Falls Church News-Press 12-31-09

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Falls Church, Vi r g i n i a • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free

Founded 1991 • Vo l . XI X N o . 44

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

Inside This Week Businesses, Police Seek To Curb New Year’s Drunk Driving

Impaired drivers this Thursday, combined with a forecast of 70 percent chance of rain and snow will make for a potentially deadly combination. Area police along with local businesses offering safe-ride options are gearing up to save lives.

See page 6

Teens Help Shovel Snow

With more snow due over the winter, the F.C. Rec and Parks Department announced that it maintains a “Teen Work List” of area youth interested in occasional jobs including snow shoveling, dog walking, yard work and babysitting.

See News Briefs, page 7

David Brooks: The Sidney Awards II

On Friday, I gave out the first batch of Sidney Awards for the best magazine essays of the year. Several winners have already abandoned their families, accepted spots on reality shows and begun hanging out with Lil Wayne.

See page 12

Roger Ebert’s Best Films of 2009

Movie critic Roger Ebert presents his annual best films list. This year, he gives his 10 best mainstream and 10 best independent films of 2009.

‘Wintry Mix’ Forecast May Keep Many in F.C. for ‘Watch Night’ New Year’s Eve

Fête Again Set at

Rt. 7/29 Junction

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

The “wintry mix” weather forecast for New Year’s Eve in the City of Falls Church is a doubleedged sword for organizers of the 12th annual Watch Night celebration designed to bring in 2010 and the new decade in and around the intersection of Routes 7 and 29.

On the one hand, it means that folks may stay in their homes instead of going out to celebrate.

On the other hand, it means that folks intent on ringing in the new year in a public place may be inclined to avoid traveling a great-

by Nicholas F. Benton

Editorial..................2 Letters................2, 8 Community News & Notes..............10-11 Comment........12-15 Business News & Notes...................16 Sports.............18-19 Calendar.........20-21 Roger Ebert....22-24

City of Falls Church Vice Mayor Hal Lippman was not present for some big votes on the City Council this month, but the outcomes were not affected by his absence and it is hard to argue that what he was doing instead was not considerably more important.

For the fourth time since 2003, Mr. Lippman was in Afghanistan, playing a major role in sustaining U.S. educational and infrastructural development efforts there, efforts that will ultimately bring peace and stability to the region as

Falls Church News-Press

Restaurant Spotlight ............................26 Comics, Sodoku & Crossword...........29 Classified Ads......30 Business & Services Directory..............31 Critter Corner.......32 Business Listing..33 City Focus......34-35

Continued on Page 5

BARBARA CRAM, the key organizer of this year’s Watch Night New Year’s Eve celebration in the City of Falls Church, showed off one of the balloons featuring the City’s new logo and slogan, “The Little City,” that will be handed out at this year’s festivities. (News-

Press photo)

Vice Mayor Lippman Recounts His Latest Trip to Afghanistan

See page 22

Index

er distance, and discover the joys of New Year’s Eve in the Little City.

Unlike last year, despite precipitation, the temperature is forecast to remain above the freezing level. It’s frigid cold that is the real deterrent to doing anything outside, or even walking between indoor venues.

So, all this taken into account, Barbara Cram and other key organizers of this Thursday’s event have not ceased in their energetic efforts to provide all who show up in downtown Falls Church the best time possible. Indeed, there will be many options for having a good time, regardless of the weather.

A new feature aimed at foiling Mother Nature is a shuttle bus that will move in 20-minute loops between seven venues in the downtown area of Watch Night. A GEORGE bus will offer free rides

U.S. military involvement withdraws over time.

A long-time City resident, former elected member of the school board and in his second term on the City Council, Lippman is like many others in the Little City who are, metaphorically speaking, “mild mannered reporter” types around their home community by day, but veritable, world-saving “Superman” figures by night.

Proximity to the nation’s capital and its corridors of power tends to cause that to happen more often here than in other places.

Few people watching Lippman at a City Council meeting anguish

over a vote on the date of Falls Church City elections would picture him operating in harm’s way on the dusty 95-mile highway linking Kabul to Jalalabad halfway around the world, protecting vital U.S. national interests.

Lippman’s tours to Afghanistan have all been in his role as a consultant for an entity contracted by the the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID).

His assignments have been to provide independent expertise in evaluating the effectiveness of key U.S. educational and water/agricultural development assistance programs.

This month’s three-week stint brought Lippman closer to deadly violence than any of the others, as on the morning of Dec. 15, a suicide bomber detonated a device a half-mile away from his location, and even at that distance, the sound of the explosion was, he said, “as if someone had slammed the heavy door on the compound building where we were working.” Running outside, he saw the white smoke from the explosion followed by black smoke of the fire it caused.

Later that day, he said, he learned that eight people were killed in the blast, and 40 more injured. “It was the first time something like that happened directly ‘in my world,’” Lippman wrote in a letter about his trip that he shared with many of his friends in Falls Church. “It was too close Continued on Page 4

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December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

EDITORIAL

Patience a Virtue In Tough Times

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Vol. XIX, No. 44 December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010 • 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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We are concerned to learn that, in the wake of last week’s record snowstorm, the Falls Church City Hall was inundated with angry letters, phone calls and e-mails denouncing the snow-clearing efforts of the City’s crews. What was particularly problematic was the level of nastiness and viciousness expressed in quite a few of the comments.

Citizen reports on the effort have been mixed, in fact, as some of the letters to the editor in this edition indicate. In the City’s defense, it was the biggest snowstorm for a December in history, and one of the biggest to hit the region ever. There was simply an overwhelming amount of snow to deal with.

At the same time, however, citizens have to recognize that the City was strapped by a manpower shortage caused by the hiring freeze implemented last fall, when the depths of the City’s budgetary shortfall were first revealed. The City struggled to put needed crews into the snow removal effort even while short four qualified operators. Personnel from other City divisions with basic qualifications were sent in to help out, but without the experience and savvy in handling especially-difficult situations such as existed last week.

City officials have insisted they responded in full force to the storm, and that problems, such as plowing snow in a manner to block some residential driveways, was an unavoidable consequence of such heavy snow. While we agree it was one of the biggest storms ever, we believe that the City’s budget woes, an outgrowth of the national and global economic recession, played a major role, as well.

For this reason, we’re concerned by the “over the top” public reaction to some of the inconveniences this situation caused some citizens here.

Clearly, there are many in the City simply spoiled by the level of service they may have been used to and feel entitled to. These would tend to be citizens who never lived in neighboring Fairfax County, for example, where whole neighborhoods are often left stranded for days by major storms.

While we are confident that striving to maintain quality services to its citizens is at the forefront for almost everyone at Falls Church’s City Hall, citizens are going to need to become accustomed to a new reality driven by the unprecedented drop in revenues that hit the City, and everywhere else, this year, and that will continue into the next two years, at least.

Citizens complaining about what they perceive to be less than Platinum Level services, whether it concerns snow removal or, for example, having to pay for City mulch delivery services, should take a deep breath and try to make the best of an admittedly bad situation.

People in Falls Church, even in the worst of times, remain remarkably privileged by comparison to most other places, but with the deep budget cuts coming, they “ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” In the face of this, we urge all to maintain a disposition of civility and patience.

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www.fcnp.com The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area. Offices are at 450 W. Broad Street #321, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2009 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.

Editor,

At the City Council meeting on December 14 I commented on the reported financial crisis looming for the city. I said many businesses have faced similar difficulties and instituted cost reduction solutions.

Managements will tell you inefficiencies and “fat” creep in over time which have to be rooted out, and they cannot force customers to buy more of their goods or

services.

I noted Governments tend to respond to this problem by raising taxes and/or cutting services.

I suggest the City not resort to either of these “solutions.”

Rather, I suggested the Council direct the City’s management, including education, to get their creative juices working, then identify and implement a cost reduction of at least 10% before the

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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 30,500 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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www.FCNP.com end of this fiscal year. There are only 3-4 months remaining to do so. Then plan an additional 5-10% reduction for the next fiscal year.

There were no questions from the Council after my presentation.

Shortly after the City Manager presented the schedule for developing the budget for the next fiscal year. No one on the Council questioned the City Manager on either his budget plan or if my suggestions had any merit.

One concludes that neither the Council nor city management believe there’s a financial problem, particularly as it relates to costs. They listened to my two minutes politely as just another cranky old citizen to be heard and then ignored. The Council

ONLINE

had to get on to the real critical issue of governance – when should the City hold elections, May or November. The possible reductions in City costs now – December, January, and on-going – can just be ignored.

Falls Church citizens, brace yourselves and get ready. Our President tells us we are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. But the Falls Church bureaucracy is not concerned. The city will continue as usual. The administration and schools will continue to plan regular expenditure increases in typical bureaucratic fashion and the More Letters on Page 8

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Lippman Concerned for Role of Women in Afghanistan Culture Continued from Page 1

for comfort and spooked me.”

(The complete text of Lippman’s letter is available on the NewsPress website, www.fcnp.com.)

After any blast like that, he said, the drill is that no one goes outside for the next two hours.

“But then,” he went on, “by the next day, things returned to the regular routine. We had a full schedule of appointments in Kabul and simply went about our business. While thoughts of the incident lingered at the start of the day, they quickly receded as we went from place to place. This is what foreigners who live and work [t]here simply refer to as the surreal part of everyday life in Afghanistan.”

Lippman said that, as before, his main concern for the region is the mistreatment of and sub-

HAL LIPPMAN City of Falls Church Vice Mayor ordinate role of women in the culture. After he provoked a heated discussion on the subject with three Afghan members of his staff, two men and a

woman, he explained further to the woman how much he detests the way women are treated in Afghanistan.

“She answered with tears in her eyes that she too felt that way but still loved her country,” he recounted. “She added that she’d experienced mistreatment as a woman her whole life and always resented it.”

Yet, he added, as one of five children, four daughters and a son, she was the first woman in her family to have gone to college. She said her father strongly opposed this. “She then explained that her other three sisters had followed her in completing college,” Lippman recalled, “and when I asked what her father now thought about this, she smiled and said he’s proud of all of them.”

Lippman said the purpose of

How long do your New Year’s resolutions usually last?

• Less than a month

• 1 - 3 months

• 4 - 7 months

• 8 - 11 months

• The Whole Year!

• What resolutions?

Vote on-line at www.FCNP.com Last Week’s Question: How well did F.C. public works crews handle the snow emergency?

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

one leg of his trip “was to monitor the data gathering procedures and gauge the progress of two current U.S. AID agricultural projects,” one working to rebuild and improve the quality of education in Afghanistan’s 16 university agriculture faculties, and the other focused on more

efficient use of water resources and irrigation to improve agricultural production and farmers’ livihoods.

It meant spending time at Nangarhar University, on the outskirts of Jalalabad, and at irrigation canals and farm demonstration plots in the countryside.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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“Walking Watch Night” menus, and Applebees will have a $4 “Perfect Margarita.”

• Live entertainment will be offered in the Presbyterian, Anglican, and CSE churches, while the State Theatre is sold out for the Legwarmers.

• The main stage is set to be the venue for the Speedy Tolliver, winner of the first Virginia Heritage Award in October, the local Pluckerland Band, Sarah Rodock, Samuel Waters, the Andrew Acosta Band, Northern Lights Big Band Orchestra and Mason High alums Katy Potrykus, Charlie Mann and Jake Savage.

• Activities will include free popcorn, karaoke, a velcro wall, a castle slide, carousel, fire truck, magic shows, a caricaturist, face painting, balloon artists, scavenger hunt, free balloons for kids and more.

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linking the 100 block of West Broad (Rt. 7) that will be closed to traffic to the State Theatre and adjacent Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (CSE), and the Presbyterian and Anglican churches in the neighborhood (see map).

The 100 block of W. Broad will be closed to traffic at 5 p.m., and will be the location of the event’s main outdoor stage, where live entertainment will commence at 7 p.m., all the way to midnight. Weather permitting, it will be where the dropping of the historic Falls Church lighted star will occur following a countdown led by a collection of brave City luminaries.

With inclement weather, of course, comes an even greater emphasis on what restaurants in the area will be providing.

Here’s the line-up: • Ireland’s Four Provinces, no cover, will be offering a special three-course menu, a DJ and dancing, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. There will also be the regular menu, and dinner service will end at 11.

• Dogwood Tavern, no cover, will offer its regular menu with party favors, a champagne toast at midnight and entertainment by the Robert Hornfeck Enterprise.

• Argia’s will offer New Year’s Eve specials in addition to its regular menu.

• Clare and Don’s, at $50 offers seven drinks, a champagne total at midnight, DJ Magic Markus, dancing and heavy appetizers all night. They also will have a “Walking Watch Night” menu of fried chicken, shrimp or fish with hot chocolate.

• Maneki Neko, Pho 88, Pilin and Hunan Cafe will all offer

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‘Watch Night’ New Year’s Eve Theme: ‘Big Night in Little City’ Continued from Page 1

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A MAP OF ROUTE for the free Watch Night Shuttle running on a 20 minute loop to and from the East Falls Church Metro from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Shuttle stops include 1) 225 E. Broad St., F.C. Presbyterian Church, 2) Intersection of Broad & S. Washington, 3) 115. E Fairfax St., The Falls Church, 4) Intersection of Annandale Rd. & S. Maple St., 5) N. Maple St., CVS, 6) 111 Park Ave, 7) 222 N. Washington St., Metro bus stop near State Theatre. Plenty of free parking will also be available, according to City officials.

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December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Safe-Ride Businesses, Police Out in Full Force SoberRide & Drivers Inc. Provide NYE Options

by Natalie Bedell

Falls Church News-Press

Drunk drivers on the road this New Year’s Eve, paired with a local weather forecast of a 70 percent chance of rain and snow, will make for a potentially deadly combination. However, Falls Church City and Fairfax County Police Departments, along with multiple businesses offering saferide options, are already gearing up to save lives.

F.C. City Police Captain Rick Campbell told the News-Press that no officers will be granted leave Thursday night, while noting that not one drunk-driving arrest was made last New Year’s Eve in the Little City. There were two reported car accidents, neither of which were alcohol-related.

“During just about any traffic stop our officers make, they’re going to be cognizant of drinking and driving behaviors to watch out for,” said Campbell.

Public Information Officer Lucy Caldwell said the Fairfax County Police Department will be beefing up its presence all night with additional patrols targeting DUI activity.

“We’ll have officers on patrol

specifically for drunk driving. We realize that people drink and drive and it continues to be a problem,” said Caldwell, who urged people to designate a driver for the evening.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) reported this year that local alcohol and or drug-related traffic deaths decreased by 20.7 percent between 2007 and 2008, with a 9.7 percent decrease at the national level.

WRAP President Kurt Erickson said its SoberRide program picked up and drove home 2,000 intoxicated passengers last December.

Nearly 500 of those rides for free occurred New Year’s Eve. “What that translates to is the removal of would-be dangerous drunk drivers off our roadways,” said Erickson.

The program, offered during drinking-heavy holidays, offers free cab rides home for up to a $50 fare to intoxicated passengers ages 21 years and up, thanks to partnerships with local cab companies throughout D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Local participating cab companies include Red Top Cab Company of Arlington, which handles the majority of SoberRide’s dispatches, along with Alexandria Yellow

Cab and Fairfax Yellow Cab. SoberRide operators will transmit calls to partner cab companies depending on the caller’s location. This week, WRAP’s 2009 Holiday SoberRide program will be offered from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly through Friday, Jan. 1, focusing especially on New Year’s Eve. “It’s the biggest drinking night of the year and it’s also one of the biggest cab nights of the year.

We’re contracting nine different cab companies to pull this off.

We’re talking about thousands of drivers. It’s probably one of the largest organized designateddriver efforts in the mid-Atlantic region, if not the entire east coast,” said Erickson.

However, SoberRide isn’t the only safe option for those planning on drinking this New Year’s Eve. With drivers available 24 hours a day seven days a week, Arlingtonbased Drivers Incorporated takes drivers home using the driver’s own vehicle. Clients are able to listen to their own music, keep the windows up or down, all while a trained driver takes them — and their ride — back to home sweet home. An interceptor vehicle is then sent to retrieve the Drivers

DRIVERS INC.’S Stephen Watkins stands in front of one of the company’s interceptor cars. To Watkins’ right is a foldable bike he’s able to ride back after dropping clients off. (Photo: News-Press)

CITY OF FALLS CHURCH Police Captain Rick Campbell (left) with F.C. Police Sargeant Chuck Carr (right). (Photo: News-Press) Inc. driver.

Drivers Inc. Managing Partner Stephen Watkins said severe weather this New Year’s Eve is “going to be a nightmare” for people who have to venture out, and is already planning for his own business to have 10 drivers on call depending on how many reservations are placed.

“On New Year’s Eve, you already have drunk drivers on the road, but we don’t allow weather to impact our reservations. We’re going to get try to there one way or another,” said Watkins, adding that most of his drivers have access to four-wheel drive vehicles.

Though Drivers Inc. does not require reservations every other day of the year, Watkins said the program will switch to a reservation-only basis for New Year’s Eve. “We’re pretty flexible about it, so we’ll be booking up until the last second. But if you call an hour before being picked up on New Year’s Eve, you’re probably not going to get a driver. On top of that, we’re going to have to keep an eye on the weather,” said Watkins.

The only time this year SoberRide was forced to halt operations was during the recent Blizzard of ’09, when close to 20 inches of snow accumulated in F.C. and throughout the metropolitan area.

“We simply weren’t able to put cabs out safely. At the same time, I don’t think the drinking public had the expectation of get-

ting a cab. Two feet of snow pretty much hinders everyone’s operation,” said Erickson, who added that SoberRide still received calls that weekend.

Campbell said, severe weather or not, the City of F.C. Police will be conducting saturated patrols thanks to a roster of officers who have already signed up. Funded by a grant through the Department of Motor Vehicles specifically for DUI enforcement, assigned officers will concentrate on one particular area of the City and patrol that roadway.

“When our officers work Watch Night, the first thing they’re dealing with is road closures, as well as foot patrols for any kind of disturbances with the crowd. We’re providing a presence,” said Campbell, who said additional officers will be dispatched for the 12th Annual Watch Night celebration.

Police presence aside, Drivers Inc.’s Watkins still fears the inevitable and hopes people make the right choices, regardless of whether they choose his business or not.

“We’ve had people connected to our company who’ve had loved ones killed from drunk drivers. It’s an amazing thing to see how people are affected by that,” said Watskins. “Not just on New Year’s Eve, but anytime people think about knocking back a few, whether it’s with us or by calling a cab, a death from drunk driving is such a preventable tragedy.”

For details on how utilize either SoberRide or Drivers Incorporated, visit the News-Press Web site at www. fcnp.com.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

F.C. Teens Available to Shovel Snow With more snow due over the winter, the City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department announced this week that it maintains a “Teen Work List” of high schoolaged youth interested in occasional jobs including snow shoveling, dog walking, yard work and babysitting. Residents who are looking for teen workers can call 703-248-5077 to request assistance, with the rate of pay for jobs to be worked out between the youth and the person looking for assistance. Teens who would like to register to be on the list, with parental approval required, can also call 703-248-5077 for a registration form. The Recreation Department staff coordinates the teens and the jobs to keep the youths’ contact information private.

F.C. City Hall Clarifies Snow Removal Effort In a letter to the News-Press received late Tuesday, City of Falls Church’s Director of Communications Barbara Gordon clarified the efforts of City crews dealing with the record “Blizzard of ‘09” on the weekend of Dec. 18-19. She stressed that the City’s crews are responsible for clearing streets, beginning with emergency snow routes that have first priority for salting, sanding and plowing to make way for police, fire and emergency vehicles.

Clearing all other streets may take 1-2 days with deep snows, she said, adding “clearing snow from driveways and entrances is the responsibility of the resident or business. Plow operators focus on clearing streets. They do not have control over the snow coming off the edge of the blade, and their plows cannot be adjusted for the sharp turns required to clear driveways.”

2 Armed Robberies Reported in F.C. Area Last week, two incidents of armed robberies were reported in the Falls Church area. On Wednesday, Dec. 23, just before 11 p.m., a 40-year-old Falls Church man was robbed at gunpoint while walking to his truck in front of the 7-Eleven at 7222 Arlington Blvd. A man displaying a handgun demanded money. The victim handed over an undisclosed sum, and the assailant fled to an adjacent parking lot where he got into an unidentified vehicle and headed east on Arlington Blvd. On Thursday, Dec. 24, at 10 a.m., two men entered at check cashing store at 3823-B S. George Mason Dr. One produced a gun and demanded cash from the clerk. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken and the suspects fled. There were no injuries in either incident. Anyone with information in either case is urged to contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), by email to www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or by calling Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

F.C. Curbside Leaf Program Extended to Jan. 8 Due to the inclement weather, the City of Falls Church’s curbside vacuum leaf collection has been extended through Friday, Jan. 8, City officials announced Tuesday. That excludes Jan. 1, New Year’s Day. After Jan. 8, residents should place any remaining leaves in brown bags for normal Monday brown bag/yard debris collection.

Correction: Robert Not Rick Goff In its edition last week, the News-Press incorrectly identified the director of the Falls Church Environmental Services division as Rick Goff. The director’s name is Robert Goff.

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December 31, 2009- January 6, 2010

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Council will approve. Citizens will be given another increase in their tax bills. Thus, only taxpayers will be required to do with less in these financially troubled times. We cannot possibly expect government to do so in light of our City’s governance.

Richard C. LaVelle Falls Church

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This week’s News-Press poll question, and the preliminary results posted on your web-site, prompts me to comment on the work done by our Public Works personnel in response to our recent “blizzard.”

I live in The Wrens on the east end of town. On Sunday, the plows visited Wrens Way and were here for several hours, meticulously clearing our cul-de-sac of snow.

The principal city employee working in our community was Mr. Joe Dowling, operator of unit #696.

His efforts were conscientious and effective to the point that I went out, shook his hand, thanked him and asked his name.

Mr. Dowling carefully moved the huge mounds of snow away from our parked cars and driveways. At times he even got out of his vehicle, took an available snow shovel and personally removed snow his equipment couldn’t reach.

I suspect that Mr. Dowling’s efforts went beyond the requirements of his job and am sure they exemplify the hard work and dedication of our city’s road crews in the aftermath of what was a virtual avalanche of snow. I feel that he and his fellow workmen deserve a resounding “Well Done!” from our city’s residents!

Perry Gawen Falls Church

Sidewalk to Metro Station Covered By Snow Editor,

As most people are aware, the sidewalk system around the West Falls Church Metro station is

barely adequate – there is not even a continuous sidewalk on Great Falls street to get to Haycock road, and the Metro.

As I’m writing this, it is nearly a week after the snow storm and the sidewalks directly leading to the subway from Haycock road are not only unplowed, they are impassable – snow has been pushed off the road and it heaped literally five feet high in places, totally blocking the sidewalk. This necessitates the walking in the street by pedestrians attempting to use the Metro Station. It is a very dangerous situation.

Year after year this happens – it makes me want to rent a Bobcat loader-backhoe and push it back into the street.

Paul Hogroian Falls Church

Hails Anonymous Angel for Digging Car Out of Snow Editor, I just wanted to thank my new guardian angel, an anonymous plumber with a shovel, for helping me and another woman with getting our cars off the ice last week right in front of the library.

My big umbrella and her window scraper weren’t going to do the trick. He was very patient with my Floridian snow skills and very determined to get my tires on dry pavement.

Thank you, sir, and happy holidays!

Laura Reiser Falls Church

Why Didn’t Citizens Vote On New Logo?

Editor, I have one question about the new city logo: Why didn’t we, the residents of Falls Church City, have a vote? It would’ve been a simple thing to do and it would’ve really helped with buy-in when the residents feel that they have a voice.

I agree with Jane Singleton’s Letter about the “cartoon-like immaturity” of the current design. It really doesn’t capture the “feel” of this unique city.

Perhaps “The Little City” would be more palatable if the design was a bit more sophisticated, reflecting the residents of the City, as well as the city’s rich historic roots.

Why not have three or four

designs that we can vote on? It would be easier to go along with whatever the residents decide.

Bonnie Games Falls Church

Bikers Ignore Stop Signs On Bike Path Editor, My husband and I have talked about the bike path crossings for the last year or so when we come to one of the numerous path crossings in our area. They are clearly marked stop on the path, as a bicycle or a pedestrian approaches a street crossing. He feels that the responsibility is that of the user of the path. I have commented that since so many people do stop on the street the people on the path ignore the “stop” signage.

So I felt that we need to at least slow down to see what is going to happen and probably stop. He feels that my approach is going to cause more problems because it encourages the path users to keep on going. He is right. We need to be consistent. The sign on the bike path says stop. Unless the streets are marked otherwise, the cars and bicycles on the street have the right of way.

Cathy Quinn Falls Church (Ed. note— Capt. Rick Campbell of the Falls Church Police Department had this response concerning right of way on the bicycle path: “It depends.... It is a little different for bicycles and pedestrians.

“For bicycles, right-of-way goes to vehicles on the street, generally. Bicycles are, by law, considered vehicles. As such, they are required to stop prior to entering any highway for any reason (including crossing a highway, whether it’s a marked crossing or not).

“For pedestrians, the law can be a little more confusing. Under VA code 46.2-924, a vehicle must stop for a pedestrian crossing in a ‘clearly marked crosswalk...’ I believe, certainly within the City, that there is a clearly marked crosswalk at every intersection of the bike path and a public roadway. Having said that, the same code section says that ‘No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.’

“The bottom line is that a bicycle or a pedestrian is no match for 4,000 lbs of metal. We all need to be cautious when crossing a highway regardless of what the laws are regarding right-of-way.”)

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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GUEST COMMENTARY

Future of Falls Church at Stake in Upcoming Election

by David Chavern

Special to the News-Press

We will soon be diving headfirst into the political silly season here in Falls Church. In May, probably 1,800 or so voters (if history is any guide) will show up on our oddball election date and choose a majority of our City Council and School Board. However, unlike in many prior elections, we are faced with very serious challenges, and your voting decisions (if you vote) will change the future direction of the City.

This is one election where we all need to pay close attention.

The issues are pretty clear. Putting aside all of the “sturm und drang” about election dates and political conspiracies, the only real thing that voters will need to focus on is the budget.

How are we all going to pay for the services we need and want as a community? The bad news is that the choices

the Council and School Board need to In short, voters have every right to make are hard. The good news is that they demand knowledgeable – and informed aren’t complicated. In fact, you should be views – about the budget from their canimmediately suspicious of any candidate didates. who claims that the budget choices are When you ask for those views, we all too complicated to discuss publicly. Most know that some kinds of answers will residents of this be legitimate town work for and respectorganizations ou should be immediately sus- ful of voters that have much – while others picious of any candidate who will be politimore complicated budgets than blather claims budget choices are too cal the City’s. designed to The cur- complicated to discuss publicly. avoid the rent budget question. documents are Personally, on websites for all to see (http://www. I will listen carefully to any candidate who fallschurchva.gov/Content/Government/ says some version of the following: “we Departments/AdminServ/FY10Budget. need to cut X program and raise taxes by aspx?cnlid=177 and http://www.fccps.org/ Y amount”, or “we are going to have to board/budget/fy11/), and candidates can cut programs we all like and raise taxes also go to all of the upcoming budget hear- by more than any of us want, but my first ings and work sessions to get the latest priority will be to protect the budget of X information. program above all others.”

Y

Similarly, I intend to avoid like the plague any candidate who says some version of the following: “I don’t have specific ideas but I pledge to work hard for the best possible outcome for our citizens”, “we should rely on the suggestions of the Financial Advisory Board,” or – my personal favorite – “I will focus on cutting the fat and finding efficiencies.” These kinds of garbage statements are self-indulgent and fundamentally disrespectful of the electorate. They don’t reflect what we need in Council and School Board members at this critical time.

My basic message is that the future of our little 2.2 square miles of heaven – and your personal experience in it – are really at stake this time. We need diligent and informed voters. Please be that kind of voter. Become knowledgeable, ask questions, demand good answers and, most importantly, vote.

The personal participation of each and every one of us never mattered more.

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Fairfax Acting Troupe to Stage LGBT Drama Fairfax County’s resident theatre company, The Providence Players, announced upcoming auditions for its winter production of the docudrama “The Laramie Project.”

The play follows 10 New Yorkers in 1998 as they travel to the city of Laramie, Wyo., where a young gay man, Matthew Shepard, was murdered on Oct. 12, 1998 in one of the nation’s pivotal hate crimes.

The New Yorkers’ journey provided the basis for the play, which explores the bigotry and courage of a nation defining a new era of civil liberties for members of the LGBT community.

The auditions are slated for Monday, Jan. 4 – Tuesday, Jan. 5, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the James Lee Community Theatre (2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church). Call backs will be Friday, Jan. 11 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

For more details, contact director Tina Thronson at 703-470-9975 or tinathron@cox.net.

Pillar of F.C. Community Welcomes Grandchild City of Falls Church business leader, benefactor and developer

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Bob Young officially became a grandfather for the first time yesterday when his daugter-in-law Leah gave birth to an 8 lb. 8 oz. daugher, Gillian, with husband, Young’s son, Peter, present.

‘Ha Ha at RiRa’ Attracts Local Budding Comics On Wednesday, Jan. 6, RiRa Irish Pub (2915 Wilson Blvd., Arlington) will host a free night of live comedy, its weekly “Ha Ha at RiRa.” Local stand-up comics hit up the pub’s event in Clarendon every Wednesday night, with a chance for an audience member to win a $25 cash prize joke contest.

It all starts Wednesday at 8 p.m. For more information, call 703-248-9888 or visit www. standupcomedytogo.com.

Pre-Countdown ‘Stroll & Campfire’ Scheduled On Thursday, Dec. 31, the Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 Military Rd., Arlington) will throw a New Year’s Eve Stroll & Campfire, allowing families to explore the 37-acre park. Those interested are invited to finish a short hike by casting resolutions into a “wishing” bonfire.

The event runs from 6 – 7:30 p.m and warm clothing and flashlights are recommended. A $5 registration is required and all children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 703-228-3403.

Former F.C. Resident Earns Fellowship Status Stephen A. Mabry, DDS has earned fellowship status in The International Congress of Implantologists (ICOI).

Mabry practices in Arlington. A Falls Church resident during his school years, he is graduate of Gonzaga College High School, Boston College and the New York University College of Dentistry.

Dentists achieve ICOI Fellowship status through their efforts in education, research and actual clinical experience.

Dr. Mabry, his wife Megan, a school psychologist, and daughter, Emma, live in Alexandria.

WSC Hosts ‘Dream Scenes’ For NYE Party The Washington Shakespeare Company (WSC) will host “Dream Scenes on New Year’s Eve” on Thursday, Dec. 31 at

Clark Street Playhouse (601 S. Clark St., Arlington) at 9:30 p.m.

The run time is five hours with two intermissions. Join Fox 5’s Sue Palka and D.C. area actors as they present favorite scenes from Shakespeare and other renowned playwrights.

This event will include a reception with champagne, music, dancing, prizes and surprises.

The evening will showcase performances by Ian Armstrong, Sara Barker, Frank Britton, Christopher Buchanan, Zoe Cowan, Leigh Anna Fry, Heather Haney, Cam Magee, Adrienne Nelson, Joe Palka, Barbara Papendorp, Bruce Alan Rauscher and Amy Thompson, with a special performance from Shawn Northrip’s Titus X. Tickets start at $51.50. For more information, call 703-418-4808.

up for GCM’s Lady Statesmen Winter Lacrosse Clinic.

Unlike any area clinic the clinic runs all day from 8 – 5 p.m. (8 – 2:30pm in the event of inclement weather) for $65 if those interested register before Jan. 10.

The clinic supplies all equipment participants will need to use at the camp for free. This includes a stick and goggles, though each child is asked to bring their own mouth guard.

The clinic offers sessions for beginners to advanced players and offers a staff of high school and divisionone, college-experienced players.

For more information, e-mail Coach Depaz at ncdepaz@gmail. com or visit the camps and clinics section under Girls Lacrosse at www.gcmstatesmensports.org to download the camp registration form.

GCM Lady Lacrosse Clinic Offers Options

Arlington Rotary Asks for Blood Donations

Most county schools will have teacher work days on Friday, January 29 – Monday, Feb. 1. The George C. Marshall (GCM) High School Girls Lacrosse Program is offering a healthy alternative to staying home. Girls ages 8-18 can sign

On Saturday, Jan. 2, the Arlington Rotary Club will sponsor a blood drive run by INOVA Hospital. Those interested in donating blood are advised to eat a meal and drink extra fluids within six hours before participating.

Walk-ins are welcome, but

SCENES OF THE 20TH annual Falls Church News-Press Holiday Party last week, held for the first time in the new ArtSpace Falls Church, are shown here. Despite the record snow storm, over 100 showed up to share the spirit of the season, including (left) W&OD Trail Founder Walter Mess, celebrating his 97th birthday, shown chatting with George Mason High School senior Miles Butler, who acted the role of Dickens’ Tiny Tim during the event and was celebrating his 18th birthday. More photos of the party can be seen on line at www.fcnp.com. (Photo: News-Press)

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

those with appointments will be given preference. The free event will be held at the Arlington Central Library Auditorium (1015 N Quincy St., Arlington) from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information, call 703-698-3885.

McLean Bible Church Invites Singles to Mingle Singles can scout out their soul mates this New Year’s Eve at the Singles’ New Year’s Eve Party being hosted by the Singles’ Ministry of McLean Bible Church on Thursday, Dec. 31 from 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. at Marriott Fairview Park (3111 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church).

The evening will celebrate the future with people who shares like values, interests and goals. For more information, call 703-7708677 or visit www.mbctysons.org.

F.C. Book Discussion to Talk ‘Devil’ in ‘White City’ On Thursday, Jan. 7, Mary Riley Styles Public Library will host its usual free Thursday evening book discussion about Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City,” winner of the 2004 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime. The event will take place inside the library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church) at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-248-5031.

F.C. City Teens Available to Shovel Snow While there was no shortage of snow during the Blizzard of ‘09, there may have been a shortage of snow shovelers. The Falls Church Recreation Department may have a solution. The Recreation Department maintains a Teen Work List of high school-aged youth who are interested in occasional jobs,

Page 11

including snow shoveling, dog walking, yard work and babysitting.

City of Falls Church residents who are looking for teen workers may call 703-248-5077 to request assistance. Teens who would like to register to be on the list (parental approval required) may call 703-248-5077 for a registration form. Recreation staff coordinates the teens and the jobs to keep the youths’ contact information private. The rate of pay for the jobs is between the youth and the person looking for assistance.

Students Graduate from Excelsior College Jonathan B. Sims of Annandale and Kali Arrale of Alexandria recently earned Bachelor of Science degrees from Excelsior College. Also from Excelsior, Casey L. Crawford of Alexandria has earned an Associate in Science in Nursing, while John D. Clanton, also of Alexandria, has earned an Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies.

A GINGERBREAD REPLICA of the Notre Dame cathedral sits in the home of Falls Church residents Tony and Glenda Massinon. Tony writes “over 251 template pieces had to be made before the actual gingerbread pieces were constructed,” but does report that the edible house smelt great. That, and it took over took week. His mother-in-law, F.C. resident of 59 years, Mary Hood, was quite proud. (Photo:

Courtesy Tony Massinon)

Signature Theatre Rings in 2010 with ‘Show Boat’ Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington) will host a New Year’s Eve Performance & Party event on Thursday, Dec. 31. There will be a performance of the highlyacclaimed musical “Show Boat.”

Afterwards, join members of the cast and the Signature family to count down to 2010. The evening will include a performance of Showboat beginning at 8 pm., two drink tickets, the New Year’s Eve countdown and champagne toast, sweet and savory treats by Ali’s Bar and a DJ and dancing till 2 am. Tickets cost $175 for singles and $300 per couple. For more information, call 703-573-SEAT.

THIS SNOW CAT greeted those who passed by the house at 512 N. Oak Street in Falls Church, the residence of Lenore Karnis. The cat was made by her son Joe Karnis, who is visiting for the holidays from Terre Haute, Indiana. (Photo: Courtesy Art Kaye)

Ring in the new year at Argia’s. Offering our regular menu as well as New Year’s Eve specials. Chestnut Soup, Tuna Crudo, Seafood Cannelloni, Seared Duck Breast, and Truffled Risotto.

124 N. Washington St. Falls Church, VA By the intersections of Rts. 7 & 29 Free Parking in Rear (703) 534-1033

Page 12

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

The Sidney Awards II On Friday, I gave out the first batch of Sidney Awards for the best magazine essays of the year.

Frankly, it was disappointing to see how quickly some winners were corrupted by fame. Several have already abandoned their families, accepted spots on reality shows and begun hanging out with Lil Wayne. I’m hoping today’s winners will do a better job of keepin’ it real.

Steven Brill’s essay, “The Rubber Room,” in The New Yorker generated a lot of discussion.

It’s about the room where New York City schoolteachers who NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE have been dismissed for incompetence sit for years on end and continue to collect their six-figure salaries for doing nothing. The word Dickensian doesn’t fully describe the madness of a system that cannot get rid of bad teachers.

Brill takes readers inside the room, and describes the arbitration hearings for teachers who want to be reinstated. One hearing, with clear-cut evidence against the teacher, stretches on 50 percent longer than the O.J. trial.

Few essays are as ruthlessly honest as Bethany Vaccaro’s piece, “Shock Waves,” in The American Scholar. Vaccaro’s brother Robert suffered a brain injury, caused by an IED explosion in Iraq in January 2007.

Vaccaro describes her first glimpse of him weeks after the explosion at Bethesda Naval Hospital. “Robert was swollen and bloated; his skin was puffy and enamel white. He looked worse than dead and somehow a bit reptilian.” But the real subject of the essay is the injury’s effect on her family. “Now it defines our daily existence. The ongoing process of rehabilitation since his injury has tenaciously enmeshed each one of us, altering our plans, our family structure and interactions, our ideas about life and sacrifice, and most resolutely our belief that if he would only make it back home, everything would be OK.” Robert’s injury, she writes, has “allowed him to come so close to being normal, and yet miss it altogether ... He will frequently prattle away with wideeyed seriousness and then collapse into silly laughter that is sweet and uninhibited but also sad coming from a 25-year-old man.”

After the Israeli incursion into Gaza, the U.N. produced the Goldstone Report, a tendentious and simple-minded account of Israeli tactics. But the report at least produced a sophisticated response, “The Goldstone Illusion,” by Moshe Halbertal in The New Republic.

David Brooks

Here’s a typical problem: Hamas fires rockets from apartment buildings. Israel calls the residents of the buildings to warn them a counterattack is coming.

Hamas then escorts the residents to the roof, knowing Israeli drones will not fire on crowded roofs. Israel then deploys a “roof-knocking missile,” a weapon designed to scare people off roofs in preparation for an attack. Halbertal wrestles with the moral boundaries that should guide this kind of warfare.

On the big think front, Josef Joffe has a bracing essay, “The Default Power,” in Foreign Affairs, puncturing the claims that America is in decline.

William M. Chace wrote “The Decline of the English Department” in The American Scholar on why fewer and fewer college students major in the humanities.

Jim Manzi’s essay, “Keeping America’s Edge,” in National Affairs, explores two giant problems. First, widening inequality; second, economic stagnation, the fear that without rapid innovation, the U.S. will fall behind China and other rising powers.

Manzi investigates a dilemma. Most efforts to expand the welfare state to tackle inequality will slow innovation. Efforts to free up enterprise, meanwhile, will only exacerbate inequality because the already educated will benefit most from information economy growth.

In her Policy Review essay, “Is Food the New Sex?,” Mary Eberstadt notes that people in modern societies are freer to consume more food and sex than their ancestors.

But this has produced a paradox. For most of human history, food was a matter of taste while sex was governed by universal moral laws. Now the situation is nearly reversed. Food has become enmeshed in moralism while the privacy of the bedroom is sacred. Eberstadt asks why, and provides a philosophical answer.

It’s become fashionable to bash Malcolm Gladwell for being too interesting and not theoretical enough.

This is absurd. Gladwell’s pieces in The New Yorker are always worth reading, so I’ll just pick out one, “Offensive Play,” on the lingering effects of football violence, for a Sidney award -- in part to celebrate his work and in part as protest against the envious herd.

There are, of course, many other essays that, in a less arbitrary world, would get Sidneys. Fortunately there are a few Web sites that provide daily links to the best that is thought and said. Arts and Letters Daily is the center of high-toned linkage on the Web. The Browser is a trans-Atlantic site with a superb eye for the interesting and the profound. Book Forum has a more academic feel, but it is also worth a daily read.

A Less Than Honest Policy There is a middle-class tax time bomb ticking in the Senate’s version of President Obama’s effort to reform health care.

The bill that passed the Senate with such fanfare on Christmas Eve would impose a confiscatory 40 percent excise tax on so-called Cadillac health plans, which are popularly viewed as over-the-top plans New York Times Service held only by the very wealthy. In fact, it’s a tax that in a few years will hammer millions of middle-class policyholders, forcing them to scale back their access to medical care.

Which is exactly what the tax is designed to do.

The tax would kick in on plans exceeding $23,000 annually for family coverage and $8,500 for individuals, starting in 2013. In the first year it would affect

Bob Herbert

relatively few people in the middle class. But because of the steadily rising costs of health care in the U.S., more and more plans would reach the taxation threshold each year.

Within three years of its implementation, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the tax would apply to nearly 20 percent of all workers with employer-provided health coverage in the country, affecting some 31 million people. Within six years, according to Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation, the tax would reach a fifth of all households earning between $50,000 and $75,000 annually. Those families can hardly be considered very wealthy.

Proponents say the tax will raise nearly $150 billion over 10 years, but there’s a catch. It’s not expected to raise this money directly. The dirty little Continued on Page 32

The Big Zero Maybe we knew, at some unconscious, instinctive level, that it would be an era best forgotten. Whatever the reason, we got through the first decade of the new millennium without ever agreeing on what to call it.

The aughts? The naughties? Whatever. (Yes, I know that strictly speaking the millennium didn’t begin until 2001. Do we really care?)

But from an economic point of view, I’d suggest that we call the decade past the Big Zero. It was a decade in which nothing good happened, and none of the optimistic things we were supposed to believe turned out to be true. It was a decade with basically zero job creation. OK, the headline employment number for December 2009 will be slightly higher than that for December 1999, but only slightly. And private-sector employment has actually declined – the first decade NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE on record in which that happened.

It was a decade with zero economic gains for the typical family. Actually, even at the height of the alleged “Bush boom,” in 2007, median household income adjusted for inflation was lower than it had been in 1999. And you know what happened next. It was a decade of zero gains for homeowners, even if they bought early: Right now, housing prices, adjusted for inflation, are roughly back to where they were at the beginning of the decade. And for those who bought in the decade’s middle years – when all the serious people ridiculed warnings that housing prices made no sense, that we were in the middle of a gigantic bubble – well, I feel your pain. Almost a quarter of all mortgages in America, and 45 percent of mortgages in Florida, are underwater, with owners owing more than their houses are worth.

Last and least for most Americans – but a big deal for retirement accounts, not to mention the talking heads on financial TV – it was a decade of zero gains for stocks, even without taking inflation into account. Remember the excitement when the Dow first topped 10,000, and best-selling books like “Dow 36,000” predicted that the good times would just keep rolling? Well, that was back in 1999. Last week the market closed at 10,520. So there was a whole lot of nothing going on in measures of economic progress or success. Funny how that happened.

For as the decade began, there was an overwhelming sense of economic triumphalism in America’s business and political establishments, a belief that we – more than anyone else in the world – knew what we were doing. Let me quote from a speech that Lawrence Summers, then deputy Treasury secretary (and now the Obama administration’s top economist), gave in 1999. “If you ask why the American financial system succeeds,” he said, “at least my reading of the history would be that there is no innovation more important than that of generally accepted accounting principles: it means that every investor gets to see information presented on a comparable basis; that there is discipline on company managements in the way they report and monitor their activities.”

And he went on to declare that there is “an ongoing process that really is what makes our capital market work and work as stably as it does.”

So here’s what Summers – and, to be fair, just about everyone in a policy-making position at the time – believed in 1999: America has honest corporate accounting; this lets investors make good decisions, and also forces management to behave responsibly; and the result is a stable, well-functioning financial system. What percentage of all this turned out to be true? Zero. What was truly impressive about the decade past, however, was our unwillingness, as a nation, to learn from our mistakes.

Even as the dot-com bubble deflated, credulous bankers and investors began inflating a new bubble in housing. Even after famous, admired companies like Enron and WorldCom were revealed to have been Potemkin corporations with facades built out of creative accounting, analysts and investors believed banks’ claims about their own financial strength and bought into the hype about investments they didn’t understand. Even after triggering a global economic collapse, and having to be rescued at taxpayers’ expense, bankers wasted no time going right back to the culture of giant bonuses and excessive leverage.

Then there are the politicians. Even now, it’s hard to get Democrats, President Barack Obama included, to deliver a full-throated critique of the practices that got us into the mess we’re in. And as for the Republicans: Now that their policies of tax cuts and deregulation have led us into an economic quagmire, their prescription for recovery is – tax cuts and deregulation. So let’s bid a not at all fond farewell to the Big Zero – the decade in which we achieved nothing and learned nothing.

Will the next decade be better? Stay tuned. Oh, and happy New Year.

Paul Krugman

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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California’s Water Crisis CBS’ television news magazine, 60 Minutes, devoted a segment last Sunday to the devastating water shortage facing the state of California.

Three years of severe drought have left a half-million acres of prime agricultural land fallow in the state’s Central Valley, and mandatory water rationing has been imposed on a number of cities.

Among other things, the segment reported that due to the water shortage’s impact on the state’s $25 billion agricultural industry, there is 40 percent unemployment among farm workers, and major population centers such as the Los Angeles basin and Las Vegas in neighboring Nevada are directly threatened with dangerous conditions.

The population of California has grown from 18 million in the late 1960s Falls church news-press to 38 million today, yet there has been no expansion of its extensive system of water diversion projects, including dams, canals, distribution and irrigation systems, since the mid-1960s.

While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is shown in the segment making strong and cogent statements on behalf of a growth in the state’s water diversion system, even he is shown narrowing his focus on a solution to lifting a ban that currently protects an endangered species of tiny fish.

The current crisis in California and the West serves as a backdrop to the kind of enormous infrastructural development projects that the U.S. may have no choice but to build if it wants to dig in a sustainable way out of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, while addressing the issues of water and energy scarcity, high unemployment and global warming at the same time.

There are currently two major water diversion projects on the drawing boards at the present time, one the storied North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA), first developed in the 1950s by the Ralph Parsons Company in Southern California, one that this writer has advocated for over 30 years, and another, a newer so-called “Southwest Passage” concept developed in Oklahoma.

The NAWAPA plan, which has an enduring, lonely but passionate and prophetic proponent in Alaska-based Bill Tappan, a retired former Parsons executive, would divert water from northern-flowing rivers in Alaska and the Yukon province of Canada and direct them southward into the thirsty U.S. southwest and northern Mexico.

The “Southwest Passage” concept, about 15 years in the making, contemplates an inland canal connecting the Mississippi River to the U.S. desert southwest. Its proponents, including Edwin Stone of Stone Engineering in Bixby, Oklahoma, note that if a third of the Mississippi’s 105 trillion gallons of fresh water flowing annually into the Gulf of Mexico were diverted, it could irrigate up to 54 million acres of new farmland, also providing an inexpensive automated barge system and generating clean hydroelectric power.

Both projects are stunning in two ways.

First, they’re both doable. As Tappan pointed out, in a conversation with me this week, the engineering involved in building out the entire NAWAPA plan was standard “off the shelf” stuff 45 years ago, when it was first developed. It is simple, everyday engineering, he said, involving a system of diversion, collection, storage, pipeline and distribution projects.

Second, they both address an amazingly wide range of urgent needs that face the nation. Not only fresh water, but expanded food production, clean hydro-electric power, massive job creation and a frontal assault against global warming are among their benefits.

The key to reversing global warming is to increase the respiratory process between vegetation and the atmosphere, which these projects will accomplish by bringing about a huge increase in irrigated farmland and subsequent crops.

There are also two important caveats in all this.

First, the failure to achieve things of this magnitude and inclusiveness could doom the nation to an indefinite domestic scarcity and austerity in a world with emerging economically exploding new superpowers.

Second, the single significant obstacle to their development lies in the unwillingness of political leaders to place a stake in a concept this grand.

At present, nobody in the corridors of political power wants to be the first to step out and generate momentum for this. While the failure to step up will lead to terrible consequences for the U.S, if someone does, he or she will eventually become a true national hero.  Nicholas Benton may be e-mailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

Nicholas F. Benton

Oh, No! Kevin’s Back!

WASHINGTON – As my brother Kevin headed off to Christmas Eve Mass in the Maryland suburbs, I asked him how he thought the first year of Barack Obama had gone. He didn’t have to pray long over that one. “Fine,” he replied, “if you like unmitigated disasters like the Hindenburg and the Redskins season.”

If it’s Christmas, it must be time for my conservative brother to take over my column and turn it a blazing shade of red.

So without further ado, here is Kevin unplugged, offering a perspective from “the real America,” as one of his favorite Republican philosophers, Sarah Palin, likes to put it: Ladies and NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE Gentlemen, Who could have guessed on Nov. 4, 2008, that the mood this Christmas would be so festive? Yet a feeling of optimism pervades as we watch the old Christmas movies and marvel at the winter wonderland on the Mall illuminated by our national Christmas tree. (No offense to that ardent Catholic Nancy Pelosi, who would prefer “holiday tree.”)

The Republicans, of course, got exactly what they deserved in 2006 and 2008 mainly because they acted like Democrats. Deficit spending and sex scandals are not a good recipe for success.

But by forcing through a government takeover of health care, the auto industry and the banks, the president and his congressional henchmen have brought us in a time machine to Russia 1917. These massive changes have been done in secret and along bullying, straight party-line votes.

It is stunning to watch rich lawmakers driving their own expensive cars off the cliff and signing on to such a socialist agenda. In dismissing the tea parties and pushing through plans the American people obviously don’t want, they have made the fatal disconnect between the representatives and the represented.

President Obama continues life in the HOV lane, fawned over by the press and the crowned heads of Europe. In between apologies, the president should have reminded those pompous blowhards that without our interference, they would all be speaking German.

My dad was a D.C. policeman, and I would like to apologize (not “recalibrate”) to the Cambridge police for the president’s assumption that they “acted stupidly.” You would think that Mr. Obama would have afforded the police the same consideration he gave to

Maureen Dowd

the mass-murdering Muslim Army major when he said: “I would caution against jumping to conclusions.”

The Fort Hood massacre was a direct result of Army policy too concerned with political correctness and “celebrating diversity.” It was a terrorist attack by any definition and the government still cannot say it.

President Obama should remember that Icarus tried to fly to the sun because, as he said, “it is the only thing in the universe that can match my brilliance.” How did that work out?

Here are some reflections for 2009: To President Obama: Thank you for saving the Republican Party and for teaching all of us that too much of anything is a bad thing.

To Bill Clinton: You did too much work on Northern Ireland for the Nobel committee. Next time, do nothing.

To Harry and Nancy: “The Twilight Zone” once had an episode where the town got the exact opposite of what it wanted. Farewell, Harry!

To John McCain: Thank you for your chivalry in banning Palin attack dogs – including my sister – from the campaign plane. To Sarah Palin: Keep up the good work. Anyone who annoys Keith Olbermann that much is a friend to all of us. To Glenn Beck: Thanks for being the only journalist interested in stories that used to win Pulitzer Prizes.

To Al Franken: So, 250 years of Senate tradition trashed. Stuart Smalley would have done better. To Desiree Rogers: Get back to the gate. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson can’t get in.

To the Salahis: Thank you for showing us that shame has no bottom. To Valerie Jarrett: So much for the Olympic Village in Chicago. Whoops. To Chris Dodd: The only thing lower than your polls is your mortgage interest rate.

To Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mike Mullen: The military should be more interested in the men and women who serve than in celebrating diversity.

To the Democratic senators: Go last next time; the bribes are much bigger. To Sheldon Whitehouse: You, senator, are an idiot. To Dick Cheney: You, sir, are a patriot. Thanks for firing back. To President Bush: Thank you for your dignity. Did you really start the plague in the 14th century? Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

To Hillary: Who knew how much you would be missed? To Al Gore: A global warming conference in the middle of a Copenhagen blizzard is not a good visual.

To Max Baucus, Eliot Spitzer and John Edwards: Party on, dudes. To John Ensign, Mark Sanford and David Vitter: Don’t party on, dudes.

Page 14

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

An Intolerant Christmas When I was 11 years old and entering Middle School my family moved from Miami to Alief, a suburb of Houston. Only days before my first Christmas in Texas, a large high school student wearing cowboy boots and chewing tobacco confronted me.

“You a Jew?” he angrily inquired. “How could you people not believe in Jesus after you murdered him? Did you know it’s Jesus’ birthday? If Jesus Christ ain’t the son of God, who the hell is?”

This is the type of pressure often faced by non-Christians in conservative school districts. There can sometimes be an enormous amount of coercion to conform to the majority view, particularly around Christmas, when the “Jesus is the reason for the season” crowd, wants to let non-Christians know they are an alien species in a “Christian Nation. While I am certain things have nything improved since I was 11, in 1981, there are still pockets of bigotry and religious ut traight intolerance in America.

As recognition that religious majoriBy Wayne Besen ties often make religious minorities feel left out, as well as to follow that pesky “separation of church and state” rule that keeps our country free, we don’t use public schools to shove religion down the throats of pupils. Not only would doing so be illegal, but it is also rude and obnoxious behavior – violating the spirit of Christmas.

Unfortunately, not everyone is smart enough to understand the wisdom of ensuring that our public schools are not turned into private fundamentalist church services. A terribly misguided substitute teacher in Redding, Calif., Merry Hyatt, is sponsoring a ballot initiative that would require all public schools in California to give children the opportunity to sing or listen to religious Christmas carols.

“For years and years, maybe one person has been able to ruin it for an entire school,” Hyatt said. “It’s not right. I think it’s the majority’s turn.”

Hyatt is mindlessly promoting a myopic and shortsighted idea designed to make non-Christians uncomfortable in the hope they will convert to Christianity in order to feel accepted and fit in. Portraying religious minorities as the Grinch who stole Christmas is also exploitative, because students are a captive audience who would have no choice but to endure unwanted proselytizing – sometimes at the hands of older, larger tobacco spitting students in cowboy boots.

Of course, the unspoken subtext is that such bullying is precisely what people like Hyatt are truly after. They want consequences to be paid for anyone who is not a fundamentalist or for GLBT students, who would also face increased persecution in a more religious public school atmosphere, given that faiths practiced in conservative areas are largely anti-gay.

People like Hyatt worship mob rule as long as they are in the majority, where they can force their sectarian views onto others. I’m not sure how tolerant people of her ilk would be if, for example, a majority Muslim public school in Dearborn, Michigan, forced Christians to celebrate Ramadan.

Or, a majority Catholic public school made a picture of the Pope mandatory in classrooms. How about a majority Jewish school jettisoning Christmas songs in favor of Hanukkah ditties? What about a New Age Winter celebration in liberal public schools at the expense of Christmas altogether?

“It’s sad and it’s wrong to have a Christmas party and not mention Jesus,” said Hyatt. “It’s his birthday.”

The undeniable fact is, Hyatt can sing religious songs at any moment of her choosing, when she is off the clock. She can attend church every day of the week if she wants to. So, clearly, this is not about religious freedom, nor is it about Hyatt being denied her ability to practice her faith.

No, this is about her not being content to practice her faith privately, and having a predatory desire to inflict her beliefs on others without their consent. This is about her wanting to use public money to peddle her religious ideas on public property – which is paid for by all of us.

Prior to her stint as a substitute teacher, Hyatt taught at a Christian school for a year. This, of course, was the proper venue for her cloying need to indoctrinate children and hammer home her narrow worldview. Instead, she wants to obliterate parents’ rights, by subjecting children to religious dogma and a conservative worldview that violates the beliefs of many mothers and fathers.

Under her proposed measure, students who don’t want to participate, or whose parents don’t want them to participate, could be excused.

“They can have a holiday party in the other room,” she said. “Or if they don’t want a party, they can have social studies or some other learning experience.”

Yes, of course they could, and be heckled and treated like heathen freaks by their peers…just the way intolerant zealots like Hyatt want it to be.

A B

S

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Page 15

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

The year 2009 was historic, from the inauguration of the first African-American president in January, to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to that same president in Norway in December. Traditional events were punctuated by the sounds of combat and dissent on television screens, and mournful notes of buglers playing “Taps” at cemeteries throughout the country in honor of fallen soldiers.

Others will comment about the national and international year in review. Here’s a look back at Mason District in 2009. First, a shout out to service clubs and their volunteers who quietly support Mason District residents and make our community a better place – from the Interact Club at J.E.B. Stuart High School to the various Lions Clubs (Bailey’s Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Annandale) and Rotary – thank you! Volunteers identify needs and step up to fill them. This might be a good time to clear dresser tops and drawers of old eyeglasses. The Lions Club Eye Project will find good homes for your old, but serviceable, spectacles. You can drop them off in the collection box in my office during business hours.

One exciting event of 2009 was the construction of the pedestrian bridge over Route 50 at Seven Corners. Long-time residents will remember the many pedestrian/ vehicle accidents that plagued this stretch of Arlington Boulevard. A bridge was promised by then-Mason District Supervisor Tom Davis in 1983, but was never built. My office worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation and county staffs to secure state funding, get engineering and 205368A01 design work done, and move contract negotiations forward. Late one evening in April, all of Route 50 was closed, a monster crane was brought in, the two sections of the huge span were bolted together, and finally, about 2 a.m., the “lift” began. It was breathtaking, the culmination of years of work to make this area safer for pedestrians. The road was reopened to traffic by 5 a.m. The new bridge opened to pedestrian

use a few days later.

In May and in November, volunteers gathered at the Woodrow Wilson Library for the Culmore Cleanup. The cleanup is a tradition, bringing together a diverse group of community volunteers of all ages to collect litter in the vibrant Bailey’s Crossroads area. It’s hard work, but fun at the same time, and a number of local businesses support the effort with in-kind goods, prizes, and financial contributions.

The newest synthetic turf athletic field in the county opened just after Labor Day at Bailey’s Elementary School. The new field replaced what could only be called a “dust bowl,” and is a popular and safe place to play. Another major public investment in Mason District is a new elementary school to be built next year on the site of the former Masonville School/Lacey Center in Annandale. The new school will be environmentally-friendly, including use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling.

Classes should begin in 2012.

Mason District also welcomed Captain Ted Arnn, who succeeded Captain Mike Dittmer as commander of the Mason District Police Station in mid-2009.

Captain Dittmer did such a good job in Mason that Chief David Rohrer selected him for a new assignment at headquarters. Many former Mason commanders have moved to leadership positions, a testimony to their excellent work with our engaged and diverse community.

We have much to celebrate as the New Year begins, and 2009 provided a foundation for continued and future success in Mason District. Although we, as a community, have many challenges ahead, I am confident that 2010 will bring many opportunities for cooperation and collaboration once again. Happy New Year!  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be e-mailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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Richmond Report As Virginia says farewell to Governor Kaine, and prepares to welcome a new Governor, it is the perfect time to think about how much we value Tim Kaine’s contributions to the Commonwealth.

First of all, I venture to guess that a large number of residents of Arlington, Fairfax and Falls Church call him “Tim.” He is so friendly, so genuine, and kind that he inspires affection from many, many Virginians.

When Tim Kaine was elected Lieutenant Governor, we got to see him daily in Richmond as he presided over the Senate, the main Constitutional duty of the Lt. Governor. Even though the Republican General Assembly cut his staff severely, he managed to engage in policy initiatives. For example, he visited almost every school division in Virginia during those four years.

Tim Kaine himself believes that education opens doors of opportunity; he also knows how much Virginians value education and want their children (and their neighbors’ children) to learn and do well. As Governor, he expanded Virginia’s preschool programs for at-risk 4-year-olds to many thousands more children, thereby greatly increasing their chances for future success.

When the Virginia Tech tragedy occurred, Governor Kaine had just arrived in Japan on a trade mission. He was on the next plane back home to Virginia.

His address at the University memorial service was eloquent, reflecting the sorrow felt by the whole Commonwealth.

His next step was to revise Virginia’s laws relating to mental illness, making it easier to protect persons who are a danger to themselves or others, as well as requiring better procedures

for community services boards and providing more funds for treating mental illness.

His eloquent, amazing speeches came one after the other. I have heard people say how they have remembered his words that come from his knowledge and wisdom, as well as his heart. They are original speeches and remarks, delivered for the specific occasion, and they have inspired many.

I’m not sure I know all of his decision-making process. I do know that it is thorough, that he can recognize a good idea when he hears one, that once a decision is made, he sticks to it. Then he becomes very persuasive.

Perhaps his greatest legislative success was to ban smoking in restaurants, a measure that will do much to protect the health of Virginians for decades to come. He went about persuading the public, the legislature and others that this was the right thing to do, and it actually happened. In our tobacco state, this is an amazing achievement.

Another great accomplishment was the emphasis placed on Virginia’s environment.

Governor Kaine will have protected about 400,000 acres of open space during his term; he has taken many steps to improve water quality and restore the Chesapeake Bay; he examined climate change and its impact on Virginia; and issued executive orders for energy efficiency and conservation.

We thank Governor Kaine for his contributions to the Commonwealth.  Senator Whipple represents the 31st District in the Virginia State Senate. She may be emailed at district31@sov.state.va.us

Page 16

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

News Arabica Tobacco is open for business in the Falls Plaza at 1110 West Broad St. The Hookah pipe, tobacco and accessories retailer offers a full line of Starbuzz wholesale products along with Arabic movies and music. For more information, visit www.arabicatobacco. net.

Gerald Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority has authored “The Formula for Economic Growth on Main Street America”, a CRC Press publication focusing on economic growth strategies for communities. Dr. Gordon has 25 years experience leading economic development efforts in Fairfax County. The book outlines the strategies that allowed Fairfax County, “one of the great economic success stories of our time” according to Time magazine, to experience job growth while reducing the property tax rate over 25 years. To learn more, visit www. fairfaxcountyeda.org.

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Events The first FIRSTfriday of Falls Church in 2010 will take place throughout the day on Friday, Jan. 1 at various business locations in The Little City. At 10:30 a.m., Falls Church Jazzercise (513 W. Broad St., www.igetfitnow.com) is offering a special New Year’s complimentary class for new customers. Then, from noon until 5 p.m, Stifel and Capra (260 W. Broad St) is hosting a special holiday shopping experience, complete with chili and football. Then, from 5 – 8 p.m, Red White & Bleu (127 S. Washington St.) will offer wine tastings in its tasting room. From 6 – 8 p.m, Art and Frame of Falls Church is hosting an exhibit featuring “Change in the City of Falls Church” the 9th Annual Falls Church City Student Art Contest. From 7 – 9 p.m, Stacy’s Coffee Parlor (709 W. Broad St.) is hosting an art opening and exhibit. Starting at 8 p.m, Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W. Broad St.) offers live Irish music until closing while Dogwood Tavern will air college football games. For information about events from these businesses or special FIRSTfriday offers from Argia’s, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Maneki Neko, La Caraquena and The Medicine Shoppe, visit www.firstfridayoffallschurch.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is hosting its “Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County” seminars through 2010.

Individuals interested in beginning a business in the county can attend one of the free workshops which are scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month starting Jan. 5. The workshops, held in partnership with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the U.S. Small Business Administration, provide an overview of start-up basics such as county licenses and permits; state workforce service and training programs; and federal financing and certification resources. The workshops are held at FCEDA headquarters, 8300 Boone Blvd., Suite 450, Vienna (Tysons Corner). Sessions begin at 8 a.m. with refreshments and networking. They are free but pre-registration is required.

Participants can register at www.fairfaxcountyeda.org.

A similar event is being hosted in Falls Church by the Falls Church City Economic Development Office in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. “Entrepreneur Express: Moving Your Business Forward” will be held from 8 a.m. – noon on Thursday, Jan. 14. The workshop is designed to provide information on available business resources and deliver practical, hands-on training covering key elements of business practice. It will be held at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. The event is free but seating is limited. Go to www.vastartup.org to register.

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 2010 Chamber Day at the Capitol and its Annual Old Dominion Assembly Legislative Reception in Richmond on Wednesday, Jan. 27. For more information on the event to address issues before the General Assembly, visit www.vachamber.org.  The Business News & Notes section is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be e-mailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Falls Church High Hosts Parenting Lecturer Mario Prado, a social worker for Fairfax County and an experienced practitioner who has taught parenting classes for several years, will hold a lecture for Falls Church High School parents at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 in the high school Little Theater (7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church).

The lecture is titled, “Learn How to Communicate with Your Teen,” and will cover strategies to improve communication and setting boundaries with children.

The presentation will be in English with simultaneous translations into Spanish and Vietmanese.

McLean High School Names Science Honorees McLean High School’s Alkahest Science Honors Society welcomed its newest members last week.

The following students were inducted: Farah Albani, Travis Alvarez, Yunso Bae, Laura Baker, Tina Boortalary, Kathryn Capp, Andrew Chung, Yujin Cho, Swarna Chowdhuri, Yujin Chowdhuri, Charlie Davis,

Michael Dong, Jessie Ende, Sameer Essa, Jonathan Faraq, Scott Feit, Jeremy Goodsell, Heather Harper, Xuan Ho, Jeff Hong, Abdelhadi Jarrar, Adeel Khan, Linda Kim, Tim Kim, Huun Jin Kim, Min Ji Kim, Ju Whan Kim, Hitoshi Koshiya, Matt Koyxlski, Allen Krieg, Yong Joon Kwon, Chae Won Lee, Hana Lee, Madeline Lord, Edwin Mansou, Jalil Muhammed, Nuha Naqri, Daniel Ngo, Mereyem Ok, Xavier Palathingal, Zachary Pottanat, Charlie Putnam, Deena Rizkalla, Charles Roco, Paul Ruess, Mathilda Shepard, Sukriti Thapa, Emily Tong, Nam-Tran Tran Asli Uyanik, Kate Walker-Bawa, Lei Wang, Fifi Wang, Elaine Wu, Kristin Wulff, Annie Yang and Martin Zavala.

FCPS Discontinues Telephone Hotline Due to budget cuts for fiscal year 2010, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is discontinuing its school system-wide telephone hot lines for emergency updates, effective this Friday, Jan. 1.

The hot lines offered updates in English, Korean and Spanish,

Page 17

including one especially for FCPS employees.

Parents and employees can access emergency information at the FCPS Web site, www.fcps.edu, and by subscribing to the FCPS e-mail notification system, Keep in Touch, at www.fcps.edu/kit. Cable channel 21 and local television stations will also carry FCPS emergency notices. For more details, contact the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach at 571-423-1200.

Bishop O’Connell Invites All to Information Session Area Catholic high school, Bishop O’Connell, is hosting an information session for interested students and parents next Sunday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. in the school cafeteria (6600 Little Falls Rd., Arlington). The session includes a short presentation and opportunities to talk with teachers and financial aid and admissions representatives. Current eighth graders and students considering a transfer to O’Connell are invited along with their families. No RSVP is required, and for more details, contact the Admissions Office at 703-237-1433.

FALLS CHURCH HIGH SCHOOL’S star actors (left to right) Erin maines, Sam Johnson and Ayinde Bray recently starred in the school’s production of the comedy “Lend Me a Tenor,” directed

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Page 18

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Mason Hoops Forging Identity at Chantilly Tournament Both Boys & Girls Mustangs Off to Fast Start at 3-Day Tourney

by Robert Fulton

Falls Church News-Press

Both the Mason High School boys and girls basketball teams had solid starts to the Chantilly Classic holiday tournament at Chantilly High on Monday.

The girls defeated Mills Godwin 68-63, and the boys knocked off Mountain view 63-58. The win improves the girls record to 6-0.

“This tournament is very good for us because it gets us ready for district (play),” said Mason head coach LaBryan Thomas. “This is great for us.”

One challenge the Mustangs had to face was not on the court but off it. Because of the recent winter storm and the holiday, the team hadn’t practiced in eight days.

“It was bad,” said Chantal Thomas, a senior and one of the team leaders. “When we went back to practice, everyone obviously had eaten too much turkey and ham. Today before the game, we had a two-hour warm up. We know our bench is pretty deep.

If know that when we get tired, they’re there for us.”

Coach Thomas attributed the

rust shown early in the game to the lack of practice.

“We didn’t have our chemistry together,” he said. “That’s why we came out a little sluggish in the first half, but they settled down and got their stuff together in the second half.

“It’s tough,” the coach continued with a laugh, “It’s really tough. I brought them in a little earlier today before we got on the bus and we shot around and went over a few things, but we struggled in the fist half, we didn’t have our legs. But we got back together in the second half.”

Chantal Thomas scored 19 points against Godwin, and teammate Nicole Mitchell added 16 points and nine rebounds. It was no surprise to the coach that those two led the squad.

“When the game gets tough, they always get going,” said coach Thomas. “Those two, we look to them to lead us.”

The 6-0 start appears great on paper, but the Mustangs look like they still have room to grow.

“I’m happy, but we’re not there yet,” said coach Thomas. “We’re not where we were last year. It’s

coming, it’s getting there, but it’s going to take us a little while.

We’re still making crazy mistakes.

We have speed and senior leadership, which keeps us in the game.”

“I feel like the games that we have played, we’ve given our all,” added Chantal Thomas. “I feel like there’s not a game we haven’t pushed. For the most part, I feel like it’s a good 6-0.”

The tournament in Chantilly is a good barometer for where the team is at this point in the season.

Chantal Thomas, who as a senior has participated in a number of these events, is pleased. She usually has to make a speech about heart and desire to get her team fired up, but not so in a 68-63 win.

“We always get blown out every year,” she said. “At half-time, there’s always a speech I give, and I didn’t have to do it today.”

The Mason boys got their record to .500 at 4-4 with the win over Mountain view. Jeremy Stewart scored 16 points, Aaron Young scored 12 and Nate Ogle added 11.

After falling behind by as much as 12 in the first half, the Mustangs got to within 30-27 at half-time. In the third quarter, Mason found it-

Area High School Sports Roundup

McLean Girls Basketball Wins 59-50; Wrestlers Prep for Battle of the Bridge FALLS CHURCH H.S. Despite Top Scorer Alamin Jaguars Hoops Fall 73-68 The Falls Church High School boys basketball team fell to South County 73-68 earlier this week despite 30 points from Nizar Alamin. The team is now 3-4, and is at Hayfield on Jan. 5.

The Jaguar girls’ game against Yorktown last week was canceled, but the team was back in action hosting its own Holiday Tournament. The finals and consolation games were after deadline on Wednesday.

Falls Church High Teams Prep for 2010 Winter The Falls Church High wrestling team returns to the mat Jan.

6 at Chantilly, the gymnastics team is back in action on Jan. 6 at Oakton and the swim team returns to the pool at home on Jan. 8 against Yorktown.

ball team was at Falls Church High after deadline.

GEORGE C. MARSHALL H.S.

The wrestling team participated at the Battle at the Bridge in Woodbridge at the end of the week; the swim team is out of the pool until Jan. 8 when they take on South Lakes High; and the gymnastics team is next in action on Jan. 6 at Robinson High.

Marshall Basketball Drops 2 Games at Waldorf Tourney The Marshall High School boys basketball team fell to North Point on Dec. 26 63-57 despite 15 points from Daniel McClain. On Monday, the team fell to Lackey High 51-50. McClain scored 24 points and had eight rebounds in the loss, and Steven Zimmerman added seven assists. The games were part of the Waldorf Holiday Hoops Classic, which wrapped up Dec. 29.

The Statesmen girls basket-

Statesmen Wrestlers Head to Battles of the Bridge

GEORGE MASON H.S. Mason Basketball Take 2 Wins at Chantilly Tourney Both the Mason High School boys and girls basketball teams had a successful start to the Chantilly Holiday tournament.

TOP SCORERS SENIORS NICOLE MITCHELL (left) and Chantal Thomas (right) during one of the Lady Mustang’s practices.

(Photo: Robert Fulton/News-Press)

self down 50-34 before going on a 26-7 run in the fourth period to secure the victory.

Both the Mason boys and girls continued in the Chantilly tourna-

ment past deadline. The girls are at Briar Woods at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 6. The boys are at Potomac Falls on Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m., and Manassas Park on Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Behind 16 point from Jeremy Stewart, the boys defeated Mountain View 63-58 to improve their record to 4-4.

The Mason girls downed Mills Godwin 68-63 behind 19 points from Chantal Thomas.

The tournament in Chantilly ran through Dec. 30. The boys return to the court Jan. 2 at Potomac Falls High, then Jan. 6 at Manassas Park High.

The girls are at Briar Woods High on Jan. 6.

Raiders Winter Teams Return for 2010

Mason Swimmers & Wrestlers Gear Up for 2010 Mustang swimmers return to the pool Jan. 8 against Loudoun County; and the wrestling team was at the Battle of the Bridge in Woodbridge through Dec. 30.

J.E.B. STUART H.S. Raiders Basketball Teams Head Back to the Court The Raiders boys hoops team returns to action when they host Edison on Jan. 5, and the girls return to the court at Edison on Jan.5.

The Stuart High wrestling team was at the West Potomac Classic Tournament on Wednesday, and is at Herndon on Jan. 6; and the swim and dive team returns to the pool Jan. 8 against Mt. Vernon.

MCLEAN H.S. Lady Highlanders Edge Out Riverbend High, 59-50 The McLean High boys basketball team participated in a holiday tournament in Rockville through Dec. 30, but are hosting a trio of home games to kick off the new year: Trinity Episcopal School on Jan. 2, Marshall High on Jan. 4 and Thomas Jefferson High on Jan. 6.

The McLean girls basketball team defeated Riverbend 59-50 on Monday behind a 28-4 run in the fourth quarter, improving their record to 4-2. Melissa Wilson led the team with 21 points, and Andie Romness added 13. The girls team travels to Marshall High on Jan. 4.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Page 19

For One Mustang, Move to Wrestling Proved Boon for Varsity’s Successes It didn’t happen all at once, and it certainly wasn’t planned, but George Mason High School’s Manuel Veiga-Diaz eventually found wrestling. Or rather it found him.

“I was a soccer guy for years,” said Veiga-Diaz, the Mustang’s senior wrestling team captain, “but eventually my size began to work against me.”

Veiga-Diaz is in the 189-pound weight class now, but in the offseason weighs in between 200 – 210 pounds.

“I’m not really very fast and forward was my position, so as I got older and bigger it became obvious I was probably not going to be able to remain a forward forever,” he said.

Still, Veiga-Diaz continued to play soccer and was active on the Mason Junior Varsity during his freshman year.

In fact, Veiga-Diaz began his sophomore year with his sights set on a varsity spot and was a regular attendee at the pick-up games the varsity soccer players organized in one half of the Mason Auxiliary Gym during the off-season winter months.

Veiga-Diaz was in the Auxilary Gym so often he began to notice the Mason wrestling team which practiced every day in the other half of the gym, he said.

As a result, Veiga-diaz began to spend time talking to some wrestlers and the coaches while he waited for the pick-up games to begin.

“I knew some of the guys on the wrestling team, but I hadn’t really considered doing it until I began to watch it during the winter of my sophomore year,” VeigaDiaz explained.

“The more I watched, the more interesting it looked. Honestly, at first I was thinking that maybe it would be a good way to improve my soccer skills. You know, get me to the next level and help me earn a varsity spot,” Veiga-Diaz said.

“Eventually I asked if I could try it out, and as soon as I got on the mat I knew I was going to be a wrestler,” he added. “Soccer was history and I guess I have never looked back.”

“It was a coaches dream come true!” according to former head wrestling coach John Pitas, who had coached Veiga-Diaz when the Mustang joined the ranks of

MASON’S MANUEL VEIGA-DIAZ (background) came second at last year’s district championships. (News-Press Archive Photo) the wrestling team his sophomore year.

“We all wish for an athletic big guy to materialize and anchor our upper weights and there he was,” said Pitas. “Plus, he was self-motivated, and he still is. We never have to push Manuel. He is so dedicated, and his enthusiasm has rubbed off on a lot of the other guys, too.”

Pitas said that Veiga-Diaz “is a true leader and everything you could ask for in a captain.”

Despite joining the team in mid-January of his sophomore year, Veiga-Diaz was able to participate in several matches.

Success, however, remained elusive for the novice wrestler and victories were hard to come by. “I got beat up pretty bad that first year,” Veiga-Diaz said, “but it only made me more determined.”

“I knew I needed to fast track my learning so I began to go to off season tournaments and clinics, to get serious about weight lifting, conditioning and nutrition, things like that,” he continued. “Anything that made me better I started to do it.”

By his junior year, Veiga-Diaz had enough skill to feel more comfortable on the mat and victories began to come his way. The

end result was a third-place finish in the Region B tournament and a trip to the Virginia state tournament where he went 1-2.

“That was nice,” Veiga-Diaz said of his being a state qualifier, “but that isn’t enough. This year my goal is to win it all, nothing less. I know that is a tough task, but I am dreaming big.”

So far, his senior year is off to a good start as he sports a 6-1 record going into this week’s Battle at the Bridge tournament held at Woodbridge High School.

“I’m pretty happy so far, but the season has a long way to go so I’m not going to get ahead of myself and get over confident,” he said. “I’m going to concentrate on my goal and keep working. We’ll see how it plays out in [the state tournaments at] Salem.”

During the fall sports season, the consummate sportsman takes on football as a linebacker for the Mustangs.

Veiga-Diaz and his Mason wrestling teammates were back in action this week at the Battle of the Bridge tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Mustangs will be hosting a home match on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. in the George Mason High School Pit. —JP

Another Year, New Chances Ah, the New Year. A time to this team finally admit the imporwash away the past year and ring tance of offensive linemen.

For years they ‘Skins have in the next with a firm resolve to improve ourselves. Like most neglected their front five. And of America, I’ve never been too for year’s defensive players have good about making resolutions chased Jason Campbell like he for myself. So I thought I’d hand had a $500 gift certificate to The them out to the District’s four Palm stapled to his jersey. Draft professional sports teams. They prognosticators seem to have probably have a better chance of Washington pegged to take a QB, either Sam Bradford or Jimmy keeping them anyway.

Clausen, with their top choice.

Washington Capitals The Caps should resolve to try Don’t. Invest in the offensive line for once. If the to win the Stanley Cup this season. Picking Splinters top lineman isn’t worth the top pick, While it appears the By trade down and take team is more than Mike Hume another lineman capable of keeping with the second this resolution — pick. If you don’t they stood just one point back in the race for the start renovating the foundation NHL’s best record on Tuesday of the team first, then the whole morning — there are two particu- thing is going to topple over every lar areas where the franchise must year just like it has been.

Washington Nationals apply itself.

The Nats have done a great job The first is on the effort front.

On Monday night, the Caps’ play- of committing to their future by ers allowed the lowly Carolina going the distance to sign Stephen Hurricanes to storm out to a three- Strasburg after the 2009 draft. goal lead and hang on for a 6-3 win. Now they need to resolve to do The ‘Canes have the fewest points it again.

Washington will again own the in the NHL, exactly half of the Caps’ total of 54. Losing to them No. 1 pick in the draft. Not only is like getting beat up by your little do they need to sign the player, brother. Stanley Cup teams don’t they need to take the best available get beat up by anybody. When the talent on the board. That doesn’t little twerps get uppity you put always happen in baseball. (See: them in a head lock and give them The Kansas City Gaffes and the a close-up of the couch cushions. If Pittsburgh Pit of Eternal Despair they want to capture the Cup, it’s ... er, Royals and Pirates.) If you time to get in the habit of bringing don’t pony up for the big talent, you never improve. Nats fans have the old “A” game every night.

The second area where the seen this team suffer long enough.

Caps must show a commitment They deserve to know that their to the Cup is on the personnel ever-enduring patience for lastside. On Monday, GM George place teams will eventually yield a McPhee traded away team captain contender. Team ownership needs Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina to keep investing in this team and for Columbus Blue Jackets scrap- inking next year’s top pick, be it per Jason Chimera. I don’t think wunderkind Bryce Harper or someyou’ll find too many folks in the one else, is the best way to do it.

Washington Wizards NHL who think that Chimera is Blow. Up. The. Team. Push “the missing piece” on this Caps team. The $2 million-plus of sal- the plunger. Do it. Pray for the ary cap space the move brought ping-pong balls to gift you with could come in handy come the John Wall and sign everyone you can in the free-agent bonanza trade deadline though.

If the Caps can send a little of 2010. What’s that? The team salary back to Anaheim, they is riddled with immovable conmay be able to pry away Scott tracts? What’s that got to do with Niedermayer from the disappoint- anything? Did you think that first ing Ducks who are likely out of jab was a metaphor? Hardly.

And besides, D.C. could use some contention. fireworks to ring in the New Year.

Washington Redskins Needless to say changes will sweep through the Redskins orga-  Mike Hume may be e-mailed at nization in 2010, but I want to see mhume@fcnp.com.

Page 20

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Community Events Thursday, December 31 Goodbye, 2009! Families are invited to Arlington’s Gulf Branch Nature Center for a night of park exploration and making resolutions over a New Year’s bonfire. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 N. Military Rd., Arlington). $5 registration fee. 6 – 7:30 p.m. 703228-3403.

F.C. Watch Night. Denizens and visitors alike in “The Little City” of Falls Church will come together to usher in a new year and decade with the 12th annual Watch Night street festival. Downtown Falls Church (West Broad, between Washington St. and Maple Ave.). Free. 7 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. greenscap@aol.com.

Saturday, January 2 Falls Church City Farmers Market.

Regional farmers and artisans display their products at one of Northern Virginia’s busiest farmers markets, here in downtown Falls Church. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m. – noon.

&

INOVA Blood Drive. The Arlington Rotary-sponsored blood drive run by INOVA Hospital advises donors to eat a meal and drink extra fluids within 6 hours before donating. Walk-ins are welcome, but those with appointments have preference. Arlington Central Library Auditorium (1015 N Quincy St., Arlington). Free. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For appointments, call 703698-3885.

Send community event submissions to the News-Press by e-mail at calendar@fcnp. com; fax 703-532-3396; or by regular mail to 450 West Broad Street #321, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.

faith and public life. Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.).

Free. 10:10 – 11 a.m. www. nationalcathedral.org.

Monday, January 4 Class Registration Begins. Falls Church City residents interested in any of the classes and athletic programs for Spring 2010 can sign up online or by phone. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church).

Fees vary. 703-248-5077. www. fallschurchva.gov.

Area Film Screenings. Local filmmaker Elaine Watts presents her latest works “The Perfect Alibi” and “Isolated Disappearances,” each followed by a chance for audience members to meet Watts. “Isolated Disappearances,” which screens at 1 & 3 p.m., features a local cast and crew and was filmed around the D.C. area. Shirlington Branch Library (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington).

Free. “The Perfect Alibi” screens at noon. 703-228-6545.

Sunday, January 3

Singles Night to Mingle. One of NoVa’s premiere gay clubs, Freddy’s, hosts a weekly gettogether for all orientations.

Activities include karaoke and Ninetendo Wii. Freddy’s Beach Bar & Restaurant (555 23rd St. S, Arlington). Free. 703-685-0555.

Wednesday, January 6

‘Screwtape Letters’ Actor Conversation. Acclaimed actor Max McLean, who starred in C.S. Lewis’s “The Screwtape Letters” will lead a 50-minute “Sunday Forum” about

Financial Planning Lecture. Financial advisor Michael Boulden presents a lecture on “Financial Planning and Credit Union Benefits.” Sponsored by the National Active and Retired

Federal Employees Association.

Mason District Government Center (6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale).

Free. 10 a.m. 703-323-7847.

Stand-Up Comedy. Local standup comics hit up the Ri Ra Irish pub’s “Ha Ha at Ri Ra” in Clarendon every Wednesday night, with a chance for an audience member to win a $25 cash prize joke contest. Ri Ra Irish Pub (2915 Wilson Blvd., Arlington).

Free. 8 p.m. 703-248-9888. www. standupcomedytogo.com.

Thursday, January 7 Author Conversation. Media strategist and award-winning journalist David E. Henderson will lead a discussion about modern traditional and online media environments. Arlington Central Library (1015 N Quincy St., Arlington). Free. 7 – 8:30 p.m.

F.C. Book Discussion. The monthly Thursday evening book discussion group takes on Erik Larson’s “The Devil in the White City,” winner of the 2004 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church).

Free. 7:30 p.m. 703-248-5031.

Theater Fine Arts Thursday, December 31

Sidney’s Full Swing. The D.C. area orchestra, Sidney’s Music and Entertainment, sets the mood for New Year’s festivities with big band swing tunes. John F. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F. St. NW, Washington, D.C.). Free. 6 p.m. 202-467-4600.

Friday, January 1

‘The Prisoner of Zenda.’ Adapted for the stage

by Matthew Francis, 1st Stage brings the adventure novel to life with rebellion, romance and intrigue. 1st Stage (1524 Spring Hill Rd., McLean). Starting at $10. 8 p.m. Shows through Jan. 3. Final performances will be on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 3 at 2 & 7 p.m. 703-854-1856. www.1ststagetysons.org.

Saturday, January 2 ‘A Christmas Twist’ The Landless Theatre company presents a Christmastime menangerie that blends the tales of Dickens’ works, “A Christmas Carol” and “Oliver Twist,” as performed by The Illegitimate Players of Chicago. “A Christmas Twist” is entertainment for the whole family. D.C. Arts Center (2438 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25. 7:30 p.m.

202-462-7833. www.landlesstheatrecompany. org.

‘Show Boat.’ Signature Theatre reinvents this classic musical into a brand new production that features songs such as “Make Believe,” “Bill,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ ‘Dat Man” and “Ol’ Man River.” Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). Starting at $30. 8 p.m. 703-8209771. www.sig-online.com.

Sunday, January 3 ‘Stick Fly.’ Things go awry on Martha’s Vineyard in this family comedy when an African American man, Kent LeVay, brings his white girlfriend home to meet the family at their summer home. The Chicago Tribune called “Stick Fly,” “an impressively ambitious play.” Arena Stage in Crystal City (1800 S Bell St., Arlington).

Tickets range from $50 – 55. 2 & 7:30 p.m. 202488.3300. www.arenastage.org.

‘The Snow Queen.’ Based on the play by Alexander Pushkin, Classika Theatre presents “The Snow Queen, the story of a young girl who attempts to rescue her brother from his servitude to a cold-hearted royal family. Synetic Family Theater (4041 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $15. 12:30 & 3:30 p.m. Runs through Jan. 10.

800-494-8497. www.classika.org.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Page 21

live_music&nightlife THURSDAY, December 31 3rd Annual ‘Roobie-noceros’ New Year’s. Roobie Schaefer and Rocknoceros ring in the New Year for kids. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12. 2 p.m. 703-2551566.

New Year’s Eve Bash. With Shane Hines (full band), The Blackjacks, Crash Boom Bang & Billy Woodward and the Senders. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $30. 7 p.m.

703-255-1566.

The Rob Hornfeck Enterprise. New Year’s Eve party. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church).

Free. 7 p.m. 703-237-8333.

Emmet Swimming. With No Second Troy. New Year’s Eve party with champagne toast and spaghetti buffet. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $35. 8 p.m.

703-522-8340.

New Year’s Eve Ball. With Peaches O’Dell & Her Orchestra, Tony Anthony & His Malvivants, DJ Mark Zimin. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25. 8 p.m. 202667-4490.

The Seldom Scene. New Year’s Eve party. With Legends of The Potomac, Dead Men’s Hollow. Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexan-

dria). $39.50. 8 p.m. 703-549-7500.

New Year’s Eve Countdown. With Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Fitz and the Tantrums. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $55. 9 p.m. 202-265-0930.

friday, January 1 Billy Price Band & The Nighthawks.

Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Future. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 9 p.m.

703-522-8340.

WALE. Featuring UCB, with Wiz Khalifa, Remy, Fly Gypsy. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10 – 25.

11:30 p.m. 202-265-0930.

SATURDAY, January 2 The Independent. CD Release. With The OK Corral, Charlie Duda. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $13. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

HOMO/SONIC. Alt dance night for queer folks and friends. With guest DJ Nattyboom. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10. 9 p.m. 202-667-4490.

Politicks. With The Influence, The Energy. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $12. 9 p.m.

703-522-8340.

Buddy Deshler. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $10. 10 p.m. 703-534-0095.

We Like to Party. Featuring Viking, Beetkeepers, Powerlaces and DJ vs Wild. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $5. 11 p.m. 703-2551566.

SUNDAY, January 3 Autism Awareness Matinee. With The Kindness of Strangers, Youth in Asia, Public Saxophone. All proceeds go to Autism Speaks charity. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $8.

2 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Zack Cross Trio. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $10. 7 p.m. 703-534-0095.

Blues Jam. With Hot Rods and Old Gas and Hot Roddess Lisa Lim. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 6 p.m. 703-534-0095.

Elliott Yamin. With Matt Brodeur.

Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Gogol Bordello. With The Extraordinaires. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10 – 30. 7 p.m.

202-265-0930.

Luke Mitchem. With Laura Brino, Katherine Thorsey. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $13. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Monday, January 4 An Evening with Andre Hehanussa.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $30. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Rose and Friends. With Yell County.

Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8 p.m. 703522-8340.

Tuesday, January 5 The Back in Action Tour. With SECTR 24, Escape the Armada, LJ MTX, DJ Neekola, Boys Will Be Boys. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 6:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Pete Kennedy and Mark Stuart. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $12. 8:30 p.m. 703-5228340.

Wednesday, January 5 Edwinn McCain. With Seth Glier.

Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). $27.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

Planning Ahead...

Thursday, Dec. 31 – Tribute to King. Arlington County celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and offers information about how individuals can serve their communities. The program includes a proclamation, musical performances and more. Thomas Jefferson Community Center Auditorium (3501 2nd St. S, Arlington). Free. 6 – 9 p.m.

O

nly a few days remain before we usher in a new year, and I, for one, can’t wait to say goodbye to 2009. Once again, Falls Church is holding Watch Night, the City’s own New Year celebration at the crossroads of Routes 7 and 29 with a jam-packed lineup of free fun and entertainment to carry you into 2010. On the stage, the Big Night in the Little City will feature live music from The Pluckerland Band, Sarah Rodock, Samuel Waters, The Alumni, Andrew Acosta’s Band and the Northern Lights Big Band Orchestra while a plethora of activities for adults and kids alike will be offered up on the side. Keeping it thrifty, nearby restaurants the Ireland’s 4 P’s and Dogwood Tavern will each have no cover, while offering up live music, food and drink specials and a champagne toast at midnight. If you plan on welcoming in 2010 with a buzz or just don’t want to drive, a free shuttle will be running on a loop from the East F.C. Metro to all Watch Night destinations.

What: Watch Night Falls Church: Big Night in the Little City When: Thursday, December 31, 2009; 7 p.m. - Midnight Where: Intersection of Routes 7 & 29, Falls Church

See event map, updates and more at www.fallschurchva.gov

Friday, Jan. 18 – MLK Day Columbia Pike Clean-Up. Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment are organizing an early spring cleaning for sections of Columbia Pike and the Four Mile Run stream this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, to keep the area watershed clean. Arlington Mill Community Center (4975 Columbia Pike, Arlington). Free to register. 10 a.m. – noon.

Contact Lily Whitesell at volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org or 703-228-6406.

Calendar Submissions 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: 450 West Broad Street, #321, Falls Church, VA 22046

Page 22

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Best Films of 2009

Ebert’s Top 10 Mainstream & Indie Films of the Year

by Roger Ebert

Universal Press Syndicate

Since Moses brought the tablets down from the mountain, lists have come in 10s, not that we couldn’t have done with several more commandments. Who says a year has 10 best films, anyway?

Nobody but readers, editors and most other movie critics. There

was hell to pay last year when I published my list of 20 best. You’d have thought I belched at a funeral. So on this list I have devoutly limited myself to exactly 10 films.

On each of two lists.

The lists are divided into mainstream films and independent films. This neatly sidesteps two frequent complaints: (1) “You name all these little films most

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEE BEST ACTOR ROBERT DOWNEY JR. ®

(COMEDY OR MUSICAL)

“ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR.” Jake Hamilton, FOX-TV

“SMART, SEXY, SENSATIONAL.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law were born to play this duo!”

Mark S. Allen, CBS-TV

“‘Sherlock Holmes’ is a MUST SEE.” Kelli Gillespie, THE CW

people have never heard of,” and (2) “You pick all blockbusters and ignore the indie pictures.” Which is my official Top 10? They both are equal, and every film here is entitled to name itself “One of the Year’s 10 Best!” Alphabetically:

Top 10 Mainstream Films Bad Lieutenant

Werner Herzog’s edgy noir fed off Nicolas Cage’s flywheel intensity in a portrait of a cokehead cop out of control in postKatrina New Orleans. He starts out bad and, driven by a painful back and pain meds, goes crazy and gets away with it because of the badge. Herzog paints the storied city in dark shadows and a notable lack of glamour, and when he involves Cage in a stare-down with an iguana, it somehow needs no explanation. I predict they’ll work together again. They probably got along as well as Herzog and Klaus Kinski.

Crazy Heart

This year’s late-opening sleeper, built on a probable Oscar-winning performance by Jeff Bridges. He plays a nearly forgotten country & western singer, touring nasty dives and smoky honky-tonks for a few dollars and change. He had hits, but alcoholism eroded him.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is inspired as the woman who cares for him but doubts his newfound sobriety -and no, this isn’t a cornball story about romantic redemption. After the screening a critic said: “This year’s ‘Wrestler.’” That sounded about right. Astonishing debut direction by Scott Cooper.

An Education

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A star is born with Carey Mulligan’s performance as a 16-year-old schoolgirl who is flattered and romanced, along with her protective parents, by an attractive, mysterious man in his mid-30s (Peter Sarsgaard).

He’s sophisticated, she’s not; she sees him as a way out of London suburbia and into the circles she dreams of entering. He’s not a molester but an opportunist and role-player, and Lone Scherfig’s film is wise about what people want in a relationship and what they get. Faithfully adapted by Nick Hornby from the memoirs of the well-known British journalist

Lynn Barber.

The Hurt Locker

“War is a drug,” the opening title informs us, and in one of the best war movies ever, Jeremy Renner plays an expert member of an elite bomb disposal unit in Iraq.

Somewhat guarded by a protective suit, he handles delicate mechanisms designed to outwit him. It’s like chess. He’s very good at his job, but is that what drives him to put his life on the line hundreds of times? Not pro-war, not anti-war, not about the war in Iraq, but about the minds of dedicated combat soldiers. Directed flawlessly by Kathryn Bigelow; as one critic’s group after another honored it in their year-end awards, it became a sure thing for picture, actor and director nominations.

Inglourious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino is a natural and joyous filmmaker who feeds off genres. Here he takes the richness of World War II films and molds it into a flamboyant, melodramatic story that fearlessly rewrites history. It finally comes down to a conflict between a fatuous Nazi monster (Christoph Waltz) and a fearless French Jewish heroine (Melanie Laurent), with Brad Pitt as a knife-wielding American commando leader.

Waltz won best actor at Cannes 2009, has swept the critic’s awards, is a shoo-in as best supporting actor.

director, Alex Proyas. That film was about the hidden nature of the world men think they inhabit, and so is this one. I loved the film’s extravagance of energy, and the hard-charging Nicolas Cage performance (so different from “Bad Lieutenant”). My praise stirred up a fierce pro and con debate among readers: http://j.mp/4MmMss.

Precious

The heart-rending story of an overweight, abused young teenager and the support she finds from a teacher and a social worker, who both glimpse her potential.

Harrowing, depressing and yet uplifting, as director Lee Daniels uses her fantasies to show the dreams inside. What a sure and brave lead performance by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, and what a powerful one by Mo’Nique, as her heartless mother. She, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton and Sherri Shepherd are all but unrecognizable as they disappear into key supporting roles.

A Serious Man

Another great film the Coen brothers, returning to their homeland of the Minneapolis suburbs to tell the story of a modern-day Job who strives to be a good man, a “serious man,” and finds everything -- but everything -- going wrong. Michael

Knowing

Among the best of science fiction films -- frightening, suspenseful, intelligent and, when it needs to be, rather awesome. In its very different way it’s comparable to the great “Dark City,” by the s a m e

‘INGLORIOUS BASTERDS’ is one of Ebert’s best films of 2009.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

White Ribbon

The subterranean and labyrinthine secret history of a German village in the years before World War I. A mysterious series of deaths descends like a vengeance.

Michael Haneke’s elegant blackand-white photography etches the rural community in striking portraits of sinister normality. We become familiar with the important villagers, we follow their stories, we comprehend everything that happens -- but something else is happening, something unspoken, kept secret from them, among them, and from us. Infinitely tantalizing.

Now you are thinking, hey, what about “Avatar”? Faithful readers know of my annual Special Jury Prize. This year it goes to James Cameron’s groundbreaking epic. No, that doesn’t mean it’s the best film of the year.

It means it won the Special Jury Prize.

Top Ten Independent Films Departures

In Japan, a young man apprentices to the trade of “encoffinment,” the preparation of corpses before their cremation. It is the only employment he can find, after he loses his job as a cellist in an orchestra that goes broke.

The company owner approaches the job as a sacred vocation, and although the hero and his wife find the task unsettling, he slowly learns a new respect for himself through respect for the dead. A visually beautiful and poetic film

A masterful performance by John Malkovich as a disgraced Cape Town English professor, forced to resign during the first years of Mandela’s administration. He goes to live with his daughter (Jessica Haines) on her remote farm, where the manager (Eriq Ebouaney) seems to be establishing an independence of his own. The hard, ambiguous issues of the new South African world are squarely engaged in Steve Jacobs’ film, based on the novel by Nobel winner J.M. Coetzee.

Everlasting Moments

The great Swedish filmmaker Jan Troell (“The Emigrants” and “The New Land”) tells the story of the wife of an alcoholic dock worker in Malmo in 1911. He’s not a bad man, except when he drinks. She wins a camera in a lottery and tries to pawn it, but the camera store owner tells her to keep taking pictures. Her inner life is transformed by discovering that she has an artistic talent. A luminous performance by Maria Heiskanen.

Goodbye Solo

The third remarkable film

by Ramin Bahrani, after “Man Push Cart” and “Chop Shop.”

In Winston-Salem, N.C., a white man around 70 (onetime Elvis bodyguard Red West) gets into the taxi of an African immigrant (Souleymane Sy Savane, from the Ivory Coast). For $1,000, paid immediately, he wants to be driven in 10 days to the top of a mountain in Blowing Rock National Park, to a place so windy that the snow falls up. He says nothing about a return trip. As a friendship develops between them, the days tick inexorably away.

Julia

The most striking performance in Tilda Swinton’s exciting career.

Only poor marketing prevented this from succeeding as the thriller of the year. Swinton plays an alcoholic slut who agrees to help kidnap a child and ends up with him on an odyssey in Mexico through a thorn thicket of people you do not want to meet. If there’s one thing consistent about her behavior, it’s how she lies to all of them. Directed by Erick Zonca.

Silent Light

A story of romance and conscience set among the Mennonites of Mexico. A happy married man falls in love with a single woman,

“HUGH GRANT AND

SARAH JESSICA PARKER ARE A PERFECT COMBO.” Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV

Sin Nombre

Up through Mexico, those hopeful of entering the U.S. ride the top of a freight train. We meet a girl from Honduras with her father and uncle, and a young gang member fleeing for his life.

The journey is difficult and dangerous, but also oddly lovely and epic. A parallel story involves a gang set up to rob the would-be immigrants, who often carry all their wealth. Written and directed

by Cary Fukunaga, another of this year’s remarkable debut filmmakers.

Skin

The Sandra Laing story obsessed South Africans in 1965.

She was the daughter of white Afrikaners. She didn’t look white.

Her father fights to the Supreme Court to have her reclassified as white, and then when she falls in love with a black man, she tries to have her classification changed.

A wrenching dilemma, starring Sophie Okonedo (“Dirty Pretty Things”) in a tricky and compelling role, and Sam Neill as her deeply conflicted father.

Trucker

Michelle Monaghan is remarkable as a truck driver who has just paid off her own rig.

She’s 30ish, hard-drinking, promiscuous, estranged from the father (Benjamin Bratt) of her 12-year-old son. In an emergency she has to take the boy back, and that leads from an arm’slength relationship to difficult personal discoveries. A powerful debut by writer-director James Mottern.

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GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD NOMINATIONS BEST ACTOR

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A HOT-BLOODED MUSICAL FANTASIA FULL OF SONG, DANCE AND SIMMERING SEXUALITY

You, the Living

In a sad world and a sad city, sad people lead sad lives and complain that they hate their jobs and nobody understands them.

The result is in some ways a comedy with a twist of the knife, and in other ways a film like nobody else has ever made -- except for its director, Roy Andersson of Sweden. Fifty vignettes, almost all shot with a static camera, in medium and long shot. You laugh to yourself, silently, although you’re never quite sure why.

Flawless in what it does, and we have no idea what that is.

.1

®

MUSICAL

George Clooney plays a man for the first decade of this uncertain century. “Where do you live?” he’s asked while seated in a firstclass airplane seat. “Here.” He wants no home, no wife, no family, and says he is happy. His job is depriving others of theirs; he’s a termination facilitator. He fires people for a living. Vera Farmiga plays his friendly fellow road warrior who sleeps with him on the road. Anna Kendrick is the sincere young college grad whose first job is terminating others. The third wonderful film by Jason Reitman, after “Thank You for Smoking” and “Juno.”

Disgrace

and she with him, and they are both haunted by guilt. Their gravitas is a stark contrast to the casual attitude toward sex in most films; they are violating rules they respect, hurting people they love.

Carlos Reygadas tells his story with a clarity and attention worthy of a Bresson.

MUSICAL

Up in the Air

by Yojiro Takita.

MUSICAL

Stuhlbarg gives a virtuoso lead performance as the suffering man, who earnestly tries to do the right thing. Fred Melamed is brilliant as his best friend, who, he discovers, is having an affair with his wife.

The friend tries to console him; he is grief and grief counselor at once.

Page 23

FROM ROB MARSHALL, DIRECTOR OF ‘CHICAGO’.”

ARTWORK ©2009 THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

www.Nine-Movie.com

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December 31, 2009- January 6, 2010

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2009

Page 25

Dec

31 ay

sd Thur

Shane Hines Jammin’ Java 7 p.m.

227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna 703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com

The Seldom Scene Birchmere 8 p.m.

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria 703-549-7500 • birchmere.com

Jan y

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815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-265-0930 • 930.com

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by Mike Hume

Falls Church News-Press

For musicians, live shows on New Year’s Eve can take on an interesting dynamic. To capture the full flavor of such shows, we chatted with Shane Hines, a local musician recently transplanted to Nashville, to seek his veteran opinion on the festivities heading into the Dec. 31 show he’ll be playing at Jammin’ Java with The Blackjacks, Crash Boom Bang and Billy Woodward & The Senders.

Mike Hume: How many New Year’s shows have you played over the course of your career?

Shane Hines: I’ve probably only played about four or five. It’s New Year’s so there’s a million options on how to spend your time.

I’ve played one or two shows that you get paged huge money and you’re in the middle of North Carolina, without your friends, and you’re playing for like 20 people. Honestly, it’s a little depressing. Sure, you just made a crap load of money, but honestly, that’s not really the way you want to ring in the New Year.

The thing I’m loving about this Jammin’ Java show is that there are four great bands, and they’re friends. After that experience I just mentioned, after that I vowed never to do a New Year’s show again unless I feel great about the show. I’m not going to do it just for money. I want to bring in the New Year in a positive way.

Hume: Given the number of options for concert goers on that night, do you feel extra pressure to live up to their expectations?

Hines: You like to think you bring it regardless, but there’s such a celebratory feeling at those

Shane Hines (Photo: Courtesy Michele Samuel) shows that you want to make sure everyone’s having a good time. Add in that New Year’s is usually more expensive and you certainly don’t want to suck. But I always feel an obligation to do well whenever puts a dollar down to come see us.

Hume: Are New Year’s shows a little wilder than most?

Hines: Actually, they almost feel more laid back, but people are hammered. They’re just having a great time and there’s that sense of newness. People are just celebrating.

Everyone’s decided that this is the night that they’re going to kick out the old year and just parties like crazy. It’s a fun vibe.

Hume: What’s your plan for this show at

y

da Satur

The Influence

The News-Press sang its way out of 2009 listening to these goodies:

Iota Club & Café 9 p.m.

2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington 703-522-8340 • iotaclubandcafe.com

 

Nicholas Benton - Into the Mystic by Van Morrison

Jody Fellows - I Told You I Was Freaky by Flight of the Conchords 

Natalie Bedell - Everything Is Everything by Lauryn Hill 

Dean Edwards - How Does It Feel by D`Angelo

Jammin’ Java?

Hines: We’re the last show to go on. We go on right before midnight, so I’m thinking by then, people are just going to be hammered.

But it’s going to be fun. We’re going to get all the bands up on the stage and just do whatever.

Hume: So when the ball drops, you don’t have a plan to play “Auld Lang Syne” or anything?

Hines: Yeah, we’re going to do it like Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsys. Not really, but I know we’re all going to be on stage. At least that’s the plan. I honestly think that will be a day-of decision. Maybe I should learn that song just in case ... I’ll go listen to the Band of Gypsy’s version and bring it in like that.

Hume: Let’s close it out with what’s going on with you in Nashville. What inspired the move?

Hines: I was down there so much doing writing and stuff and after a little while it’s like, you know, I think I’m going to live here. This guy down there, a friend of mine, told me “If you want to succeed, you have to be present to win.” So here I am and recording a new fulllength record. It should be out in February or March. It’s definitely a relationship record, but it’s not all dark and depressing.

• For more information on the show and his upcoming album, visit www.shanehines.com.

W .B 8 ro 00 g 395 n ad i sh a December 31, 2009 - January Ar my 6, 2010 St .W S N Pho Sate a 2 vy Dr. .

42 St. ton

Page 26 Featuring PHO WHY SPEND $5 ON A FOOT LONG???

7

Southside 815

Featuring PHO

WHY SPEND $5 ON A FOOT LONG???

The First Name in Pancakes

815 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA www.southside815.com • 703-836-6222

495

Alexandria

F re e

Parking

Nothing says southern-style cooking like the word “fried.” And Southside 815 in Alexandria has got plenty of that — fried chicken, fried www.edencenter.com 7 steak, fried pickles, fried green Try tomatoes Also weekdays: Free Wi-Fi a Bahnand, Mi sandwich on a fresh baguette! at selected locations and a new Senior Menu! well, it’s kind of got that Bubba-Gump-shrimp Only $2.50 to $3.00 per sandwich, MANY OF WASHINGTON'S 7700 Wisconsin Ave. 12224 Rockville Pike BEST RESTAURANTS thing happening. at the following Eden Center locations: 1201 S. Joyce St. Bethesda, MD Rockville, MD WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE AND But who’s complaining?

301-986-0285 301-468-0886 WASHINGTON POST REVIEWED For someone who was raised in southern Virginia, where the best things in life are fried, too many good things had been said about Southside’s Chicken Fried Steak ($13.95) for it Authentic Afghan Cuisine Call for Reservations to be wrong.

Rewind. Did someone say fried pickles?

124 N. Lunch: 11 am-2:00 pm For $5.25, something resembling a heart Washington St. Dinner : 5 pm-10 pm Falls Church, VA attack on a plate is actually a heaping mass Mi of sandwich Southside’s pickles,” which are flash fried 105 W. Broad St. Falls Church, VA 22046 Try a Bahn on a“state fresh fair baguette!

By the intersections • Sunday 5-10 • in southern breading and served with remoulade sauce forper dipping.

This is comfort food at its finest.

Only $2.50 to $3.00 sandwich, of Rt. 7 & 29 Comparable to tartar sauce with a hit of curry, the remoulade was the dot to these pickles’ “i’s.” And Free Parking in Rear at the following Eden Center locations: Phone: (703) 536-4566 the best part was it wasn’t some wimpy-sized platter for the small price. No, those calories were proud, (703) 534-1033 924 W. Broad Street Falls Church, VA 22046 unforgiving and plentiful.

Tongue-wagging cravings aside, the main attraction during this visit was the Chicken Fried Steak.

Boasted on Chowhound.com message boards as the best local CFS, this Certified Black Angus sirloin can be found under the “Southern Classics” section of the menu, right where it belongs. Dusted in the restaurant’s southern breading, deep-fried and topped with country gravy, what’s more surprising are the sides’ ability to easily give the steak a run for its money. The mashed red-skin potatoes stand on their Restaurant & Lounge own sans gravy, and the stewed green beans with chunks of tomatoes hit the spot after a bite of steak and gravy.

Call for Reservations With 15 different sandwiches to choose from, the Chesapeake Club ($9.50) is a steal. Deviled crab, 1/2 OFF ENTREE grilled chicken breast, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise all come together here www.theharvestmoonrestaurant.com Buy One Entree, Get A 2nd Of Equal Or Lesser Value 1/2 OFF. for a seaside spin on the traditional club. The crab was not only a nice touch flavor-wise but a much105 W. Broad St. Falls Church, VA 22046 (Graham Center across from Loehmann’s Plaza) One coupon per party. Not valid with any other offer.

7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042 appreciated break from the norm. And while the fries weren’t anything to write home about, those state Valid with Valpak. coupon only. fair pickles returned for an encore, this time seasoned in a light marinade and chilled for a perfect palate refresher at the end.

BISTRO Not only is the food in point at Southside, but so is the layout of the restaurant. Walking in only to des Célestins greeted by noisy — and that’s an understatement — Sunday football fans, it was assumed two people wouldn’t be able to hear one another in that mess. However, that’s not the case. Separated from the pigskin madness is a fairly secluded dining area (above) that, though close to the bar, blocks the hustle CA F È and bustle of the beer glass-clinking devoted. Those folks should keep in mind that Southside 815 has Tel: (703) 538-3033 13 TVs for those interested, with channels covering NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB games.

Fax: (703) 573-0409 There’s also Raw Bar Wednesdays from 5 – 10:30 p.m., half-price Po’Boys all day every Monday, 6876 Lee Highway and even a live acoustic series every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. Southside’s serving up New Year’s Eve Arlington, Virginia 22213 specials, with soup, entrée and dessert deals. More information can be found on its Web site (www. www.lacotedorcafe.com southside815.com).

So, whether it’s watching the game to get out of helping take down the Christmas décor (You did not hear this from me, fellas) or curiosity that has you too questioning the role of fried pickles in this world, answers — and solutions — can be found via Southside’s comfort-food spread.

370 West Broad St. Falls Church,VA 703-891-0148

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December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Silver Anniversary Bilateral Engagement: Celebrating 25 Years of Washington Sculptors Group, at the Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States (201 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). The exhibit runs through Jan. 15. The gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is closed New Year’s. Admission is free. For more details, visit www. museum.oas.org or www.washingtonsculptors.org.

The work of 27 selected members of the Washington Sculptors Group forms the body of this all show. Also included are half a dozen artist from the permanent collection of the Museum of American States.

While this is a diversified group show, it’s also a curated show with several minor sub-themes. Tony Capellan and Maria Barbosa deal with illegal immigration. The two works are completely different in feel despite the fact that both artists use references to foot traffic in illegal border crossings, and operate at roughly similar scales.

Capellan has the more visceral interpretation of the two. His collection of worn out blue and green flip flops use barbed wire for the V shaped foot strap that holds them on. The mass of flip flop shoes in vaguely aquatic colors connotes a wave coming ashore, much as one might see a relentless human wave of immigrants. It’s a piece imbued with both pain and perseverance.

Barbosa’s 15-foot-long printed scarf titled “Back and Forth” is based on aerial photos of the Rio Grande area, superimposed with glow in the dark foot prints that dot the landscape.

Gale Jamieson and Donna McCullough both work off the notion of women’s dresses.

McCullough uses welded steel to make up the bust area, and leaf pattern for the skirt with only the idea of such loosely expressed in it’s open lower form.

Jamieson takes a decidedly less

benign take on women’s wear.

Utilizing layered cardboard, dress patterns, and a profusion of straight pins in “...my mom’s dressform,” which rather clearly expresses the beauty of fashion, and it’s less talked about dark side. Fashion rarely comes without a price of some sort.

This dress in the making looks like it will be quite elegant with decorative embellishments. Upon closer inspection, it’s revealed that each tiny silver dot on the outside has a two inch spike inside the dress ominously pointed at anyone foolish enough to try it on.

Foon Sham provides us with a smart environmentally aware piece titled “Column.” The short, wooden column is made up of alternating layers of raw wood and printed phone books. An obvious reminder that all those phone books they dump on your door step are made from living trees.

One of the best works here comes from the AMA permanent collection by Jesus Rafael Soto, titled “Escritura Hurtado.”

The 40x68x18-inch work features a painted background of closely spaced black and white vertical stripes. In front of which Soto has suspended both straight, and curved black wire forms. As you move side to side, your eyes can’t quite handle the visual mix. Causing the straight pieces to vibrate with diagonal stripes running up and down the wires. It’s firmly within the op-art realm, but doesn’t beat you over the head with the fact.

Some, if not most, op-art is tough stuff to be around for very long, this rather subtle version you could actually live with.

Bilateral Engagements is a good solid show with few weak points and many rewards.

Budding Talents Black and White Photography

by Daryl Oh, Alex Curtis, Kevin Nunez and Eric Smith, at MOCA DC (1054 31st St. NW, Washington, D.C The gallery is open Wednesday – Friday, 1 – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 1 – 5 p.m. or by appointment. For more

Page 27

details, call 202-342-6230 or visit www.mocadc.org.

Daryl Oh, Alex Curtis, Kevin Nunez and Eric Smith all attend Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. The work shown here, while understandably uneven, is quite good for high school students. The work shows an uncommon level of skill and artistic thinking at this stage. Typically, this is due to young students receiving actual art instruction rather than the controlled freefor-all that most high school art programs provide, or don’t have depending on how you look at it.

One of the four is doing Jerry Uelsmann-type melded multiimage printing. The image of a curbside sewer drain at top, blended with a swimming fish below is especially effective. Articulating the notion that the sewer inlet feeds into some sort of fish habitat down line, we’re immediately inclined to think of the whole system a bit differently, and good bit more responsibly.

Another of the four is showing several diptych images that derive their visual punch from contextual association with each other. One of the best is a zoo image of a strutting lion below. Above that we see a toddler looking down through a special glass panel for very small children, who otherwise couldn’t see at all on their own. From this angle the child looks like a toddler treat on the lion lunch menu. It’s a rather alarming image that makes you want to snatch up the child to protect it. There is a commonality of multi-image thinking here that makes us guess the two treatments above are by the same hand, but it’s just a guess.

Another of the four has the most entertaining set of the lot. Here we see several black and white photos of hands. Beside each is an actual handwritten note by the subjects commenting on the hand shown.

No question, the best of the bunch is a fairly bulbous, roughly bandaged finger. The note tells us the date of the initial injury, then goes on relaying a second date several weeks afterwards when “the doctor hurt it worse.” You can’t help but think the finger was broken, didn’t get treated and had to be re-broken and reset at a later date. It’s a wonderful piece of art that makes you wince, laugh, shake your head and shudder, all the while glad it wasn’t your finger coming back for seconds.  The Northern Virginia Art Beat is compiled by Kevin Mellema.

See www.fcnp.com for photos and more. To e-mail submissions, send them to kevinmellema@gmail.com.

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Page 28

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Some Tips About Holiday Drinking Tis the time of year when inhibitions go out the window.

Office parties, gatherings of friends, family feasts, New Year’s Eve ... Ah, how the drinks do flow.

Unfortunately, too many occasional drinkers tend to overdo in such circumstances, to the regret of not only themselves, but those around them who are (a) embarassed, (b) annoyed and/or (c) disgusted by their behavior.

Simply telling people to drink responsibly won’t avoid all such negative experiences. But armed with a little knowledge of one’s own alcohol capacity and how well you metabolize what you drink, you and those near you will get through holiday partyBy William M. Dowd ing in a dignified, enjoyable Hearst Newspapers way.

A few don’ts: 1.) Don’t “do” shots. Spirits are not for “doing.” They are for slow enjoying. The only reason to do shots is to get drunk, which mature adults try to avoid.

2.) Don’t assume mixed cocktails are much less potent than straight whiskies, rums or vodkas. Many mixers – red or white vermouth, for example, in Manhattans, Rob Roys, Martinis, etc.; various liqueurs in other recipes – have a significant alcohol content on their own, so drinking too many cocktails made with them still lets the impact mount.

3.) Don’t be fooled by how easy a drink goes down. Fruit juices and liqueurs add color and flavor, but they also mask temporarily how much alcohol you’re ingesting.

4.) Don’t use diet sodas as mixers. You need sugar in cocktails since it helps metabolize alcohol. Using diet sodas results in a higher concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream.

A few do’s: 1.) Do bear in mind that drinking whiskey can result in a worse hangover than drinking vodka. That is according to recently-released research by scientists at Brown University.

They say the reason may be because of the number of molecules called “congeners” which whiskey contains compared to vodka (Their study was just published in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.”)

2.) Do order water. In my family, we have a running joke that if you’re given water when you ask for something to drink, you should inform the server “I’m thirsty, not dirty.”

However, alternating alcoholic drinks with glasses of water makes sense on several levels. You’ll stay hydrated, important since alcohol tends to dehydrate you and creates a hangover; you’ll satisfy the desire to have a beverage without loading up on alcohol.

3.) Do avoid topping off your drinks. Get a refill only when you’ve finished so you can keep track of how much you’re drinking, something that’s easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of a party.

4.) Do stay aware of calories. A pina colada has about the same number as a Big Mac. A straight shot of alcohol has about 90 calories but mix it with orange juice or pineapple juice, for example, and the calorie count climbs to 150.

There are, of course, one major do and one major don’t to keep in mind at all times. Do have a designated driver and don’t drink and drive. Even if you ignore the other do’s and don’ts, following those two will help you have a safe, happy holiday season.

Dowd on Drinks

 William M. Dowd covers the adult beverage world online at BillDowd.com

Peter Eastgate: 2008 WSOP Champion Two weeks after the conclusion of the WSOP Main Event and Las Vegas is still buzzing with poker excitement. For me, though, it’s been several hectic weeks of travel to host a couple of important charity poker tournaments. I started in Montreal for the Starlight Foundation, then to Philadelphia for the Children’s Hospital, and finally made it to Phoenix for my own charity tournament, Hold’em for Heroes.

In today’s column, we turn back the clock and learn about last year’s Main Event champion, Danish pro Peter Eastgate, as excerpted from my just-released book, “Deal Me In:” I went to college for just half a year, studying economics at Aarhus University in Denmark.

While there, I started playing poker with friends in live games.

One friend told me about playing online and I found that I really enjoyed it.

One aspect of online play that I enjoyed most was playing multiple tables at once. I could fold two hands but still be involved in plenty of action at two other tables.

Sometimes I’d play as many as seven tables at a time but most of the time just four or five.

When you’re playing multiple tables, you can learn the game very quickly because you’re exposed to many different hands and situations in a short period of time.

I first realized that I could make enough money playing poker for it to become my career in the summer of 2006. By then, I started beating medium-stakes games regularly and made about $300,000 by the end of that year.

I qualified for the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event via the Ladbrokes Poker website. Early in the tournament, I encountered hundreds of amateurs who all dreamed of playing in the WSOP Main Event. For them, it was like a fairy tale. One thing I immediately noticed was that the tournament attracted many bad players strictly because they wanted to be part of the event; they knew they had no shot to win but they entered anyway.

I hadn’t made much of a mark in live tournament play prior to the

WSOP Main Event. In fact, before the WSOP, my greatest accomplishment had been making the final table at the 2007 Irish Poker Open where I finished ninth.

At the Main Event, one factor that played a role in my success was that because I had not played in many live tournaments, and was not a known entity around Las Vegas, some players might have overlooked me or looked past me.

Not that I think anyone showed me a lack of respect but I don’t believe that many players thought I was a real threat to win.

When I play poker, I’m known for staying calm and collected at all times – at least on the outside.

Inside, however, I’m really feeling the tension. I played a little below average for the first three or four days and went all-in only twice.

After that, though, I never had my entire stack threatened. There were moments when players had me covered but I was mentally

prepared for them to make a move or to try to knock me out.

At the final table, I went heads-up against Russian pro Ivan Demidov. I had never played against him but I had watched him play on Day 5 and Day 7. I knew a little about how he played. I knew he was capable of some very misleading moves. In fact, he did try some tricky things, but unfortunately for him, I had a number of very strong hands that I would never fold.

I ending up winning the tournament and earned about $9 million.

I also became the youngest WSOP Main Event champion in history, breaking the 20-year record that had been held by Phil Hellmuth.  The rest of Peter Eastgate’s story, plus many others, are in Deal Me In, the new book by Phil Hellmuth, available at www. pokerbrat.com. © 2009 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

December 21, 2009 - January 6, 2010

crossword / 1

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© 2009 David Levinson Wilk

Across

1. Like some romances

56

ACROSS 1. Like some romances 7. Cornell or Pound 11. “Lost” broadcaster 14. Goddess of wisdom 15. It may be fixed 16. Day-____ colors 17. 1977 Billy Joel album 19. Co. offering a Buddy List 20. Assn.

21. Night before 22. Big name in sportswear 23. Whiskey cocktails 29. “The Island of Dr. ____” 31. Boxer with a cameo in the 2009 comedy “The Hangover” 32. Urn’s locale, perhaps 34. New Deal dam-building org.

37. Somme summer 38. Close of day, to poets 39. Pro wrestler Flair 40. Neighbor of Isr. 41. Popular coda to “Happy Birthday to You” 46. Astrud Gilberto’s “The ____ Love” 47. Cry of disgust in a comic strip 48. Classic TV miniseries of 1983 52. FBI action 53. Many a toothpaste 54. Epoch 57. Mountain West Conference player 58. Spa treatment 63. “Nova” subj.

THE QUIGMANS

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

35. N. Car. neighbor 36. Banda ____ (2004 tsunami site) 41. Hot tub reaction 42. Sgt. or cpl.

43. Carpenters, at times 44. “Babi ____” 45. Loony 46. Busy co. on Mother’s Day 48. Bridge support 49. Politico Orrin 50. Children’s song refrain 51. Hive occupant 55. Not well?

56. Zoo attractions 58. Turf 59. ____ out a living 60. Cousin of “woof!”

61. Sheriff’s asst.

62. State since 1863: Abbr.

Creole cooking pod Rider of 4/18/1775 “The L Word” airer, briefly Thumb one’s nose at Black suit

Down 1. Mobster’s guns 2. Roman emperor after Galba 3. Emmy-winning HBO miniseries of 2000 4. Guys and Ken dolls 5. QB’s mishap 6. “Watch your step!”

7. Author of a 1952 novel whose title is spread out over the starts of 17-, 23-, 32-, 41-, 48- and 58-Across 8. Veer 9. Map abbr.

10. ____ Lingus 11. Riveted 12. Bank deposit?

13. Winter woes 18. Gardner of “The Barefoot Contessa” 22. Overnight stop 24. Wimbledon call 25. “Lost” actor Daniel ____ Kim 26. Laughing ____ 27. Map abbr.

28. Gut reaction?

29. Ladies of Versailles: Abbr.

30. Like Cheerios 33. Passover meal 34. With one’s knickers on

Last Thursday’s Solution S E E K S

H A G E N

C H B U S A

R I P A

A N I S

A S I E R N G G R A I R A O O P D H O I A S G G G O N A A M T A M A H J E F I E R R O N K E Y S O R T

R E F O M A R S O G R E S

D O I N G G O D D D O A R M A N G

E N G A G E

P A U G A S O N L A N A G G A G S T O O H P D A

A R T S D A R E A N A S D P S R B E G D E N I D D Y S E A U A M E S F O R E R I N G S I E T E R

Buddy Hickerson

7. Cornell or Pound 11. "Lost" broadcaster 14. Goddess of wisdom 15. It may be fixed 16. Day-____ colors

Level: 1

2

3 4

17. 1977 Billy Joel album 19. Co. offering a Buddy List 20. Assn.

21. Night before 22. Big name in sportswear 23. Whiskey cocktails 29. "The Island of Dr. ____" 31. Boxer with a cameo in the 2009 comedy "The Hangover" 32. Urn's locale, perhaps 34. New Deal dam-building org.

37.

Somme summer NICK KNACK

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

1/3/10

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

© 2009 N.F. Benton

© 2010 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

Page 30

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

News-Press Classifieds

$20 for up to 20 words

Help Wanted

tion is a true leader in today’s health care marketplace. Positions available for a full time PT at the Goodwin Houses. Sign on bonus, relocation assistance, and tuition reimbursement available. Competitive salary will be offered. Must be VA licensed and certified. We’re CLNTS Recruiting and Growing 1 All22:03 127093 The Time. Please contact: Marisa Bowen, Cell: 301-707-9049, Fax: 301-722-1450, mbowen@atlanticbbn.net

For Rent 3 BR APARTMENT in Fall Church City condo community. $1,500 plus utilities. Call 703 517 0115.

Services

The News-Press Classifieds 1/15/02

WV

B/W

Remember, New Classified Deadlines: Every Tuesday, 2 p.m.!

CHILD CARE Experienced childcare provider provides quality care for your infant in F.C. home. (703) 241-0605.

HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE Avail-

able 7 days a week. Week, biweekly, monthly or one time. Good references in Falls Church City. 10 years experience. For further information call me at 703-901-0596.

Senior discount, Ask: Susy.

WHAT A CHILD LEARNS ABOUT VIOLENCE A CHILD LEARNS FOR LIFE. Teach carefully. We can show you how.

Call 877-ACT-WISE for a free brochure or visit www.actagainstviolence.org.

classads@fcnp.com

*127093*

10032_0 NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR I.D. ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAS. Act Against Violence - Magazine & Newspaper (2 1/1 6 x 2) B&W APARD2-N-05130-D

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Line Work

WE EXIST TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and stops people from moving.

With the help of people like you, the National MS Society addresses the challenges of each person whose life is affected by MS and helps them stay connected to the great big moving world.

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We are pleged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and DOLEV 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 herby 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) 3679753.

Email: fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov.

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Please include payment (check or money order) with your ad or call us to arrange payment by credit card.

For public & legal notices, please e-mail legalads@fcnp.com

The Falls Church News-Press accepts no financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements. Advertising which has minor discrepancies such as misspelling or small type transposition, but which do not affect the ability of the reader to respond to the ad will be considered substantially correct and full payment is required. The Falls Church NewsPress is not responsible if the original copy is not typewritten or legible and clear. The Falls Church News-Press is not responsible for copy changes made by telephone.

SETTLE IRS TAXES For a fraction of what you owe IfÊyouÊqualifyÊweÊcan: ✓ Stop wage garnishments ✓ Remove bank levies, tax levies, property seizures ✓ Settle state and business payroll tax problems ✓ Eliminate penalties, interest charges and tax liens

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(two days before publication)

IfÊyouÊoweÊoverÊ$15,000ÊinÊbackÊtaxesÊ CALLÊNOW DENNIS MANARCHY © 2006 UNCF ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

FULL TIME PT: Flagship Rehabilita-

UNCF helps thousands of deserving students.

But we have to turn away thousands more.

So please give to the United Negro College Fund. Your donation will make a difference.

Visit uncf.org or call 1-800-332-8623.

NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR I.D. ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAS. United Negro College Fund - Newspaper 2 1/16 x 5 1/4 B&W UNC205-N-02021-V “Butterfly” 85 line screen Digital Files @ Schawk 212-689-8585 Reference # 10032 Volunteer Agency: Y&R Public Service Director - Please Note: This PSA ad expires: 7/31/08 Running this PSA after the expiration date may result in claims by licensor, photographer or Talent.

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

Page 31

Professional Services

Home Improvement

on-site computer repair

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• All Major Brands • Certified Technician • Affordable Rates

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20% Discount New Customers

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Specializing in repairs. Local references.

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For your function please call

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Online

Business & Service Directory

Create unique art masterpieces using acrylics, water-based oils, pencils and an innovative variety of tools and brushes.

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Page 32

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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

15 s Yearo g A

to come aid the ir of there. pa stu is Now e the timall for o d g o to cows to come aid the ir of there. pa stu

10 & 15 Years Ago Falls Church News-Press Vol lV, No. 42 • January 5, 1995

‘10 Full Time School Slots May Be Cut: Roberson Presents Grim Outlook for School Budget Cuts’ “School Superintendent Dr. Stewart Roberson’s proposed budget, which he will submit to the School Board January 11, calls for a 8.4 percent increase in the City’s appropriation and, even at that level would entail loss of the equivalent of 10.25 positions in paraprofessional and support staff and, possible, teachers. In four separate presentations yesterday to teachers and parents, Roberson previewed his budget...”

Herbert Continued from Page 12

secret behind this onerous tax is that no one expects very many people to pay it. The idea is that rather than fork over 40 percent in taxes on the amount by which policies exceed the threshold, employers (and indi-

in the

News-Press

Falls Church News-Press Vol IX, No. 43 • January 6, 2000

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

10 Year s Ago

Thro w it up.

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

‘Falls Church “City Gets a Downturn” is Top Story of ‘99’ “If 1998 was ‘a very active year’ in the City of Falls Church, as the Falls Church News-Press characterized it in a year-end review a year ago, 1999 was a year of unfolding promise. Less active than the one before, 1999 nonetheless provided a glimpse of the Falls Church of tomorrow, and it looks very good. This came not only from the succession of a year-long event associated with the City’s Tricentennial celebration in 1999...”

viduals who purchase health insurance on their own) will have little choice but to ratchet down the quality of their health plans.

These lower-value plans would have higher out-of-pocket costs, thus increasing the very things that are so maddening to so many policyholders right now: higher and higher copayments, soaring deductibles and so forth. Some of the benefits of higherend policies can be expected in many cases to go by the boards: dental and vision care, for example, and expensive mental health coverage.

Proponents say this is a terrific way to hold down health care costs. If policyholders have to pay more out of their own pockets, they will be more careful – that is to say, more reluctant – to access health services. On the other hand, people with very serious illnesses will be saddled with much higher out-of-pocket costs. And a reluctance to seek treatment for something that might seem relatively minor at first could well have terrible (and terribly expensive) consequences in the long run.

If even the plan’s proponents do not expect policyholders to pay

the tax, how will it raise $150 billion in a decade? Great question.

We all remember learning in school about the suspension of disbelief. This part of the Senate’s health benefits taxation scheme requires a monumental suspension of disbelief. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, less than 18 percent of the revenue will come from the tax itself. The rest of the $150 billion, more than 82 percent of it, will come from the income taxes paid by workers who have been given pay raises by employers who will have voluntarily handed over the money they saved by offering their employees less valuable health insurance plans.

Can you believe it?

I asked Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, about this.

(Labor unions are outraged at the very thought of a health benefits tax.) I had to wait for him to stop laughing to get his answer.

“If you believe that,” he said, “I have some oceanfront property in southwestern Pennsylvania that I will sell you at a great price.”

A survey of business executives by Mercer, a human resourc-

DON’T LET HIS CALM, nonchalant demeanor deceive the naked eye: Special Agent Oso has been on the ball, per se, as a dedicated marketing professional – and a loyal sidekick to his business partner and companion, Kathleen Nixon. The two have been inseparable since Oso first found Kathleen wandering the streets of sunny urban California before they made the move east to Metro D.C. Nowadays, when Oso isn’t tweeting job updates for his day job, you might find him helping send care packages to military working dogs or raising awareness about Pets2Vets, a sweet program that pairs homeless animals with U.S. veterans nationwide. Talk about tireless efforts, Oso has even been known to go without treats to save up money to donate to Dogma Bakery, all in the name of giving soldiers on duty protection like a Thor’s bulletproof vest. Semper fi, Oso! es consulting firm, found that only 16 percent of respondents said they would convert the savings from a reduction in health benefits into higher wages for employees.

Yet proponents of the tax are holding steadfast to the belief that nearly all would do so.

“In the real world, companies cut costs and they pocket the money,” said Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America and a leader of the opposition to the tax.

“Executives tell the shareholders: ‘Hey, higher profits without any revenue growth. Great!”’

The tax on health benefits is being sold to the public dishonestly as something that will affect only the rich, and it makes a mockery of President Barack Obama’s repeated pledge that if you like the health coverage you have now, you can keep it.

Those who believe this is a good idea should at least have the courage to be straight about it with the American people.

For the Best Updates on Falls Church, D.C. and Northern Virginia

@ FCNP

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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Page 33

ACCOUNTING

Diener & Associates, CPA. . . . . . . . . 241-8807 Eric C. Johnson, CPA, PC . . . . . . . . 538-2394 Mark Sullivan, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-4511 Hassans Accounting & Tax Services . 241-7771 Hahn & Associates, PC, CPAs . . . . . 533-3777

n

CATERING

n

GIFTS

n

CLEANING SERVICES

n

HEALTH & FITNESS

n

HOME CARE

n

HOME IMPROVEMENT

ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Falls Church Antique Company . . . . 241-7074 Antique Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-9642

Sam’s Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 580-7511 Pressure Washing/Deck, Siding . . . . 980-0225 A-Cleaning Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892-8648 Affordable Carpet Resoration . . . . . . 978-2270 Maid Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823-1922 Carpets, Ducts, Windows . . . . . . . . . 823-1922

n

COMPUTER SERVICES

Mark F. Werblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9300 Janine S. Benton, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . .992-9255

n

COUNSELING

Beyer Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5000 Integrity Tire & Auto Repair . . . . . . . . 639-0700

n

DENTISTS

ATTORNEYS

AUTOMOTIVE BANKING

Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. . . 519-1634 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-3505 TD Bank/www.TDBank.com . . . . . . . 237-2051 Acacia Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506-8100

n

Fast-teks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496-7807 Carol S. Miller, LCSW . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-4980 Josette Millman, APRN . . . . . . . . . . . 855-0396 Dr. William Dougherty . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-3300 Dr. Nimisha V. Patel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1733

EQUIPMENT RENTAL/SALE

VA Outdoor Power Equipment . . . . . 207-2000 Ace Tool & Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-5600

BOOK BINDING

n

EYEWEAR

BUSINESS SERVICES

n

FLORISTS

CHIROPRACTOR

n

FRAMES

BCR Binders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9181 Jon Rizalvo, PAYCHEX . . . . . 698-6910 x27045

Dr. Solano, solanospine.com . . . . . . 536-4366

Art & Frame of Falls Church . . . . . . . 534-4202

MASSAGE

Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0140 Sacred Well Yoga and Healing . . . . . 989-8316

n

MEDICAL

Human Touch Home Health . . . . . . . 531-0540

n

MUSIC

Joseph Home Improvement . . . . . . . 507-5005 Ram Home Improvement . . . . . . . . . 641-5892 Doug’s Handyman Services . . . . . . . 556-4276 Ambassador Home Improvements . 499-7095 FC Heating & Air Service . . . . . . . . . 534-0630 N.G. Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312-0032 Millennium, USA Painting . . . . . . . . . 409-8563 The Vinyl Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793-3111

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OPHTHALMOLOGY

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PHARMACY

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REAL ESTATE

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TAILOR

n

INSURANCE

n

LAWN & GARDEN

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MASONRY

Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-6500

Falls Church Florist, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 533-1333

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Stifel & Capra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-0770

State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5105 Morales Landscaping and Lawncare 502-3990 Sweet Garden Lawn Care . . . . . . . . . 627-7723 Gabriel Lawn Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 691-2351 Seven Brothers Landscaping . . . . . . 241-4990 Masonry Specialist LLC . . . . . . . . . . 443-2308 Jeff L. Cadle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698-1390

www.healthybyintention.com. . . . . . . 534-1321 Sheraton Premiere Women’s Massage403-9328 Dr Gordon Theisz, Family Medicine . 533-7555 The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy . . . 536-4042 Academy of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938-8054 World Childrens Choir . . . . . . . . . . . 883-0920 Columbia Institute - Fine Arts . . . . . . 534-2508 Foxes Music Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7393 John Karickhoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-2400 Broad Street Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .533-9013 Merelyn Kaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .790-9090x218 www.helpfulmortgage.us . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222 Casey O’Neal - ReMax . . . . . . . . . . . 824-4196 Rosemary Hayes Jones . . . . . . . . . . .790-1990 Leslie Hutchison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .675-2188 The Young Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-8800 Shaun Murphy, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . 868-5999 www.TheJeffersonatBallston.com . . . 741-7562 Susan Fauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-8741 Tailor Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-8886

All numbers have a ‘703’ prefix unless otherwise indicated.

To see your business here, call us at 703-532-3267, fax 703-342-0352 or E-Mail us at ADS@FCNP.com

Visit

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Januar y

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2008 17 - 23,

D

FOUNDE 1991 • VII VOL. X NO. 46

WEEK INSIDE THIS

$ FOR UPPORTS NVTA S IN F.C. GARAGE PARKING Virginia

The Northern Authority met School Transportation Mason High all the at George and approvedFalls last week by projects submitted One of the Phase Church for massive transportation region’s plan.

SEE PAGE

City OK for New cil Preliminary ted by Coun Center Gran HER

4

STICKING

TOGET

Vote Unanimous Plan Moves F.C. Reality Closer to

KATERS FIGURE S AUL NO. VA. ST. P at the LOOK TOWARD men’s event

Falls Churcha The ambitious project received thumbs-up City Center unanimous The senior Figure Skating Monday. critical, City Council 2008 Eastern looked like and resolufrom the ChampionshipsD.C.-area get 7-0 votes All six ordinances passed by only a Washington, skaters from tions were standing-room with together and before a in Council chambers Fairfax, Alexandria the medals. audience sweeping project Annandale at City Hall. million 19 feet of SEE PAGE The $317 of million square adding a to 8.7 acres : comHOMAS new development downtown HELEN T PLAY Falls Church’swill now undergo GENDER RACE & mercial area, review by various ROLES gender of 40 days POLITICAL and and commissions not, race City boardsof public hearings, choice Like it or the roles in the and a set back to will play The of a Democratic standard before coming approval. for final vote on the presidential Council can’t be hopes to 25. bearer. It Council even though

by Feb. gone avoided, final version which has leading candidates The project, of modifications hatchet. the party’s of series to bury the through a have decided original parameters the City 10 since the between SEE PAGE a partnership its Economic Church, and the & LATIFAH of Falls Authority was LANE, HOLMES MONEY’ Development a AD Realty Company, (right) addresson Atlantic out last fall.

GO FOR ‘M the new comedy Alex Ovechkin stars took time hammered building heights & Louise” “Mad Money,” (left) and even The Caps’ While by “Thelma follows Mike Green on its residential directed Arlington. of the game of hockey, $124 Khouri, CAPITALS’Middle School in came downbuildings, hotel plans 13-year, writer Callie Reserve employees signed a the intricacies and office recently commentary students to accommodate THE WASHINGTON at Williamsburg three Federal beat the Ovechkin the local player. For ) structure, students attempt to go were expanded to teach of the kids. crowd of 180-room to an NHL PHOTO: NATE TAYLOR and their afternoon could possibly with some ever given a first-class hall and banquet -PRESS Wednesday in a scrimmage system. What the largest page 18. (NEWS with meeting a six-level parking Capitals, on the and wrong? participating with Splinters” 26 facilities, thrown in. The numSEE PAGE million contractdeal, see “Picking rental units deck was on the historic 412, and ber of residential down to condominiwas scaled captured more age-restricted were added. the team twice ums, up to 134, six years cover both of last added to championship, the up and once Retail was Maple bringing the state almost unheard as runner of S. the team’s square feet, finishing has sides total to 53,000 place. streak fifth success. a little history straight in retail In winning of 17,000.

Here’s added to While the up from very proud Jamie Scharff: from coach years, the Mason made the coach not-so-secret These modifications INDEX Harris Teeter a high six won Spotlight kids, Scharff’s one — have the plans a major a six-story the last team has Restaurant smarter than and every his is a simple Are you High academic Editorial.................26 ............................32 supermarket 5 six strategy and practice. a George the district championship Sodoku ...............35 school student? on Page Letters...............2, in the past smart kids gather twice a week not, if it’s ........5 Continued Probably School academic year. Four times team has won Comics................35 Crime Report Students ..........35 of — 21 Comment.......10-13& CrosswordAds.....38 Mason High is the home So years, Mason’s on Page News championshipother Classified Continued Community regional athletes. the bowler. GMHS & Services academic record is the finished second the Notes .............14-15& Business .............39 in champion News Directory 1 Business season their though the they years. Three times Focus 40-4 far this 20-0, Notes ..................16 Weekly of two Corner......42 an impressive just a fraction Sports ............18-20 Critter are ...26-28 Business Listing .43 20 wins Roger Ebert

Mason’s

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Page 34

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

for the week of December 31, 2009-January 6, 2010

Ring in the New Year in Falls Church Watch Night – December 31, 7 p.m.

Usher in the New Year with fun, free family festivities at the 12th Annual Watch Night New Year’s Eve spectacular in downtown Falls Church at the intersection of Broad Street (Route 7) and Washington Street (Route 29). Watch Night will feature entertainment for all including a dragon obstacle course, Velcro wall, karaoke, face painting, dance lessons, a countdown, five bands and more. The evening will also feature a New Year’s countdown spectacular and lowering of the historic star that first lit the Falls Church sky in 1948 – the year Falls Church became an independent city.

Participating local restaurants will offer special Walking Watch Night menus containing items that are easy to carry. Free snacks and giveaways will also be available (while supplies last). The festivities get underway at 7 p.m. For more information, including event and shuttle bus maps, visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

Holiday Tree Recycling And Brush Collection

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza For Middle Schoolers The Community Center presents its annual New Year’s Eve Extravaganza exclusively for middle school students from 7 p.m.-1 a.m.

The evening will feature Mr. DJ spinning hit tunes, the “Wild One” obstacle course, a “defender dome”, “bouncy boxing,” a movie, lots of food, door prizes and the big countdown to midnight!

Admission at the door is $35.

For more information on the event, contact Amy Maltese, Teen Coordinator, at 703-248-5307 (TTY 711).

city

Christmas trees are collected for brush recycling, free of charge, on Mondays in January and February (except Jan. 18). Place the tree loose at the curb after removing plastic bags and all decorations, including tinsel.

Condo, townhouse, and apartment residents receiving private trash and recycling service may take their trees to the brush collection area at the Fairfax County Citizens’ Disposal and Recycling Facility, located at 4618 W. Ox Road, Fairfax, for a small fee.

Paper yard waste bags and bundled brush are collected Mondays, year-round, except holidays. Bagged yard waste (grass, leaves and yard trimmings) must be placed in 30-gallon paper yard waste bags with orange yard waste collection stickers attached. Stickers are sold for 50 cents each in City Hall and at local stores. Do not place yard waste in black or clear plastic bags! Yard waste is recycled into high quality, rich compost. Plastic bags don’t decompose and contaminate the finished compost.

Brush (tree branches, small tree stumps, and shrub trimmings) must be bundled and tied with twine. Collection of unbundled brush or brush larger than the size criteria requires a special collection request (703-534-6509) at a cost of $65 per two cubic yards.

Contractors must remove debris resulting from their work. It is illegal to place yard waste of any kind in the regular trash.

Winter Weather Information The Blizzard of ‘09 was not a routine event and hopefully a snowfall of that magnitude will not occur again soon. However, citizens are encouraged to make preparations for more winter weather. Become familiar with snow emergency routes, snow removal policies, how to protect your home and stay safe on the road this winter. For updates on City government programs’ status, delayed opening and closing announcements visit www.fallschurchva.gov .

New Year’s Holiday Schedule CITY HALL DMV SELECT IN CITY HALL LIBRARY SENIOR CENTER

CLOSED Jan. 1

COURTS SHERIFF’S OFFICE

CLOSED Dec. 31-Jan. 1

COMMUNITY CENTER

CLOSED Jan. 1 CLOSED at 5 p.m. Dec. 31

GEORGE BUS

NO SERVICE Jan. 1

REFUSE, RECYCLING, & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

NO PICKUPS Jan. 1

Leaf Collection Ends Next Week

Residents who wish to have their loose leaves collected by the City are advised to rake leaves to the curb, but avoid gutters and sidewalks wherever possible.

Dec. 28- Jan. 8 • Areas north of Broad Street (Thursday and Friday Collection Zones) Properly prepared bundled brush, yard waste bag and special collections will continue throughout the leaf collection season. For more information, call the Operations Division at 703-248-5281 (TTY 711) or visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news

, r, ion 09 . 31 nte rat 20 0 ins Ce Jan ts, eb r . l e eg o R e E 201 ve C p.m . d Du Cour Seni ion n nB t n B s o e l i c a , l 30 p.m o , t a : e E r s l b o l a h M l 7 e Y r s a w s n o t , ’ il Co .ist ru ne Cen cho on , 7:45 ent CE AR Year ava eg S Re ng a.m d B ssi on Se ssion elopm .m.

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Questions or Comments?

City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5003 (TTY 711) The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

A dozen George Mason High School students, three each from grades 9-12, have advanced to the school-wide competition next week of Poetry Out Loud.

The annual contest is set for Friday, January 8th at 1:30 p.m. in the George Mason Auditorium.

Winners of the school-wide competition advance to the state competition and could ultimately Winners of the grade-level Poetry Out Loud go to the national finals in April. competition show off their certificates as they preWinners of the grade-level com- pare for the finals next week. petition, and the poems they performed are: 9th grade Julia Estrada – “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar Honora Overby – “Time Does Not Bring Relief: You All Have Lied”

by Edna St. Vincent Millay Brittany Thompson – “No Moon Floods the Memory of that Night”

by Etheridge Knight 10th grade Rachel Dix – “The Pomegranate and the Big Crowd” by Alberto Ríos Stephan Cotner – “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes Claire Constance – “Doña Josefina Counsels Doña Concepción Before Entering Sears” by Maurice Kilwein Guevara 11th grade Matthew Baker – “The Fire Fetched Down” by George Bradley Katie Breen – “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Nadine Coupard – “Time Does Not Bring Relief: You All Have Lied”

by Edna St. Vincent Millay 12th grade Rebecca Ward – “Conversation” by Ai Miles Butler – “Requests for Toy Piano” by Tony Hoagland Julia Douglas – “Kissing Stieglitz Good-bye” by Gerald Stern

BIE Partner of the Week David and Amy Starr Beanetics Coffee Roasters

School involvement: Assisted George Mason High School with fundraiser coffee sales to support the high school music program.

Why David and Amy are BIE partners: “Beanetics is in Falls Church every week at the Falls Church Farmers Market. We’re honored to be part of such a great community and happy to support the George Mason High School Music Program by roasting its own ‘Mustang Blend’ coffee.”

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

Fundraisers Benefit Mason Musicians A flurry of fall fundraisers has done much to fill the coffers of musicians planning to travel to the Magic Kingdom this spring.

The George Mason High School Band The George Mason High School Band will will be competing in compete in Orlando, Florida this spring Orlando, Florida at a thanks in part to generous donations made cost of $600 per stu- in recent fundraisers. dent. To raise the money, many musicians have involved themselves in various fundraisers in recent weeks; from selling tickets to a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s to holiday poinsettias and wreaths.

In addition, some students participated in M.U.S.I.C. days, where they helped out Falls Church citizens with jobs such as mowing lawns and raking leaves for donations.

Last year, the band traveled to New York to compete, and in 2008 the destination was Atlanta, Georgia.

Lights Go Off for Winter Break

Division-wide energy savings are in effect over the 11-day winter break.

Lights in all Falls Church City public schools will be turned off, computers and electrical appliances will be turned off and unplugged and heating systems will be turned down in an effort to reduce utility costs and to conserve energy.

The only exceptions will be in the main offices, gyms and building areas where the day care programs operate during the winter break.

IB Forum/Awards Rescheduled Due to the Blizzard of ’09 the International Baccalaureate Forum and Awards program has been rescheduled:

January 7th, 2009 IB Forum – 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

IB Awards – 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

George Mason Auditorium

Calendar for December 31, 2009 - January 7, 2010 December 31 Winter Break (Schools Closed/Day Care Open) January 1 New Year’s Day (Schools Closed/Day Care Closed) 2

6:30 p.m. Mason @ Potomac Falls (B Basketball)

4

Schools Reopen 6:00 p.m. EIP/HEP Tutoring 7:00 p.m. Special Education Advisory Committee (TJ)

6

7:30 p.m. Mason @ Manassas Park (B Basketball) 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Briar Woods (G Basketball) 7:30 p.m. PTSA (GM)

7

1:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Foundation Footnotes Deadline for FCEF teacher grants is January 15th The Falls Church Education Foundation provides grant funding for projects that maintain high standards of learning, support innovation and encourage creativity. Since 2004, the foundation has awarded $40,000 for 27 teacher grant projects benefitting nearly 3000 students. For more information about the FCEF grants program and application information, visit www.fcedf.org and click on “For FCCPS Educators”.

The Falls Church Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.

School content published in The Schools Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, contact the Falls Church City Public Schools Communications Office. Phone: (703) 248-5699 Fax: (703) 248-5613.

IB Forum (GM) IB Awards (GM) 7th Grade Band Concert (MEH) Manassas Park @ Mason (G Basketball)

For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office www.fccps.org - The official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news

Schools

Poetry Out Loud Next Friday

Page 35

Page 36

December 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010

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