December 25 - 31, 2014
Falls Church, Vi r g i n i a • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • Vo l . XXI V N o . 44
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week In Case of Snow, W&OD Trail Will Be Cleared
The Falls Church Public works office welcomed the news that the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority will clear the 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail, which runs through the City of F.C., of snow this winter. See page 5
City of F.C. Revises Hours For Holiday Season During the holiday season, many City of Falls Church government offices and services will run on a revised schedule with closings and shorter hours through the next two weeks and into the new year.
17th Annual ‘Watch Night’ on New Year’s Eve Will Teem With Activity S anta’s H elpers
Upper 30s, Some Chance of Rain Or Snow Forecast by Patricia Leslie
Falls Church News-Press
cess becoming only the second Democrat since the 1960s to hold the slot. She ran against Comstock in 2013 and lost by just 422 votes, but that was when Comstock was seeking a third two-year term. This time, Murphy faces no incumbent. The Republican seeking to fill Comstock’s shoes is Craig Parisot, who obviously enjoys Comstock’s
Falls Church and area residents can renew “auld” acquaintances (and make new ones) on New Year’s Eve when the 17th annual Watch Night party lights up downtown starting at 7 p.m. The sponsors call it a “Big Night in the Little City,” which takes place within Broad and Washington streets, from the State Theatre to the Historic Falls Church. And there’s no need to hire a babysitter since many activities are geared for children, who may be so enamored by the puppets, the face painting, the caricaturist and the obstacle courses that they outlast mom and dad. Watch Night is a good place to use up extra calories consumed over the holidays – there will be dance halls available throughout the five hour event. Northern Lights Big Band Orchestra with 17 pieces will play at the Falls Church Presbyterian Church at 225 East Broad from 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. They are one of nine bands, with many Falls Church residents among their members, that will rock the city until 12:30 a.m. at eight venues, indoors and out. You don’t like dancing? Then, how about climbing walls? A scavenger hunt? Bounce “on the moon.” A “Mega Challenge Obstacle Course,” an “Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course,” a Velcro wall and a Castle-Slide combo will all be available for any seeking an adventure at Watch Night. A balloon hats competition will
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See News Briefs, page 9
David Brooks: The Subtle Sensations Of Faith
You’d think faith would be a simple holding of belief, or a confidence in things unseen, but, in real life, faith is unpredictable and ever-changing. See page 12
Press Pass with Badfish
When Badfish first formed in 2001, they were filling a void left by the sudden end of Sublime following Brad Nowell’s untimely death in 1996. See page 23
FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS, the Falls Church Police Department has hosted and coordinated a Toys for Tots drive to permit citizens, residents, City employees and police officers to gift families in need in Virginia by bringing new, unwrapped toys to be donated to less fortunate children. On Monday, Dec. 22 the toys from this year’s drive were assembled and brought to Dumfries, Virginia where the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve sorted and distributed them to families and churches. Falls Church police officers shown here are (left to right) Detective Symoun, Officer Laina Vittone, Sergeant Frank Hicks, Corporal Jiwan Chetri and officer James Brooks. (Photo: courtesy City of Falls Church)
Dems Hopeful of Reclaiming 34th Assembly District Seat by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Index Editorial..................6 Letters................6, 8 News & Notes.10-11 Comment........12-15 Calendar.........20-21 Food & Dining ......22
Sports .................24 Classified Ads . ...26 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword...........29 Business News....30 Critter Corner.......30
With the election last month of sitting State Delegate Barbara Comstock to fill the 10th District U.S. Congressional seat vacated by the retirement of Frank Wolf, Comstock’s 34th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates is now up for grabs in a special election that will be held Tuesday,
January 6. That is, in less than two weeks. It’s been a short but punchy campaign for the two candidates chosen by their respective parties in “firehouse primaries” last month. Democrat Kathleen Murphy is running a high-profile and aggressive campaign and is looking to turn the district from Republican to Democratic control, in the pro-