Falls Church News-Press 2-15-2018

February 15 – 21, 2018

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Virginia State Delegate Marcus Simon, a Democrat who represents the 53rd District that includes the City of Falls Church, will host a mid-session town hall this Saturday from 10:30 a.m. – noon. at the Falls Church Community Center.

SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 8

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F.C. Council, Schools Set to Market New School & Big Economic Project

City, Neighbors Meet To Share Info on Regional Plans

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

a dozen years ago, always represent a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the tax rate the City Council will establish in April for the coming fiscal year (running this July 1 to the next June 30, 2019) will be calculated against a higher assessment, meaning that property taxes will rise by that amount. On the other hand, the increase in assessments mean that the value of the property will be that much higher, as well, for purposes of borrowing against or selling a property.

In the wake of last month’s revelations of plans submitted by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority proposing dense mixed-use development at its West Falls Church rail station that caught area officials, including those in Falls Church and Fairfax County, by surprise, a nonpublicized large gathering of staff members from all three parties involved was held here Tuesday.

According to F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields, the event was a robust information sharing session in which everyone was brought up to date with what everyone else is doing and planning for the greater West Falls Church area. An abundance of WMATA, Fairfax and Falls Church representatives were present.

Shields hailed it, in a conversation with the News-Press, as a big “step in the right direction” for getting everyone on the “same page,” at least in terms of information sharing. All this comes as the City of Falls Church embarks on its 10-acre West Falls Church Economic Development Project (WFCEDP) with an initial “request for proposal” (RFP) planned for issuance to the regional development community on March 1, and the Falls Church City Schools move toward construction of an all new George Mason High School on the adjacent 26 acres.

In fact, in separate meetings both the Falls Church City Council and School Board scrutinized their draft RFPs this week, the Council for the WFCEDP one that is planned for issuance to the regional development community

Continued on Page 5

Continued on Page 4

George Mason High School’s girls basketball team hosts Central High School in the Conference 35 championship tonight after downing Clarke County on Tuesday.

SEE SPORTS, PAGE 16

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Donald Trump doesn’t give a dam. Or a bridge. Or a road.

Or a sewer system.

Or any of the other things we talk about when we talk about infrastructure.

SEE PAGE 14

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Iyona Blake reprises the incomparable Billie Holiday, aka Lady Day, in her current show at Creative Cauldon, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.”

SEE PAGE 15

INDEX

Editorial.................6 Letters...................6 News & Notes10–11 Comment ........ 12-14 Sports .................16

Calendar .......18–19 Classified Ads .....20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........21 Critter Corner......22

FALLS CHURCH’S NEW PROJECT manager for the West Falls Church Economic Development Project, Lee Goldstein (right), updated the F.C. City Council Monday night on preparations to issue a ‘request for proposal” to the development world by March 1. (P����: N���-P����)

New F.C. Assessments Are Out With 3.4% Real Estate Growth

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The City of Falls Church released its initial real estate assessment data this Tuesday, reflecting overall an increase in values of 3.4 percent, led by a 4.66-percent increase in the values of single family homes in the City and a 3.57-percent increase for commercial property values.

By contrast to these hefty increases, multi-family residential values declined by 0.61 percent and townhouses on average rose by a more modest 2.62 percent

and residential condominiums by 1.67 percent.

F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields told the News-Press that the assessments were within range of what City Hall has expected.

Predictions made when Shields and the F.C. City Council convened in November to set budget parameters for the coming fiscal year were that assessments overall would show a 3.0- to 3.5-percent increase.

For property owners, rising assessments, while nowhere near the rates of growth of the period leading up to the Great Recession

PAGE 2 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018

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PAGE 4 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

‘Requests for Proposals’ Readied for School & Economic Pushes Continued from Page 1

on March 1, and the Schools for a revised RFP from its initial November submission that will

go out Feb. 22 to the top three entities selected to provide a more detailed version of their original response.

In the case of the School Board

effort, the original five outstanding developers who responded to the first RFP have been pared down to three, and the announcement of those three will come at

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the School Board meeting next Tuesday. At that same meeting, the Board will also finalize modifications to the draft second-stage RFP, elements of which were discussed this Tuesday. That secondstage RFP will be formally issued to the three final candidates for the job on Feb. 22.

For both the 22-page WFCEDP (is that acronym pronounced “Wuf-Sed-Puh?) RFP draft and the Schools’ RFP process, the public reveal of their contents and open discussion in the two public meetings this week represented a radical departure from the norm, as such matters are routinely held in closed-door sessions.

In fact, F.C. Shields told the F.C. City Council that their consultants on the project, Alvarez and Marsal, were astounded by the decision to make all this public from the get-go, and to keep maximum transparency in effect throughout.

But the Council and the School Board are equally resolved to make the development process of the combined 36 acres at the City’s west end as transparent as possible, even to, as some worry, the potential detriment of an effective marketing of the project to the development world.

There’s a boring history to why this is, but it’s also in keeping with the high level of civic engagement and sense of the public’s right to know that is characteristic of what some call the “Falls Church way.”

Not entirely a bad thing.

But in short this is the biggest undertaking of this independent jurisdiction of 14,300 in its 70 year history, and it won the public’s support with a 63 percent majority “yes” vote authorizing the issuance of $120 million in bonds to build the new school last November.

This is going to put a dent in every taxpaying citizens’ pocket in Falls Church, but the overriding hope is that an enthusiastic commercial development partner for the WFCEDP will work to offset the school cost with a significant economic bonanza on its 10 acres.

To this end, the Council members Monday focused their comments on the need for the RFP to make it clear that the City is looking to draw very significant revenues from the project.

“Falls Church is initiating the process...which encourages the development of the office, hotel and retail uses, while allowing residential buildings to balance the mix of users and ensure an 18-hour hub of activity,” the draft RFP reads. It goes on to say the

City wants “flexibility of heights and densities...to permit through special exception, the City’s tallest structures. The City approved on January 22, 2018, Comprehensive Plan amendments that anticipate that density on the site will be allowed at an FAR [floor-to-area ratio–ed.] of 4.0 or higher, with total gross floor area approved at 1.5 million square feet or more.”

“We need to have the highest level of expectation for something truly exceptional,” commented Council member Ross Litkenhous.

“We need to add the word ‘innovative’ into this every chance we get. We don’t want a plain vanilla mixed use development.”

Councilman David Snyder added that the RFP “should include enough leeway for a ‘Hail Mary,’ an unexpected major corporate involvement.”

“We may get a ‘Hail Mary,’ a corporate headquarters, but we also may not,” added Council member Letty Hardi, who stressed the importance of getting as much public input into the process as possible. “We need to get more eyeballs on this,” she said, “To make sure we’re asking for the right things and all marching in the same direction.”

Shields said that the City has already received “a lot of feedback” that is “exciting,” echoing the report of Lee Goldstein, recently retained as the City’s project manager for the WFCEDP effort. Goldstein noted an effective presence at the recent heavily-attended luncheon meeting of the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) at the Fairview Marriott, and ongoing marketing efforts leading up to the issuance of the RFP on March 1.

There will be a meeting of the new Campus Coordinating Committee of City and School officials on Feb. 23, and a forum to provide an update for citizens will be held on March 15.

As for the School Board’s RFP that will be finalized next week for the three bidders who will be finalists for the project, Superintendent Peter Noonan reported Tuesday that revisions now being considered arose from the well-attended public forum on Jan. 28 at the Community Center.

From that, suggestions about the performing arts, including the auditorium size, the athletic department, parking and transportation, green space and tree canopy, preserving legacy, community uses, “net zero” sustainability and LEED gold may be included in a revised RFP for the School Board to adopt next week.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Foxes Music

F.C. Real Estate Assessments Up 3.4%; ree F your inner Single Home Values Increase by 4.7% musician!

Continued from Page 1

This year, while single family home assessments have risen on average by 4.66 percent, a lot of the increase is based in $33.9 million of new construction, meaning new homes and improvements arising from that new construction are where the increases will be born.

Individual property owners will be mailed their individual assessments before the end of the month, according to City Hall.

The only significant modification to City Hall expectations at this time is related to the delay in the construction of the 4.3acre Founder’s Row project at the intersection of W. Broad and N. West Street. But anticipated revenue from that was expected, at this stage, to have involved only permit fees, and not property tax revenues.

The total taxable assessed value for all properties in the City as of Jan. 1 this year was at $4.1 billion, a 3.4-percent increase over a year earlier. New construction, valued at $36.1 million, accounted for 26.5 percent of the increase, with

FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018 | PAGE 5

market appreciation accounting Community Center.

After evaluating the assessfor the remainder. Residential new PRIVATE LESSONS•DEGREED TEACHERS ments, according to the City, construction accounted for $33.9 ALL INSTRUMENTS•ALL STYLES•ALL AGES million of the growth, and com- homeowners wondering if their WASHINGTON ST., assessment is correct should ask mercial for416 onlySOUTH $2.2 million.

FALLS CHURCH According to the City’s release, the question, “Would my home real estate is assessed at 100 percent sell for the assessed value if I put 703-533-7393 of fair marketLESSONS value as mandated by it on the market?” If the answer is • SALES the state constitution. Falls Church “yes,” the assessment is probably RENTALS • REPAIRS Real Estate Assessor Ryan Davis accurate. If the answer is “no,” calculates property values annually citizens are urged to contact the Assessment. using “mass appraisal techniques” Office of Real EstatePRIVATE LESSONS•DEGREED TEACHERS that are standard in the real estate Deadlines for assessment appeals are Friday, March 23, 2018, for an assessment industry.

Public hearings on the budget Office of Real Estate Assessment will be held on March 26, April review and Friday, June 1, 2018 9, and April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the for a Board of Equalization review.

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PAGE 6 | FEBRUARY 15 –21, 2018

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Vol. XXVII, No. 52 February 15 – 21, 2018 • 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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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 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2018 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.

E D I TO R I A L

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Who’s Going to Bell the Cat?

In a departure from the usual way in which Falls Church City Council retreats have been conducted, usually for the purpose of some brainstorming among Council members about the coming year, last Saturday’s session at the Henderson Middle School library was filled with many invited members of the City’s volunteer boards and commissions, along with Council members and others. The main exercise of the day was conducted by the City’s new chief planning officer, Paul Stoddard, who put up sheets of butcher paper and elicited topics, issues and themes from the audience to set the stage for a deliberative review of the City’s “visioning statement.”

The statement, which is periodically subject to review and revision, begins in its current form, “In the year 2040, the City of Falls Church is a welcoming and inclusive community — a special place in the heart of Northern Virginia.” In a key line in the single-paragraph text, it reads, “The City preserves small-town character and history while honoring a deep commitment to progress and a growing community.”

Stoddard produced a worksheet for everyone that identified eight core values that are contained in the long-range 2040 Vision, to be used in small-group discussions on “major accomplishments you want to read about in the Falls Church News-Press in 2020.” The values he listed were these: 1. Small town character in an urban setting, 2. Economic sustainability, 3. Environmental sustainability, 4. Inclusiveness and social sustainability, 5. Education, 6. Mobility and accessibility, 7.

Public health and safety and 8. Responsive and accountable governance.

All the areas were touched on, and the City Council will review a compilation of the issues discussed at a work session early next month. Presumably, the input from Saturday’s retreat will help set priorities for the upcoming budget season, the process that runs through April for the City and its schools to finalize a roughly $88 million annual operating budget, and a capital improvements budget, and to set the tax rate required to balance such a budget.

Even though the word didn’t appear on the list of core values, the discussion on Saturday focused mostly on housing, affordable housing, that is, presumably under the “inclusiveness and social sustainability” category. Council member Letty Hardi called attention to that fact at Monday’s Council meeting when the F.C. Housing Commission presented its annual Sprague award to Christopher Fay of Homestretch.

In fact, it could be said that for all its achievements and generosity, the biggest unresolved bugaboo here is the City’s inability to effectively address the affordable housing issue. The is not the right place to rehash the long and painful history that led to a completely frustrating nonoutcomes in the past decade.

But, who’s going to put the bell on the cat, now? The issue is critical and there is “not in my backyard” resistance everywhere. Who on the Council is, or are, going to face down this issue once and for all?

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There’s a Big Trash Problem on S. Maple Ave. Editor, South Maple Avenue has a big trash problem. We have been living in Falls Church for more than a year and feel like this part of the city has been totally neglected. There is a hollow tree trunk across from the Henderson house that serves as an unintended trashcan, and the street itself is littered with all kinds of discarded packages and cigarette butts. Falls Church appears on the Forbes list of richest counties every

year but it sure doesn’t feel like it on South Maple. I just came back from Roanoke, which is supposed to be poorer, but was spotlessly clean. Given all we spend on a new high school building and the library renovation, surely there must be some money available to send a cleaning crew to South Maple once a week, at least? Falls Church can and should do better.

Oytun Palas Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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CO MME NT

FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018 | PAGE 7

G � � � � C � � � � � �� �� Community Where All Can Contribute, Grow & Aspire B� C���������� F��

These are big shoes to fill!

At the Falls Church City Council meeting earlier this week, I was honored to receive the inaugural 2017 Sprague Champion Award for Affordable Housing Advocacy from the City of Falls Church. Knowing what a strong and tireless advocate Steve Sprague was for affordable housing, I am humbled to be in his company and to carry forth his legacy. I am pleased to know that the current City Council is giving priority to planning for affordable housing, as it is so badly needed in our community. In fact, it is critical.

But why me? Why Homestretch? The mission of Homestretch is to empower homeless families to attain permanent housing and acquire the skills, knowledge and hope they need to become self-sufficient. When a homeless parent with children moves into Homestretch, they receive a key to a home where they will spend the next few years. During that time, we work with them to address all the problems that led to their homelessness — helping them acquire skills, certifications and degrees; to extinguish debt, repair credit and build savings; to develop satisfying career paths; and to restore health. And we ensure that their children are healthy, happy and excelling in school. These families – most

of whom are homeless due to domestic violence, human trafficking, health crises, loss of loved ones, generational poverty, or war – are usually single mothers with young children who, like all of us, simply desire a safe place to live, a meaningful

“A fair and fruitful society cannot be one that is reserved solely for the af�luent.” career and schools where their children can prosper. They love Falls Church and our excellent schools.

Our graduates — all of whom came to us homeless, penniless, and in crisis — have, in the last few years, become teachers, nurses, accountants, dental assistants, commercial drivers, realtors, pastors, social workers, day care owners, chefs, master plumbers, retail store managers, and cosmetologists. One became a pharmacist, another a gynecologist. While not all graduates attain such heights in a matter of two years, many continue to aspire and achieve after graduation.

At the ceremony Monday night, three graduates attended; each one continued to improve their lives after they graduated, and became homeowners. From homelessness to home ownership – that is the ideal Homestretch story, and it is not such an uncommon one. This is why Homestretch is gaining visibility as a place where homeless families experience transformation, with documented outcomes that lead the nation.

But for such inspiring stories to continue to occur, we need housing that people at all income levels can enjoy. This is, and will be, a major challenge for us as a city that aspires to be a just and livable community.

We need a community where everyone has a chance to contribute, to grow, and to aspire. Consider: that person who is now on the lowest rung of the economic ladder may be the person who someday cleans our teeth, or teaches our child, who repairs our automobile, or who manages our favorite restaurant. A fair and fruitful society cannot be one that is reserved solely for the affluent. While I am happy to carry on Steve Sprague’s work, I will need all our fellow citizens to be champions of affordable housing, too. This must be a collective commitment.

Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants.” I am grate-

ful to all those who contribute to making Homestretch such a wonderful place – our dedicated staff and Board, our founder Kieran Sharpe, our generous donors and friends, the many local churches and companies that support us so generously, and of course, the courageous parents and children who have turned their crises into opportunities to build amazing new lives.

Dr. Martin Luther King said, “In the end, we will not be judged by where we end up in life, but rather by how far we traveled from whence we began.” By this yardstick, many graduated Homestretch families have traveled much farther than I ever will.

And I am grateful to the staff and elected officials of our great, small city, who share our vision of a just community in which everyone can feel welcome, where everyone can contribute to the best of his or her ability. What Dr. Martin Luther King said many years ago is true for Falls Church today: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”

To which we can all say, amen.

Christopher Fay is the executive director of Homestretch.

Q������� �� ��� W��� Do you think the new Falls Church real estate assessments represent “fair market values”?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Last Week’s Question:

Should the Broad-Washington project ditch its “restaurant row” plans for a grocery store?

Log on to www.FCNP.com to cast your vote FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientific polls.

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

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PAGE 8 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018

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February Networking Luncheon

Jim Snyder, FC Director of Economic Services, will provide an update on pending and future development projects in Falls Church.

Tuesday, February 20 11:30 am - 1:15 pm The Italian Café — 7161 Lee Highway, Falls Church

Reservations are required. Email info@fallschurchchamber.org or register online at www.FallsChurchChamber.org. Tickets are $27 for Chamber members, $32 for non members. An additional $5 will be charged for walk-ins.

February Networking Mixer

Tuesday, February 27, 5:30—7:00 pm Hosted by Comfort Inn Arlington Boulevard

6111 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church Join us for an evening of networking and refreshments as we help Comfort Inn celebrate their renovation with a ribbon cutting.

Partners

Gold

Silver

Bronze Body Dynamics Fairview Park Marriott John N. Rodock—

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

Tax Analysts

www.FallsChurchChamber.org

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NEWS BRIEFS Aurora House Expands Program

Falls Church City-run Aurora House has announced this week a new initiative that will provide young women with support services during their transition to adulthood. The Transitional Living Program will train young women in the skills they need to successfully live on their own while remaining active participants of the community. Aurora House is a community-based group home for at-risk adolescent females located in the City and serving the entire region. Since its inception in the 1990s, it has had a capacity of 12 residents serving ages of 13 to 17. Last week, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice authorized extending the age range to 13 to 20. With this new capability, the program will now provide the Transitional Living Program that will provide young women with the necessary skills to return to the community, live on their own successfully, and become productive members of society, according to an Aurora House statement. Rachel Kindell, Aurora House Group Home Manager, stated, “This new program will help youth develop much-needed independent living skills in a nurturing environment that offers stability, consistency, and safety.”

Nancy Vincent of the Falls Church Director of Housing and Human Services, added, “This ground-breaking new program will provide extra support to young people in need and put them on the path to become well-balanced, independent adults.” Eligible residents (up to age 20) will live at Aurora House for an additional four months followed by two months living off-site with continued mentorship, coaching, and guidance from Aurora House staff. The Transitional Living Program will provide opportunities for personal development while fostering a supportive and therapeutic environment with a focus on employment and independent living skills.

Del. Simon Town Hall This Saturday State Delegate Marcus B. Simon, a Democrat who represents the 53rd District that includes the City of Falls Church, will host a mid-session town hall on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 10:30 a.m. – noon. at the Falls Church Community Center. He will discuss legislative updates at the session halfway point as well as answer questions from attendees.

Fee for Out-of-State Licenses Commences March 1

61 days to Tax Day! Did you invest last year?

Don’t forget your annual earnings statement!

Effective March 1, a $100 fee will be imposed on vehicles registered with the City of Falls Church that do not display current Virginia license plates, the City has announced. The $100 out-of-state plate fee will be due annually. The purpose of the fee, which is already in effect in surrounding jurisdictions, is to encourage compliance with City and State licensing and registration laws. While the enforcement of Virginia Vehicle registration requirements lies with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Commissioner of Revenue is charged with assessing the annual personal property tax and out-of-state plate fee.

Exemptions from the $100 out-of-state license plate fee include: Taxpayers with Virginia license plates; Taxpayers who have their vehicle titled and registered in Virginia within 30 days of moving to the City of Falls Church; and, owners of the following vehicles: ActiveDuty Military personnel and/or their spouses who have been exempted from the Personal Property tax; Members of the U.S. Senate and Congress, taxicabs, and vehicles registered with the U.S. Department of State that have diplomatic license plates; and, those full-time students attending school in Virginia who have been exempted from Personal Property tax in Falls Church. (Exception – if full-time students are gainfully employed — except in limited circumstances related to degree requirements of financial aid programs — they will be subject to the out-of-state plate fee.)

Culmore Multicultural Day Set for April 7 The region is a melting pot of music, dance and cultures from around the world and this diversity will be celebrated at the Culmore Multicultural Day 2018 on Saturday, April 7. This annual event returns to the Woodrow Wilson Library, 6101 Knollwood Ave. in Falls Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will feature live music, folklore dances and activities for the kids. Participants can climb aboard fire trucks and other vehicles that include public safety vehicles, and a variety of resource tables that tie into the theme of “Healthy Environment, Healthy Community” will be included.

Certified Public Accountants (703) 241-8807

125 Rowell Ct, Falls Church

Correction: Eden Center New Year Celebration This Weekend In last week’s News Briefs, the News-Press published the incorrect date of Eden Center’s Tết celebration. The Vietnamese New Year event will take place this weekend, starting Friday, Feb. 16 and running through Sunday, Feb. 18. The News-Press apologizes for the error.

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News-Press

Community News & Notes F.C. Resident Holds Forum in Vienna this Sunday Falls Church resident Karl Polzer will be hosting a Science, Reason and Religion forum on Sunday, Feb. 18 starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (2709 Hunter Mill Rd., Oakton).

Continuing a 40-year trend, America’s wealth and income inequality is deepening. Its middle class is in decline, both in size and economic leverage. Wages have been stagnant and jobs have gone overseas. Life expectancy for people at the bottom is now much shorter than for those at the top. The recently enacted tax reform cuts the corporate tax rate dramatically. Will that provide gains to be shared by all? This talk will explore economic, cul-

tural and political forces driving wealth inequality and make policy proposals that could help move us toward a more inclusive and healthy future.

Polzer is an independent consultant and political economist specializing in long-term care, health care and retirement policy.

He has worked for the federal government, think tanks and business associations. In 2015, he founded the Center on Capital & Social Equity, whose goal is to better understand growing economic inequality and advocate for a more inclusive economy.

Polzer holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Before that, as a newspaper reporter, he won several national awards for investigative journalism relat-

ing to environmental health and criminal justice.

For more information, visit inequalityink.org.

Poets Hold Public Reading At One More Page Books Interested attendees can join poets Jodie Hollander and Robert Mezey as they read from their works this Saturday, Feb. 17 at One More Page books (2200 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington) from 6 – 7 p.m. Hollander will share from her recently published debut full-length collection, My Dark Horses, a Denver Post Staff Pick. Acclaimed poet, critic and academic (and Jodie’s mentor) Mezey will share from his large body of work. Robert has received numerous awards including the 2002 Poets Prize

HONORED AS THE recipient of the F.C. Housing Commission’s Sprague Champion Award for Affordable Housing Advocacy at Monday’s F.C. City Council meeting was Christopher Fay (right) executive director of the City-based Homestretch, Inc. non-profit that works to prepare its homeless clients for jobs and home ownership. Fay is joined here by Julio Idrobo (left), chair of the Housing Commission, and Kieran Sharpe, former F.C. City Councilman and School Board member who is the founder of Homestretch. (Photo: News-Press)

for Collected Poems: 1952-1999 Hollander was raised in a family of classical musicians.

Her work has appeared in publications such as The Poetry Review, The Dark Horse, The Rialto, Verse Daily, The Warwick Review, The Manchester Review, Australia’s Best Poems of 2011 and Australia’s Best Poems of 2015. Her debut pamphlet, The Humane Society, was released with Tall-Lighthouse in 2012.

She is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship in South Africa and was awarded a MacDowell Colony fellowship in 2015.

Mezey’s honors and awards include a Robert Frost Prize, a Bassine Citation, a PEN Prize and fellowships from the Ingram Merrill Foundation, theGuggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

He received an honorary doctorate from the World Congress of Poets. Mezey has taught at various institutions, including Case Western Reserve University; Franklin & Marshall College; California State University, Fresno and the University of Utah. From 1975 – 1999, he was at Pomona College, where he served as a professor of English and poet-in-residence.

Holy Trinity Holds Concert Saturday The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church) is hosting a concert titled Eya: A Marian Mediation.

This is a candlelight concert of medieval chant and polyphony by a vocal trio described in The Washington Post as “remark-

CELEBRATING the McLean Women’s Clubs 60th Anniversry with some cake is club president Kathryn Mackensen (center) with Peggy Nedzi (left) and Daisy Logan. The club donated $6,000 to local charities in honor of the anniversary.

(Photo: Courtesy McLean’s Women’s Club)

Send Us Your News & Notes!

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

Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

able.” The concert will take place Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Free admission and easy parking.

Visit www.holytrinityfallschurch.org/music for more information.

Virginia Hospital Center Best for Nurses in State The Virginia Hospital Center (1701 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington) earned the top-ranking on the “Best Hospitals in Virginia for Nurses” list in 2017, beating out other prominent medical institutions statewide. The list, which was compiled by Nurse. org, analyzed over 1,600 surveys of nurses from 314 hospitals in Virginia to rank the best hospitals to work for in the state of Virginia.

Arlington Chorale Performs Mozart at Feb. 24 Concert The Arlington Chorale (TAC) announces its upcoming performance of Mozart’s Requiem (Requiem in D minor, K.626), the choral masterpiece composed as Mozart approached his own death. The concert “Mozart Last’s Notes”, featuring an orchestra and soloists, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Westover Baptist Church (1125 Patrick Henry Dr., Arlington).

Under the leadership of Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Nancia D’Alimonte, the Arlington Chorale is a nonprofit ensemble comprised of chorus members from Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.

All TAC concerts are free and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted.

F.C. Rotary Club Holds Monthy Meeting Tonight Dr. Jennifer Jacobs, co-founder and CEO of Connect Our Kids, will be the speaker at tonight’s

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FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018 | PAGE 11

Falls Church Rotary Club’s dinner meeting at the Harvest Moon Restaurant (7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) at 6:30 p.m.

Connect Our Kids endeavors to use technology to provide better outcomes for foster children.

Dinner costs $15 and all visitors are welcome.

The Rotary Club of Falls Church is celebrating 66 years of community “Service Above Self” in 2018 and meets the first and third Thursday at the regularly scheduled time at the Harvest Moon Restaurant. See FallsChurchRotary.org for more information.

Meeting for Vietnam Vets Scheduled for March Chapter 227, Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., invites all veterans, friends and the general public to attend the Mar. 15 chapter meeting at Amphora Restaurant (377 Maple Ave. W., Vienna), at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Robert Leggett, Vietnam War veteran and author, will discuss his book, “The US Coast Guard Academy Class of 1963 Goes to War.” The Coast Guard played a major role in the successful Operation Market Time to intercept enemy supply efforts by sea and rivers of South Vietnam. Dr. Leggett is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Admission is free. For information, call Len Ignatowski at 703-255-0353 or visit the web page at vva227.org.

Ms. VA Senior Pageant Comes to F.C. in April On Apr. 20 in Falls Church, the Ms. Virginia Senior America Pageant will be offering a free orientation for senior women interested in joining the life-enriching program.

The presentation will explain how to enroll and how to prepare for the pageant with past queens, runners-up and contestants providing guidance on showcasing

LOCAL MEMBERS from the Falls Church/McLean chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America met up with other moms from around the state for a day of lobbying in Richmond.

After meeting with members of the legislature, the Moms were given a warm welcome in Senate Gallery when they were publicly greeted by Senator Barbara Favola from the Senate �loor and in the House gallery, when they were introduced by Delegate Kathy Tran. (P����: S���� M�I�����) one’s talents and telling one’s story.

Cameo Club members, who belong to the performing arm of the pageant, will share experiences of after-pageant activities that ensure contestants, whether they win or not, a path to creating more interesting and re-invigorated lives.

Those interested are asked to respond by telephone to register and to obtain directions to the orientation.

Please contact State Director Rebecca Tebbs Nunn at 804435-3704. Contestants must be residents of the United States, a Virginia resident for at least six months and 64 years of age or better. The pageant will be held in Falls Church on July 7.

Local Crossing Guard Earns Statewide Award Beeda Lee-Pawlak, who is assigned to Churchill Road Elementary (7100 Churchill Rd., McLean) and Haycock Elementary Schools (6616 Haycock Rd., Falls Church) was one of two recipients from Fairfax County Public Schools for Virginia’s Most Outstanding Crossing Guard award for the 2017-18 school year.

A first-year crossing guard, Lee-Pawlak is praised for “expertly managing the busy intersection of Westmoreland Street and Haycock Road.”

She approaches motorists with a friendly and firm demeanor, resulting in clear communication

on how vehicles should operate and minimal traffic backup. Bus drivers understand exactly when to stop and turn without hesitation or confusion.

Parents praise her for her diligence, kindness and control that enable students to arrive at school smiling and ready to learn.

Despite the busy traffic at that intersection during the morning rush, parents say they feel confident knowing that Law-Pawlak is there to work with their children.

“Her whistle, uniform and hand motions are always crisp and perfect,” said one parent. “I have never seen a crossing guard who does her job so well. It prompted me to call the school just to find out who she is so I could nominate her.”

442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church, Va. 22046 703.858.9186

Served Wednesday - Sunday 11:30am - 11:30pm Don’t miss our Lunch and Late Night Specials!

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A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

The annual National Conference of Regions (NCR) met in Washington, D.C., this week, bringing together regional leaders from around the country, who focused on economic growth, infrastructure, and resilience – common issues for most regional bodies, large or small. It was merely a coincidence that the Trump Administration released its infrastructure proposal the same morning as the NCR’s opening session, during a panel discussion that included U.S Chamber of Commerce staff. Surprisingly, I thought, the chamber representative advocated for a 25-cent increase in the gasoline tax, over a five year period, as one long overdue funding mechanism.

Many regional councils, like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), are responsible for regional transportation planning, so it was unhappy news that the administration’s infrastructure initiative identifies no revenue source, and actually proposes flipping the current 80 percent federal/20 percent state and local funding formula to 20 percent federal and 80 percent state and local.

Local governments, and their taxpayers, simply cannot shoulder the cost of building and maintaining infrastructure from constrained local funds. There must be significant support from federal partners, and not just lip service. One brighter spot offered in the proposal was a potential reduction in the time it takes to obtain federal permits, as little as 12 to 24 months. Would that make up the loss of the 80/20 funding formula? Probably not.

Here in the National Capital Region, it’s no secret that a major infrastructure need is more funding to restore and maintain the Metrorail system, but transit almost anywhere is an important component of economic health. Businesses chart the accessibility of public transit in siting new facilities, and need

to make sure that their workers can get to the job.

For many workers, automobiles (and parking) are expensive and time consuming, so taking bus or rail is a welcome, and necessary, alternative. In some rural counties, transit may take the form of smaller buses that transport senior citizens from their homes to activities, not unlike Fairfax County’s FasTran system. Without appropriate federal support for such investments, local economies can weaken, and individual independence will wither, as well.

The infrastructure proposal also suggests selling National and Dulles airports, Tennessee Valley Authority transmission lines, and other infrastructure assets that have long been owned by the federal government. Does the term “oligarch” ring a bell?

After the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, infrastructure there was privatized by rich Russian businessmen, and added to already inflated portfolios. The Russian oligarchs and their questionable business dealings should be a big red flag (no pun intended) as Congress debates the infrastructure bill.

Also suggested by several panelists was a return to “regular order” for congressional consideration.

Regular order includes committee hearings and scheduled debate, a more sustained, and necessary, approach to enacting good, solid legislation, unlike the spectacle last week of a brief government shutdown, and congressional voting in the middle of the night. If legislating is like making sausage, then the meat wasn’t properly prepared and the seasonings were a muddle. Whether it’s digestible remains to be seen.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

before anything else, we’re all human rethink your bias at lovehasnolabels.com

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Delegate Marcus Simon’s

Richmond Report This year’s General Assembly session is now past the halfway point, with Tuesday’s crossover day now behind us.

I knew coming in to the session that it would be different than any of my previous four. After all, we have a new Governor, a new Speaker, and 19 new members, including 16 new members of my caucus, bringing the balance of power from 66-34 to 51-49.

It’s certainly been interesting for my bills. Early in the session, Republicans decided to play games with my bill to create a public financing program for elections using vouchers (HB 263). The bill was based on a successful program that debuted last year in Seattle. The bill as introduced was a work in progress that I expected to be able to work on through the subcommittee and committee process.

Instead, the Republican leadership used a rare parliamentary process to take my bill directly to the floor for a vote. After a 40-minute discussion in which I highlighted the absurdity of our current campaign system, where regulated industries largely fund the campaigns of members who regulate them, my bill died on a vote of 98-2 with only my very loyal seatmate joining me in voting in favor.

The outcome was appropriate given the process by which the bill came to the floor.

Not everything went so poorly. Overall, I have six bills headed to the Senate. On crossover day, the last of my six bills to get to the House floor passed by a similarly lopsided 99-0 margin, with one member not voting.

Unfortunately, that one member was me. I was so busy watching the board to see if the bill would pass unanimously, I didn’t notice that my own vote didn’t register.

So, I was one of only two members to vote for my worst idea of the session, and the only member not to vote for what was probably my best idea of the session, a bill to require recurring automatic renewal contracts to provide consumers conspicuous disclosures on how to cancel and affirmative consent before charging you.

Rate Freeze | Dominion Bill A bill to remove the current electric rate freeze and resume regular rate reviews passed the House, after Democrats forced through an amendment to make certain additional consumer protections were added to remove a

potential “double dip.” Because that makes the bill different than the Senate’s, we’re likely to have to vote two more times on versions of this legislation. I like the direction the bill is going in, as it requires providers to reinvest any over-earnings in grid modernization and renewable energy projects that the SCC wouldn’t otherwise allow them to spend ratepayer money for. I voted yes to keep the process moving forward.

Felony Larceny Threshold Under current Virginia law, any theft over $200 constitutes the felony of grand larceny in Virginia.

After many years of trying, bills to raise that felony larceny threshold to $500 passed both houses. While not as big an increase as I would have liked, any increase would have been impossible under the old balance of power.

Metro Funding Very different solutions to providing a dedicated source of funding came out of the House and the Senate. I voted “no” on Delegate Tim Hugo’s bill which contained unnecessary antiunion provisions that misplace the blame for Metro’s woes. I expect to be able to vote for a bill that emerges from the Senate or a conference committee before session is over.

Student Loan Debt While my bills to create a student loan refinance authority failed to escape the Appropriations Committee again this year, a version of our student borrower bill of rights passed the Senate and our bills to create an Office of Student Loan Ombudsman in Virginia passed both houses.

Personal Use of Campaign Funds I was deeply involved in the House Courts of Justice Committee rewrite of Delegate Mark Cole’s HB 122, which addresses personal use of campaign finance.

This is another issue that I’ve been working on since my first session and I’m pleased that the legislation is moving forward.

Upcoming Town Hall For an update on my legislation, join me at a town hall at the Falls Church Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 10:30 a.m. – noon. Happy to discuss all these issues and more.  Delegate Simon represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He may be emailed at DelMSimon@house. virginia.gov.

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YO U DON T H AV E T O BE SO STRONG BUT IF I’M NOT, WHO WILL?

Being a caregiver takes a special kind of commitment.

We know your strength is super, but you’re still human.

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F I N D S U P P O R T F O R Y O U R S T R E N G T H.

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Who is the all-time queen of Arlington real estate? (Hint: her picture is not on a bus.)

Ruby Lee Minar (1883-1952), whose name inspires awe in homebuilders, in the 1920s was tops among the visionary investors who created our restful suburb.

“The most successful woman in realty development in the country,” as she was dubbed by a 1929 business journal, worked alongside Arlington luminaries Frank Lyon and Adm. Presley Rixey to create prize subdivisions.

Born in Montana to a Baptist minister, Minar earned degrees from Kalamazoo College and the University of Chicago before becoming a speech teacher and women’s suffrage activist. Her marriage to journalist John Minar brought them to Washington.

World War I left the couple with a “paltry” $200 in liberty bonds. So Minar invested it in home lots in Chevy Chase, Md., and soon set up a downtown office on New York Ave. Noting the new Key Bridge and improvements to Lee Highway, she got the idea of buying a 400-acre set of tracts between Washington Golf and Country Club and Lee Highway.

She christened the enclave Lee Heights.

Minar insisted on views of the Potomac and the monuments from “where dust and smoke from the city and passing trains would not reach it,” she said. The automobile is responsible for lure of sub-

FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018 | PAGE 13

urbia, she added.

“When a man can live in a healthful and beautiful suburban community and still get to his office in town within 15 or 20 minutes, he naturally picks the suburbs.”

Those 130 homes were valued at a then-hefty $3 million.

“Washington is becoming a great world capital,” Minar told The Washington Post, “and Lee Heights is today an integral part of the Metropolitan area of Washington.”

In 1921, she predicted that next year would be Arlington’s biggest building year yet. “Ruby Lee Minar Sells Land at Lyon Park Worth $225,000,” read the headline in 1921 Washington Herald.

The deal was followed by a reception with Frank Lyon at Lyon Park Hall to form a civic association.

In 1922, she opened a new office in Cherrydale. Its six-man staff handled sales in Maywood, Thrifton, Dominion Heights, Park Lane and Livingstone Heights.

Salesmen who made their quota by the 22nd of the month received Thanksgiving turkeys.

After those upscale subdivisions, Minar built more-modest homes in Brandon Village (near Ballston) to take advantage of three Arlington highways and two electric lines. “How would you like to live at the top of the monument?” her promotions asked.

Current-day builder Scot Harlan told me his 93-year-old father recalls that Minar lost much wealth in the Depression. By the 1930s, she was ensconced in a

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

CRIME REPORT Week of Feb. 5 – 11, 2018 Drunk in Public, 400 W Broad St (Exxon Station), Feb 5, 1:00 AM, a male, 38, of no fixed address, was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Drug/Narcotic Violation, 1200 blk W Broad St, Feb 5, 10:59 AM, following a routine traffic stop, a male, 34, of Ashburn, VA, was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana.

Celebrate the diversity that makes America, America. Add your photo to the true portrait of America at lovehasnolabels.com

Drug/Narcotic Violation, 455 S Maple Ave (Lincoln at Tinner Hill), Feb 5, 12:28 PM, a male, 22, of the City of Falls Church, was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana.

Smoking Violation, 6757 Wilson Blvd, #24 (Le Billiards), Feb 5,

7:10 PM, a male, 62, of Alexandria, VA, was issued a summons for Smoking in a Restaurant.

Hit and Run, 201 N Washington St (Kaiser Permanente), between noon and 7 PM, Feb 6, a parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene.

Investigation continues.

Trespass, 344 W Broad St (Starbucks), Feb 7, 10:31 AM, a male 43, of no fixed address, was issued a summons for Trespass.

Larceny – Theft from Vehicle, 455 S Maple Ave (Lincoln at Tinner Hill), between Feb 3 and Feb 8, a vehicle’s license plate stickers were removed and an attempt was made to remove its hubcaps.

mansion near Lorcom Lane at Military Rd., I’m told by builder Terry Showman, a fan. She hosted neighborhood parties.

One night a fire broke out at the mansion, according to Cherrydale memoirist Dean Phillips. A confused Minar had to be rescued in her nightgown as the bucket brigade and Cherrydale volunteer firemen went back for her boarders. She later moved to Florida.

Minar for decades was active in the women’s service club Soroptimist International. She became the federation’s first president in 1928, and the group named an award for her.

In August 1952, Minar was on a ship heading to the Soroptimists International meeting in Copenhagen. She died of a heart ailment off the coast of Denmark. *** The rain-mageddon that poured this weekend came amidst a county push for improved drainage in my neck of the one-time woods.

New cisterns are being installed on traffic-calming median strips on Sycamore St. and Williamsburg Blvd.

A new home going up near me – the site of a recent tear-down – is smack in the middle of a watershed stream bed that floods regularly. Builders laid the foundation with an impressive full-perimeter drainage system. But the construction foreman told me it was rejected by the county inspector as too flood-vulnerable.

The builder had to pay an extra $25,000 for another layer of gravel.

Larceny – Shoplifting, 1230 W Broad St (Giant), Feb 9, between 1:41 and 1:58 PM, suspect described as a white male, wearing a grey suit, white shirt, and tie stole multiple items.

Driving Under the Influence, 300 blk Hillwood Ave, Feb 10, 3:02 AM, a male, 44, of Arlington, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Driving Under the Influence, 100 blk Buxton Rd, Feb 10, 7:24 AM, a male, 44, of Arlington, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Hit and Run, 1100 blk W Broad St (Falls Plaza), Feb 10, between 6:00 AM and 7:26 AM, a parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene.

Hit and Run, 100 blk N Washington St, Feb 11, 7:41 PM, a moving vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene.

PAGE 14 | FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018

NATI O NA L

White House as ‘Hotel California’

It’s being left to a combination of a mission-focused U.S. intelligence community, a competent and ruthless special investigator, elected officials who have not bought into the idea of a Russian takeover of the country, and journalists and media organizations who’ve rediscovered why they went into the business in the first place.

These are the elements of what is beginning more and more noticeably to look like a humongous boa constrictor who’s wrapped itself around the Trump White House and is beginning to squeeeeeze.

Shifting metaphors, the White House is looking more like the Hotel California. Those who’ve checked in (or out) any time they wanted (sans security clearances in too many cases and with proclivities to buy off or punch out porn stars or FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS spouses) are about to find they can never leave, except in the back of a paddy wagon. And that goes for the big cheese, too.

The boss, who can’t get the image out of his head of those giant, really big hands of Barack Obama exhibited in the official National Portrait Gallery portrait unveiled this week, is revving up his effort to convince fellow Republicans and their deep-pocketed patrons that he’s worth the trouble to keep out of the hoosegow and in the Oval Office.

He’s in a race to redouble their loyalties with a blizzard of tax cuts, assaults on the poor and disadvantaged and a huge privatization scheme in his new so-called budget, all against the looming squeeeeeze.

But for those who are dedicated to preserving our democracy, time is running short.

As underscored in the extraordinary hearing by the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday, even in its non-classified portion, there is a total consensus among the nation’s finest intelligence operations that the Russians are actively engaged, at this very moment, in operations intended to distort the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections that begin with primaries next month with the aim of sowing discord and chaos, on the one hand, and advancing their strategic agenda, on the other.

The intelligence community leaders there not only all agreed that the Russians, and other entities hostile to the democratic values of the U.S., are engaged in “active measures” against the U.S. electoral system, among other things, but they were also unanimous in their assessment that the Trump White House is doing nothing to take this on. Our president, dear reader, if you don’t already know it, is a fullblown Russian agent, a pathetic and wholly owned pawn of Vladimir Putin, ostensibly the wealthiest and most brutal oligarch on the planet.

In his opening comments at the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner said, “I believe you’ll find a broad bipartisan consensus on this committee on a number of critical issues: first, Russia engaged in a coordinated attack to undermine our democracy; second, that the effort included the targeting of state and local election systems in 21 states; and third, the Russian effort utilized our social media platforms to push and spread misinformation at an unprecedented scale. We’ve had more than a year to get our act together and address the threat posed by Russia, an implement a strategy to deter future attacks. But we still do not have a plan….We are not better prepared than in 2016.”

Warner went on, “Despite all this, the President inconceivably continues to deny the threat posed by Russia. He didn’t increase sanctions on Russia when he had a chance to do so. He hasn’t even Tweeted a single concern. This threat demands a whole-of-government response, and that needs to start with leadership at the top.”

Don’t hold your breath, Sen. Warner!

Instead, the President is doing the opposite. He’s attacking the integrity of the FBI and the Department of Justice, even as Warner noted, “China has developed an ‘all of society’ approach to gain access to our sensitive technologies and intellectual property,” and Russian trolls and bots continue to push divisive content in the U.S. and among its allies, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, England and Mexico.

Greedy and immoral corporate overlords still backing Trump are aiding and abetting a coup by a hostile foreign power.

Nicholas F. Benton

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

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Donald Trump Doesn’t Give a Dam Donald Trump doesn’t give a dam. Or a bridge. Or a road. Or a sewer system. Or any of the other things we talk about when we talk about infrastructure.

But how can that be when he just announced a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan? That’s easy: It’s not a plan, it’s a scam. The $1.5 trillion number is just made up; he’s only proposing federal spending of $200 billion, which is somehow supposed to magically induce a vastly bigger overall increase in infrastructure investment, mainly paid for either by state and local governments (which are not exactly rolling in cash, but whatever) or by the private sector.

And even the $200 billion is essentially fraudulent: The budget proposal announced the same day doesn’t just impose savage cuts on the poor, it includes sharp cuts for the Department of Transportation, the NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE Department of Energy and other agencies that would be crucially involved in any real infrastructure plan. Realistically, Trump’s offer on infrastructure is this: nothing.

That’s not to say that the plan is completely vacuous. One section says that it would “authorize federal divestiture of assets that would be better managed by state, local or private entities.” Translation: We’re going to privatize whatever we can. It’s conceivable that this would be done only in cases where the private sector really would do better, and contracts would be handed out fairly, without a hint of cronyism. And if you believe that, I have a degree from Trump University you might want to buy.

At one level, none of this should be a surprise.

The current infrastructure nonplan looks a lot like the sketchy proposal the Trump campaign laid out in 2016, back when he was still pretending to be a different kind of Republican, less committed to the party’s economic orthodoxy. Even then he was claiming that he could do infrastructure on the cheap, that a relative pittance of federal money could somehow generate vast investment (although the mystery multiplier has gotten even bigger this time around).

Yet there is something puzzling about Trump’s failure to come up with a remotely plausible infrastructure plan. After all, there would be major economic and political advantages to such a program.

First, the economics: America desperately needs to repair and upgrade its deteriorating roads, water systems, power grid and more. True, we’re no longer a depressed economy that needs public investment to put the unemployed back to work; massive infrastructure spending would have been an even better idea five years ago. But it’s still something that needs

Paul Krugman

doing.

Where would the money come from? Well, if you don’t worry too much about deficits — and as we’ve just seen, Republicans don’t care at all about deficits as long as a Democrat isn’t in the White House — we can just borrow it. Despite a modest rise in interest rates, the federal government can still borrow very cheaply: The interest rate on inflation-protected longterm bonds is still less than 1 percent, which is below realistic estimates of long-run economic growth, let alone the Trump administration’s fantasy numbers.

So borrowing now to pay for essential infrastructure would still be good economics.

And as I said, there would be political advantages, too. If Trump just pushed ahead with a straightforward, conventional public investment plan, he could trumpet the number of workers employed on new projects. Furthermore, he could surely find a way to stick his name on many of those projects.

Historically, many politicians have had what’s known in the trade as an edifice complex — an urge to build big stuff to promote their personal brand and feed their vanity. Certainly Trump of all people would find that prospect appealing.

By the way, some Democrats feared that Trump really would go big on infrastructure, which might drive a wedge into their party and be highly popular besides.

Oh, and another point: Public spending can yield a lot of private profit. An infrastructure program involving real money could be very lucrative for Trump cronies, or for that matter Trump himself. Yes, there are rules that are supposed to prevent that kind of profiteering, but does anyone think those rules would be enforced under current management?

So why isn’t Trump proposing something real?

Why this dog’s breakfast of a proposal that everyone knows won’t go anywhere?

Part of the answer is that in practice Trump always defers to Republican orthodoxy, and the modern GOP hates any program that might show people that government can work and help people.

But I also suspect that Trump is afraid to try anything substantive. To do public investment successfully, you need leadership and advice from experts.

And this administration doesn’t do expertise, in any field. Not only do experts have a nasty habit of telling you things you don’t want to hear, their loyalty is suspect: You never know when their professional ethics might kick in.

So the Trump administration probably couldn’t put together a real infrastructure plan even if it wanted to.

And that’s why it didn’t.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A RTS & E NTE RTA I NME NT

IYONA BLAKE does her best to personify the highs and lows of Billie Holiday’s short, but stellar career. (P����: K���� W�����/K� P����������)

‘Lady Day’ Comes to Life on Stage at Creative Cauldron

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Iyona Blake has become a powerhouse performer at Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron theatre, almost as legendary in her local showcase here as Billie Holiday was on her national platform as her tragically short but culturally transformative career as a jazz and blues singer that ran from 1933 to her untimely death at age 44 in 1959.

Blake reprises the incomparable Holiday, aka Lady Day, in her current show at the Cauldon, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” a largely one-person show (with Mark Meadows as her piano accompanist and his band) where her own considerable vocal talent channels Lady Day through 16 songs and a heart-wrenching monologue before an imagined audience at a dive in Philly, ostensibly in one of her final performances before her death a couple of months later.

In both the songs and the monologue, Blake conveys the inner soul of one of the greatest American performers of the 20th century.

A singer whose life was perennially dogged by the acute racism of her era and her own struggles with substance abuse, encouraged by a succession of drug addicted

husbands.

Blake is a Helen Hayes Award winning actor and soprano, who won the honor in her role as Caroline Thibodeaux in the Tony Kushner Tony-nominated Broadway musical, “Caroline of Change” performed at the Cauldron in 2016.

At the Cauldron, she’s taken on “Blues in the Night,” “The Wizard of Oz,””Once on This Island,” “Shout! The Mod Musical” and “Thunder Knocking on the Door,” as well as other major roles around the region.

She’ll undoubtedly and deservedly be rewarded for her current show, where in addition to her singing, her acting skills require a steady, painful descent into inebriation, presented as a harbinger of her imminent final demise as devised by another Cauldron award-winning stalwart, director Matt Conner.

In the program notes, Nat Hentoff, the Downbeat Magazine critic described Billie Holiday’s voice as “steel-edged and yet soft inside; a voice that was almost unbearably wise in disillusion and yet still childlike.”

Continuing to make recordings after a 10-month federal prison term for drug possession in the late 1940s, “her voice had become rougher, more vulnerable,” according to the notes excerpted from

Legacy.com, “while still retaining the raw intensity she was known for...the fragility of her voice only gave her world-weary blues more emotional resonance.”

The show is long (1 hr. 45 min.) for not having an intermission, but it requires the length for Lady Day’s full story to be told, along with the incredibly entertaining songs, ranging from the historically defiant “Strange Fruit” written by Lewis Allan, an homage to the racist lynchings she’d personally witnessed in her youth, to “God Bless the Child,” she wrote herself and the legendary Bessie Smith’s “Baby Doll,” and much more.

The corporate sponsor of the show is Diener and Associates, CPAs. A special performance to benefit Falls Church’s Tinner Hill Foundation during Black History Month is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25.

Otherwise, there will be performances of “Lady Day” through March 4.

“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” will run from Feb. 8 – March 4 at the Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) To purchase tickets for the show or get more information about upcoming performances at the theatre, visit creativecauldron. org.

FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018 | PAGE 15

PAGE 16 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018

SPO RTS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

T��� W��� �� S����� Mustangs March Into Playoffs

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

JACK FELGAR stands atop the podium after winning the 2A Region title for his weight class last weekend at the regional tournament at Stuarts Draft High School.

Bryan Villegas and Connor Murray placed second, West Halger, Nick Zaenger and Finn Roou placed third and Carols Shield along with Henry Casillas placed �ifth by the tournament’s end, all helping Mason take 5th place as a team at the tourney. (P����: C������� P����)

Cruising right along, George Mason High School’s girls basketball team downed Clarke County High School, 59-41, for their second win over the Eagles in a week Tuesday night.

The Mustangs (18-5) have shown a measure of stability once the calendar flipped to 2018.

Nearly every game has played out the same way: Mason builds a lead in the first quarter by way of methodical offensive possessions and smart defense, which allows their offense to loosen up and their defense to be more gutsy cutting off passing lanes and, eventually, their advantage continues to balloon. Games have played out this way since early January and the Mustangs look to keep it going into March.

“Three years with the same kids, we’ve just got it figured out by now,” head coach Michael Gilroy said. “They’ve seen every situation, know where to go with the ball, now it’s about taking that next step in the postseason.”

Mason’s eager to get back to the 2A State Tournament, where they fell in the quarterfinals last

March. But until then, they’ll be sharpening their skillset against opponents the likes of Clarke County.

In their latest win, the Mustangs again brought that consistency. An early 7-0 lead grew to 17-5 after senior guard Nicole Bloomgarden hit a circus shot through traffic and junior guard Maddie Lacroix weaved her way around defenders for a nice finish at the rim.

The Eagles came close, briefly. A split trip to the charity strike had Clarke County down 19-12 midway through the second quarter, That was until a few fruitful trips to the line for Mason and a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Bloomgarden to end the half had the Mustangs carrying a 31-17 advantage into the break.

Mason really started feeling it on the court once the third quarter came around. Senior forward Kaylee Hirsch hit the first three buckets for the Mustangs with a layup down low, rebounding her own miss and putting it back in and a right-handed baby hook a few feet from the basket.

Senior guard Elizabeth Dodge nailed a three from the elbow soon after. Sophomore forward

Daria Douglas accomplished a rare feat when she converted three consecutive and-one’s when her final bucket was a putback at the buzzer.

Up 49-25 to start the fourth quarter, Mason starters stayed in to get some added reps. Senior forward Jenna Short connected on a pass to Douglas down low for two and senior guard Victoria Rund found Douglas for that same look the next possession, making it one of the sophomore guard’s best nights so far. Shorts’ baseline dribble-drive and score put Mason up 55-33 and signaled the end of the starters’ night.

The insistence to feed the teams bigs in Hirsch, Short and Douglas in the paint with low lob passes has been a new development for Mason this year. In years past, they tried to squeeze bounce passes to the bigs with little success. The change in approach has added another gadget to the Mustangs’ tool belt and Gilroy is confident that it will give the team more options as they make a deeper playoff run.

Mason hosts Central High School for the Conference 35 championship tonight before beginning the Region tourney.

Mason Boys Land 3rd Seed in Region

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

MASON WRESTLERS stop and pose for a quick photo by the tournament’s end last weekend. Head coach Aaron Martinez told the News-Press that “Having over half the varsity team qualify for States is an exciting accomplishment and a testament to the hard work each of the wrestlers has put in this season. We are going to miss the three that didn’t qualify as they are a huge part of the overall team success. Wrestling is one on one competition but any achievements on the mat can be directly attributed to teammates who push each other every day in the practice room. Each of the qualifiers has a real shot at placing in the top six at State. And, no question there are a couple of Mason wresters who are positioned to capture a State title.” (P����: C������� A���� M�������)

A packed week saw George Mason High School’s boys basketball team lose once and win twice by prevailing over Clarke County High School, 84-32, and Rappahannock County High School, 72-27, before falling to Madison County High School 50-46 Tuesday night.

For Mason (14-10) the path to making the 2A regional tournament was secured, but an early exit from the Conference 35 tournament does make every game from here on out a road contest.

Still, the Mustangs have hit their stride at the right time and have reasons to feel good going forward. Their defense, once porous, is now clicking. Their offense has rounded into shape across the starters and bench players and has eight capable scorers.

“A few games back we addressed some problems on both sides of the ball,” junior guard Max Ashton said. “Now we just have to execute on offense, keep assignments on defense and the wins will come.”

Mason started the past week strong with a blowout win over Clarke on senior night. While the

elder statesmen played most of the first quarter for the Mustangs, they had little positive impact, falling behind 11-4 seven minutes into the game. Mason head coach Chris Capannola’s subbed the regular starters in and the tide turned quickly.

Ashton hit a three to end the quarter down 16-14. Once the second quarter began, Ashton scored two quick buckets and was followed by junior guard Jay Nesson’s feed to sophomore forward Johnny Goodwin’s cut to go up 21-16.

Mason ended the quarter on a 15-0 run to go up 38-20 by halftime and carried that into a dominant second act for the Mustangs.

Mason scored 23 points in both the third and fourth quarter while Clarke County combined only for 12, ensuring the route would be complete.

The Mustangs also made quick work of Rappahannock on Feb. 9. A 24-point first quarter was followed by a seven-point second and allowed the Panthers to faintly sniff a comeback down 31-15 at the half. But Mason squashed that hope with a 20 and 21 point performance in the third and fourth quarter, respectively, to carry the handy win.

Tuesday night’s loss to Madison County is another example of one bad quarter dispelling any chance at a win.

Mason opened up by matching the Mountaineers at 9-9 by the end of the first quarter and carried that momentum into a strong second quarter where they nudged just ahead by going up 25-23 by halftime.

Unfortunately, in the third quarter the floor fell out from under the Mustangs. Madison racked up 13 points to Mason’s four and built a seven-point cushion that was too much to overcome. Down 36-29 to start the fourth, the Mustangs were able to make it interesting by outscoring the Mountaineers 17-14, but couldn’t trim the margin enough.

Again, this team has the pieces in place to make some noise in the region tournament, where they qualified as a three-seed.

And Capannola has joked that the Mustangs’ streakiness gives him fits but the players themselves have an easy time forgetting the loss and re-focusing for the next match-up.

The Mustangs hit to the road to face off against a to-be-determined opponent next Tuesday, Feb. 20.

LO CA L

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018 | PAGE 17

MAKE YOUR PET A STAR!

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be!

YORKTOWN HIGH SCHOOL senior Mariel Baquedano stands with City of Falls Church Mayor David Tarter at her opening exhibit entitled Through My Eyes at FIRSTfriday of Falls Church, her exhibit continues through the month of February at Art and Frame of Falls Church. (P����: C������� T��

G������)

F� � � � C � � � � �

Snap a pic of your critter and email it to:

S����� N��� � N���� F.C. Schools Seeks Support Staff of the Year Nominations

Spring Semi-Formal at Mason Now Selling Tickets

Falls Church City Public Schools’ Support Staff of the Year award is now accepting nominations, This award was established by the Falls Church School Board to recognize support staff employees whose contributions to FCCPS exemplify the highest attributes of service. Support staff employees assist teachers and administrators in providing services to the instructional program and facilities. They include paraprofessionals, office staff, health aides and central office specialists and administrative assistants, as well as employees in all of these departments: Transportation, Food Services, Day Care, Maintenance Services and Custodial Services.

The George Mason Student Council is hosting a Cherry Blossom Semi-Formal dance, called the Spring Sadie’s. The dance is Saturday, March 3 from 8 – 11 p.m. complete with live music. It will be held in the Henderson Cafetorium. Tickets are being sold during Mustang Block outside the library for $10 over the upcoming weeks.

and these works are forwarded to the national level to be considered for national recognition. Mason’s Gold Key winners are Annie Castillo, Erik Donnelly, Maryn Hiscott, Elisabeth Snyder and Estelle Timar-Wilcox. Silver Keys were awarded to distinguished works including Mason’s winners Elizabeth Reid and Estelle Timar-Wilcox. Honorable Mentions went to Annie Castillo, Miles Lankford, Elisabeth Snyder and Sequoia Wyckoff.

Place Orders Now for Spring Mulch Sale at Mason

Important Dates for Falls Church High Spring Athletes

Bags of top quality doubleshredded hardwood mulch will be delivered to your yard by Mustang Athletes. The bags are $5 each for 3 cubic feet. Delivery to Falls Church area homes will take place on Saturday, April 7. Orders can be placed by going to mason-fanshop.myshopify.com/collections/ mulch-spring-only/products.

Spring is right around the corner for athletes at Falls Church High School. Try outs will be the week of Feb. 19. All required paper work and concussion education requirements were due to the Activities Office yesterday. Start dates, times and locations are: Feb. 19: Boys Lacrosse from 8 – 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (practice field); Girls Soccer from 10 a.m.– noon and Boys Soccer from 2 – 4 p.m.(stadium); Baseball from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and Softball from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. (main gym). Boys Tennis from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 20: Girls Tennis from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. and Girls Lacrosse from 3:30 – 5:45 p.m. (practice field) and Track & Field from 3:30 – 5:30 (track).

Volunteers Still Needed to Help with STEAM Night A few more volunteers are needed to make tonight’s STEAM night a success. The event is for all elementary students and their families.

Shifts are just an hour long, so volunteers need not worry about losing their night. Instructions will be given on site and there is no prior STEAM knowledge necessary. Sign-up can be found by following the link signupgenius.com/ go/20f0a4aada929a46-steam

Mason Students Win Metro Area Writing Awards Congratulations to this year’s George Mason High School winners of the DC Metro Scholastic Writing Awards. A panel of experts selected work from nearly 1,500 pieces submitted in the region. Gold Keys were awarded to the most accomplished works,

CRITTERCORNER@FCNP.COM

OR mail it to

Critter Corner c/o Falls Church News-Press 200 Little Falls St. #508 Falls Church, Va 22046

Critter

Corner

NO ONE GETS A DIPLOMA ALONE. If you’re thinking of finishing your high school diploma, you have more support than you realize. Find free adult education classes near you by visiting FinishYourDiploma.org.

CA L E NDA R

PAGE 18 | FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church).

6:30 – 7 p.m. 703-248-5034.

COMMUNITYEVENTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 1-on-1 Computer and Internet Tutoring. Get general personalized assistance to learn how to use the library’s downloadable collections (ebooks, digital magazines, music), customize your email, more efficiently search the web or better familiarize yourself with your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Registration required.

Stop by the Reference Desk or call 703-248-5035 (TTY 711) for more info or to make an appointment.

Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 2 – 4 p.m.

Teen Advisory Board. For volunteers in Grades 7-12, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meets monthly during the school year to give teens a voice in the library.

Teens who participate in TAB earn volunteer hours toward class or club requirements. Registration

the

High School Book Club. The February book is Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. Book club for teens in grades 9-12. Limited copies of the book are available to borrow from the Youth Services Desk during meetings. Registration required.

Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-248-5034.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Chinese New Year at the Eden Center. Eden Center will celebrate the “Year of the Dog” with a number of family-friendly activities including a flag ceremony, lion dances, a magic act, face painting, Lì Xì (lucky money) and much more. These events are spread throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Interested attendees can find out more information on which events are taking place on specific days at edencenter.com.

presents

Eden Center (6751 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church). 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-2485034.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Playtime with the Early Literacy Center. Explore educational and manipulative items (aka toys) to teach early literacy and social skills through play with other children. Ages birth to 5 years. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 703-248-5034.

Town Hall with Del. Simon.

State Delegate Marcus B. Simon, a Democrat who represents the 53rd District that includes the City of Falls Church, will host a mid-session town hall. He will discuss legislative updates at the session halfway point as well as answer questions from attendees. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 10:30 a.m.

– noon. For more information, visit the event listing on the City’s website at fallschurchva.gov.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Preschool Storytime. Stories and fun for ages 0-5, or infants through kindergarten. Drop-in, no registration required. All storytimes are immediately followed by playtime with the Early Literacy Center toys. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls

PAWS to Read at the Library.

Children can come and read with a canine companion during a concetrated time dedicated to developing young learners at the library. Geared toward readers rising grades in K-5. Registration is required. Registration opens two weeks prior to the date of every program at the Youth Services desk by phone or in person. Registration for the program will not be accepted by e-mail.

Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 5 – 6 p.m. 703-248-5034.

THEATER&ARTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 “Digging Up Dessa.” Dessa is a 21st-century girl with no shortage of struggles, secrets, and mysteries to solve. From dinosaur bones to hidden memories, the world is filled with buried treasures just waiting to be uncovered. After a field trip to a museum reveals that a 19th century paleontologist’s legacy has been buried by history because of her gender and lack of formal education, Dessa decides that she’s going to fight to earn her friend the credit she deserves. Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $20.

8 p.m. kennedy-center.org.

THURSDAY, SATURDAY,FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 217 “Lady Day.” Helen Hayes Awardwinning actress, Iyona Blake (“Caroline or Change”) returns to the Cauldron to portray one of America’s most iconic jazz legends. In 1959, Billie Holiday, or “Lady Day” as she was called, performed one of her final shows in a run-down bar in South Philly. In Robertson’s award-winning play, Holiday engages the audience with salty, often humorous remi-

the 6th Annual

For a list of participating restaurants, visit FCRestaurantWeek.com

Little City.

Big Eats.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

niscences of her troubled life as a travelling performer in a segregated south. With the help of her piano man, Jimmy Powers (played

by Award-winning composer, actor Mark Meadows) she lets music tell her story, sharing soulful, heart-wrenching and bawdy songs from her most memorable canon. Creative Cauldron(410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) $30. 8 p.m. mosaictheater.org.

“The Farnsworth Invention.” It’s 1929. Two ambitious visionaries race against each other to invent a device called “television.” Separated by two thousand miles, each knows that if he stops working, even for a moment, the other will gain the edge. Who will unlock the key to the greatest innovation of the 20th century: the ruthless media mogul, or the self-taught Idaho farm boy? The answer comes to compelling life in the regional premiere of this “firecracker of a play” (Chicago Sun-Times) by Aaron Sorkin. 1st Stage Theatre (1524 Spring Hill Rd., McLean). $33. 8 p.m. 1ststagetysons.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

CA L E NDA R

$25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018 | PAGE 19

Thrillbilly’s. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:45 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Ryan Paladino. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church).

9:30 p.m. 703-237-8333.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Britton James. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283.

Jess & Steve Duo. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Eric Roberson. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $55. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

The Seamus Egan Project. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $20 – $22. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900.

Wandering Lies with Accidents + Better Homes + Pressive. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

”4,380 Days.” For the last 12 years, or 4,380 days, Malik Djamal Ahmad Essaid has been held without charge by the U.S. government at Guantanamo Bay. As he languishes in his cell, his interactions with those on the outside are juxtaposed with historical events in a riveting exposé into the most dangerous prison of all—fear. With a graceful poetry and a fluidity that spans time and place, DC playwright Annalisa Dias delivers a searing and timely critique of power, humanity and what it means to be American.

Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $65. 7 p.m. sigtheatre.org.

$5 Comedy Night. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $5. 8 p.m. 703-2370300.

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Big Tow. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-5329283.

Phil Vassar (Band) with Lexie Hayden. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.

American Rhapsody: The Gershwin Songbook. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $45. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900.

Driftwood with Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 –

Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles with the Billy Coulter Band. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple

Cactus Liquors. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9:15 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Rob Hornfeck Enterprise.

Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703237-8333.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 The Bullets. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.

BRITTON JAMES will be at Clare & Don’s in Falls Church on Friday. (Photo: BrittonJamesMusic.com)

Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7:30 p.m.

703-255-1566.

Southern Accents: A Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $18. 9 p.m. 703-237-0300.

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703241-9504.

Josh Allen Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Eric King and the Thin Line. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-2419504.

Louisa Hall “Barista Boyfriend” CD Release with Vadim + Victoria Vox. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7 p.m. 703255-1566.

La Unica. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

Star Path, Northwoods. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.

The Later Late Show: Main Stage Comedy Showcase – Haywood Turnipseed Jr + Winston Hodges + Jamie Benedi + Sam Kelly + Nicole Walkow + Dom Grayer.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $8 – $10. 10:30 p.m. 703255-1566.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 The SOS Band. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $55. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Sirintip. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. 703255-1566.

Bentwood Rockers Bluegrass.

Starryville. Galaxy Hut (2711

Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 The Association. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $39.50. 7:30 p.m.

703-549-7500.

Mark Wenner and the Blues Warriors. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 RoC’s Grateful Dub 2018 Tour.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703255-1566.

Martin Sexton. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $42 – $47. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900.

Bob Hume & Martha Capone.

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) 8:15 p.m. 703522-8340.

Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046 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.

PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

HOME IMPROVEMENT

OTHER SERVICES

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Fax: 703.832.3236 400 Maple Ave., So., Suite 210, Falls Church, Virginia 22046

www.beatsonlaw.com

rbeatsonatty@netscape.com

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C L AS S I F I E DS For Sale HOUSE FOR SALE 5729 Norton Road Alexandria VA 22303 $491,810 Phone: 202-742-7290 Senate Realty Corporation 909 U Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

PUBLIC AUCTION In accordance with the Virginia Self-Storage Act, section 55-419 F, notice is hereby given that the contents of the following rental storage spaces located at Fort Knox Self-Storage will be offered for sale: 376 Natashia Bobbitt, 479 Blue Tigra Coleman, 181 Maria Tiglao, 916, 915, 130, 817, 819 Jolene Pollock. Sale will be held Online at: StorageTreasure.comTuesday, February 20, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

We are pledged to the letter andspirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

FAIR HOUSING & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REALTOR

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

.

A public hearing and vote regarding the topic referenced below is scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard.

GOOD CREDIT. GOOD JOB. GOOD REFERENCES.

AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR CONCEPTUAL PROPOSALS FOR THE WEST FALLS CHURCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT All public hearings will be held in the Falls Church Community Center, Senior Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church, Virginia. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH CITY CLERK NFD CORPORATION, INC., Trading as: Awash Market & Butcher Shop 3825 B, South George Mason Drive, Falls Church, Virginia 22041. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Beer and Wine OFF Premises. Frehiwot Kebede President. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www. abc.virginia.go or 800-552-3200

classads@fcnp.com

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BUT THE LANDLORD DENIED HER THE APARTMENT BECAUSE OF HER DISABILITY.

fcnp.com

AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY. It’s against the law for landlords to deny your application, give you the run around, charge you more rent, or steer you away from a rental complex or neighborhood because of your disability. If you suspect housing discrimination, file a complaint with HUD or your local fair housing center, so we can investigate it.

To file a complaint, go to

hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777

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

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

2

3

4

5

17

18

20

21 23

8

9

10

11

31

22

28

29

32

43 45

26

27

33

42

39

54

64

65

36

41

47

60

35

44

51

67

34

40

46

59

13

19

25

38

12

16

24

37

50

7

15

14

30

6

61

48

49

52

53

55

56

62

63 66

68

69

© 2017 David Levinson Wilk

57

58

1. "Uh-uh!" (or, read another way, a hint to solving 17-, 23-, 37-, 50- and 60-Across) 5. Cried "Uncle!"

11. Altitudes: Abbr.

14. Nike alternative 15. Like some streets and tickets 16. Shriek of pain 17. Explanation for why breakers of the Ten Commandments don't have mortgages?

19. Jungle swinger 20. "Much ____ About Nothing" 21. "That's all false, and you know it!"

22. Whole bunch 23. Highest award given to tennis players whose serves go untouched?

28. Old-time schoolteacher 29. Be a part of, as a film 30. Up to ____ 33. One taking a bow in Greek art 34. Word that appears in every Star Wars movie title except for "Star Wars" 37. Fairy tale about a royal family member who scores high on her test?

42. "Modern Family" network 43. Per person 44. Fails to be 45. New York Harbor's ____ Island 47. Suffix with motor 50. What Harry Potter enjoys while golfing?

54. Spring 55. Analogy words 56. ____ culpa 59. "Keeping Up With the

Across

STRANGE BREW 1. "Uh-uh!" (or, read another way, a hint to solving 17-, 23-, 37-, 50- and 60-Across)

FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018 | PAGE 21 33. Clairvoyant's letters 35. One chasing after chicks?

36. Consume 38. Class graded on a curve?

39. Bigger than big 40. Fifth player to hit 600 homers 41. Even 46. Fat ____ 47. Oncology procedure 48. Joint: Prefix 49. Singer of the 1962 hit "The Wanderer" 50. Time's 1963 Man of the Year, informally 51. Kindergarten quintet 52. Goes up 53. Like some promises 57. Olympics blade 58. Cobras of Egypt 60. Sue Grafton's "____ for Alibi" 61. The South in the Civil War: Abbr.

62. It may take a toll: Abbr.

63. White ____ sheet

Kardashians" sister 60. German's lament upon being served a strong, dry alcoholic beverage?

64. One of the Jonas brothers 65. "Honest!"

66. Bit of choreography 67. St. Petersburg's home: Abbr.

68. Refuses 69. Assents to the captain

DOWN

1. Cape Canaveral org.

2. Poet who wrote "If you want to be loved, be lovable" 3. Assign, as blame 4. Suffix with Ecuador or Euclid 5. More bloody 6. New Hampshire's Saint ____ College 7. Vice ____ 8. She's sheared 9. McKellen who played Gandalf 10. WSJ competitor 11. Flowers named for a tragic figure in Greek myth 12. Birthstone that was the name of a Hitchcock film 13. Stockholm native 18. Island off the coast of Tuscany 22. Mister, in New Delhi 24. Gathering clouds, e.g.

25. Irene of "Fame" 26. "The Wealth of Nations" subj.

27. War vet's affliction, for short 30. 1040 preparer, for short 31. Sphere 32. Yahtzee and craps, for two

JOHN DEERING

5. Cried "Uncle!"

1

2

3

E D A M

I V E N E V T H E

W I A S F M

G S T A R

Sudoku Level:

11. Altitudes: Abbr.

Last Thursday’s Solution G A D O A L I T P E A R C L O

T R I A G E

W I N D E D

T W H H E O O R L D F O R Y E P H A D I T E W H O S E O W E D O E N T Y F N C E U B E C L A R O N E I L A Z E

L E T A

O R C U E N A N S

P R E T I S T H I E D O S E E G O U N E N D O

P H O O E Y

I D U N N O

A L I S T

I C I R E O V E N N I T S

E T S R Y E D

By The Mepham Group 4

14. Nike alternative 15. Like some streets and tickets 16. Shriek of pain 17. Explanation for why breakers of the Ten Commandments don't have mortgages?

19. Jungle swinger 20. "Much ____ About Nothing" 21. "That's all false, and you know it!"

1

22. Whole bunch 23. Highest award given to tennis players whose serves go untouched?

28. Old-time schoolteacher

LOOSE PARTS

DAVE BLAZEK

29. Be a part of, as a film 30. Up to ____

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

1

© 2018 N.F. Benton

2/18/18

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.

© 2018 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2018

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Critter Corner

BACK IN THE DAY

dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . pas

20 s Yearo Ag

is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . p a s is the Now for all time cows good me to to coaid of the their.

20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press

Falls Church News-Press Vol. VII, No. 50 • February 26, 1998

It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVII, No. 51 • February 21, 2008

10 Year s Ago

It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the the ir pas ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

FCCO ‘Encourages’ 4 Independents Opposing CBC Slate for City Council

Mayor Clarifies City Center Plan; Council Votes Feb. 28

The four announced candidates for the Falls Church City Council in the upcoming May 5 election who did not win (and three whom did not seek) the backing of the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) organization last week were “encouraged” to run by the CBC’s rival, the Falls Church Citizens Organization (FCCO), at the FCCO annual meeting Sunday. The FCCO made their stance official with a carefully-worded statement released on Sunday as well.

Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner visited the offices of the Falls Church NewsPress Monday in an effort to clear up some residual misconceptions and confusion about the large-scale Atlantic Realty City Center project which comes before the City Council for final approval on Feb. 28.

The project gained an a unanimous preliminary OK from the City Council last month.

Fa l l s C h u r c h

Business News & Notes

ADC Dentist Opens on Arlington Blvd. in Falls Church ADC Dentist is now open Falls Church. The dental facility specializes in cosmetic and family dentistry.

The new office offers multiple services including same day appointments for children, teens, parents, and seniors, flexible treatment hours, on call dentists to attend to urgent cases, and cosmetic dentistry solutions.

ADC Dentist is located at 6065 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church. For more information, contact Dr. Homan Solemaninejad at 703-237-0060 or visit www.denstist-fallschurch.com.

THE INSEPARABLE Luna (left) and Stella snuggle up to each other at their Columbia St. home with the Kravinskya family.

After only being introduced to one another two years ago, Luna and Stella are now thicker than thieves.

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

Year of the Dog Celebration at Eden Center This Weekend The Eden Center is celebrating the Year of the Dog this weekend. Visit our region’s premier destination for Vietnamese cuisine and specialties to celebrate the new year and see the traditional Lion Dance on Friday, Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 18 at noon. For more information, visit edencenter.com.

Free SAT, ACT Practice Tests at C2 Education Monday C2 Education is offering free SAT or ACT practice tests on Monday, Feb. 19 from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. This free practice test offers students the opportunity to become familiar with the test material and learn where improvements are needed. Participants will receive a free review of their test results and get a 5 percent discount off of C2 tuition if they decide to enroll. C2 Education is located at 1075 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. For more information, visit www.C2education.com.

F.C.’s Community Planner & Economic Development Planner to Present to Chamber James Snyder, Falls Church City’s Director of Community Planning and Economic Development Services, will present to members of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce at its Feb. 20 luncheon, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. at the Italian Café, 7161 Lee Highway. Snyder will provide updates on pending development projects and his vision for future projects in the City. The event is open to Chamber members, business leaders, and everyone interested in development in the City of Falls Church. Tickets with advanced registration are $27 for Chamber members, $32 for nonmembers. An additional $5 will be charged for walk-ins should space be available. For more information or to register, visit the calendar at www.FallsChurchChamber.org.

Free Bike Maintenance Class at Conte’s Feb. 21 Conte’s Bike Shop is offering a free bicycle maintenance class on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The 101 level class, which is offered on the third Wednesday of each month, will cover changing and inflating tires, bicycle cleaning, derailleur adjustments, and more. Call 703-639-0343 to reserve a seat.

Conte’s is located at 7121 Leesburg Pike Suite 101. For more information, visit www.contebikes.com.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

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Are you searching for a better job or a more reliable car? Have you outgrown your apartment? Are you looking to get rid of that old couch and chair sitting in the garage?

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PAGE 24 | FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Under Contract

For Sale New Price!

le Multip s r Offe !

Under Contract

SOLD

ct Contra ys! in 3 da

416 Hampton Court | Falls Church City

Lovely renovated 2 BD/1.5 BA townhouse in the heart of the City. Come and experience urban living in the wonderful Winter Hill community. Offered at $380,000

525 N Fayette St # 401 | Alexandria

Stunning 2 BD/2 BA corner unit in The Henry in Old Town Alexandria, two blocks from Metro. Completely updated (over 100K in upgrades) with 2 parking spaces & additional storage. Offered at $659,000

1943 Griffith Rd | Falls Church

Pimmit Hills classic with front porch featuring 3 BD/ 1 BA, large family room addition and enclosed porch.

Property to be sold As-Is. Offered at $525,000

Phone: 703 244-1992 louise@moltonrealestate.com

Lovely colonial featuring 5 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3,548 sqft overlooking lovely quiet woodlands in an idyllic setting. Offered at $724,900

Zillow Review

Stop by our Falls Church City office

Louise Molton

11406 Octagon Ct | Fairfax Representing buyers

Highly Likely to Recommend “Louise made the sale of our old house and the purchase of our new house go so smoothly. She took time to discuss details with us and never seemed to be in a hurry. She showed us many properties over a period of months. She was able to find out through social media the home we eventually bought. She helped us analyze comparables and advised us how to negotiate. She was always very happy to hear from us. I highly recommend her.” ~ S Buck

(conveniently located next to the Hilton),

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Open Sun 1-4

1007 Kennedy St, Falls Church City

Sunny & spacious 4 BR/3 BA brick home with new master suite. Large kitchen w/new appliances. Hardwoods, 2 fireplaces, bonus rooms & large Rec Room make for perfect entertainment space. Huge yard & stone terrace complete the outside. $899,000

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4 bedroom plus Den 2 1/2 bath Townhouse with contemporary flair! Hardwood floors, Sunroom, fireplace and two car garage!

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Waycroft-Woodlawn Neighborhood

This 4 BR/4.5 BA Craftsman-style bungalow is a true masterpiece w/countless designer features and loads of energy efficient extras. With quick access to lively Ballston shopping, dining & entertainment along with proximity to the W&OD bike trail and I-66, this is sure to be your dream home.

Wakefield Chapel Woods Neighborhood

Beautifully updated, this 5 BR/3.5 BA has new bathrooms and a new kitchen and is perfect for entertaining. Close to I-495, this home offers convenient access to shopping and commuting.

703-867-8674

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2101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Lifetime Top Producer

Housing Commission, Vice Chair

Tori@ToriRocksRealEstate.com ToriRocksRealEstate.com 2012–2017

© 2018 Tori McKinney, LLC