Falls Church News-Press 12-24-2020

December 24 – 30, 2020

FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE

FOU N D E D 1991 • V OL. X XX NO. 45

T�� C��� �� F���� C�����’� I����������, L������-O���� N�������� �� R�����, S������ N. V�������

Vaccine Rollout In F.C., Fairfax Underway 1st Wave Sent to Health Care Workers, Seniors

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Vaccines against Covid-19 are beginning their gradual distribution locally, and that will soon make eager heads turn toward the resumption of normal life.

Fairfax County’s Health Department, which runs the Fairfax Health District that includes the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, began receiving their first shipments of the Pfizer vaccine last week and were expecting their initial shipments of the Moderna vaccine by the end of last week or the start of this one.

“Starting the week of Christmas, we’ll have two vaccine manufacturers delivering doses as they come off the assembly line and they’re going to all 50 states,” Colin Brody, the assistant public health emergency management coordinator at Fairfax County’s Health Department, told

Continued on Page 5

A FLAG-LOWERING CEREMONY for former Falls Church Sheriff Steve Bittle was held outside of the City Hall on Monday to honor Bittle’s passing on Dec. 17. (P����: J. M������ W�����)

Steve Bittle, 5 Decade F.C. Sheriff & Police Of�icer, Dies

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Retired City of Falls Church Sheriff S. Stephen Bittle, who at 54 years of service was the longestserving employee in the City’s history, died Thursday, Dec. 17

at age 76. A ceremonial lowering of flags at City Hall that included participation by all members of the Sheriff’s Department and other key City officials took place this Monday beneath the flagpoles in front of City Hall.

On Aug. 15 this year, Bittle

retired from his sheriff’s post to culminate his over a half century of service with the City’s police and sheriff’s departments.

A personable, familiar and ubiquitous fixture in the daily life of Falls Church, Bittle, 78, was first elected sheriff, one of three state

mandated Constitutional Officer positions operative for every jurisdiction in Virginia, in 1993, rising from a role since 1966 in the F.C. police department, where he attained the rank of sergeant.

Continued on Page 4

I����� T��� W��� F.C. L���� P��� S��� H������� C����-19 P�������’� H�����

John Britton, a native of Ohio and a long-time resident of Falls Church, wrote and recorded a song in April dedicated to the “unsung heroes” of our Covid-19 world. He produced an anthem and a tribute to our nation’s essential workers: nurses, cashiers and others.

See Story, page 10

B�� Y���� W��� I�������� CBC “S������� A����” City of Falls Church developer and chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority won the Citizens for a Better City’s first-ever “Shoutout Award” for leading the EDA’s effort to distribute microgrants to Falls Church businesses that were suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

See News & Notes, page 9

E����W������� T-S���� D����� C������ I� N�� L���

The annual t-shirt contest has commenced, and EarthWatchers need to get out their art supplies. The artwork is needed for the front design of the shirt. The theme that students will seek to represent this year is Energy Efficiency.

See Community News & Notes, page 11

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 Comment ................................ 7,12,13 News & Notes................................... 11 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Business News ................................. 15 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 2 | DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL TO MODIFY RATE SCHEDULES DESIGNATED RATE SCHEDULE MBR, RATE SCHEDULE MBR-GS-3, AND RATE SCHEDULE MBR-GS-4 CASE NO. PUR-2020-00272 On November 20, 2020, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) pursuant to § 56-234 B of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) and Rule 80 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”) of the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”), filed with the Commission an application (“Application”) to modify the Company’s current market-based rate (“MBR”) schedules, designated Rate Schedule MBR (the “New MBR Rate Schedule”), and Rate Schedules MBR-GS-3 and MBR-GS-4 (the “Initial MBR Rate Schedules”) (collectively, “MBR Rate Schedules”). Through its Application, Dominion seeks the Commission’s approval to (1) modify the MBR Rate Schedules to comply with the statutory mandates concerning non-bypassable charges in Code §§ 10.1-1402.03 H, 56-585.1:11, and 56-585.5 F, and (2) increase the aggregate participation cap for the New MBR Rate Schedule from 200 megawatts (“MW”) to 600 MW for jurisdictional customers. Pursuant to Code § 56-234 B, the Commission’s final order in this matter must be entered the earlier of (i) not more than six months after the filing or (ii) not more than three months after the date of any evidentiary hearing on the filing.

The Initial MBR Rate Schedules were approved September 23, 2016, and are structured to reflect market-based pricing in the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (“PJM”) wholesale market. The Initial MBR Rate Schedules are applicable to qualifying customers who would otherwise take service under Rate Schedule GS-3 or Rate Schedule GS-4. The Initial MBR Rate Schedules are set to expire December 31, 2022.

In Case No. PUR-2018-00192, the Company sought approval to establish a new voluntary non-experimental market-based rate schedule, the New MBR Rate Schedule, under Code § 56-234 A, applicable to qualifying customers who would otherwise take service under Rate Schedule GS-3 or Rate Schedule GS-4. The Application states that, as proposed, the New MBR Rate Schedule was also based on market-based rate pricing in the PJM wholesale market; however, according to the Company, it contained “several significant improvements” over the Initial MBR Rate Schedules. The Commission approved the New MBR Rate Schedule on an experimental basis on January 14, 2020, effective for usage on and after March 1, 2020. The New MBR Rate Schedule Final Order capped participation in the New MBR Rate Schedule at 200 MW, imposed a sunset on the enrollment after three years (on November 1, 2022), and established an expiration date of January 1, 2026, for the New MBR Rate Schedule.

As described in the Application, effective July 1, 2020, the Virginia Clean Economy Act (“VCEA”), among other things, directs the Company to participate in a renewable energy portfolio standard program (“RPS Program”), through which the Company must petition the Commission for approval of new solar and onshore wind generation capacity. The Application states that the VCEA requires the Company to recover certain costs of compliance with the RPS Program, as well as costs to construct or acquire offshore wind generation capacity after July 1, 2020, from all retail customers, absent a qualifying exception, as a non-bypassable charge, irrespective of a customer’s generation supplier.

The Application further states that Code § 10.1-1402.03 H requires that: “[a]ll costs associated with closure of a [coal combustion residuals] unit in accordance with this section” shall be recovered through a rate adjustment clause authorized by the Commission under Code § 56-585.1 A 5 e, provided that, among other things, “any such costs shall be allocated to all customers of the utility in the Commonwealth as a non-bypassable charge, irrespective of the generation supplier of any such customer[.]”

The Company states that the above-described requirements of the VCEA necessitate certain limited modifications to the MBR Rate Schedules to implement the non-bypassable charges, which are incremental to the existing charges.

Dominion further requests approval of an increase in the aggregate participation cap for the New MBR Rate Schedule from 200 MW to 600 MW for jurisdictional customers.

According to the Application, as of the date of filing, 129 MW are enrolled in the New MBR Rate Schedule, with another 32 MW currently in the enrollment process to take service under that rate schedule, leaving 39 MW remaining under the 200 MW cap. The Company requests to increase the participation cap in order to accommodate (1) growth of customers currently enrolled in the New MBR Rate Schedule, many of whom are data centers, (2) “significant interest in the New MBR Rate Schedule from eligible customers,” and (3) the migration of customers currently taking service under the Initial MBR Rate Schedules, which will expire December 31, 2022.

The Company asserts that increasing the participation cap in the New MBR Rate Schedule is in the public interest because it will (1) enable the Company to continue to provide this offering to interested customers and help encourage economic development in the Commonwealth; (2) “help ensure that the New MBR Rate Schedule can continue to provide a competitive avenue that allows the Company to serve choice-eligible customers in a just and reasonable manner, and that prevents reallocation of costs to nonparticipants;” and (3) help the Company “to acquire additional information on how utility-provided market-based pricing impacts customers’ business decisions.”

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on the Application. On March 8, 2021, at 10 a.m., the Commission will hold a telephonic hearing, with no witness present in the Commission’s courtroom, for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before March 4, 2021, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/ pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.

A public evidentiary hearing shall be convened at 10 a.m. on March 9, 2021, to receive the testimony and evidence of the Company, any respondents, and Staff. Further details on the hearing will be provided by subsequent Commission Order or Hearing Examiner’s Ruling.

The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health emergency related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, and the declarations of emergency issued at both the state and federal levels. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs, or other documents required to be served in this matter should be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice. Confidential and Extraordinarily Sensitive information shall not be submitted electronically and should comply with 5 VAC 5-20-170, Confidential information, of the Rules of Practice. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, any person seeking to hand deliver and physically file or submit any pleading or other document shall contact the Clerk’s Office Document Control Center at (804) 371-9838 to arrange the delivery.

Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information.

An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be viewed on the Commission’s website or may be obtained by submitting a request to counsel for the Company: David J. DePippo, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, david.j.depippo@dominionenergy.com.

On or before March 9, 2021, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments or by filing such comments with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00272.

On or before January 15, 2021, any interested person or entity may participate as a respondent by filing, with the Clerk of the Commission at the address above or scc.virginia.gov/ clk/efiling/, a notice of participation in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice. Notices of participation shall include the email addresses of the party or its counsel.

The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00272. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.

On or before February 5, 2021, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission and serve on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case, and each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, including 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR- 2020-00272.

Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

The Company’s Application, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing may be viewed at the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020 | PAGE 3

Thank you to everyone who made the Virtual 2020 Maskerade Gala a success!

Event Sponsors

www.fallschurchchamber.org

MtoM Consulting  Alison Miller—KW Realty United Falls Church  Nothing Bundt Cakes ROCK STAR Realty Group  The State Theatre  Dominion Wine & Beer Diener & Associates CPAs  Eden Center  Falls Church News-Press The Kensington Falls Church New Editions Consulting  The Young Group

Auction Donors

Advantage Trainers Audacious Aleworks Bakeshop Falls Church Body Dynamics Inc  Borek G Turkish Mom's Cooking Burke and Herbert Bank The Casual Pint Central Farm Markets Children's Therapy Center Clare and Don's Beach Shack Code Ninja's Falls Church Congressional School Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly Barb Cram's Christmas Collection Dogfish Head Alehouse Dogtopia of Falls Church Tom Dolan Swim School - Falls Church Eden Center Falls Church Jazzercise Ferocity Dance Company Functional Fitness The Geller Law Group Goldfish Swim School Falls Church Grace Christian Academy Ireland's Four Provinces Jefferson Falls Mini Golf Jefferson District Park Golf Course  The Kensington Falls Church Kim Deering—The State Theatre  Kona Ice of Fairfax Tori McKinney - ROCK STAR Realty Martha Mothershead—Baskin, Jackson & Lasso Mosquito Hunters Shelia and Ford Newman—New Editions Consulting Nothing Bundt Cakes Orangetheory Fitness - Falls Church Orangetheory Fitness - Seven Corners Panjshir Preservation Biscuit Company ROCK STAR Realty Group Brenda Schrier Photography Sislers Stone The State Theatre Stress Knot Massage Therapy The Toy Nest The Young Group TINT - A Modern Makerspace Mark Werblood—Tesler & Werblood Vintage Restaurant Group—Dogwood Tavern, Bear Branch Tavern, Ragtime, Rhodeside Grill, William Jeffrey’s Tavern

Special Thanks Barbara Benson  Julie Crain  Kim Deering  Lisa D’Ambrosio-Irons  Kitty Janney  Alison Miller Melissa Robison, video producer  Joe Thierry, producer

a Special Gift for you Experience the gift of peace of mind when you reserve your Chesterbrook apartment today! Enjoy the holidays with flexible January move-in options.

Celebrate our 13th Anniversary with a special holiday gift:

Reserve your apartment by December 31, 2020 and receive $1,300 off rent for your first three months ($3,900 total savings) or a one-year rate lock!

New leases only; excludes respite. Non-refundable deposit required.

This limited-time offer makes our trusted assisted living care even more affordable. Call our friendly team today.

703-531-0781 | chesterbrookres.org 2030 Westmoreland Street A Caring Assisted Living Retirement Community

Falls Church, VA

Coordinated Services Management, Inc.—Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981.

Be sure to visit chesterbrookres.org/events for holiday happenings!

PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020

LO CA L

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Service for Bittle Being Held Shortly After the New Year

Continued from Page 1

A Northern Virginia native and graduate of Wakefield High School in Arlington, he was appointed by the Arlington Circuit Court to fill the Falls Church Sheriff’s job upon the retirement of his longtime and only predecessor John H. Martin in 1992. He then won a hotly-contested three-way election in 1993.

Bittle won against the man who’d been Martin’s chief deputy and a third candidate, a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police.

In six subsequent elections, he faced no competition and in 2017 the Virginia House of Delegates honored him for his 50 years of law enforcement service.

Upon his retirement in August of this year, Bittle appointed his chief deputy Matt Cay to succeed him.

Falls Church Mayor David Tarter said of Bittle, “His 54 years of service to the City of Falls Church is unparalleled, he is officially the longest serving City employee in our City’s history. But more importantly, he will always be remembered for his unwaver-

BITTLE’S WIFE, Kathleen (center), was also at the ceremony and was �lanked by acting sheriff Matt Cay (right) and another member of the sheriff’s department. (P����: J. M������ W�����) ing dedication to law enforcement and for making the City a special place to live and work. Our thoughts go out to his family, and to all of those in the Little City law enforcement community.”

Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields said, “Sheriff Bittle was a colleague, friend, and neighbor and he will be sorely

missed. My condolences to his wife Kathleen and his family. I join with Sheriff Matt Cay and all in the big Falls Church family who worked with Steve during his career to mourn his passing.”

Sheriff Cay said of Bittle, “His dedicated law enforcement career serving the City of Falls Church community as the Sheriff and as

a police officer with the City of Falls Church Police Department spanned 54 years. The outpouring of condolences for his passing which are greatly appreciated by the members of our office and his family are a testament to the many friends, colleagues and others with whom he shared his good nature and company.”

The 2017 Virginia House of Delegates Joint Resolution stated, “Under Steve Bittle’s leadership, the Falls Church Sheriff’s Office has upheld the highest levels of professionalism and promoted a safe and secure environment for all residents; and Steve Bittle implemented a community-oriented policing strategy and strives to build mutual respect between his deputies and members of the public as they work together to enhance the quality of life in Falls Church; and Steve Bittle has been a loyal and exceptional employee and public servant to the City of Falls Church throughout his career.”

Preceded in death by his son, Stephen Scott Bittle is survived by his wife of 28 years, Kathleen Bittle, daughter Susan Brassfield, step children Julianna Ramirez, Oscar Roa and Rebecca Roa, nine grandchildren and sister Kathleen Landrith.

A graveside service will be held Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 at the Oakwood Cemetery, 401 N. Roosevelt in Falls Church and condolences may be sent to the family at adventfuneral.com.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

Fears Over Vaccine’s Methods Deemed ‘Hollywood Concern’ By Health Official

Continued from Page 1

the News-Press. “They’re being allocated from there. We’re not waiting until we get enough for everybody, we’re getting it shipped to us as they have it available for us.”

Once the logistics arm of the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed team ships the vaccines to the states, Brody explained that the Virginia Department of Health will allocate the supply each health district will get based on population.

He said the supply of the vaccine will be measured in the thousands locally, with the INOVA health systems and Reston Hospital Center receiving shipments at first. The two health systems will then disseminate the vaccine to health care providers in their network. On the public health side, Fairfax Health District’s staff and volunteers will also send the vaccine to community health care providers.

Given how much interest there

is in acquiring the vaccine, Brody did not share which community health care providers the county will be giving dosages to.

Neither the health care systems nor the community providers will diverge much from the priority populations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, per Brody. The three primary categories — healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents (1a), frontline essential workers and those over 75 years old (1b) and people from 65 74 years old, people between 16 – 64 years old with high risk conditions as well as all essential workers not recommended in the previous phase (1c) — will each get their access to the vaccine as it becomes available.

While the hospitals and community health care providers manage their own vaccine distribution, every long-term care facility in Virginia is part of the Pharmacy Partnership for Longterm Care Program. Brody said that this program tasks the direc-

tors of each facility with scheduling a day where pharmacists can come and provide the vaccine to anyone who wants it. That would likely start with residents first, Brody added, but once there is a sufficient number of the vaccine it would quickly move to staff since he said they are typically the source of any Covid-19 outbreaks among seniors.

Fairfax County is also developing a strike team through its Emergency Medical Services to vaccinate high risk populations at an even quicker rate. Paramedics will be trained and authorized by the health district to treat those at long-term care facilities, according to Brody, who can accommodate senior living communities that couldn’t schedule through the federal partnership at a preferred time frame.

Brody said the vaccine itself makes use of a spike protein, or messenger RNA, that sits on the exterior of the virus in order for recipients to develop immunity. “[The spike protein] is a way

DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 | PAGE 5

U.S. CONGRESSMAN DON BEYER, JR. received his coronavirus vaccine last week, joining the initial surge of elected officials who got the vaccine to boost confidence in it. (Courtesy Photo) to introduce the mRNA instructions into a cell, and once that instruction package gets into the cell, our cells read the instruction packet like a book and...produce a viral protein,” Brody said. “It basically fakes your body into mounting an immune response

into the exact spike protein that would be on the Covid virus, but it does it in such a way that your body is never given the virus itself, either live or inactivated.”

The Pfizer and Moderna vac-

Continued on Page 18

PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 

One of the Nation’s Foremost Weekly Newspapers

(Published by Benton Communications, Inc.)

FOUNDED IN 1991

Vol. XXX, No. 45 December 24 – 30, 2020 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •

N������� F. B����� O���� � E�����-I�-C���� �������������.���

N��� G��� A���������� S������� A������������ ����������.���

M��� D������ N��� E�����

�������������.���

M������ M���� A������� � O��������� �����������.���

C������ C����, T�� W������ C��������� T�� W���� C��� E����� J���� I����� C���������� M������ �������������.���

T� C������ ��� N���-P���� �����: 703-532-3267 ���: 703-342-0347 �����: ���������.��� ������� ����������� ��������.��� ���������� ��� �������������.��� ������� �� ��� ������ ������������.��� ������������� ������������ � �������� �������������.���

WWW.FCNP.COM 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. 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. ©2020 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.

E��������

E D I TO R I A L

Who Knew Just A Year Ago?

Happy holidays, everybody! Who knew a year ago at this time what we’d be going through with the Covid-19 pandemic and the continued devolution of Trump and the GOP? Who knew that a most extraordinary surge of motivation would lift the American rank and file to overcome every obstacle to suppress the vote and light a path to a brighter future? Seventy four million votes should have been enough to re-elect Trump, but 81 million voters wouldn’t hear it and thumped the madman by a remarkable seven million vote margin.

Notwithstanding that Trump is reverting to his most brazen lies and con man methods to somehow cancel those 81 million votes, exposing his putrid innards more than ever before, on balance the results of a catastrophic 2020, with still a couple weeks to go, has to be appreciated as downright stunning.

When ever has such an overwhelming majority of Americans repudiated so soundly the crimes of a sitting president? The nation was on track to reelect Trump simply because he didn’t destroy the economy and gave blinding tax cuts to the already rich, something that for inexplicable reasons in this country seems to please the poor.

When ever has a deadly airborne virus been unleashed on the world that, as has happened in the past, veritably wiped out whole civilizations and taken years to tame? Although the peaking of this contagion hasn’t even happened yet, still in record time vaccines have been developed and are now being mass-deployed that will bring it to a screeching halt, even if not for some months from now.

Yes, thanks to Trump and his GOP henchmen, horrible things have happened in this country in 2020, including the avoidable loss of hundreds of thousands of lives to the pandemic and the economic and social chaos that’s resulted from uneven efforts to stem the virus as localities have been left to their own devices to implement measures, given a wholesale lack of a topdown leadership.

But a cascading descent into a new Dark Age, for which all the ingredients existed in 2020, is not going to happen. At least it shouldn’t, given the remarkable rescues by good people in our midst to date.

This warrants two responses: celebration and redoubled vigilance. On the first one, it has been said a lot lately that people should celebrate what they have, not what they want. If this new spirit breaks the back of the immoral obsession with consumerism and “things” for their own sake, then that is a huge plus.

On the other hand, it was the profound mobilizations and calls to action by good people that threw out Trump. Democratic institutions didn’t do it by themselves, nor checks and balances. Good people did, those committed to our nation’s most cherished values, who insisted on the truth over expediency. So, now we must remain committed to a national restoration even more beneficial than before all this.

L������

F.C. Schools Not Following The Science With Reopening Plans Editor, The superintendent and school board are certainly in an unenviable position of deciding how to educate students during a pandemic, but many of the reasons for their actions do not stand up to scrutiny.

Schools are closed to “keep staff and students safe,” yet most research suggest that schools are not major contributors of Covid spread, especially with the number of precau-

tions FCCPS has put in place (though regular testing is conspicuously absent not only from the current mitigation strategy but also from any public discussions of the reopening plan) and particularly with younger children.

In fact, it was noted at the last school board meeting that none of the cases among students and staff originated in the schools, and at that time, those student and staff cases had not been linked to any secondary infections

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

P������� 1. Keep the news clean and fair.

2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy.

3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial comment.

4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe.

5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

6. Give “value received” for every dollar you take in.

7. Make the paper show profit if you can, but above all keep it clean, fearless and fair.

ADVERTISE IN THE

The News-Press is delivered to every household and many businesses in the City of Falls Church (22046), and to many homes and businesses (but not all) in the adjacent 22041, 22042, 22043, 22044 and 22205 zip codes. Its total circulation of 10,000 per issue is greater than any other newspaper in the distribution area, including dailies. For complete advertising information, call us or check out our web site.

Call 532-3267 x2274 or visit www.FCNP.com

All original and some syndicated content is accessible via the Falls Church News-Press online site, www.FCNP.com.

FCNP.com also includes photos, stories, ads and more not appearing in the print edition.

For information on online advertising, please contact Nick Gatz at 703-532-3267 or ngatz@fcnp.com.

ONLINE

within the schools.

The stated reason for keeping sports open and schools closed is that “sports are optional.” This reasoning makes absolutely no sense.

During an emergency, it is usually the optional activities that are jettisoned first. FCCPS is going to allow school activities that are optional to continue and close down the essential part of what schools provide: education. The closure of schools and not sports suggests that it is education that is the optional activity for FCCPS. Regarding guidance from state and federal agencies: the constant refrain since March is that no one is telling us when to open the schools.

Across the country, across the world, and even in private schools in our own community, in-person education continues in the face of rising cases (some places with much higher levels of Covid spread than NOVA or Falls Church) because those communities have determined, on their own and with the same guidance that has been available to FCCPS, that in-person education is vital for children. It has been up to each community (not some central overlord) to choose how to express how they value education.

FCCPS has expressed how it values education, for better or for worse.

Jerrod Anderson Falls Church

CO MME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 | PAGE 7

G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� N. Virginia Community College Is Our Unheralded Gem B� J���� ������

What if I told you that in half the time for two thirds less the cost, your son/daughter/ grandchild/friend/self could get skilled in an essential career and be snapped up in a greedy flurry of hiring. Sounds promising, right? What is not to like? Well, friends, I am telling you that is indeed the case. While Falls Church City has one of the most exceptional education programs in the state and likely one of the highest graduation rates to university enrollment ratios in the nation, we are also extremely fortunate to have a hidden gem in our backyard, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Fouryear university paths are perfect for some, but not for everyone. It is time we re-examined our collective societal perspective on the role community colleges play and should play in our educational hierarchy.

Consider this: NOVA awards more IT degrees than any other two-year college in America and was recently ranked as producing the fifth highest paid cybersecurity talent of any college or university in the country. While traditional degrees are available in a wide range of fields with transfer agreements to every public university in the state, NOVA also offers exceptional workforce skills education toward degrees or certification in high demand fields.

This includes everything from HVAC installation and maintenance to cloud computing and a wide range of healthcare programs including nursing, sonography, respiratory therapy, and dental hygiene. In addition, the College also offers high-demand, hands-on education in

welding and automotive technology. NOVA prepares students from all walks of life to pursue degrees and certifications in all types of fields that translate to high paying jobs.

Whatever the higher education path one takes or returns to, the bottom line is being able

“Four-year university paths are perfect for some, but not for everyone. It is time we re-examined our collective societal perspective on the role community colleges play and should play in our educational hierarchy.” to support yourself and your family with a truly viable living wage. Many of our certification programs lead to $60,000 plus starting salaries. The common complaint in our area from industry is that there are not enough qualified employees to fill jobs. It is never that there are too few jobs available. Many graduates walk out of traditional four-year colleges with debt and lacking translatable career skill sets.

Oftentimes, this is because traditional four-year

degrees focus more on theory than application and changing curriculum at that level is a slow bureaucratic process. Additionally, many higher education campuses are in areas where there are not enough opportunities for co-ops, internships and the like that help complement degree programs. Meanwhile, national corporations like Micron, Northrup Grumman, Amazon Web Services and the region’s data center operators all work closely with NOVA to ensure a ready pipeline of employees — the system at NOVA is nimbler and more flexible and adapts to the faster pace of technology and business in general.

Somewhere along the way, going to a community college became looked down upon.

I have witnessed students of George Mason High School, Yorktown and McLean talk about NOVA. It is usually in a disparaging manner.

Their parents often follow suit. When I find out individuals have chosen NOVA as either a step to a four-year degree or for training in a certain field, they get a resounding high five (pre-Covid) and an excited response. When I am hiring and I get an applicant who did all or half of their education in a community college system or is a veteran, I immediately pay more attention to their resume. To me, it is an indicator that they clearly understand the value of money and time, they can usually check entitlement at the door (if they have any at all) and that they are probably able to work more easily in diverse workplaces.

Community colleges are the bedrock of higher education. I would argue that as we recover from Coronavirus, the community col-

Q������� �� ��� W��� Are you feeling the holiday spirit this year?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Visit www.FCNP.com to cast your vote

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]

leges are even more important. Thousands upon thousands of adults are in need of reskilling. With anxiety rates among teenagers spiking, imagine taking away the worry of college admission and the persistent drive of grades and competition in our education system. NOVA has a 100 percent acceptance rate.

This translates to a more diverse student body that is a better reflection ethnically, economically and demographically of the community of Northern Virginia than most other student bodies can claim. One not only learns the skill sets they need for a job or to move onto a four-year degree, they learn how to operate in and value a diverse environment. NOVA is a proven, high quality, affordable gateway to a four-year degree, an industry-supported training center for technical skill sets, a matchmaker of workforce needs and an open conduit of talented and career ready human capital into our local economy.

Next time you have a conversation related to higher ed, think about the value proposition that sits on our backyard. Next time you think about how to share your vast career knowledge, think about becoming an adjunct professor at NOVA. Next time you panic about the costs of university and how to pay for yourself or your child to have access to reskilling or a degree, think about NOVA. And lastly, next time you need to hire, call NOVA and get connected to their career placement office. You won’t regret it.

Julie Felgar sits on the board for Northern Virginia Community College

Not sure — 88% No — 9%

Last Week’s Question: Do you agree with the modifications to the West End Yes — 3% Project?

9% No 3% Yes

88% Not Sure

FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientific polls.

The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published.

All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020

Warmest Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and Fruitful 2021 and Beyond from your friends at the:

We thank the Falls Church community for its ongoing support of our efforts as we complete 30 years of consecutive weekly publication.

We trust our readers and advertisers appreciate our ongoing effort to serve our community with the best representations of what a free press in a democracy provides.

We invite you to join us in 2021 as a member supporter!

FCNP.com/members

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

LO CA L

NEWS BRIEFS

DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020 | PAGE 9

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

Currently accepting new patients

F.C. School Board Seeks Applicants to Submit by Jan. 15 The Falls Church City School Board is seeking applications from qualified individuals to fulfill the term of School Board member Lawrence Webb, who will resign effective January 4, 2021. Applications may be submitted by qualified voters in the City of Falls Church who are not employed by the School Board. The appointee will serve from the date of appointment until December 31, 2021. Application letters must be submitted to School Board Clerk Marty Gadell no later than Friday, January 15, 2021. Letters should indicate the applicant’s interest in the position, state why they are applying, and describe their qualifications. All letters received by the deadline will be posted publicly. The Board will hold a public hearing on January 26, 2021, to hear from interested parties and consider applications received. The Board anticipates a final vote on February 9, 2021, to appoint an applicant to fulfill the unexpired term through December 31, 2021. Interested persons may contact the School Board Chair and/or Vice-Chair with questions about the process.

Group Projects F.C. Population Now at 16,186 The World Population Review, a Northern California-based independent organization without political affiliations that seeks to make raw demographic data more accessible through graphs, charts, analysis and visualizations, has projected in advance of the official 2020 U.S. Census that the population of the City of Falls Church now exceeds 16,000. To be exact, it puts the current number at 16,186 and among the more interesting breakdowns is its projection that barely half of City residents (53.1 percent) live as married couples, with the remainder living in non-family households (32.9 percent), or as single females (11.3 percent) or males (2.5 percent). A whopping 79 percent of adults have Bachelor’s or higher educational degrees. The racial breakdown by household is 6,957 white, 1,129 Asian, 824 Hispanic, 502 Black, 193 other and 69 multiple.

The poverty rate is 2.69 percent, the highest being among Hispanics (9.5 percent) and Blacks (7.2 percent). Of the City’s 980 veterans, most are from recent conflicts, with 200 from Vietnam, 40 from the Korean war and 20 from World War 2. The City’s population has accelerated, growing by 31.25 percent, since 2010. Up until then, it was static following growth spurts in the 1940s and 1950s at around 9.5-10,000.

F.C. Police Seek BB Gun Victims The City of Falls Church Police are looking for additional victims of BB gun vandalism around Lincoln Avenue and Great Falls Street in November and December. Police investigated calls of vandalism and found a teen who confessed to at least 50 incidents of shooting vehicles and people. Some victims have been identified, but police believe there may be more. Those who believe they are a victim should contact Detective Chuquillangui at 703-248-5165 (TTY 711).

Sen. Warner Applauds Minority Investment Bill

2021 Spring Health Guide January 7th issue of the FCNP!

Virginia U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner this week joined Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Kamala Harris to applaud Congressional passage of legislation they jointly authored to make the largest single investment into minority-owned and community-based lending institutions in the nation’s history. Provisions of the Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act passed as part of this week’s Covid-19 Relief bill after Sen. Warner fought to include them in the legislative blueprint that served as the foundation for the final relief deal. “With Black and Brown unemployment rates more than twice as high as they were at this time last year, we need to be doing everything we can to invest in our most vulnerable communities,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to have fought for these provisions during bipartisan relief negotiations.”

Beyer Says Stimulus Package ‘Not Enough’ U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents the 8th District of Virginia that includes the City of Falls Church and who is expected to chair Congress’ Joint Economic Committee in the coming session of Congress, issued the following statement Monday on the funding and relief legislative package that passed the Congress: “This legislation is a down payment on what Congress owes the American people. It is absolutely not ‘mission accomplished.’ This bill should be much bigger, it should put more money in people’s pockets, it should provide more help and more certainty to the unemployed, and it should do more to boost the economy. It is better than nothing, but it is not nearly enough. The country needed this relief and this support for a more robust pandemic response long ago. The shortcomings in size, scope, and duration, and in the failure to help struggling state and local governments, make it clear even as we pass this legislation that Congress will have to pass another aid package next year.” Beyer voted in favor of final passage for the full legislation.

Our readers are looking for health professionals for guidance for all of their New Year resolutions - physical activity programs, how to stay strong and resilient, getting help for dental needs, seeking professionals for their mental health. If your company can provide any of these services, advertise in our Health Guide!

Give us a call today! 703-532-3267 or email ads@fcnp.com

PAGE 10 | DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020

LO CA L

F.C. Resident Scratches Musical Itch By Creating Anthem for ‘Unsung Heroes’

by Mark Dreisonstok

Falls Church News-Press

John Britton, a native of Ohio and a long-time resident of Falls Church, wrote and recorded a song in April dedicated to the “unsung heroes” of our Covid19 world.

Inspired by heartbreaking stories of courageous people working to keep us safe and provided for during the pandemic, he produced an anthem and a tribute to our nation’s essential workers: nurses, doctors, lab techs, bus drivers, cashiers and others. Amid the luxury of being able to work from home (and, he adds, the blessing of still having a job), Britton realized what much of society was also appreciating — these newly categorized frontline workers had always been “essential workers.”

They were risking their safety and sometimes lives for us, and they deserved a special tribute.

Britton is by profession a writer and editor who has worked in Washington’s policy and regulatory arenas for three decades. Yet songwriting has been his life-long, creative outlet.

“I have folders full of lyrics, ranging from a few lines of lyrics jotted down during Metro rides home to completed songs. With the traveling family band concept in mind (like ‘The Partridge Family’), I had a dream over a decade ago of starting a family band called the ‘The Brit-Tones’— even though my young children and I had no musical training.”

The arrival of the coronavirus and the social isolation at home that followed has given Britton just such an opportunity, for with the help of his family, he has written, recorded and posted on YouTube a poignant, engaging video entitled “The Unsung Heroes Song.”

“I wrote this song as an anthem and a tribute to our nurses, doctors, lab techs, bus drivers, cashiers,” he told the News-Press. “It has been my hope that the spirits of these dutiful, courageous workers would be lifted by this anthem that reflects the gratitude of our nation.”

Unlike the bubble gum rock of the Partridge Family of yore, Britton’s song (accessible on YouTube at youtu. be/3ownZUHcUcM) is styled after country music with traces of a folk influence as well.

While the writing of lyrics came somewhat naturally for Britton, finding musical collaborators to record songs has been the most difficult part of the journey over the decades as he has worked to get the melodies out of his head and onto the airwaves.

“I think the appeal for genuine musicians to collaborate with a middle-aged-man with no musical training and no track record was low,” Britton commented wryly. Yet in April, things finally came together as two families — friends from elementary school years with remarkably talented children — came to his assistance. They did a socially distanced recording in a friend’s living room.

The faded family-band vision came to fruition, in part, as his son Justin assumed editing and his daughter Annika took photos and prepared them as the thumbnails for posting videos on YouTube.

Britton’s original posting on YouTube reads: “This is an original song...inspired by story after story of frontline defenders and unsung heroes working to keep us safe and fed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

My hope is that the spirits of these dutiful, courageous workers will be lifted by this anthem that reflects the gratitude of our nation. We’ll get through this, and may we forever be more mindful of our dependence on all the dutiful, essential workers who truly are ‘the backbone of our nation’ and our ‘hidden strength.’”

Reflecting his interest in the world of government policy and inspiring statesmanship, Britton pointed out in one of the song’s postings that “the song ends echoing Churchill, ‘...in the midst of crisis, you — our finest hour.’ The song begins, ‘I know I speak for a grateful nation — amid our fears and devastation; your service taken for granted far too long.’ It’s so true that society has taken such frontline workers for granted,

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

and it’s sad to think that we may revert to that some day. I’d love to think that my song could be one small factor amid the many that will forever change our thoughts about and interactions with these unsung heroes.”

Britton composed and recorded his song in April, yet he would like to give it amplified attention now: “As Covid has been resurging in November, I thought the holidays were a perfect time to make another push to get the song out to more of our heroes.

As a second wave will push some medical providers and others to their breaking points, it would give me great joy to know that this song’s message lifted some spirits and helped sustain them.” In the words of the song: You’re our “unsung heroes” — and this song is for you.

And this heartfelt tribute — is so long overdue.

So, we rise to thank you — your courage and your power.

In the midst of crisis, you — our finest hour.

JOHN BRITTON (top picture) had always had an interest in writing music, whether it was scribbling lyrics during Metro rides or finishing songs at home. But with Covid-19 pandemic setting in and Britton rediscovering just how much he appreciated those on the frontlines, he rallied some musicians to help flesh out his track in virtual recording sessions. (Photos: Courtesy John Britton)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

N���-P����

DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 | PAGE 11

C�������� N��� � N���� EarthWatchers T-Shirt Design Contest Is Live The annual t-shirt contest is underway, and EarthWatchers need to get out their art supplies.

The artwork is needed for the front of the shirt. The theme this year is Energy Efficiency. Check out the December activity sheet at sites.google.com/view/operationearthwatch/activity-sheets for students to learn how to submit their design.

Also, participating students are encouraged to check out the “referral incentive.”

Student participants who refer another eligible student (K-5) and that student completes the activity sheets for October, November and December will receive a special treat bag in January.

McLean High’s Yearbook Chosen as Nat’l Award Finalist McLean High’s Caledonia yearbook is one of just 41 high school yearbooks nationwide selected as a Crown Award finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

Caledonia will receive either a Silver or Gold Crown at the award

ceremony at Columbia University in March. Three students serve as editors in chief: Mary Scalia, LanAnh Dang-Vu and Julia Raymond, who had to finish the book during the Covid-19 quarantine.

Because of earlier start dates to their school year, many books from around the country — especially those in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and California — had already submitted their final book when quarantine began.

McLean is one of just five schools nationwide to have both their yearbook and news publications represented on the Crown list.

F.C. Chamber Judging Holiday Decoration Contest The Neighborhood Barbershop started the Clark W. Griswold Annual Local International Commemorative Holiday Decoration Major Award of the World Award that is now being run by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce to pick the winners.

There are two awards — one for businesses and the other for residents.

The awards will be bestowed on winners to display proudly for the calendar year and then handed

THE ROCK STAR Realty Group’s annual holiday celebration was quite a bit different this holiday season.

While following Covid-19-conscious guidelines, the realtors were able to spread some cheer with their ROCK’n rosemary tree giveaway in Mr. Brown’s Park. Guests listened to the 19th Street Band perform holiday tunes and were given hot cocoa and a cookie to-go. (P����: C������� ROCK STAR R����� G����) off to the next year’s winner when announced.

Winners will be selected based

on decorations that best display the holiday spirit. Contestants should share photos of their decorations

to the Live Local Falls Church Facebook group (facebook.com/ groups/2137827053122857)

Send Us Your News & Notes!

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

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

Follow Us Online

twitter.com/fcnp

facebook.com/fallschurchcity

CO MME NT

PAGE 12 | DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

It’s Christmastime, a holy time for some faiths, but a special time to celebrate the spirit of the season, regardless of creed or belief. Peace on earth, good will to men (and women) has been a guidepost for centuries and, hopefully, will take on even more meaning as the country transitions from one administration to another.

Regardless of the coming availability of the new vaccines, the coronavirus pandemic will continue to be front and center for many more months, but the vaccines offer much needed hope for controlling the disease.

It is hard to know whether Santa and his elves will wear masks and be socially distanced on his world-wide deliveries, I hope he carries many candy canes, and some lumps of coal, for distribution in stockings around the region tonight. In case Santa lost his list, here are some reminders: • A candy cane for those who wear their masks, faithfully and correctly, to protect themselves and others from potential coronavirus exposure. A lump of coal for those who can’t be bothered, and multiple lumps to those who view masks as a political statement. It’s about health, not politics!

• Candy canes for motorists who observe the speed limit on neighborhood streets, and who come to a full stop at big red “STOP” signs. Lumps of coals to those who don’t.

• Candy canes to all those volunteers who offer their time and expertise, without remuneration or ego, to help their community in so many ways.

Some volunteers seek to reduce hunger in the community, others work to improve the environment or housing opportunities. Regardless of the subject matter, volunteers are priceless.

• Lots of candy canes for all those who voted in the November elections. Unprecedented long lines for early voting might have elicited some frustrating behaviors, but most voters waited patiently, and gave kudos to the elections staff and volunteers who ensured a fair election, and an accurate count.

• A lump of coal for anti-vaxxers and others who reject proven scientific research that can protect the lives of millions. Vaccines save lives and eradicate disease — polio and smallpox are just two of the deadly diseases that have nearly disappeared from the planet — thanks to vaccines, and those groundbreaking scientists deserve candy canes, too.

• Candy canes for the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) (accacares.org) for decades of service to provide affordable child care, rental assistance, a food pantry, and gently used furniture for families in need. Candy canes, too, for other non-profit organizations that provide services to our community. Bethany House (bhnv. org), which helps with housing and counseling services for women and children victims of domestic violence, and Culmore Clinic (culmoreclinic. org), which provides medical services to uninsured residents, are two that come to mind. In fact, rather than candy canes, these non-profits would welcome financial donations to wrap up the year and start the new one.

• Lumps of coal to those who fail to support their local newspapers, resulting in the death of small dailies and weeklies across the country. Local journalism is crucial to keep people in touch with their community. We may live in the white-hot center of global politics, but the Washington Post doesn’t cover much of the small-town stuff, even though we live it every day. The Falls Church News-Press does a nice job of covering stories that matter at the local level, and deserves a candy cane!

• Finally, candy canes to our readers. Without you, weekly columns would be just a bunch of words on a page; with you, it can be a conversation.

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and smile behind your mask; 2020 is almost over!  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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

CRIME REPORT Week of December 14 – 20, 2020 Destruction of Property/ Graffiti100 blk Hillwood Ave. December 14, 2020, 4:04pm, Unknown suspect (s) unlawfully spray painted a fence.

Commercial Burglar y, Destruction of Property- 6700 blk Wilson Blvd. December 15, 2:48am, unknown suspect (s) gained access to several businesses and stole items of value.

Larceny from Motor Vehicle, Destruction of Property-100 blk

for shoplifting.

Destruction of Property- 500 blk Great Falls Street. December 19, 628pm, unknown suspect(s) damaged a car window.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TODAY!

844-947-1479

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

Offer valid August 24, 2020 - December 31, 2020

Special Financing Available

*Terms & Conditions Apply

Subject to Credit Approval

VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING

2020 VIRGINIA

REDISTRICTING COMMISSION Virginia has voted to have a redistricting commission and you can be part of it!

If you are interested in becoming a citizen commissioner go to our website for more information.

Accepting applications November 30th through December 28th Apply Today https://redistricting.dls.virginia.gov/

Walk-In Tubs

WALK-IN BATHTUB SALE! SAVE $1,500 ✓ EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST! Only American Standard has OVER 140 years of experience and offers the Liberation Walk-In Bathtub.

✓ SUPERIOR DESIGN! Ultra low easy entry and exit design, wide door, built-in safety bar and textured floor provides a safer bathing experience.

Haycock Road, Sometime during the overnight hours of December 14 and 15, unknown suspect(s) unlawfully entered a parked vehicle by destroying one of the windows and stole an item of value.

Extortion/Blackmail- 1100 blk W Broad Street. December 15, 313pm, one of the business owners Instagram account was hacked and locked by unknown suspect. Hacker demanded $10,000 in ransom via text to unlock the account. The demanded ransom was never paid.

Shoplifting- 300 blk W Broad St, December 19, 246pm, a female, 39 of Silver Spring, MD, was arrested

✓ PATENTED QUICK-DRAIN® TECHNOLOGY ✓ LIFETIME WARRANTY!

The ONLY Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard.

✓ 44 HYDROTHERAPY JETS! More than any other tub we’ve seen.

www.FCNP.com

FREE!

Lifetime Warranty!

Finance Options Available* Limited Time Offer! Call Today!

877-691-5591 Or visit: www.walkintubinfo.com/vapa

Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE! ($500 Value)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The Pandemic & Immorality

The biggest cheating scandal ever to hit West Point, the U.S. Military Academy there, this month comes as a fitting exclamation point to 2020, not that we’re over this most extraordinary of years quite yet.

The massive cheating scandal involving over 70 cadets at this most esteemed of institutions, dedicated to turning out the most responsible cadres of leaders upon whom the security and stability of our nation is supposed to rest, rivals if not in the same immediate global consequentiality as a pathological liar and traitor in the White House, then at least as an exemplary signal of the depth of the nation’s moral rot.

Perhaps by extension it explains Trump, how he was ever enabled to escape the wrath of the U.S. criminal FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS justice system as a two-bit mafioso thug in New York to instead become president of the U.S., and to still enjoy, at least for the time being, the support of 60 million Americans.

The monument marking the entrance to West Point reads simply, “A cadet will not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.” The importance of this honor code cannot be overstated. It would be nice if the entire nation were held to such a standard, and for a democracy to work, that pretty much has to be the assumption.

But of course, it is not the cheating cadets who’ve reminded us how decadent our once-proud nation has become. It is the behavior of all too many police officers around the U.S. who have come under so much added scrutiny in this year of Black Lives Matter in the wake of the deadly public suffocation by a police officer of George Floyd and other brutal cases which the proliferation of cell phone cameras have brought to light.

And, as journalist Sarah Jones has stipulated in a New York Magazine article this week, “Weddings to Die For,” immoral behavior runs the gamut of American culture in these times.

Yes, going maskless and ignoring social distancing at large, sweaty gatherings, such as marriage parties she herself witnessed, ignoring the Covid-19 “super spreader” consequences of such behavior, is the height of selfishness and immortality for everyone involved.

There is simply no excuse, no plaintiff insistence that precautions were observed, no anger at being judged in an unfavorable light, that can wash away the stain of moral turpitude that one carries having participated in such a violation.

It is more than any risk a participant personally might be willing to accept responsibility for. We all know that the deadly virus will go beyond any one healthy person to seek out others who are not, and that a wedding party attendee can carry it asymptomatically for days, bringing it home to jump onto grandma, or any other unsuspecting but vulnerable victim.

How do you think well over 300,000 Americans have died from this virus already? It has been, and continues to be, by the exact form of transmission that wedding party goers represent to the rest of us.

An amazing number of people remain in denial about this, talking one moment about the spread of the pandemic, and in the next moment about how they’re planning to travel and get together with inlaws over the holidays.

No wonder even as vaccines are beginning to be rolled out across our land, projections are that the death toll from Covid-19 could go well over half a million this winter before the arrival of spring.

People don’t consider themselves selfish pigs for ignoring the health safety guidelines like this, but they are. Denial doesn’t explain it.

Immorality does.

Selfish self-interest has become the dominant theme in our culture.

The lines of demarcation between good and bad in our society may not be best described as between capital and labor, or Republican or Democrat, but as between virtue and inconsiderate selfishness. That’s how they thought of it in Renaissance times.

It takes courage, after all, to stand up for what’s right, not just in repelling bullies on a playground, but in holding one’s own selfish impulses in check to advance the good and right.

Enjoy the holidays, virtuous citizens!

CO MME NT

DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

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

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Arlington House, the two-century-old Greek Revival home on the Potomac built in tribute to the father of the country, is the source of our county’s name.

Since 1974, its Doric columns have bedecked versions of the local government’s logo and seal.

But on Dec. 15, the county board agreed to accelerate a staff and citizen review that could remove it.

The Arlington Branch of the NAACP, which had pressed for the change in July, praised last week’s action when it said, “The symbol of a slave plantation is a reminder of enslavement and dehumanizing treatment.” The urgency was stressed by board member Takis Karantonis, who called the logo “offensive.”

Area National Park Service spokesman Aaron LaRocca declined to address the county’s decision. But he reminded me his colleagues have been working for several years on the “rehabilitation of Arlington House,” due to reopen this winter. “Through new exhibits and educational programs, visitors will learn about Robert E. Lee and his family, the Custis family (who had the house built to honor George Washington) and the nearly 100 enslaved people who lived and labored on the estate.”

County manager Mark Schwartz noted that technically, the board did not rule out keeping the logo, so its fate hinges on “crowdsourcing” suggestions between now and June. Board chair

Libby Garvey told me that Arlington House “as a 19thcentury federal monument has a history from a long time ago, and we’re firmly planted in the 21st century. It probably doesn’t represent Arlington very well.”

Opposition so far has come from snide comments on the ArlNow news site, with gripes about the “cancel culture” and the “minority rage mob.”

I personally favor more thorough discussion of how a visual of the famous property is offensive if the county’s name is not. *** The community’s scramble over the past eight months to respond to the Covid-19 crisis was examined Dec. 9 by the Arlington Committee of 100.

Anita Friedman, director of Arlington’s 700-staffer Human Services Department, reported that the neighborhoods hardest hit by the virus are the zones at Randolph, Carlin Springs, Barcroft and Drew schools.

Some 20,000 residents filed for unemployment since March, and use of food stamps rose 400 percent, she said. Each week 3,000 households get help from the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Friedman warned of a $40 million coming budget gap for agencies.

Things “won’t get back to normal until 60 percent of the community is vaccinated.”

Much of the emergency aid for needs such as prevention of evictions is being handled by the nonprofit Arlington Thrive. Executive Director Andrew Schneider said

his group had just completed their strategic plan in February when the crisis hit. That required scaling up case workers and fundraising.

His exhausted team has helped 4,000 people this year, working with 30 organizations and churches, he said. “The social safety net depends on the generosity of the community. Things are going to get worse before they get better.”

Representing the ailing small business community was Lisa Ostroff, owner of the Trade Roots fair-trade crafts café in Westover.

She closed shop in March and placed two employees on unemployment. But she applied for a county grant and reopened in July with tables out by the sidewalk.

“The county can be difficult” with its rules on signage, Ostroff said of her desire for a European feel.

“We’re losing lots of business to Falls Church.” But Arlingtonians for the most part “are supporting employers in a community that wants small businesses.” *** A friend sent me a half-century-old program for the gridiron game between the Washington Redskins (remember them?) and the St. Louis Cardinals Dec. 20, 1970, at RFK Stadium.

Along with the nostalgia-inducing team roster came the halftime show description. “The Santa Clause Special” featured Virginia horse jumpers and the Arlington County Schools 250-voice choir.

Thanks went to music instructors John Pickeral and Larry Feathers (Wakefield High School); Mary Lou Shaw (Yorktown); and Robert Baxter (Washington-Lee, now Liberty).

PAGE 14 | DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020

CA L E NDA R

FALLS CHURCH

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CALENDAR VIRTUALEVENTS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 Virtual Storytime: The Mitten (online). Interested attendees can join in Facebook Live for a reading of “The Mitten”

by Jan Brett. No registration required — just visit Long Branch’s Facebook page (facebook.com/Long-Branch-NatureCenter-534154986603390) to tune in. For ages 3 to 5. 7 – 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 Winter Explorers Virtual Nature Camp (online). Interested attendees can join the group for a three-day virtual camp to explore what local animals are doing at this time of year, and how they are surviving the cold winter months. Participants can tune in each day of camp from 10 – 11 a.m. to play virtual games, learn a few songs and create a few projects from the comfort of home. Ages 5 to 7. Register once for camp on all three days: Dec. 28 – 30. To register, contact 703228-4747. Park staff will email participants a link to Microsoft Teams before the program start time. Participants should have their device ready to go prior to the start of the program.

The Union Army in Arlington (online). Interested attendees can join a Union soldier virtually at the Fort C.F. Smith Park Visitor Center to learn about how Union soldiers lived in Arlington County during the Civil War, as well as what brought them there. Ages 7 to 11. Registration required.

To register, contact 703-228-4747.

Park staff will email participants a link to Microsoft Teams before the program start time. Participants should have their device ready to go prior to the start of the program. 11 a.m. – noon.

ESOL Conversation Group (online). Interested participants

can practice their English with a weekly ESOL conversation group.

This program meets online via Zoom. To request a Zoom invite, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@fallschurchva.gov.

7 – 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 Falls Church Writers Group (online). Group for writers to receive and give constructive criticism on their writing. All attendees are advised to bring something that they’ve been working on to share with the group.

Contact psullivan@fallschurchva. gov to get the invitation to the event. 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 Documentary Discussions (online). Interested viewers can check out some of the best documentaries ever made and discuss them with other members. This month’s film is “China: Power and Prosperity” (2019) from PBS, an immersive feature-length exploration of the country’s internal progress and growing sphere of power and influence across the globe. For ages 55 and up. Registration required — to register, contact 703-228-4747.

11 a.m. – noon.

Pondering Poetry (online).

Anyone who is a poet or who aspires to write poetry is encouraged to join this newly formed group to share and discuss their writings and ideas. To register, contact 703-228-4747. 2 – 3 p.m.

JIMMY COLE, along with a few guests, will be performing at JV’s Restaurant in Falls Church on Saturday. (Photo: Bill Kingzett) From Home with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band (virtual streaming). Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). 703-2551900.

Jimmy Cole and Guests. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504.

Back to the 90s. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-237-0300.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24

Mousey Thompson & The James Brown Experience. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m.

703-549-7500.

Sookie Jump Christmas Eve Show.

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504.

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

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27

Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long

Mars Rodeo. JV’s Restaurant (6666

LIVEMUSIC

Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 3:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

The Creative Alliance & The Birchmere present The Virtual Hank Williams Tribute (virtual streaming). The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $25. 4 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Singer-Songwriter Open Mic with Frank O — Live at the Still. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Sam Barbaro Quintet. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-2370300.

Indoors & Distanced + Livestream: Sunday Funny Sunday — Socially Distant Comedy. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $15. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

New Blue Soul Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church).

7:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 Acoustic Trio Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 Live at The Fillmore — The Definitive Tribute to the Original Allman Brothers Band. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Tom Saputo Show Live. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 Open Mic with Bob and Martha.

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F� � � � C � � � � �

LO CA L

B������� N��� � N���� Covid-19 Emergency Relief Package Awaiting President Trump’s Signature The new Covid-19 Emergency Relief Package, currently awaiting President Trump’s signature, includes new funding and policy changes to support small businesses. More than $284 billion has been designated for first and second forgivable PPP loans, dedicated set-asides for very small businesses, and expanded PPP eligibility for 501(c)(6) nonprofits, destination marketing organizations, and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters. The package also includes $15 billion in funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. When available, the new application forms will likely be posted to www.sba.gov.

DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 | PAGE 15

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NEWS-PRESS Get your news early!

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack Closes All Dine-in Service Until Early 2021 Clare & Don’s Beach Shack has made the difficult decision to close all dine-in service, until early 2021, to help keep their staff and customers safe from the pandemic. They will remain open for online pick-up and delivery orders Thursday evenings, all day Fridays and Saturdays, and Sunday mornings. Take-N-Bake family meal “Beach Boxes” with different meal combinations every week, family sized regular menu meals, quarts of homemade soup, whole key lime pies, and large pasta portions are now available. Clare & Don’s is located at 130 N. Washington Street in Falls Church. For more information, visit their Facebook Page or www.ClareandDons.com.

Ireland’s Four Provinces Offering Several Christmas Eve Specials Ireland’s Four Provinces is offering several Christmas Eve Specials including Fresh Calamari, Seafood Pasta, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, 8 oz Filet Mignon & Shrimp, and Fresh Filet of Stuffed Trout. Prices vary. Ireland’s Four Provinces is located at 105 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. Visit their Facebook Page or www.4psva.com for more information.

Falls Church City Schools Hosting an Online Auction Falls Church City Schools are hosting an online auction, run by The McGuire Group, of items at George Mason High School that will not be moved to the new school. Nonprofits, businesses, and individuals are invited to bid on commercial kitchen equipment, tools, furniture, appliances, classroom supplies, athletic equipment, and nostalgic treasures. The auction runs through Dec. 28 at 7:37 p.m. A link to the auction is available at www.fccps.org.

Dogwood Tavern Offering New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Specials Dogwood Tavern has a number of special offers for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. To help celebrate the end of 2020, they will have New Year’s Eve Lobster Steamer Pots available which come for two people or four people. The pots include 1.5 lbs lobsters (either two or four,) middle neck clams, kielbasa sausage, six ears of corn on the cob, and red potatoes plus Crème Brule Cheesecake. Add-ons for Prosecco, crab bisque and sides are also available, as are 20.21 percent off discounts for Sparking Bellini, Mimosa, and Bloody Mary Kits when purchased with the Lobster Steamer Pots. Pre-ordering is required online at www.DogwoodTavern.com/ order or by phone at 703-237-8333. Dogwood is also offering New Year’s Day Recovery Bagel Boxes with six New York Style Bagels, house made spreads, lox, garnishes, Hoppin’ John, and Gatorade. Dogwood Tavern is located at 132 W. Broad Street in Falls Church.

• Get the Front Page Early • Breaking Stories and more..

Visit our website for More perks!

Since 1991, the News-Press has been on a mission to provide independent and honest journalism to the Falls Church community. We recognize and appreciate the support the City, its businesses and residents have shown us for the past 29 years.

Never before has the fight to ensure a free press been more important.

Dogfish Head Alehouse Offering a New Year’s Eve Dinner Special Dogfish Head Alehouse is offering a New Year’s Eve Dinner Special on Thursday, Dec. 31 from 4 p.m. until closing. The special includes an arugula salad topped with a seared salmon filet, grilled filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus topped with a creamy mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse with strawberry sauce, all for $40 per person. Dogfish Head Alehouse is located in Seven Corners at 6220 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. For more information, visit Dogfish Head’s Facebook Page or www.dogfishalehouse.com/falls-church/.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

Visit FCNP.com/members to become a member of the News-Press today

PAGE 16 | DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020

CLASSI F I E DS

AUCTIONS

LEGAL NOTICE

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

HOME IMPROVEMENT Vinyl Replacement Windows Starting at $235* Installed w/Free Trim Wrap Call 804-739-8207 Siding, Roofing, Gutters and More!

GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!) Schedule your FREE in-home assessment today.

Call 1-877-636-0738 Special financing for qualified customers.

ATTN. CONTRACTORS: Advertise your business statewide and in other states.

Affordable Print and Digital Solutions to reach Homeowners. Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

REAL ESTATE ATTN. REALTORS: Advertise your listings regionally or statewide. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions that get results! Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

SERVICES DIVORCE-Uncontested, $395+$86 court cost. WILLS $195.00. No court appearance.

Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook).

757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com.

WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114.Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312313-9671 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The ordinances referenced below were given first reading on November 23, 2020.

Public hearings, second readings, and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, January 11, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

(TO20-21) ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE VI, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, “PRIVATE SCHOOLS, SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND HOME CHILD CARE FACILITIES TO REQUIRE CONSENT FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS (TO20-23) ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REENACT AND RECODIFY FALLS CHURCH CITY CODE CHAPTER 38, SUBDIVISIONS, TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR VERTICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF PROPERTY (TO20-24) ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 10, “B-2 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT”, SEC. 48-488.

“SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS” TO ADD PROVISIONS FOR CONSIDERATION OF USES NOT OTHERWISE PERMITTED BY-RIGHT FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON SITES DESIGNATED AS SPECIAL REVITALIZATION DISTRICT FOR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGNATED FOR MIXED-USE ON THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN MAP Public hearings will be held electronically.

To speak on a public hearing item, complete a speaker form at www.fallschurchva.gov/ PublicComment before noon on the day of the Council meeting. Following submission of the form, you will receive emailed instructions to join the virtual Council meeting.

Written public hearing comments may be sent until noon on the day of the meeting to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. Council members will attend the meeting through electronic means and members of the public may view the meeting at www.fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings. Video will be available after the meeting both online and on

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereb y 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.

FCCTV. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

INSTALLS ON NEW & EXISTING GUTTERS

er AFTER LeafFilt

ilter BEFORE LeafF

LIFETIME WARRANTY

ABC NOTICE Captain Saigon INC trading as Captain Saigon, 6799 Wilson Blvd Unit 5 Falls Church Virginia 22044. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer On Premises, Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Sang Lee / Owner. 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 two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

Home Improvement Handyman Service All repairs, plumbing, drywall, windows, doors, rotted wood, siding, lighting + FREE estimates, Licensed & Insured

Call Doug (703)556-4276 www.fallschurchhandyman.com

Other Services

R

fcnp.com

15

%

OFF

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE*

AND!

10 %

OFF

SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS

+

5%

OFF

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS!**

Promo Number: 285 CALL US TODAY FOR

A FREE ESTIMATE

1-877-614-6667

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. ** Offer valid at estimate only. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H

KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG

By Eileen Levy To energize is not hard Picking up stuff All over the yard

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

15

14 17

25

24 28

30

26 29

31

35

32

33

34

36 38

39

40

41

46 50

13

21

27

49

12

19

18

23

11

16

20 22

10

42 47

51

57

43

55

44

45

48 53

52

54

37

56

58

59

62

63

64

65

66

67

© 2020 David Levinson Wilk

60

61

1. Get from ____ (progress slightly) 5. 2000 U.S. Open winner Marat ____ 10. Go for additional service 14. Onetime electronics giant 15. “#@&%!,” e.g.

16. Feminine suffix 17. Piece of clothing that includes 58-Across 19. They’re found in central Beijing 20. Dr. Evil’s sidekick in Austin Powers movies 21. Highest and lowest black key on a piano 22. Sloppy kiss 25. Presidential retreat that includes 58-Across 27. “Fantastic!”

29. Singer McEntire 30. “Atlanta” or “Dallas” 32. Cellphone’s predecessor 35. Kids’ game (Look! It’s literally using 58-Across!)

38. Escorted to the penthouse, say 42. Electric-circuit device 46. Apple introduction of 1998 48. Dairy consumer’s enzyme 49. Family member that includes 58-Across 53. Bakery supplies 54. Toy company that gave us Frisbee and Slip ‘N Slide 55. ____ monkey 57. “Othello” evildoer

STRANGE BREW

DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020 | PAGE 17

58. Feature of trick-or-treaters or jack-o-lanterns 62. It seeks pledges annually 63. Pixar film set in 2805 64. What a relaxed soldier is at 65. Part lopped off by la guillotine 66. Toll units for semis 67. Attract, as an audience

Down 1. “That feels so-o-o-o good!”

2. ____ Maria (coffee liqueur) 3. Newman’s ____ 4. “Shouldn’t have done that!”

5. When Caesar remarks “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look” 6. BMW competitor 7. Erich who wrote “The Art of Loving” 8. “Cross my heart and hope to die!”

9. Three-time All-Star pitcher Robb 10. Danger sign 11. ____ Gay, 1945 bomber 12. Remove ID from, as a Facebook picture 13. Gnocchi topper 18. Light-headed person?

21. ____ ghanouj 22. Katarina ____, two-time Olympic gold-medalist skater 23. Singer with an eponymous 1956 #1 album 24. Opera set in 1800 Rome 26. Public image, briefly 28. Vietnamese festival 31. Mediterranean isl.

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

33. James and Jones of jazz 34. Perch in a chicken house 36. Disney collectible 37. “____ Tu” (1974 hit) 39. Hand-held game device 40. “Let me think ... yeah, that’s stupid” 41. Bud 43. Agrees 44. Freeze 45. Socked away 47. Certain paint protector 49. Speedy 50. Its symbol is ORD 51. Bother persistently 52. “____ Stop the Rain” (1970 hit) 56. Jennifer of “The King’s Speech” 58. Howard Hughes acquisition of 1939 59. It may pop on a plane 60. Org. concerned with cracking and leaking 61. Use a Singer machine Last Thursday’s Solution S O F T C A V A I L G I M M E F A L C A N I T H I R S T P E A C E S R O G S C O U H I R W E R E N U A L E C K S R I C K I N O T I N S T I N G

S M I T H

N I V E A

L I E

V I R O I R L T S E M B E E N H A N E D U F Y I

P E S C I

O U T R A N K

P R I O R T O

A I N T I

R A G E D

T H E M E

N O D E H O N O R T O W C A R R O N E I D G L O O S E U H A U L M O T I F

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

1

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

© 2020 N.F. Benton

12/13/20

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

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

LO CA L

PAGE 18 | DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C������ C�����

25 � 10 Y���� A�� �� ��� N���-P���� Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 40 • December 21, 1995

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 41 • Decmber 23,, 2010

Only 1 Council Vote Needed to Kill All Whittier Site Bids

2 Fairfax Apartment Complexes Sue F.C. for Water Refund, Ask $99,558

Any one single member of the Falls Church City Council has the power to kill any of the current bids on development of the 9.6- acre Whittier site, and at least one is now saying that all of them in their current form “flunk.”

Council member Jane Scully announced that she would not vote on any of the current bids, effectively stalling any progress.

Following last week’s report that Fairfax County is seeking a refund of $127,877 in alleged overcharges from the City of Falls Church Water System, two complaints have been filed in the Fairfax Circuit Court by County-based apartment complexes seeking refunds totaling $96,558. The attorney who filed the suits said there are more to come.

Covid Vaccine

Continued from Page 5

cines are historic firsts that use mRNA to deliver the immunity to hosts, which is also why there’s been some concern. Combine that with how the vaccines came about in less than a year — as opposed to the multiple years it usually takes to examine enough virus samples to produce a vaccine — and its compounded some natural apprehension to the breakthrough medical achievement.

Brody held the same position echoed by medical professionals at all levels, saying that the mRNA spike protein never interacts with the DNA inside the nucleus of the cell. He called the fears over the vaccine tampering with one’s genetic material “a bit of a Hollywood concern,” but has said leaders at nonprofits, houses of worship and local politicians are getting the word out to show that the vaccine is safe and effective.

It’s believed by Brody that, right now, the vaccine will provide immunity for at least a year, though he didn’t want to rule out that it would need a booster shot, similar to the flu vaccine. But if everything tracks in terms of the public achieving herd immunity, or 60 – 70 percent resilience to the virus through either vaccinations or antibodies, Brody thinks it will be late spring or early summer when life can start its return to normal.

Currently, Brody estimated that just shy of 10 percent of the Fairfax Health District’s population has had the coronavirus.

As of Dec. 23, the City of Falls Church has 159 confirmed cases of Covid-19; a 57 percent jump in the past month. According to VDH data, Falls Church has a

seven-day average of cases at just under two (1.82) as of Wednesday as well.

The desire to speed up that timeline will only intensify as the mainstream population gets access to the vaccine. And when “normal” is around the corner, some companies are already looking at how to virus-proof individual buildings and grow the region more holistically.

PMM Companies is a commercial cleaning firm that, prior to the coronavirus cases taking off in March, focused mainly on office cleanings. The arrival of Covid-19 had its client base expand to schools, restaurants and houses of worship, with disinfecting becoming a larger portion of its services as well.

Mitch Lustig, PMM’s executive vice president, said that it primarily dealt with the aftermath of Covid outbreaks in offices — which is consistent with the findings of Washington, D.C.’s own contact tracing investigations that found 22 percent of cases originated in offices.

But his firm has also advised its increasingly diverse customers on how to deter viral outbreaks in the future. Lustig gets a potpourri of responses to PMM’s suggestions.

“There are some people that will follow the best practice and use caution, and there are others that won’t.” Lustig said. “You can’t spend other people’s money, but for the most part, if you really want people to come in, people want some assurity.”

A nonprofit that’s looking even further down the road is Connected DMV and its report about its Strategic Renewal Task Force. The nonprofit’s overarching goal is “the creation of long-term economic renewal that delivers equitable growth,” per

the report. It focuses on improving areas such as cybersecurity and data protection as well as pandemic prevention, contact tracing and flexible work options.

Stu Solomon, the president of Connected DMV, said that the task force’s 51 members can take on such a diverse set of tasks thanks its members’ backgrounds ranging from government officials in D.C., Maryland and Virginia to leaders in public transit, academia and businesses big and small.

Despite being focused on the long game, Solomon sympathizes with the businesses that have been deemed non-essential and had their operations curtailed by their local elected leaders. He understands that makes it hard for them to look ahead when the present moment is so challenging.

Still, Solomon said the report offers some short-term solutions to reopening, such as its Safe Environments initiative that instructs businesses on sterilizing techniques through innovations in lighting, HVAC adjustments or surface-coating, which essentially scotch-guards an area from germs.

He said plainly that “Connected DMV is not an advocacy organization, we’re a delivery organization,” so it would defer to local politicians’ orders when it comes to the pace of reopening. But Solomon did note that the group’s initiatives and how efficiently it handles them could hasten that process.

“We’re in uncharted waters.

Everyone’s learning as they go,” Solomon said. “But from an integrated community perspective, if we can accelerate [reopening], that’s to everyone’s good. We believe that we will help make decisions to open sooner, better and faster.”

NOTHING SAYS “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” more than a...bonnet?

While the author of these captions might be uncultured, that doesn’t mean the Morrison’s four-year-old rescue cat Margo, isn’t aware of classic Christmas attire.

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

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

Ex-Missionary Stanley Maughlin Dies

The family of C. Stanley Maughlin is saddened to announce the passing of their beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Stan was born in Alva, Oklahoma in 1933 and lived in Dighton and Alamota, Kansas as a child and young man. His father, Kenneth Maxwell Maughlin, was a furniture dealer, undertaker, and farmer. His mother, Wilma Marie Hutcheson, kept a lively house of three children.

Stan had an older sister, Marthabel Elaine ‘Marty’ Seaman and younger brother, Richard Kenneth Maughlin, who both preceded Stan in death.

Stan received his Education Degrees from Sterling College (where he also starred in several collegiate sports), Kansas State College and Ball State University, and he held teaching certificates for Kansas, Kentucky and Virginia for secondary and middle school.

In 1957, Stan became a Lay Missionary of the World Division, General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. He served for 20 years in the Belgian Congo (which became the Republic of Zaire) in Central Africa. In Zaire, he was a teacher, a builder, and a school principal. He was co-founder of IDIAS, a technical high school.

He supervised the construction of residences, schools, dormitories, churches, clinics, and installed and maintained water and electrical systems for 32 village stations. Stan served for 10 years on the executive committees of the Annual Conferences in Zaire. After return-

ing to America, Stan served one year in the National Headquarters of the Board of Global Ministries in New York City as Missionary-inResidence, and then was MissionaryInterpreter-in-Residence, serving the seven states of the South Central Jurisdiction doing mission interpretation and promotion for two years.

Stan married Patricia Joanne (Dutro) from Eaton, Indiana in 1960 in Nyadiri, Rhodesia, having evacuated to Nyadiri two weeks prior to their wedding due to civil unrest.

This didn’t stop their wedding and they served together in Zaire for more than 20 years. Stan and Joanne had four children: Alan Maughlin (Monica Gonzales), Carla Maughlin, Curtis Maughlin (Glenn Heueser) and Loren Maughlin, and their home was often full of their eight grandchildren: Yasmine (Mark Elliott), Mateo, Samantha, Maria, Cassidy, Dylan, Addison and Nathan; and two great granddaughters: Charlie Rose and Lilah Gray Elliott.

After his service in Africa, Stan continued his teaching in colleges and high schools across the country, including Kansas and Kentucky, before settling in Falls Church in 1996. In Northern Virginia Stan capped his work career by lending his talents to many non-profit organizations, most often focusing on homeless needs and shelters.

Stan and Joanne were long-time members of Dulin United Methodist Church, where Joanne became an Ordained Deacon. They later joined Charles Wesley and Christ Crossman United Methodist Churches.

Stan amazed all those fortu-

STANLEY MAUGHLIN nate enough to interact with him, whether it was running the family farm as a young man or obtaining his private pilot’s license; speaking Otetela, French, and Swahili; travelling in Western Europe and Central Africa; or volunteering as a fireman for 3 years in Kentucky; and he was awarded the ‘Alumni Citation’ for meritorious service in Zaire by his Alma Mater, Sterling College.

Stan was a friend to many and it was often said, “he never met a stranger.” He loved to invite people home to enjoy a great meal at his Falls Church home for 30 plus years with his beloved wife of 60 years, Joanne.

Stan, known as “Uwandji Lukamba”, will be deeply missed by his family and those he befriended.

He is now in heaven, surely joking with the angels.

Women Voters Member, F.C.’s Ann McCleary Dies Ann Burridge McCleary, whose boundless curiosity, lively intelligence, deep compassion and memorable laugh delighted her friends and family, died Dec. 4, 2020. She was 90. A Falls Church resident since 2012, she was active in the League of Women Voters, continuing education classes at the Falls Church Community Center, and other organizations. A former social worker, Ann never failed to write a thankyou note or note of encouragement, bring dinner, visit the sick, or comfort a friend, and she never lost her sense of wonder and joy.

Ann grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois., the youngest of four children of Janet and Howard Burridge and the only girl. Her parents were deeply devoted to each other and to their children, and Ann had many happy memories of the house on

Lincoln Ave.. She shared a close relationship with her brothers and their children.

Ann attended Goucher College in Maryland, graduating with a BA in 1952. Post-college she worked in adoption placement and child welfare as a social worker, before meeting and marrying Thomas R. McCleary, Jr. They met at a ski club meeting in Cincinnati, although neither of them ever skied. Ann was dating the president of the ski club, and Tom came to the meeting with his housemates who promised there would be girls and beer. While the president ran the meeting, Tom chatted up Ann. They were married April 19, 1958. Their marriage lasted 53 years, until Tom’s death in 2011.

Ann lived in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, for 40 years, where she was active in the League of

Women Voters, the Detroit Historical Society, and many, many other community organizations. In the 1970s she founded CHOICES and taught assertiveness training to women and men in all walks of life.

Ann approached her life after Tom’s death with courage and determination, and moved to Falls Church in 2012 to be near her daughter.

There she ran classes in the Great Courses at the Community Center, took courses in drama from a retired Yale professor in Arlington, joined several book clubs, and volunteered to practice English with non-native English speakers. She founded a social network for women in her condo building (The Spectrum), who met twice a month for friendship and conversation. She voted in every election, including 2020.

Ann had a wonderful eye for

DECEMBER 24 – 30, 2020 | PAGE 19

CIA Officer, 40-year Falls Church Resident Philip Waggener Dies Philip A. Waggener, 92, a retired CIA intelligence officer, died of colon cancer Nov. 13, 2020, in Boulder, Colorado.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Sept. 1, 1928 to George and Marian (McQueen) Waggener, and attended Lincoln High School in Ferndale, Michigan.

Mr. Waggener graduated from the University of Arizona in 1950, and was the editor of the student newspaper in his senior year.

He lived in Falls Church, VA, from 1964 to 2003, in Denver, Colorado, from 2003 to 2011, and finally at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community in Boulder from 2011 to 2020.

Early in his career Mr. Waggener was editor of a small weekly newspaper in Miami, Arizona, and later was the sports publicity director for the University of Arizona. He was called to active duty in the Air Force in 1952 and subsequently worked as a civilian on the intelligence staff of the North American Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs. He joined the CIA in 1964 as an analyst focusing on foreign military capabilities and became deputy director of the Office of Strategic Research before retiring in 1980.

He then worked at the Center for Naval Analyses in Alexandria as an editor for 10 years and later pursued a part-time career as a free-lance writer and editor.

Before joining the CIA, Mr. Waggener studied at the University of Chicago under a fellowship from the National Institute of Public Affairs. design and color and harmony, and her house was always a place where everyone felt at home, filled with the small treasures she had collected on trips — a bronze sculpture of a sleeping fawn she found in San Francisco, framed paintings on papyrus she picked up in Egypt, a miniature lacquer box from Russia. The dinners she and Tom hosted for family and friends were always filled with good, simple food, good Scotch, great conversation, and much laughter.

A lifelong reader, Ann devoured books, magazines, and newspapers until the end of her life. She taught her daughter, Kathy, to read when Kathy was just four, instilling that same passion for literature — something Ann’s granddaughters inherited as well.

One of Ann’s greatest gifts was the ability to make whoever she was with feel interesting, worthwhile, and cared for. She was a terrific listener, and laughed often.

PHILIP WAGGENER He also attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London in 1974. His honors at the CIA included the Certificate of Distinction and the Intelligence Medal of Merit.

Mr. Waggener’s interests included piloting small aircraft, sailing, photography, and woodworking. For several years he was a behind-thescenes volunteer at the National Air and Space Museum, helping preserve and catalog historic materials. He was a deacon at the Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale, Virginia, and a past president of the Holmes Run Acres Civic Association.

Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Elaine, of Boulder; a son, Terry, in Virginia; two daughters, Vicki Czech of Boulder, and Lori Waggener, also of Boulder; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

ANN MCCLEARY Her quiet, warm spirit touched all who knew her, but that spirit lives on in her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her son, Tom (Jill) of Oakland, California, and her daughter Kathleen (Paul Benninghoff) of Falls Church, as well as granddaughters Grace and Emma Benninghoff and Meredith and Ally McCleary.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 20 | DECEMBER 24 - 30, 2020

ROCK STAR Realty ... ROCK STAR Service

TM

Happy Holidays We still have a buyer looking for a 2 bedroom condo, if you’re thinking of selling please give us a call.

CALL 703-867-TORI

Tori@ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com ROCKSTARRealtyGroup.com 2101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

REALTOR®

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

© 2020 Tori McKinney, LLC