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February 9 – 15, 2017

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

Fou n d ed 1991 • Vol. X X V I No. 51

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

Inside This Week F.C.’s Davis Dreams Big with Tiny Homes

Falls Church native and George Mason High School alum Pete Davis hopes his tiny house startup has a big future after appearing on “Shark Tank” last month. See page 8

Creative Cauldron Nets 4 Helen Hayes Nods Falls Church’s theater program took another big leap toward a proud regional profile with the release of nominations for the annual D.C.-area Helen Hayes awards that included nominations for best actor and best actress in a musical and best supporting actor and actress in a musical.

Schiller Stuns School Board With Plan for $60+ Million High School Focuses on Citizen Desire for All-New, Cost-Efficient Plan

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

tax rate, the amount the City demands in taxes based on $100 of assessed real estate valuation. The current rate is $1.315, which held steady last April when the Council voted 4-3 to cut $912,600 from the School Board request. A lot of citizen anger at that cut wound up centering, whether deservedly or not, on thenSuperintendent Dr. Toni Jones, who resigned in favor of a more lucrative job last summer, and this year, enrollment at the City’s five schools has grown much faster than projected — at a 6.4 percent

Falls Church’s veteran interim superintendent Dr. Robert Schiller stunned the F.C. School Board late Tuesday night with a new plan for a single-phase construction of a new George Mason High School with an estimated cost of almost half the current $117 million projection for a 1,500 student capacity school. His rough estimate is that it could be done for $60-$70 million. Schiller carried forward logic he introduced at a joint F.C. City Council-School Board work session last week, and then at a City Council work session Monday night, by noting that removing or finding other ways to deal with non-essential elements of a new school construction plan could save millions in taxpayer dollars. His latest iteration was a further advance based on the preponderance of community concerns elicited from a record-turnout town hall event held last Saturday morning at the Henderson Middle School. City Hall officials indicated to the News-Press that the attendance topped 200, virtually unprecedented for a town hall gathering of its type in the City. Summaries of over an hour of small-group deliberations by the participants indicated a strong preference for a single-build high school, for maximum economic development allowable on the 39-acre site, and a great concern for limiting the cost of it all to taxpayers. These came out of the three options presented at the meeting, a simple renovation and minor expansion of the existing

Continued on Page 4

Continued on Page 5

See News Briefs, page 9

David Brooks: Where History is Being Made

James and Deborah Fallows have an excellent sense of where world-shaping events are taking place at any moment — and a fervent commitment to be there to see it happen.. See page 14

Top Seed Mason Girls Head to Postseason

The George Mason High School girls varsity basketball end the regular season on an 11-game win streak to solidify their spot atop the Conference 35 standings. See Sports, page 16

Index Editorial..................6 Letters....................6 News & Notes.10–11 Comment........ 12–14 Food & Dining......15 Sports..................16

Calendar........18–19 Classified Ads......20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........21 Critter Corner.......22 Business News....23

F.C. INTERIM SCHOOL Superintendent Dr. Robert Schiller (middle of those seated on the right) presented his latest plan for a new high school to the F.C. School Board Tuesday night. (Photo: News-Press)

New F.C. Budget Elements Taking Shape, Real Estate Assessments Out Next Week by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Parameters of the coming Fiscal Year 2018 budget process in the City of Falls Church are taking shape this month with the introduction of annual real estate assessments due late next week, a second-quarter financial report of the City’s operation unveiled this week, and the F.C. School Board poised to finalize its request next Tuesday for its annual financial transfer to cover the next school year. While there are predictions that real estate values will rise considerably, as Councilman Phil

Duncan that cited a sale price of a property was 14 percent above its current assessed value, they remain based on anecdotal information. While the official results from City assessor Ryan Davis are, by law, meant to reflect sale values of real estate, some have complained in recent years they are unduly conservative. The assessments coming next week will be a major determinant of how much taxes the City will be able to raise to cover the costs of government and the schools. Over and above that, the City Council retains the authority to raise or lower the real estate

PAGE 2 | FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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F.C. Girds for Yet Another Tough Budget Showdown Continued from Page 1

rate over the anticipated 3.4 percent — leading to another potential clash over funding in this budget go around. In its deliberation over its budget Tuesday night, the School Board members were reminded by vice chair Phil Reitinger that with the $912,600 cut, in the current year there has been a significant drop in per-student allocation. Last year, Fiscal Year 2016, he noted, with student enrollment at 2,509, the allocation from the City Council on a perstudent basis was $15,306. This year, with enrollment at 2,670, the allocation has dropped to $14,781 per student, or a net loss of $1.6 million. Projected growth in enrollment is at 3.5 percent for next fall, but that is an educated guess, at best. While everyone in City government has given lip service to the extraordinary quality of the Falls Church public school system, it is the special role of the school board, as echoed by board member Justin Castillo Tuesday, “that we have to fund what our mission requires of us.”

There has already been some good news for the school board, including an unexpected $300,000 savings in health insurance costs due to lower than projected increases in premium costs and a prospective $278,300 in added revenue from the sell-back of computers as a condition for a four-year lease renewal. But of the $1,668,450 in added revenue that a 2.7 percent increase in the City transfer would provide, almost $600,000 will go to fixed costs, including $250,000 for mandated special education costs, leaving $1,050,400 for socalled discretionary spending to provide for salary increases and of course enrollment growth adding pressure to the needs for additional staffing. All new teacher and staff hires fall into costs beyond the number allocated by the City Council and would, to be accommodated, require a real estate tax rate increase of approximately 3.5 cents. On the City revenue side, the report of the first two quarters of the current fiscal year presented by interim financial officer Melissa Ryman noted that anticipated income commercial

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FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 5

Lower Cost Option for New High School Floated Continued from Page 1

school (precluding any economic development), a two-phased construction of a new school (at the highest net cost of all options and minimal opportunity for economic development) and a single-phase construction of a new school with maximum potential for economic development. Schiller told the School Board Tuesday night that the current plan for the single-phase option comes with an estimated cost of $117 million for a 303,989 square-foot school. But that is with the inclusion of three gyms taking 98,210 square feet, space for a central office for the school system and an addition to Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. He indicated that all these components are not essential for the new high school, especially the fact that a proposed three gyms takes up almost a full third of the space for the school. He noted that in his lengthy career as a highly sought-after school administrator, he’s often seen the problem arise of school districts

seeking new facilities and adding too many extraneous add-ons that drive up the cost to a point of losing citizen support. The plan that Schiller presented to the board late Tuesday called for a continued use of the three gyms already at the high school and the Henderson Middle School. He proposed a portion of the west end of the existing high school would be retained with renovations to include the two gyms already there, with the cafeteria space also there retained for multi-use space. The newer “A Wing” west end classrooms with 12,000 square feet would be retained for a central office separated off from the bulk of the new high school. Then the new school would be built to 200,000 square feet. The Henderson Middle School addition would be delayed until it would actually be needed and the “competition gymnasium” would be the gym that taxpayers paid for to have located in the lower level to the Henderson Middle School less than a decade ago. With that one

already operative, why pay for a new one? The latest Schiller plan would free up eight acres or more for commercial development at the portion closest to the intersection of West Broad and Haycock that could commence with the completion of the new school in 2021. Schiller said his new plan arose from the realization of the two main points that arose from last Saturday’s heavily-attended town hall on the subject of the new school. The first was the sense that a single phase construction of a new school was preferable to a two phase process, and to a mere renovation of the existing high school. The second was the concern for the cost. While the single phase new construction will open up as many as 10 acres for potentially dense commercial development that will eventually help pay for the school, the prevailing estimated $117 million price tag for the new school was daunting, especially given that voters will need to approve a bond

referendum for the project this November. So Schiller’s latest brain child, which came upon him in the wee hours Tuesday night, he said, could achieve both the single phase construction, with its commercial component, and at a significantly lower cost. The School Board Tuesday night resolved to move quickly within the narrow time window to take the steps necessary to have language for a November bond referendum ready by late July to meet the deadline, which is 90 days ahead of an election. While taking no action at this Tuesday’s work session, specific steps became imminent, with vice chair Phil Reitinger saying, “We’re getting to the point we ought to move very aggressively... There is no reason to sit on this. We need to go out and get a request for proposal.” Board chair Lawrence Webb concurred that the renovation option “is off the table,” and John Lawrence and Reitinger agreed. The renovation only option “may be frugal in the short term, but very costly in the

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long term,” Lawrence said. Then, with the issue being solely the best approach to an all-new school (in one or two phases), the two-phase option was dismissed as merely too costly, in fact the most costly option of all. At the City Council’s work session on Monday night, where Schiller attended and spoke, the need for work on the kind of economic development the City will want on the site was discussed, with Mayor David Tarter suggesting that a special task force be formed on that subject to involve the City’s Economic Development Authority and other bodies. A significant advance over the earlier, aborted approach — involving putting out a request for proposal for the combined school construction and economic development components — that was dumped last fall involves not only greater public transparency now, but the ability to seek requests for the two components, the school and the economic development, separately.

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PAGE 6 | FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017

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E D I TO R I A L

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New High School Closer to Reality

In what seems like no time at all, the momentum toward a reasonablypriced, high quality and community-supported new high school project has escalated, raising hopes that there may be time to craft referendum language for this November’s election. We urge the relevant persons at City Hall and school headquarters to jump into the process, which has already been years in the making, and not stall or delay it. The fresh insights of interim F.C. Public School System Superintendent Robert Schiller (see Page 1 this edition), derived from his lengthy career as the superintendent of four school districts and two state school districts, including as the CEO and CRO of the 1997 reorganization of the Baltimore School System and a period heading the City of Los Angeles School System with its 729,000 students, have broken a logjam of option paralysis to create the basis for a definitive pathway forward. Schiller did not do this in a vacuum. The persistent efforts of the City Council and School Board since the 39 acres on which George Mason High and Henderson Middle School now sit were conveyed into the City in January 2014, brought the process to this point, including boiling down options to three for presentation to one of the largest town hall meetings of citizens in Falls Church history just last Saturday. All that provided the context for Schiller to bring his unique contribution to bear. This Tuesday night, he shared his vision with the School Board: namely, an all new high school for $60-$70 million, way below the cost estimate of $117 million that had become accepted in deliberations to that point. He shared his experiences of school boards seeking to build new schools with the passage of bond referendums, and how often they failed because too many non-essential add-ons drove up the price to taxpayers. Falls Church’s has been a classic case of that. For one thing, there’s the inclusion of three new gyms, including a competition gym, in the plans for a new high school. As Schiller pointed out, the square footage of all those prospective gyms added up to almost a full third of the total 300,000 square foot space contemplated. Advocates of a competition gym persuaded F.C. voters to include one in the new Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School on the same campus that was completed in September 2005 and has served in its capacity well the past decade. It is unfathomable in our view that taxpayers should be asked for yet another new one now. So Schiller has come up with a way to add no new gyms by keeping the three that already exist. A brilliant stroke. Finally, our idea: economic development on up to 10 acres on the site could begin right away if developers choose an option to build right away on the site of the football/soccer field, rather than waiting four years for the demolition of the old school.

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We Should Not Sell Land When Renovating Mason

Editor, In response to the Town Hall meeting at Mary Ellen Henderson last Saturday to review the remedy options for repairs needed to George Mason, I pose these questions to consider: Have you ever heard of any school system selling its land for any purpose? I have not. Have you ever passed by any school that has a commercial entity intimately connected to its campus? I know of none.

All schools that I see, and believe me when I say I look all the time, are buffered in some way. Mount Daniel will be renovated without selling land, Thomas Jefferson was renovated without selling land and I think George Mason should be renovated without selling any land. This is a tough issue. I am aware of the concern and deep thought of others. I see the Mason campus as a treasure, a true paradise for academic and physical development.

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Robust renovation is the way to go in my view. Doug Gudenkauf Falls Church

Eliminating Gyms From New School Not a Good Idea Editor, I read with interest your seeming support of the idea of a scaled back version of the phased version of the new school options for George Mason High School in the editorial last week. Reading most of the articles and editorials concerning this project it

appears that the main focus is on economic opportunities. I think the focus should be on the children. The scaled back option you seem to favor eliminates gymnasiums, therefore recreational and fitness opportunities for everyone (students, recreational league participants — adults as well as youths). This country is still in the midst of an obesity epidemic. I think we should embrace both the educational and fitness possibilities for our growing student population. Eliminating gyms may seem like an inconsequential cut, but physical fitness and recreation shouldn’t be overlooked so easily. Jim Gilroy Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 7

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Not to Run From History, But to Learn From It B� J�� O�� N�� G�� H��

This Saturday, The Falls Church and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation will jointly dedicate a stone sidewalk plaque in front of the historic building of The Falls Church. The intention of this plaque is to convey to the public that we hold in our hearts deep regret, and with gratitude and repentance we honor the enslaved people who built The Falls Church. As Congressman Gary Ackerman said in 2012 about a similar proposed acknowledgement regarding the construction of the White House, “While slavery is no moment worthy of national pride, the American way has always been to acknowledge our wrongs and constantly strive for better. It is wrong not to acknowledge wrongs. An acknowledgment of the role of slave labor…would be an important symbol that the United States does not run from its history, but rather learns from it.” What the Congressman said of Americans and American history — that Americans do not run from our history, but rather learn from it — we are saying, all the more, of Christians and Christian history: we do not run from it, but rather learn from it. While many Christians opposed the sin of slavery and were central to the abolitionist movement, it’s a tragic part of our his-

tory that many Christians were complicit in, apologists for, and beneficiaries of the evil of slavery. On Saturday we will acknowledge — more than acknowledge, we will literally carve in stone our repentance of

“We wish to express repentance: a change in intention, direction, and most importantly, behavior.” — that fact. By so doing, we hope to do at least two things. First, we hope to correct an error, by omission, of the church history we present to the public in the form of commemorative plaques. The buildings and grounds of The Falls Church display several signs and plaques that acknowledge famous people associated with the church. There are signs about the church’s foundation, its construction, and its architect, James Wren. There is a city of Falls Church historic marker, commemorative stones for Confederate and Union soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War, a Civil War Trail marker and a Virginia State

Historical Marker. It was a relationship between the leadership of The Falls Church and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation that led to an effort to correct the historical error, by omission, of the role that enslaved peoples played in the construction of The Falls Church. Many of the descendants of enslaved and free residents still live, work and worship in the area. In 2003, several members of The Falls Church and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation began to independently research the history of the construction of our 1769 historic brick church building. Over the ensuring years, the two efforts came together in the forming of The Falls Church Enslaved Workers Acknowledgement Committee, which continued researching historical documents and speaking with local historians, researchers, and city residents. One result of their efforts was to develop language to be used on the commemorative plaque that will placed this Saturday next to the James Wren plaque on the sidewalk outside our historic church. The exact language of the plaque is “With gratitude and repentance we honor the enslaved people whose skill and labor helped build The Falls Church.” The language of “repentance” brings us to the second hope we have in taking this action. The very fact of placing the plaque

is intended as an apology – itself a difficult thing to come by, and rife with risk of controversy. But when it comes to Christian complicity with slavery, apologizing is necessary, but not sufficient: the United States today — and not coincidently, much of Christianity today — still suffers from the hangover of our noxious slave-holding past in the form of individual, ecclesial, and cultural racism. And so we wish to express repentance: a change in intention, direction, and most importantly, behavior. While “apology” is important, absent a change in behavior, it can stay in the realm of emotion and mere talk. “Repentance” is a theological and biblical term that conveys not only a sense of deep regret, but an intention to change one’s behaviors. The plaque is therefore meant to convey, to all who pass by our hallowed buildings and grounds, that we hold in our hearts the deepest regret that enslaved peoples built The Falls Church, and with gratitude and repentance we honor them. We honor them by not running from our history, but learning from it, and working together to reconcile all people to God and to one another.  The Rev. John Ohmer is the rector of The Falls Church. Nikki Graves Henderson is the director of History Projects at the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

Q�� W�� Do you support the latest proposal for a $60 million new high school? • Yes • No

Last Week’s Question:

Would you support a referendum on the ballot for an all-new City of Falls Church high school in November?

• Not sure

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

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

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS] The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor

& Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

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

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GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL alum Pete Davis (green shirt) and business partner Jon Staff make a pitch to the “sharks” on “Shark Tank” last month. (C�� P��)

F.C.’s Davis Dreams Big With Tiny House Startup BY SAM TABACHNIK

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Falls Church resident Pete Davis and business partner Jon Staff walked down a long hallway, through a set of automatic doors, and into “The Tank.” The Tank is not for the faint of heart, and the unprepared can be chewed up and spit out like unwitting minnows. But Davis and Staff were ready to confront the sharks. The predators in question were not the sea’s most feared creatures, but rather five of the world’s most prolific businessmen and women, armed with sharp questions on valuation and biting financial critiques. At stake? Hundreds of thousands of dollars and the direction of Davis’ and Staff’s nascent startup company. On January 27, Davis and Staff appeared on ABC’s hit reality show “Shark Tank” to pitch the duo’s tiny house vacation company, Getaway, designed to help stressed-out city folks disconnect for a night in the great outdoors. The show gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their startups to multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons, and these “sharks” have the opportunity to invest their own money in the businesses.

Davis, a George Mason High School alum, and Staff launched Getaway in 2015 while the two were in graduate school at Harvard University. The business the duo pitched to the sharks is simple: for $99 a night customers can rent a 160-200 square foot tiny house in the middle of the woods, just two hours outside the big city. The rural cabin comes with everything they need to unwind — a comfy bed, hot shower, firewood, marshmallow sticks and other basic staples. The location of your tiny house is kept secret until a week before your stay to help you resist the temptation to do hours of research or planning. The goal is to decompress, not overthink. One week before your arrival, an email is sent with the location of the cabin and a personalized entry code to get in. Then it’s time to lock away the cellphone, stop checking email and breathe for a second. “I think people are really resonating on work-life balance,” Davis says. “People are feeling overworked with the internet, bringing the office to every part of their life, that they want some way to get away.” Even when people do finally get time off, Davis adds, the stress of planning a vacation often

negates the very point of the trip. “People are starting to notice that vacations are kind of broken,” he says. “A vacation is too expensive; it’s too infrequent; it’s too far away; it becomes a big ordeal. It might be something to look forward to, but it’s not stress-reducing. “We said, ‘What about that old-style 1950s idea of not the huge vacation, not the cruise, not the Europe trip but going to Grandpa’s cabin by the lake?’ That’s the idea we were trying to revive and I think it really resonated with people.” The duo debuted their first house, named Ovida, last summer, constructing the cabin with help from Staff’s father. They figured maybe they could rent the house half of the time and use it themselves the other half. Much to the founders’ surprise, the public gobbled up every open date, filling the calendar for months. Getaway now has 10 tiny houses outside Boston and New York with plans on expanding to Washington, D.C. — “so Falls Church residents can also get away!” Davis says — and beyond in the next year and a half. After its profound initial success, “Shark Tank” noticed the quirky business and urged Davis

and Staff to fill out an application to appear on the show. Friends and family as well as former teachers and classmates all eagerly tuned in last month to watch the young entrepreneurs debut their business on a national stage. The sharks, as is their nature, circled them, probing for weaknesses, inefficiencies and fiveyear plans. Finally, Kevin O’Leary and Chris Sacca, two of the sharks, made offers. Davis and Staff conferred. Ultimately, they decided the offers were untenable and said

no to the sharks. Despite not inking a deal with a celebrity business tycoon, the Getaway founders were thrilled with their experience, not to mention the exposure and publicity that comes from an appearance on the show. The houses are tiny, but Davis and Staff are dreaming big. “I really think the reason we succeeded is because we tapped into something that aligns with a lot of things,” Davis says. “And it’s kind of like we hit a geiser and then the geiser exploded outwards and now we’re just riding the wave.”

F.C. NATIVE AND GEORGE MASON High School alum Pete Davis (right) and business partner Jon Staff relax in a tiny house, part of the duo’s �leet in their startup, Getaway. (C�� P��)

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NEWS BRIEFS F.C.’s Cauldron Scores 4 Helen Hayes Nominations Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron theater program took another big leap toward a proud regional profile Monday night with the release of nominations for the annual D.C.-area Helen Hayes awards that included nominations for best actor and best actress in a musical and best supporting actor and actress in a musical. Sam Ludwig was nominated for best actor in the Creative Cauldron production of “Monsters of the Villa Diodati” and Iyona Blake was nominated for best actress in the Cauldron production of “Caroline, or Change.” Also in the Tony Kushner musical, Tiara Whaley was nominated for best supporting actress and Ethan Van Slyke for best supporting actor. Van Slyke is a 14-year-old high school freshman who played the quasi autobiographical role of the playwright’s character in the musical.“Creative Cauldron is honored to have worked with such an amazing group of talented artists this past year, including those young actors just beginning their careers, and proud of the nominations recognizing their achievements. We are committed to bringing our community the highest caliber of professional theater while remaining affordable and accessible to all,” Laura Connors Hull, Producing Director, told the News-Press. A reception marking the anniversary of the Cauldron will be held this Saturday night at the Art Space Falls Church, 400 S. Maple St., followed by the premiere of the Tony Award-winning “Blues in the Night,” starring the Helen Hayes-nominated Iyona Blake.

FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 9

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Knife-Point Robbery in Bailey’s Crossroads Two men and a woman were robbed at knife point in Bailey’s Crossroads late last Saturday night, Fairfax County Police said. At around 11 p.m. the three victims were individually approached by two men in the 3300 block of Glen Carlyn Drive. According to police, the men displayed a knife and demanded the victims’ wallet and phone. The victims realized they had all been robbed by the same suspects and called the police. The suspects, who ran off on foot, were described as Hispanic, around 35 to 40 years old, and wearing dark clothing. None of the victims required medical attention.

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Fairfax Library Board Mulls New Policies Members of the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees met on January 28 at the Government Center for a five-hour board retreat. In addition to receiving training from an official at the Library of Virginia, they were also briefed about the county’s budget cycle and Fiscal Year 2018 direction. The Trustees made a number of decisions by the end of the day including reinstating budget hearings in June to allow residents to express their opinions about library budgeting. The Board also set three focus areas for the library: technology, collections and programming. These umbrella priority areas will allow the staff at library branches to customize branch objectives to meet the individual needs of their communities. The priorities were based on community engagement results from the 2016 public engagement process as well as staff feedback. When asked about the priorities set, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees Karrie Delaney responded, “It is critical that we take steps to build our libraries into centers for 21st century innovation and economic development while expanding our collection and offering community based programming to best serve our citizens.” A strategic planning process has begun for the library which is expected to take 9-12 months and will steer the library for the next 3-5 years. In addition to using the results from the 2016 Public Engagement Process while developing the strategic plan, the 18-member committee will ensure the contents align with other county documents including the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Priorities and Vision and the Strategic Plan to Facilitate the Economic Success of Fairfax County.

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Green Infrastructure Awards Given Four employees of Fairfax County’s Maintenance and Stormwater Management Division recently earned their certifications from the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. These four join the ranks of only 62 certified individuals in the entire United States. The four newly-certified employees are in the inaugural group of National Green Infrastructure Certification Program certification holders. The first program exam was held on December 13, 2016 at various locations. The class and the certification were free to county employees. Chris Porter, heavy equipment operator, Paul Dutilly, motor equipment operator, Shawn Jones and Chris Kielsgard, both senior maintenance workers, all of the county’s Maintenance Operations Branch, were presented with their certificates on January 26. “I am very proud of these employees for successfully completing this training and passing the required exam,” said Bobby Kerns, Maintenance Operations Branch Chief. “They represented the employees of the Maintenance Operations Branch very well and they should feel really proud of this accomplishment.”

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Community News & Notes Fairfax County’s Rob Shenk Joins NOVA Parks Board NOVA Parks announced that Robert Shenk is the newest member of its Board. Shenk will join the board as one of its two Fairfax County representatives. “I’m excited to have this opportunity to support NOVA Parks and their mission,” Shenk said. “I have lived in the Northern Virginia region for more than 20 years and have been to many of the NOVA Parks sites. The Washington and Old Dominion Trail is my go-to destination for long bike rides and historical sites such as the Carlyle House, Mt. Zion, Mt. Defiance, Ball’s Bluff, and Aldie Mill have long been favorites. I’ve attended my fair share of exciting regattas at Sandy Run Regional Park, and as a lover

of the outdoors, I am a regular at places like Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and Seneca Regional Park. We are so blessed as Northern Virginians to have these great parks and resources for our citizens to enjoy.” Shenk is Senior Vice President of Visitor Engagement at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, spearheading the organization’s integration of marketing, new media, and guest experience departments. Prior to Mount Vernon, Shenk was the Director of Internet Strategy & Development for Civil War Trust, the leading non-profit (501c3) focused on the preservation of American Civil War battlefields and in supporting Civil War educational efforts. “I was very pleased to nominate Robert Shenk to the Northern Virginia Regional Park

Authority Board,” said Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “Mr. Shenk’s expertise in history, conservation, technology and finance make him an impressive addition to this Board and I look forward to his future contributions to both Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.” NOVA Parks represents three counties and three cities — Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, the City of Alexandria, the City of Falls Church and the City of Fairfax, providing almost two million citizens with some of the finest recreational facilities in the country. NOVA Parks staff, volunteer board members and many friends of the regional parks have preserved over 12,000 acres of the rolling and wooded Virginia countryside.

F.C. Students Thrive in Mathcounts Competition The Northern Virginia Regional Mathcounts Competition was held last Saturday, February 4, 2017 at George Mason University. The regional competition combines the Fairfax, George Washington, and Northern VA Chapters of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers. Over 420 sixth through eighth grade students from 49 elementary and middle schools competed at the events. These students have been practicing since the fall and were selected to represent their schools at the competition. Students compete as school teams and as individuals. Mathcounts is a national middle school math enrichment program offering competition and

club activities designed to foster appreciation of math among U.S. students so as to prepare students for future career opportunities and success. Two Falls Church schools finished in the top three of the competition. Second place: Longfellow Middle School (Coach: Jong Hyoun Jung); Students: Lawrence Shi, Austin Shi, Edwin Lu and Daniel Park. Third place:Haycock Elementary School (Coach: Jin Kang); Students: Sam Wang, Taein Kim, Brian Lai and Alan Vladimiroff. The top-scoring students in the Northern VA Chapter Area were as follows: 1. Lawrence Shi, Longfellow Middle School 2. Austin Shi, Longfellow Middle School

(LEFT TO RIGHT) FC MAYOR DAVID TARTER, Supervisor Penny Gross and U.S. Reps. Gerry Connolly and Barbara Comstock celebrate Tết, the Vietnamese New Year, at the Eden Center in Falls Church on Saturday, Jan. 28. The celebration boasted a flag PEOPLE CELEBRATE Tết, the Vietnamese New Year, at the Eden Center in Falls Church on Saturday, Jan. 28. (Photo: Jared Wood) ceremony, lion dances and day-long festivities. (Photo: Jared Wood)

Send Us Your News & Notes!

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

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

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3. Austin Feng, BASIS Independent McLean 4. Sam Wang, Haycock Elementary School 5. Kevin Zhang, Longfellow Middle School

Falls Church Episcopal to Honor History with Plaque On Saturday, February 11, 2017 the Falls Church Episcopal Church, one of the oldest in the nation, where George Washington and George Mason were Vestryman, will install a stone marker to honor the African American enslaved persons who helped to construct the brick church building in 1769. The plaque reads: “With gratitude and repentance, we honor the enslaved people whose skill and labor helped build The Falls Church.” It will be placed in the sidewalk leading to the front of the historic church. The church, from whom the city takes its name, serves as an enduring testament and example of the contributions of African Americans to the American narrative – the backbone in building America and its institutions. “Many of our historic institutions benefitted from enslaved labor but it is not a given that labor and craftsmanship are properly acknowledged. It is only by telling our stories that we learn from them. This plaque is the culmination of dialogue and hard work by a group of people committed to ensuring that we learn from our history as we move forward to become a more inclusive society,” said Nikki Graves Henderson of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. This acknowledgement is the result of a partnership between the Falls Church Episcopal, the Enslaved Workers Acknowledgement Committee, and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

The plaque dedication, which is free and open to the public, will be the highlight of the annual Tinner Hill African American Heritage tour with costumed interpreters portraying people who lived in the Village of Falls Church before, during and right after the Civil War. The bus will depart Tinner Hill at noon, arriving at the Church at 12:30. Following the dedication, those on the Heritage Tour will re-board the bus and continue until the tour ends by 2:30 pm.

F.C. Residents Graduate From College James Madison University announced the fall 2016 graduation of several students from the Little City: Madelin Ley graduated with a degree in marketing; Eric Kuldell graduated with a degree in graphic design; and Yong Liang graduated with a degree in health sciences. Also, Falls Church’s Patricia Mantey graduated from the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University.

Falls Church Students Earn Academic Honors Seven students from F.C. received academic accolades from their respective colleges for the fall 2016 semester: Julian Rosker earned Faculty Honors at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Kristina Skotte made the Dean’s List at Azusa Pacific University (CA); Matthew Puentes earned Dean’s list honors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA); Jake Ahlgrimm and Brandt Cole received Dean’s list honors at the University of WisconsinMadison; and Bobbi Broome and Tiffanie Chau-Dang made the Dean’s list at Kent State University (OH).

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Survey to Gather F.C.’s Capital Infrastructure Needs Falls Church City staff has created an informal survey to help gather community input on the type and priority of capital infrastructure projects to fund in the next five-year Capital Improvements Program (fiscal years 2018-2022), which is part of the upcoming budget discussions. The survey will close at 11:45 p.m. on February 12 and is available at www.fallschurchva. gov/CIPSurvey. Survey results will be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council during budget meetings from February through April and posted to the website. The five-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) identifies capital infrastructure needs of the community and indicates how these needs will be funded over the five-year period. In general, only projects that cost more than $150,000 and have a useful life in excess of five to 10 years qualify for funding in the CIP. Capital infrastructure refers to the built environment that makes the City of Falls Church safe, healthy, engaging, and beautiful and helps fulfill the City Council’s vision of “A Special Place.” Projects can be mandatory, like police emergency radios, but others build a quality community. Some construction project examples include roads, sidewalks, crosswalks, bus shelters, traffic signals; stormwater water detention and pipes; tennis and basketball courts, park trails, park play equipment; and more. CIP projects generally require significant engineering design and construction, whereas maintenance projects (like road paving, crosswalk painting, sidewalk section replacement, and landscaping) require routine upkeep every one to five years.

CARD HOLDERS OF THE Mary Riley Styles Public Library in the City of Falls Church will soon be able to check out more than the latest best-selling novel or blockbuster DVD. Modeled after a successful initiative in neighboring Arlington County, the new Energy Lending Library allows members to take home thermal imaging cameras and books that will help identify areas of energy waste in homes and provide real solutions. Program managers presented the program to the City Council at a late-January meeting. (P��: C�� F�� C��)

DMV 2 Go Bus Available This Friday The full-service DMV 2 Go bus will be in front of City Hall (330 Park Ave.) on Friday, February 10 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The accessible office provides all DMV transactions including applying for and renewing driver’s licenses; obtaining ID cards (including photos) and Virginia’s

veterans ID cards; taking road and knowledge tests; obtaining copies of driving records; obtaining vehicle titles, license plates, decals, and transcripts; ordering disabled parking placards or plates; updating an address after a move for DMV and voter registration; and more. Customers should be prepared with the required documents to complete transactions.

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PAGE 12 | FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017

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A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

Despite the tweets emanating almost hourly from the White House, and the battle for supremacy in the Congress, the everyday work to provide for community needs gets done at the local level, mostly with locally generated revenue. Fairfax County residents may observe the presidential and congressional shenanigans more closely than, say, someone in the Midwest or Rocky Mountain states, but providing police and fire services, schools, libraries, parks, mental health, and overseeing land use and development, is a local responsibility. Nearly all localities — counties, cities, or towns — rely first on local taxpayers to fund these daily efforts. The federal share in Fairfax County is miniscule in comparison to the local share. In 2017, the federal contribution to the county’s General Fund revenues was $31.5 million, or just 0.8 percent. The amount increases to $226 million, or 2.8 percent of all funds if school grants, operating funds, and food services are included. That’s not to say the federal share is not important; it is. We need to remind our elected representatives at the state and federal levels that the partnership – local, state, and federal – helps people, regardless of birth, ethnicity, age, or any other identifying characteristic by which some wish to inflate and justify discriminatory policies. Trying to forecast what may happen at the federal and state levels can wear you out, but local planners and social service agencies have contingency plans for nearly every occasion. That’s why we are so fortunate to live and work in the National Capital Region, where acknowledgment of our similarities, rather than our differences, can lead to better outcomes for all. Needs don’t just stop at jurisdictional borders, which is why mutual aid agreements, such

as those between local fire and rescue departments, or water agencies, or HIV-Aids programs, can ensure that everyone gets the services they need. Last week’s fire at the Covanta waste-to-energy plant in the southern part of the county is one example. The two-alarm blaze required response from multiple county fire stations, both for apparatus and personnel. While Fairfax county resources primarily were used to quell the fire, agreements with adjacent jurisdictions, such as Fort Belvoir, Prince William, and Alexandria, ensured that other calls for emergency services could be answered by nearby departments. The fire did significant damage to the plant but, under other agreements, household trash collected in Fairfax County will be hauled to municipal landfills elsewhere in the state until the plant is repaired. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality determined that there are no threats to air or water quality as a result of the fire. Just an hour before the Covanta fire was reported, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue rushed to the intersection of Little River Turnpike and Braddock Road, where a Mason District resident was struck, and later died. The driver remained on the scene. This sad accident reminds us once again of the importance of wearing white, light-colored, or reflective clothing when walking at night, and always cross streets carefully, and use the marked crosswalks. A few extra steps to the nearest crosswalk could save your life, or someone else’s.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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From the Front Row: Kaye Kory’s

Richmond Report Today the House of Delegates’ budget was published, Appropriation Committee Approved Amendments to the 2016-2018 Budget (HB1500), and distributed to Members of the House. It is a lengthy and sometimes hard-to-understand document.I won’t attempt to summarize the entire Budget, but will highlight some sections that I find greatly disappointing. Services to people with developmental disabilities are still shamefully under-funded. More than 11,000 people are waiting for support services that will allow them to live independently in our communities. Disappointingly, many of those needing these support services have been on the waiting list for years. The HOD Budget adds services for only 344 people on that waiting list. Virginia ranks 39th in the country in terms of the adequacy of the community services that we offer to people with developmental disabilities. We are still working on satisfying the settlement agreement with the Department of Justice for our failure to provide these community services; and we have not successfully moved people out of institutions into communities as we have been ordered to do. Adding community services for 344 people, out of the 11,000+ on the waiting list, does not qualify even as a ‘baby step’ towards closing our institutions by increasing

the community services needed for those who are still institutionalized. 344 people will undoubtedly add their names to the services waiting list before FY 2018 is over! We must invest more in community services for the disabled as well as funding early intervention and inclusive classrooms to cut the need for a waiting list. Early intervention strategies, inclusive classrooms and community-based services are all near-term expenditures that will benefit our Commonwealth in many ways in the future, i.e. positive ROI’s. Out of a 2 year state budget of $40,433,352,669, we are certainly capable of squeezing out a little more funding for our developmentally disabled family members, neighbors and friends. Our federal, state and local governments all have the same refrain: not enough money! (Our state community services dollars are matched dollar for dollar with federal Medicaid dollars — a great ‘deal’ that we should maximize while we can.) And there will not be ‘enough money’ until we take the responsibility we should for creating flourishing inclusive schools and workplaces in our communities. Let’s be embarrassed by ranking 39th.  Delegate Kory represents the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She may be emailed at DelKKory@house. virginia.gov.

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Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

Does our county really need gimmicky big projects to put it on the map? Recent years have brought us several attention-grabbing transport and tourist-lure proposals that have perked the ears of antsy economic planners. It seems some seek to put Arlington on a level with Cawker City, Kan., home to the world’s largest ball of twine. Or Mauch Chunk, Pa., which in 1953 renamed itself Jim Thorpe in a deal to bring the great athlete’s remains to the town. Last month, as ARLNow reported, local developer James Burch proposed enhancing the Rosslyn skyline with a 325-foot space-needle-like private museum called the Spirit of America Tower. Such a new gateway to D.C. is envisioned on Virginia Transportation Department property abutting Route 110 and I-66. Burch described it as “an interactive, introductory museum about Washington, D.C. and the founding principals of our country.” (As if the Smithsonian and other downtown museums and monuments don’t do the trick.) Sketches suggest the tower would consist of three upper levels: an observation deck, a landing deck and an event facility deck. Besides offering a sensational view, the project “will be designed by the best visionary firms available… with interactive depictions of historic events, and then guides/ storytellers who tell the stories of Washington, D.C.,” Burch said.

FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 13

And its focus on “gifts and talents” special to every individual will “help people achieve their dreams.” Give Burch credit for seeking public feedback. That announcement came as Arlington leaders are pondering the proposal to hang an air gondola line from Georgetown to Rosslyn. (I guess the Key Bridge and Potomac skyline need improving.) A private consulting architects’ study released in November said building the project would cost $80 million-$90 million, followed by annual operating costs of $3.25 million. That would attract, backers hope, 6,500 daily riders (which could be realistic if Metro doesn’t fix itself soon) at 2,400 per hour in each direction. Favored by many in the Georgetown and Rosslyn business improvement districts, the project would offer economic benefits “on both sides of the river” and dovetail “seamlessly” with Metro, the study stressed. Imagine a four-minute ride door-to-door with 8-12 people cabins arriving every 20-60 seconds. Not to be outdone, the vacuum along Columbia Pike following defeat of the proposed streetcar should be filled with JPods, according to entrepreneur Bill James, a Minneapolis-based West Point graduate who crusades to wean the country off of oil. The pods would make up a personalized transit system elevated over a car-packed roadway with peoplecarrying capsules suspended from rafters. His patented light-weight JPods are privately funded, operate with solar panels and move

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

of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

CRIME REPORT

Driving Under the Influence, 1200 block W. Broad St. On Feb. 4, an officer responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash. One of the drivers, a male, 60, of Falls Church, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

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Week of Jan. 30 – Feb. 5, 2017 Narcotics Violation, 400 block W. Broad St. On Jan. 30, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The driver, a male, of Annandale, was arrested and released on summons for Possession of Marijuana. Larceny from Building, 1000 E. Broad St. On Jan. 30, an unknown suspect stole a purse from a locker.

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quickly. But since I first reported on JPods in 2015, James has made little progress in winning a contract to test the system in cities like Secaucus, N.Y. Arlington hasn’t bitten either. Not being a traffic engineer, architect or economic planner, I hesitate to rain on the parade of dreamers who come forward with concepts for making us stand out amid the Beltway clutter. But all three projects would severely alter our horizon and threaten someday to become emblematic of Arlington. How many counties can boast of unique entities such as Arlington Cemetery and the Pentagon? And if you really want unusual visuals, we’ve got ‘em. But they’re subtler. Try visiting the Air Force Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, or the less-appreciated Netherlands Carillon. *** Spotted: county board members having a blast ringing the bell in the tower atop the 19th-century Hume School on South Arlington Ridge Road. Libby Garvey, Christian Dorsey and Katie Cristol on Saturday pulled the rope in the antique classroom while attending the wine-andcheese winter social of the Arlington Historical Society. Besides a chance to showcase current exhibits at the Arlington Historical Museum — African American churches for black history month — the event allowed tours of the school built in 1891 (Arlington’s oldest school building). The society — which loves the building but regrets its scant parking — raises donations through its “bell ringer” campaign.

Narcotics Violation, 400 block S. West St. On Jan. 31, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The driver, a male, 26, of Springfield, was arrested and released on summons for Possession of Marijuana. Driving Under the Influence and Narcotics Violation, 100 block W. Columbia St. On Feb. 2, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The

driver, a female, 27, of Gaithersburg, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Possession of Marijuana. Narcotics Violation, 100 block E. Annandale Rd. On Feb. 3, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The driver,a male, 28, of Falls Church, was arrested and released on summons for Possession of Marijuana. Narcotics Violation, 100 block W. Marshall St. On Feb. 3, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The driver, a male, 19, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested and released on summons for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A 15 year-old male, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested and released on summons for Possession of Marijuana. A 17 year-old male, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested and released on summons for Possession

Smoking Violation, 6757 Wilson Blvd. (Eden Center) On Feb. 5, a male, 40, of Springfield, was cited for Smoking In a Non-Designated Area. Driving Under the Influence, Unit Block N Washington St. On Feb. 5, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The driver, a male, 23, of Ashburn, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Narcotics Violation, 300 block S. Washington St. On Feb. 5, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation. The driver, a male, 26, of Falls Church, was arrested and released on summons for Possession of Marijuana. Smoking Violation, 6795 Wilson Blvd. #50 (Hung Café Billiards) On Feb. 5, a male, 63, of Annandale was cited for Smoking In a Non-Designated Area.

PAGE 14 | FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017

NATI O NA L

Presidential Lying & the Press, Part 2

The late legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas (1920-2013), whom I was so deeply honored to have in my employ in the last year of her storied professional career, breaking barriers to women and covering the White House since 1961, wrote eloquently in her 2006 book, Watchdogs of Democracy, The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public. A scathing critique of her journalistic colleagues for their failure to take then President George W. Bush to task at the time, she wrote, “What makes the press so indispensable in a democracy is that it is the only institution in our society that can question the president, or other public officials, regularly,” adding, “A free society depends on the press to keep the government honest.” FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS She was always wary that any time a leader is unchallenged by the media, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is at risk. Whether journalists are any better at living up to her high standard in the face of the Donald Trump’s behavior today remains to be seen, but there are some good signs. Yes, as confessed Lenin-admirer Steve Bannon said from the White House, Trump’s enemy is the press. It’s true for the necessarily adversarial relationship between the media and the public officials they cover, although often there can be cordial if not cautious constructive relations. But it is doubly important that the press stands apart when a public official is perpetually lying. Unfortunately, it took an entire year of primary and presidential campaigning and swearing into the White House for the press to even begin to get the idea that Trump needed to be dealt with only from the highest and uncompromising standpoint of truth-telling and a brave, ruthless insistence on that standard. Granted, it is hard for honest people to grasp the nature of a pure, lying sociopath in someone they’re dealing with. The first step is to acknowledge that difficulty. It is becoming increasingly clear to this observer that the Trump administration is determined to treat the nation as if it were a cult. This makes sense since the Russian model of foreign influence includes the establishment and maintenance of severely authoritarian, mind-bending cults. Lying, the projection of an alternative reality and then challenging the veracity of other versions of the truth, is essential to cults, as Steve Hassan, author of the best-selling Combatting Cult Mind Control, has documented with the benefit of his extensive research. So, Trump’s lies are not primarily because of a personality disorder (though that’s there), but of Bannon’s bidding to sow confusion and demand loyalty to his version of the truth from his most loyal followers, those who voted for and continue to slavishly believe in him. The more he repeats lies, the more his true believers believe them. That’s the opposite from the view that the more he lies, the more no one will believe him. I am acutely familiar with this because I was in the orbit of a cult, myself, in the 1970s into the 1980s, and it’s people like Leah Remini with her explosive expose of the cult of Scientology who are making it easier for others to heal remaining psychological wounds from such cults. I was associated with the once-leftist but then the right-wing proKGB cult of Lyndon LaRouche, who is now peeing all over himself with glee for the Trump presidency. It was generally overlooked in the Russian intelligence officer’s expose of Trump’s golden shower escapades last month that LaRouche was named in the memo along with Jill Stein as invitees to Moscow prior to the election. In an ill-conceived “deal” that became known as “detente” under Nixon in the early 1970s, KGB assets were invited to the U.S. to take over the urban mob scene, on one hand, and residues of leftist and prolabor sects on the other, engineering in both a sharp ideological right turn. In one swoop, Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI were able to torpedo the influence of these perceived enemies. The pressure on the FBI’s James Comey to undermine Hillary Clinton’s campaign last fall needs to be investigated from this standpoint.

Nicholas F. Benton

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

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

When History is Being Made

James and Deborah Fallows have always moved to where history is being made. In the 1980s, when the Japanese economic model seemed like the wave of the future, the husband and wife team moved to Japan with their school-age children. Then, after 9/11, they were back in Washington, with James writing a series of essays for The Atlantic about what might go wrong if the U.S. invaded Iraq. In 2006, they moved to China and both wrote books about China’s re-emergence. Over the past few years they have been flying around the U.S. NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE (James is a pilot), writing about the American social fabric — where it’s in tatters and where it’s in renewal. That was pretty prescient in the lead-up to the age of Trump. James and Deb have an excellent sense of where world-shaping events are taking place at any moment — and a fervent commitment to be there to see it happen. Their example has prompted what I call the Fallows Question, which I unfurl at dinner parties: If you could move to the place on earth where history is most importantly being made right now, where would you go? Let’s start with a little historical perspective. If you had responded to the Fallows Question in 1968 you would have moved to California, both to the Bay Area and to Orange County. That would have put you at the epicenter of the ‘60s counterculture, and also at the center of the Reaganite conservatism that arose in response. By 1974, the most important place to be was the offices of the magazine Ms. For all its excesses, feminism has been the most important and the most salutary change of our lifetimes. By the 1980s, the big historical changes had to do with capitalism and finance, so either Japan or Wall Street was the place to be. In the early 1990s, Europe was the place to witness the end of communism and the false dawn of global peace. By ‘90s, Silicon Valley was the most important driver of world historical change. The Fallows were clearly right to go witness the rise of China, but by 2006 I could also argue that equally important events were happening in Baghdad, Tehran and Damascus, with the crumbling of the modern Middle East. By 2010, the Fallows Question would have taken you to the neuroscience departments at universities like NYU, Harvard and USC, where cognitive scientists were rewriting our understanding of the human

David Brooks

mind. By 2015, it would have taken you to workingclass Ohio to witness the populist upheaval that is driving current global politics. Today, I’d say the most pivotal spot on earth is Washington, D.C. The crucial questions will be settled there: Can Donald Trump be induced to govern in some rational manner or will he blow up the world? Does he represent a populist tide that will only grow or is some other set of ideas building for his overthrow? Are the leading institutions — everything from the Civil Service to the news media to the political parties — resilient enough to correct for the Trumpian chaos? Washington will either preserve the world order or destroy it. I sent the Fallows Question to the Fallows themselves, and they agreed in part with my Washington answer. But they also said that the most important place to be now might be places like Erie, Pennsylvania; Fresno, California; and Columbus, Ohio. Trump’s presence in the White House may push change to the local levels. In these cities, the Fallows argue, citizen participants are coping with declining industries, creating new civic cultures, assimilating waves of immigration, collaborating across party lines to revive everything from arts programs to tech seedbeds. If you want to “observe” history, the Fallows say, go to Washington. If you want to “participate,” go elsewhere. That’s a good argument, but I suppose I should close by widening the possibilities. After all, few knew about Martin Luther in 1517 or what Deng Xiaoping would unleash in 1977. So maybe the most important spot on earth right now is to be found at: An evangelical church in Brooklyn that has come up with a style of faith that satisfies the spiritual needs of blue America. A National Front office in Paris where a French Stephen Bannon is plotting the final destruction of the European Union. A bio lab somewhere where researchers are finding ways to tailor cancer treatment to each patient’s particular genetic makeup, thus lengthening lives and restructuring the phases of the typical human life. A set of universities, headquartered in Mauritius and spread throughout Africa, that will unleash the human potential of that continent at exactly the moment when the African future, in many places, is most promising. Most people can’t up and move in search of history. They’re tied down by work, family and spiritual commitments. But you only go around once in life, so if you can swing it, you might as well be where the action is.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FO O D &D I NI NG

FEBRUARY 9 – 15 , 2017 | PAGE 15

Eden Center Addition Fuses Bubble Tea & EDM

BY SAM TABACHNIK

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

At five o’clock every morning, Jay Tran roused himself out of bed to cook bubble tea in his Annandale condo. Working out of his tiny home kitchen, Tran brewed 50 cups a day of the popular Asian drink to sell at local nail salons. His customers loved it and they yearned for more. But cooking out of his own home, Tran simply didn’t have the capacity to make more than the 50 cups. Even simple tasks like boiling water took over an hour. Enough is enough, Tran thought. It’s time to open a legit bubble tea business. So after three months slaving away in his small kitchen, Tran opened TeaDM Lounge last September at the Eden Center in Falls Church. The business, and its name, come from the combination of two of Tran’s loves in life: tea and electronic dance music (EDM). “On the weekend, you don’t want to go to the club all the time,” he says. “So you can come here, instead. It’s the same thing but it’s healthy. I’m trying to make

a lounge where people can come with friends and have a place to chat and drink tea.” TeaDM stands out from its competitors, Tran explained, by relying on natural tea as its base, as opposed to syrups and powders. “Nowadays, not a lot of places use real tea,” he said. “It’s all syrups or powder. Here, we use 90 percent tea, and only a small amount of syrup is used to enhance the flavor.” And unlike other bubble teas in the area, Tran makes his with two or three flavors in one cup. So while your first sip may be strawberry, your second taste could be lychee. Born in Vietnam, Tran, 29, came to the United States in 2006 to go to school at Northern Virginia Community College. He made the trek alone, without a single friend or family member. “It was hard leaving Vietnam,” Tran says. “I didn’t go home for eight years. Not once.” While earning his associate’s degree in business, Tran spent whatever free time he had working for a friend’s family restaurant at the Eden Center. He caught the restaurant bug, immersing himself in the industry.

On a trip to California three years ago, Tran noticed that the bubble tea trend was really catching on. He became a tea connoisseur, infatuated by the blend of sweet tapioca balls and the variety of exotic flavors that could be melded together. This passion drove Tran to research online how to brew tea at home. Free cups for friends turned into 50 cups a day in his tiny kitchen. Now the young entrepreneur has a burgeoning business in the heart of the region’s Vietnamese epicenter. TeaDM currently shares a location with another restaurant, Pho Va, a maneuver that allowed Tran to subsidize his initial startup costs. But with customers lining up for bubble tea from lunchbreaks to late-night rendezvous, Tran hopes to have a stand-alone store by the summer. On several days, like Christmas or Tet (the Vietnamese New Year), Tran says, he’s sold so much tea that he’s had to close the store for a few hours to brew a new batch. From 50 hand-delivered cups a day to hundreds of customers walking into his own store, Jay Tran has brewed up a new Eden Center staple.

JAY TRAN shows off his bubble tea at TeaDM in Eden Center. (C�� P��)

What’s “Pho” Dinner?

$20 will get you a delicious and healthy dinner for two at any of Eden Center’s 25 restaurants.

You’ll have to eat it to belie-viet!

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facebook.com/fallschurchcity

PAGE 16 | FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017

SPO RTS

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Mason Girls End Regular Season on 11-Game Win Streak Mustangs Earn Top Seed in Conference 35 Tournament Starting This Saturday Night BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The George Mason High School girls varsity basketball team finished the regular season on an 11-game win streak, taking down Clarke County High School, 42-33, Warren County High School, 60-27 and Madison County High School, 48-21, to solidify their spot atop the Conference 35 standings. “We just went 14-0 and beat everyone in the [conference],” head coach Michael Gilroy said. “Forget going to regionals, forget states — to go undefeated in league play? I think that says a lot about this team.” The Mustangs (17-4) haven’t lost a game since falling short to South Lakes High School at the Oakton Holiday Classic on Dec. 27. An undefeated January and so-far spotless February have generated loads of momentum for Mason as the team creeps toward their ultimate goal of a 2A state tournament berth. “Basically since 2017 started, we’ve been a very hyped team,” sophomore forward Raquel Dodd said. “We’ve been beating teams by like 20 points and we’ve just kept the hype up since we’ve kept

winning.” The goal of a state tournament appearance looks attainable if the Mustangs replicate their efforts from the final month. Since the new year, Mason has won by a hefty average of 28.1 points per game. Despite those impressive numbers, however, the wins have ranged from runaway contests to back-and-forth affairs. Last Friday’s second-half comeback on the road against Clarke County was followed by wire-to-wire wins against Warren County and Madison County. By dominating the way they have been, the Mustangs run the risk of getting ahead of themselves. Gilroy insists none of the players have gotten too high during the streak because the team isn’t dependent on any one player. As the coach puts it, “We’re a pure team.” Statistics back that up as 10 different players typically score points in every game. “We’re pretty well-rounded,” Dodd added. “Some games we play better offensively and some games we play better defensively. Overall, we just need to strengthen each part of our game.” Mason will use these next days to prepare for Saturday’s opening

RECOGNIZED ON SENIOR NIGHT last week were George Mason High School girls basketball team members (left to right) Sarah Lubnow, with her dad and brother, and Kenya Bliss with her parents. Also recognized were team senior managers Maeve Donnelly and Anna DuBro. (P��: B�� H��) round in the Conference tournament. The main area of attention for the Mustangs still centers on learning to manage the game to their benefit. Skill is visible, but

rising to the moment and controlling the clock are musts going forward. Otherwise, Gilroy’s practice points are cut and dried. “Kids gotta get in the gym and

get more shots up.” The Mustangs will host Strasburg in the Conference 35 tournament opener at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11.

With #2 Seed, Mustang Boys Head to Conference Tourney BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

With the regular season coming to a close, George Mason High School’s varsity boys basketball team gained steam heading into the postseason with three wins in four games. The Mustangs notched victories against Rappahannock County High School, 70-39, Clarke County, 70-41, and Warren County, 61-49, before falling 50-47 to Madison County High School. A cluster of contests to end the team’s 11-week campaign locked Mason (16-7) into the second-seed for the Conference 35 tournament

behind Madison County. The high conference seeding helped the team earn a home game for the 2A East region tournament. The Mustangs have catapulted into a realm they weren’t prepared for when they entered the season with only three returning players on the roster. “Hosting a region game and winning [is] a hell of an accomplishment for this group,” head coach Chris Capannola said. “After that it’s all gravy; then there’s no pressure and who knows? If we play and shoot it like this, we’re going to be tough to beat regardless.” Mason is playing their best

ball of the year as of late, going 9-3 over the past month while beating opponents by an average of 14.7 points per game. The Mustangs are peaking at the right time and showcasing their potential in recent wins. Against Rappahannock County and Clarke County, the Mustangs exercised their refined ball movement and timing on offense. They found open shooters on cue and made the Panthers and Eagles pay for slow defensive rotations. It’s why they trounced both teams in three quarters of play. A 55-31 lead entering the fourth against Rappahannock County and a 52-25 advantage heading into the

final frame over Clarke County ensured reserves played the last quarter. In the win over Warren County, the Mustangs showed their burgeoning ability to finish games on the road. A 30-28 halftime lead grew to a 12-point win after outscoring the Wildcats by five in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The road loss to Madison County ensured Mason wouldn’t snatch the top seed from the Mountaineers. Still, the game was close throughout and showed Mason could hang with a team it’ll likely meet in the Conference 35 championship and possibly

beyond. A few concerns do linger come the postseason. Mason is strapped for size and lacks a true post presence. That could put more pressure on the team’s jump-shooting to help the offense catch fire. But after a few months of ups and downs that seem to have finally leveled out, optimism abounds. “I don’t think there’s anything that’s gonna phase us,” Capannola said, “other than a four-hour bus ride. But that’s no fun for anybody.” Mason starts the Conference 35 tournament at home this Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. against Central-Woodstock.

LO CA L

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 17

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FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY’S annual Colonial Day exposition, parents, friends and 3rd graders headed to the 4th grade wing for demonstrations and education about a wide variety of jobs from colonial times. Students spent over an hour sharing all they’ve learned with the guests in their classrooms before heading to the gym to perform colonial music and dance. After, they were treated to a feast with foods from colonial times coordinated by room parents and volunteers. Recess was followed by colonial crafts and games, and some time for re�lection. (P��: FCCPS)

Marshall Academy, GMU Host Engineers Conference Marshall Academy and George Mason University’s (GMU) Volgenau School of Engineering will host the first National Engineers Week conference on Sunday, February 19, for middle and high school students. Marshall Academy, a Governor’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) academy, is one of six high school academies in Fairfax County Public Schools. The conference will run from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Dewberry Hall, Johnson Center at GMU, and will include a keynote address by Aprille Ericsson of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Ericsson is the new business lead, aerospace engineer, technologist, and project and program manager in the instrument systems and technology division at NASA Goddard. Attendees and their parents can participate in breakout sessions and interactive demonstrations. They will get insider tips on how to pursue an engineering degree and be able to network with guest speakers and future engineers. Among the hands-on activities that will be offered are opportunities to design and build structures, make concrete, and develop cybersecurity strategies

that will keep devices safe. Online registration is required and can be found at tinyurl.com/ hgyzvyj. Attendance is limited. More information about the event can be found at ist.gmu.edu/ EngineeringConference/ or from Shelli Farquharson at 703-7145581 or smfarquharso@fcps.edu.

CTE Month School Visit at Marshall High School The Association for Career and Technical Education’s (ACTE) annual CTE Month site visit will take place at George C. Marshall High School nestThursday, February, 16. This event, which will go from 10:15 a.m. – 1 p.m., will give attendees the chance to learn more about innovative CTE programing within Marshall’s Governor’s STEM Academy and throughout the school through presentations, classroom tours, and student panel discussions. Highlighted programs will include a nationally recognized cybersecurity program, auto tech/auto sales, culinary arts, criminal justice and entrepreneurship. This event will also underscore the important role CTE plays in preparing students for careers of their choice in the 21st century workforce. The visit will coincide with CTE Month.

RSVP’s are required. To RSVP or for more information, contact Kevin Oshinskie at koshinskie@acteonline.org or at (703) 683-9337.

Mason Scholastic Heads to States

Bowl

For the 16th consecutive year, the George Mason Scholastic Bowl team is heading to the state tournament at William & Mary. The team qualified after a 2nd place finish at the 2A East Regional Tournament. In what may likely be a preview of the state finals, the Mustangs fell to Maggie Walker 290-195 in a game that saw an amazing 49 of 50 questions answered correctly by the two teams. The team will travel to Williamsburg for the state tournament at the College of William & Mary on February 25th.

Mason Boys Swim Wins Regional Meet The George Mason Boys Swim Team brought home more hardware this past weekend, winning the 2A East Regional meet with 138.5 points. Justin Britton was named 2A Regional Male Swimmer of the Year. The George Mason girls placed 5th overall at the regional meet.

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CA L E NDA R

PAGE 18 | FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017

Community Events THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Playtime with the Early Literary Center. Explore educational and manipulative items to teach early literacy through play. Ages birth to 5 years. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library youth services room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 703248-5034. Middle School Book Club. A discussion group for teens grade 6 – 8. The group will discuss Bridge of Time by Louis Buzbee. Copies of the book are available at the Youth Services Desk. Registration required for the school year. Mary Riley Styles Public Library conference room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 - 8 p.m. fallschurchva. gov/627/Book-DiscussionGroups. 703-248-5034.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Tastes of the Mediterranean. Join the Daughters of Penelope for a night of Greek fes�vi�es to beneﬁt the Fisher House Founda�on, suppor�ng soldiers and their families, and other chari�es. Tickets are $30 and include delicious appe�zers, wine tas�ngs by Vienna Vintner and

live Greek music by Achilleas. Mele�s Charuhas Community Center, St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church (3149 Glen Carlyn Rd, Falls Church). 7 – 10 p.m. Contact Roalie Georgeadis at 703-532-1723 for more informa�on.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 F.C. Farmers Market. Vendors offer fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, plants and wine. City Hall parking lot. (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m. – noon. 703-248-5077. Mid-Session Town Hall hosted by Delegate Simon. A discussion of the 2017 General Assembly, legislative agenda, and Q&A. City Hall Council Chambers (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 10 a.m. – noon. 804-698-1053 Valentine’s Day Crafts. Kids can come design their own valentines. Doodlehopper 4 Kids (234 W. Broad Street, Falls Church). Limited space. Sign up requested. 703-538-9890 Falls Church Episcopal Honors Enslaved Builders. The church will be installing a stone marker to honor the African American enslaved persons who helped

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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

to construct the brick church building in 1769. Falls Church Episcopal (115 E. Fairfax St. Falls Church). Free. 12 p.m. tinnerhill. org

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Valen�ne’s Tea. A costumed docent will host the Valen�ne-themed tea. Dine on sandwiches, assorted sweets, scones and hot tea. Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave. Falls Church). $33. Register at www.fallschurchva.gov/Register, Ac�vity Code 230150-A. 2 – 4 p.m. 703-248-5171 2017 Plant Order Program. The Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society will present a colorful and informa�ve slide program/ discussion of the hor�cultural traits of the blooms on the 2017 plant order. Falls Church Community Center (223 Li�le Falls St, Falls Church). 2:30 p.m. Open to the public. Free Admission and refreshments. Call Jim Dunne (703-560- 8776) for more informa�on.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 ESL Conversation Group. English as a Second Language Conversation group for adults

focusing on English language and American culture. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Conference Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 7 – 8:30 p.m. 703-248-5035.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Great Books Discussion. A “Great Books” discussion concentrated on literary classics (both traditional and modern) meeting at 7 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from September through May. The book being discussed this week is Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Open to all and no registration required. Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s Conference Room (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 7 – 9 p.m. 703-248-5035.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Local Market Runners Club. Every Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. runners meet for 3-plus mile runs. All levels welcome. Complimentary coﬀee and snack a�er. Run begins at The Local Market (246 W Broad St, Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m.

Theater Fine Arts THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Kids in the Kitchen. In its newest play series, Theatre for the Very Young, Encore Stage & Studio presents “Kids in the Kitchen”— starring professional ar�sts who bring kitchen adventures and colorful foods to life, all the while teaching the li�le one about healthy choices. Encore has the recipe for a fun theatre-going experience for you and your child. Recommended for ages 1 and older. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington). $10. 10:30 a.m. encorestageva.org

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Blues in the Night. Celebrate Black History Month with the Tinner Hill Heritage Founda�on and experience the Tony Award-nominated musical “Blues in the Night,” directed by Crea�ve

Cauldron’s Ar�s�c Associate, Ma� Conner. The musical features 26 hot and torchy numbers that tell of the sweet, sexy and sorrowful experiences three women have with the men who have done them wrong. The interweaving stories are deﬁned through songs from Bessie Smith to Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and more. The special event includes a dessert recep�on before the show and postshow discussion. Crea�ve Cauldron (410 S Maple Ave., Falls Church). $50. 7 p.m. �nnerhill.org “The Lion in the Winter.” A tale of royal intrigue and sharp wits, James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” transports the audience to the 12th Century where shi�ing alliances and high stakes plague the royal family. Thomas Jeﬀerson Community Theatre (125 S Old Glebe Rd, Arlington). $15 – $22. 8 p.m. thearlingtonplayers.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 “Company.” A 1970 musical comedy based on a book by George Furth with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The plot revolves around Bobby, the ﬁve married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. Unlike most book musicals, “Company” was among the ﬁrst musicals to deal with adult themes and rela�onships. As Sondheim puts it, “Broadway theater has been for many years supported by upper-middle-class people with upper-middleclass problems. These people really want to escape that world when they go to the theatre, and then here we are with Company talking about how we’re going to bring it right back in their faces.” Shows through Feb. 19. McLean Community Center, Alden Theatre (Address: 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean). $23 – $25. 8 p.m., mcleanplayers.org

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CA L E NDA R

FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 19

live_music&nightlife

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 A M�� M. J�� S�� C�� C�� . F�� C�� + NRJ + M��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $100 – $150. 7 p.m. 703255-1566. E�� R�� D M��. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). 7:30 p.m. $45. 703-549-7500 T�� N�� S�� S��. Iota Club and Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8 p.m. 703-5228340 19�� S�� B��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504 C�� D��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 B�� Y��. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-532-9283 B�� USA. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 7 p.m. 703-237-0300 T�� F�� D�� “R��’ H�� P��” �� N�� B��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566

E�� R�� D M��. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). 7:30 p.m. $45. 703-549-7500 E�� P��. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). 8 p.m. $26 – $38 p.m. 703-255-1900. W�� J��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504. S�� R��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 M�� S�� B��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. B�� USA. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 7 p.m. 703-2370300. A�� C��. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). 8 p.m. $25 – $35 p.m. 703-255-1900. T�� P�� CD R�� V�� V�� R��. Iota Club and Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703522-8340 C�� J��. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-532-9283. T�� V��. JV’s Restaurant (6666

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

T�� Y�� A�� S��. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd, Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 B�� G��. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $35. 7 p.m. 703-2370300. V��’� D�� / N�� G��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7:30 p.m. 703-2551566. C�� L��. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). 8 p.m. $25 – $30 p.m. 703-255-1900. I�� J�� G�� S��. Iota Club and Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). 8 p.m. 703-522-8340 K�� S�� S��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 D�� D��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1:45 p.m. 703-241-9504. A�� S�� B��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504. L�� M�� K�� S��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504. A�� Y�� N�� I� L�� 5 - J��’ J��’� S��’ C��: � T�� T�� B�� L�� S��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $16. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. N�� V�� M��. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 W��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $25. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. W�� B�� J��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

G�� T��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $25 – $30. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. O�� M�� B�� H�� M�� C��. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504. C�� L��. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). 8 p.m. $25 – $30 p.m. 703-255-1900.

P�� A��... Tuesday, February 21 - Chamber of Commerce Networking Luncheon - Moira Lethbridge of Lethbridge & Associates LLC will present “Stop Fireﬁgh�ng: 5 Steps to Jumpstart Your Business Success” at the The Italian Cafe (97161 Lee Highway, Falls Church). Saturday, February 25 - 7th Annual Barleywine Fes�val - Come and celebrate Black History Month with the Tinner Hill Heritage Founda�on and experience the Tony Award-nominated musical “Blues in the Night,” directed by Crea�ve Cauldron’s Ar�s�c Associate, Ma� Conner. The special event includes a dessert recep�on before the show and post-show discussion. Sunday, April 30 - Falls Church Home and Garden Tour - Par�cipants will have the opportunity to visit numerous unique residen�al proper�es in the Li�le City. Proceeds from this event will support the Falls Church Educa�on Founda�on and the Falls Church City Public Schools. For �ckets, visit fcedf.org

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

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

PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2017

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The Falls Church City Council will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, on Monday, February 27, 2017 to consider the following: (TR17-03) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2005 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REPLACE CHAPTER 1 “INTRODUCTION AND VISION” WITH “FALLS CHURCH 2040” The City of Falls Church Comprehensive Plan serves as a guide for all aspects of planning and development. Chapter 1 of the Comprehensive Plan provides an overarching picture of what the City wants to be over the next 25 years. The Chapter was last updated in 2005. The updated Chapter, “Falls Church 2040”, will incorporate a vision statement for the City and will reflect community values and changes to the City and the region that have taken place since the last update. More information regarding the update of Comprehensive Plan Chapter 1 and the public engagement process through which it was developed is available at www. fallschurchva.gov/vision or at the Development Services office in City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church. All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711). CELESTE HEATH CITY CLERK

fcnp.com

We are pledged to the letter andspirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

TRASHING ONE EGG WASTES 55 GALLONS OF WATER

A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Crossword

ACROSS

By David Levinson Wilk 1

14 17

19 21

23 28 32

29 35

45 48

46 51

59 62

36 39

Across 1. Buffoon

1. Buffoon 4. "Sounds likely to me" 9. Was reflective 14. Revolutionary Guevara 15. Yap, so to speak 16. Ferrell's cheerleading partner on "SNL" 17. Much-filmed swinger 20. E-mail folder 21. Otherworldly 22. Aid in getting a grip 23. Film-cropping technique often used for TV that Turner Classic Movies proudly eschews 28. Housecat's perch 30. Where Moses got the Ten Commandments 31. Angkor ____ (Cambodian temple) 34. Copier paper buy 36. Bereft 37. ____ Period (time in Japanese history) 38. Bay Area city, informally 42. "____ bad!" 43. "Boyfriend" singer, to fans, with "the" 45. Congressional staffer 46. Coast Guard rank: Abbr. 47. ____-Webster (dictionary publisher) 51. Short smokes? 53. "Girls on Film" band 55. Comedy Central host Daniel 59. Retort to "You are not!" 60. Johnny Depp role of 2013 61. "Yes, let's!" (or this puzzle's

FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017 | PAGE 21

DOWN

1. When "Double, double toil and trouble" is chanted in "Macbeth" 2. Olympic speed skater Davis 3. Some Balkanites 4. Big-screen movie format 5. ____ Draper, "Mad Men" character 6. "However ..." 7. Hawke of "Boyhood" 8. What a criminal may be on 9. Speedy two-wheelers 10. Knife, e.g. 11. Half a school year: Abbr. 12. Stat for Clayton Kershaw 13. Cacophony 18. Actresses Kravitz and Saldana 19. "____ No Sunshine" (1971 hit) 23. "Don't shoot!," e.g. 24. Enigma machine decoder Turing 25. It's worth 100 smackers 26. ____ Burr, major role in "Hamilton" 27. Young hijos 29. Tax org. 31. Site that promises "Better information. Better health" 32. "Goodbye, mon ami!"

CHUCKLE BROS BRIAN & RON BOYCHUK

4. "Sounds likely to me"

33. "____ is human ..." 35. Juilliard deg. 39. Costa ____ 40. Score after deuce 41. Below zero: Abbr. 44. "It's a no-____!" 48. Not long from now 49. Nav. bigwigs 50. Pillowcase material 52. Heed a red light 54. Bodybuilder's dirty secret, informally 56. Simmering, say 57. Fab Four surname 58. Winnie-the-Pooh's favorite food 60. Bathroom powder 61. The Cardinals, on scoreboards 62. "____ Como Va" (1971 Santana hit) 63. Put ____ fight 64. Crucial 65. Suffix with Ecuador or Euclid

theme) 66. Highly competitive, as a personality 67. Perfect 68. Unrefined material 69. Actor/comedian Denis 70. "Bye Bye Bye" boy band 71. Like Oscar Wilde's humor

9. Was reflective

Last Thursday’s Solution R A H S

O Z A W A I S T

Sudoku Level:

A L O T

M A N A

P I E R C R E F I D I G T H O I T H N Y O

B I D A L A S T L Y S T U T E F O R E F I L F U N E L N I N E A N E S C A S K A M I G H T A M U E L T E R E N D Y

G O T O O M I S T R A R E N O S

M O R T S A H A L S S H T A D T I O P

I N O R Z I N G E X E S A D D S T I O N E D G E N I A C O E D O T L O O R S G R A M N A M E E L S E

By The Mepham Group 4

14. Revolutionary Guevara 15. Yap, so to speak 16. Ferrell's cheerleading partner on "SNL" 17. Much-filmed swinger 20. E-mail folder 21. Otherworldly 22. Aid in getting a grip

23. Film-cropping technique often used for TV that Turner Classic Movies proudly eschews 28. Housecat's perch 30. Where Moses got the Ten Commandments

LOOSE PARTS

31. Angkor ____ (Cambodian temple) 34. Copier paper buy

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

NICK KNACK

DAVE BLAZEK

2/12/17

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

LO CA L

PAGE 22 | FEBRUARY 9 – 15, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Critter Corner

BACK IN THE DAY

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

20 s Yearo Ag

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

20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. VI, No. 48 • February 13, 1997

Dignan Speaks Out Former Falls Church Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia Dignan, whose resignation after 14 months on the job was accepted by the School Board here last week, released to the News-Press for publication last night a strongly-worded statement.

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

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVI, No. 49 • February 8, 2007

10 Year s Ago

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

Leaders of 11 Defecting Churches Gather in F.C. for CANA Installation Ceremony Clergy representing the 11 churches in Virginia that voted in December to depart the Episcopalian Church gathered for an extraordinary convocation at the historic chapel of the Falls Church Episcopal last Sunday.

Longtime Arlington Teacher, Guidance Counselor Dies Margaret L. (Peggy) Huddleston of Arlington, Virginia died on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at age 92 of diastolic heart failure. Her husband Jim died in 2002. She is survived by three children – Bill Huddleston of Fairfax, Virginia; Don Huddleston of McLean, Virginia and Nancy H. Dick of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; and by four grandchildren – Amanda Dick, A.J. Dick, Steven Huddleston, and Paul Huddleston. Peggy was born in Hamilton, Ohio on May 9, 1924 to Harry Lynn and Anna Belle Lynn. The family lived in Cleveland, Ohio, Woodbury, N.J., California, and moved to Arlington in 1940. Peggy graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Class of 1942 which held annual reunions for the next sixty years. Jim and Peggy met at a party for scholarship winners at George Washington University in the fall of 1942. They both earned Master’s degrees at Columbia University in New York City in 1949, Jim a Master’s of Social Work, and Peggy a Master’s in Guidance from the Columbia Teacher’s College.

Peggy returned to WashingtonLee High School in Arlington to teach English and become one of three counselors to start the first guidance department in the Arlington Public Schools. After their marriage on June 25, 1949, Peggy and Jim lived in Wisconsin for two years, then moved to New Jersey for 16 years, returning to Arlington in 1968. Peggy was active in a number of organizations in high school and college, editing two year-

books, president of the Student Council and Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa, P.E.O., camp counselor for three summers, active in her church, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts (husband and sons were all Eagle Scouts). After retiring she enjoyed the Arlington Retired Teachers Association. Peggy also enjoyed playing the piano, being a Church School teacher & Young People’s Advisor, swimming, gardening, photography, opening the Church on Sunday mornings, Meals on Wheels, volunteer in American Cancer Society Prevention Study, taking food once a month to shelter for fifteen years, etc. She enjoyed family special occasions, trips to Florida and the West, and the annual family vacations to the Smith family lake cottage in Otis, Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2666 Military Road, Arlington, VA on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to the church or charity of your choice.

(A) Go ask your mother. (B) Because I said so. (C) We’ll see.

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE. Obi wan Dognobi is a one-year-old German Shepherd who’s seen here enjoying “the one day of winter we’ve had so far in Falls Church,” says his owner David Travers. While he’s not catching snowflakes on his tongue, Obi can be found fetching tennis balls, eating any and all things and barking at any and all things. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

Just a few hours of your time can make a big difference. Together, with our nationwide community of volunteers, you can help the Feeding America network of food banks end hunger.

There are no perfect answers in parenting.

Pledge to volunteer at your local food bank. FeedingAmerica.org/Pledge

AdoptUSKids.org

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LO CA L

Fa l l s C h u r c h

FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2017 | PAGE 23

Business News & Notes Local Market Launches Loyalty Program The Local Market has launched a new loyalty program to help customers save money. Loadable cards are now available at the point of purchase which can be loaded to pay for future purchases. For every $100 loaded to the card, customers will receive an extra $10 on their card and be eligible for future promotions. Additionally, the first 100 customers to load a card will receive an extra $20 for every $100 loaded. For more information, stop by the market located at 246 W. Broad Street, or visit www.facebook. com/thelocalmarket.

New Spa Opens in F.C.’s Wilston Center Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is now open in the Wilston Center located at 6112 Arlington Boulevard. The new spa offers massage, stone massage, couples massage, foot massage, scalp massage, facials, waxing, and aromatherapy. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Walkins are welcome and membership programs are available. For more information about Valentine’s Day special offers or the services provided, visit www.handandstonefallschurch.com.

F.C. Wellness Center Expands, Offers Free Classes in February The Falls Church Wellness Center, which recently expanded into larger space, is offering free classes through the month of February. Classes offered include several types of yoga, Zumba, STRONG, TaiChi/QiGong, Ballroom Dancing, Line Dancing, Bootcamp, Belly Dancing & Core Training. The wellness center is located at 520 N. Washington Street in Falls Church. For more information visit www.fallschurchwellness.com.  Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.

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PAGE 24 | FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2017

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Coming Soon

Under Contract

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Fabulous 5 BD/3.5 BA home in highly desirable Broadmont. Updates throughout and spacious rooms on 3 finished levels. Steps to Metro and FCC schools!

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SOLD

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Coming Soon

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102 Birch St #a-2, Falls Church, VA 22046

Updated 1 BR, 1 BA ground-level condo. Ideally located by West Falls Church Metro w easy access to UVA/VA Tech campus, Grocery store/Restaurants/Shopping within walking distance. Upgraded Kitchen w New Cabinets, SS Appliances and Tile floors. WW carpet in LR & BR, Washer/Dryer in unit, Beautiful outdoor patio space. No Pets. RENTAL PRICE $1,550

FOR RENT

PRICE PERFECTED

Beautiful and classic 3 level cape cod. 5BR/2BA on 3 finished levels. Whole house has been remodeled in last 5 years! Including windows, roof and all systems. Price perfected $729,000

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