March 26 — April 1, 2020
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Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. X XX N o. 6
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Town Hall Updates on F.C.’s Pandemic Response 2 Covid-19 Monday’s Virtual Positive at Distillery Distribution Meeting Covered Latest on City, F.C. Senior Schools & Region Care Home by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
“This is not a potential disaster, this is devastating right now,” Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields intoned to Monday night’s virtual town hall that emanated from an eerily-near vacant Council chambers at the Falls Church City Hall. The event, where strong social distancing policies were exercised in the midst of the massive, global Covid-19 virus epidemic that is beginning to sweep through this region, was broadcast over the City’s website. where it can still be accessed, and its cable channel. Shields, F.C. Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan along with School Board chair Greg Anderson and State Del. Marcus Simon, were arrayed as moving giant heads, images on the big screen beside the dais, appearing remotely by live video feed, while Mayor David Tarter sat alone in the center of the dais as the only Council member present, the Fairfax Health Department’s Senior Emergency Planner Colin Brody sitting where the city clerk is usually sitting in front of the dais, and Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester, City Public Information Officer Susan
Supplies Needed at The Kensington, Site of City’s 1st Cases of Virus by Jody Fellows
Falls Church News-Press
zens. Overall, an enormous amount of useful and timely information was presented to the public, all subject to the rapidly changing realities of the pandemic.
The Kensington assisted living center in the City of Falls Church is in need of supplies, including respirators and other face masks, after two residents tested positive for the coronavirus disease in the past week. “Our biggest issue on the horizon is keeping a robust supply of personal protective equipment,” The Kensington said in a statement to the News-Press. The senior center is looking for supplies including N95 respirators and other surgicallike masks, latex gloves and medical gowns. “If you have, or have access to [them], please let us know immediately,” the statement read. Kitty Janney, outreach coordinator at The Kensington, told the News-Press they’re also in need of Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer.
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Continued on Page 8
PEOPLE WAIT IN LINE outside Falls Church Distillers last Friday evening after Michael Paluzzi announced his distillery would distribute its newly-produced hand sanitizer free to the public. Demand at the “bring-your-own-bottle” event was so high, Paluzzi exhausted his entire supply of 300 gallons, which he intended to last until Saturday, in just a few hours. The next batch, which may be available this weekend, can be purchased via pre-order, the distillery owner says. Eventually, Paluzzi hopes to produce 5,000 gallons of sanitizer a week. (Photo: J. Michael Whalen) Finarelli and a cable TV technician fiddled with the cranky technology. Way in the back, Council member Phil Duncan sat quietly through the two-and-a-half hour virtual town hall, Councilman David Snyder came in, and that was it, except for
this reporter who grabbed his usual front row seat to better photograph the event and report on it. Finarelli acted as an apt moderator for the event, including the fielding of questions emailed in from anxious Falls Church citi-
Inside This Week Local Businesses Adapting To a New Normal
Falls Church Community Unites to Help Those At-Risk
See story, page 15
See story, page 4
The coronavirus pandemic has been majorly upsetting businesses’ operations around the country. Many Falls Church owners are being forced into adapting and innovating to salvage — and later, expand — on the services they offer.
Concerned citizens in and around Falls Church are teaming up to help the area’s most vulnerable by dropping off medicine, delivering groceries, taking out the trash and other once-ordinary tasks during the coronavirus pandemic.
Press Pass with Rockin’ the Suburbs
Northern Virginia’s own “Rockin’ the Suburbs” podcast from Falls Church’s Patrick Foster and Ashburn resident Jim Lenahan will take their show to Jammin’ Java’s stage next Wednesday. See Press Pass, page 14
Index
Editorial........................................................ 6 Letters...................................................6, 18 News Briefs................................................. 9 News & Notes.....................................10–11 Comment........................................7,12–13 Calendar....................................................14 Classified Ads............................................16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword..................17 Crime Report.............................................18 Critter Corner.............................................18 Business News..........................................19
