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December 29, 2016 – January 4, 2017

Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee

Fou n d ed 1991 • Vol. X X V I No. 45

Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads

Inside This Week Falls Church Man Charged in Stabbing

A 34-year-old man from Falls Church has been charged in an alleged stabbing that occurred in Alexandria in evening of Monday, Dec. 26. See News Briefs, page 9

McLean House Fire Causes $90K in Damage A fire in the basement of a McLean home last week resulted in $90,000 in damages but all members of the household are safe after being awoken by a smoke alarm.

Weather Forecast Bodes Well for Big ‘Watch Night’ Turnout in F.C. Saturday New Year’s Eve Event Downtown Sure to Draw Big

by Patricia Leslie

Falls Church News-Press

Falls Church community, who set the tone for other responses. He wrote that both the most important challenge and opportunity for the Little City is “to become ever stronger and more visible as a community that is welcoming, inclusive, disciplined, compassionate, with high expectations of each other (and our children), responsible, honest and hard working – not just in our jobs and families, but in building the texture of the place we call home. Let’s show the communi-

Celebrating the New Year in Falls Church should be a pleasant affair with forecasts of clear and mild weather for this Saturday during the City’s annual Watch Night festivities. Area residents can blast off into 2017 beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday in downtown Falls Church. Vehicles won’t be running – because W. Broad Street will be shut down – but friends and neighbors will be humming while musicians are drumming and strumming the night away. The 19th annual Watch Night in the Little City has something free for everyone to see and hear, to dance, to ride, to boogie, to climb, rock and roll and to eat. The place to be will be four city blocks at Washington and Broad streets made pedestrian-friendly with vehicle prohibitions, showy new lights and staging to brighten up Falls Church as never before. “There will be plenty of free parking,” says Watch Night organizer Barb Cram. “No worries about that.” Beginning at 7 p.m., free shuttle buses will run from the East Falls Metro station to the party every 30 minutes until 1 a.m., and merrymakers may park at the Metro station without charge, or at the Falls Church Presbyterian Church, the Falls Church Episcopal or on the third floor of the Kaiser Permanente parking garage. Visitors can check out the musical offerings, tours of historic Falls Church, free treats, inflatables, amusements and new rides for little people (and older people, too).

Continued on Page 18

Continued on Page 5

See News Briefs, page 9

David Brooks: 2016 Syndey Awards

Perry Link once noticed that Chinese writers use more verbs in their sentences whereas English writers use more nouns. This observation is at the core of his New York Review of Books essay “The Mind: Less Puzzling in Chinese?” See page 12

Press Pass With Conduit

A prolific improvisational band in Falls Church, Conduit is largely unknown despite producing 56 CDs in the last 12 years with a 57th on the horizon. See page 25

THE “LOVE” LETTERS, returning to Falls Church thanks to The Little City CATCH Foundation, are set to be a major attraction during the City’s annual Watch Night celebration this Saturday. The sculpture will be center stage in George Mason Square at the corner of S. Washington and Broad streets during the New Year’s Eve event kicking off at 7 p.m. Dec. 31. (Photo: Drew Costley)

City of F.C. Leaders Predict Biggest Issue in 2017 is School Campus Site by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Index Editorial..................6 Letters................6, 8 News & Notes.10-11 Comment...12-14, 19 Calendar.........20-21 Business News....22

Food & Dining......23 Sports..................26 Classified Ads......28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........29 Critter Corner.......30

How the George Mason High School campus development project proceeds in 2017, with the prospect of as much as a $120 million price tag and a public referendum in the fall, is at the front of the minds of a wide cross-section of leaders in the City of Falls Church, according to a NewsPress survey this week. The News-Press issued an invitation to respond to a query concerning “thoughts on what are the most important challenges and

opportunities you think face the City of Falls Church in the coming year.” Most of the respondents, representative of the government, education and development components of the Little City, will probably be meandering around the New Year’s Eve Watch Night festivities this Saturday night, in case anyone wants to press them further on their views presented here. The weather is supposed to be mild enough as to deter no one. The first to respond was Falls Church’s Congressman, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer with deep ties to the

PAGE 2 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 3

WISHING YOU A VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

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James, a former “corporate marauder” is author of the book, “Songs of the Viking Life: Re�lections of a Frequent Flyer.” On his book: “Get on the road. Make something great happen. Get paid. Repeat. The Viking Life. In the last millennium it involved warfare and a great taking. Months away from home followed by a long winter of celebration. Now it is a weekly grind for millions of us – executives, salespersons, experts from all disciplines - just about anyone who must work far from home. These songs and poems are the product of long hours in hotel rooms, airports, and conference rooms the world over. I hope you enjoy them.”

LO CA L

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Longtime F.C. Resident, Arthur ‘Art’ Kaye Dies Arthur Scott Kaye, beloved husband of Merelyn Kaye, father to Kristin Karnis and Karin Morrison, grandfather to Jessica, Katherine, and Emily Karnis, and Taylor Morrison, departed this earth on December 28 after fighting a long illness. Art was born in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 1934. After serving in the U.S. Army stationed with the 101st Airborne Division, he graduated from Shepherd University in 1960. Art was the president and CEO of Career Advisors and after selling the company, went into real estate with his wife Merelyn and daughter Karin. Among his many real estate duties, he held his famous Broker Opens as “Chef Arturo” with perfectly-cooked food served on real china, complete with cloth napkins and silver utensils. He published his menu on hand delivered invitations that always included the teaser “yummy desserts” As a teeenager and young man, Art belonged to the Twentieth

ARTHUR SCOTT KAYE Century Dance Club in D.C., which inspired a lifelong love of ballroom dancing, and as he said kept him out of pool halls. He won Jitterbug competitions and was close to pro level in Foxtrot, Waltz, and Latin Dances. He was the hit of the party and outshone the bride at his granddaughter’s wedding reception. Art was an avid golfer, and one year played every day the course was open. He loved to fish

and went on an annual trip with his “Fishing Buddies” for many years, including a trip to Mexico. He was a gadget man, and his latest infatuation was a ratchet belt, which he demonstrated to anyone whom he could corral. He was the family chef and cooked all holiday dinners to perfection, except the year he accidently turned off the oven while cooking a ten pound salmon. Art commuted to Beverly Beach, Maryland, for many summers so his family could “bask at the beach.” He loved picnicking at a family property in Warrenton he named “Waterloo” and directed a film with his granddaughter entitled “Poopah and Miss Jess go to the Country” complete with a cow chasing scene. Art was also the originator of the Falls Church News-Press Critter Corner. A true Virginia Gentleman, he was unfailingly polite and kind to all he met and was loved by all. He was inspired by the work of Malala Yousafzai, and in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Malala Fund at Malala.org. Memorial services will be held at Murphy Funeral Home in Falls Church; please contact Murphy for information regarding the services.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 5

Mild Weather Predicted for Watch Night This Saturday Continued from Page 1

If the temperature is too low, one of three strategically placed outdoor warming pits or fireplaces, courtesy of Sislers Stone, will warm tootsies. Visitors can also head for an indoor venue to warm up or listen to music and dance the night away. At an information booth at Washington and Broad, volunteers will have schedules and lists of the bands and venues. The 68-year-old star of the city, found in storage many years ago by city crews and since restored, will be shining its light on the Little City below from a crane near the event’s main stage. Just before midnight, the star will begin its descent for the countdown to close the night’s festivities. MUSIC AND DANCING On the main stage will be a new musical group for Watch Night, the Hayley Fahey Band, led by singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist Hayley Fahey, influenced by soul, rock, blues, country and pop music. Rounding out her band is a guitarist, bass player,

percussionist and vocalist. Another new addition to the stage are the Star Stragglers from George C. Marshall and Oakton high schools, playing ‘60s, modern rock and original compositions. Closing out the night on the main stage is Sudden M Pac, returning from last year, with band members playing and singing the O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Earth, Wind and Fire hits. Watch Night will have indoor dancing, too, at Falls Church Presbyterian. Cowboy Hay kicks off at 7 p.m. and then big band sounds of the Northern Lights Orchestra start at 8:30 p.m.

The Stewart Sisters and Andrew Acosta and Friends will both perform their authentic roots music at the historic Falls Church.

RIDES AND THRILLS New this year is the Fantastic Flyer Swing Ride and, for ages 2 – 6, a carousel while older children can test their skills on a variety of obstacle courses with different themes and challenges. A pirate ship slide combo with three-dimensional masts is made for pirates young and old, supporting up to 10 people for climbing, sliding and jumping on a captain’s wheel or up to the sails. On the rock climb slide, two can race through a double ring obstacle at the same time, climb

the rock wall and swish down a 14-foot slide to the finish. Meanwhile, try to maneuver through tubes, over and around obstacles and scale the rock climb wall to a 10-foot slide at the Extreme Dual Challenge. Finally, the famous “LOVE” artwork, great for picture taking, will be at the corner of Broad and Washington.

FOOD Free apple cider and other treats will be available at both churches, and, while supplies last, Ireland’s Four Provinces will serve up free potato soup and hot chocolate. Up and down Broad and nearby Washington Street, restaurants will be open and, as

crowds are expected, reservations are strongly encouraged. HISTORY Watch Night in Falls Church began on December 31, 1998 on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the City. It continues under the direction of Cram who is aided by, she estimates, about 75 volunteers, along with businesses, churches and civic groups. Cram says she is still looking for volunteers for this year’s Watch Night celebration and asks those interested to call 703-679-7881. The Little City’s big celebration “is fun, it’s free, it’s safe, and the place to be on New Year’s Eve,” Cram exclaims.

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PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

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Vol. XXVI, No. 45 December 29, 2016 – January 4, 2017 • 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 •

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E D I TO R I A L

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F.C.’s 2017 Challenge: ‘Don’t Blow It!’

Challenges and opportunities for the City of Falls Church in 2017, eh? As you can see from the story on the front page of this edition, the News-Press put this question to a representative group of City movers and shakers, and the responses covered a wide range of options, even if there was a relative consensus on the most important single issue – the George Mason High School campus revitalization project. For those who’ve been paying attention, yes, those 38 acres annexed into the City as part of the deal to sell the City’s water system to Fairfax County, promise to be nothing less than the “goose that laid the golden egg.” The potential embedded in that site is almost limitless. Commercial development by the West Falls Church Metro, if it can be done in collaboration with the Metro’s acres up there, could pay for an awful lot in Falls Church, including a new high school and more. So, those who opined in response to our question with that point of view win our prize! Others can try again next year. So yes, the biggest issue facing Falls Church in 2017 in our view is this: Don’t blow it! There is so much potential at that site that to fail to realize it will amount to a huge blow to the City’s long term sustainability challenges. We feel there is a strong case to be made for the City’s sustainability over the long haul, and it’s not because of any quaint features of the City itself. It has to do with sustaining an important model for how we imperfect human beings can order our priorities under tough pressures to live with concord together in the process. A curious thing happened over the course of the current year on which but few have picked up. Falls Church’s image and desirability in the surrounding region has been transformed. Once seen as a whiny, self-centered nuisance of little or no wider significance, it is now being perceived as the hottest commodity in the neighborhood for developers high and low. This includes the fact that other jurisdictions around the area sit in awe of Falls Church, amazed by the extent to which, already, its main street, W. Broad Street (Route 7) has been transformed. Neighboring jurisdictions are asking about Falls Church, “How did they do that?” (Emphasis on “doooo!”). Meanwhile, the City’s most valuable core social institutions, its public schools and its houses of worship, are solid to the core although in unrelenting need of maintaining. The same with its commercial corridors, even if their outward appearances have changed, and even as the population has grown from 9.300 when the News-Press began publishing in 1991 to 13,300 now. There is more, not less, congeniality in the neighborhoods, with block parties and congenial greetings when dog walkers encounter each other. Lo and behold, there’s happily room for a lot more.

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Thanks to Our Friends & Neighbors for Support

Editor, To our friends and neighbors, We are overwhelmed with the generosity, support, and kindness that you have shared with us after the fire that destroyed our home on December 17. Please know that all of us, including our son, Jacob, are doing well. We are keeping our heads up and trying to stay positive as we settle into our temporary home away from home.

We have been moved to tears repeatedly while reading your notes and messages and are so blessed to have received so many donations and supplies to help us quickly get back on our feet. We are also very thankful for those who searched for our missing cat, Rockie. She eventually came home, and both of our cats are doing just fine. In the coming days and weeks, we plan to personally thank as

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

P�� 1. Keep the news clean and fair.

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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.

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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 15,000 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.

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many of you as we can. Many of you left us gifts without leaving your names. We hope this message of gratitude somehow finds its way to you, and we hope everyone knows how much we appreciate the way our community has gone above and beyond to assist us during this difficult period. At this time, we’re asking those who may still want to help us out to consider donating to the organizations that assisted us: Falls Church Fire Department, The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, South Paws Animal Hospital, Thomas Jefferson Elementary PTA, Sunshine Committee, and teachers and Columbia Baptist MOPS Group.

We wish all of our friends and neighbors all the best in the New Year! Jessica, Tommy & Jacob Goodwin Falls Church

Stuart Name Change Effort is Waste of Time & Money Editor, I was glad to see your paper giving some coverage to the ongoing J.E.B. Stuart High School name controversy. The Fairfax County Public

Letters Continued on Page 8

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2016 | PAGE 7

We Can Build a New School Without Raising Taxes B� R�� L��

Falls Church is a special place, and not just in a figurative sense. It’s certainly all of the adjectives you would expect to hear when describing a charming city with engaged citizens who put community first. Falls Church is all of those things, and the reason many of us live here. But Falls Church is also special in a literal sense. We stand independent as a school district and for better or worse, mostly independent from State funding. We boast one of the most educated electorates in the country and, in this writer’s opinion, one of the greatest Memorial Day parades on the East Coast. And we’re small – a mere 2.2 square miles, home to just under 15,000 people. The decisions we make that impact us all are amplified by the closeness of our borders, making the weight of those decisions feel at times colossal. Over the next few years we will face decisions regarding our schools and fiscal health that go far beyond the norm. My wife Sarah and I have three daughters making their way through Falls Church public schools, so I assure you we feel the weight of these decisions as much as anyone. That’s why it’s so important we get it right. Our schools are the backbone of our community. And right now, we have a unique opportunity to capitalize on what may very well be the single biggest decision we make

as a city in the next 50 years. George Mason High School is in dire need of help. The debate centers on whether or not we repair and renovate the high school, or construct a new facility.

“Our city leaders have vastly underestimated the value of our land and the various development options we have at our disposal.” Unfortunately, simply repairing and renovating a 60-plus year old building in patchwork fashion only delays the inevitable. While it is an option, and a cheaper one, our community and our children deserve better. Building new is the only viable option that makes sense in the long run. As many of you know, constructing a new high school will require financing in excess of $115 million. With the city carrying existing debt of approximately $50 million, tripling that amount justifiably gives everyone heartburn. However, there is a lot of confusion around how to pay for

new construction – and where that money might come from. Some have proposed major property tax rate increases over the next few years to fund the debt, with some scenarios suggesting an additional fifteen cents may be needed. Other scenarios include a sale of the ten acres adjacent to the high school for development in order to fund the construction. Unfortunately, the perception among most is that regardless of how we approach this problem, a new high school will require a tax increase. It doesn’t. Our city leaders have vastly underestimated the value of our land and the various development options we have at our disposal. From a real estate perspective, given the size and proximity to the West Falls Church metro station, the land next to the high school is one of the most valuable pieces of commercially developable land in the entire Greater D.C. area. With smart planning, the resulting economic benefits will be massive, far more than currently projected. The revenue generated from the site goes well beyond simple real estate tax revenues, capturing the full spectrum of local tax revenue streams afforded a jurisdiction. The city also stands to benefit greatly from the indirect economic benefits that come with any large scale commercial development, the likes of which should be studied more closely by the city before considering any tax rate

increases. There are also several debt service mechanisms such as payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) programs, which have been successful in neighboring cities, to accomplish exactly what we are facing right now. For example, such a program between the city and a developer could cover the costs of our school bond financing regardless of the timing and market forces normally impacting how much tax revenue a development generates. Those programs have worked, and I have had the good fortune in my career of witnessing the success of those public-private partnership agreements first hand. The reality is we can do this without burdening taxpayers at all. We can build a new high school – but it requires creative, out-of-the-box thinking. And, more than anything, we need bold leadership to get it done. We became free to run our own school system in 1948 when we declared independent city status. It’s another one of the things that makes our city so special. Free to blaze our own trail. Free to run our city the way that we want to. As Robert Frost wrote, “Freedom lies in being bold.” It’s time we take action to secure the future of our schools and our city’s fiscal health by thinking creatively – and being bold.  Ross Litkenhous is a member of the Falls Church Board of Zoning Appeals.

Q�� W�� What’s the biggest challenge facing Falls Church in 2017? • School campus project • Commercial development • Tax rate

• Rising school enrollment

• Other

Log on to www.FCNP.com to cast your vote

Last Week’s Question:

Did you do more holiday shopping in the City of Falls Church this year?

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

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS] 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.

Email: letters@fcnp.com | Mail: Letters to the Editor, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church 22046 | Fax: 703.340.0347

PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

LE TTE RS Opening Early 2017 NOW HIRING

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For immediate consideration or more details, email FallsChurchCareers@KensingtonSL.com or call 703-992-9868.

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TO LETTERS THE EDITOR Continued from Page 6 School system seems to be handling this situation in a very slipshod manner. Why are they asking for volunteers during the busy Christmas season? People are focused on other things right now. Are they trying to rig the process? What about the alumni of J.E.B. Stuart? The school opened back in 1959 when Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House. The Stuart Raiders have a long and proud history. Trying to change the name of the school is a slap in the face to its longstanding achievements and traditions. This is another battle in the culture war our society is facing nowadays. This is political correctness run amok. It’s a waste of time and money. I will lobby to keep the name of J.E.B. Stuart High. Gregory S. Paspatis Alexandria

Hypocrisy & Politicians are LongTime Bedfellows Editor, Regarding Mr. Phelps’ December 15-21 News-Press letter about leftwing hypocrisy: The writer makes a good point, i.e. that Clinton, like Trump, identified concerns about “illegal aliens” which could pose problems. However, I would argue that there is a significant difference between a statement of policy or

goal from a sitting president while addressing Congress charging them to come together, consider the problem, and recommend solutions, versus wild and unrealistic hyperbole from someone running for elected office, i.e. • Round up 11 million people and deport them, • Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it, • Bar certain religious groups from entering the country. (Although in the post-truth era and political hyperbole it’s not clear how many people really thought the president-elect meant what he said, although we all understand that tough talk excites the base). I think we can all agree that some reasonable strategy must be implemented. That said, there is no reason not to treat these refugees with some Christian charity. They’re fleeing oppression, poverty and fear for themselves and their families – not unlike our forefathers when they came to this country. I would also suggest that our president-elect’s accusations that they are rapists, drug dealers and terrorists, is more hyperbole than fact. Such talk may invigorate the alt-right, but unfortunately it does not help in deciding the appropriate actions to take. As to the left wing being hypocritical, a word of caution, hypocrisy and politicians are long-time bedfellows and it’s a fickle mistress, which often serves the highest bidder. John Mason Via the Internet

Superman had foster parents

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NEWS BRIEFS

DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 9

NEW FALLS CHURCH LOCATION CALL NOW FOR APPOINTMENT

F.C. Man Charged in Alexandria Stabbing A 34-year-old man from Falls Church has been charged in an alleged stabbing that occurred in Alexandria in evening of Monday, Dec. 26, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Detectives have charged Donnell D. Nesbitt, of Falls Church, with malicious wounding for allegedly stabbing another man. An investigation by the department determined the two men, who did not know each other, were outside talking with a mutual acquaintance in the 7900 block of Audubon Avenue in Alexandria around 8:50 p.m. The two men began arguing. The argument escalated and the suspect stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife. The victim suffered serious trauma to the upper body. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition. Major Crimes detectives assumed the investigation. Shortly after, the detectives found Nesbitt in the 8300 block of Brockham Drive in Alexandria. He was taken to the Adult Detention Center and charged with malicious wounding. The Fairfax County Police Department asks that anyone with information to contact Fairfax police at 703-691-2131.

Smoke Alarms Limit McLean House Fire Damage At 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and Arlington County Fire Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of Nelway Court in the McLean area of Fairfax County for a reported basement fire. Units from Fire Station 1, McLean, arrived on scene and reported smoke showing from the front of a one-story, over a full basement, single family home. The fire, which had consumed much of the utility room, extended to the stairwell area but was quickly extinguished by firefighters. Smoke alarms were present and awakened the family. The occupants then found fire coming from the furnace in the basement utility room. Two adults, two children and their dog evacuated and one of the adults called 911 once safely outside. The family of five was displaced as a result of the fire. Red Cross assistance was offered and declined. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. Fire Investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and originated in a utility room. The property damage is estimated at $90,000.

BUSINESS & RESIDENTIAL

Fairfax Fire Department Offers Tips for Disposing Christmas Trees Those who decked their halls with a live Christmas tree may find it is already the time to dispose of it, and the Fairfax Fire Department has provided some tips. Much depends on when the tree was acquired, what condition the tree was in at the time and if you properly watered the tree throughout. Regardless, they recommend people should consider getting rid of the tree immediately after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.

Park-Friendly New Toys Assessed Falls Church and Fairfax County households are overflowing with new toys and other gifts at this time of year. While it is fun to head outside to try them out, County officials caution that it’s important to know the rules before bringing unwelcome holiday gifts into the parks. Here are some tips: 1. Drones are growing in popularity, but are not allowed in FCPA parks. Park regulations and Federal Aviation Administration directives ban the use of hobby rockets, remote-control gliders or powered remote-control or tethered planes, boats, cars or other similar devices. 2. Projectiles are prohibited. Try out the new golf clubs only at a county golf course. Unless you’re in a special archery program, leave bows and arrows at home. That goes for Tasers, spears, slingshots, dart devices, and other high-speed missile projectiles, too. 3. Knives with a blade more than four inches in length are prohibited, unless you’re using them to prepare food. And fireworks and metal detectors can only be used with the FCPA’s express written permission. 4. Got a new puppy? Keep your furry friend on a leash, and no visiting a dog park until they are at least four months old and not in heat. New pony? Stay in designated equestrian/riding areas. Feel free to try out the new fishing rod, but you must comply with Virginia State game laws and park rules. 5. Take your new skates for a spin at the Mount Vernon ice rink, but don’t tempt fate by skating on any body of water in a park unless it has been specifically designated for skating by the Park Authority. Keep other skates, bicycles and skis on established trails, walkways and roadways. No off-trail use. Similarly, do not sled or tube or ski on our golf courses once the snow arrives. 6. Keep the earbuds in your ears. If you want to play something loud enough for everyone around you to hear, you need written permission from the Park Authority, 7. If you want to spend the night in your new tent, plan to stay in a designated area, register and pay the appropriate fees.

FREE INTRO KETTLEBELL CLASSES EVERY SATURDAY IN JANUARY AT 11:30 AM

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Community News & Notes Falls Church Couple’s Band Readies Album Release Falls Church couple Barbara Western and Bryan Baxter’s shoegaze rock band Koshari is set to release a new album, Embers, on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at a show at Iota Club and Cafe, located at 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. In Embers, the band takes fans on an emotional rollercoaster through the twists and turns of holding on to love. “While breakups and falling in love are easier to write about, you need to dig deeper to express the ambivalent or confining moments that indicate a change in relationships,” Western, the group’s vocalist and songwriter, said of the writing process. “We really wear our hearts

on our sleeves with this release.” This is the group’s fourth fulllength release and their first concept record. For more information, kosharimusic.com.

BikeneticX Draws Record Number of Participants BikeneticX, a cyclocross bike race sponsored by the local Falls Church bike shop Bikenetic, drew record number of participants earlier this month. The pirate-themed BikeneticX (pronounced BikenetiCross) race was held in the undulating terrain near Haymarket, featuring passages of mud, steep pitches and a jump plank, among other obstacles. There were 641 registered racers, up from 601 the previous year. Bikenetic owners and cyclocross racers Jan Feuchtner and

Helen Huley were thrilled with the results. “We love our races to be slightly quirky, and a whole lot of fun,” Feuchtner said. “It is a chance for adults to do some racing and feel like a kid playing in the dirt, grass and mud. And it was awesome to see so many come out and brave the cold for a good time.” The atmosphere may have been festive, but the racing was serious. BikeneticX marked the final of the Sportif Cross Cup series of eight races and end of the cyclocross season in the greater D.C. area. Racers were vying not only for podium finishes but also for points that gave them season championship positions. Race categories are determined by experience and skill. The top category, 1/2/3 Elite for men, was won by Evan Clouse. Gabriella Sterne won the wom-

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS LEVITY at the BikeneticX cyclocross bike race, it was serious business. The race, which is sponsored by Bikenetic, drew a record number of participants earlier this month. it is the final of the Sportif Cross Cup series of eight races and the end of cyclocross season in the greater D.C. area. Evan Clouse was the winner in the top category for men and Gabriella Sterne was the winner in the top category for women. (Photo: Courtesy of Jan Feuchtner)

en’s category 1/2/3 Elite. For more information, visit bikenetic.com.

F.C. Resident Makes Scarves For Local Homeless Shelter Longtime Falls Church resident Katelyn Williams and her friends recently made knitted scarves and donated them to the Falls Church Homeless Shelter on Friday, Dec. 16. Williams, an adult with special needs, with assistance from her caregivers and friends, made the scarves as part of a continuing project to recycle or repurpose used or excess household items. All of the yarn used in making

the scarves was from Williams’ grandmother’s collection or donated by the community. In addition to the knitting activities, she also recycles used holiday and greeting cards, donated from the community, into gift tags. “These recycling projects help Katelyn develop independence and increases her involvement in the community,” said her mother, Eileen Williams, in an email to the News-Press. All of these activities are done in an office space called The H-A-R-K Center (HobbyActivity-Recycling-Kraft) in the Panera building at 450 W. Broad Street.

FALLS CHURCH RESIDENT Katelyn Williams (left) and her friend Meghan Muskett sit in front of a collection of knitted scarves that Williams, Muskett and others made. Williams and Muskett, two adults with special needs, took this photo just prior to donating the scarves to the Falls Church Homeless Shelter on Friday, Dec. 16. (Photo: Courtesy of Eileen Williams)

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, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046

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West Broad Development Receives Award of Excellence

Falls Church’s hot new mixeduse development, the West Broad project at 301 W. Broad Street, received the Award of Excellence for Best Building – Mixed-Use Project – Single Building from the Northern Virginia chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties at its 2016 Awards Gala in mid-November. The award was one of 26 handed out at the gala, which was held at The Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner. The Awards Gala is an opportunity to celebrate significant new contributions to Northern Virginia by the commercial, industrial and mixeduse real estate community. The developer of the project was Rushmark Properties, the architect was Davis, Carter, Scott, Ltd. and the contractor was HITT Contracting Inc. For more information, visit naiopva.org.

Gallery Underground Mounts ‘High Caliber’ Group Show Gallery Underground will exhibit the group art show “High Caliber” throughout the month of January. The exhibit will consist of paintings, sculpture, photography and metalsmithing by awardwinning local artists. Each of the exhibit’s seven artists are active Arlington Artists Alliance members whose work gained recognition for top quality in the recent 2016 ARTrageous Silent Art Auction. “High Caliber” is a tribute show to some of the best of the best local artwork in Arlington. The gallery will also show a new all-media Members Show. Also featured is painter Jean Moore, whose oils delight local art lovers, ranging from exquisite seascapes to enchanting animals. The show’s opening reception is Friday, Jan. 6 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the gallery, located at 2100 Crystal Dr., Arlington.

The shows run from Tuesday, Jan. 3 – Friday, Jan. 27. For more information, visit galleryunderground.org or arlingtonartistsalliance.org.

DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 11

McLean Community Center Announces January Calendar The McLean Community Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, recently announced its slate of events to open up the new year, which includes a recital, Shakespeare and a flamenco lecture and performance. McLean Community Center will be closed on January 2 in observance of New Year’s Day, but the first event of the year for the center is a free performance from the Unruly Theater Project on Friday, Jan. 6 from 7 – 9 p.m. This event will be held at The Old Teen Firehouse, located at 1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. On Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m., there will be a Young Soloist Recital. The event is free and will feature professional musicians who have won international recognition for their artistry and showcase the talents of local school-age musicians. Experts from the Shakespeare Theatre, American Shakespeare Center and Potomac School will give a guided tour of the world of Shakespeare on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held in preparation for American Shakespeare Center on Tour’s Shakespeare Weekend at The Alden. The cost is $3 for McLean Community Center tax district residents and $5 for everyone else. On Saturday, Jan. 21 and Sunday, Jan. 22, The Alden will host the American Shakespeare Company on Tour for performances of three of Shakespeare’s classics. Tickets for all three performances and the Shakespeare prep event on Thursday, Jan. 12 can be purchased for $60 for McLean Community Center tax district resi-

WRAPPING UP HIS 44 year career as the hands-on executive director of the legendary Washington, D.C. Palm Restaurant last week was Tommy Jacomo (center), flanked by two Falls Church residents and regular Palm diners, News-Press owner Nicholas Benton (left) and Nathan Hamme (right). Another diner at The Palm last Friday was Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and the Mayor-elect of Richmond, Levar Stoney. Also there was James Longo, longtime Falls Church resident who is the chief financial officer for the Palm chain. (Photo: News-Press) dents and $88 for everyone else. The next weekend, on Saturday, Jan. 28, there will be a flamenco 101 event that will feature a lecture and Q&A session from with flamenco educator Estela Vélez de Paredez. Right after that tutorial, there will be a performance featuring Vélez de Paredez and Carlota Santana. Tickets for that performance are $20 for McLean Community Center tax district residents and $35 for everyone else. For more information, visit mcleancenter.org.

Arlington Children’s Chorus Hold Auditions on Jan. 9 The Arlington Children’s Chorus is conducting auditions for its spring season on Monday, Jan. 9 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Glebe Elementary School, located at 1717 N. Glebe Road, Arlington.

Auditions are open to children in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with unchanged voices who are in grades 2 – 12. Those who are auditioning should bring the information sheet and a photo with them to the audition. The photo requirements are as follows: the photo should be a clear image of only the child who is auditioning (a school photo will suffice), the photo must be a full face-and-shoulders shot, facing the camera, a full-face should be provided, the singer’s full name should be printed on the back of the photo and the photo should be attached to the information form. The Arlington Children’s Chorus is a group of young musicians drawn from all over the region who perform throughout the year. For more information, visit arlingtonchildrenschorus. org. To sign up for an audi-

tion, visit signupgenius.com/ go/9040448ada72ea20-arlington.

Woodrow Wilson Library Screens ‘Scrooged’ Woodrow Wilson Library is screening the holiday classic “Scrooged,” which stars Bill Murray, on Thursday, Dec. 29 at the library, located at 6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church. “Scrooged” is a twisted take on the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, where Murray plays the role of Scrooge, under the name Francis Xaxier “Frank” Cross, an arrogant, inconsiderate and cynical television executive. Adults and teens will only be admitted to this screening as the film has a PG-13 rating. Admission is free for the screening, which will begin at 3 p.m. For more information, call 703-820-8774.

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2016 Sidney Awards, Part I

Perry Link once noticed that Chinese writers use more verbs in their sentences whereas English writers use more nouns. For example, in one passage from the 18th-century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber, Cao Xueqin uses 130 nouns and 166 verbs. In a similar passage from Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens uses 96 nouns and 38 verbs. This observation is at the core of his New York Review of Books essay “The Mind: Less Puzzling in Chinese?” which is the first winner of this year’s Sidney Awards. I give out the awards, named for the philosopher Sidney Hook, to celebrate some of the best long-form essays of each year. Link notes that Indo-European languages tend to use nouns even when verbs might be more appropriate. Think of the economic concept inflation. We describe it as a thing we can combat, or NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE whip or fight. But it’s really a process. Link takes this thought in a very philosophical direction, but it set me wondering how much our thinking is muddled because we describe actions as things. For example, we say someone has knowledge, happiness or faith (a lot of faith or a little faith, a strong faith or a weak faith); but faith, knowledge and happiness are activities, not objects. If that last point needed underlining, go to Christian Wiman’s beautiful essay “I Will Love You in the Summertime,” in The American Scholar. As a small child, Wiman used to sneak into his parents’ room in the middle of the night and peel open their eyelids in the hopes that he could see what they were dreaming. But the essay is mostly about the things children know, the things adults know and the process of reaching beyond everyday perception. It’s better to quote a few passages: “People who have been away from God tend to come back by one of two ways: destitution or abundance, an overmastering sorrow or a strangely disabling joy. Either the world is not enough for the hole that has opened in you, or it is too much.” “I suggested she pray to God. This was either a moment of tremendous grace or brazen hypocrisy (not that the two can’t coincide), since I am not a great pray-er myself and tend to be either undermined by irony or overwhelmed by my own chaotic consciousness.” “As for myself, I have found faith not to be a comfort but a provocation to a life I never seem to live up to, an eruption of joy that evaporates the instant I recognize it as such, an agony of absence that assaults me like a psychic wound. As for my children, I would like them to be free of whatever particular kink there is in me that turns every spiritual impulse into anguish.” Wiman also nicely quotes the Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel: “I asked for wonders instead of happiness, Lord, and you gave them to me.” These two essays are not about the events that shook the world in 2016. I’ll get to more of them in the next batch of Sidneys, but in the meantime, the most important – and best crafted – essay of the year was probably Jeffrey Goldberg’s “The Obama Doctrine” in The Atlantic. It’s a classic not only on Barack Obama’s mind and the world situation today, but also about the act of foreign policymaking. Nathan Heller’s “Letter from Oberlin: The Big Uneasy,” in The New Yorker, captured the moral awakening (or mania) that is sweeping college campuses. That essay, too, generated an enormous amount of conversation and is worth revisiting. I’ll end this batch of Sidneys with another perception-altering essay, Charles Foster’s “In Which I Try to Become a Swift,” from Nautilus. Foster writes about swifts, a family of birds a bit like swallows. Swifts are violent, acrobatic and ethereal. They eat 5,000 or more insects a day. When they hunt for bees they select only the stingless ones. They can select the wasp mimics from actual wasps, even while traveling 50 feet a second. But the essay is really about Foster’s efforts to enter into the swift experience. Once while driving to a day care center, he saw a group of them exploding from some tree tops. He scrambled up a tree, where “I swayed in a fork just below the top and pushed my head out into the killing zone of the delta. I saw a tongue, squat, gray, and dry; I saw myself, pinched and saucer-eyed. ... I snapped a mouthful of nymphs and spat them onto the roof of a brand-new Mercedes dropping off a child from a house 300 yards away. It was the closest I ever got.” Foster enters into the different ways swifts experience air and time, and like all these writers, undercuts the normal way we see the world. More winners are coming Friday. If you want essays like this all year, I have to again recommend the website The Browser, edited by Robert Cottrell, which gathers eloquence from far and wide day after day.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

David Brooks

And The Trade War Came Donald Trump got within striking distance of the White House – or, more precisely, Comey-and-Putin range – thanks to overwhelming support from white working-class voters. These voters trusted his promise to bring back good manufacturing jobs while disbelieving his much more credible promise to take away their health care. They have a rude shock coming. But white workers are not alone in their gullibility: Corporate America is still in denial about the prospects for a global trade war, even though protectionism was a central theme of the Trump campaign. In fact, the only two causes about which Trump seems truly passionate are supposedly unfair trade deals NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE and admiration for authoritarian regimes. It’s naive to assume that he will let his signature policy issue slide. Let’s talk means, motive and consequences. You might imagine that a drastic change in U.S. trade policy would require congressional approval, and that Republicans – who claim to believe in free markets – would put on the brakes. But given GOP spinelessness, that is unlikely. In any case, the relevant legislation gives the occupant of the White House remarkable leeway should he choose to go protectionist. He can restrict imports if such imports “threaten to impair the national security”; he can impose tariffs “to deal with large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits”; he can modify tariff rates when foreign governments engage in “unjustifiable” policies. Who determines whether such conditions apply? The executive himself. Now, these provisions were not intended to empower a president to reverse decades of U.S. trade policy, or engage in personal vendettas. You can guess, however, how much such niceties are likely to bother the incoming administration, which is already talking about using its powers. Which brings us to the question of motive. Why would a Trump administration impose restrictions on imports? One answer is those working-class voters, whose supposed champion is set to pursue a radically anti-worker domestic agenda. There is an obvious incentive for Trump to make a big show of doing something to fulfill campaign promises. And if this creates international conflict, that is actually a plus when it comes to diverting attention from collapsing health care and so on.

Paul Krugman

Beyond this, it is clear that the incoming commander-in-chief really believes that international trade is a game in which nice guys finish last, and that America has been taken advantage of. Furthermore, he is picking advisers who will confirm him in these beliefs. Oh, and do not expect attempts by experts to point out the holes in this view – to point out, in particular, that the image of a predatory China, running huge surpluses by keeping its currency undervalued, is years out of date – to make any impression. Members of the Trump team believe that all criticism of their economic ideas reflects a conspiracy among think tanks that are out to undermine them. Because of course they do. So what will happen when the Trump tariffs come? There will be retaliation, big time. When it comes to trade, America is not that much of a superpower – China is also a huge player, and the European Union is bigger still. They will respond in kind, targeting vulnerable U.S. sectors like aircraft and agriculture. And retaliation is not the whole story; there is also emulation. Once America decides that the rules do not apply, world trade will become a free-for-all. Will this cause a global recession? Probably not – those risks are, I think, exaggerated. No, protectionism didn’t cause the Great Depression. What the coming trade war will do, however, is cause a lot of disruption. Today’s world economy is built around “value chains” that spread across borders: your car or your smartphone contain components manufactured in many countries, then assembled or modified in many more. A trade war would force a drastic shortening of those chains, and quite a few U.S. manufacturing operations would end up being big losers, just as happened when global trade surged in the past. An old joke tells of a motorist who runs over a pedestrian, then tries to fix the damage by backing up – and runs over the victim a second time. Well, the effects of the Trumpist trade war on U.S. workers will be a lot like that. Given these prospects, you might think that someone will persuade the incoming administration to rethink its commercial belligerence. That is, you might think that if you have paid no attention to the record and character of the protectionist in chief. Someone who will not take briefings on national security because he is “like, a smart person” and does not need them is not likely to sit still for lessons on international economics. No, the best bet is that the trade war is coming. Buckle your seat belts.

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NATI O NA L

The Armageddon Solution

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s muscular and passionate speech at the State Department yesterday about the need to perpetuate the longstanding U.S. support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has presented the incoming Trump administration with a stark challenge. Kerry deftly defended the U.S. decision not to veto a U.N. resolution calling for an end to Israeli West Bank settlements while reaffirming the U.S. unqualified support for Israel, including particularly that of the Obama administration to provide a qualitative advance to Israeli security with the implementation of its “Iron Dome” anti-missile defense system. But Kerry acknowledged that the leadership under current Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is the most rightFALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS wing in Israeli history and in its strident opposition to the two state solution, is now appealing to the incoming Trump administration to join them in this. OK, reality check time. We’re just learning how deep and longterm the Russian infiltration of the U.S. social fabric has been since the 1970s, always in support of so-called “alt right” white racist and virulently anti-Semitic cults, aimed at destabilizing and weakening the cornerstones of American democratic institutions. They’ve been doing the same all over the globe. So far, the rest of the world has been asleep at the wheel. The egregious excess of this influence in the November presidential election, going so far as to elect a Russian asset to the White House, has begun to awaken some, at least, to this anti-democratic and imperialistic danger. The bugs placed in the ears of so many around the world by Russia, all advocating for the kind of racist separatism that is now roiling Europe after it inspired the Brexit vote in England last summer and Trump’s election last month. Russia helped this along with its murderous military interventions in Syria, driving millions of refugees into Europe to incite a racist backlash there, and they’ve undoubtedly aided and abetted acts of terrorism in the name of ISIS or other groups. Now, right wing elements have ascended in Israel and are agitating for undermining peace in that region. But in exchange for what? As Kerry stressed in his speech yesterday, there will be no peace without a two-state solution, and that requires stepping up peace negotiations there made possible by growing trust, despite all the inherent difficulties with that. The alternative to peace is war. The right-wing mentality that is driving the current one-state solution in Israel has only one vision of an eventual outcome: Armageddon. But realistically, this wild fantasy would, in the realities of the world we now live in, undoubtedly involve the complete and total destruction of Israel as, shall we say, an “unintended consequence.” Would Putin mind if this happened? What do you think? So Putin’s U.S. president-elect is now threatening to align with the right wing Israeli faction resolved to undermine chances for peace and to hurry the day when this Armageddon arrives, and of course, this will enjoy the gleeful support of hypocritical American right wing evangelical sycophants. For life itself to continue on this lonely orb spinning in space, the potential represented by the evolving human race harbors to key to its success, but also the dangerous potential for its failure. Blinded by hate, ideology and fear, otherwise civilized humans in the last year have either advocated or tolerated a huge escalation of the divisions among us that threaten planetary life itself. It is critical that reasonable people step up and begin to act with passion against this. The top page one headline in the Christmas Day edition of the Washington Post on Sunday was unintentionally prophetic. It read, “Trump Plans to Dissolve Charity.” The story was about Trump’s intention to shutter his non-profit foundation, although the New York attorney general’s office says it won’t allow that pending the completion of its ongoing investigation. But at Christmastime, readings from the King James Bible remind us that the word “charity” is also the word for “love.” So, “Trump Plans to Dissolve Love” can be an alternative reading of that headline. That is not news, but being signaled on Christmas Day, however, should give us all pause.

DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

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

A Letter to Trump About Health Care Dear Mr. President-elect: Your position on universal health insurance has been admirably clear. You support it. You did before you ran for president and continued to do so in the campaign. In 2000, you wrote, “We must have universal health care.” In a Fox News debate last year, you said, “We have to take care of the people that can’t take care of themselves.” On “60 Minutes,” you said, “Everybody’s got to be covered.” I am writing to you now because I am concerned that Republicans in Congress do not share your goal and are not giving you good advice on this issue. I’m worried that they are not acting in the best interests of your presidency or the country. I encourage you to be skeptical of them. It is entirely possible for you to sign a conservative health care bill that lives up to your belief in universal coverage. It’s a bill that you could celebrate as a replacement of Obamacare. But it would be quite NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE different from the bills that congressional Republicans are pushing. When they claim that their bills will not take health insurance away from millions of people, they’re engaging in magical thinking. They are trying to fool the media, voters and you. They are focusing on a strategy of “repeal and delay,” in which major parts of Obamacare will remain for months or years. In the intervening time, they say, they will somehow keep people from losing insurance. But they do not have a realistic plan, despite years of talk. Nor, to be blunt, does your choice for secretary of health and human services, who is one of those congressional Republicans. And a repeal is likely to undermine insurance markets long before its effective date. Mr. President-elect, you are a businessman. You understand that savvy executives don’t simply live in the present. They look to the future. They’re fond of quoting Wayne Gretzky: “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” Insurance executives can see through the magical thinking of politicians. They know that a functioning insurance market must include both healthy and sick people. There are very few ways to guarantee this combination. Without Obamacare’s subsidies to help people buy coverage and its mandate (weak as it is) to require

David Leonhardt

they have coverage, markets will break down. The healthy will leave, the sick will stay and costs will soar. After a repeal is signed, the uncertainty will give insurers reason to exit quickly. As Nicholas Bagley, a leading expert at the University of Michigan, says, “If you’re an insurer, you’re likely to head for the hills.” The chaos runs a high risk of leaving millions of people without insurance early in your presidency. Many of them will be members of the white working class who voted for you. Everyone who loses insurance will be grist for criticism of you. As you know, the Republican leaders in Congress have never been your biggest fans. I think it’s fair to say that they care more about being able to brag that they got rid of Obamacare than about your political standing. The bills they are considering threaten your standing. But you have alternatives. The crucial first step is to avoid repealing the insurance expansion without simultaneously replacing it. The new Congress comes to Washington next week, and its members should know where you stand from the beginning. It won’t work to promise millions of people health insurance on spec. If you avoid this trap, you can then push both parties toward a different version of universal health coverage. “There is a ton of policy space for compromise,” as Bagley says. “There is room for a really interesting discussion and potentially a breakthrough that could rebrand Obamacare and replace some of the portions of it that most set Republican teeth on edge.” You will like this, Mr. President-elect: Bagley also says you are “the kind of politician who could cut a really interesting deal.” That deal could give states more flexibility to meet the top-line coverage goals. It could rely more heavily on subsidies to bring healthy people into the market – and ultimately scrap the mandate. It could permit insurers to charge young people less (and older people more). It could create incentives for personal responsibility, allowing higher prices for people who have voluntarily gone without insurance. I will be honest that I do not favor some of these ideas and worry that they would cause hardships. But I was not elected president, and you were. And all of these ideas are within the realm of serious debate about our health care system. For your sake and the country’s, I hope you insist that Congress deals in reality. Magical thinking isn’t good for a presidency.

PAGE 14 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

CO MME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Happy New Year! Amidst the hustle and bustle of the presidential election results and subsequent holidays, there’s some good news that might have been missed. I call them “Cheers for the New Year.” • Got the dot? It’s easy to participate in the Yellow Dot program that the Fairfax County Fire Department launched in September. There is a “golden hour” after a vehicle crash or emergency for which medical help may be required. However, first responders need to know what medical conditions you might have, especially if you are unconscious or unable to speak. The Yellow Dot program could save your life. • Simply visit your local fire station for a kit. Fill out the booklet in pencil so you can make future updates. Attach a current photo to the booklet, and place the booklet in the glove compartment of your vehicle. Place the accompanying yellow dot decal in the lower left of your rear window to alert first responders to check the glove compartment for vital medical information. The Yellow Dot program is especially useful for senior citizens or others who may have serious medical conditions. • Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) was notified recently that it has achieved national accreditation by the American Public Works Association. DPWES is just the 114th agency, out of more than 3000 nationwide, to earn this prestigious recognition. Some benefits of accreditation include increasing safety, reducing liability, lowering insurance premiums, recruiting high quality personnel, and delivering the highest quality services to residents of Fairfax County. Among DPWES respon-

sibilities are stormwater management, wastewater treatment, building safety, and construction permits of all types. • Earlier this month, Fairfax County’s Department of Vehicle Services (DVS) celebrated its receipt of the Blue Seal of Excellence from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). At least 75 percent of DVS’ automotive professionals are ASE certified, earning the Blue Seal. DVS provides centralized maintenance and repair services for nearly 6000 county-owned vehicles, including the nation’s ninth largest school bus fleet, police cars, fire trucks and ambulances, as well as trash trucks. Keeping all vehicle registrations, inspections, and titles current, and ensuring that all vehicles are in conformance with federal, state, and county policies, regulations and procedures, for the largest municipal fleet in Virginia, is just one aspect of what DVS does to provide 24/7 service to the residents of Fairfax County. • If one of your New Years’ resolutions is to serve your community as a volunteer, check out Volunteer Solutions on the Fairfax County website, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/ volunteer-solutions.htm, to find extensive opportunities to help. Some tasks take only an hour a week; others may be more intense, but there is most likely a task that fits with, and needs, your skills. You also may call 703/324-5406 for information. Fairfax County wouldn’t be the great place to live, work, play, learn, worship, and grow old gracefully without our volunteers!

SKIP THE EDUCATION QUESTION DRAMA FINISH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Find free adult education classes near you

FinishYourDiploma.org or text SKIP to 97779 Message & Data Rates May Apply. Reply STOP to opt out. We’ll text you a few times a month. No purchase necessary. Terms and Privacy: FinishYourDiploma.org/privacy-policy

 Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

86 million Americans

Maybe even you,

have prediabetes. person-ABOUT-TOFACT-CHECK-THIS-FACT.

A ZIP CODE SHOULD NOT DETERMINE A CHILD’S FUTURE. Many variables can shape a child’s outcome in life–like the zip code where a child grows up. That’s because not all neighborhoods have the same opportunities and resources, such as quality schools, transportation, housing, healthcare, food and jobs. The good news is that there are many ways to improve our communities so that everyone has a fair chance to succeed, regardless of zip code. You can play a vital role in your local community.

Find out how at:

hud.gov/fairhousing FAIR HOUSING. SHARED OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY COMMUNITY. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 15

WATCH NIGHT LOCATOR 2016 (Venue, Shuttle, and Restaurant Keys) Venue to Venue to EFC Metro-Watch Night Shuttle Bus # 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

SHUTTLE STOP EFC Metro Park Avenue across from Grand FunAlley, beside Kaiser N. Maple Avenue at Clay Café Studio Parking Entrance W. Annandale Road near Parking S. Washington Street at The Historic Falls Church E. Broad Street in front of passageway at 106/104 E. Broad N. Fairfax across from The Falls Church Presbyterian handicapped entrance 8. E. Broad Street at the FCPC Fellowship Hall entrance 9. E. Broad Street just past Applebee’s Restaurant 10. N. Washington Street in front of Clare and Don’s Beach Shack before Park Place RETURN TO EFC Metro and begin route again.

o tt es tro W e . 7 M /W Rt FC 6 E W s. 6 E/W Rt 95 4

EAST FALLS CHURCH METRO

Shuttle Route

Indicated by NUMBERS on MAP J

Venue Key

Restaurant Key

A. Main Stage 7 pm to Midnight - Stop #3, #6, #9 Front of 134 W. Broad St.

E. Clay Café Studios open to 11:30 pm - Stop #2 101 N. Maple Ave.

W. An na nd al

F. Welcome To Watch Night Tent stop #5, #6 LOVE letters photo opp FCA Tent - Chalk Walk Actiivity West CornerofWashington&BroadSt.

St .

pl Ma

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s Wa

FREE PARKING

R T

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St .

. Rd

4 S.

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G. The Historic Falls Church Tours 7 pm until 8 pm - Stop #5 Music 8 pm to 10:30 pm 115 East Fairfax St.

• Falls Church Presbyterian • FC Episcopal (south side of Broad Street) • Kaiser Permanente (3rd Floor Only) • City Hall and Community Center

C P

D U

F 5

W 6

I G

E. B

ro a

dS t.

H. Falls Church Presbyterian Stop # 7 (handicapped entrance) and Stop #8

Koi Koi Sushi 450 W. Broad St.

Mad Fox Brewing Company 444 W. Broad St.

La Caraquena 300 W. Broad St.

hin

ax St .

D. Unity Club 10 pm to 1 am - Stop #2, #3 116 W. Broad St.

. St

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Pa rk Av e.

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C. Grand FunAlley 7 pm to 11:30 pm - Stop #2, #3 Between W. Broad and Park Ave. in pkg lot

eA ve .

B. Dragon 7 pm to 11:30 pm - Stop #6, #9 100 Block W. Broad St.

7 Rt. 29 South to

M. Maneki Neko 238 W. Broad St.. N.

Pho 88 232 W. Broad St.

Paisano's 244 W. Broad St.

Dogwood Tavern 132 W. Broad St.

Hunan Café 126 W. Broad St.

HOT & JUICY CRAWFISH 116 W Broad St.

LIL CITY CREAMERY 114 W Broad St.

Ireland’s Four Provinces 105 West Broad St.

Argia’s 124 North Washington St.

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack 130 North Washington St.

W. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill 127 East Broad St.

Yellow - Shuttle Bus Route See numbers on map Brown letters A to I Venues Orange letters J to U Restaurants

Rt. 7 East to Seven Corners Bailey’s Crossroads, Alexandria Annandale Road to Rt 50 E/W Annandale/Gallows Road

Ch e R o rr y S u t e tre 5 0 et to E/W

See Full 2016 Venue Listing on Page 17

www.watchnightfallschurch.com

PAGE 16 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Thank you to our Watch Night Sponsors LEAD SPONSORS:

• THE LITTLE CITY CATCH FOUNDATION, INC. • THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH SPONSORS:

• THE KENSINGTON FALLS CHURCH– ASSISTED LIVING • THE VILLAGE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY Venue Sponsors: • ATLANTIC REALTY • BURKE AND HERBERT BANK

Host Supporters: • A&A AUTO REPAIR

• DRS LOVE AND MILLER

• FOXES MUSIC

• NEW EDITIONS CONSULTING

• OSHINSKY FAMILY PARTNERSHIP

• SISLER’S STONE • THE FALLS CHURCH EPISCOPAL • THE FALLS CHURCH NEWS PRESS • THE FALLS CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • THE VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION • TORI MCKINNEY- ROCK STAR REALTOR

• VIGET

Contributors: Cue Studios, Dr. William Dougherty III, DDC, PC Friends of Watch Night, Clay Café Studios, Gary LaPorta, Phil Duncan www.watchnightfallschurch.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 17

WATCH NIGHT 2016 VENUE LISTING MAIN STAGE 7 PM – MIDNIGHT 100 Block of West Broad St.(Rt 7) in front of CVS

Masters of Ceremonies - Gary LaPorta Star Stragglers Band - 8 pm - 8:45 pm Hayley Fahey Band - 9 pm - 10:15 pm Countdown Spectacular – Lowering of the Historic Star Sudden M Pac 10:30 - midnight

WEST BROAD STREET 7 – 11:30 pm Lighted Fantastic Flyer Swing Ride – all ages Welcome Tent – LOVE artwork 16 ‘ x 6’ for photos @ George Mason Square Falls Church Arts Tent – Chalk Walk – “If I had one wish for 2017 it would be ____” Falls City Threads – unique Little City shirts for sale XXXL Super Dome Bounce – all ages

GRAND FUNALLEY 7 – 11:30 pm Between 100 Block of W. Broad and 100 Block of Park Avenue – Shuttle Stop #2 For FunAlley & Unity Club Extreme Dual Challenge Obstacle Course -- all ages Rock Climb Slide – all ages Pirate Ship Combo – 13 and under Carousel – ages 2-6 FROZEN Combo - 10 and under Karaoke FCVFD – Fire Truck Free popcorn – other refreshments available at Karl’s Kafe (charge) FOOD TRUCK - hot chocolate, kettle corn, cotton candy, etc. (charge), NYE Accessories vendor (charge)

THE UNITY CLUB 10 pm – 1 am Entrance on Right next to free popcorn & refreshment tent DJ -Dance Music

CLAY CAFÉ STUDIOS 6 pm – 11:30 pm Free Studio time, charge for supplies – Shuttle Bus Stop #3

THE HISTORIC FALLS CHURCH 7 – 10:30 PM East side of S. Washington Street Before E. Fairfax Street, no street number – Shuttle Bus Stop #5 Tours of the Historic Falls Church 7 – 8 PM Stewart Sisters 8 – 9 pm ANDREW ACOSTA & FRIENDS 9 – 10:30 PM

THE FALLS CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7 – 10:30 PM 225 EAST BROAD STREET – Shuttle Stop #7 and #8 Puppet Shows by Puppeteer Sandy Fuelner at THE VICTORIAN PARLOR 7:30 – 9 PM COWBOY HAY 7 – 8:30 PM NORTHERN LIGHTS BIG BAND ORCHESTRA 8:30 – 10:30 PM– Swing Dancing Caricaturist 7 – 9 PM Professional Face Painter 7 – 9 PM Free refreshments served - restrooms available

See 2016 Watch Night Map on Page 15

www.watchnightfallschurch.com

LO CA L

PAGE 18 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

F.C. Movers, Shakers Share Predictions for Coming Year

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

ties around us that we can be hopeful and expectant, while not sublimating our righteous anger when our values and freedoms are threatened.” Echoing a similar theme of civility and concord, Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly wrote, “My wish for 2017 is that the wonderful people of Falls Church will be a model of American community spirit, welcoming all with kindness and mercy, treating others as we would like to be treated, whether in person or online, sharing our talents generously for the good of the local, national and global community.” This will be a tough challenge this coming year, however, as not only the daunting decisions about the campus property, but annual operating budget decisions need to be made in the spring in the context of another big spurt in school enrollment and the funds needed for a thorough renovation of City Hall and the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. Then in the wake of that, there are the fall elections, when four of the seven seats on the Falls Church City Council and School Board, alike, will be contested, likely an expensive school bond referendum, and statewide offices for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, along with local Commonwealth officers, the sheriff, commissioner of the revenue and treasurer will be on the ballot. Doing all this while “finding the right balance,” as “Falls Church is both ‘little’ and a ‘city,” Connelly wrote, involves making it both “walkable and drivable, both residential and commercial, encompassing parks, schools and development, and many people” and her determination to “getting the Campus Redevelopment Project right.” Connelly’s Council colleague Letty Hardi sounded a similar theme, writing, “I see the biggest challenge ahead as striking a balance between the short and long term needs of the City...

all the while keeping our City as affordable as possible so we truly can be a diverse community for all ages and backgrounds.” It is, she added, “a great responsibility and opportunity to continue growing Falls Church into a vibrant, sustainable and independent City for the next generations.” Mayor David Tarter wrote that “development of a new or renovated high school and the potential 10 acres of commercial redevelopment is both the City’s biggest challenge and greatest opportunity.” He added, “The 10 acres of potential commercial development present the City with an opportunity to create a special sense of place in the region, especially when coupled with possible participation of the West Falls Church Metro site and UVA and Virginia Tech. The right development can enhance our City, provide expanded shopping and entertainment opportunities, be a catalyst for redevelopment of neighboring properties, and help pay for the school facilities.” Council member Karen Oliver wrote, “In 2017 I hope the City of Falls Church will find an affordable way to ensure the following: deliberate development, excellence in education and investment in infrastructure,” although she cautioned that “I worry when other thought leaders suggest that if we quickly build to the sky, all our financial constraints will be solved...We are a land-locked City with limited land for economic development...I believe that thoughtful, deliberate development is critically important in 2017.” Developer Bob Young chimed in differently, saying that “without question, the challenges and opportunities that the City faces next year are an inextricably interwoven combination of how the school property is developed, how the high school is to be rebuilt and how the financial structure will be used to finance several infrastructure projects proposed as it relates to the tax rate.”

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Planning Commissioner Brian Williams opined that “The most important challenge and opportunity for the City of Falls Church in 2017 will be deciding the future of the high school campus,” adding, “I’m confident our City leaders will finally present a compelling vision for building a new high school and developing a reasonable portion of the campus for a variety of non-school uses. These new developments will generate strong revenue for the City, effectively offsetting some portion of the cost of our new school and reducing the residential tax burden. I believe the majority of our residents will support such a plan.” School Board member Erin Gill wrote that the City’s daunting needs in 2017 represent “an opportunity to redefine Falls Church City and set a vision for the future I am confident that, working together, we can build a truly innovative new high school with commercial development that feeds into that larger vision for the City,” noting that “It will not be easy and it will not be painless.” Falls Church’s community volunteer par excellence, Barbara Cram, responsible for organizing this Saturday night’s downtown Watch Night event, wrote that “the persisting challenge is keeping our priorities straight and matching them to funds available, portioning the taxpayer dollars for City services and public security and to our schools with the same scrutiny as individuals use their own funds.” She called for “lower taxes, or areas of tax relief for retirees” and “Citywide events and smaller geographic events where there are more citizens involved,” and put a heavy emphasis on City Hall’s communication and engagement with the public. “The City should have a full time booth at the Farmer’s Market.” She proposed that developers impacting the community should pay annually into an earmarked fund to improve community development through the arts, theater, culture and history. “We need to grow the arts, and as demand for it grows there needs to be a source for public funding,” she added. There was much more. But this is enough for now to show that we’ll all have our hands very full in the coming 12 months.

www.fcnp.com

Our Man in Arlington

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 19

chiefs, Al Dean Knight, couldn’t drive home. By Charlie Clark My brother and I invited him This November I witnessed an online demonstration of a to sleep on a cot in our home. In new real-time flood mapping the middle of the night, we were tool from the National Weather awoken by a thunderous crash. Service and the U.S. Army Corps The brick retaining wall in our side yard had given way – a brick of Engineers. The new data, funded in part came flying through the window by Arlington, give advance warn- in my brother’s bedroom, just ing of rising Potomac waters missing Al Dean’s head. Memories of Chain Bridge in D.C. and Northern Virginia (including Four Mile Run). They with sudsy rapids only feet below drew partly from past history that were collected by Arlington’s includes the notorious Hurricane Central Library in 2012. They Agnes of June 1972 – if you included tales from Joseph lived through it, you too have the Fletcher of McLean, whose family owned Fletcher’s boathouse. memories. Four days of rains, 128 deaths His father ordered him to cross in mid-Atlantic states (16 died in Chain Bridge and help stabilize 7:00 ΑΜ Virginia, with damage at $222 16 boats, the only ones left from million). Richmond was hit hard, the 80 they owned. Arlington was relatively lucky. Occoquan lost its iron Pratt PM Last ModiﬁTruss ed 9-28-2010 3:57 Colors In-Use User Printer for Output Date According to the June 24, 1972, Bridge, Fairfax lost power ma-jsforza2 (3) 9s-exp260 titan 3:57 PM Cyan Washington Star interview with its water supply, and rainfall in 9-28-2010 Magenta Mechd By: TBD RTVd By: None Yellow Washington National Airport Chantilly reached 16 inches. Black The Potomac swelled even manager Bernard McGinnis, with the Kennedy Center terrace, crews worked all night putting and a piano floated in its swirling up sandbags around vaults conwaves. The canal’s walls broke taining electronic equipment. in three places. George Lincoln, Amazingly, the Potomac rose to head of the federal Office of 9 feet, not the 12 foot sign on a Emergency Preparedness, said marker, which would have meant the East Coast flooding was “the it spilled over to runways and most massive in history.” Iconic shut flights down. The main obstacle in Arlington news photos showed President Nixon in a helicopter over Wilkes was five hours of gridlock in Crystal City’s Route 1 packed Barre, Pa. My own memory reverberates with traffic diverted from the from my teenage summer job GW Parkway. ABC 7 Chief moving furniture for Newlon’s Meteorologist Doug Hill in 2012 Transfer. In the slosh, we came recalled, “There was a shopping back to the Nelson Street yard center in Arlandria, and the fireand heard the D.C. bridges were fighters had to helplessly watch blocked. One of our black crew the fires rage because there was T:3.5”

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

no way to get to it.” The bridge across Four Mile Run at Walter Reed Drive collapsed. The damage from Agnes helped clinch Rep. Joel Broyhill’s proposal for federal money to bolster the Arlandria channel against flooding, a multi-milliondollar project completed in 1977. It also prompted Civic Federation president Joe Pelton, who would serve on the LongRange County Improvement Commission, in the mid-1970s to help State Del. Warren Stambaugh gather 2,500 signatures asking the Virginia Transportation Department to replace the onelane Bailey Bridge over Four Mile Run. That, Pelton told me, was the beginning of the economic revitalization of then-decaying Shirlington. Forty-four years after Agnes, it is one of Arlington’s most vibrant – and mostly dry – communities. *** One of Arlington’s most experienced Christmas tree salesmen is looking for a new lot. C.W. “Chuck” Fields Jr., the 86-year-old owner of the Columbia Pike plumbing concern, has been selling trees for the South Arlington Lions and, later, the Better Sport Club of Arlington for 54 years, his assistant Emily Carnes told me. Now the property at the Food Lion at George Mason and the Pike, which they used for the last quarter-century, is slated for re-development. Fields was given the honor of selling the final tree on the site – pending a search by next December for a new venue.

CA L E NDA R

PAGE 20 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017

Community Events

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29

Pokemon Perler Beads at the Library. Children in grades 2 – 5 can make a Pikachu or Poke Ball with perler beads. Registra�on required and par�cipa�on is limited to 15 par�cipants. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 3 – 4 p.m. fallschurchva.gov/ Library. Teen Movie. The classic Bill Murray movie “Scrooged,” a twisted take on the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, will be screened. Teens and adults only. Woodrow Wilson Library (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church). Free. 3 p.m. 703-820-8774. Teen Time: Video Game Night. Children in grades 6 – 12 can play Wii party games. Registra�on required and par�cipa�on is limited to 15 people. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Youth Services Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 7 p.m. 703-248-5034.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

Flying Squirrel Lore & More. Children ages four and up and their families can gather to learn about ﬂying squirrels, which can be found throughout the neighborhoods of Northern Virginia. A�er an indoor presenta�on, par�cipants can

observe ﬂying squirrels in ac�on. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registra�on required. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington). $5. 703228-6535.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

Watch Night New Year’s Eve Celebra�on. Join thousands of area residents in downtown Falls Church City in the City’s annual New Year’s Eve fes�vi�es including carnival games, local eats and live music. Broad and Washington Streets, Falls Church. Free. 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. watchnigh�allschurch.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

Closed: New Year’s Day. The Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day and will remain closed through Monday, Jan. 2. fallschurchva.gov/Library.

MONDAY, JANUARY 2

Holiday Closure: New Year’s Day Observed. Most City of Falls Church oﬃces and services will be closed. The Falls Church Community Center at 223 Li�le Falls Street will be open from 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. fallschurchva.gov.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3

Preschool Story�me. Songs,

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Send community event submissions to the News-Press by e-mail at calendar@fcnp. com; fax 703-342-0347; or by regular mail to 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.

movement, and stories for ages 18-36 months. Drop-in at the Youth Services Room. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. 703-2485034. Play�me with the Early Literary Center. Explore educa�onal and manipula�ve items to teach early literacy through play. Ages birth to 5 years, no registra�on required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 11 a.m. – noon. 703-248-5034. Kids’ Chess Club. Children between the ages 7 – 14 can learn to play chess. All skill levels are welcome. Thomas Jeﬀerson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). Free. 4:45 – 5:45 p.m. 703-5731060.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

Northern Virginia Bird Club Walks. Adults are invited to join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for an informal walk through Long Branch and Glencaryln Parks in search of resident and migratory birds. Birders of all skill level are welcome. Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park (625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington). Free. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 703-2286535.

Time for Twos. Children ages 2 – 3 meet for early literacy story�me with songs, stories and ac�vi�es. Registra�on required. Thomas Jeﬀerson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-573-1060. Penguins and Polar Bears. Children ages 3 – 5 can learn about the wonders of the animals living in Earth’s polar regions – both North and South – including how penguins and polar bears survive freezing temperatures throughout the year. Registra�on required. Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park (3608 N. Military Road, Arlington). $5. 1 – 2 p.m. 703-228-3403. 1-on-1 Computer Tutoring. Receive personalized assistance using computers, Internet and e-books. Registra�on required. To schedule an appointment, stop by the reference desk or call 703-2485035. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Conference Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 2 – 4 p.m. 703-248-5035. fallschurchva.gov/Library. Kids’ Chess Club. Children between the ages 7 – 15 can learn to play chess. All skill levels are welcome. Woodrow Wilson Library (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church). Free. 4 – 5 p.m. 703-820-8774.

Theater Fine Arts THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29

“Straight White Men.” Three brothers and their father gather for Christmas to drink eggnog, play video games, and wrestle. But when one brother seems to buckle under the pressures of achievement, it becomes clear that these men are wrestling with something larger than each other. From Young Jean Lee, one of the most daring writers in America, comes a razorsharp comedy that confronts the complexities of identity and hypocrisies of privilege. Through Dec. 31. Studio Theatre (1501 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $20 – $69. 8 p.m. studiotheatre.org. “Step Afrika! Magical, Musical, Holiday Step Show.” A new take on the holiday season! DC’s internationally-known percussive dance company invites you to celebrate the holidays

with clapping, stomping and all around fun for all ages featuring their furry friends from the Animal Kingdom and a special dance party with DJ Frosty the Snowman. This production is part of The Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Winterfest 2016. Through Dec. 30. The Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $18 – $40. 7:30 p.m. atlasarts. org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

“The Second City’s Black Side of the Moon.” An all-African American cast of The Second City’s smartest and most audacious sketch and stand-up artists breaks down and deconstructs the present American moment through comedy. They’re exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. So if you suddenly feel like you’re living on an entirely different planet, migrate

to the Black Side of the Moon. Through Jan. 1. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $20 – $79. 8 p.m. woollymammoth.net.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

“Titanic.” Come aboard the ship of dreams in this Tony Award-winning Best Musical – a heart-stopping and riveting ride through the �inal moments of Titanic’s fateful journey. In this stunning, 360-degree production, Artistic director Eric Schaeffer plunges you into the middle of the glamour, chaos, heroism and, ultimately, in the spirit of the most infamous ship of all time. This production features a lush score and a cast, orchestra and crew of more than 50 artists. Through Jan. 29. Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $40 – $114. 2 p.m. sigtheatre.org.

CA L E NDA R

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

live_music&nightlife THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29 B�� T� T�� 90� N�� Y��’� EVE EVE EVE: L�� 90� �� C�� T�� C��’� E�� (N� D�� T�� B��), R�� H�� L�� (C�� T�� B��), M�� M�� (A�� M�� T��) �� A�� N�� (G�� T�� B��). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 in advance; $25 day of the show. 6:30 p.m. 703-2551566. B�� S�� Y� M��’� B�� F�� B�� B�� B��. 9:30 (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $20. 7 p.m. 202-265-0930. J�� K�� B��. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $15 in advance; $20 day of the show. 7 p.m. 703-237-0300. CMPVTR_CLVB P�� G�� E�� T�� N��, O��, S��, T�� Y�� J��. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10 in advance; $12 day of the show (Backstage). 7:30 p.m. 202-667-7960. A�� H�� W�� T�� C�� F�� M�� M��, B�� K��, R�� L�� W��, P�� M�A�� M�� S��. The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. C�� C�� T��. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $30 – $40. 8 p.m. 202-337-4141.

N�� Y�� U�� B�� C�� E�� K��. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $15. 8:30 p.m. 703-5228340. D�� C�� B��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. B�� F��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

M�� A�� N�� Y��’� E�� P�� N�� O�� W�� A�� W�� A��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $45 – $65. 6:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. J�� K�� B��. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $15 in advance; $20 day of the show. 7 p.m. 703-237-0300. P�� D��. The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $39.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. C�� C�� T��. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $30 – $40. 8 p.m. 202-337-4141. N�� H�� M�� H��, J�� C��, T�� L�� J�� J�� S��. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $12. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340. C�� N�� P�� T��, C�� M�� L�� B��. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $12 (Mainstage). 9 p.m. 202667-7960. T�� R��. JV’s Restaurant (6666

DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 21

Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. T�� S��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $20. 9 p.m. 703-522-8340. DJ M�� C��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

M�� A�� N�� Y��’� E�� P�� N�� T�� F�� S�� E��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $45 – $65. 6:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. T�� L�� – N�� Y��’� E��. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $50. 7 p.m. 703-237-0300. B�� C�� N�� Y��’� E�� P�� O’D�� H�� O��, T�� A�� H�� M�� DJ D��. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $30 (Both Floors). 7 p.m. 202-667-7960. N�� Y��’� E�� T�� S�� S��, L�� H�� S�� B�� C�� C��. The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $39.50. 8 p.m. 703-549-7500. N�� Y��’� E�� P�� W�� J��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. N�� Y��’� R�� E�� J��’ J��. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $5 presale; $10 at the door. 9 p.m. 703-532-9283. S�� A�� N�� Y��’� T�� D�� B�� T�� R�� H��, T�� B�� L�� T�� S�� S��. Iota

T�� W��’ P��. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). Free (Red Room). 7 p.m. 202-667-7960.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

MONDAY, JANUARY 2

J��’ J��’� M��-A�� B�� B�� #16 – P�� N�� 1. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $18 in advance; $13 – $18 day of the show. 6 p.m. 703255-1566.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3

J��’ J��’� M��-A�� B�� B�� #16 – P�� N�� 2. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $18 in advance; $13 – $18 day of the show. 6 p.m. 703255-1566. I�� J�� P�� G�� S��. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). Free. 8 p.m. 703-522-8340. T�� C�� P��. Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.) $20. 8 p.m. 202337-4141.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

J��’ J��’� M��-A�� B�� B�� #16 – P�� N�� 3. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $18 in advance; $13 – $18 day of the show. 6 p.m. 703255-1566.

P�� A��... Thursday, January 5 – Teen Volunteer Orienta�on. Children ages 12 – 18 can learn about volunteering at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library to earn

community service hours. Registra�on and volunteer applica�on required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church) Free. 6 – 6:30 p.m. fallschurchva.gov/672/Teen-Volunteers.

Saturday, January 14 – Town Hall Hosted by Senator Saslaw and Delegate Simon. Virginia State Senator Dick Saslaw and State Delegate Marcus Simon will host

a discussion of the 2017 General Assembly and legisla�ve agendas and Q&A. Falls Church Community Center (223 Li�le Falls St., Falls Church). Free. 10 a.m. – noon. delmsimon@house.virginia.gov.

Saturday, January 16 – Holiday Closure: Mar�n Luther King, Jr. Day. Most City of Falls Church oﬃces and services will be closed in observance of Mar�n

Luther King, Jr. Day. fallschurchva.gov.

C�� S�� Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.

Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Fax: 703-342-0347; Attn: FCNP Calendar Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

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Dancing Mind is offering a special New Year’s “Glow with the Flow” celebration on Friday, December 30 from 4:30 – 6 p.m. The free event is designed to help participants break a sweat and set the tone for bright beginnings and new possibilities with a New Year’s Eve playlist and blacklight and glow stick practice. Dancing Mind offers yoga, CrossFit, and cycling classes along with workshops and training programs. For more information, visit www.dancingmind.com.

Free Pilates Workouts at Epiphany on New Year’s Day Epiphany Pilates is hosting a New Year, New You Open House on January 1 from 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. which will include complimentary workouts designed to encourage people to try something new in the new year. Twenty to thirty minute sample “taste” classes will be offered in Vinyasa Yoga, Pilates Circuit, Pilates Mat at 1 pm, BootyBarre Plus, Reformer, Prenatal Pilates, Rock Your Birth, Mommy & Me Pilates, Taste of BumpBarre, and Baby at the Barre. For a schedule of classes or for more information, visit www.epiphanypilates. com or contact the studio at info@epiphanypilates.com or (703) 204-2200. Epiphany Pilates is located at 2735 Hartland Road, Suite 100, in the Merrifield area of Falls Church.

New Skin Care Center Opens on Broad Street SAWP Skin and Wellness Place, has opened at 929 W. Broad Street, Suite 250 in Falls Church. The new business provides comprehensive, cutting-edge, and compassionate care for skin with a focus on addressing the specific skin care needs of each client. Services provided include facials, ultrasounds, skin tightening, Juvesa ProSkin, 3D Photo Abrasion, laser hair removal, Brazilian waxing, eye lash extensions, micro ablating eyebrows, micro needling, face lifts, micro current face and body lifting, Brazilian bikini waxing. For more information, visit www.sawpskin.com.

F.C. Businesses Offer Discounts on Chamber’s Website A variety of special discounts and offers from the local business community are available on the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce’s website. The public offers, as of Tuesday, December 27, include discounts with Jiffy Lube, House Doctor’s Handyman Service, Comfort Inn, Governor House Inn, Italian Café, Mad Fox Brewing Company, and Dogwood Tavern. To view the current specials, visit www.FallsChurchChamber.org and click on the Hot Deals icon. To see what events have been planned by the Chamber and its member business, click on events.  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.

(A) Go ask your mother. (B) Because I said so. (C) We’ll see. There are no perfect answers in parenting. AdoptUSKids.org

FO O D &D I NI NG

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

In Our Kitchen: Recipe for Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

BY ILEANA MORALES VALENTINE TAMPA BAY TIMES

Lots of travel in November brought autumn vibes into my life. Work took me to Chicago during the first week of last month, where everyone was high off of a Cubs win and the days were crisp but sunny. The following weekend, my husband and I went to New York City with a couple of friends, and we walked around Central Park marveling at the brilliant red and turmericyellow leaves. Thanksgiving took us, along with my parents and sisters, to the Midwest to spend the holiday with my in-laws. It has been a cold but cozy few weeks. And while there was a lot of dining out, my weekends flirting with autumn made me want to cook something hearty when I got home. This idea for a cozy dinner came around the time I discovered a new technique for baked pasta from J. Kenji López-Alt,

DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 23

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells Serves 6

This cozy baked pasta dish puts that can of pumpkin in the pantry to good use. I soaked the pasta instead of parboiling it, which saved me from having to use another pot. Feel free to use your favorite tomato sauce; mine is made using Marcella Hazan’s recipe, the easiest, most delicious sauce I’ve made at home. • 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes • 1 ½ sticks butter, divided • 1 onion • 1 sprig fresh sage • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree • 16 ounces whole milk ricotta • 2 tablespoons sour cream • ½ cup finely grated ParmigianoReggiano • Salt

PUMPKIN PUREE isn’t just for dessert. You’ll use a 15-ounce can of it in Pumpkin Stuffed Shells. (P��: I�� M�� V�� )

author of the Food Lab column and award-winning cookbook of the same name. López-Alt soaks the pasta instead of parboiling. So while I prepared the sauce and filling, the pasta soaked and I didn’t have to hover over a boiling pot of water.

There’s usually a can of pumpkin puree lingering in my pantry this time of year, and I decided to use it for dinner instead of dessert. For the dish, I landed on Pumpkin Stuffed Shells, in which jumbo shells are stuffed with pumpkin puree that

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. 2. Soak pasta in a bowl filled with warm water for 30 minutes, making sure to stir after the first few minutes to prevent sticking. Alternatively, boil the pasta until al dente. Drain. 3. To make the tomato sauce, combine crushed tomatoes, ½ stick

has been mixed with ricotta and sage-infused brown butter. The whole thing gets topped with Marcella Hazan’s famously easy and irresistible tomato sauce. And at the end, brown-butter-

butter and onion in saucepan set over medium heat. Season with salt and simmer for about 45 minutes. Discard onion before serving. 4. Meanwhile, place 1 stick butter in a small pan set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the sage leaves. Let butter keep cooking to brown the butter; it’s done when the crackling sound has died down and it has a nutty fragrance. Remove from heat and let cool; remove sage leaves with a slotted spoon and set aside to use later for garnish. 5. In a bowl, mix the pumpkin, ricotta, sour cream, ¼ cup ParmigianoReggiano and a pinch of salt. Pour cooled brown butter into pumpkin mixture and carefully stir to combine. 6. Ladle about ¼ cup tomato sauce into the bottom of a 13- by 9-inch baking dish. Stuff each shell with the pumpkin mixture and arrange in one layer in the baking dish. Top with the rest of the tomato sauce and the remaining ¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until cheese and sauce is bubbling at the edges. Garnish with the fried sage leaves and serve.

Source: Ileana Morales Valentine

fried sage leaves serve as garnish. It’s a very cozy dinner situation for fall, whether it sticks around for months or comes in fickle but friendly cold fronts.

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PAGE 24 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

SENIOR LIVING

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Medicare Welcome Vs. Wellness Visits BY MATLIDA CHARLES

KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

Those who are new to Medicare have to sort out a lot of information in a hurry. One area of confusion is the difference between the Welcome to Medicare doctor visit and the annual Wellness Visit. You get the Welcome visit once, in the first 12 months of your enrollment in Medicare. You get the annual Wellness visit a year later and every year after that. What to expect from your Welcome visit: Counseling, mostly. Your weight, exercise, diet, current drugs, blood pressure, possible depression, general physical condition, family medical history and more will be discussed in a 45-minute visit. They might do a basic vision test and a body mass index. A plan will be provided for screen-

ings, shots or tests. The Wellness visit doesn’t cost you anything. If you’re expecting a full physical at that time, you won’t get it. Your annual Wellness visit: You qualify for this appointment if you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months. You’ll have to fill out a health-risk questionnaire as a means for the medical staff to develop a prevention plan for you. If you have the Original Medicare, you won’t pay anything for the annual exam, unless additional tests are performed at the same time and those tests aren’t covered. Some of those tests that might be requested include prostate cancer, HIV, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, diabetes and glaucoma. Certain tests and screenings are free. Be sure to ask for the free Medicare Wellness visit ... not a physical. If you end up with a full

SE NI O R LI V I NG physical (depending how you ask for the appointment), thinking it’s a free Wellness visit, you could well be charged for various tests. On the other hand, if you do want a full head-to-toe physical, be specific because you won’t get it at the Wellness visit either. *** If you haven’t retired and you work for a company that is trying to ease you out due to age, a recent study might change some minds. The brief from the Center for Retirement Research describes how and why older workers stay productive, and compares accumulated information and experience with the ability to process new information. That accumulated information (called “crystallized intelligence”) won out in many cases over new information gathering, called “fluid intelligence.” Younger workers just haven’t had enough years on the job in many fields to accumulate that crystallized intelligence. At the same time, there are certain fields where we might not want to stay employed as we age. In a test of air traffic controllers, older participants did not do as well as the younger ones because new information (fluid intelligence) had to be assessed on

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

a second-by-second basis. “Old” accumulated information had no value in this case. Surgery is another field, and the researchers suggest that people be screened after age 60 for cognitive decline. One test, however, showed the value of age and experience – the ability to finish a New York Times crossword puzzle. Participants at age 20 didn’t do well at all. As the age of participants increased, so did their ability to complete the puzzle. Even 80-year-olds did slightly better than those who were 60, proving that information and knowledge still are being accumulated

at that age, even though there’s no need to learn new skills. Those who had changed careers along the way didn’t fare as well in crystallized intelligence because they had fewer years to gather information. So if your company is trying to push you out due to age, direct its attention to a brief entitled “Cognitive Aging and Ability to Work” at the crr.bc.edu website.  Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

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DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 25

Dec.

29 y

sda Thur

CMPVTR_CLVB’s Glow End Theory Black Cat 7:30 p.m. 1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.

202-667-7960 • blackcatdc.com

30 y

Frida

John Kadlecik Band State Theatre 7 p.m. 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church

703-237-0300 • thestatetheatre.com

Nasty Habits Iota Club and Café 8:30 p.m. 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington

703-522-8340 • iotaclubandcafe.com

d Satur

BY DREW COSTLEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

There is a prolific improvisational band in Falls Church, though they are largely unknown. The band’s name is Conduit and they have produced 56 CDs in the last 12 years and have a 57th on the horizon. Since the group is improvisational, every CD is distinct from all of the others. Conduit, which creates mainly a mix of experimental jazz, progressive rock and minimalism, gets its name because the band members are a conduit for the music. They got together to create its first CDs in the winter of 2004. The band came together as a result of a conversation between two longtime friends – Ted White and Dan Joy – who began jamming together in the late 70s and early 80s. Joy moved away from the region for some time, came back in the late 90s and a few years later made a suggestion that would lead to an immense body of work. “At some point he said to me, ‘We need to get together and jam again,’” White said. “Well, he said this at a small party at my place where another friend of ours was and this was JD Mack. And JD is just about the nicest guy I know, although Bob Crain is a close second. “JD heard Dan and me talking and said ‘Hey, can I get into this with you guys?’ I said ‘I suppose. What do you play?’ and he said ‘Bass’ and I said ‘Good’ because both Dan and I play keys and I play sax.” Mack’s addition to the group would prove vital for two reasons – the fact that he added a bass to the burgeoning group and the fact that he eventually introduced Crain, the band’s drummer, to White. Crain joined the band in August 2005 and the group built Conduit Studio in the basement of his home, located just outside of Falls Church. It is there that Conduit has produced the bulk of its work. According to White, the group has several live jam sessions in addition the group’s studio discography. He said that some-

CONDUIT. (P��: C�� T�� W��) times the group might only get together to jam once or twice a year some years and several in others. Crain said that he thinks they have such an immense catalog because of their enjoyment of the process of creating music together. “It’s a process that I think we’ve all gotten comfortable with and are happy with because we get to create music on a very regular schedule or when it works out for us,” Crain said. “There’s no external pressures on gigs or trying to do any sort of releases or promotion or anything. It’s just really focused on what the three of us want to do and earlier what the four of us wanted to do with Dan….So we really hit a good kind of common interest and groove because we can all play what we feel like and it’s appreciated by the other members.” One of the things that Crain referenced was the fact that Joy no longer plays with the group. Nine years ago he began experiencing health issues that made caused him so much physical pain that he couldn’t play on the group’s often

long improvisational tracks. “We like Dan a lot and we value him a lot and it’s unfortunate that he has what amounts to I guess a physical handicap in this respect,” White said. “Because it’s a lot harder on him than it is on us. But we miss him as a performer.” Joy actually got to work with the group again on Conduit’s latest project, which is the soundtrack for an upcoming film called “The Unsound,” that’s being produced by a local film production company. He produced the band’s work for the soundtrack. “It was good,” White said. “Any time that we can positively engage him in something that we’re doing, that he can and wants to do, we’re very happy to have that happen.” Conduit will be releasing the music that they made for the “The Unsound,” along with some additional new music, on their 57th release sometime next year. • For more information about Conduit, visit facebook.com/Conduit-14272785961.

The Legwarmers State Theatre

These singles whet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week:

7 p.m.

 Nicholas Benton – Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson 

220 N. Washington St., Falls Church

703-237-0300 • thestatetheatre.com



Jody Fellows – Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger

Drew Costley – The Quickening (The Wreckoning Part II) by Latyrx

SPO RTS

PAGE 26 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Mason Girls Hoops Beats Hylton 65-32 by Matt Delaney

Falls Church News-Press

A five-game win streak is the George Mason varsity girls basketball team’s Christmas gift to themselves after handling C.D. Hylton 65-32 in their first game of Oakton High School’s Holiday tournament. From the opening tip that sophomore forward Raquel Dodd batted to junior center Kaylee Hirsch who then immediately dished the ball to junior guard Nicole Bloomgarden to drive in for two, it was evident the Mustangs came to play. Mason went on to earn a wire-to-wire victory where they outscored the Bulldogs in every quarter and dominated all phases of the game. “To beat a team that beat us last year, and beat them pretty convincingly, that’s gotta be a boost for us going [forward],” head coach Michael Gilroy said. Whatever game plan Hylton came in with was ruined early on by the Mustangs. A constricting

defense restricted the Bulldogs from roaming the paint without turning the ball over, while Mason’s offense left Hylton on their heels and gave them openings from long range and up close. After a tight first quarter where Mason led 19-11, an explosive second quarter put the Mustangs firmly ahead, scoring 24 points while limiting the Bulldogs to just nine, giving the Little City’s own a 43-20 halftime advantage. Hylton continued their flat play in the second half as the Mustangs scored 22 points in the third and fourth quarter compared to the Bulldogs’ twelve. Synergy has been the theme of Mason’s five game win streak and the win over Hylton was another poignant example of the cohesion the Mustangs have developed during that stretch. “This is two years now I’ve had with the same team,” Gilroy added. “They’re all getting more familiar each other. They all know where people are and their

GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL beat C.D. Hylton High School 65-32 in the first round of the Oakton Holiday Classic at Oakton High School. The Mustangs outscored the Bulldogs by 23 points in the first half. (Photo: Gary Mester) spots and where they’re good at. It’s still a work in progress, but we definitely have more cohesiveness.” Still, even as they’ve begun to heat up, Mason is keeping their

Mustangs Hit The Mat

MASON JUNIOR WRESTLER Bryan Villegas grapples an opponent while on his way to his 18th win of the season during the 2016 Mason Holiday Classic that was held at George Mason High School on Friday, Dec. 23. The Mustangs finished fifth as a team out of the nine teams that competed in the wrestling tournament. Villegas finished 1st in the 106 pound division and is undefeated so far this season. (Photo: Carol Sly)

excitement about the streak quiet. “We don’t celebrate too much after wins, it’s kind of a weird group,” Gilroy said with a chuckle. “But I think they’re a pretty confident and they know what

they need to do each night.” Mason finished out the tournament against Loudoun County High School and South Lakes High School, but results weren’t available by press time.

GMHS Boys Basketball Loses to Broad Run HS

by Matt Delaney

Falls Church News-Press

George Mason’s varsity boys basketball team lost the final regular season game of the 2016 portion of their schedule 75-70 in a competitive road contest against non-conference opponent Broad Run High School on Dec. 21. It was yet another test for Mason, whose overall record stands at 4-3 and non-conference record at 2-2. But despite the hurdles they had to overcome and the loss, the Mustangs held their own throughout the entire contest. A strong start gave Mason a 21-14 lead by the end of the first. But a deficiency in rebounds – especially on the offensive glass – worked against the Mustangs and opened the door for the Broad Run to outscore Mason 17-7 and go into halftime up 31-28. “They got 14 offensive rebounds to our five,” head coach Chris Capannola wrote. “They had a ton [on the night] and that was really the difference in the game.” Scoring picked up majorly in the second half when the Mustangs

tallied 23 points to Broad Run’s 26. The Mustangs eventually saw themselves trailing by eight, but a strong run capped off by a senior Dustin Green’s drive to the hoop brought Mason within two at 68-66, but the team couldn’t complete the comeback. “We really battled Broad Run, and were in it ‘til the end,” Capannola added. “We needed them to miss a few free throws toward the end and we needed to one more bucket to fall, but it didn’t happen.” Even with the loss, positives sprang up from the experience. Mason capably navigated Broad Run’s half-court trapping defense without committing a turnover on the night. Statistical leaders included sophomores guard Max Ashton with 26 points and forward Hollman Smith with 21 – putting Ashton and Smith’s point per game averages at 23 and 19.6, respectively, the highest averages in Capannola’s 15 years with Mason. Mason turns their attention to the Joe Cascio Holiday Classic at Falls Church High School, which started on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Fa l l s C h u r c h

DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017 | PAGE 27

School News & Notes

THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S fifth graders presented their research on sea creatures with the models they made of them. There were sharks, whales, jellyfish, octopus, squid and tons of other sea creatures. The depth of research combined with the creative details of the models were truly impressive. (Photo: Courtesy of FCCPS Photos/Layton McCann)

IN KEEPING WITH A RECENT THEME from the Falls Church City Public School system, the George Mason High School Jazz Ensemble performed for the Falls Church Lions Club recently. Here is Mason’s Blake Hopkins, Peter Haensel, Neal Marshall and Kit Richards performing. (Photo: Carol Sly)

George Mason HS Jazz Ensemble Plays for Lions Club

Mason Students Build Holograms for Smart Phones

A small group from the George Mason High School Jazz Ensemble played for the Lions Club’s holiday dinner at the Italian Cafe on Tuesday, Dec. 21. The performance was just one of many by Mason’s music students this month.

George Mason High School is working to expand use of the MakerSpace by encouraging all students to become involved during Mustang Block. A planning team of teachers, administrators and students with the leadership of assistant principal Kevin Clark are meeting weekly to create monthly maker challenges. The first challenge is creating a hologram using smart phones. On Friday, Dec. 16, students created a pyramid to display holographic videos. The challenge continued this Monday to include creating a hologram video.

James Trombo Wins 8th Grade God Off at Henderson James Trombo, an eighth grader at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, won the annual God Off at the school, where students take on the role of Greek gods in order to make a pitch to their fellow students as to why they should be the patron god of a new Greek city-state. The competition is part of the study of ancient Greek mythology, rhetoric and culture, by students in the Eighth Grade Honors English classes. Classes each chose a winner to represent them in the grade level competition. There were five competitors this year, including Hyperion (Tessa Boneau), Demeter (Ashley Zigler), 2nd Demeter (Andrea Valderrama), Dionysus (Trombo) and Hephaestus (Evan Lankford). In addition to the patronage of the city, Trombo won a brand new Caduceus and a Constantinian coin dating from the mid 300s.

Operation EarthWatch T-Shirt Designs Due Jan. 9 The Falls Church City Public School system encouraged parents and students in the school system to complete their Operation EarthWatch December activity sheet over the winter holiday in its Morning Announcements email. They also encouraged students to work on drawing a design for Operation Earthwatch’s “Nurture Nature” themed t-shirt competition. Students who complete all of their Operation EarthWatch activities earn a special t-shirt at the end of the school year and t-shirt designs are being sought.

The Education Task Group of the Falls Church Environmental Sustainability Council will select the winning design. Designs can be stapled to the December activity sheet and turned into respective school offices by January 9. Students who are creating t-shirt designs are encouraged to think about how they help take care of nature, from planting native trees or flowers to feeding the birds during the winter to creating a butterfly garden. For more information, visit sites.google. com/site/operationearthwatch/ activity-sheets.

Falls Church Elementary Parent Teacher Association. The group showcases different musical styles originating in Louisiana, including zydeco, blues, dixieland, jazz and cajun. This wasn’t the first assembly the association sponsored. They bring diverse and interesting groups into the elementary schools in Falls Church throughout the year.

Mason Forensics Students Tour Ballistic Laboratory On Friday, Dec. 16, students in the forensics class from George Mason High School took a field trip to the Department of Forensic Science in Manassas. That department analyzes many types of evidence from police agencies across the state. The students toured the ballistics lab and learned how bullets are studied as evidence. Each gun has an individual “signature” that is left on the bullet. Students saw how tests are run on bullets, shell

casings and guns. They were shown a gun being fired into a water tank and learned about the analysis that follows. Results are used to trace guns to multiple crime scenes.

TJ Students Learn Lessons About Holiday Traditions One of the second grade classes at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School learned about the holiday traditions that different cultures have just before the school system went on break for the winter. On Monday, Dec. 19, the students learned about some of the traditions related to Hanukkah, including dreidels. The students made posters and then made dreidels and played a game with them. The week before, the students learned about gingerbread houses, a German tradition, and la Befana, an Italian tradition. On Tuesday, Dec. 20 they learned about Kwanzaa, which is celebrated in the black community.

Henderson Science Students Summarize Knowledge Seventh grade science students at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School worked as a team to complete an intensive vocabulary review of cell structures and their functions. Before winter break, they wrapped up the basics of organelles with a quiz. When the students return from break, they will learn the details of how these organelles do their jobs.

Zachary Smith & the Dixie Power Trio Play at TJ Zachary Smith & the Dixie Power Trio played two assemblies at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on Friday, Dec. 16. The assemblies were sponsored by the

MARY ELLEN HENDERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL’S Student Council recently donated $200 to the D.C. Central Kitchen to support the organization’s efforts to feed local communities during the increasingly cold winter months. Here are (l to r) last year’s Student Council president and current Mason freshman Ciara Curtin, current president Katherine Donovan, Central Kitchen CEO Mike Curtin and Student Council co-sponsor Farrell Kelly. (Photo: Courtesy of FCCPS Photo/Alyssa Jacobson)

PAGE 28 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2017

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Public Notice

tions or concerns. This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on January 12, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following items:

The City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, to consider the following ordinance:

New Business Variance application V1588-17 by Oleta and Constatine Vassilopoulos, applicants and owners, for a variance to Section 48-238(3) (a) to allow a side yard setback of 12.5 feet instead of 15 feet along the south west (left) property line for the purpose of constructing a second story addition on premises known as 217 Tyson Drive, RPC #53-204-041 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential.

(TO16-19) Ordinance to amend Chapter 48 “Zoning” to provide provisions for special exceptions to allow cottage housing developments in the R-1A, Low Density Residential zoning district. Specifically, the ordinance would allow cottage housing developments within those areas of the R-1A, Low Density Residential zoning district that are within 1,000 feet or less of a revitalization district shown on the comprehensive plan. Cottage housing developments could be placed on sites at least 45,000 square feet in size, and would be subject to unified control, through homeowner, condominium, or similar documents. They could have up to two, primarily-detached dwelling units per 10,000 square feet of site area, with each dwelling unit limited to 1,000 square feet of area on the first floor and being no more than the lesser of one and one half stories, or 25 feet in height. Cottage housing would be age-restricted and provide a sense of community through site and building design, common area requirements, common parking areas, building orientation and shared common facilities and amenities, among other requirements. Some modifications to other zoning requirements could be made in order to achieve the purposes of the Cottage Housing developments. Information on or copies of the proposed ordinance can be viewed at the Development Services Counter or City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA, Monday through Friday (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). You may contact the Planning Division at 703-248-5040 with any ques-

We are pledged to the letter andspirit 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 hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

Information on the above applications is available for review at: Zoning Oﬃce 300 Park Avenue, Suite 300W Falls Church, VA. 703-248-5015 (option 1) zoning@fallschurchva.gov This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)

ABC LICENSE MEKONG FUSION INC, Trading as: Bangkok Golden Restaurant, 6395 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church, Virginia 22044-2402. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Wine and Beer On Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. Sengaroun Pradacith, Vice President. 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.

40% OF FOOD IN AMERICA IS WASTED

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

18 20

25 28

33 36 43

49 54

24 27

56 59

63 65

Across

1. ____ Chris Steak House

1. ____ Chris Steak House 6. Hgts. 11. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 on 3/2/1962: Abbr. 14. Doff one’s lid 15. Region of ancient Greece 16. Food traditionally eaten with a miniature spoon 17. “Old MacDonald” refrain 18. Bureaucratic environmental regulations 20. Duo who studied law at the University of Marburg before they started collecting folk tales 22. Bygone MTV series reaired on MTV Classic 24. Gangster’s gun 25. Arrow shooter of Greek myth 26. 1994 basketball film starring Tupac Shakur 32. Suffix with social or solo 33. Israel’s Netanyahu, informally 34. Lhasa ____ (dog breed) 35. Domain of the Normandy campaign: Abbr. 36. 2016 political slogan ... or what you’ll find in 20-, 26-, 50and 58-Across 41. Ceiling 44. “Force” feeder for Luke Skywalker 45. Exuberant flamenco cries 49. Smart ____ whip 50. “I’m busy now” 54. Besties 56. Swerve from a course 57. Bagel go-with 58. Type of allergy treatment

DECEMBER 29, 2016 – JANUARY 4, 2016 | PAGE 29

DOWN

1. Regret 2. Prefix with lateral 3. 1958 sci-fi classic starring Steve McQueen 4. It may be put in a bun 5. Larry, Curly or 31-Down 6. Pizza slice, often 7. Handed-down tales 8. Cabinet dept. since 1977 9. Tries to triumph 10. Caroled 11. Flat land 12. Highest of all 13. Gives the appearance of 19. Low numero 21. Tit for ____ 22. Q neighbor 23. Slugger’s stat 27. 7, on a sundial 28. Vex 29. Prescription filler: Abbr. 30. Relative of -esque 31. Famous 5-Down 37. “Lady Marmalade” singer with

CHUCKLE BROS BRIAN & RON BOYCHUK

6. Hgts.

Pink, Lil’ Kim, and Christina Aguilera 38. Triumphed 39. Response that has a nice ring to it? 40. Go to waste 41. What a star may denote 42. How one might be stubborn, in a saying 43. Rodent known to nest in trees of tropical regions 46. Frog’s perch 47. Offshoot of punk 48. Possible reason for an R rating 51. “Laughing” animals 52. Mr. Potato Head piece 53. “Gorillas in the Mist” setting 55. South of France 59. “Aw, heck!” 60. Cuatro y cuatro 61. Ousted from the ring, for short 62. Wife of Zeus 63. Actress Gilpin of “Frasier” 66. Abbreviation between two names 67. “Dancing With the Stars” judge Goodman

64. Poultry dish made with three birds ... and from three words 65. Country that is home to the Hotel Yak & Yeti 68. Pie ____ mode 69. Birch of “American Beauty” 70. “Hotline Bling” rapper 71. Allow 72. Subjects of some modern school bans 73. ____ Clinton Merzvinsky (Hillary and Bill’s grandson born on 6/18/2016)

11. Wilt Chamberlain's 100 on 3/2/1962: Abbr.

Sudoku Level:

14. Doff one's lid

Last Thursday’s Solution

M I G R A T I O N

A L L A T O N C E

A L O T T O A S K

G R U M P

L U N C H

A S P C A

M E R S S O T R N G F A S L L G O O N K U T S S O H E E O T O O T

W A V E A T

S H E E R

I O F R A I N I N I T M O O W

J A R

P E S E Y O L O N E K O O F F C F O C O N S E C S G O I B L

B E A N D I P S A G T R A

E P S O M

A S T R A

N I S A N

A P P L E P I E S

R E A L N A M E S

K A N Y E W E S T

By The Mepham Group 4

15. Region of ancient Greece 16. Food traditionally eaten with a miniature spoon 17. "Old MacDonald" refrain 18. Bureaucratic environmental regulations 20. Duo who studied law at the University of Marburg before they started collecting folk tales 22. Bygone MTV series reaired on MTV Classic 24. Gangster's gun

25. Arrow shooter of Greek myth 26. 1994 basketball film starring Tupac Shakur

LOOSE PARTS

32. Suffix with social or solo

DAVE BLAZEK

33. Israel's Netanyahu, informally Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

1/1/17

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 www.sudoku.org.uk.

LO CA L

PAGE 30 | DECEMBER 29, 2016 - JANUARY 4, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C�� C��

BACK IN THE DAY

laz y The dog. c k q u i fox sly p e d jum e r o v lazy the g . d o is Now time the all for o d g o to cows

20 s Yearo Ag

e c o mthe to of aid i r t h e re. pastu w N o the is e t i m all for o d g o to cows e c o mthe to

20 � 10 Y�� A�� N��-P�� Falls Church News-Press Vol. VI, No. 42 • January 5, 1997

Costly School Switch Washington, D.C., based experts in employment law have told the News-Press that the Falls Church School Board may be faced with having to pay out the full cost equivalent of the four year contract of Superintendent Dr. Patricia Dignan in negotiations now underway for an early termination of that contract.

It is no the timw e for g o all o cows d to go to the aid of the pa stu ir re. *** **

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVI, No. 43 • December 28, 2006

10 Year s Ago

Thr ow it up. Pour it up It now is the time for all go od cows to go the to aid

Mild Weather to Grace 11th Annual F.C. New Year’s Eve ‘Watch Night’ Temperatures are forecast to stay above 42 degrees under cloudy skies with no rain in the forecast for New Year’s Eve in downtown Falls Church Sunday night, perfect conditions for the annual “Watch Night” celebration that will take over the 100 block of West Broad and environs.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season from everyone at

Louise Molton Broker/Owner

Tracy Lavender Realtor

Kristin Sharifi

Chris Figura

Associate Broker

Office Manager/Realtor

Bruce Turner

Mary Vogel

Realtor

Lisa Young

Patricia Gil Realtor

Drew Hoffecker

Realtor

Patrick Giannelli

Mary Barrett

Stephanie Lane

Associate Broker

Marketing Director

Realtor

Financial Manager

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