its own reasons for being fertile ground for this trend. Homes often sit on compact lots, where every square foot counts. Residents looking for more livable space without costly additions find that integrating a deck, screened porch, or courtyard gives them the equivalent of another room. At the same time, the City’s mature tree canopy and walkable neighborhoods make outdoor living espe-
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cially attractive. “People here value greenery and community,” said a local realtor. “A front porch that connects seamlessly to the living room isn’t just about design—it’s about social connection with neighbors.”
Builders say the most popular projects now often include “threeseason rooms”—porches or sunrooms with large windows, retractable screens, or glass panels that adjust with the weather. In a city where winters are not overly harsh but summers can be humid, these adaptable spaces allow families to extend their enjoyment of the outdoors most of the year. Some Falls Church households are also investing in backyard studios or “garden rooms” that double as home offices, taking advantage of the outdoor connection while meeting work-fromhome needs.
The emphasis on indoor-outdoor living has also influenced landscaping choices. Instead of keeping yards ornamental, more homeowners are treating them as living areas, complete with fire pits, outdoor kitchens, or quiet garden seating. Local contractors note a rise in requests for low-maintenance native plantings and permeable pavers that manage stormwater while providing comfort-
able walkways and patios. “It’s no longer about just having grass out back,” one Falls Church landscape designer explained. “It’s about creating a room without walls.”
The economic implications are significant. Real estate agents report that homes in Falls Church with usable outdoor-indoor connections—especially those with highquality decks, patios, or porches— are commanding stronger interest and, in some cases, higher sale prices. With home values already among the highest in Northern Virginia, features that enhance livability without increasing a property’s footprint can make a listing stand out. For families not planning to sell, the investment is justified by daily use. National costversus-value surveys show homeowners can recoup as much as 70 percent of the cost of a deck addition or sunroom at resale, while enjoying the space in the meantime.
Sustainability is part of the equation. Energy-efficient glass, green roofs, and shading strategies allow homeowners to reduce heating and cooling costs while keeping a comfortable indoor-outdoor balance. Falls Church’s Environmental Sustainability Council has long encouraged residents to adopt native
plantings and stormwater-friendly designs, and the push for indooroutdoor blending aligns with those goals. A household that uses retractable screens and natural airflow in spring and fall may reduce reliance on air conditioning, saving money and lowering emissions.
The aesthetic side of the trend cannot be ignored. Many Falls Church residents, especially younger families in older homes, want bright, open spaces. Natural light and a connection to greenery provide psychological benefits, with studies showing exposure to outdoor views reduces stress and boosts mood. In a city that markets itself as “The Little City with a Big Heart,” blending indoors and outdoors is also a cultural fit—bringing together the comforts of home with the shared environment of neighborhood. Looking ahead, local experts believe the trend will only intensify. As housing demand continues and lot sizes remain tight, maximizing livable space without major additions is practical. Advances in building materials, from slimline glass panels to weather-resistant flooring that works both inside and out, will make it easier for homeowners to achieve a seamless transition.
CURATED STYLE We do not believe in one-size-fits-all products. Style is personal, and we encourage our clients to select flooring that reflects their personal aesthetic.
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Home Loans
Key Trends Define Falls Church Real Estate Market in 2025
schools and walkable amenities.
Falls Church — The Falls Church real estate market remains one of the region’s most dynamic, marked by high prices, competitive demand, and sharp month-tomonth swings that reflect both its enduring appeal and its growing affordability challenges.
According to recent market reports, the average home value across the greater Falls Church area is roughly $756,000, up just over one percent compared to last year. But inside the City of Falls Church — the 2.2-square-mile independent jurisdiction — values are dramatically higher. Zillow places the citywide average at $1.06 million, representing nearly six percent annual appreciation.
Yet those long-term gains are often disguised by sharp short-term changes. In August, Long & Foster’s “Market Minute” showed a median sale price of $707,500 in the City, a steep drop from more than $1.1 million the previous August. Other snapshots show median list prices swinging by tens of thousands of dollars from month to month, highlighting how thin inventory and small sample sizes can cause volatility.
Inventory remains constrained, though slightly higher than last year. The City saw 2.7 months of supply this summer compared to 2.4 months in 2024. New listings are up modestly, with 14 properties hitting the market in August versus 11 the year prior. Homes are still moving quickly. The average days on market is about 45 to 47 days, a week longer than last year, but competitively priced homes in prime locations often sell much faster, sometimes in as little as two to three weeks. The dynamic keeps much of the market tilted toward sellers, particularly for renovated properties or those close to Metro stations. Still, buyers are gaining a bit of leverage as higher mortgage rates cool the frenzy that defined the early 2020s.
Price differences between the City of Falls Church and surrounding Fairfax County zip codes remain stark. The 22043 zip code, which stretches into the greater Falls Church area, reports median listing prices around $1.3 million, with median sold prices closer to $819,000. In West Falls Church, median listings hover closer to $800,000, but with double-digit annual price growth in some months. Renters make up about 46 percent of the local population, while nearly 30 percent of homeowners own their properties outright. That mix creates different pressures across neighborhoods: condos and townhouses often draw younger professionals, while detached homes in the City continue to attract families seeking strong
Several factors continue to make Falls Church one of Northern Virginia’s most desirable places to buy. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. remains a central appeal, offering short commutes for federal and private sector workers alike. The City’s well-regarded schools, small-town feel, and municipal services also attract families looking for stability. Limited land for development further boosts demand. Unlike neighboring Fairfax or Arlington, Falls Church has little open land, meaning most growth occurs through redevelopment. Recent projects near the Broad and Washington intersection, along with ongoing plans tied to West Falls Church Metro, demonstrate how infill projects shape the future supply. Cultural and retail anchors — from the Eden Center to nearby Mosaic District — further enhance the market’s draw. Restaurants, shopping, and entertainment within a short drive make Falls Church attractive to buyers who value convenience alongside suburban amenities.
Even with strong fundamentals, the market faces headwinds. Affordability pressure looms largest. With home prices consistently among the highest in the region and mortgage rates still elevated, many first-time buyers find themselves priced out. The area also faces environmental concerns. A recent Axios report highlighted Falls Church homes as being at heightened risk of flooding compared to many in the D.C. region. Rising insurance costs or new flood-mitigation requirements could impact future values in lower-lying neighborhoods. Broader economic uncertainty adds to the caution. National job trends, federal budget debates, and shifts in mortgage policy all ripple into the local market. For some buyers, the choice to act now or wait hinges as much on global markets as on open houses.
Looking ahead, analysts point to several key factors. If interest rates ease, pent-up demand could return quickly, driving another surge in prices. Continued redevelopment, particularly near Metro corridors, may modestly increase supply but is unlikely to keep pace with demand. Demographic shifts also matter. Downsizing empty-nesters may seek smaller homes or condos, while younger professionals may turn to rentals if affordability remains out of reach. Neighborhoods offering walkability, green space, and transit access are expected to outperform.
For now, the Falls Church market remains competitive, expensive, and resilient. Despite challenges, its combination of location, schools, and amenities ensures it will remain one of the region’s most closely watched housing markets.
Falls Church Fall Market Opens Opportunities for Buyers, Sellers
by
With summer’s rush winding down, the fall housing market in Falls Church is showing new signs of balance — a mix of cooling demand, rising supply, and shifting buyer leverage. Local real estate professionals say that for those who time it right, fall 2025 might deliver opportunities not seen in the spring.
According to Long & Foster’s August 2025 report, Falls Church City saw just 16 homes sell in that month, a drop of about 30 percent from a year earlier. Active inventory stood at 43 homes, giving the city roughly 2.7 months of supply. The median sale price in the city in August was reported at $707,500 — a steep decline from around $1.1 million a year ago, reflecting volatility in a small sample of sales. Meanwhile, in the broader Falls Church area, Zillow reports the typical home value at about $755,976, up 1.3 percent over the previous year, with homes going under contract in a median of 14 days. In West Falls Church, median sale prices have
ticked upward: in August 2025, the median was $779,000, up 1.2 percent year over year, although days on market stretched to 50 days from 39 the prior year.
One structural fact strengthening buyer position is that in all of Northern Virginia, active listings jumped sharply — up 43.4 percent year over year to 2,530 units — giving buyers more options and reducing pressure in formerly tight markets. On the city side, Falls Church’s real estate assessments rose 10.51 percent as of January 1, 2025. The total taxable assessed value for all properties in the city hit $6.42 billion, an increase of $610 million over the prior year. These numbers suggest several practical advantages for fall buyers and sellers in Falls Church. For sellers, the uptick in inventory means less overload of listings competing for the same buyer pool. A more moderate pace can also help avoid rushed latesummer selling missteps. For buyers, more choices and longer days on market in some submarkets create potential for concessions on price, inspection terms, or closing
flexibility. Moreover, a seller facing lower volume may be more willing to negotiate.
That said, risk remains: the smaller size of Falls Church’s city market means a handful of sales can swing median metrics wildly. For instance, the drop in median price in Falls Church City between last August and this August reflects only a few highpriced listings or absences thereof. Also, stretched timelines in outlying areas, like the 50 days on market in West Falls Church, indicate that not every home will sell fast even in fall.
Given this unsettled landscape, working with real estate professionals is more important than ever. A local agent can parse volatile small-sample shifts versus real trend. They’ll know in which micro-neighborhoods days on market are rising or falling, where price resistance appears, and how upcoming local policy or assessment changes may affect demand. In a tight city like Falls Church, many high-quality homes never formally hit broad listing services. Agents with deep
local networks may bring buyers early access — both for buyers and for sellers seeking qualified prospects ahead of broad marketing. When buyer leverage rises modestly, offers must be structured carefully to win. Agents can craft contingencies, appraisal buffers, repair allowances, or closing terms that appeal to cautious sellers and protect buyers. Autumn light is different, and foliage, earlier darkness, and seasonal wear show homes differently than spring. Professionals stage and photograph with fall in mind, adjust showing windows, and highlight seasonal perks like fireplaces, insulation, and slip-resistant walkways to reassure buyers. With rising inventory and modest demand, some homes may languish or fall out of contract. Agents help anticipate timing challenges, coordinate inspections, financing, HOA, or appraisal delays, and adapt quickly when adjustments are needed. Here’s a concrete scenario: a homeowner in the city lists in late September, when fewer neigh
bors are listing. Because inventory is moderate and many sellers held off, the home draws serious interest. An agent positions the price smartly, credits a modest painter’s allowance, and markets proactively. Even if it takes four to five weeks, the home sells before winter. On the other side, a buyer in early October with agent access hears of a home coming off the market quietly. Instead of competing in a crowded spring cycle, the buyer submits a clean but slightly under-asking offer with favorable timing. The seller accepts because they would rather lock in now than sit through holiday months. In short, fall 2025 in Falls Church carries a more nuanced market than the heat of spring: neither a blowout seller’s market nor a deep buyer’s market, but one where carefully timed moves and informed tactics can yield outsized gains. In a place where just a few sales can shift perceptions, local real estate expertise isn’t optional — it’s often the difference between success and
Falls Church News-Press
Julie Andre
Meet Your Experts
• American Financial Network • Mortgage Loans
Julie Andre is a highly experienced Senior Loan Officer and area native. Lending in all 50 states, AFN has a wide selection of loan options. Julie’s guidance extends throughout the loan process from pre-approval through closing. First-time Buyers, MoveUp Buyers, Downsizing Buyers, Self-Employed, Investors, Primary and Second Homes! Let’s discuss your home loan goals today!! Weekdays, and evenings/weekends available, at your convenience.
703.237.0333 • Jandre@afncorp.com
Albert Bitici
The Bitici Group at KW Metro Center
The real estate landscape is changing rapidly—interest rates are fluctuating, inventory is increasing, and buyer behavior is evolving. In a market defined by uncertainty, knowledge and strategy make all the difference. Sellers need precise pricing and marketing expertise; buyers need guidance to identify real value amid competition. We specialize in navigating these complexities, ensuring our clients make informed decisions and achieve successful outcomes. Whether buying or selling, now is the time to act with confidence and clarity. Appoint The Bitici Group as your trusted real estate partner, and together we’ll turn today’s challenges into your next opportunity.
571.775.0468 • 703.224.6000 • thebiticigroup.com
Long & Foster Arlington / Falls Church, VA - Realty Office
At our office, we’re more than just a team of professional real estate agents. We’re a true part of the community—your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues. We shop, dine and play at the neighborhood attractions. We volunteer with area nonprofits. We send our kids to the local schools and enjoy all that our community has to offer. We’re also neighborhood experts, who work and live for the love of home. And for us, home is here—at our office, in our community, in our backyard. So whether you’re buying, selling, renting or just looking, the team at our office is here for you. We’ll be your trusted advisor, your practiced negotiator and your skilled house-hunter. From finding or listing a property, we’ll diligently work for you every step of the way.
Plus we offer the backing of the Long & Foster family — a family of real estate professionals across the Mid-Atlantic. Your agent is supported by a team of specialists in mortgage, inspection, insurance, settlement, and moving, who are there to guide you every step of the way. They’ll make sure things run smoothly, closing happens on time, and you arrive at your dream home according to plan. One team in lockstep with your every move, and one real estate company that can do it all. That’s the All-Inclusive Real Estate Experience. It’s the easiest, most streamlined approach to buying and selling real estate.
703.522.0500
longandfoster.com/arlington-falls-church-va-realty
FOXCRAFT Design Group
FOXCRAFT Design Group is in their 36th year as an award-winning design/ build firm and general contractor. FOXCRAFT is among the most creative, experienced design/build firms in the region, specializing in meeting clients’ budget expectations and overcoming ever changing national and county codes, regulations and guidelines. Chandler Fox, the owner at FOXCRAFT, is also a licensed real estate agent, so his expertise in both building and real estate provides the best of both worlds for the client. Fox analyzes the property for current and future marketability and helps his clients make an intelligent decision about whether or not a renovation is the best investment for their property’s future value. “We build relationships with every client, based on their individual needs and wants, and advise them honestly, as to the best path for their family’s future.”
foxcraft.com • 703-536.1888
Floor Coverings International of Tysons
At Floor Coverings International of Tysons, we bring premium flooring solutions directly to homes and businesses across Vienna, Falls Church, McLean, Arlington, and NW DC.
As part of a nationally recognized brand, we leverage strong relationships with top flooring manufacturers across North America to offer competitive pricing and fast, custom-tailored service through our local partnerships. We specialize in hardwood refinishing and resurfacing, solid and engineered hardwood, LVP/LVT, carpet, tile, and custom throw rugs.
Our experienced team is passionate about transforming your space with stylish, durable flooring—delivering expert craftsmanship and a customer experience that guarantees your complete satisfaction.
703.214.9175 • nwdca.floorcoveringsinternational.com
Ellen G. Heather • Long & Foster
Looking to buy or sell your home? Trust Ellen G. Heather. Ellen has been a top producer with both Long & Foster and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors since her second year in the business. Her success is fueled by repeat clients and referrals who have come to rely on her attention to detail, her sharp negotiation skills, her connection to other professionals in the industry, her concierge-level service and her care. If you know Ellen, you know this to be true, for her family and yours, it’s all about home…
703.835.5385 • itsallaboutyourhome.com
The Mather
The Mather, which opened in March 2024, is a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62+. It’s smack dab in the middle of it all in Tysons, VA, bordering a threeacre urban park and within walking distance of rail service, retail, and restaurants. The Mather’s apartment homes feature expansive views, luxury finishes, and smart-home technology. The community features 38,000+ square feet of amenities, including restaurants, spa, fitness center, indoor pool, rooftop clubroom, art studio, and more! Life Plan Communities are lifestyle communities in which people can pursue new passions and priorities, with a plan in place that supports aging well.
571.617.0200 • themathertysons.com
Kathy Pippin
Meet Your Experts
Kathy Pippin Properties
Kathy Pippin is a top-producing Northern Virginia Realtor® and Certified Business Coach with Samson Properties, one of the region’s leading brokerages. With over $100+ million in career sales, Kathy is known for her trust, credibility, and excellence—the pillars of her brand, Kathy Pippin Properties. She specializes in residential sales, rentals, and renovation-ready properties across Falls Church, McLean, and the greater DMV area. Clients describe her as organized, caring, and a master negotiator who listens and delivers results. Kathy’s mission: to make every real estate experience seamless, informed, and rewarding. TRUST. CREDIBILITY. EXCELLENCE Call or Text Kathy Pippin @ 703-408-0838.
703.408.0838
Kelly Millspaugh Thompson
Concierge Real Estate Services
As a Falls Church City native and small business owner Kelly strives to make buying and selling less overwhelming for her clients. Kelly opened STYLISH PATINA her Home+Gift shop in 2012 and has been a licensed Realtor since 2019. She has been recognized as a Platinum Producer by NVAR and Top Producer by Arlington Magazine. Kelly is known for her cutting edge marketing, business savvy and concierge approach to Real Estate. She and her team are able to manage all aspects of buying and selling a home: home prep, liquidation, organization, renovation, moving, and design. This has proven to be a unique and highly sought after combination of skills. Kelly has a passion for helping folks as they transition through life stages — needing a larger home for a growing family or downsizing. Kelly is a mother of 5 and understands the stress of moving with children and the overwhelm of transitioning out of a home you raised your family in when it comes time to simplify. These big life transitions are where she finds the most joy in helping families. If you are looking for a Realtor with compassion and commitment to making your next Real Estate transaction less stressful contact Kelly, 703-303-3700. 703.303.3700 • realestate@stylishpatina.com
Monumental Team
We are a team of dedicated and experienced real estate agents with a passion for helping clients find their dream homes. With an extensive knowledge of the local market and a keen eye for detail, we have built a stellar reputation as trusted advisors in the real estate industry. Our commitment to providing exceptional service and our ability to understand our clients’ unique needs set us apart.
Miller & Smith
monumentalteam.com
opportunity combines the convenience of private elevators with modern design and everyday ease. Perfectly located just minutes from marinas, walking trails, and historic Occoquan, Beacon Park blends scenic charm with comfort and connection. Debora’s deep knowledge and genuine care ensure she’ll guide you every step of the way to find the home that fits your future. Miller & Smith.
millerandsmith.com
ROCK STAR realty group
Times are uncertain. However, the real estate market continues to be competitive in Northern Virginia. There have been significant market shifts over the past year, mortgage rates continue to fluctuate, and agent compensation has changed. I am here to help educate and navigate you through these changes. With my expert negotiations, I ensure that contracts are a win-win for both buyers and sellers.
For sellers, I create strategies to not only prepare their home for the market but also position it aggressively. By getting their properties showcase-ready, their homes are well presented to capture the most potential buyers.
For buyers, fewer people are looking at homes this time of year, and motivated sellers are eager to move before the holidays. It is a prime time to discover your dream home!
My ROCK STAR realty group and I are your go-to resource for all things real estate. Stop by Northside Social, Falls Church, on Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00 AM for our ROCK the House coffee hour to talk more. We’ll buy you a cup!
703.867.8674 •
Verso-Founders Row
Welcome to Founders Row — Falls Church’s newest retail destination, managed by Mill Creek Residential. Founders Row is home to two residential communities- Modera Founders Row, a luxury apartment community, and VERSO Founders Row, a collection of designer 55+ apartment homes. There are many restaurants and retailers on board (Chasin’ Tails, Ellie Bird and Club Pilates to name a few!), creating a one-stop shop for its residents. “Founders Row was always envisioned to elevate the dining and entertainment experience in the City of Falls Church,” said Joe Muffler, managing director of development. Enjoy shopping, dining and luxury amenities right outside your door!
571.370.3201 • versofoundersrow.com
Zimmermann Homes
Debora Flora brings years of experience and a personal, customer-focused approach to Beacon Park in Belmont Bay, where the new Beacon Park Towns with Private Elevator for 55+ Active Adults offer stylish, low-maintenance living in a vibrant riverside setting. With only 2 homes remaining, this limited
We pride ourselves on building custom homes that are unrivaled in performance, beauty and durability. All Zimmermann Homes come standard with upgraded products and building techniques that result in an attractive, energy-efficient and low- maintenance home. Clients can custom design a home with Zimmermann’s talented architect or choose from dozens of established plans. Zimmermann Homes can assist you with lot acquisition or offer you fair market value if you are looking to sell your older home. The company is now also involved in home development and has multiple luxury homes under construction available for sale in Falls Church & N Arlington! Sales@Zimmermannhomes.com • zimmermannhomes.com
PICTURES FROM AROUND F.C.
AT AN INFORMAL GATHERING of family and friends last weekend honoring the life of Jeff Thompson, Falls Church’s Simon VanSteyn (center) read a moving eulogy. (Photo: News-Press)
THE NEWLY-OPENED state of the art Levine School of Music studios in Falls Church include a piano lesson studio where a handful of students can all work from keyboards at once. (Photo: News-Press)
YOUNG ACTOR John Poncy is one of the acclaimed performers in the current production of “The Turn of the Screw” musical showing at Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron through October. Poncy won a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical for his performance as Ralphie Parker in “A Christmas Story” in 2020. (Photo: News-Press)
GINGER BROWNING WON FIRST PRIZE for her plein air painting, “Children at Cherry Hill.” She is pictured with juror, Ted Reed. (Photo: Susan Hillson)
MEMBERS OF LOCAL DAISY TROOP 50255 met with Falls Church Mayor Hardi last weekend, asking questions about leadership and city government. The visit inspired the girls to think about how they can be community leaders. (Photo: Letty Hardi)
TWO-THIRD EMPTY, unheard of in days past, at the start of the season-opening concert by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center last Thursday, due to boycotts of the center by patrons opposing the Trump takeover of the cultural facility. (Photo: News-Press)
AT AN EQUALITY NORTHERN VIRGINIA fundraiser at the home of Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie’s Beach Bar in Crystal City, professor David Hoffman (left) chatted with Virginia State Sen. Adam Ebbin. (Photo: News-Press)
Falls Church Schools’
Enrollment Total is Flat
As of Oct. 1, when official enrollment totals are sent to the state, the Falls Church City School Board received the enrollment update at its meeting this Tuesday showing that the district’s enrollment number has been flat over the last year, with 2,712 students enrolled as of September 30.
While actual enrollment closely mirrors last year’s figures (2,714 students in fall 2024), the numbers came in below this year’s projection of 2,873 students – a variance that district leadership attributes to anticipated growth that is still expected but has not materialized thus far.
“We typically grow about 34 students on average throughout the course of the year,” FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade explained Tuesday, referencing historical enrollment patterns dating back to 2021-22. “With that in mind, the board has done a really good job of utilizing projections to budget accordingly.”
Dr. Dustin Wright noted that the district’s detailed planning factors and staffing ratios, as documented in the annual budget, guide the translation of enrollment projections into classroom staffing decisions. These planning factors require student-to-teacher ratios of 22:1 in grades K-2 and 24:1 in grades 3-5.
The presentation also addressed questions raised by board members about class sizes, particularly at Oak Street Elementary’s third grade – the only grade level across the district that met its enrollment projection.
With 164 third graders enrolled at Oak Street (matching the projection exactly), the grade level is staffed with seven teachers. Current class sizes range from 22 to 24 students, averaging 23.4 students per class – within the district’s planning guidelines.
The district plans to provide a more detailed enrollment analysis in the coming months, including the annual “Where Students Live” demographic report, which will be presented at the December joint meeting with the City Council.
The district will continue to monitor enrollment throughout the school year, providing updates to
News & Notes
the board as warranted by significant changes in student numbers.
–John Brett
2 F.C. Groups Prepare for Oct. 18 ‘No Kings’ Rally
On Saturday, Oct. 18, two Falls Church-based organizations, F.C. Indivisible and Democracy Falls Church are combining their efforts to promote a large turnout of citizens in the Little City for the second “No Kings Day” that will involve rallies and demonstrations in cities across the U.S.
From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., participants will be asked to form a human chain along Broad Street to take a stand for democracy, unity, and the rule of law. They are being urged to bring signs and American flags to wave as well as an enthusiasm to protest.
There will be a short kick-off at the Episcopal Church before moving to Broad Street (Rt. 7). Organizers insist this demonstration will be nonviolent, respectful, and lawful. They have been working hard with volunteers and coordinating with local authorities to make sure that the event is safe and family-friendly.
“We seek to demonstrate strength through peace and to model the democracy we hope to preserve,” a spokesman stated. After the local event, many participants will be invited to travel together to Washington, D.C., to join the national rally from noon to 3 p.m.
“‘No Kings’ is more than a slogan—it’s a founding principle of this nation,” the spokesman said. “From city streets to rural town squares, people across America are uniting to defend that ideal and to show that power still rests with the people, not with any one man. In Falls Church and across the country, we’re showing that we will not accept tyranny in any form. We intend to remind America what it means to say, truly and proudly, “No Kings.”
Fairfax Co. Extends Deadline for Personal Tax
Fairfax County board chair Jeff McKay announced this week that, following a special Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, I am pleased to share that the Board has decided to extend the personal
property tax deadline to Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The extension gives residents additional time to submit their payments without incurring any interest or late fees.
“We understand the financial challenges many residents are facing this year, particularly our federal workforce impacted by the recent government shutdown. While state law strictly limits the ability to waive interest and late fees, the Board has the authority to adjust the due date, and this extension is intended to ease stress for those affected,” McKay said in a statement.
Equality Arlington Holds ‘Coming Out Day’ Event
Equality Arlington is hosting a National Coming Out Day party on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Crystal City. All are welcome to attend! Come celebrate National Coming Out Day.
There will be remarks by State Sen. Danica Roem, coming out stories from Arlingtonians, a drag performance, food and drinks.
Fairfax School Board OK’s Labor Agreement
The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a proposal from board member Karl Frisch (Providence) directing the Superintendent to develop a Project Labor Agreement pilot for a future school construction project as part of the 2027-31 Capital Improvement Program.
Such agreements are designed to ensure uniform fair wages and benefit standards, promote workforce stability, support local hiring goals, strengthen apprenticeship opportunities, and increase access for small, women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. They also include a no-strike/no-lockout clause that guarantees labor peace to safeguard taxpayer investments in school construction.
F.C. Extended Day Care Celebrates 50 Years
The Extended Day Care Program celebrated its 50th Anniversary Reunion last weekend, bringing together generations of families, friends, and staff.
The event was filled with laughter and fond memories as attendees reconnected and shared stories from years past. Children enjoyed the bounce house, obstacle course, crafts, and games. Alumni and longtime staff members reflected on the program’s impact over the decades. It was described as “a joyful celebration of community, connection, and fifty years of caring for children in FCCPS.”
Bus Rapid Transit Plans On Rt. 7 Has Open House
The Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit Open House in Culmore will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Culmore Community Library. It will be an opportunity for citizens to learn more about plans to make buses faster, more frequent, and more reliable by adding bus rapid transit lanes along Route 7 between the Mark Center in Alexandria and Tysons.
F.C. Council Candidate Meet & Greet Tonight, Oct. 9
Hosted by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, an informal meet-andgreet for candidates running in this fall’s Falls Church City Council election will be held tonight, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Founders Row community room, 934 W. Broad.
A forum featuring F.C. School Board candidates hosted by the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) and Falls Church PTAs is set for next Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. on the Learning Stairs at Meridian High School. F.C. Council candidates will come together at the Tuesday, Oct. 21 luncheon of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce at the Italian Cafe and again the next day, Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the community meeting area of the 301 W. Broad apartments at 7:30, co-hosted by the CBC and Falls Church Forward.
AT THE OPENING NIGHT reception preceding the production of locally-written Turn of the Screw at F.C.’s Creative Cauldron last Saturday night, the Cauldron’s founder and artistic director Laura Hull chats with major donor Jon Wiant. (Photo: News-Press)
This Week Around Falls Church
Thursday, Oct. 9
Falls Church Fiber Artists
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Upper Level Conference Room
Fall Storytime
10:30–11:00 a.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Upper Level Conference Room
Playtime with Early Literacy Center
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Upper Level Conference Room
City Council Legislative Committee Meeting
8:30–10:00 a.m.
Oak Room, 300 Park Ave.
Retirement Board Meeting (Fiduciary Training)
3:00–7:00 p.m.
Dogwood Rooms A & B, 300 Park Ave.
Connect with City Council Candidates
7:00–9:00 p.m.,
Founders Row, 2nd Floor Community Room, 110 Founders Ave.
Friday, Oct. 10
Fall Baby Time
10:30–11:00 a.m.,
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Lower Level Conference Room
Clare & Don’s presents The Dulcetones 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Oddball Cinema: Quatermass Horror Movies 2:00–4:30 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Upper Level Conference Room
Equality Northern Virginia Coming Out Day Celebration 4:00 p.m., Freddie’s, Crystal City
Clare & Don’s presents SideJam 6:00 p.m.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
Falls Church Farm Day
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Cherry Hill Farmhouse & Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church
Sunday, Oct. 12
Chesterbrook Residences Annual Blessing of the Pets with Immanuel Presbyterian Church 3:00 p.m.,
Courtyard, 2030 Westmoreland St., Falls Church Monday, Oct. 13
Indigenous Peoples’
Day
Closed: City Hall and all government offices Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer’s Office, Elections Office
Closed: Mary Riley Styles Public Library No in-person early voting
Community Center Open 8:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Italian Conversation Group 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Lower Level Conference Room
Great Books Discussion Series
7:00–8:45 p.m.
Virtual, MRSPL
City Council Meeting 7:30–11:00 p.m.
Council Chambers/Court Room, 300 Park Ave.
Wednesday, Oct. 15
CANCELLED: Mayor’s Agenda Meeting with Staff 8:30–9:00 a.m.
Oak Room
Library Board of Trustees Meeting
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Upper Level Conference Room
Planning Commission Meeting
7:30–10:30 p.m.
Council Chambers/Court Room, 300 Park Ave.
“OUR COURT SHALL BE A LITTLE ACADEME:” Trinity Academy at Meadow View, Falls Church, is presenting "Love's Labour's Lost," Shakespeare’s comedy of the challenges a royal court faces as it seeks to reject the world in favor of the study of great books. The 11th grade class (pictured above in costume) will be performing this play at the Pozez Jewish Community Center, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, Virginia, on October 17 and 18 at 7pm. Admission is free. (Photo: Stephanie Justen)
You good?
Please Don’t Eat Your Children, Part 2
those words from Owen and put them to music in his striking War Requiem oratorio.
“What does the money machine eat? It eats youth, spontaneity, life, beauty and above all, it eats creativity. It eats quality and shits quantity.”
— William S. Burroughs
I don’t always agree with this author, but in this case, yes.
In the spirit of Ireland’s Jonathan Swift in his 1755 satirical essay, “A Modest Proposal,” advocating the consumption of children to meet the combined concerns of food shortages and a society’s inability to care for its young, the real, not metaphorical, matter of the ritual, societal pulverization of young people as they approach adulthood applies.
This essay could as easily be entitled, “The Misdirected Anger of American Youth.” A huge part of what’s at the root of the MAGA insurgency facing us now owes to this. The mangling, and the spirit suffocating, of the lives of ordinary people as an allegedly necessary part of “growing up” does naturally provoke anger from its victims, especially if they are not born sucking on a proverbial silver spoon. Such anger is not wrong, but can easily be misdirected.
But even those born to riches are afflicted. When Rudyard Kipling prodded his son to enlist in the Great War (World War 1), which son was soon killed, while it led to an outpouring of grief, alas, it was an emotional expression that came far too late. The emotion should have been felt to keep the boy out of the war to begin with.
The powerful World War 1 poet, son of elites, himself, Wilfred Owen, severely pained by the plights of his peers in the trenches, wrote “Anthem for Doomed Youth,” among many others, before being slain, himself, only hours before the armistice ended the fighting in 1918. In his “Parable of the Old Man and the Young,” he wrote about the horrors of war as Abraham defying God’s order to spare Isaac: “But the old man would not so, but slew his son, and half the seed of Europe, one by one.”
Years later, the British composer Benjamin Britten took
To be clear, many sons and daughters of the elites, like those of Yale’s Whiffenpoofs (Baa, baa, baa!), so happy in their final days of creative freedom as I saw them perform this week, do not yet know of the punishing demands that will be placed on them by their parents’ generation of unyielding task masters then they enter the worlds of law or finance.
But for most of us, that transition is even more deadly, if not by gunshots, by drugs, or a combination of a numbing routine and desperate scramble to make student loan or rent payments, and to hang onto tattered threads of marriage, inlaws and children.
This is the powerkeg out of which the MAGA movement has grown, nourished by sinister fascist overlords who’ve deployed the anger arising from these conditions to turn it against those perceived even more vulnerable, racial minorities, women, immigrants and gays. But these MAGA people get nothing out of it, either, except that they’ve demolished any ability they might have had to shape a movement of all their likewise oppressed brothers and sisters against those actually responsible for their suffering.
The problem, you see, is not the anger. It is its misdirection. How much effort do our overlords put into dismantling the anger they don’t control? How many paeans to inner peace and passivity, how many football games and rock concerts are there in the effort to defuse a righteous anger against how these elites are destroying society, and us, to protect their ways?
In this context, if anything, Jesus Christ called for righteous anger and action, not against our own, but against the rulers who impose their demands on us. Yes, sorry MAGA, but Jesus was very much a progressive, a liberal.
Anyone reading his Sermon on the Mount, considered by keen historical analysis very close to the real words of Jesus, or his parables, can hardly come to any other conclusion.
“Indivisible” is in America’s Pledge of Allegiance, coming after the “under God” phrase that was added during the McCarthy period. Let’s be indivisible.
A Penny for Your Thoughts
By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor
It’s no secret that the arts are under attack by the Trump Administration. From installing himself as chairman of the treasured Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to gutting funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and ordering a review of everything presented by the Smithsonian Institution museums, Mr. Trump is attempting to re-create our nation’s diverse artistic vision into one man’s notion of the American experience. If that notion includes lots of gold and portraits of himself replacing previous White House occupants, all the better to satisfy his narcissistic and authoritarian ego. No need for mirrors in the White House; he can catch a glimpse of his carefullysculpted coif in any gaudy trophy on the Oval Office mantel.
Despite Trump’s attacks, the arts are alive and well in Northern Virginia, Fairfax County, and Mason District. For more than a year, the Mason District Arts Council has been planning the first annual Mason District Art Festival, celebrating local artists in all forms and media. The Festival will be held this Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (rain or shine, but the weather report looks dry and autumnal for Saturday) at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space, 7200 Columbia Pike in Annandale (just west of the Annandale Fire
Station and east of the ACCA Child Development Center with the big yellow and floral building mural). Admission is free and the festival is designed for all ages. Seniors are encouraged to visit from 10 to 11 a.m. to enjoy a less-crowded environment.
Under the direction of council chair James Albright, whose energy and enthusiasm seems boundless, the Festival idea proved so popular that the call for artist spaces was filled in a matter of days. The event features painting, ceramic art, jewelry-making, glass, digital and multi-media art, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, metal, textiles and wood. You can watch some art being created on-the-spot and learn more about the techniques used to complete a project from idea to finished item. Art also will be available for purchase from the artists themselves.
Brief music, dance, spoken word, and theatre performances will be held on the Civic Space stage between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Fairfax County Poet Laureate Angelique Palmer will present original poetry and a children’s play area with appropriate arts activities for youngsters will be open, as well as local coffee and food trucks to celebrate our arts community. The Mason District Arts Festival is supported by ArtsFairfax,
City of Falls Church Crime Report
Week of Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2025
Fraud - Identity Theft, Roosevelt Blvd, Sep 29, 11:46 a.m., victim reported an unknown suspect opened a banking account in their name.
Public Intoxication, Ellison St, Sep 29, 9:05 p.m., a male, 31, of Woodbridge, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
Fraud – False Pretenses, W Broad St, Oct 2, 11:17 a.m., victim reported an
unknown suspect posed as a legitimate contractor via email and had banking information changed, leading to money being fraudulently sent to the suspect’s account.
Larceny, S Washington St, Oct 2, 4:41 p.m., victim reported their wallet was stolen.
Larceny from Building, Roosevelt Blvd, Oct 3, between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., an unknown suspect stole the victim’s locked green Huffy bicycle.
OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2025 |
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez, the Fairfax County Office of Community Revitalization, and many community volunteers who serve on the Council. I look forward to seeing you there.
Although the Civic Space stage is too small for a full-sized production on Saturday, the Providence Players (part of the Mason District Arts Council) will present Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 from October 10 through 25, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on October 12 and 19. A blizzard rages. The roads are closed. There is no way out. At Monkswell Manor, a group of strangers is trapped by the snow – and one of them is a murderer. News of a recent murder in London and a policeman’s arrival further heighten the tension as it’s revealed that the killer might be among them. Secrets, suspicions, alibis, then a second murder occurs. The legendary whodunit is the longestrunning play in history. From first act to final gasp, you’ll be guessing and second guessing. Everyone becomes a suspect!
The Providence Players perform at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church 22042. Log on to https://www.providenceplayers. org/tickets/ to purchase very reasonably priced tickets and support local community theatre. Become a patron of the arts and help ensure that art stays a central focus of society, open to all talents and ideas, regardless of who’s in the Oval Office.
No
Valid Operator’s License, E Annandale Rd, Oct 4, 8:04 p.m., a male, 49, of Fairfax County, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
Public Intoxication, Wilson Blvd, Oct 4, 11:40 p.m., a male, 44, of Manassas, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
No Valid Operator’s License, S Oak St, Oct 5, 9:01 a.m., a male, 25, of Annandale, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
Nicholas F. Benton
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Notice
An enforcement action has been proposed for Seong Kim, Trustee in Liquidation for Jack’s Auto Body Inc. for violations of State Waste Management Board statutes and regulations and at the Jack’s Auto Body facility lo cated in Falls Church, Virginia. The proposed Consent Order is available from the DEQ contact or at https:// www.deq.virginia. gov/news-info/shortcuts/enforce ment. The DEQ contact will accept written comments from October 9, 2025, to November 9, 2025. DEQ con tact: Katherine Mann; email – katherine.mann@ deq. virginia.gov; or mail - DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbride, VA 22193.
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ness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”
This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200
Barbeque LLC, trading as Mang Eton Filipino Food 6920 Braddock Rd STE J, Annandale, VA 22003 is applying to the Virginia ABC board for a Restau
rant, Wine, Beer, Consumed On and Off Premises License. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www.abc. virginia.gov or 800-552-3200
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PUZZLE
Meridian Golf Rolls At Regionals, Volleyball Picks Up Statement Wins
By Ryan McCafferty
Fall sports season is beginning to enter crunch time at Meridian High School, with the golf team already well into their postseason and everybody else gearing up for the home stretch. Let’s take a look at how everyone did last week.
The football team fell 41-22 to James Wood last Friday, dropping to 3-3 on the year. They led at halftime and hung tight
for three quarters, but the opponent wore them down on the ground as the night progressed. PJ Anderson’s squad has been dealing with some key injuries and will look to rest up during the bye week before returning to action at Brentsville on October 17th.
Golf moved onto Regionals after successfully defending its District title, and was successful once again. Drew Fishel, Charles Griffith, Atticus Kim, and Era
Inglis-Nela led a balanced attack for Tim Sample’s group, beating Culpepper County by 11 strokes to capture the Region 3B crown and punch their ticket to States. Their quest to repeat as State champions will conclude at the Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg on October 13th. It was a successful week for both volleyball programs, which each hosted Justice last Monday night for a doubleheader and each won in three sets. That was
the boys’ only contest of the week, as they improved to 3-11 after starting 0-10. The girls then traveled to Warren County the next night to pick up another win in four sets, improving to 9-5. Cross country was in action twice, traveling to Skyline for a District meet and then heading to the Gettysburg Invite over the weekend. At Skyline, Lydia Christian and Matthias Selle led the girls and boys, respectively. In Gettysburg,
William Anderson placed 30th overall and broke Meridian’s all-time course record with a time of 16:46. Alba Selle finished 88th overall to lead the girls, with Madeleine Sherwood close behind in 104th. The co-ed squad will have some time off before concluding its regular season at the Third Battle Invitational on October 18th.
Field hockey was off this past week, remaining 9-1 on the year.
MERIDIAN FIELD HOCKEY Recognized six seniors last night. (Photos: FCCPS)
MERIDIAN GOLF beat Culpepper County by 11 strokes to capture the Region 3B crown and punch their ticket to States (Photos: FCCPS)
In Memoriam: William (Bill) McFate
William Edward McFate (Bill) of Falls Church, VA quietly passed away on September 1, 2025.
The son of David T. McFate and Helen Marie (Browne) McFate, Bill was born in Meadville, PA on September 13, 1943 and grew up in Cochranton, PA, one of three children. He graduated from Cochranton Area Junior-Senior High School and attended Point Park University (Pittsburgh, PA) and Grove City College (Grove City, PA).
His professional career with AT&T started in 1967 in several roles in Northern Virginia. He served in the US Army from 1969-1971 in field radio maintenance (Ft. Sill, OK and Lathem, Germany). He rejoined AT&T in Pittsburgh, PA spending the balance of his career in technical and management roles of increasing importance in Northern Virginia. Over his
career, he began working with electromechanical equipment transitioning to high-speed digital equipment. The proudest accomplishment of his career was developing the domestic and international digital, voice, data, and video services to support the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. In the final years of his career, he was the network and software design engineer/manager for the largest private voice, data andvideo network in the world, the US Government and The White House. He retired from AT&T in 1997.
Bill was a proud, private person, but was always willing to help his friends and neighbors. Upon retirement, Bill was active in his condo community and was instrumental in developing governance processes for the financial and technology management of the condo’s board. He also volunteered to help neighbors in
a myriad of ways (fixing personal computer and TV issues, driving elderly neighbors to appointments, helping with grocery shopping and errands). In many ways, he was the angel of Skyline Square taking care of those who needed assistance. He loved the holidays and was known for his colorful balcony decorations each year.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Tom. He will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Carol McFate (Jensen) and her husband, Bob Jensen of Southport, NC. He will be remembered by his friends, neighbors and former co-workers for his strength, kindness, and willingness to help others.
Burial will be private, and a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.
IS OSCAR enjoying Falls Church’s scenery.
Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Please send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
In Extraordinary Hearts, Nicholas F. Benton presents a philosophy rooted in hope, courage, and authenticity. He argues that the struggles of LGBTQ+ people exemplify a broader human quest for dignity and truth. Benton emphasizes the importance of living openly and de antly against forces of fear and repression, seeing personal authenticity as both a moral duty and a path to collective liberation. His outlook blends optimism with realism, encouraging readers to resist cynicism while striving for a more compassionate and just world. Ultimately, Benton champions love, integrity, and resilience as guiding principles for individual and social transformation.
THIS
Our Man In Arlington
Bill Fogarty
The inter-connected web of community organizations in Arlington always amazes me. Sometimes it is evident in specific coalition work, where one group’s work helps fill the need of another’s work. On a more general level, it is perhaps best illustrated by the upcoming Spirit of Community awards to be presented by the Arlington Community Foundation next month.
This year the Foundation celebrates the accomplishments of three people whose work and volunteerism across a variety of organizations have made a difference for the residents of Arlington County. Spirit of Community Award recipient Claudia Ramirez Cuéllar turned her own challenges as a new immigrant into nearly two decades of service in Arlington’s schools and organizations, such as Aspire Afterschool Learning. Kellen MacBeth, who will receive the Spirit On The Rise Award, has driven policy and grassroots change on many issues, including the creation of Equality Arlington, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of Arlington’s LGBTQ+ community.
The Spirit of Leadership award recipient is Nina Janopaul, who served as CEO for the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) from 2007 to 2021. She transformed a small Arlington nonprofit into an award-winning, high-performing, regional organization, providing rental homes for over 2000 families in 18 locations throughout the DC Metro area. (And it must be noted, that along with so many organizations, APAH has been re-branded with a new name, True Ground Hous-
ing Partners).
Having been on the APAH board during much of Nina’s tenure, I thought it worthwhile to ask her for some reflections on the challenges of being a leader of a community organization. I then figured that instead of interspersing quotes into this column, I would simply cede to her the rest of this column! Here are some reflections from Nina Janopaul:
NINA JANOPAUL : “Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts. I landed in Arlington by accident in 1983, intending to spend a few years in Washington before returning to California. In hindsight, I couldn’t be more pleased with my adopted hometown. I find Arlington a model urban community, balancing compassion and generosity with economic development and good governance.
“Arlington’s high-performing nonprofits and progressive civic leadership differentiate this County. Elected leaders like Ellen Bozman (on the County Board from 1972 – 1997) left Arlington with a robust economy but also a commitment to justice and compassion. As stated by Bryan Stevenson, author of the book, Just Mercy: ‘The true test of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, (and) the accused....’ Arlington has excelled by this measure.
“Bozman’s peers included the founders of APAH (now True Ground). Motivated by their Catholic faith, the four couples launched an affordable housing nonprofit by purchasing an 8-unit property. 36 years later, True Ground houses 6,000 residents in 22 properties, with many more homes in development.
“On Sept. 18, I attended True
Ground’s groundbreaking for 432 new homes at The Sweeney, named for Jack and Jean Sweeney, two of the APAH founders. Jean shared that the organization has succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. I am excited to see how Carmen Romero, my talented successor, has continued to grow this once tiny nonprofit.
“What made True Ground successful?
“• Living by the values of excellence, integrity and equity.
“• Centering our work on the people we serve. Bringing compassion and curiosity to the data and conversations with residents.
“• Collaborating with other nonprofits, government agen
cies and the private sector. Sharing credit and gratitude.
“• Investing time, talent and treasure into this work. Recruiting others, including thoughtful and motivated board directors (like Bill Fogarty!), volunteers and staff.
“• Looking for opportunities to make a real impact.
“• Bringing hope, persistence and urgency to overcome obstacles.
“Several of the APAH founders attended the famous 1963 March on Washington. Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of eliminating racial and economic injustice in the nation seems more distant than ever. However, in this corner of the country, APAH’s founders have helped to build a more diverse and inclusive Arlington. As Rabbi Rami Shapiro wrote (inspired by the Prophet Micah): ‘Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now.’ That is my inspiration and advice.”
