Falls Church News-Press 2-4-2021

February 4 – 10, 2020

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FOU N D E D 1991 • V OL. X XX NO. 51

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Affordable Housing in F.C. to Take Step Forward Council Votes on 10% Affordable Units Monday

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The City of Falls Church is about to go to the head of the line again.

For all its nationally-ranked achievements in K-12 education, voter registration and turnout rates and quality of life measures, the City is about to step up with the region’s first 10 percent affordable housing goal achieved for a large-scale mixed use project.

This percentage is more than double what the City has been able to get from developers in the last two decades.

With the lack of affordable housing reaching crisis levels in the City as well as the wider region and nationally, there has been a lot more hot air devoted to the need in the last year, including here.

But this marks one of the first concrete steps taken to redress the matter, and the first time in a decade that the City has taken a real step forward.

Continued on Page 5

THE RENOVATIONS to Big Chimneys Park include changes to the stormwater drainage system below the surface, and new playground equipment and a wooden sculture to welcome parkgoers above it. (P����: N���-P����)

Big Chimneys Park Completes Its Long-Awaited Makeover

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Big Chimneys Park is the latest park in the City of Falls Church to receive some significant upgrades, honoring a commitment City officials made nearly 15 years ago.

Back then, the proposed City Center development (well, City Center 1.0 now) was looking to take over large swaths of land right by the park, such as the bowling alley that abuts it. Danny Schlitt, the director of the City’s Recreation and Parks Department, said the City

planned to update Big Chimneys along with the development’s arrival to complete that part of the town’s redesign.

The development wound up falling through. However, Schlitt said it seemed as if any park renovations were held hostage to Falls Church’s

ability to lure in another project.

But nearby residents weren’t willing to let Big Chimney’s need for repairs be lost over those concerns.

“The neighbors didn’t forget that the City had promised to do

Continued on Page 4

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Through some twists and turns and a little luck, two fifth-grade teachers from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School found kidney donors — one teacher advocating for a transplant for her husband, whose call for help led to the life-saving transplant for their colleague.

See Story, page 2

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As most schools and public gatherings are closed during the coronavirus pandemic due to adhering to social distancing, what has become of the traditional school play in this school year? Wolfpack Theatre at Justice High School has hit upon a very creative solution.

See Story, page 19

J������ H��� T������ P��� O� ‘T�� S����� A��������’

As most schools and public gatherings are closed during the coronavirus pandemic due to adhering to social distancing, what has become of the traditional school play in this school year? Wolfpack Theatre at Justice High School has hit upon a very creative solution.

See Story, page 19

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 Comment ................................ 7,12,13 News & Notes................................... 10 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Business News ................................. 15 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18

PAGE 2 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2020

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Jefferson Teacher Receives Life-Saving Kidney From F.C. Parent She Didn’t Know

BY BRIAN INDRE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Through some twists and turns and a little luck, two fifth-grade teachers from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School found successful kidney donors — one teacher advocating for a transplant for her husband, whose call for help led to the life-saving transplant for their colleague.

Teacher Torey Fay is a four time cancer survivor and was first diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at age 14. She’s been through countless treatments over the years, and her kidney function has slowly deteriorated.

Her treatments have included numerous surgeries, radiation, chemo treatments and bone marrow transplants, including using her own marrow. Another treatment consisted of a medicine that removes calcium from her bones that ended up in her kidneys.

“Despite having gone into kidney failure before and having

my kidneys always jump start again, this resulted in lasting damage,” Fay said. “My kidneys fought hard to hold onto the function that it had for the next decade as my kidney function slowly decreased.”

As soon as Fay was aware that she was in need of a transplant, she got on the MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute list. Fay had three matches before she was eligible, and mentioned that the transplant process is stressful and can go very slowly at times. She checked in with her coordinator on a weekly basis.

Meanwhile, Erin Keating, another Falls Church resident and mother of two school aged children, one of whom also attends Thomas Jefferson Elementary, had already been going through the process to donate her kidney. Keating had been preparing to donate to her friend Lucas McCann, the husband of Layton McCann, the other fifth-grade teacher and colleague to Fay. Keating was delayed in being

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able to donate because of some health screening, and in that lull another friend got approved and successfully donated to Lucas.

“Once they cleared me medically, I said that if I had been already cleared for Lucas, then go ahead and put me in the nondirected pool with the National Kidney Registry,” Keating said.

“This would put me in with whoever in the world needed a kidney.”

Keating went on to host a presentation to raise awareness about organ donation along with Lucas McCann and his donor at an event at Columbia Baptist church. Around this time Layton McCann made Fay aware of Keating being a possible donor.

“We discovered that we had O-negative and O-positive blood types, so I was at least able to attempt to get matched up with Torey,” said Keating. “I pulled out of the non-directed pool, and went ahead and told the registry

Continued on Page 19

THOUGH THEY HAD NEVER MET prior to being matched for a kidney donation, Erin Keating (left) had no qualms about giving one of her kidneys to Torey Fay sight-unseen, who’s a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. (P����: C������� E��� K������)

FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021 | PAGE 3

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PAGE 4 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Updated Park Addresses Stormwater Issues That Bred Mosquitos

Continued from Page 1

something with Big Chimneys, and rightfully so,” Danny Schlitt, director of the City’s Recreation and Parks department, told the NewsPress. “The water over there was terrible [and] the mosquitoes are as bad as any park we have in the City.”

As more money trickled in from newer developments, particularly the 301 W. Broad Street that houses a Harris Teeter and an apartment complex, attention turned back to Big Chimneys. While the price of renovations more than doubled in that time span — jumping from $550,000 to $1.2 million — it was worth it to address the lingering stormwater drainage issues at the park’s base by Shirley Street.

Schlitt said that whenever it rained, all the water run-off from neighboring properties would gather toward the bottom of the Big Chimneys and become a “big mud pit.” He added that the City arborist tried to get creative by putting water-loving plants in the area, but it didn’t help the mosquito problem, with the bugs using standing water to lay their eggs.

CARRYOVERS from the old Big Chimneys Park, such as the plaque honoring Dr. Nelson Podolnick, are found by new features, such as the shelter pictured above. (P����: N���-P����) So for the first six months of the project that broke ground in December 2019, Schlitt said that engineers worked to contour the land and direct run-off water to units underneath the surface. Once those units catch it, they move the water to the City’s stormwater sewer system and eliminate the puddles that were seen on the ground.

With that problem fixed, City staff turned its attention to more

eye-catching renovations — namely, updating the playground equipment. According to Schlitt, every 10 to 15 years playground equipment becomes outdated from usage. And really, after about six years they no longer meet every safety standard. That’s why instead of trying to retrofit the playground Big Chimneys already had, the City decided to install two completely new sets for toddler-aged children, and another for those

t e e w S

aged 4 – 12.

“The community and some of the local neighbors helped us come up with ideas of things we wanted in there,” Schlitt said. “In fact, we had talked about maybe reducing the amount of swings, and they residents were like ‘No way, we need these swings.”

There is still a little work left on Big Chimneys’ “gateway” towards the top of the park along Annandale Road. Concrete for a ramp to be

laid in order to make the park ADA compliant has yet to be completed, and the park’s signage (which is the tall, covered object by the gateway) also hasn’t been formally revealed either. Once it is viewable, Schlitt said that it will have some history about Big Chimneys as well as be able to have public art affixed to it.

Those finishing touches should be wrapped up in the coming weeks, according to Schlitt.

What is already done is the new shelter and a memorial plaque honoring Dr. Nelson Podolnick, a longtime City resident who died in 1993. At the park’s entrance, there are also benches with checkerboards attached to them for roving chess and checkers players to gather. And down by the Shirley Street entrance, a wood carving of a literal big chimney (13 feet high) — similar to the wood carvings of animals that were done in Cherry Hill Park in the summer of 2019.

Schlitt said that the City does need to put benches and tables into the grassy patches at Big Chimneys, but they want to wait until they get a better idea of where people are gathering in the park before they pick a spot.

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FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021 | PAGE 5

‘Far More Generous’ Number of Affordable Units Outdoes Neighboring Jurisdictions

Continued from Page 1

The Council is poised to vote at its business meeting Monday to designate a total of 33 apartment units out of 330 total in the just-approved voluntary concessions component of the Insight Properties’ Broad at Washington project as “affordable,” priced in the range matching incomes from 40 to 80 percent below the area median income.

In the deal that the City negotiated with Insight prior to administering a unanimous final vote in favor of the overall project last week, most anticipated for its promise of a 55,000 square foot Whole Foods at the site, the parties agreed to a formula for Insight’s voluntary concessions (VCs) to the City to include the 10 percent affordable units option.

It involves the redeployment of VC monies away from other uses in the City and toward covering the cost of the 15 added affordable units for a total value of $2,364,135.

While that involves the repurposing of VC money originally

designated to be given to the City schools ($2.3 million), stormwater fund ($20,000), library, parks and recreation ($153,000), and bike share ($20,000 a year for 30 years).

The proposed resolution the Council will vote on this Monday states that, “Due to significant investments in school and library and park facilities in recent years,” the shift involves “the reduction in cash voluntary concessions come from those areas.”

The resolution’s preamble states it is in keeping with a “Vision for Housing a Complete Community” that will “create and maintain a diverse supply of housing that supports an inclusive and welcoming community.” It adds that as the region continues to grow, the commitment is to “work proactively to ensure affordable housing keeps pace with population increases and is available for a range of incomes, household sizes, generations and needs.”

The move is a precedent-setting one that will reverberate widely throughout the region, and could

establish a new baseline bar for future projects everywhere.

While the Council may vote unanimously in favor of this on Monday, Councilman Ross Litkenhous made it clear at Monday’s meeting that credit goes primarily to his Council colleague Letty Hardi for pushing the affordable percentage up from six to 10 percent.

The new option “is far more generous than our neighbors,” Hardi confirmed Monday, and Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly said she wanted to “thank all for getting us to this point.” Hardi said she’s hopeful the same discussion will be entertained with the Founders Row’s Mill Creek developers soon.

Another critically important component of the proposed new plan is that affordable units shall remain at the affordable rate in perpetuity, and not just for a decade or so. “This is a huge thing,” the City’s Director of Economic Development Jim Snyder said. “It isn’t common.”

He said that the affordable housing initiative “is a big part of who

CITY OFFICIALS talk about how increase in affordable units meets City’s long-term housing vision. (S���������: N���-P����) we are as a community, and while it is hard to calculate its economic impact, it will contribute significantly to the revitalization of the downtown area. Lots of downtowns in America die because no one lives there. This helps to address that issue.”

Connelly commended remarks made by City Manager Wyatt Shields to the School Board last week focusing on the community’s “big picture,” and noting that money is not being “taken away” from the schools or library, but if approved this Monday, is redirected in favor of the City’s overall plan.

Joshua Shokoor, chair of the City’s Housing Commission, writing a guest commentary appearing

elsewhere in this edition, noted that “Our City already has an affordable housing crisis. Over the past decade, the Falls Church affordable housing stock has observed an abrupt decline, from 470 units in 2012 to 283 units today. Within the next decade, this number will shrink by an additional 47 percent, or 132 units.”

The proposed mix of affordable units at the Insight project will be nine studio apartments available for applicants earning 40 percent of the “area median income” (AMI), nine two bedroom units offered to those earning 60 percent of the AMI and 15 studio units offered to persons earning 80 percent of the AMI or less.

PAGE 6 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021 

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E D I TO R I A L

Hail This Latest Affordability Push

Over the last two decades, or shall we say at least the first decade of this now-maturing 21st century, the City of Falls Church has undertaken a series of efforts at affordable housing, all of which fell flat.

This latest effort, the deal to up the percentage of affordable units, offered at a range of rents equivalent to 40 to 80 percent of the “average median income” (AMI) of the region, to 10 percent of the total rentals at the just-approved Broad and Washington project, looks like the real deal. If so, it will mark the first concrete step achieved in that direction maybe ever in the Little City.

Heaven knows that for years the best efforts of leading citizens to crack the affordable housing nut here met with systematic and frustrating failure, spurred by “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY) homeowners in various neighborhoods of the City. In conjunction with robust efforts to get large scale commercial developments up and running in town — an effort that has succeeded at a breathtaking pace over the last two decades — the push for affordable housing went completely south. It’s not that the effort lacked for talent and persistent aggressive efforts, either.

What has happened since the last fiasco bit the dust a decade ago has been, in the long and short of it, population growth in the City that has been proportionately far greater for condo and apartment dwellers than for single family home owners. The latter demographic is slowly being squeezed out of the political equation in Falls Church, a good thing. Single family homeowners in surrounding communities like McLean, Vienna and Oakton have been far more effective at tamping down progressive development impulses to hang onto their nouveau plantation mentalities. They suppress economic development in the process in favor of deferential treatment for their protected homes and neighborhoods. In Falls Church the situation has evolved to one of much greater balance between single family homeowners and the rest of the City’s population.

The latest and effective effort at promoting affordable housing in just the last year has been a result of this, along with a lot of moral suasion from local leadership, especially from Council member Letty Hardi. She represents the cutting edge of a new generation of more progressive and compassionate leaders arising that Falls Church has the benefit of having in its elected government.

We are keenly aware that we are already a month into this current F.C. City Council election year, and we encourage the current youth movement here, including Hardi, Ross Litkenhous, Debbie Hiscott and a most promising candidate from last fall’s special election, Joshua Shokur. They will hopefully press on to make F.C. the kind of diverse and livable place we can all love and be proud of. It’s more urban, more accessible to persons of all income levels and more community, rather than individual property-centric.

L������

Children Hurt Most by Moving Goalposts for School Reopening Editor, Although on Jan. 21 we got an email suggesting we were on track to return to hybrid schooling for K-5, Dr. Noonan pulled the proverbial football away on two days later on Jan. 23: no return to school until Feb. 22.

Dr. Noonan wrote in 2020 that we could not and would not wait for the vaccine — but now that is exactly what we are doing. What about

this new, more virulent strain of the virus? Will we be delayed again? He doesn’t say.

But part of what made reading the letter so hard was that Dr. Noonan had the temerity to bold the language stating that we needed to support our staff and teachers, listen to them, and let them feel safe. So wanting kids to return to Mt. Daniel after a year means I don’t support our teachers?

What about listening to our parents?

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Over 90 percent indicated they wanted their child to go to hybrid classes; do those parents not care about the risk incurred by their own children?

Do they not care about science? This letter left out any acknowledgment that there is genuine suffering going on in this community, and that the cost of NOT having in-person classes (especially for the youngest kids) is significant, if unmeasured.

St. James school is within Falls Church City schools limits, yet there is no indication that the School Board has communicated with them to see how they are able to hold in-person classes, while we are closed. There is zero acknowledgment that many

children have resumed all of their sports and travel activities; our high school has sports too, but no classes.

Teachers matter. Teachers are valuable. But so are children. And we don’t have to pit them against each other to recognize that our children have been hurting, and bearing the brunt of the poor choices adults make. Mt. Daniel parents don’t need a survey — you’ve already gotten one! Parents want their kids in school. And for those that don’t, the virtual option remains available, which is terrific.

It’s time to return to school.

Rosaly Kozbelt Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021 | PAGE 7

More Affordable Units for Whole Foods Project Would Be Historic B� J����� S������

As a lifelong resident of Falls Church, a graduate of the public school system, and the Chair of the Housing Commission, I want to commend the effort of our City Council, School Board, and other citizen groups on changing the school names.

Last December, in the face of unpopular opinions and backlash (local and national), they persevered with the knowledge that this decision, no matter the outrage, was the correct one. It was a great symbolic achievement which I and many others applauded. But now we have an opportunity to build on the momentum of this moment and follow through on the promises for change prompted by the events of this past year. We can turn heartfelt rhetoric into actions and create more inclusive housing policies.

In our City and in neighborhoods throughout the country, prohibitive zoning practices combined with unaffordable homeownership and rental housing costs continue to be a barrier to entry for lower income households and people of color.

This is often by design and requires the intentional creation of diverse housing options to resolve, like affordable housing. But our City already has an affordable housing crisis. Over the past decade, the Falls Church affordable housing stock has observed an abrupt decline, from 470 units in 2012 to 283 units today. Within the next decade this number will shrink by

expire. It will also become the first modern development in the City with units that serve income levels at 40% of area median income, housing people with jobs that are critical to our community and economy but have been priced out of Falls Church.

I strongly recommend the City Council approve the increase in the ADU percentage to 10 percent. This is an effective first step to solving an immediate problem with the potential to impact the lives of low income individuals and families with real measurable benefits.

Through purposeful planning and smart growth, our City has heavily invested tens of millions of dollars to develop a nationally ranked public school system, to construct parks envied throughout the region, and modernize our public library. The concentration of civic engagement devoted to maintaining and advancing these public resources is exactly what makes the City of Falls Church a community of ample opporsupport, coalition building, and a rightful tunities, and why access can be transformasense of urgency, a significant policy is tive. With voluntary concessions from the Broad & Washington developer, it’s now finally being considered.

Next week, the City Council will deter- time to turn our attention to housing.

I grew up in a relatively lower income mine whether to increase the affordable dwelling units (ADUs) at the recently household in the City and took full advanapproved Broad & Washington mixed-used tage of the wealth of resources that surdevelopment, from the standard set-aside rounded me. It provided me with the means percentage of 6 percent to a historic 10 to socialize and collaborate with wellpercent. This would accomplish what oth- informed peers and equipped me with ers have failed to do in the past, bringing the tools to be the first in my family to months 33% graduate from— college.

By obtaining my the total at the projectNext to over 306 ADUs with affordability commitments that never bachelor’s and master’s degrees, I have an additional 47 percent or 132 units. This distressing outcome, solely affecting those in our community most in need, should have been anticipated. Fortunately, some have focused a renewed attention on this complex issue, and through their vocal

“This would accomplish what others have failed to do in the past, bringing the total at the project to over 30 ADUs with affordability commitments that never expire.”

generationally altered my family’s educational and financial outcomes. I will forever be indebted to Falls Church due in no small part to these iconic features. But I am also aware that others from a similar background as me, a mixed-race minority, raised by a single mother in a lower income family, will never have access to the City and those resources most of us take for granted.

That is why I have chosen to give back to my community and my home, by volunteering time and energy to create a more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive City of Falls Church. However, expanding more affordable housing options will not just open doors for lower income families and people of color, it will provide housing for teachers, City staff, essential workers who keep businesses open and safe during the current pandemic, and of course graduates of our public schools who wish to move back and start a life where theirs began.

Once again, I congratulate the City Council, School Board, and other citizen groups on the achievements of the past year. But I urge we go further, to not settle on symbolic achievements, and instead work together to make real change in the lives of those in need, by increasing the set-aside percentage of ADUs from 6 percent to 10 percent. I ask that you join me in support of this effort.

Joshua Shokoor is the chair of the City of Falls Church’s Housing Commission

Before year ends — 33%

Q������� �� ��� W���

Next 3 months — 19% Last Week’s Question: Would an increase in affordableAlready got — 15% When doit you think you’ll be able to get the Covid-19 units for the Whole Foods project vaccine?

benefit F.C. City?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Visit www.FCNP.com to cast your vote

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]

33% 33% 19% 15%

Next 6 months

Before year ends Next 3 months Already got it

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PAGE 8 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021

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Downtown F.C. CVS To Be Covid Vaccine Outlet The News-Press has confirmed that the CVS Pharmacy at 134 W. Broad Street in downtown Falls Church will function as a distribution site for the Covid-19 vaccine effort. While the date for beginning the service is not yet known, the Biden administration said this week it intends to begin administering the vaccines through some private partners as early as next week. Vaccine recipients must meet the qualification criteria based on the roll-out schedule that is in effect. It was reported yesterday that 435,000 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been distributed to date in Virginia.

Movie Theaters Still Promised At Founders Row Joe Muffler of the Mill Creek developers of the Founder’s Row major mixed use project at the corner of W. Broad and N. West St. told the monthly virtual meeting of the F.C. Economic Development Authority (EDA) Tuesday that he is working with the IJM Enterprises, nationallyrenowned motion picture brokers, to score a movie theatre tenant for the project, and there is “significant interest.” Last month, the firm that Mill Creek had lined up to provide that service in the project went bankrupt. While small parts of the Founders Row project will be open by this September, Muffler said he hoped the movie feature will be in place between this December and May 2022. “We’re not waiting for the market to come to us,” he said. “We’re very optimistic but we don’t want to get over our skis.” A retail broker, JBG, has over 1,000 targets for retailers to locate at the site, and about 10 tours of the site a week are occurring now. The EDA voted unanimously, 6-0, to recommend in favor of the modifications to the agreement with the City about a commitment to a movie theater, with an escrow account of up to $3.6 billion to

be set up to help guarantee the right outcome. “But for the pandemic, we’d be pretty close to smelling the popcorn by now,” Councilman Phil Duncan said.

Understaffing at F.C. City Hall Assailed In three Falls Church virtual meetings in the last week — for the City Council, the Council’s Economic Development committee and the semi-autonomous Economic Development Authority — personnel shortages at City Hall have come under fire.

The impending departure of veteran planner Doug Fraser in midMarch will only make matters worse, it was noted. “Staffing is a huge challenge,” City Manager Wyatt Shields said. “Handling success can be difficult.” The burden on building inspectors is acute, having to handle the new high school and Founders Row simultaneously in addition to other work. With the onset of the Insight Property development at Broad and Washington (the Whole Foods site), it will become a “five alarm fire,” and “beyond ridiculous,” board members said. City manpower levels are now below the number in 2008 when 30 were laid off due to the Great Recession crisis then. Meanwhile, the EDA board approved a letter to the City urging that City employee Naomi Goodwyn be retained on a fulltime basis.

Preservation Biscuit to Open At F.C. Location in 2 Weeks The popular Preservation Biscuit Company will open its downtown Falls Church location in the Southgate Shopping Center Feb. 15, according to its landlord, the Young Group.

In other business development news, there is strong interest by a tex-mex restaurant in the now-vacant Locker Room site, while Stylish Patina has reopened at its new W. Broad site and facelifts are underway at both the Broaddale Shopping Center and West Falls Center.

A new Vietnamese restaurant is poised to go into the Falls Plaza center, Galleria Florist is set to move into the City, and there is a proposal to move a temporary thrift shop into the vacated Rite Aid site in the 1000 block of West Broad that will benefit the Creative Cauldron.

Beyer Hails Senate Vote for 1st Gay Cabinet Member U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Falls Church, Tuesday issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to serve as Secretary of Transportation: “For the first time ever, the U.S. Senate has voted to confirm the appointment of an openly gay American, Pete Buttigieg, to lead a Cabinet department. This is a major milestone in American history.

“Secretary Pete’s confirmation is also a win for a country in need of skilled and creative leadership to build our crumbling infrastructure back better, with a focus on creating good paying jobs, supporting workers, fighting the climate crisis, and promoting equity. I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in the time to come.”

Woman Killed Trying to Cross Route 50 A Falls Church woman was killed while crossing Route 50 last Wednesday, Jan. 27, according to police. Fairfax County police said that Raymunda Garcia-Hernandez, 81, of Falls Church, was crossing Route 50 around the 7200 block when an unknown vehicle hit her. According to police, she was not crossing the road in a crosswalk. Officers pronounced Garcia-Hernandez dead when they showed up at the scene around 9 p.m., and said her body was lying in the westbound lanes of the highway. Authorities said this is the first pedestrian death of 2021. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Fairfax County Police.

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FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021 | PAGE 9

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C�������� N��� � N���� FIRSTfriday Moves to Virtual Format This Week FIRSTfriday of Falls Church, normally held at Art and Frame Falls Church, has moved to a virtual format for its upcoming event this Friday, Feb. 5 due to concerns over the spread of Covid-19. The featured artist will be Jacinta Amorosi.

Those interested in “attending” the event can do so by visiting either the FIRSTfriday of Falls Church website (firstfridayoffallschurch.com), the Art and Frame Falls Church website (artandframeoffallschurch.com) or the FIRSTfriday Facebook page (facebook.com/ FIRSTfridayFC).

F.C. Resident Wins Scholastic Honors for U.S. Figure Skating Matthew Sperry, of Falls Church, has been named to the 2021 U.S. Figure Skating Scholastic Honors Team. He is one of 11 skaters in the nation out of over 120 applicants. This award recognizes student athletes who have excelled academically as well as have been heavily involved in their community and in the sport of figure skating.

Sperry is a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia and a

senior at Stanford University Online High School. An ice dancer, Sperry is a National Merit semifinalist and tutors others in math and physics.

He and his partner competed internationally in the 2020 North American Cup Series. Sperry is an Eagle Scout and has also been a patrol leader.

He is a member of the Virginia Ice Theatre Junior Board and assists with food drives and, with his club, has taught adult skaters basic skills and pattern dances.

Scholastic Honors Team awardees each receive a $3,000 scholarship and $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice, given by the Denver Foundation. The charity Sperry chose is the Columbia Baptist Church Spend Yourself Food Pantry based out of Bailey’s Crossroads, because he has volunteered during many scout food drives and knows how much the food pantry is helping provide food during the pandemic.

Marshall Academy Holds Open House Tonight Marshall Academy, a governor’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) academy, will host its annual academy open house for prospective students on Thursday, Feb. 4, from 6:30 – 7:30

THE GALAXY GIRLS, a self-starting group of elementary students from Thomas Jefferson and Mount Daniel, performed a socially-distanced charity dance show for the Whittier Park neighborhood in Falls Church City to raise money for DirectRelief.org, whih distributes protective equipent to medical professionals and medicines for Covid ICU wards around the world. The girls raised over $155 in their first show and look forward to organizing more community fundraising events in the future. The Galaxy Girls from left to right: Ana Mandl, Stella Goffee, Sadie Goffee, Inaaya Pepermintwala, Claire Vernon and Kate Vernon (P����: C������� M���-K������ V�����) p.m. The virtual program includes an academy program overview from 6:30 – 6:45 p.m. and two teacher presentation sessions at 6:50 and 7:10 p.m. Prospective students can register online to participate in the Blackboard Collaborative Ultra (BBCU) session and receive information. As registration for the 202122 school year gets underway, FCPS academies provide many options for

high school electives.

Marshall Academy courses include Arabic language; Automotive Technology; Chinese language; Cosmetology; Criminal Justice; Culinary Arts; Cloud Computing; Cyber: Computer Systems Tech A+; Network Administration; Cisco; Cyber: Security +; Entrepreneurship; Robotic Systems 1 and Engineering Systems 1.

Academy classes are open to students in grades 10-12 except for Computer Systems Tech A+ 1 and Arabic and Chinese languages, which students can take in ninth grade.

More information is available at the academy’s website (marshallacademy.fcps.edu) or by contacting Niki Rosett-Haubner at Nicole.

RosettHaubner@fcps.edu.

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!

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FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021 | PAGE 11

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF A PETITION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF ITS 2020 DSM UPDATE PURSUANT TO § 56-585.1 A 5 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2020-00274 •Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion”) has applied for approval to implement new demand-side management (“DSM”) programs, extend one DSM program, expand the eligibility requirements for certain previously-approved DSM programs, and to revise its Riders C1A, C2A, C3A, and implement a new Rider C4A, by which Dominion recovers the costs of its DSM programs.

•Dominion requests a total of $78,119,830 for its 2021 Riders C1A, C2A, C3A and C4A. According to Dominion, this amount would decrease the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month by $0.10.

•A Hearing Examiner appointed by the Commission will hear the case on June 8, 2021, at 10 a.m.

•Further information about this case is available on the SCC website at: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

On December 2, 2020, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion” or “Company”), pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 5 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”), the Rules Governing Utility Rate Applications and Annual Informational Filings of the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”), the Commission’s Rules Governing Utility Promotional Allowances, the Commission’s Rules Governing Cost/Benefit Measures Required for Demand-Side Management Programs, the Commission’s Rules Governing the Evaluation, Measurement and Verification of the Effects of Utility-Sponsored Demand-Side Management Programs, and the directive contained in Ordering Paragraph (4) of the Commission’s July 30, 2020 Final Order in Case No. PUR 2019 00201, filed with the Commission its petition requesting (1) approval to implement new demand-side management (“DSM”) programs; (2) approval to extend the Company’s existing Non-residential Distributed Generation (“DG”) Program; (3) approval to expand the eligibility requirements for specific previously-approved DSM Phase VII and Phase VIII Programs in accordance with changes established in the Virginia Clean Economy Act (“VCEA”); and (4) approval of three updated rate adjustment clauses, Riders C1A, C2A and C3A, and a new rate adjustment clause, Rider C4A (“Petition”).

In its Petition, the Company requests approval to implement 11 new programs as the Company’s “Phase IX” programs, which include a mixture of “energy efficiency” (“EE”) and “demand response” (“DR”) DSM programs, as those terms are defined by Code § 56-576. With the exception of the proposed House Bill (“HB”) 2789 (Solar Component) Program, the Company requests that the Commission permit the Company to operate the following proposed programs for the five-year period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2026, subject to future extensions as requested by the Company and granted by the Commission: (1) Residential Income and Age Qualifying (EE); (2) Residential Water Savings (EE); (3) Residential Water Savings (DR); (4) Residential Smart Home (EE); (5) Residential Virtual Audit (EE); (6) Non-residential Agricultural (EE); (7) Non-residential Building Automation (EE); (8) Non-residential Building Optimization (EE); (9) Non-residential Engagement (EE); (10) Non-residential Enhanced Prescriptive (EE); and (11) HB 2789 (Solar Component).

The Company proposes an aggregate total cost cap for the Phase IX programs in the amount of $162 million. Additionally, the Company requests the ability to exceed the spending cap by no more than 5%.

The Company “seeks authorization to spend directly for these programs for a reasonable amount of time before and after the approval period so that the programs can run for a full five years and then have additional time built in for launch and wind-down activities.”

The Company asserts that the total proposed costs of the energy efficiency programs proposed in the Petition will be counted toward the requirement in the 2018 Grid Transformation and Security Act (“GTSA”) that the Company develop a proposed program of energy efficiency measures with projected costs of no less than an aggregate amount of $870 million between July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2028, including any existing approved energy efficiency programs. The Company further asserts that the total amount of spending proposed in this Petition on energy efficiency programs targeting low-income individuals, when combined with the Company’s prior requests for energy efficiency spending on such programs since the passage of the GTSA and VCEA, “consists of a proposal for approximately $53 million of the required 15% of the $870 million or $130.5 [million], excluding any amount of projected lost revenues.”

The Company also seeks approval to expand the eligibility requirements for the following Non-residential DSM Phase VII and Phase VIII Programs, due to the VCEA’s changes to Code § 56-585.1 A 5 from an automatic exemption to an opt-out process for large general service customers and the change to the demand threshold from 500 kilowatts (“kW”) to 1 megawatt: Non-residential Lighting Systems and Controls, Non-residential Heating and Cooling Efficiency, Non-residential Window Film, and Non-residential Small Manufacturing. Such programs were originally designed such that eligibility was capped at 500 kW, consistent with the version of Code § 56-585.1 A 5 in effect at the time these programs were proposed and approved.

Additionally, the Company seeks approval of a two-year extension of the existing Non-residential DG Program. The Company is not seeking additional funds under the current cost cap for this Program.

Further, the Company requests approval of an annual update to continue three rate adjustment clauses, Riders C1A, C2A and C3A, and to implement a new rate adjustment clause, Rider C4A, for a Rate Year of September 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022 (“2021 Rate Year”) for recovery of: (i) 2021 Rate Year costs associated with its Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV, Phase V, Phase VI, Phase VII and Phase VIII Programs approved by the Commission in prior cases; (ii) calendar year 2019 true up of costs associated with the Company’s approved Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV, Phase V and Phase VI Programs; (iii) calendar year 2019 true up of costs associated with the Company’s Electric Vehicle Pilot Program; and (iv) 2021 Rate Year costs associated with the Company’s proposed Phase IX Programs.

For Rider C1A, Dominion requests a total revenue requirement of $1,155,487. For Rider C2A, Dominion requests a total revenue requirement of $1,833,697. For Rider C3A, Dominion requests a total revenue requirement of ($7,904,620). For Rider C4A, Dominion requests a total revenue requirement of $83,035,266. The proposed total revenue requirement for Riders C1A, C2A, C3A and C4A for the 2021 Rate Year is $78,119,830. The Company proposes a general rate of return on common equity of 9.2% for the projected revenue requirement and true-up adjustment for the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.

If the proposed Riders C1A, C2A, C3A and C4A for the 2021 Rate Year are approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage.

Interested persons are encouraged to review the Petition and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals.

TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may apportion revenues among customer classes and/or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Petition and supporting documents and thus may adopt rates that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Petition and supporting documents.

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

A public evidentiary hearing shall be convened immediately following the telephonic public witness hearing on June 8, 2021, or beginning at 10 a.m. on June 8, 2021, if no person signs up to testify as a public witness, to receive the testimony and evidence of the Company, any respondents, and the Staff of the Commission (“Staff”). Further details on the hearing will be provided by subsequent Commission Order or Hearing Examiner’s Ruling.

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

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

An electronic copy of the Company’s Petition may be viewed on the Commission’s website or may be obtained by submitting a request to counsel for the Company: Paul E. Pfeffer, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, paul.e.pfeffer@dominionenergy.com.

On or before June 8, 2021, any interested person may file comments on the Petition by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments or by filing such comments with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00274.

On or before March 12, 2021, any interested person or entity may participate as a respondent by filing, with the Clerk of the Commission at the address above or scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling/, a notice of participation in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice. Notices of participation shall include the email addresses of the party or its counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00274. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.

On or before April 16, 2021, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission and serve on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case, and each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, including 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2020-00274.

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

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

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY d/b/a DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA

CO MME NT

PAGE 12 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Wildlife abounds in our urban area — not just squirrels and chipmunks, but deer, foxes, opossums, raccoons and, I am told, the occasional coyote. A snowy day like last Sunday demonstrates that abundance, as the unblemished snow highlights the paw and hoof prints of our four-footed neighbors. The atmosphere may be hushed by the gently falling flakes, but the tracks show lots of relatively unseen activity. Mother Nature paints those pictures rarely in our area, so the beauty of a fresh snowfall is to be treasured, even as it affects schedules and traffic.

Older areas like Mason District, among the first to have residential and commercial neighborhoods constructed decades ago, are pursuing revitalization opportunities, to bring new investment and vibrancy. Urban Design Guidelines were updated for the Bailey’s Crossroads/ Seven Corners area previously, and now the Annandale Urban Design Guidelines are undergoing the same process. New design topics such as public art and complete street sections are being added, to be consistent with other districts. You can review the draft Volume 11: District Design Guidelines for Annandale, watch an educational video, and submit your comments at fcrevite.org/annandale/ design-guidelines. Comments may be submitted until Feb. 25. A virtual presentation is planned for Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Visit the website for more details.

Another aspect of an older area is the many longtime residents who have called Mason District home for 30, 40 years or more. They helped build our community, not by physical structures, but by their personal attributes, which they shared with us in many different ways. Sadly, Mason District lost two great friends last week, with the passing of former Park Authority Board member Frank Vajda, and renowned Sephardic musician Flory Jagoda.

Frank Vajda represented Mason District on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board for 16 years, retiring in 2017 when he and his wife, Judie, decided it was time to downsize from their large

home in the Camelot neighborhood. Like many Mason District residents, Frank had a 30-year career as an Air Force officer, and then continued his public service in many volunteer capacities.

He was Magister (or president) of the Court of Camelot in the early 1990s, and was a stalwart Neighborhood Watch coordinator (Camelot has the oldest continuing serving Neighborhood Watch in the nation).

Frank also ran Camelot’s annual candle/luminaria sale, which raised thousands of dollars for Children’s Hospital for many years. In 2016, Frank was named a Knight of Camelot by his civic association; that honorary action gave him the title of “Sir.” I also selected Frank to be Mason District’s “Lord Fairfax” in 2011, so he had several titles to choose from, in addition to his military rank of Colonel. Frank loved our parks, and was instrumental in obtaining additional parkland, such as Hogge Park and Monch Farm Park. He also was a wonderful co-host of the “Spotlight by Starlight” concerts at Mason District Park, and was an avid supporter of the Park Authority’s garden plot program. Frank’s legacy is one of service and friendship, and he will be sorely missed.

Flory Jagoda, who was 97, escaped Bosnia during World War II, and devoted her new life in America to keeping alive the rich musical heritage and culture of her native Sephardic Judaism. Her efforts were recognized by the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Flory was small in stature, but her musical talent and flair were huge. I remember seeing her perform in costume at a Lake Barcroft event.

Flory probably was in her late 70s by then, but her energy and passion captivated us all. What a great lady!  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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

CRIME REPORT Week of January 25 – 31, 2021

Larceny from Building- 6600 blk Wilson Blvd, January 25, between 3 and 4 PM, items of value were taken from a shopping cart while the owner was intentionally distracted.

Fraud- 400 blk S Maple Ave, January 26, an incident of fraud was reported.

Assault - 100 blk W Broad St, January 26, 3:45 PM, an irate customer threw a candy bar at an

employee.

Credit Card Theft, Failure to Return Bailed Vehicle- 100 blk Hillwood Ave, December 29, a stolen credit card was used to rent a vehicle which remains missing.

Destruction of Property- 100 blk Park Ave, January 28, 4:20 PM, an interior door was damaged by a known individual, who left the premises.

Larceny- Shoplifting-100 blk W Broad St. January 28, 5:05

PM, items of value were taken.

Suspect described as a black male, with a black face mask and brown leather jacket.

Drunk in Public-100 blk Hillwood Ave, January 28, 7:49 PM, a male, 60, of no fixed address, was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Driving Under the Influence-1000 blk Hillwood ave, January 29, 10:01 PM, a male, 34, of Bailey’s Crossroads, VA, was arrested for driving under the influence.

Driving Under the Influence-200 blk S Washington Street, January 30, 10:31 PM, a male 25, of Alexandria VA, was arrested for driving under the influence.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Sentator Dick Saslaw’s

Richmond Report February is Black History Month. From Barbara Johns to President Obama, there are many individuals who readily come to mind who have been trailblazers and influential leaders in their professions and in the social sphere. I salute the Black legislators whom I have served with over the years in the Commonwealth.

Based on constituent outreach, the rollout and distribution of the vaccine is front and center on people’s minds. For the record, we are nearing 800,000 vaccinated Virginians with about 8 percent having had the requisite two doses. In Fairfax County there is a waiting list with 100,000 eligible people trying to schedule an appointment. The priorities in Phase 1b continue to be first responders, essential workers, teachers, and individuals that are responsible for providing government services. Rebuilding the economy, getting people back to work, and reopening schools are the prizes we are keeping our eyes on for administering the vaccine.

We need to focus on ramping up production and bolstering the “shots in arms” effort that includes hospitals, medical providers, health districts and large-scale organized vaccination events. After a slow start, Covid-19 vaccinations in the Commonwealth have seen a marked turnaround. Virginia is fifth in the nation in the number of vaccine doses administered per day, despite being the 12th largest state. More than 84 percent of our first doses have been put in arms. That is more than triple the daily vaccinations we were doing three weeks ago.

Highlights of the war on Covid-19 include the announcement that Johnson and Johnson is seeking FDA approval for its one shot vaccine. At the same time, President Biden is taking steps to get additional doses delivered to the states as quickly as production permits. Back here in the Commonwealth, we are receiving a 16 percent increase in our share of the vaccine. I am asking you to be patient and do your part to curb the spread of this pandemic.

The legislative session is operating at warp speed and we are now at Crossover, the time for each chamber to finish work on its own bills and take up the others. The days are extremely long and intense. Policy change should be deliberative and driven by facts. It actually does require a thoughtful deep dive to prevent unintended consequence.

I am the chief patron of the “G3” bill (SB1405) working its way through the Senate. “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” is a pathway for Virginians to retool for the future. Climbing out of the depths of this economic downturn caused by the pandemic, we need a skilled workforce to rightfully reclaim our place in the global economy. This is timely and appropriate legislation.

Funding for this investment has been proposed in the budget.

Legalizing recreational use of marijuana has been front and center during the General Assembly.

SB1406 addresses simple possession, criminal penalties, as well as expungement. The bill has been in full committee, subcommittee, and worked on daily among legislators to get it to its best place. I have no doubt when it gets to the floor of the Senate, there will be a lengthy debate. I have followed this initiative closely and plan to vote for final passage once due diligence is completed.

A bill to abolish the death penalty is also before legislators. This is a complex issue with advocates on both sides making compelling arguments. The questions that have divided Virginians rest with humanity from this ultimate punishment, whether it is a deterrent, as well as how to address the most heinous offenses resulting in the death of a victim. I have voted for passage of SB1165.

Criminal Justice Reform continues with debate on many related issues. I believe until we can incentivize and retain the best in public safety, we have a bigger problem.

To that end I’ve submitted budget amendments. The Senate will deliver its amended budget on Sunday.

The Senate took an action to censure one of its members, Amanda Chase, for conduct unbecoming an elected official. Make no mistake about it, the action we took came after much reflection and debate.

In her short career, Ms. Chase has a long history of what could easily be deemed behavior unbecoming an elected official. In a dramatic address to the Senate, she was unapologetic and inappropriately attacked many others in the room. SR91 passed mostly along party lines, 24 -9. Six members elected NOT to vote on the matter.

Sine Die is scheduled for Feb. 11. Stay tuned as the details for completed legislative business continues to evolve.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Impeachment & the Dustbin-Bound GOP

Notwithstanding any of his more traditionally criminal acts, we must go into next week’s impeachment trial of Donald Trump with a reminder to all, and especially the Republicans who drank the Kool Aid and so still think it’s cool to defend the most despicable crook ever in the White House, that over the course of this man’s one four year term as president he succeeded in giving over the all three branches of the U.S. government to his adversaries.

Quite the formidable hero of his party, this man — not!

Within a year of his being in office, the entire government of the Commonwealth of Virginia flipped to the Democrats, but that was only for starters. First the House, then the FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS presidency by seven and a half million votes and lastly, the Senate (with the two upset special election victories in Georgia topping it off in January) all went Democratic under his watch. That’s really something worth holding onto for the Republicans.

And, trust me, this albatross is not about to let go of the damnation-destined sinking GOP sailors who with glazed unblinking eyes and stiffened torsos slip below the surface like the briny cadavers that many have already become.

The value of the impeachment proceedings that will commence next week will lie in the ability of the full force of the case against him to be brought out for the entire U.S. population to see. It will have little concern for an actual ability to convict, since it is assured the spineless Republicans in the Senate will prevent that. But it should be presented as one of the most shocking and convincing cases ever to make prime time that the U.S. public may ever get to see. It’s the sensibilities of 330 million American lives that are the proper jury for this proceeding, and Trump’s accusers must make the most of the opportunity.

Should they succeed, and all the evidence is there in plain sight for them, then not only Trump, but every one of sycophant allies who were in positions to know, must also be run out of town by this.

There should be no pulling of punches.

All the blows should be aimed at the back of the head, as all my coaches taught.

Apparently Mitch McConnell is about the only one in his party who can see what is coming and it’s because among Trump loyalists he’s about the only one with a functioning brain. The lemmings have already locked themselves into high gear and are blindly galloping at top speed, oh so fervently, forward.

(Apologies for the mixed metaphors, from drowning sailors to galloping lemmings, but my mind is veritably ablaze with images of what is now occurring. Perhaps this is its way of releasing itself from the vice grip of insanity it was forced to experience the last four years under Trump, the every single day’s God-awful tweets and inanities we all experienced. It also helps to enjoy a single late night cocktail drunk from a new Biden-Harris emblazoned glass!)

In regards to that, the toast must go to not only our new White House team, but to the truly extraordinary effort of the American people to do the nearly impossible, to root out a lying genocidal tyrant after only one term in office.

It cannot be overstated how difficult it was to do this.

The power of the incumbency is a remarkable thing, and it was evident from Day One how Trump intended to play it to the hilt, not only against his political opponents but against truth, itself.

His was the first fully “postmodern” presidency, incorporating its radical “post-truth” elements, to repudiate all the norms of human reason and sensibility and assert that power and pleasure are the only true measures of social behavior, such that love and all the rest are mere fictions designed to delude the masses.

A tyrant with such anti-human proclivities should be mighty hard to unseat. But, ladies and gentlemen, fellow true patriots, we did it.

It was the core human values that so many refused to abandon, both in positions of power and in long voter lines, that did it.

CO MME NT

FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021 | PAGE 13

Nicholas F. Benton

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

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Black History Month, for Steve Hammond, forms just part of his ongoing retirement project of ferreting out new truths about Arlington.

The seventh-generation descendant of the Syphax family that came up from slavery at Arlington House, Hammond — still a scientist emeritus after 40 years at the U.S. Geological Survey — has been busy with a flurry of presentations about his ancestry, reinterpretations of local history and policy advocacy.

His pandemic-era Zoom talks have included exploration of family patriarch William Syphax (circa 1773-1850), who bought his freedom in 1817 and set up a business next to the historic Carlyle House in Alexandria. This Syphax worked with a neighbor, Quaker pharmacist and abolitionist Edward Stabler, to save money to free the rest of his family.

Equally ground-breaking is Hammond’s talk on ancestor Nancy Syphax (circa 1791-1880), on her enslavement at Decatur House in Washington, D.C., and her being sold down to New Orleans. Last month, I heard his lecture on Louisiana ancestor Peter Joseph (1842-1906), named an elector for the controversial 1876 presidential election.

Hammond supplements stories passed down in the family with census documents, manumission papers and news clippings.

His “Reconstructing a Family Narrative” approach is researched around his concept of FAN — fam-

ily, associates and neighbors. A resident of Sterling, he gets help from his California cousin Donna Kunkel in keeping scattered Syphax descendants informed about Arlington House.

Joining the Arlington House Foundation helped Hammond pitch in when the National Park Service created its new exhibit on the enslaved community. The assertion that the plantation’s builder, George Washington Parke Custis (1781-1857) fathered at least one child with an enslaved woman is explored in a 2018 talk Hammond gave to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History.

He also is conversant in the contributions of John Syphax (1838-1906), a leader among the formerly enslaved at Freedman’s Village near Arlington House. That Syphax in 1888 wrote to Secretary of War W.C. Bodicott to protest the “horrid” conditions at the government-run compound. The result: compensation for residents before the village was closed in 1900.

Hammond helps create family trees showing genealogical links between certain Syphaxes and Martha Washington, via Maria Syphax’s probable status as an illegitimate daughter of Custis. Her wedding in 1821 in the mansion, and Custis’s subsequent freeing of Maria and her children with a gift of land, are clues that bolster the oral tradition.

The Syphax descendants still hope for collaboration with LeeCustis kin to compare results of DNA tests, as a sort of cooperative “truth serum,” Hammond confides.

Last fall he boosted legisla-

tion to remove slavery-defender and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from the site’s official name.

Calling it simply “Arlington House” would make the Park Service memorial “more inclusive of everyone who worked, lived and died there,” Hammond said. (Rep. Don Beyer plans to reintroduce the bill soon.)

And as our county board has empaneled volunteers to explore alternatives to the Arlington House logo, Hammond took a complex position. He doesn’t buy one board member’s notion that Arlington House, being federal property, isn’t linked to our modern community.

Yet he would “encourage the Park Service to realize its responsibility to be more community-oriented and work with the county as a partner and stakeholder.” *** Local history buffs recently inquired what became of the weapon used to assassinate American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell on Aug. 25, 1967, at our Dominion Hills Shopping Center.

The 1920s-vintage German Mauser semi automatic pistol used by convicted killer John Patler (a disgruntled Rockwell associate) remains in possession of the Arlington Circuit Court, I was informed by retired clerk of the court David Bell.

“There has been sporadic interest in it over the years, including by a couple of card-carrying Nazis,” Bell said of the item of evidence stored in an undisclosed location.

“Because of its intrinsic and historical value, it has always been under an extra degree of security.”

Someday, Bell agreed, it might be given to the Arlington Historical Society, given proper security.

CA L E NDA R

PAGE 14 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021

FALLS CHURCH

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CALENDAR LOCALEVENTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Falls Church Farmers Market.

The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and more.

City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) 9 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit fallschurchva. gov/547/Farmers-Market-To-Go.

VIRTUALEVENTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Online Preschool Story Time.

Those who are interested can join the Mary Riley Styles Library staff live on the library’s Facebook page for a virtual fun time of stories, songs and rhymes. For ages 0-5. Visit facebook.com/mrspl to join in on the activities. 10:30 – 11 a.m.

New Yorker Discussion Group.

If any residents enjoy The New Yorker but wish they had someone to chat about it with, they are encouraged to drop into the monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share their thoughts on what they’ve read in a variety of articles. This month’s article will be “America’s War on Syrian Civilians” by Anand Gopal. This discussion will be held online. Visit fallschurchva. gov/LibraryAtHome for details.

2 – 3 p.m.

staff will email participants a link to Microsoft Teams before the program start time. Participants should have their device ready to go prior to the start of the program. 9 – 10 a.m.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 ESOL Conversation Group (online). Interested participants can practice their English with a weekly ESOL conversation group.

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

7 – 8:30 p.m.

City Council Meeting (online).

City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of the month, with the exception of August and December when only one meeting is held. These meetings are open to the public and are conducted to allow Council Members to discuss upcoming legislation and policy issues and the public is invited to speak. All participating members of the City Council will be present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic meeting via fallschurchva.gov/CouncilMeetings. The meeting may also be viewed on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35).

This meeting complies with the Freedom of Information Act. Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. 7:30 – 11 p.m.

THEATER&ARTS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Beginner Birding Club. Families can join a naturalist as the group learns a little more about the feathered friends that hang out in the Northern Virginia area. In this club, participants will learn the life histories of birds, how to identify them based on sound and appearance and create a bird journal for future use. To register, contact 703-228-4747. Park

“Passport to the World of Music” Live Streaming Series. Creative Cauldron returns with two performances this weekend as a part of its virtual “Passport to the World of Music’’ series. On Friday, Feb. 5, Project Locrea, the musical alliance with varying instrumentation created by flutist Yana Nikol will introduce audiences to the different musical traditions of the world

BONGO DISTRICT will be performing at The State Theatre on Friday. (Photo: Facebook.Com/ BongoDistrictMusic)

seen through the lenses of artistic creativity. Combining traditional instruments with western classical and jazz instruments, Project Locrea’s focus is on bringing better understanding and deeper connection between cultures. On Saturday, Feb. 6, Karen Kelleher will perform her solo concert, “There and Back Again.” Last seen in the Helen Hayes nominated ensemble of “Disenchanted” and “Beauty and the Beast,” Kelleher returns to the Cauldron with her stunning vocal range in this debut solo show. Her cabaret will be a celebration of music from all around the world. All Tickets are $15; both concerts will be live-streamed 7:30 p.m. on their respective show dates. Visit creativecauldron.org for tickets and information.

the ‘90s) plays hits from every decade. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church).

5 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Honky Tonk Casanovas. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Josh Allen Acoustic Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

Bongo District. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 5:30 p.m. 703-2370300.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Jazz with the Sarah Laven Jones Group. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-8589186.

David Thong (from Back to

Gloria Chien, piano — Chamber

LIVEMUSIC

Music at The Barns (streaming).

Presented by Wolf Trap. 7:30 p.m.

703-255-1900.

A Song & A Slice: Moose Jaw (Indoors + Distanced). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna).

7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

New Blue Soul Band with Mary Shaver. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Adrian Ivy & Dean Cramer. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 3:45 p.m. 703-2419504.

Two By Sea. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-237-0300.

Little Lawnmowers. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m.

703-858-9186.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021 | PAGE 15

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

Currently accepting new patients

City Business License Renewal Forms To Be Mailed Soon Falls Church City’s 2021 Business License Renewal Forms will be mailed later this month.

The mailing is later than usual due to Covid-19 related delays with the programming vendor.

Businesses that would like to renew their license prior to receiving the official mailing may do so by online at www.fallschurchva.gov/442/Business-License-Tax-Forms. The deadline to renew is by March 1. All paid 2020 business license holders are in good standing until that date, due to the annual two month grace period for January and February. Questions regarding business license renewals or business taxes should be sent to the Falls Church City Commissioner of the Revenue’s office at (703) 248-5450 or commissioner@fallschurchva.gov. The office is open, masks required, in suite 202W of City Hall’s West Wing at 300 Park Avenue.

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack Offering Meatless Monday Beach Boxes Clare & Don’s Beach Shack is now offering Meatless Monday Beach Boxes starting February 8. The first of the weekly offerings features a homemade crunchy Cesar salad, Italian veggie sausage calzones, and Lazy Mike’s Chocolate gelato. The boxes, which serve two, must be ordered the Friday prior and are to be picked up at Lazy Mike’s on Monday afternoons. For more information or to place an order, visit www.clareanddons.com.

Several F.C. Restaurants Celebrating Super Bowl Several Falls Church restaurants are celebrating Sunday’s big game with party pack specials.

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack is offering Super Bowl Snack Packs that feed four and include buffalo wings, homemade tortilla chips and dips, a vegetable platter, chili dogs or corn dogs, and iced football sugar cookies, while Dogwood Tavern has Nacho Kits and 20 or 40 piece Wing Buckets available, and The State Theatre has Super Bowl Party Boxes with wings, sliders, tots, chips & dips, and poppers for four. The three restaurants also have drink specials available. Visit www.clareanddons.com, www.dogwoodtavern.com, and www.thestatetheatre.com for more information.

The Johnson’s Café Opens on S. Washington Street The Johnson’s Café has opened at 301 S. Washington Street, in the location formerly occupied

by Milagros Restaurant. The New York style café and deli was created to serve fresh, seasonal food, some with an Indian influence, to the Falls Church community. The menu includes breakfast items including sandwiches and pancakes, fresh salads, deli sandwiches, lunch bowls containing Indian butter chicken, roasted half chicken, and tandoori spiced salmon, along with grab & go options and specialty drinks. The menu and offerings will change with seasons and the desires of patrons. The Johnson’s Café is open Mondays and Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.thejohnsonscafe.com.

Reimagine Mainstreet Hosting Discussion with Sen. Ben Cardin Reimagine Mainstreet is hosting Black Small Business Discussion with Senator Ben Cardin on Friday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. The event, a discussion of efforts to aid Black business owners building back from Covid-19, will feature NBA Hall of Famer and Isiah International’s Isiah Thomas, National Urban League’s Marc H. Morial, 1863 Ventures’ Melissa Bradley, , US Black Chambers, Inc.’s Ron Busby, Color of Change’s Rashad Robinson, and Public Private Strategies’ Renee Johnson as well as Incoming Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair, Ben Cardin. For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/2MwrdfX.

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

• Get the Front Page Early • Get the Lead Stories • See the Whole Paper Online.

Visit our website for More perks!

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

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

F.C. Chamber Hosting Informal Networking Breakfast The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce is hosting an informal networking breakfast on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning about the Chamber and meeting local business leaders. Attendees are encouraged to pick up breakfast from a local restaurant to enjoy while on the Zoom call. For more information or to register, visit the calendar at www.FallsChurchChamber.org.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

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

PAGE 16 | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021

C L AS S I F I E DS

AUCTIONS

Public Notice

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

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PLANNING COMMISSION

HELP WANTED DENTAL ASSISTANT: General Dentist Office, Falls Church, VA, near West FC Metro.

Willing to train right candidate. Hours: Full or Part-time hours available (around children’s schedule). Email resume with salary requirements to: jobs122@yahoo.com.

DENTAL RECEPTIONIST General Dentist Office, Falls Church, VA, near West F. C. Metro. Hours: Full or Part-time hours available (around children’s schedule).

Email resume with salary requirements to: jobs122@yahoo.com.

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

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

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

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase.

10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-614-6667 ATTN. CONTRACTORS: Advertise your business statewide and in other states.

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

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

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

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

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

NOTICE: The meeting for which this agenda has been posted will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. All participating members of Planning Commission will be present at this meeting through electronic means; and all members of the public are welcome to view the meeting at www.fallschurchva.gov/PC and on FCCTV (Cox 11, RCN 2, Verizon 35).

On Wednesday, February 17, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., the City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a virtual public hearing and meeting. Public comments will be accepted electronically only until the end of the public hearing. Please submit comments to plan@fallschurchva.gov. The Planning Commission will consider the following item and recommendation to City Council: (TR21-02) RESOLUTION TO AMEND RESOLUTION 2018-37 TO CHANGE THE APPROVED VOLUNTARY CONCESSIONS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DATED AUGUST 10, 2018 TO PROVIDE FOR ESCROW SECURITY FOR THE THEATRE USE INSTEAD OF WITHHOLDING RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS “FOUNDERS ROW” ON APPLICATION BY MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL TRUST (FOUNDERS ROW HOLDING, LLC) Meeting agenda and materials will be available on the following page prior to the public meeting: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/PC. The application materials for the Founders Row (Theater Condition) proposed special exception amendment is available on the project webpage: http://www.fallschurchva. gov/foundersrow This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA Public hearing and final City Council action is scheduled for the following on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matters may be heard.

RV PARKING SPACE wanted for Class B+, 8ft W x 24ft L x 11ft H. Leave message at 571-213-4657.

(TR21-02) RESOLUTION TO AMEND RESOLUTION 2018-37 TO CHANGE THE APPROVED VOLUNTARY CONCESSIONS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DATED AUGUST 10, 2018 TO PROVIDE FOR ESCROW SECURITY FOR THE THEATRE USE INSTEAD OF WITHHOLDING RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS “FOUNDERS ROW” ON APPLICATION BY MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL TRUST (FOUNDERS ROW HOLDING, LLC)

Visit us at fcnp.com

The ordinance referenced below was given first reading on December 14, 2020. Public hearings, second readings, and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

WANTED

(TO20-26) ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REENACT, AND RECODIFY CHAPTER

48, “ZONING,” ARTICLE II, “ADMINISTRATION,” DIVISION 3, “AMENDMENTS,” SEC. 48-90, “SPECIAL EXCEPTION” TO EDIT THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CRITERIA TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY

BY ALLOWING CONSIDERATION OF PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE NEWER, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ADDITIONAL, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING NECESSARY FOR EXEMPTION FROM OTHER REQUIREMENTS, AND TO SPECIFICALLY REFERENCE CONSIDERATIONS OF SMALL AREA PLAN GUIDANCE, WALKABILITY, AND STREETSCAPE Public hearings will be held electronically.

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

Written public hearing comments may be sent until noon on the day of the meeting to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. Council members will attend the meeting through electronic means and members of the public may view the meeting at www.fallschurchva. gov/CouncilMeetings. Video will be available after the meeting both online and on FCCTV. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month.

Architectural Advisory Board (Alternate) Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Board of Equalization Board of Zoning Appeals (Alternate) Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation City Employee Review Board Environmental Sustainability Council Historic Architectural Review Board Human Services Advisory Council Retirement Board Towing Advisory Board (Towing Representative) Urban Forestry Commission Regional Boards/Commissions Advisory Social Services Board Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Long Term Care Coordinating Council We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law.

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

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Home Improvement

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KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG

By Eileen Levy At first go slow, Losing weight, You will soon know!

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

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1. “Oh, hogwash!”

6. Longtime Connecticut senator Christopher ____ 10. “____ homo” 14. Grammy category 15. One-on-one Olympics event 16. Letters before sigmas 17. Product that competes with Uncle Ben’s 19. QB Marino and others 20. MTV show once hosted by Carson Daly 21. Avian runner Down Under 22. Many a Lawrence Welk dance tune 23. “Rock-____ Baby” 24. Citrusy mixed drink 27. Brit’s washroom 28. Kvetchers’ cries 29. Boozehound 30. The ten in “first and ten”: Abbr.

31. Most-wanted group 33. Where watermelons grow 35. “Good Golly Miss Molly” singer 40. “____ Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” 41. Clear data from 43. Lays flat 46. Dr. with Grammys 47. Donkey 49. Old televangelism letters 50. It’s formed through the metamorphism of snowflakes 53. Reproductive cell 54. Oaf 55. Vintner’s tub

STRANGE BREW

56. Relieved (of) 57. Kristoff’s pet reindeer in “Frozen” 58. He became the first AfricanAmerican U.S. Attorney General in 2009 ... or something you might call 17-, 24-, 35 or 50-Across 62. Mount, with “up” 63. “Beloved” author Morrison 64. Ceaselessly 65. Exuberant cries 66. Baseball’s “Slammin’ Sammy” 67. Little monsters

FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021 | PAGE 17

Down 1. Juice brand with a distinctive bottle 2. Classroom missile 3. The Wars of the Roses ended in his reign 4. As ____ (generally) 5. Cambodia’s Angkor ____ 6. Layer of skin 7. Poppy drug 8. 12th of 12: Abbr.

9. Actor Billy ____ Williams 10. Triage MD 11. Like milk of magnesia 12. Bopped on the bean 13. College application pieces 18. Hard to grasp 22. Tries to arouse interest in 23. Culinary phrase 25. Actor Morales 26. Campus military org.

28. German Expressionist who

JOHN DEERING

Sudoku

was blacklisted by the Nazis 32. Filthy dwelling 33. Opposite of post34. Snarky laugh syllable 36. Angler’s fly, e.g.

37. At any time 38. 50 Cent piece 39. One with a 1.0 GPA 42. Common street name 43. Cold war mole 44. Singer Newton-John 45. In a Yoda-like manner 47. Tree favored by giraffes 48. “Family Guy” creator MacFarlane 51. Dairy Queen supply 52. “Molly ____ Can’t Say That, Can She?” (1990s bestseller) 53. DuPont fiber 58. UFO crew 59. Aussie hopper 60. Clip-____ (certain sunglasses) 61. Ways: Abbr.

Last Thursday’s Solution A S K M O M

O U I O U I

R E T U R N

E G A D

P A V E

E V A N

E T C G U R O T O

B R E T H O I M C O E E L O U D H E H U H

E R I T R E A

R A N O N

S H T O R E E A R D I O L N E

I C A M E

K E N O

A D D U P A T T T O A T G A V A A L M T T O S C O E O S A L E

F I G T H A T L C O I E L L Y A H E S T O

I B S D E A O G O E D A M

N O S H

T O T O

S O A K I N

S T R O K E

A S T R I D

By The Mepham Group

Level 1 2 3 4

1

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

© 2020 N.F. Benton

1/24/21

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

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2021 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

LO CA L

PAGE 18 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2020

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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25 � 10 Y���� A�� �� ��� N���-P���� Falls Church News-Press Vol. V, No. 45 • February 1, 1996

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 49 • February 3,, 2011

Council Returns Deposits To All 5 Wittier Bidders

F.C. Assessor’s Report Appears Contradicted By Sales Numbers

After hearing from over 20 citizens who came out on a rainy Ssaturday morning to speak out against accepting any of the current bids at a puplic hearing, members of the Falls Church City Council agreed to return the $50,000 deposits to all five bidders who responded to last summer’s “request for proposal” to develop the Whittier site.

A summary of annual residential real estate assessments sent out from the Falls Church City Hall Tuesday showed a modest four percent increase in the value of single-family detached homes in the City over the last year, a rate apparently contradicted sharply by City Hall data available to the public, sources have told the News-Press.

MY SHELTER PETS ARE MY BEST FRIENDS

COCO was born at the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba, in 2013. She moved to Falls Church in 2015 and loves to go for walks in area parks — especially when there’s some fresh snow on the ground.

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

OLIVIA MUNN WITH CHANCE AND FRANKIE: ADOPTED 2014 AND 2016.

THESHELTERPETPROJECT.ORG

There’s a time to check whether your kid’s in the right car seat.

This isn’t it.

Car crashes are a leading killer of children 1 to 13. Is your child in the right car seat? Don’t think you know. Know you know.

safercar.gov/TheRightSeat

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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Kidney Donor

FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021 | PAGE 19

Continued from Page 5

XANDER TILOCK, a junior at Justice High School, played two of the lead characters in Wolfpack Theatre’s production of “The Secret Adversary.” (Photo: Courtesy Wolfpack Theatre)

The (Virtual) Show Goes On at Justice High

by Mark Dreisonstok

Falls Church News-Press

As most schools and public gatherings are closed during the coronavirus era of social distancing, what has become of the traditional school play? Wolfpack Theatre at Justice High School has hit upon a very creative solution.

Rebranding itself the “WP Radio Hour,” this troupe of young actors presented “The Secret Adversary,” a 1922 Agatha Christie mystery adapted by Tracy Wells. The play is set after the First World War, and childhood friends Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley, now in their early twenties, have formed a sort of detective agency called the Young Adventurers, Ltd. The mystery actually started on the RMS Lusitania, the doomed ocean liner famously sunk by the Germans in World War I. In the story, a document was handed over to young American Jane Finn — a treaty which will now embarrass the British government and which villainous spies are thus plotting to acquire.

The story is also rich in characterization and some humor as a romance develops gradually between Tommy and Tuppence in the course of their adventures.

In the last days of January, the cast members performed this play in two parts as an audio drama on-line, with the performers in different locations in order to preserve social distancing requirements. As

an added feature, the cast performed in the style of radio dramas of yesteryear, complete with music, sound effects, narration, and dramatic pauses. Many employed the British accents for announcements they used for the “The Secret Adversary” drama proper. Period songs were included, such as a solo vocal performance of George Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” and a choral group singing “Ain’t We Got Fun,” a Tin Pan Alley favorite tune written in 1921. Radio-style adverts (written by the students) were used, plugging Falls Church businesses such as Ireland’s Four Provinces Restaurant and Dominion Camera, with one announcement for Arlington-based Encore Stage and Studio, where many Falls Church school youths also live out their passion for drama. The standout “extra feature” accompanying “The Secret Adversary” was a deftly performed version of the legendary Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comic baseball routine “Who’s on First?”

We contacted some of the Justice High School dramaturgy coterie who took part in the production.

Xander Tilock, a junior, who played two of the lead characters, Tommy Beresford and Julius Hersheimmer, told News-Press that he “Greatly enjoyed working on an online production, as it was the first of its kind in my theatre career so far. Working on two different characters was also a fun challenge.”

Tilock recently wrote and directed “A Winter Star” with Encore

Stage and Studio.

“I hope to continue bringing stories to our community in these difficult times, and I was excited for audiences to enjoy this modern take on a classic,” Tilock said.

Senior Hailey Bowman served as an announcer and as a waitress named Annie. She has this to share about her experience with “The Secret Adversary”: “One of the things that I have enjoyed immensely while working on this production was getting to see all of my theater friends, old and new, work together to find a way to keep up the usual spirit of theater that we have when we can be in person.”

Finally, News-Press spoke with the production’s director and Justice’s Theatre Arts teacher, Jewel Schrader Orem, who said “I enjoyed seeing the students be able to talk to each other and spend time with each other and create with each other in these strange times. To have their theatre family back together I think was very important. I also love the creative process and how many different ideas came about because of different students’ talents and delving into the old-time radio program.”

Not only did the production of “The Secret Adversary” live up to its promise of presenting winter evenings of “Comedy, Mystery, Singing!” It also invites other schools to follow its path in preserving the tradition of the school play in the age of social distancing during a pandemic.

that I would go into the pool for Torey.”

It took a few months until Fay would be well enough to be cleared for the surgery, and out of a few other possible donors, Keating ended up being the one that the doctors wanted to move forward with.

“Erin called me to tell me she was a match and was going to be my donor,” Fay said. “We later met for the first time at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, where we both happened to have appointments.”

Keating said the decision was clear for her as soon as she learned about how severe kidney disease is. Roughly 13 people die everyday while waiting for a kidney, and 14 people a day are added to the list of needing a kidney.

In a time like this when people feel like they lack control of their lives due to Covid-19, helping combat a disease with a proven strategy gave Keating some resolve.

She just wishes more people were willing to donate.

“I’m not judging anyone for

not doing it because it’s a massive decision, but it’s crazy that we don’t talk about it a little bit more,” Keating said. “My decision came along with knowing that if you are deemed healthy enough you can donate a kidney with very little risk to yourself, and save someone else.”

Keating said she heard from people who were astonished that she was willing to donate a kidney to someone that she had never met before.

Even the hospital said that it was rare that they do this surgery for people with no family or friend connection.

The recovery after the surgery has been slower than anticipated, Keating noted, but the experience was rewarding and an overwhelming emotional experience knowing she was able to extend someone’s life.

One of Fay’s students is the son of Regan Davis, who was eager to share this story with the public.

“It’s good news,” said Davis.

“I thought it would be nice to bring some attention to this to share some positivity and perhaps raise some awareness of how important organ donation is, and put this information out into the universe.”

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2021

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