March 5 — 11, 2020
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXX No. 3
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Founders Row Phase 2? Mill Creek Moving to Acquire Vacant Rite Aid Developers Seeking Contracts on Sites Across Street From Current City Project
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
The Economic Development Committee of the Falls Church City Council got the news at its meeting last Thursday from Joe Muffler, managing director of Mill Creek developers, that the 4.3 acre Founders Row mixed-use project now coming out of the ground at West Broad and N. West Streets may be augmented with a twoacre “phase two” right across the street. Muffler confirmed to the NewsPress in an interview Tuesday that his firm is “very excited” to be “working very hard” on securing a
contract on the now-vacant spaces catty-corner from the Founders Row project that have housed a carpet store and the shuttered Rite Aid store. Muffler has been the face for years to the City on Mill Creek’s efforts that finally won the OK for its Founders Row, and is now hopeful, he said, about plans to come back to City officials in the next two or three months with a proposal for the Phase Two project. He said a lot of work needs to be done yet on what, exactly, may go on the new site and how it might be integrated with the existing project underway.
MILL CREEK, developers of the Founders Row project under construction in Falls Church, are seeking to acquire two vacant properties, across the street from its current project, at the corner of W. Broad and West Streets. (Photo: Nick Gatz, News-Press) The Founders Row project will include a dine-in movie theater complex in addition to ample residential housing and restaurant amenities. It is thought that Phase
Two, while being mixed use, might have less commercial space. Muffler emphasized that he is not at liberty yet to talk about what could happen on the new site,
since contract negotiations have not yet been completed. But made his presentation at an open meet-
Continued on Page 5
Huge Turnout in City of F.C. Tuesday Reflective of National Trend by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
In the “Super Tuesday” Democratic primaries Tuesday, with former Vice President Joe Biden winning in Virginia statewide by a 53.3 percent margin
to 23.7 percent for his primary contender Sen. Bernie Sanders, voters in the City of Falls Church responded with a near record turnout for a primary, according to City Voter Registrar David Bjerke. With votes tabulated Tuesday night, Biden won 2,354 votes to
906 for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 881 for Sanders and 527 for Mike Bloomberg. The 4,891 total ballots cast was 48 percent of all active voters in the City. An interesting factor was the fact that in absentee ballots cast in advance, all six frontrunner candi-
dates were closely bunched (141 for Warren, 115 for Biden, 99 for Bloomberg, 98 for Sanders, 92 for Amy Klobuchar and 90 for Pete Buttigieg) compared to the wide margin for Biden Tuesday night (Klobuchar and Buttigieg both having dropped out last weekend
to throw their support to Biden). The pattern seemed to fit what was going on all across the U.S. Tuesday, where an enormous number of voters were energized at the last minute to get to the polls
Continued on Page 4
Inside This Week City Announces No July 4 Fireworks Show This Year
Enterprising Teens Look to Fill Glass Recycling Pickup Void
See News Briefs, page 9
See story, page 8
The City of Falls Church announced that its 40-year tradition of an Independence Day fireworks show will be suspended this year due to the construction on the new George Mason High School currently taking place. Plans are for the fireworks to return in 2021.
Brothers Danny, 14, and Jonathan Oppenheimer, 17, both students at George Mason High School, have seized the opportunity to rescue residents who no longer enjoy the luxury of curbside glass pickup, a service the City terminated last month.
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 News & Notes.....................................10–11 Comment........................................7,12–13 Business News..........................................15 Sports........................................................16 Calendar.............................................18–19 Classified Ads............................................20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword..................21 Crime Report.............................................22 Critter Corner.............................................22
PAGE 2 | MARCH 5 - 11, 2020
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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PAGE 4 | MARCH 5 – 11, 2020
Dem Primary Continued from Page 1
and threw their support to Biden, compared to what had been a much more scattered field only days before. The turning point, according to experts, was the extent of the decisiveness of Biden’s win in South Carolina last week. That was unexpected when it happened, and credit has been given to both a revival of Biden’s enthusiasm and energy levels and a key endorsement he received from South Carolina U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the top African-American elected official in the state. The result was that Biden carried every single county in South Carolina, and his landslide win was taken as a signal to step up his campaign as a more moderate alternative to Sanders. That having occurred on Feb. 25, going into last weekend some of Biden’s key rivals for the nomination had organized major political events for the Falls Church area on the eve of this week’s “Super Tuesday” primary. Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg held a rally at a high school football field in North
LO CA L Arlington where 9,000 attended, and last Friday, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar held a rally for a standing-room-only crowd that piled into F.C.’s State Theatre. Both campaigns were filled with energy and enthusiasm and large populations of avid and loyal supporters. Buttigieg had come out of nowhere to win the majority in the first primary state, Iowa, and also performed well in New Hampshire. Klobuchar enjoyed the support of many in this area as a more moderate and electable alternative for the left-leaning Sanders. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts had set up shop with her Virginia campaign office in the City of Falls Church, above the Panera on West Broad. On the Sanders side, a rally drawing thousands had been moved from Loudoun County to Springfield at a high school football field. A key advisor to the Sanders campaign in both 2016 and this year, Jeff Weaver, is a long time resident of the City of Falls Church who owns the popular Victory Comics store here. Bloomberg held a big event at a private home in McLean and bought a full page ad in the News-Press with a long list of mayors from
across the U.S. that endorsed him. But in this area, the biggest list of endorsements belonged to Buttigieg, led by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, among the first in the U.S. to endorse him almost a year ago, and including State representatives Mark Keam, Adam Ebbin and Mark Levine. The News-Press in its edition last week provided Buttigieg with his only newspaper endorsement in Virginia. So it came as a big shock last Saturday when the news hit that Buttigieg was suspending his campaign and throwing his support to Biden. The next day, Klobuchar did the same. It became immediately clear that both the candidates were aligning with the need for the party’s more moderate wing to align behind Biden as the most viable alternative to carry the party’s mantle as opposed to Sanders. Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar had built strong campaigns even as other hopefuls had fallen by the wayside every week in the last month. They were two of only seven among the 13 candidates who’d originally filed and qualified to be on the ballot in Virginia in January. The effect of the transfer
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of support by those two campaigns to Biden was significant, experts have noted. In the case of Klobuchar, a long-time statewide leader in Minnesota, her support contributed enormously to Biden’s primary victory in her state Tuesday, especially given that Biden, himself, never campaigned there. In the case of Buttigieg, his impact was to generate the highest level ever, according to exit polls, of LGBTQ voters last Tuesday. According to Alfronso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, LGBTQ voters as a percentage of total voters Tuesday was more than double the percentage of LGBTQ adults in the population. In Virginia, HRC data showed that while LGBTQ people make up 3.9 percent of the adult population, 8 percent of the total votes cast were by LGBTQ persons. David said that there are 11 million LGBTQ voters in America and 57 million “equality voters” who support their civil rights issues. Annise Parker, the former mayor of Houston, Texas, who is the president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, hailed the impact of
Buttigieg on the election Tuesday as one among over 180 LGBTQ candidates that her organization has endorsed for this election cycle so far. Overall in Virginia, the voter turnout Tuesday was remarkably high, as it was across all 14 “Super Tuesday” states. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, this year over 1.3 million voters showed up at the polls, blowing past the 785,190 who showed up for the last primary in 2016 (an increase of nearly 70 percent) and even the 986,203 who showed up for the primary in 2008. In a letter to supporters following Biden’s big day Tuesday, Buttigieg said, “I am proud to stand with Joe Biden and I’m urging everyone who came to my campaign in order to change our politics and defeat this president to support him, too. “The only way we’ll defeat Donald Trump and deliver a better future is with a politics that gathers people together, a politics that reflects the decency of the American people. Leaders can bring out what’s worst in us or what’s best. And Joe Biden knows how to bring people in and bring the best out of them.”
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LO CA L
Mill Creek Seeks to Expand F.C. Project
Continued from Page 1
ing of the Economic Development Committee last week, and among those in attendance, both Council members Phil Duncan and Letty Hardi, the Council’s representatives on the group, posted reports about it on social media. Founders Row hopes to have some of its retail components open in time for the holiday season next year, and completed by the summer of 2022. Muffler told the News-Press that whatever might happen on the Phase Two site would not begin to be developed for at least two years. Meanwhile, in other developments this week, the City’s quasi-independent Economic Development Authority (EDA) invited representatives from a number of boards and commissions to hear an update by Staunton-based architect Kathy Fraser on designs for new “wayfinding” signage she’s proposing for the City, including gateway, directional, boundary, destination and parking signs with the aim of making it easier for folks to get
around the “Little City.” The signs that she has designed to date all include the iconic Little City logo, although a criticism from Melissa Teates of the Planning Commission was that the logo “doesn’t mean anything to outsiders.” But Fraser said the purpose of the design is to be “both charming and timeless,” as she put it. Meeting attendees also suggested signage to mark Tinner Hill and the W&OD Trail, and Keith Thurston of the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) said that he will try to provide an inventory of existing signs that have been posted in the City over the years at VPIS’ expense. Fraser’s proposals for the new signage, blue against green, will offer a “more unified image” around the City. The EDA has footed the bill for the study and maybe for some of the initial gateway “Welcome to Falls Church” signs, but the cost of doing the total project, according to EDA chair Bob Young, will be in the hundreds of thousands. The City’s Economic
Development chief Becky Witsman reported on a parking study that is being developed for the downtown area, though no specific proposals have come forward yet. She said that the plan is to come with options to present to the public at a series of public meetings in the next months. Among the options will be the introduction of paid onstreet parking and the closing of one lane on West Broad in the evenings and weekends on downtown blocks to allow parking there. Young cited the irony that the one part of town with the greatest pressure on providing adequate parking is the one area where it is restricted the most now. Witsman said that a mural to adorn the new Mr. Brown’s Park, the pocket park in the 100 block of W. Broad, is being commissioned for a non-permanent large sheetlike product that can be placed over the blank wall space at the park site. It can have a lifespan of up to 10 years, she said. On Monday, the F.C. Planning Commission decided to put off a decision to make a recommendation on a request by Washington
Gas for an easement at the western part of the West End Park for a couple large boxes and pipes along the site next to the car wash. The equipment would be relocated from the current high school site, where construction of the new school will require its relocation.
MARCH 5 – 11, 2020 | PAGE 5
Concern was expressed Monday for whether other locations had been considered, or not, and other considerations about the use of the parkland for the easement. The Planners will have another meeting later this month before the City Council makes a decision on March 23.
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PAGE 6 | MARCH 5 – 11, 2020
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Vol. XXX, No. 3 March 5 – 11, 2020 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to Publish Official Legal Notices • • Member, Virginia Press Association •
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Editorial
E D I TO R I A L
The Role of Your Newspaper
Everybody involved with the City of Falls Church has a lot to be proud of. Whether as a resident, a new one or here more than 50 years, a City or school employee, or a regular patron of a City business or service, we all share in the merits of being engaged with “The Little City.” Despite its small size, only 2.2 square miles and 15,000 residents so far, it routinely “hits above its weight class” in terms of involvement in the wider region and glowing reputation on a whole basket full of matters. First and foremost, of course, is the quality of its public education system whose new crown will soon become the shiny completed new high school at its west end and the really smart and well-prepared students that pour through the system into the big wide world every year. Economic development has been a key to the City’s ongoing ability to fund its public school system to the levels that it has, and it has been a major credit to the community’s leaders, engaged citizens and City Hall staff that this fact has gained currency to become a pervasive, affirmed facet of our efforts in the last 30 years. It wasn’t always true, and it still isn’t so in communities around the region, much less the country as a whole, where development and community services are often seen in conflict, competing for attention and resources. Now that the City of Falls Church has become the envy of many surrounding jurisdictions for its robust economic growth and good schools, both, it is not the role of the City to gloat, but to take a hard look at how we got here. We believe that over the course of almost 30 years now that this newspaper has been an integral part of this community, it has been wellintentioned and constructive communication that has been a forceful aspect. To be plain, when every single week a mode of communication, opinion and news has been planted on the doorstep of every household in the City, it is the community as a whole that is the significant beneficiary. It is not the editorial posture of the newspaper, as such, but its overall role as a mode of engagement for the entire community that makes it so valuable to everyone, to everyone who’s lived here, to every student who’s come through the school system here, to every business that has functioned here. It remains perplexing to us how when boards and commissions meet at City Hall to talk about how to notify the public of proposed new initiatives how seldom the role of the City’s local paper is invoked. When a new video promoting business for the City is developed and includes no reference to the local paper that has so consistently over 30 years has provided a targeted and affordable resource for advertising, it is also perplexing to us.
Letters
What About Effects on Residents Around Project?
Editor, Regarding the article “Neighboring Businesses Bemoan Project Impact” in the Feb. 20 issue, I have great sympathy for the merchants who will be affected by the impending construction at Broad and Washington Streets. But have I missed similar coverage of the effects of this project on residents who live on East Broad
Street and Hillwood Avenue? While we will not be threatened like the homes in the immediate vicinity of the construction, will we be protected from the constant pounding of heavy equipment rumbling down our streets in front of our older and somewhat fragile houses? What about tying up traffic from Washington Street to 7 Corners
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so that we cannot even exit our driveways safely? Does the City have some plan to divert this disruptive and damaging activity to the commercial Washington Street throughway? No one, to my knowledge, has contacted residents to tell us what is going to happen. Do we have to force ourselves down the throats of City management and the City Council? A mess like that taking place at West and Broad Streets will have as much of an effect on our welfare and property values for the next few years as it will have on the local merchants.
Oh, and thank you, City of Falls Church, for the 10 percent residential tax increase. Robert Speir Falls Church
[ LETTERS ] Send us a letter and let us know what you think. Email:letters@fcnp.com Mail: Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls Street #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
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CO MME NT
MARCH 5 – 11, 2020 | PAGE 7
A Lot is at Stake for Northern Virginia in the 2020 Census B� S���� F��������
Next week the 2020 Census will hit your mailbox. It is important to City of Falls Church residents because of the new ways to respond, how it could make a difference in Virginia’s representation in Congress, and how the results will directly impact the City. Our nation gets just one chance each decade to count its population. The Census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and takes place every 10 years. The data collected determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. It also determines the allocation of billions in federal funds to local communities for such programs as Highway Planning and Construction, Supplemental Food and Nutrition Assistance, Head Start, Foster Care, Title 1 Grants, Federal Student Aid and so much more. This year, you will have three options for responding to the Census: by mail, by phone, and — brand new this year — online. The Census Bureau is making it as convenient as possible. The City and other jurisdictions will provide events to assist residents with completing the 2020 Census — look for details soon from the City government and our public schools. As a reminder, there is no citizenship question on the 2020 Census. All responses to the Census are confidential, governed by strict confidentiality laws to protect respon-
dents and the information they provide. (For more information on confidentiality and how your data is used, visit ask.census.gov.) A lot is at stake for Northern Virginia in the 2020 Census: for every resident who is not counted, the region loses $1,200 per
“Virginia was in the top 10 states that had the highest number of undercounted children in the 2010 Census.” person per year for 10 years, or $12,000 total, in federal assistance. If our region is not fully counted in the Census, we will miss out on money for our children’s classrooms, health care, parks, and transportation infrastructure for the next 10 years. The sheer scope of the potential loss in federal financial support is stunning and imposes an urgency upon these efforts. According to the George Washington University Institute of Public Policy, more than $17.7 billion was distributed to Virginia from the 55 largest federal assistance programs during 2016 alone, all based on the decennial census count from 2010. The Census also determines funding for
special education, teacher training, technology, school lunch assistance, Head Start and after-school programs, and Community Development Block Grants. Andw Virginia, along with Arizona and Oregon, are estimated to be frontrunners for an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives if the population growth is on the high end of estimates. The importance of the 2020 Census cannot be overstated. It will require a count of a very diverse and growing population of 2.4 million people in Northern Virginia with 1 million housing units. Census Day is April 1. That means that when you fill out the Census, you should count everyone who is living in your home as of April 1, 2020. This includes any friends or family members who are living and sleeping in your household most of the time. If someone is staying in your home and has no usual home elsewhere, you should count them in your Census response. Also be sure to count roommates, elderly relatives, and anyone who is renting a space in your home. It is important to remember to count any children who are living with you. This includes all children who live in your home, including foster children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and the children of friends (even if they are living with you temporarily). You should include any children who split their time between homes if they are living with you on April 1, 2020.
If a college student is living at college in student housing or off campus housing, they should not be counted with your Census response. Virginia was in the top 10 states that had the highest number of undercounted children in the 2010 Census. Children of color were missed twice as often in the 2010 Census as white children. Nearly a quarter of all children under five in our state live in Northern Virginia, and the majority of those children are children of color. The 2020 Census is also valuable to businesses looking to move into the City. Business owners rely on the Census results to make decisions, such as where to open new stores, restaurants, factories, or offices, where to expand operations, where to recruit employees, and which products and services to offer. The 2020 Census is easy. You will answer a simple questionnaire about yourself and everyone who is living with you on April 1, 2020. You can complete it by phone, by mail, or even on your smartphone. And, as a result, the City and our region could gain additional federal representation, receive funding for a number of critical programs, see new business and employment opportunities, and benefit us all. Susan Finarelli is the director of communications for the City of Falls Church.
Q������� �� ��� W��� Would you like to see Mill Creek expand on its current City project to include sites across the street? • Yes • No
Last Week’s Question:
Do you agree with the Council’s decision to approve additional funding for the Falls Church City Hall renovation project?
• Not sure
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PAGE 8 | MARCH 5 – 11, 2020
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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DANNY OPPENHEIMER deposits glass placed along the curb while older brother Jonathan waits to drive their haul to Falls Church’s Recycling Center. (Courtesy Photo)
F.C. Brothers Fill Market Gap With Glass Pick Up Service by Patricia Leslie
Falls Church News-Press
Not only can the Little City claim some of the wealthiest, healthiest and best educated residents in the land, but it’s got the most industrious teenagers, too. Brothers Danny, 14, and Jonathan Oppenheimer, 17, are both students at George Mason High School and have seized the opportunity to rescue residents who no longer enjoy the luxury of curbside glass pickup, a service the City terminated last month. For a fee of $5 for once a month service or $10 for two monthly pickups on the first and/or third Wednesdays, these environmentalists will pick up the glass disposed by City dwellers and cart it to the Falls Church Recycling Center on Gordon Road. They even take payments by cash transferring app Venmo. Although the boys are busy with school as well as sports — Danny with lacrosse and Jonathan with track — they still find time to help the planet and work for Mother Earth. Just a few minutes after returning home from a wedding in Texas, they spoke by phone to the News-Press and Jonathan emailed more information. “We started Glass House Recycling to both provide an envi-
ronmental alternative to throwing away glass waste and to generate income,” he wrote. While Jonathan drives the family car (thanks to supportive parents), Danny hops out, picks up the glass, tosses it in their minivan and returns the container, if there is one, to the curb. For fuel, Jonathan said they use “the gas that’s in the tank” adding that “our parents would not be adverse” if the two used profits to help restock supplies. Profits are still in the planning stages along with preparing a launch of pickups for commercial establishments. To track invoices and payments, they use spreadsheets and emails. “We don’t have hundreds of customers right now and this is just a few hours [of work] and organization and management,” Jonathan said, sounding rather like a good candidate for business school, although he denies thinking that far ahead. “I have no personal interest in that, but things certainly can change.” As for Danny and college: “It’s far away for me. I am only 14” and not yet able to drive to pick up glass but he sure can step and fetch it. The two credit Tom Clinton, the Falls Church commissioner of
Continued on Page 22
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
LO CA L
Fa l l s C h u r c h
the
NEWS BRIEFS
MARCH 5 – 11, 2020 | PAGE 9
presents
8th Annual
Shields to Propose FY2021 Budget Monday Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields will present his proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to the City Council meeting this Monday, March 9, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, 7:30 p.m.. The meeting will be live streamed on the City’s website and on FCCTV (Cox channel 11, RCN channel 2, and Verizon channel 35). The video will also be available on the City’s website and YouTube channels after the meeting. The full budget meeting schedule is posted on the City’s website calendar and on the budget webpage. Budget documents and meeting videos will be posted to the City website as they become available. The public is invited to all budget and CIP meetings, including the Sunday, March 22 Town Hall. The schedule of meetings is as follows: Monday, March 9: City Manager Presents the Budget and CIP at the City Council Meeting (7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall), Monday, March 16: Budget Review at the City Council Work Session (7:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, City Hall), Sunday, March 22: Town Hall Meeting on the Budget and CIP (2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall), Monday, March 23: First Reading of Budget Ordinance, Tax and Utility Rates, and CIP; Public Hearing at the City Council Meeting (7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall), Monday, April 6: Budget Review at the City Council Work Session (7:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, City Hall), Monday, April 13: Public Hearing of Budget Ordinance, Tax and Utility Rates, and CIP at the City Council Meeting (7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall), Monday, April 20: Budget Review and Final Mark Up at the City Council Work Session (7:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room, City Hall), Monday, April 27: Second Reading of Budget Ordinance, Tax and Utility Rates, and CIP; Anticipated Adoption; Public Hearing at the City Council Meeting (7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall).
Little City. Big Eats. FCRestaurantWeek.com
F.C. Man Arrested, Charged with Child Porn Possession A 36-year-old City of Falls Church man was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with child pornography possession, Falls Church police reported this week. Tyler Weepie of the 100 block of Birch Street was charged with four counts of possession of child pornography, an arrest made by officers participating in the regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, police reported in a press release. Weepie is being held without bond in Arlington County.
Audacious Aleworks • BB.Q Chicken • baddpizza Clare & Don’s Beach Shack • La Côte d’Or Café • DC Steakholders Dogfish Head Alehouse • Dogwood Tavern • Falls Church Distillers Famille Cafe • Fava Pot • Idylwood Grill • Ireland’s Four Provinces Jon Smith Subs • JV’s • Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen • Liberty Barbecue Northside Social • Pistone’s Italian Inn • Pizzeria Orso • Present Takumi • Tasty Dumpling • Thompson Italian • Wild Tacoz
Tyler Weepie.
(Photo: Arlington Co.)
Temporary Library Location Opens Monday The Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s temporary location in Falls Church will open this Monday, March 9 at 9:30 a.m. The trailers outside of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, 160 S. Oak St. will be home to the library while its permanent location on N. Virginia Ave. undergoes an expansion and renovation. The library’s hours in the temporary location will be: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Street parking is available and there is no parking in the school lot during school hours. About one-third of the library’s collection will be available including current issues of magazines and newspapers.
City Announces No F.C. July 4 Fireworks Show This Year The City of Falls Church announced this week that its 40-year tradition of an Independence Day fireworks show will be suspended this year due to the construction on the new George Mason High School currently taking place. The City says it plans for the fireworks to return in 2021. “We are disappointed our fireworks display is not possible this year,” said Danny Schlitt, director of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department, in a press release. It has been announced that a family-friendly event will still be held on Saturday, July 4, though details, including location, will be released at a later date. “We will still offer a unique, family-friendly event in the City. Our creative team is finalizing the details – we are excited to celebrate in a different, but still patriotic, way this year,” Schlitt said. Construction on a new, $120 million state-of-the-art George Mason High School began this past summer and is scheduled to be completed for occupancy by December of this year. Falls Church’s annual fireworks display regularly draws around 10,000 people and features live music, concessions and other entertainment, according to officials.
Guuanteein g Succcs ff
30 Yees!
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
News-Press
Community News & Notes
MOVING UP IN THE WORLD. Falls Church-based musician and bartender at Liberty Barbecue Eryc Ryan took his talents to the national stage last month with auditions for both “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice,” in Pasadena, California and Baltimore, Maryland, respectively. Unfortunately, Ryan didn’t make it through the initial call backs for “The Voice,” but won’t hear back from “America’s Got Talent” until the end of March. (Photos: Courtesy Amy Nail)
F.C. Resident Earns Honors From Florida Tech Samuel Naeher of Falls Church (22043) has been named to the Fall 2019 Dean’s List at Florida Institute of Technology. To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must complete 12 or more graded credits in a semester with a semester grade point average of at least 3.4.
Marketing Seminar for Artists On Friday ArtsFairfax is teaming up with marketing professionals to help art organizations and individual artists transform marketing plans and launch programs to start
the new decade. The Work-Smart: Marketing Workshop series will explore marketing foundations, audience development and community engagement, branding and digital marketing and tools of the trade with marketing professionals. Each workshop is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Lunch is provided onsite. Marketing professionals are scheduled to present March 6, from noon – 2 p.m. at 8150 Leesburg Pike, Suite 140, Vienna. Speakers include representatives from Marketing Foundations and Pella MidAtlantic Windows & Doors of Tysons Corner as well as Angela Inzerillo and James
NEW DOMINION WOMEN’S CLUB is sponsoring a food drive for Share on March 14 at the Giant on 1454 Chain Bridge Rd., Arlington from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Donors are advised to stuff the truck with donations to fill the Share food pantry. Share serves more than 200 families in the 22101 and 22102 zip codes who need food, clothing or housing assistance. Middle school and high school students are welcome to volunteer and will receive service hours. A maximum of three students may volunteer for each shift. Those interested can sign up for the slots marked “Student.” For more information or to sign-up, visit NDWC.org (Photo: Courtesy New Dominion Women’s Club)
Lawson, founders of Impact Business Solutions, who will discuss planning framework, budgeting on a shoestring and marketing return on investment (ROI).
Village Preservation Society Seeking Volunteers The Village Preservation and Improvement Society has a few programs and/or projects in need of leadership in 2020. Two of the programs — the Attic Treasures Sale and the Farmers Market booth — have been held annually for many years, provide exposure for VPIS and assist with raising money to support its initiatives, including the Neighborhood Tree Program, RainSmart and Concerts
in the Park. The Attic Treasures Sale (Spring 2020) lead would oversee every facet of the event, to include finding and scheduling volunteers to work the event (set up, sales, pack up/tear down); the set-up of the “markets/stores” on May 1; overseeing the sale on May 2 and arranging for the pick-up and disposal of any and all items that do not sell. As this is VPIS’ primary fundraising event, most of the board members should be available to assist with set up, sales or tear down. The Farmers Market booth (Saturdays, May – November) lead would ensure there are volunteers to staff the booth every Saturday. The hours of operation
are typically 7 a.m. – noon, with the first shift setting up the booth (awning and tables) and the second shift breaking down the booth and putting things away. Alison Miller and Sam Beatty will ensure any leaders have the supplies they need (coffee, creamer, sugars, cups, stirrers, drinks) and will collect any donations they may receive. VPIS does not set up at the Farmers Market when it rains, and it would be the responsibility of the lead to make the determination to be closed and to notify the volunteers in advance. Other projects also in need of a lead/volunteer are: Planning the Arbor Day Celebration and managing/monitoring the care of the many commemorative gardens
Send Us Your News & Notes!
The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!
Community News & Notes: newsandnotes@fcnp.com | School News & Notes: schoolnews@fcnp.com Mail: News & Notes, Falls Church News-Press, 200 Little Falls St. #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
VPIS has donated If anyone is interested in volunteering their time to chair or cochair one of these long standing VPIS projects, or would like additional information, email vpisfc@ gmail.com or vpis.president@ gmail.com, or reach out directly to a board member.
Fairfax County’s Department of Economic Initiatives seeks expressions of interest to temporarily transform a vacant, countyowned space in Tysons into an economic development destination for interim use. The space is located at 8508 Leesburg Pike which is the former location for Container Store in Tysons. The goals of the Request for Interest (RFI) are to: Promote and support innovation, local entrepreneurs and the small business sector; create vibrant experiences through creative placemaking and feature the Made in Fairfax network and other local producers or makers. Responses will be accepted through April 20.
that his financial background will help balance the budget and keep taxes low. He also states that he is committed to working in Congress to keep the economy strong, reducing the costs of healthcare for hardworking Americans and keeping U.S. borders safe and secure. According to a press release, Ellmore has served on the boards of several local charities, including Community Lodgings, Offender Aid and Restoration and Know the Truth Ministries. Ellmore has also traveled abroad to Haiti and Puerto Rico to help with their respective relief efforts, in addition to serving at refugee camps in the Middle East and Germany. In running for Congress, Ellmore says he will represent all of the diverse viewpoints that make up the nearly 650,000 voters currently living in Virginia’s Eighth District in Washington, D.C. That includes pledging to prioritize constituent services and pushing for equality and opportunity for all minorities as well as those in need within the Northern Virginia community. For more information, visit MarkEllmore.com.
Republican Challenger to Beyer Announces Campaign
Tai Chi Open House Being Held Monday
On Friday, Mark Ellmore officially filed to seek the Republican nomination for Congress from Virginia’s Eighth District in 2020. Vi rg i n i a ’s Eighth Congressional District includes all of Arlington County, portions of Fairfax County and the independent cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. It is currently represented in Congress by Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, Jr.. A lifelong resident of Alexandria, Ellmore is a residential lending executive who argues
Sun & Moon Taiji One will host a Tai Chi open house with free trial tai chi class on March 9 from 8 – 9 p.m. for those who want to experience the wide range of physical-mental health benefits of tai chi. The event will take place at the Falls Church location (Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, Falls Plaza Shopping Center, 1136 West Broad Street, Falls Church). RSVP is required (no walk-ins). Call 301-512-5071 or e-mail SunAndMoonTaijiOne@gmail. com to reserve a spot.
Temporary Tenant Wanted For Tysons Space
LO CA L Deadline for McLean Center’s Elections March 13 Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. is the filing deadline for the McLean Community Center’s (MCC) 2020 Governing Board elections. Residents of Dranesville Small Tax District 1A who are interested in running for a seat on the board can still enter the race. The allvolunteer Board sets policy and provides general oversight for MCC facilities, which include the Robert Ames Alden Theatre and the Old Firehouse Center. All residents of the center’s tax district are eligible to run for a seat on the 11-member board. Candidates are required to obtain the signatures of 10 tax district residents in order to have their names placed on the election ballot. Nominating petition forms are available at the Center, which is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean Three adult positions and two youth positions are open this year. Adult board members serve threeyear terms. Youth members serve one-year terms. Adult candidates must be at least 18 years old as of McLean Day on May 16. Youth candidates must be 15 to 17 years old by McLean Day. One youth member who lives within the McLean High School boundary area will be elected; one youth member who lives within the Langley High School boundary area will be elected. Youth candidates are not required to attend either school; however, they must reside within the boundary areas served of one of the local Fairfax County Public Schools. For more information on the MCC Governing Board Elections, call the center at 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, email elections@ mcleancenter.org or visit the center’s website at mcleancenter.org.
Do you have
Obsessive Pancake Disorder? The First Name in Pancakes
MARCH 5 – 11, 2020 | PAGE 11
FALLS CHURCH • 7395 Lee Highway • 703-698-6292 WWW.OPHRESTAURANTS.COM • FREE PARKING ALL LOCATIONS
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FALLS CHURCH NATIVE David Meredith, the CEO of Everbridge, was in town with his wife and two kids visiting his mom (Mary, right) last week following his live appearance on the Mad Money show hosted by Jim Cramer on CNBC. Everbridge is a “critical event management” firm based in Massachusetts. David grew up on W. Columbia St. and played pick-up hoops often after school at the Community Center. (P����: N���-P����)
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Senator Dick Saslaw’s
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
If it’s springtime, it’s budget time in Fairfax County. County Executive Bryan Hill unveiled his proposed county budget for Fiscal Year 2021 last week and, at the same time, he presented a draft Countywide Strategic Plan that has been under development with the community for more than a year. Public education is the Board’s number one priority, and Mr. Hill’s proposed budget includes an additional $85.52 million for public school operations, bringing the total school transfer to $2.4 billion, factoring in debt service and capital needs. The schools’ share is 52.6 percent of total general fund disbursements. Development of the county budget includes analyses of the federal, state, and regional economies. Federal government spending has stabilized in recent years, reducing the uncertainty around federal policy for the local economy. Fairfax County’s annual unemployment rate fell to 2.3 percent, the lowest in 12 years, and office vacancy rates continued to decline. The average price of homes sold in 2019 was up 3.9 percent; the number of homes sold increased, and the number of days a home remained on the market was slashed by more than half. Non-residential real estate values (office, retail, and industrial properties, as well as apartments) have improved for five consecutive years. Mr. Hill’s proposed budget is based on a 3-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, from the current $1.15 to $1.18 per $100 of assessed value. One cent of the increase would be dedicated to housing affordability, another Board priority. There also is a proposal to implement a 4 percent admissions tax on the sale of movie, theater, and concert tickets. The Virginia General Assembly has authorized certain jurisdictions, including Fairfax County, to impose an admissions tax of up to 10 percent of the ticket price.
Richmond Report
If adopted by the Board, the proposed four percent admissions tax would become effective in October 2020. Mr. Hill’s budget maintains the personal property tax and the stormwater fee at current levels. The proposed budget also includes modest compensation increases for county employees, salary supplements for state parole officers, funding for the police body-worn camera program, staff and operating support for environmental initiatives, and expanded library hours. The first phase would move 11 of 22 libraries to one set of standardized hours, with additional phases planned in the next two budget cycles. Reserves are projected to reach the 10-percent target that the Board established in 2015. The Revenue Stabilization Fund, the Managed Reserve, and the Economic Opportunity Reserve help maintain the county’s Triple A bond rating. Budgets reflect community priorities, but budgets also are based on available revenue, and that burden, for Virginia counties, largely is based on the real property tax. We all pay our income taxes to the state and the federal governments, not the locality. The financial burden on the taxpayer is never far from mind as Board members address the challenges of meeting community needs versus available resources to pay for them. The Mason District Budget Town Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, from 7 – 9 p.m. County Executive Hill and Chief Financial Officer Joe Mondoro will discuss the proposed budget and take questions from the audience. The meeting is open to the public.
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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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EVEN WHEN IT’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
NEVER GIVE UP UNTIL THEY BUCKLE UP. VISIT SAFERCAR.GOV/KIDSBUCKLEUP
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As we go to print for this column, the legislature is coming down to the wire with the official end of the 2020 Legislative Session quickly approaching. The final days of the General Assembly are spent on reconciling the proposed biennial budget submitted by the Governor against the amendments approved by the House and Senate. With a cautious eye toward any economic downturn, we are moving forward. The most notable priority for the new Democratic majority is investments in Virginians — from children to the elderly; from public safety to the most vulnerable in our Commonwealth; from the environment to infrastructure. By law, we will make substantial deposits into the Rainy Day Fund and restrict surplus revenues to one-time spending. As chair of the subcommittee on K-12 Education, I lead the fight for fully funding the Standards of Quality (SOQ) rebenchmarking. Our committee supported the Governor’s proposal for increased funding of $81 million for the Virginia Preschool Initiative Program, a $57 million increase for at-risk students, and a provision for an additional $28 million for the state’s share of additional instructors for students with limited English proficiency. This year, we suggested revenue be used to increase the state’s share of a 4 percent increase in teacher salaries in the second year of the biennium. In an effort to decrease the ratio of students to counselors we have placed an additional $40 million in the Senate amendments. Senate proposed spending for higher education reflects a $60.6 million infusion for additional undergraduate need-based financial aid. We’ve included $96.7 million over the next two years for a “last dollar plus” community college workforce initiative (G3). Tuition Assistance Grants are funded higher than initially proposed in both the HOD and Senate amendments. Bear in mind, the quest to freeze college tuition must correlate to the related costs for students to attend our world-class colleges and universities. We also want to maintain the number of slots for in-state students at our public colleges and universities. This requires a balancing act when funding these
flagship schools. The Senate spending plan also addresses concerns for families in need of home healthcare providers. Money has been earmarked for a 5 percent raise in the caboose budget bill with another 2 percent to be implemented on July 2, 2021. Overtime will be allowed for up to 16 hours/week. We took steps to increase provider rates for nursing homes, residential psychiatric facilities, skilled and private duty nursing, and adult daycare. Doubling funding for permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness is a step in providing a safe environment as well as preventing homelessness. The Senate added funding for waiver slots, too. Long overdue, this spending plan also features funding for oral health coverage under Medicaid. Revisiting the issue of infrastructure, we are working toward consensus for reclaiming funds for Metro, leveraging bonds for a new rail bridge across the Potomac that will provide commuters with an alternative to cars, injecting new money into mitigating congestion in our region, and maintaining road repairs. Both the Speaker and I are carrying consequential legislation related to transportation. Those measures, SB 890/HB1414 are in conference as of this writing. Protecting our environment is essential. Meaningful funds for land conservation, rebuilding of oyster reefs, and water quality improvement are all on the table. All three proposals align with funding for broadband expansion which is a game-changer for rural and underserved regions in the Commonwealth. Addressing the needs of a thriving economy in Northern Virginia, we seek to make substantive investments for affordable housing and reduce homelessness. Continuing to recap some major legislative achievements, there has been movement on issues concerning gun violence prevention. We have passed bills to require background checks, reinstate the one gun a month purchase rule, implement red flag laws and prohibit bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. Senator Saslaw represents the 35th District in the Virginia State Senate. He may be emailed at district35@senate.virginia.gov.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
This Super, Historic Tuesday
It is not an exaggeration to say that this Tuesday, March 3, was a truly historic day in the history of American politics. The stunning outcome in the Super Tuesday Democratic primaries marked one of the most thrilling and unpredictable outcomes ever, one, as they say, for the history books. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s rise from the dead to take a decisive lead in the delegate count leading to the Democratic nomination for president this summer has been breathtaking, and very rare on the political landscape. The wise Cajun Democratic strategist James Carville was right when he hailed the outcome by saying South Carolina U.S. Rep. James Clyburn’s FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS endorsement of Biden in that state’s primary last week literally “saved the Democratic Party.” It can be viewed as hardly an overstatement. After underperforming fiascos in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, Biden was on the ropes going into South Carolina, and the enthusiastic endorsement he received from Clyburn, which set in motion a get-outthe-vote mobilization in South Carolina especially among AfricanAmerican voters turned into a rout in favor of Biden. He wound up winning every single county in the state, and that set off a new burst of energy for him nationally that then carried right into Super Tuesday in a most remarkable way. Of course, Biden helped himself by picking himself up from his slow start with a significant increase in his energy level in his speeches beginning late in Nevada and carrying over to South Carolina. His own brand of home-grown, people-centered campaigning sparked the enthusiasm that grew for him in South Carolina, and carried over from there. Before these developments emerged, the Democrats were in serious trouble, with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders surging to the lead in the first primaries and with polls showing he was about to pull off a blowout on Super Tuesday. For many Democratic Party leaders, this spelled a potential disaster, as Sanders, despite his populist support among millennials in particular, refused to disassociate from his brand as an independent and socialist, which threatened, among other things, to destroy gains made by the Democrats in down-ballot races for the House and Senate. There was also grave concern that he would be vulnerable in his own race against hated GOP incumbent Donald Trump. Of course, these concerns continue to exist. While Super Tuesday provided an enormous boost to Biden and compelled him into the lead in the delegate race going into the convention, Sanders continues as a serious contender in what now has swiftly morphed into a two-person race for the nomination. But it’s the powerful shift in the momentum that is the most decisive result from this week. If Biden can keep up his recent strident campaigning profile, he’s going to be very hard to stop from now on. Kudos, too, to viable candidates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar for pulling out of the race to throw their support to Biden on the eve of Super Tuesday, and to Beto O’Rourke, too. They’d all built their own solid bases of support, reflected in the case of Buttigieg in a record turnout Tuesday among LGBTQ voters. The real subject of the Super Tuesday surge, however, was none other than Trump, himself. The prospect of the re-election of worst president, by far, in the history of the U.S. proved too much for Democratic voters, who not only showed up for Biden as their newly-revived hope, but in unexpectedly big numbers, too. If it turns into a fight between Trump and Biden, Biden will prevail with the help of a massively mobilized American electorate this fall. Imagine had the work of the Democratic-controlled House Intelligence and other committees not uncovered the devious Trump plot to pin phony allegations on Biden over the Barisma case in Ukraine. Had that succeeded as Trump hoped, his most formidable foe would have been crippled by now. So the effort leading to Tuesday’s result goes back to the work to flip the House in the 2018 midterm election that turned over 40 House seats and gave the Democrats the majority they needed. Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
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Nicholas F. Benton
Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark
Across our county, the nation, the globe, the shortage of affordable housing plagues millions. The clash between rising demand, pricey land and choosey capital is being tackled by many activists. But few are as effective as local force majeure Nina Janopaul, CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. Since 1989, that nonprofit has gone beyond rhetoric to create facts on the ground. The key, she told me in their renovating offices in Ballston, is collaboration: with developers, nonprofits, donors and government at all levels. APAH is fresh off the opening on Columbia Pike of the 173-unit apartments at the former Arlington Presbyterian Church. And work will begin in April on the winwin conversion of the fading Post 139 American Legion Hall near Virginia Square to 160 new apartments primarily for veterans. Current total: 3,000 Arlingtonians housed due to APAH’s negotiated arrangements. Absent a budget from a central housing authority, APAH “can’t afford not to” maintain solid relationships with developers — who donate, serve on its board and train future APAH staffers. “We’re blessed by their generosity,” Janopaul says, citing Arlington builders Tim Naughton of AvalonBay Communities Inc., John Shooshan of the Shooshan Co. and Andy VanHorn at JBG Smith. I asked Janopaul about the
movement for “upzoning,” to ease residential restrictions to allow more duplexes, for example, to create roofs for “the missing middle” of averagemeans Arlingtonians priced out by teardowns. “We fully support more housing in urban centers, because people want to live closer in,” she said, noting that millennials and empty-nesters need help addressing differing needs. “Arlington is zoned 86 percent for single family, an underutilized resource.” But there is potential for “poaching” from low-income people, Janopaul cautioned. “More duplexes won’t address” the housing needs of “store clerks, housekeepers, school aides and bus drivers. A full society needs all those people.” When APAH places affordable units within larger complexes, Janopaul confirmed, it brands the property without signs indicating that some units are subsidized, “so residents don’t feel stigma.” Her own offices, acquired in 2016, combine with 104 apartments. The ongoing renovation, with conference rooms named for Arlington neighborhoods, will create an “open space” office for a staff that has doubled to 27 and may soon reach 34-40, she said. “Our employees stay a long time, 6-9 years once they learn the ropes.” The work for lawyers and financial analysts is “so specialized.” APAH teams with groups like the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers and the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance to conduct forums and lobby Richmond. Amidst today’s crisis, the
Trump Administration “has proposed draconian cuts,” to the Housing and Urban Development Department. She considers that “woefully inappropriate,” though Congress so far as assured a “steady state budget.” She is optimistic Democratic candidates understand the need to both maintain supply in the housing market and to continue Section 8 vouchers for renters. What drives Nina Janopaul? The daughter of a Greek immigrant engineer calls her pricey-housing hometown of San Francisco “an example I want to avoid. I came from a comfortable life, realizing that others don’t have the same opportunities.” The notion that “we ought to give back” is reinforced by her faith as a parishioner at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Growing up, she said, “I admired those of modest backgrounds with energy, and now admire the hard work of many APAH residents.” *** Halls Hill long-timers are mulling plans to refurbish the colorful 1992 murals on the cinderblock wall behind the Lee Highway McDonald’s. Roderick Turner’s paintings of Fire Station No. 8, African American boy hoopsters and female singers next to the Langston-Brown Community Center have a “rich history” as a teaching tool, says Langston Citizens Association activist Saundra Green. But parts of the wall were damaged by a McDonald’s snow plow a couple of years back, she said, and the fast food outlet is itself being renovated. The murals will also get a facelift — if funding can be found.
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THE FINAL LEG of the pipeline plans to run from Cherri Drive, onto Griffith Road and eventually take a right onto Pimmit Drive, which is the intersection in the distance. (P����: N���-P����)
Pimmit Hills Residents Battle Pipeline Project
BY MATT DELANEY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Washington Gas’ plan to install a natural gas pipeline through the heart of the Pimmit Hills neighborhood has its residents fighting the project neighbors say is a potentially dangerous action that’s unprecedented in Northern Virginia. The Pimmit Hills Citizens’ Association has been leading the effort to reroute the two-foot-wide pipeline ever since Washington Gas alerted the community to its intentions to start the Strip 1 Tysons Project in the fall of 2018. Back then, door-knocking and letters distributed by the utility company segued into a community meeting. But that meeting, PHCA president Robert Heilen said over email, left residents with few clues about the project’s scope. Heilen added that follow-up questions went unanswered on the project’s FAQ page, despite what Washington Gas said it would do. Also, an agreed-upon meeting between Washington Gas and the Virginia Department of Transportation, as well as Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, State Senator Janet Howell, State Delegate Marcus Simon and PHCA in November 2018 never materialized. VDOT spokesperson Ellen Kamilakis said the agency initially denied the permit to build the pipeline in Dec. 2018 because it suggested an alternate route. Kamilakis clarified that such a denial was outside of the agency’s authority. The second denial last July was due to a missing signature. The politicians penned a joint letter to VDOT in opposition of the pipeline in October, a month before VDOT approved Washington Gas’ corrected permit. “We are deeply concerned for the safety of our families,” Heilen
wrote. “This is not just the typical [five-inch] natural gas pipeline that gives your home natural gas — this is a two-foot wide, high pressure pipe that is typically not routed through narrow residential streets, but are placed along arterial roadways like Leesburg Pike.” The gas travelling through this type of pipeline will be used to fuel commercial buildings with higher gas demands, according to Brian Edwards, a spokesperson for Washington Gas. Pimmit Hills resident Christine Zinner noted that, according to Virginia’s State Corporation Commission documents from 2015, the pipeline will be used to funnel gas to parts of Maryland and Washington, D.C. along with Virginia. However, Edwards told the News-Press that the pipeline will not service places outside of Virginia. Safety concerns stem from other natural gas pipeline explosions around the country in recent years. Some of those that PHCA cited include the Sept. 2018 explosion in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, caused by a landslide, and the rupture of a pipeline in Mississippi that left dozens hospitalized after the ground above the pipeline caved in. Both pipelines were two feet in diameter. Edwards said that the steel pipe will be placed under some of the neighborhood roads and it’s sturdy enough to withstand being struck by a backhoe. That information is designed to address the community’s fear that the high rate of homes being torn down and rebuilt could result in construction crews hitting the pipeline. Inspections of the pipe can also be done without having to dig it back up. Washington Gas’ decision to run the pipeline through Pimmit Hills was to avoid its impact on construction time and traffic. Edwards mentioned that the neighborhood route would take three
years to complete and affect 7,000 commuters per day, as opposed to the Magarity Road route suggested by PHCA and area politicians, which would take six years and affect 41,000 commuters per day. Heilen feels as if Pimmit Hills is being unfairly treated due to the community’s “high minority population and lower income than many surrounding neighborhoods.” He pointed out that research done by PHCA to map out transmission gas lines in Fairfax County found that none run directly through any other subdivisions. Their research identified that the closest one goes near Kings Park in Burke, but that pipeline is routed around, instead of through, the neighborhood. Washington Gas wouldn’t specify to PHCA which parts of Northern Virginia had similarly-sized pipelines running through neighborhoods. Edwards told the News-Press that “a 24-inch pipeline is not uncommon in other parts of the system across the area.” For comparison, the Strip 1 West Project also being done by Washington Gas mostly follows along Route 7 with only minor offshoots into neighborhoods. Pimmit Hills residents said they have no problems with the pipeline itself, which Edwards said had received more opposition than most projects, they just don’t understand why their neighborhood is a part of its trajectory. Zinner said, “Given how close these houses are in Pimmit Hills and how narrow these streets are, we will definitely be blown away if...there’s a rupture.” One homeowner is filing a lawsuit against Washington Gas over the construction of the pipeline. The neighborhood will hold a protest march along the pipeline’s route on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. starting at the Pimmit Hills Center.
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An interview by professional cyclist and ProBike FC owner Nick Clark with Falls Church City Police Chief Mary Gavin and Falls Church City Police Emergency Manager Joe Carter will be available on “The ProBike FC Show” podcast starting Wednesday, March 4. Gavin and Carter discuss rider safety, road laws, and more. The local podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ProBike FC is located at 116 E. Fairfax Street in Falls Church. For more information, visit www.ProBikeFC.com.
Tours of Historic F.C. Property Set for This Weekend Kathy Killion, senior advisor of Long & Foster Real Estate’s commercial division, is hosting tours of the historic property at 258 N. Washington Street in Falls Church on Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8, from 1 – 3 p.m. The commercial property was built in 1873 and is currently available for purchase. Tours will include an overview of the building’s history and highlight its unique features. For more information, email kkillion@lnf.com or call 703-600-9295.
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City of F.C. Seeking Participants for Wellness & Benefits Fair The City of Falls Church is now accepting applications from businesses to participate in its third annual Wellness and Benefits Fair scheduled for Thursday, April 30 from 2 – 7 p.m. Fitness Centers, personal trainers, mindfulness and relaxation resources, financial wellness resources, healthy eating resources, physical therapists, physicians and medical providers, family and behavioral health resources, and any business focused on community and personal wellness is invited to participate. The Fair will be held in the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street. For more information or to secure space, contact Meaghan DeCelle at mdecelle@fallschurchva.gov or call 703-248-5128.
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Stemtree of Falls Church, located at 228 W. Broad Street, has closed. Stemtree was an enrichment program focused on science, technology and engineering for children. For inquiries regarding the space now available for lease, contact Joel Dinkins at joel.winfieldgroup@gmail.com or 703- 346-0908.
Lemon Lane Children’s Consignment Boutique turns three on Saturday, March 7. The shop owned and operated by Erin Messner will offer sweet treats, bubbly beverages, face painting and a photo booth to celebrate this milestone. Lemon Lane is located at 246 W. Broad Street in Falls Church and is open Sundays from noon – 4 p.m. and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.. For more information, visit www.lemonlaneconsignment.com.
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Giant Opening in Former Shoppers Site at Seven Corners Friday The new Giant in Seven Corners is expected to open in the former Shoppers Food Warehouse location at 6360 Seven Corners Center on Friday, March 6. The new state of the art Giant will include a full-service pharmacy and an extensive organic section. 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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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Girls Basketball
WHILE SENIOR FORWARD Emma Rollins may be seen as a playmaker in the above picture for her teammates, it was her clutch role as the shotmaker in Region 3B championship that gave George Mason High School’s girls basketball team the 39-31 win over Brentsville District High School last Friday. Rollins’ back-to-back three-pointers pushed Mason ahead 35-28 with 3:28 remaining and came at just the right time as the Tigers had cut into the Mustangs’ 27-21 lead that started off the fourth quarter. (Photo: Carol Sly)
THE ROAD-TEAM BLACK UNIFORMS have served Mason well during a postseason run with a 38-33 win against William Monroe High School in Standardsville two nights before the team claimed the region title. Now the Mustangs will look to don the whites once more in the Class 3 state quarterfinal game versus B.T. Washington High School. The game will be held just down the road from their home gym at Marshall High School, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. (Photo: Carol Sly)
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George Mason High School’s robotics team, 1418, earned the 2020 Haymarket Event Safety Award at this weekend’s FIRST Chesapeake district competition. Congrats go to team members Sasha Eppler and Stephanie Synnott for their work creating a safety postcard that explains various situations including �ire extinguisher use. This award also helps the team by earning points to qualify for Districts. (P����: C������� C��� W���������)
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S����� N��� � N���� Invitation to Personal Project Showcase at Mason High The public is invited to the George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) Personal Project Showcase on Wednesday, March 11 from 7 – 8 p.m. The sophomore class will present independent inquiry projects on topics of personal interest, and the challenging goals they set around these topics. Students have documented the process through the cycle of investigating, planning, taking action and reflecting, and they look forward to sharing their experiences. The Personal Project marks the culmination of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) and is a requirement set by the IB for all MYP students globally. Students will be showcasing the Personal Projects in Mason’s main and auxiliary gyms. Topics include social media, gun sense legislation, playing the harp, cooking, fashion design, music therapy and more.
February Was Acceptance Month at Camelot Elementary Camelot Elementary School tapped February as acceptance cel-
ebration month, sponsored by the school’s acceptance team of administrators, teachers, counselors and PTA members. Its mission is “to promote the acceptance of all students at Camelot, teach and give students the tools and knowledge they need to fully accept one another and to encourage and show students how to be a friend to anyone and everyone, in all walks of life, both in and out of school.” Camelot offers programs for students with intellectual disabilities and a preschool program for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Many of these students spend part of their day or are fully included in a general education setting, learning alongside their peers. Another piece of the acceptance culture at Camelot is the diversity that students embrace and celebrate. Teachers are provided with weekly activities and ways to promote acceptance in their classrooms. Acceptance month included Be a Good Friend Week, featuring an anti-bullying theme. This week focuses on disabilities including Asperger’s spectrum disorder, dyslexia, deaf and hard of hearing, Down syndrome, and Angelman syndrome. During the last week of the
month a celebration of diversity and the many cultures represented at Camelot was featured. The community will be encouraged to wear tie-dye or cultural clothing to show acceptance.
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2 Sports Events Occurring At F.C. High This Week Two sports-related events are taking place at Falls Church High School (7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church) this week. Tonight at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium is the Winter Sports awards ceremony. All winter athletes, team managers and family members are invited to attend this celebration at the school. Refreshments will start being served at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium lobby. On March 10, the Spring Sports parents/coaches meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. All parents and/or guardians of spring athletes are encouraged to attend this important meeting with coaches and athletics staff. Team rules, schedules and expectations will be discussed. Also, important information from the FCHS Activities Department, Athletic Boosters and Athletic Trainers will be presented.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS THURSDAY, MARCH 5 New Yorker Discussion Group. If any residents enjoy The New Yorker but wish they had someone to chat with about it, they are encouraged to drop into the monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share their thoughts on what they’ve read in a variety of articles. Attendees can pick up the magazine at the Senior Center or at the circulation desk of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. A librarian will coordinate the discussions. Senior Center @ Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 2 – 3 p.m. Chess Club. Interested attendees can learn chess from coach Ashley Xing, a member of the U.S. delegation to the 2018 World Youth Chess Championships. Participants can come to play
chess, meet other chess players and learn. Players of all ages and levels are welcome. Boards and sets are provided. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 703-790-8088.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Quarterly Book Sale. TysonsPimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) will be holding its quarterly book sale for the winter season with a large selection of books and media for all ages and interests available this weekend, March 6 – 8. On March 6, the book sale will run from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; on March 7, it will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 it will run from 1 – 4 p.m. On the final day of the quarterly book sale, all books and media will be half price and there is a special offer that allows customers to fill up a bag full of books for $10 per bag. For more
information, call 703-790-4031, 703-338-3307 or contact tysonslibraryfriends@gmail.com. 3-on-3 Basketball Shootout. Free basketball activity for Grades 4-8. No registration necessary. All skill levels are welcome. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 3:30 – 5 p.m. 703-2485027.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Winter Farmers Market. The award-winning, year-round market is filled with fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and much more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – noon. 703248-5034.
MONDAY, MARCH 9 Monday Night Yoga. Interested residents can join instructor Casie Anderson for a free one hour yoga
class. Attendance limited to 35 people due to high demand, so participants to arrive early for tickets. Attendees should bring a mat and towel. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. 703-790-8088.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10 Chronic Disease SelfManagement Class. Fairfax County’s Chronic Pain SelfManagement program is enrolling individuals interested in managing symptoms and living a full life. Beneficial for anyone with chronic pain or those caring for someone with chronic pain. Attendees of this free six week workshop will learn how to effectively manage pain and fatigue; relaxation; stress; improve physical activity; pace and plan and more. Activity Code #261020-A. Senior Center @ Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 6 “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” Adapted from the New York Times bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini (“Kite Runner”), the lives of two Afghan women are inextricably bound together. In the war-ravaged Kabul, Miriam and Laila become unlikely allies in the face of the insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive way of life. Hopes of a new life lead to an unselfish and shocking decision, changing the course of their futures forever. Arena Stage (1101 Sixth Street, SW Washington, D.C.) $76. 8 p.m. arenastage.org.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7 “Ordinary Days.” On a regular, ordinary day, uptight graduate student Deb loses her most precious possession — the notes to her graduate thesis — somewhere on the streets of New York City. To her surprise, she strikes up an unexpected friendship with Warren, the optimistic but struggling artist who finds and returns her notes. Meanwhile, Jason
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NEWS-PRESS & HELP US KEEP COMMUNITY JOURNALISM ALIVE & WELL IN THE LITTLE CITY. Since 1991, the News-Press has been on a mission to provide independent and honest journalism to the Falls Church community. We recognize and appreciate the support the City, its businesses and residents have shown us for the past 29 years. Now, we need your help to con�nue with our mission. If you find value in our work and believe the News-Press contributes to the be�erment of the Falls Church community, please consider becoming a member today and help us keep you informed on all the happenings — big and small — in The Li�le City. Never before has the fight to ensure a free press been more important.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
and Claire, a couple struggling to understand each other, learn how to share an apartment and move forward with their lives together. With hope and soaring songs, Ordinary Days shows how the smallest acts can sometimes have the most profound effects on your life. NextStop Theatre (269 Sunset Park Dr., Herndon) $40 – $55. 8 p.m. nextstoptheatre.org. “Crowns.” When a Brooklyn teen goes to live with her grandmother in South Carolina after the death of her brother, she learns the beauty, ceremony and symbolism of hat-wearing from her resilient, southern sisters. The musical has played to acclaim in theaters around the country, including sold out runs at Arena Stage. Creative Cauldron (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) $35. 8 p.m. creativecauldron.org.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8 “Shear Madness.” First seen in Boston in 1980, and opening here at the Kennedy Center in 1987, the show reinvents itself every performance — pulling from the news of the day, and on-goings of the DMV, to improvise timely witticisms and gags. Set today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon, this record-breaking comedy is Washington’s hilarious whodunit. After more than 12,000 performances, the show has stayed in great shape. Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW Washington, D.C.) $50.Check kennedy-center.org for showtimes.
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, MARCH 5 Will Byrne. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-237-8333. Laws of Average + Red Medicine + Apex + Graffitti Soundstage. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Union Stage Presents at The Miracle Theatre — The DC Moth StorySlam. Miracle Theatre (535 8th St. SE Washington, D.C.). $15.
CA L E NDA R
MARCH 5 – 11, 2020 | PAGE 19
7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Liv Warfield. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $27. 8 p.m. 703-255-1900. Karaoke. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-8589186. Thrillbillys. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Happy Hour: Acoustic Soul. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-2419504. Gina Chavez. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Capitol Jazz Combo. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186. Shartel and Hume Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-2419504. Herb & Hanson. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333. Back to The 90’s Classic Albums feat. Brain Stew + Lithium. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 10 p.m. 703255-1566.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
BLUE MAGNA will be at Galaxy Hut on Sunday. (Photo: BlueMagna.BandCamp.Com) The British Invasion Years. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $30 – 435. 9 p.m. 703-237-0300. Joe Downer. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
(220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $17 – $20. 7 p.m. 703237-0300.
9504.
Clark Beckham: Light Year Tour. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 – $20. 7 p.m. 703255-1566.
Direct From Ireland: Téada featuring Champion Dancer Brian Cunningham Live and In Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20 – $25. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Carly Harvey Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.
Snakefarmers. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Bentwood Rockers. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-2419504.
Loose Change. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-532-9283.
Terri & The Rhythm Cats. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504.
Brian & Tyrone — Rain and Snow. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-858-9186.
Grateful Jams at The Still. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-858-9186.
Tyler Ramsey (formerly of Band of Horses). Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $13 – $15. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Young Relics. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen with Pierce Edens and The 19th Street Band. The State Theatre
Wolf Blue Jam Weekly Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-
Blue Magna, Don Zientara. Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $5. 9 p.m. 703-5258646.
MONDAY, MARCH 9
TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Moonshine Society Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504. The Majestic: Drag Show and Weekly LGBTQ Night at the lounge. The Diva Lounge (6763 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church). 10 p.m. 571-234-2045
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 Couples Therapy: A Comedy Show with Host Rahmein Mostafavi. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046
Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.
PAGE 20 | MARCH 5 - 11, 2020 For Sale ATTENTION REALTORS ADVERTISE your listings regionally or statewide. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions that get results! Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net
Help Wanted/Drivers NEED CDL DRIVERS? ADVERTISE YOUR JOB OPENINGS statewide or in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions to reach truck drivers. Call Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net
Announcements HAMPTON BIG FLEA ANTIQUES MARKET RETURNS To Hampton Roads Convention Center! 1610 Coliseum Drive Hampton Virginia 23666. March 21-22. Dealer spots still available. Call for information 757-430-4735. www.thebigfleamarket. com
HOMEOWNERS WANTED! KAYAK POOLS looking for Demo Homesites to display new maintenance free Kayak Pools. Save thousands of $$. Unique opportunity! 100% financing available. 1-888-788-5464
Services HAVE YOU WRITTEN A BOOK THAT YOU WANT TO PUBLISH? We will print it for you at your expense. For an estimate, call our editor Joe Scafetta directly at (703)533-8064, or email us at columbiapress@verizon.net
DIVORCE
UNCONTESTED, $395+$86 court cost. WILLS $195.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com .
Wanted CAREGIVER/COMPANION Sweet, petit young woman with disabilities, Saturday. or Sunday., 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., $12.00/hr, car required 703-237-9089
ROOMMATE WANTED In City of Falls Church. Furnished room. Prof/with car and job. $425.00 Monthly Rent, $400.00 Deposit, Utilities 1/3.. 703534-0019 available now.
Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The ordinance referenced below was given first reading by the City Council on February 24, 2020; second reading
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
CLASSI F I E DS and public hearing are scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2020 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard. (TO20-03) ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCES 1995 AND 1996 AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED BY ORDINANCE 2003 AND ORDINANCE 2004 REGARDING THE BUDGET OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FUNDS This ordinance proposes to reprogram the General Fund Budget and increase the Capital Improvements Program Fund appropriation for FY2020 to provide additional funding for the City Hall Project in the amount of $1,207,000 using FY2020 savings on debt service. All public hearings will be held in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA. 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 CITY OF FALLS CHURCH FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month.
OTHER SERVICES Villa Ridge Road, RPC #53-207-048 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential (continued from previous hearing); Variance application V1613-20 by Margaret L. Schwartz, applicant and owner, for a variance to Section 48238(3)a, to allow rear yard setback of 36 feet instead of 40 feet, for the purpose of constructing a 1-story addition on premises known as 313 Lincoln Avenue, RPC #51-116-031 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential; and Election of Officers Information on the above application is available for review at: Zoning Office 300 Park Avenue, Suite 103 East Falls Church, VA. 703-248-5015 (option 1) zoning@fallschurchva.gov This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)
Auction ATTENTION AUCTIONEERS ADVERTISE YOUR UPCOMING auctions statewide or in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net AIRLINES ARE HIRING GET FAA APPROVED hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance SCHEV certified 877-204- 4130
Architectural Advisory Board Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Board of Zoning Appeals (alternate) City Employee Review Board Historic Architectural Review Board Historical Commission Housing Commission The City Council is also seeking a resident with construction management experience to serve on the Library Construction Oversight Committee.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS CITY OF FALL CHURCH, VIRGINIA The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on March 12, 2020 at 7:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, to consider the following items: Appeal application A1612-20 by Rani Doyle, appellant, to appeal a determination by the Zoning Administrator dated December 12, 2019, and amended and corrected in a letter dated December 13, 2019 in response to a request for determination regarding the subdivision application for 807
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KIDS LOVE SCALLIWAG By Eileen Levy Soon be flowers, lovely spring Trees so grand, birds all sing. Clean up yard, use the rake, Then I shall bake a cake To celebrate the glorious green So welcome to be seen! Says how wonderful this life gets!
A RTS&E NTE RTA I NME NT
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Crossword
ACROSS
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1. Yoga class sights 5. Take on 10. Fifth-century barbarians 14. “Horton Hears ____” 15. Bathroom floor installer 16. Free Pancake Day chain 17. It’s jumped when it’s dead 19. Actress Dench 20. Enzyme suffix 21. A big fan of 22. Fortuneteller’s deck 23. “Mind. Blown.” 25. Hollywood pre-award speculation 28. Not much (of) 30. “Exodus” author Leon 31. Part of Lawrence Welk’s introduction 33. Many Bob Marley fans 36. 1-800-Flowers competitor 39. “The Graduate” soundtrack tune 42. Minnesota politico Klobuchar 43. Largest city in Syria 44. White Monopoly bills 45. “Get ____ writing” 46. Tiny amount of time: Abbr. 48. Pesto alternative 53. “This I Promise You” band 56. Unfamiliar 57. Carle who wrote “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” 59. Egg ____ yung 60. Like high school and college students of the ‘80s-’90s, e.g. 61. Follow a certain dieting regimen ... or tally up what’s seen in 17-, 25-,
STRANGE BREW
Across 1. Yoga class sights
39- and 48-Across 64. Gaelic language 65. Herb with “sweet” and “holy” varieties 66. Possible result of an allergic reaction 67. They may go for big bucks 68. Source of Andrew Carnegie’s fortune 69. Comprehends
DOWN
1. Gambling mecca 2. Up to one’s neck (in) 3. Disposed of 4. [Poor, pitiful me!] 5. Abbr. at the top of an office memo 6. “I’ll second that” 7. Bread spreads 8. According to 9. Attempt 10. Muslims’ headscarves 11. ____ Kenyatta, president of Kenya starting in 2013 12. Help for pulling an all-nighter 13. Mark who was a swimming phenom at the 1972 Olympics 18. Competitor of Sanyo and Bose 22. Object of Andy’s affection in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” 24. Target of an air freshener 26. Jokester 27. Catherine of ____ 29. “No Country for Old Men” actor Josh 31. Cool ____ cucumber 32. Channel on which to see some
JOHN DEERING
Sudoku
MARCH 5 – 11, 2020 | PAGE 21 b&w films 34. Kind of football played indoors 35. Soak (up) 36. Without a care in the world 37. Draw 38. No and J 40. It gets passed on a track 41. Adversaries 45. Curly-horned mountain climbers 47. March on Washington grp. 48. Not free-range 49. Last Oldsmobile ever produced 50. Clean, as greens 51. Companion of reduce and recycle 52. Another nickname for the Governator 54. ____ gas 55. Sells for 58. “____ all work out” 61. “Young Sheldon” network 62. Feedbag tidbit 63. Cries meaning “How cu-u-ute!” Last Thursday’s Solution M Y O H M Y
C O N A I R
A K I T A S
E T S Y
T O K E
T K O S
S P R D R O S O N
T E N E D T A R B E A Y O S H J L O A Y Z Y
S I L T
T H E O
E G O T
M I N T R I O O K Y S D A E S T N T A T I N E R A
A V O I D
R A N D I
I V I E S
P M O E A R N S T O A T H L A B U S E O B I N N L E O T O R I A N O L O S O L Z E N A E L T D E
A N I A M B R U G S
A P E S
R I V A L S
F E E L O K
By The Mepham Group
Level 1 2 3 4
5. Take on 10. Fifth-century barbarians 14. "Horton Hears ____" 15. Bathroom floor installer 16. Free Pancake Day chain 17. It's jumped when it's dead 19. Actress Dench 20. Enzyme suffix
1
21. A big fan of 22. Fortuneteller's deck 23. "Mind. Blown." 25. Hollywood pre-award speculation Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
28. Not much (of) NICK KNACK
© 2020 N.F. Benton
1
3/8/20
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk. © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 22 | MARCH 5 – 11, 2020
dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . pas
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BACK IN THE DAY
is the Now for all time cows good co me to aid to the the ir of t u r e . p a s is the Now for all time cows good me to to coaid of the their.
20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. IX, No. 52 • March 9, 2000
Falls Church News-Press Vol. XX, No. 2 • March 11, 2010
It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Critter Corner 10 Year s Ago
It is now the time fo r all good to go cows to aid of the the ir pas ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up
Newsweek Ranks Falls Church’s Mason High School 2nd Best in Entire U.S.
Shields Proposes 20¢ Real Estate Tax Hike to Balance F.C. Budget
Falls Church’s George Mason High School is ranked second on the list of “The 100 Best High Schools” in the nation in this week’s edition of Newsweek Magazine. Furthermore, Mason was ranked second in the “Challenge Index” as well.
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields unveiled his porposed $64.2 million budget to the Falls Church City Council Monday night, recommending a jump of 20 cents on the real estate tax rate on top of deep cuts in City services.
F.C. Resident & Navy Pilot Howard Stoodley Dies Captain Howard Stoodley died in Falls Church on Feb.17, 2020. He was 84 years old. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, the former Janice Powers Newman of Arlington; son Scott Stoodley; daughter Elizabeth Stoodley; stepdaughter Adrienne Newman; stepson Craig Newman; granddaughter Griffyn Stoodley; and sister Amy Lou Tozzi. Capt. Stoodley grew up in Brookfield, CT and attended Danbury High School. In June 1957, he graduated from the US Naval Academy, Third Company. He was a battalion sub-commander and received the James Sturgis Willis and Military Order of the World War prizes for academic achievement. As a Naval aviator, he served in VP 44 and commanded VP 50 and VX 1. He was pilot on nine world record flights in the P3C Orion including distance, altitude,
time-to-climb, and speed records. His military awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. After his Naval career, he was a director for Harris Corporation. He was a safety counselor for the Federal Aviation Administration and a 50-year flight instructor. He earned a professional engineering degree from GWU, where he was an adjunct professor of engineering management. As an almost 30-year resident of the City of Falls Church, he served on the Board of Zoning Appeals for 17 years. His neighbors lovingly called him the mayor of Bishops Court. Howard had been an avid runner, completing numerous marathons and triathlons. His family and friends remember him with the utmost love and admiration for
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT Week of Feb. 24 – March 1, 2020
PM and Feb 25 11:7 AM, unknown suspect(s) stole an unsecured vehicle.
Credit Card Theft, 400 blk S Maple Ave, Between Feb 12 and 17, a suspect took and used a credit card.
Tamper With Auto, 300 blk Gundry Dr, Between Feb 24 10:30 PM and Feb 25 7:30 AM, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from an unsecured vehicle.
Larceny From Vehicle, 1200 blk W Broad St, Feb 24 4:30 PM, an unknown male took items of value from an unsecured vehicle. Drug/Narcotic Offence, 7100 blk Leesburg Pike, Feb 25 1:54 AM, following a traffic stop, a male, 22, of Sterling, VA, was issued a summons for possession of marijuana. Motor Vehicle Theft, 600 blk Highland St, Between Feb 24 11:30
Identity Theft, 200 blk N Virginia Ave, Feb 26 11:16 AM, unknown suspect collected personal information telephonically through false pretenses. Wire Fraud, 1200 blk Lincoln Ave, Feb 26 between 3 PM and 10 PM, unknown suspect(s) obtained money telephonically through false pretenses. Driving Under The Influence, 400
HOWARD STOODLEY his dynamic personality, his cheerful countenance and his readiness to help others. Howard’s family gives a special thanks to Noelia Sejas and Celina Monroy for their abundant love and care. Funeral services and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a future date. blk W Broad St, Feb 29 1:42 AM, following a request for service, a male, 29, of Alexandria, VA, was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. Larceny From Vehicle, 100 blk Tinners Hill St, Between Feb 28 10:30 PM and Feb 29 8:43 AM, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from an unsecured vehicle. Larceny From Vehicle, 200 blk Hillwood Ave, Between Feb 28 10 PM and Feb 29 9:31 AM, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from a vehicle. Driving Under The Influence, 100 blk S Spring St, March 1 1:33 AM , following a traffic stop, a male, 27, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and Drinking While Driving. Assault, 300 blk W Broad St, March 1 5 AM, following a call for service, a male, 62, no fixed address, was arrested for assault and battery.
VALENTINE enjoys the warm weather day that passed through the other week, but was left wondering, “Why don’t my humans come out?” She was adopted from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter three years ago and loves to chase her tennis balls around Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
Glass Recycling Continued from Page 8
the revenue, and their mom with helping the team secure business permits. The brothers will visit City Hall soon to finish up government requirements to operate their new company. They began their work as soon as the City announced it was stopping curbside glass pickup. Falls Church has joined Fairfax County and Arlington to make recyclables “cleaner” and more appealing to manufacturers. Glass pieces can contaminate cardboard and other paper, and they can break machinery and cut hands. Danny found this out on their first run when broken glass was not so
easy to handle. That’s when he got “special gloves.” Falls Church glass goes to North Carolina and Fairfax County which has equipment to turn the glass into sand and gravel. Transportation costs are offset by money earned from the discarded glass. Not only are the Oppenheimers helping recycle glass, but their one vehicle produces less air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than several vehicles would make, thereby lessening the effects of global warming and climate change. Besides, according to Danny, “It’s kinda fun.” For more information, contact glasshousefcc@gmail.com or visit shorturl.at/qET27.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
MARCH 5 - 11, 2020 | PAGE 23
Legal Notice
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE APPLICATION OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL TO ESTABLISH AN EXPERIMENTAL RESIDENTIAL RATE, DESIGNATED TIME-OF-USE RATE SCHEDULE 1G (EXPERIMENTAL) CASE NO. PUR-2019-00214 On December 12, 2019, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Company”) filed an application (“Application”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) for approval to establish a new experimental and voluntary residential time-of-use (“TOU”) rate schedule, designated Time-Of-Use Rate Schedule 1G (Experimental) (“TOU Schedule 1G”), pursuant to § 56-234 B of the Code of Virginia (“Code”). The Company states that TOU Schedule 1G was developed during a series of stakeholder group meetings required by the 2019 Virginia General Assembly. The Company requests a rate effective date of January 1, 2021. Pursuant to Code § 56-234 B, the Commission is required to issue its final order on the Application within six months of the filing date. The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on May 5, 2020, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive testimony from members of the public and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Any person desiring to testify as a public witness at this hearing should appear fifteen (15) minutes prior to the starting time of the hearing and contact the Commission’s Bailiff. The Commission subsequently permitted the Company to supplement its Application to include an optional program (“Solar Incentive Program”) for eligible customers to receive a rebate to offset partially the costs to install distributed solar (net metering) equipment, directed supplemental notice of the Company’s Application, and extended the date by which notices of participation are required to be filed from March 3, 2020, to March 31, 2020. The Company states that the Solar Incentive Program complies with legislation passed by the 2019 General Assembly requiring Dominion to submit “on or before March 31, 2020,” . . . “to the [Commission] for approval an incentive program for the installation of equipment to develop electric energy derived from sunlight for customers served under time-varying retail rate schedules that have advanced-metering technology equipment satisfactory to the utility.” As proposed, the Solar Incentive Program would provide an optional $500 per customer rebate, limited to one rebate per premises, issued as a check to applicable customers no later than 60 days after interconnection of their net metering facility. The Company states the rebate would be funded by and recovered within base rates. The Company proposes the Solar Incentive Program be open to customers who are eligible for and elect to participate in TOU Schedule 1G during the experimental period and subsequently apply to install a new solar/net metering installation. Existing net metering customers would not qualify for the rebate, and rebates would be available to a maximum of 500 customers issued as a subset of the 10,000 customer cap under proposed TOU Schedule 1G. The Company’s Application, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and its Order Granting Motion and Directing Supplemental Notice are available for public inspection during regular business hours at each of the Company’s business offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Copies also may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Audrey T. Bauhan, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. If acceptable to the requesting party, the Company may provide the documents by electronic means. Copies of the Application and other documents filed in this case are also available for interested persons to review in the Commission’s Document Control Center located on the first floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. On or before April 28, 2020, any interested person wishing to comment on the Company’s Application shall file written comments with Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. Any interested person desiring to file comments electronically may do so on or before April 28, 2020, by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2019-00214. On or before March 31, 2020, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of the notice of participation shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Commission at the address above. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent also must be sent to counsel for the Company at the address set forth above. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by Rule 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2019-00214. All documents filed with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice. The Commission’s Rules of Practice may be viewed at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. A printed copy of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and an official copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding may be obtained from the Clerk of the Commission at the address above. VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
PAGE 24 | MARCH 5 - 11, 2020
2 0 2 0 V O LV O
XC90
$542
PER MONTH
MONTH LEASE $5,459 DOWN 36 10,000 MILES/YEAR*
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Top Left: 317 Lincoln Ave, Falls Church City (pic attached) -5 Bedrooms -4.5 Bathrooms -FCC Schools -Over 4,000 sq. ft
Stock# 8452D. MSRP: $55,805. $5,459.41 due at signing plus tax, tags, acquisition fee of $995 and dealer processing fee of $799. On approved credit only. Must qualify through Volvo Financial Services. Offer Expires 3/06/2019
Top Right: 2501 Crest St, Alexandria City Bottom Left: 8518 Old Dominion Dr, McLean Bottom Right: Falls Church City - Coming Soon (pic attached-labeled 1013 Birch) -5 Bedrooms -3.5 Bathrooms -FCC Schools -Over 4,000 sq. ft
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317 Lincoln Ave, Falls Church City
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Open Sun 2-4
2501 Crest Street, Alexandria City
5 Bed
FCC Schools
3 Bed
4.5 Bath
Over 4,000 sq. ft
2 Bath
Fenced Yard Renovated w/ High End Finishes
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FOR SALE!
8518 Old Dominion Dr, Mclean, VA 22102 5 Bed 5 Renovated Baths ®
REALTOR
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
3-Car Garage
Falls Church City 5 Bed
FCC Schools
3.5 Bath
Over 4,000 sq. ft
703-867-8674
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