February 6 — 12, 2020
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXIX No. 51
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
New Children’s Indoor Play Back Where It Belongs Center Set for E. Fairfax Lot Use Approved by Episcopal Church Vote
by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
A new, single-story children’s play and exercise center is the latest project unveiled by Falls Church-based developer and chair of its Economic Development Authority Bob Young. His proposal would bring Scramble, a European-style indoor play center for infants and children, to a new building in the Falls Church Episcopal-owned lot adjacent to the Lily building on E. Fairfax St. In a deal that required a vote of approval at the annual meeting of the church last Sunday, its result eliciting a cheer from the attendees, the project will be built on land owned by the church and leased by Young. It is on part of the land, currently used as
a parking lot, Young has leased that houses the strip of businesses along E. Fairfax renovated in the characteristic Young-style of art nouveau design. The lot, located at 130 E. Fairfax St. across from the Falls Church Episcopal, is now used for overflow surface parking for the church. Outside of Sunday services, however, it is often vacant, and the church was enthusiastic to learn that Young had struck a deal for its development. The building will be constructed “by right,” but will need site plan approval from the commission. While the response from the commission, being introduced to the plan for the first time, was favorable, it was not so with vice chair Brent Krasner.
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VIRGINIA HISTORIC MARKER T-40, “Lincoln Reviews Troops at Bailey’s Crossroads,” was lost in 2017 after it was temporarily removed for sidewalk renovations. After efforts from Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross (front, left) and History Commissioner Naomi Zeavin (front, center) to locate the missing marker were to no avail, help from State Senator Dick Saslaw secured an order for a new placard which was installed in December. (Photo: News-Press)
As LWV Centennial Celebrated, Voter Registration Deadline Looms
by Christopher Jones
Falls Church News-Press
As last weekend marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters with a robust celebration hosted by the Falls Church chapter, the league’s local chapter has contin-
ued to work up to the deadline to get citizens to register to vote in the March 3 “Super Tuesday” Democratic primary in Virginia. That deadline is this Monday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. Persons can check registration status or register online at vote.virginia.gov or at the City Voter Registrar office at
City Hall, 300 Park Avenue. The LWV student chapter at George Mason High School, the only such chapter in Virginia, has been out in force on the Mason campus this week following participation in the anniversary celebration with the word that one can register if turning 18 anytime
before to Nov. 3 general election, and vote in the March 3 primary, as well. The Falls Church branch of the League of Women Voters commemorated a century of the parent organization’s existence and the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that grant-
ed women’s suffrage last Sunday. Attended by Mayor David Tarter, Vice Mayor Marybeth Connelly, City Council members Letty Hardi and Phil Duncan and the City’s first woman mayor, Carol DeLong (1980-88), all
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Inside This Week F.C. Curbside Recycling Nixes Glass Starting Feb. 19
East Falls Church Metro Station Will Close for Summer
Mustang Boys Basketball Gets Back on Winning Track
See page 14
See News Briefs, page 9
See Sports, page 16
The City of Falls Church is joining a regional effort, moving glass recyclables from curbside collection to a central location, with a new pilot program, “Purple Can Club,” it hopes will dispose of the waste in a more effective manner.
Representatives of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority told the City Council Monday that the East Falls Church Station of the Metrorail system’s Orange Line will be closed to the public between May 23 and Sept. 7 for repairs and upgrades.
This week’s 62-29 thumping of Brentsville helped George Mason High School’s boys basketball team regain their winning momentum after reeling from two road losses.
Index
Editorial........................................................ 6 Letters.......................................................6,8 News & Notes.....................................10–11 Comment........................................7,12–13 Business News..........................................15 Sports........................................................16 Calendar.............................................18–19 Classified Ads............................................20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword..................21 Crime Report.............................................22 Critter Corner.............................................22