Falls Church News-Press

Index

Three of seven candidates for the Falls Church City Council in the upcoming May 6 election failed to appear for a debate sponsored by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce Tuesday at the Community Center.

The candidates, all independents running for the first time, missed a strong discussion focused on business and commercial development

issues. Again, the sharpest distinction between the two incumbents seeking re-election to third terms, Mayor Robin Gardner and Vice Mayor Lindy Hockenberry, and independent Nader Baroukh centered on the referendum that will also be on the May 6 ballot.

Gardner, Hockenberry and their ally Lawrence Webb, all endorsed by the venerable City civic association, the Citizens for a Better City, expressed their strong opposition to the referen-

dum, which would place a fixed restriction on the percentage of commercial to residential development in Falls Church.

Baroukh, an opponent of the City Center project recently approved unanimously by the City Council, said the referendum involved a “complex issue,” but that he supported its passage. Baroukh is also running for City Council for the first time, and was the only self-

The Falls Church City Council will vote Monday to finalize its budget for the coming fiscal year beginning July 1, and last minute revisions will reduce the tax rate from an earlier-projected three-cent rise to two cents.

The rate voted Monday will be $1.03 per $100 of assessed valuation, instead of $1.04 as previously advertised, up from the current rate of $1.01. But with a sharp drop in residential assessments this January, the tax impact on the average Falls Church homeowner will actually be a smaller bill, down $174.

For the second straight year, the City’s budget is being cushioned by a hefty tax contribution from the new, large-scale mixed use projects either completed or under construction in its commercial corridors.

That has more than offset the decline in residential property values, easing what would otherwise be far stiffer tax pressures on homeowners. Vice Mayor Lindy Hockenberry noted last night that without the new mixed use projects, the residential real estate tax rate would have to be $1.14 this year, instead of $1.03.

The new budget includes the full request for funding by the Falls Church School Board, which despite enrollment growth, held that request to a narrow three percent increase over the previous year. The increase is almost entirely accounted for by higher teacher salaries required to keep the City’s school system

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April 24 - 30, 2008

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We were delighted when it was announced last month that eight Falls Church citizens had filed to run for City Council in the May 6 election, and that seven of them actually chose to go through with it. It was a far cry from only two years earlier, when barely the minimum of candidates for the City Council and School Board were found, and the election was completely uncontested. We soundly criticized the citizens of Falls Church for failing to step up and seek public office, and so we were happy to see a lot more participation this time. We’ve always been supporters of robust, hard-fought elections. They serve our citizens and our community far better than dull uncontested races.

Having said that, we cannot express enough our disappointment at the “no show” performances of three City Council candidates at this week’s important debate sponsored by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. Particularly distressing was the explanation by one candidate that, because the Chamber advocates a viewpoint different from her own, she would not participate. In fact, a number of the candidates, including incumbents Mayor Robin Gardner and Vice Mayor Lindy Hockenberry, in the previous week’s forum co-sponsored by the Village Improvement and Preservation Society (VPIS) took part despite strong disagreements with VPIS board policy positions.

VPIS, the F.C. League of Women Voters and the Chamber are to be commended for hosting forums and debates because they provide the voting public a unique opportunity to examine the candidates, listen to their responses and make educated decisions on Election Day. It is a total ruse to suggest that because a candidate doesn’t agree with a debate sponsor, he or she should deny the public that opportunity.

We don’t presume to tell any candidate how they should run their campaigns, but from our point of view, any candidate who chooses consciously not to accept one of the only two significant opportunities to test his or her meddle and share views in a forum or debate format is categorically disqualified, in terms of our support. The whole notion of free and fair elections is undermined by “boycott” tactics, leaving such candidates as effectively stealth and potentially capable of making ungrounded allegations without accountability.

We commend Gardner, Hockenberry, Lawrence Webb and Nader Baroukh for participating fully and intelligently in both forums. We are disappointed at Ed Hillegas, Margaret Housen and Patrice Lepczyzk for failing to do so, and we think voters should place a lot of importance on the willingness, or lack of it, of a candidate to stand in the presence of his or her opponents to give the public a good look at them.

There are other critical criteria, as well, such as experience and demonstrated levels of civic commitment. For us, opposition to the anti-development referendum on the May 6 ballot is key among them.

The Falls Church News-Press is published weekly on Thursdays and is distributed free of charge throughout the City of Falls Church and the Greater Falls Church area. Offices are at 450 W. Broad Street #321, Falls Church, VA 22046. Reproduction of this publication in whole or part is prohibited except with the written permission of the publisher. ©2008 Benton Communications Inc. The News-Press is printed on recycled paper.

Editor, The citizen advisory referendum on the May 6 ballot is about much more than just development issues. It is a good idea for our Falls Church.

When I first spoke to the City Council on the proposed City Center, I called for a referendum to allow the citizens to express their view on the proposed gigantic new development.

It is worth remembering that Falls Church is only 2.2 square miles and was never intended to be a dense urban city. To make it so will forever change the way of life in our commu-

nity as well as its quality. It is also worth remembering that the Council had in its hand a concept for a small scale, balanced pedestrian friendly model city that was heartily endorsed by the community that now has been abandoned by this Council in favor of 10 story buildings.

Our city was created for and its intrinsic and extrinsic value sustained and enhanced by our school system. One of our school system’s greatest virtues lies in the smallness of its classes.

Now, this group of dense development advocates and allies is on the path that could

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diminish our very reason for existing as an independent city: our schools. By converting commercially-zoned property to residential use, the shared special interests of these divergent groups have set about urbanizing Falls Church, dotting the landscape with high rise buildings and pushing up the population by as much as 20 percent.

The city’s own data shows that when all the approved projects are inhabited, the school population will increase by more than 200 students and that does not include more residential projects now teed up to be submitted for approval in the near future.

The referendum calls for shifting what is now 20 percent commercial activity on commercially-zoned property to 60 percent. Keeping the majority of commercially zoned property in that category will reduce the school population growth pres-

sures and that is a good result for our schools and children.

For more than 50 years, in every possible way, I have supported our schools and I will continue to do so by voting yes on the referendum on May 6.

Louis T Olom Falls Church

Editor, They’re back! From their dark political redoubts, the Negators again seek to undo the forwardleaning platform of development/redevelopment flexibility vital to cementing Falls Church’s financial well-being.

The Negators offer no conMore Letters on Page 6

April 24 - 30, 2008

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April 24 - 30, 2008

“Do you think placing a Hilton Hotel next to St. James School presents a problem?”

• Yes • No make the final payment of $217,000 to the F.C. Volunteer Firefighters for the West End Park property, thus taking that cost out of the next budget.

The other factors involved discovering the City will receive $59,000 more from the Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority than expected, due to increased tax yields from higher gas costs, and that the schools will get $30,000 more from the state than expected. Finally, the actual cost of real estate tax subsidies for needy families was calculated, and comes in $59,500 less than originally estimated.

The Council was presented with scenarios for reducing the tax rate still further, but quickly found doing so would involve cuts they all considered unacceptable.

Shields showed data on reducing the Business and Professional Operating License (BPOL) tax for professional services in the City from 52 cents per $100 of gross receipts

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to Arlington’s rate of 36 cents and Fairfax County’s rate of 31 cents. The City would lose $268,000 in the first case and $284,000 in the second.

Council members commented they needed more time to consider reducing the BPOL rate, but that it was something they wanted to do in the future.

On the real estate tax rate, Shields said, “It is hard not to support dropping a penny off

our original recommendation,” but he cautioned against “putting us into a hole for the out years.”

Councilman David Snyder added he was “pleased we could drop the rate down a penny,” but expressed a similar concern for “long term issues.”

A public hearing will precede the Council’s final votes on the FY09 budget and tax rates this coming Monday.

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competitive with surrounding jurisdictions.

Data provided by City Manager Wyatt Shields to the City Council at its work session this Monday showed that Falls Church’s overall tax rate is competitive with other jurisdictions in the region, and that its growth this year will be far less than many.

In fact, in a comparison of the proposed rates for the coming fiscal year, Falls Church’s rate is less than Leesburg, Manassas Park, Loudoun County, Herndon, Vienna, Manassas and Prince William County. Leesburg is projected to raise its rate from $1.09 to $1.32, Manassas Park from $1.14 to $1.27 and Loudoun County from 91 cents to $1.14.

Fairfax County, taking all real estate rates into account, will grow from 90 cents to $1.02, identical with what Falls Church’s will be next year.

Arlington’s rate will remain

the lowest in the region, though jumping three and a half cents from 81.8 cents to 85.3 cents.

That’s attributed to the fact that Arlington has followed the same aggressive commercial and mixed use development strategy that Falls Church is seeking to emulate.

But in addition, both Arlington and Fairfax will be increasing the tax rate for commercially-zoned property above the rate for residential, an option permitted by the state legislature for the first time this year.

Both will raise the commercial real estate rate an additional 10 cents, while Falls Church will not raise its commercial rate over the residential rate at all.

At its work session Monday, the City Council found it could reduce the increase in the tax rate from $1.03 to $1.02 by finding $366,000 (equivalent to a penny on the tax rate) in savings without reducing any programs.

It was determined that there was a sufficient surplus in the current fiscal year budget to

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Parents and supporters of the St. James Catholic middle school packed the Falls Church City Council chambers at City Hall Monday night to plead to the F.C. Planning Commission that it not approve a proposed Hilton Garden Inn hotel adjacent the school in the block of W. Broad St. It’s the third such large protest by the school’s parents and teachers, and there will probably be more, since the matter comes back to the Planning Commission for its vote at its next meeting May 5 to recommend, up or down, to the City Council. Then the matter will come back to the City Council for a final vote later in the month.

The Council indicated a strong initial support for the hotel last month, triggering the mobilization from St. James, which serves 622 students.

Strident speakers Monday warned the Planning Commission of “the likeli-

Page 5

hood of inappropriate conduct between adults and children” due to the “transient nature” of hotel patrons. They also cited traffic congestion issues, noting that “car crashes are the number one killer of children under 14.”

One said that N. Oak St. would become “a mini-mixing bowl.”

Concerns were expressed of “hotel rooms being used in crimes against children,” and laws cited in some jurisdictions across the U.S. prohibiting registered sex offenders from living near a school.

Judy Meehan, a victim’s rights advocate, said it was “disgraceful” that the City did not begin consideration of the project “with a concept of risk.” The City has been “negligent,” she said.

“The connection between crime and hotels is well known,” Meehan said, suggesting the heightened instances of prostitution and rape “in and around hotels.”

But Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields told the News-Press Tuesday that “the data simply doesn’t support their premise,” adding, “It is very dif-

ficult to prove a negative” in a case like this.

He said that matters such as traffic impact are concrete and can be studied, but the degree of seriousness of the parents’ concerns can’t readily be quantified.

On the other hand, Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner, seeking re-election next month and commenting on the issue during a candidates’ debate Tuesday night, said about the hotel project, “Maybe it’s not a good idea.

The St. James parents are looking out for the health and welfare of children, just as are we.”

But she added that if the hotel were only ten feet lower, it would not require Council action granting a special exception, and could be built by the developer “by right.”

St. James advocate Mary Beth Kerrigan also questioned, in her petition to the Planning Commission Monday, what she called the “spot zoning” provisions of Falls Church’s “special exception” ordinance, charging that they might be found unconstitutional if legally challenged.

St. James Parent-Teacher

Organization president Tom Letecky said that the need for the “special exception” suggests the “project just doesn’t fit” on the site, thus requiring “a bubble gum and duct tape legal maneuver.”

Bob Young, in comments to the News-Press Tuesday, said,

“These all certainly are issues we want to address with the St. James community, and I hope for an opportunity to do it.”

The Planning Commission took no action this Monday, pending its vote of recommendation on Young’s special exception application at its May 5 meeting.

Page 6

Continued from Page 2

crete, pro-active ideas, no visionary leadership. They can’t handle change, only exploit others’ fears of it. Through a crafty May 6th ballot maneuver, they seek return to feckless old ways of thinking.

The Negators push falsehoods, like “The new mixed-use buildings sap public services, adding costs to municipal budget; and, worse still, they adversely impact the schools.” Hogwash!

In point of fact, costs of garbage, trash, and recyclables collection are covered from condo fees unit-owners pay. Nor do the buildings generate tons of yard waste and leaves requiring city collection. As for the schools, The Broadway’s 80 condo households, for example, send only five students – a sixth attends a private school. School authorities see no troubles ahead.

The Broadway’s residential units alone this year constitute a total rent property assessment value of $44,365,000! At a tax rate of $1.01 per $100 of assessed value, the public treasury is enriched by $448,086.50, which goes even higher when taxes on the building’s commer-

April 24 - 30, 2008

cial spaces and their business activities are added.

So, with the special exception and mixed-use strategies working effectively, why go backwards?

What the Negators-driven referendum comes down to, really, is habitual shadowy power-seekers making mischief, exploiting political opportunity seen in City Center’s contentiousness.

Objectively, the present framework for fostering municipal revitalization is, on balance, right for the city’s socio-economic and environmental health.

Should voters somehow fall for retro-chartering the city into economic standstill, they will bring financial pain inevitably upon themselves, too. A “Yes” vote will put us into another time warp while the world around us marches ahead, changing ever more and faster. We stay aboard with progress, or (again!) get left behind. Vote “No.” Charles R. Langalis Falls Church

Editor, On May 6, Falls Church citizens have the rare opportunity to say “Yes” or “No” to the mas-

sive residential development that is occurring in our commercial areas. If you are satisfied with this development, you can vote “No” on the referendum and help assure it will continue If you want change, and think the City can and should do better, then a “Yes” vote will express that.

The looming façades of the new condo and apartment buildings in the city’s commercial areas, called “mixed use”, but really no “mix” at all because they are 80% residential, hide some fundamental problems for our City. These issues include increasing school and public service costs, threats to our neighborhoods, poor commercial tax returns, and an impending fiscal crisis of massive proportions.

Seeing this potential crisis a decade ago, we began putting in place measures to build up our commercial tax revenue— taking options on developable property, creating an Economic Development Authority, enacting a Special Exception Ordinance (SEO), and increasing City economic development staff. Unfortunately, the projects since approved, usually without my support, have delivered very little of what we need—commercial development to diversify and strengthen our tax base.

Instead, these projects have yielded what we don’t need— hundreds of residential units,

with the attendant increasing school and public service costs.

Despite the new tools, the City has negotiated poorly, bowing to developers’ creative interpretations of the SEO and exhibiting a lack of will to drive a hard bargain in the City’s interest. That is why I support the referendum. It gives the citizens a powerful new voice to communicate to developers, City Council, and City staff what we must have and helps provide the political will and negotiating power to achieve these objectives. Our present goal is 50% of our tax revenues from commercial sources—not the approximately 25% we have today, and our goal for each project under the referendum would be at least 60% commercial.

In the context of the City’s impending fiscal crisis, we urgently need a stronger bargaining position and tougher negotiating. The referendum will help us with both. We cannot afford to fail again.

Dave Snyder Falls Church City Council

Editor, With elections just two weeks

away, I applaud our citizens that are running for office. For those that are running for lowest possible taxes, great schools, pure commercial development, strong police, and responsive government, I’d like to remind them that it is all about right versus right: individual benefit versus common good; short term profit versus long term gain.

I believe in smart, sustainable development reflecting our City’s ethos for environmental stewardship. I believe in supporting a world-class school system. And a city government that works for its citizens while keeping our taxes low.

Guess what; under the outstanding leadership of Robin Gardner and Lindy Hockenberry, we have achieved a small but significant City Center development on South Maple that is environmentally smart and “growth smart”. It will net us an effective eight cents per dollar of property tax assessment that will start showing up as early as 2010. Our schools need three cents on the tax rate each year just to keep pace with inflation.

The last time we tried to “direct the marketplace”, our efforts for pure commercial development not only failed to created a single square foot of More Letters on Page 26

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Virginia NOW Clarifies Endorsement of Byrne Reacting to 11th Congressional District candidate Gerry Connolly’s use of the logo of the National Organization of Women (NOW) in a mailing last week, Marj Singer, president of Virginia NOW issued a statement yesterday confirming that the national NOW political action committee has endorsed Connolly’s rival, former U.S. Rep. Leslie Byrne. Connolly, Byrne, Doug Denneny and Lori Alexander are vying for the Democratic nomination for the 11th District seat, which is being vacated

by Rep. Tom Davis. The primary is June 10. In her statement, Singer said NOW endorsed Byrne “because she has championed women’s rights for decades.� On the other hand, she said, Connolly’s use of NOW’s logo in a new mailing “is disrespectful to Virginians who have fought for women’s rights and misleading to voters,� adding Virginia NOW members “have no recollection of Connolly being publicly engaged in the women’s rights movement in Northern Virginia.�

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Benefit for ‘Sister City’ Kokolopori on May 1 With a goal of raising $15,000 for a clinic in the Kokolopori region in the central rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Kokolopori-Falls Church Sister City Partnership will hold a benefit reception on Thursday, May 1, at The Atrium at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Va. The money raised will pay the next year of the clinic doctor’s salary and provide urgently-needed medicines, equipment and mid-wife training. The reception will include a Congolese band and a West African buffet supper. Attendees are asked to contribute $50 or more. For more information, or to RSVP, contact www.kokolopori-partnership.org.

F.C. Education Foundation Gets Big Banquet Boost Over 200 attended the annual banquet of the non-profit Falls Church Education Foundation last Friday, and over $75,000 was raised. Four special programs were highlighted: 1. A “Forever Young� campaign to raise funds to name a classroom in honor of the FCEF’s first president, Bob Young of The Young Group, 2. A $5,000 contribution from the News-Press’ Nicholas Benton to extend the FCEF’s wildly-successful “Diversity Affirmation Education Fund� (DAEF) sponsorship of “Challenge Days� at George Mason High to also include the Henderson Middle School (an initial gift by Benton three years ago launched the DAEF), 3. A fundraising campaign for the FCEF in honor of former F.C. Treasurer Bob Morrison, launched by his wife as a surprise birthday gift last month, and, 4. The Bob Wilden After-School Computer Training Project for disadvantaged middle school youth in F.C. By chance, the mother of one of the students in the program featured in a short video was present at the event as an employee of the Westin Hotel. She met Wildon after the banquet to express her appreciation and the two had their photo taken together. Dr. Gregory Howard Williams, president of the City College of New York and a former George Mason High teacher, was the keynote speaker and Colm Dillon, owner of the popular Ireland’s Four Provinces restaurant in F.C. was an effective auctioneer. ‘Hanson’ Plans Benefit Walk in Falls Church Prior to their concert at the State Theatre next Thursday, May 1, the three brothers making up the musical group Hanson will do a one-mile walking tour around Falls Church with fans and supporters to raise money and consciousness for fighting AIDS and poverty in Africa. Famous for their hit, “Mmmmbop,� 11 years ago, the brothers – Isaac, Taylor and Zac – are now in their 20s and continuing to tour and record. A trip to Africa last year inspired the theme of their current “The Walk Tour� of concerts, each with a fundraising trek through neighborhoods around venues in dozens of cities. On May 1, their walking tour will commence from the State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, at 3 p.m.

Over 100 Celebrate New ‘Priest in Charge Comments by the Rev. Peter Lee, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, highlighted a ceremony to install the Rev. Michael Pipkin as the “priest in charge� for the congregation of “continuing Episcopalians� who remained aligned with the Episcopal Church after a majority of fellow parishioners at the Falls Church Episcopal voted to defect in 2006. While the defectors now call their church The Falls Church Anglican, the “continuing Episcopalians� have now organized under the title, Falls Church Episcopal Church. Over 100 attended Sunday’s ceremony, including the Bishop Lee, who in his remarks stressed that Episcopalians are “a church of inclusion, not exclusion.�

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April 24 - 30, 2008

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Thanks to the 120 Volunteers who participated in the Spring Cleanup! Falls Church looks beautiful!

Thank you to Falls Church businesses for the food and beverage donations: Stacy’s Coffee Parlor Taco Laredo Super Chicken Subway Sandwiches and Salads Quizno’s Subs Clare & Don’s Beach Shack Red Hot & Blue BBQ Jerry’s Subs & Pizza Domino’s Pizza Blanca’s Restaurant

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Special thanks to the Environmental Services Council Cleanup Task Group: Joanne Harris, Carol Le Clair, Gerald Pressman, Frank Brady, and Jason Hobbie and to Clare Balbi, Bea Brady, Delores Sanchez, Ann Camper, Jon Hundley, Sam Beatty, Jamie Allan, and Stephanie Johnson.

The Spring Cleanup is sponsored by the Department of Environmental Services and the Environmental Services Council.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Vincent Baxter’s commute to his new job as principal at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School won’t take much longer in driving time — only three minutes, without traffic, from Mary Ellen Henderson Elementary School where he has served as assistant principal for the past two years. According to the Falls Church City Public School system, although nine candidates applied for the job, the best candidate was right in their backyard.

Students at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, grades 2-4, will be well prepared for grade 5 at Mary Ellen Henderson since Baxter, officially hired by a vote of the Falls Church City School Board April 15, will continue to serve as assistant principal there until July 1. His familiar

Page 9

face is one of experience and leadership in Falls Church City Public Schools and he is excited to assume his new position.

“I look forward to getting to know the students, families and teachers in the Thomas Jefferson school community,” Baxter said.

Although it isn’t easy for him to leave his current role as assistant principal at Mary Ellen Henderson Elementary School, he has been encouraged to take this career opportunity.

“The [Mary Ellen Henderson] school community has been extremely supportive of my decision to move to Thomas Jefferson,” Baxter said.

Having spent the last two years as assistant principal at Mary Ellen Henderson Elementary School, Baxter has proved himself to be a successful leader in education. Before coming to the Falls Church

City Public School System, he worked in Washington, D.C. Public Schools. He taught second and third grade at WalkerJones Elementary School, served in administration at Rock Creek International School and ran W.B. Patterson Elementary School as summer school principal. His credentials also include two years in Central Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English to 9-11 year-olds.

A native of Falls Church,

Baxter graduated from J.E.B. Stuart High School and received his bachelor’s from the University of Virginia. He also has a master’s in educational leadership from The George Washington University, where he is working on his doctorate in educational administration.

Baxter replaces current principal Trudy Taylor who is retiring from the post.

Baxter’s approachable manner and shared goal with the

Falls Church Public School System — to prepare children for what lies ahead in their lives — spells a happy ending for the students.

“We know our students will go on to have diverse life experiences, both at home and abroad, so we strive to prepare openminded kids who will represent Falls Church well,” Baxter said.

Baxter says the best part of his job is “learning and playing four-square.”

Page 10

April 24 - 30, 2008

ELON, N.C. -- Over the past 15 months, I’ve been writing pretty regularly about the presidential campaign, which has meant thinking a lot about attack ads, tracking polls and which campaign is renouncing which over-the-line comment from a surrogate that particular day.

But on my desk for much of this period I have kept a short essay, which I stare at longingly from time to time. It’s an essay about how people in the Middle Ages viewed the night sky, and it’s about a mentality so totally removed from the campaign mentality that it’s like a refreshing dip in a cool and cleansing pool.

The essay, which appeared in Books & Culture, is called “C.S. Lewis and the Star of Bethlehem,”

by Michael Ward, a chaplain at Peterhouse College at Cambridge. It points out that while we moderns see space as a black, cold, mostly empty vastness, with planets and stars propelled by gravitational and other forces, Europeans in the Middle Ages saw a more intimate and magical place. The heavens, to them, were a ceiling of moving spheres, rippling with signs and symbols, and moved by the love of God. The medieval universe, Lewis wrote, “was tingling with anthropomorphic life, dancing, ceremonial, a festival not a machine.”

Lewis tried to recapture that medieval mind-set, Ward writes. He did it not because he wanted to renounce the Copernican revolution and modern science, but because he found something valuable in that different way of seeing our surroundings.

The modern view disenchants the universe, Lewis argued, and tends to make it “all fact and no meaning.” When we say that a star is a huge flaming ball of gas, he wrote, we are merely describing what it is made of. We are not describing what it is. Lewis also wanted to include the mythologies, symbols and stories that have been told about the heavenly actors, and which were so real to those who looked up into the sky hundreds of years ago.

He wanted to strengthen the imaginative faculty that comes naturally to those who see the heavens as fundamentally spiritual and alive.

There’s something about obsessing about a campaign -- or probably a legal case or a business deal -- that doesn’t exactly arouse the imaginative faculties. Campaigns are all about message man-

agement, polls and tactics. The communication is swift, Blackberry-sized and prosaic. As you cover it, you feel yourself enclosed in its tunnel. Entire mental faculties go unused. Ward’s essay has been a constant reminder of that other mental universe.

The medievals had a tremendous capacity for imagination and enchantment, and while nobody but the deepest romantic would want to go back to their way of thinking (let alone their way of life), it’s a tonic to visit from time to time.

As many historians have written, Europeans in the Middle Ages lived with an almost childlike emotional intensity. There were stark contrasts between daytime and darkness, between summer heat and winter cold, between misery and exuberance, and good and evil. Certain distinctions were less recognized, namely between the sacred and the profane.

Material things were consecrated with spiritual powers. God was thought to live in the stones of the cathedrals, and miracles inhered in the bones of the saints. The world seemed spiritually alive, and the power of spirit could overshadow politics.

As Johan Huizinga wrote in “The Autumn of the Middle Ages,” “The most revealing map of Europe in these centuries would be a map, not of political or commercial capitals, but of the constellation of sanctuaries, the points of material contact with the unseen world.”

We tend to see economics and politics as the source of human motives, and then explain spirituality as their byproduct -- as Barack Obama tried artlessly to do in San Francisco the other week. But in the Middle Ages, faith came first. The symbols, processions and services were vividly alive.

Large parts of medieval life were attempts to play out a dream, in ways hard to square with the often grubby and smelly reality. There were the elaborate manners of the courtly, the highly stylized love affairs and the formal chivalric code of knighthood. There was this driving impulsion among the well-born to idealize. This idealizing urge produced tournaments, quests and the mystical symbols of medieval art -- think of the tapestries of the pure white unicorn. The gap between the ideal and the real is also what Cervantes made fun of in “Don Quixote.”

Writers like Lewis and John Ruskin seized on medieval culture as an antidote to industrialism -to mass manufacturing, secularization and urbanization. Without turning into an Arthurian cultist, it’s nice to look up from the latest YouTube campaign moment and imagine a sky populated with creatures, symbols and tales.

WASHINGTON --If history repeats, the loser of this year’s presidential election will blame the news media.

Richard Nixon, in the wake of his loss in the 1962 California gubernatorial race, bitterly taunted reporters, telling them: “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.”

(Turned out he was wrong on that point.)

Barbara Bush also had some choice words about the press when her husband, President George H.W. Bush, lost his reelection bid in 1992.

The media could be even a larger target this year because of the influence of blogs and talking heads -- folks who are not shy about airing their political preferences. These so-called journalists are willing to go into an attack mode to bolster a favored candidate.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “to be first lady you have to have the skin of a rhinoceros.”

That goes for politicians too. Heavy criticism, sometimes unfair, goes with the turf. It’s not easy out there with political opponents loaded for bear and spending big money for attack ads.

Then there’s the honey trap that smart reporters and politicians try to avoid.

For example, take Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the likely Republican presidential nominee.

McCain has his share of admiring reporters because he often chooses to schmooze with them.

Are both sides of that conversation cozying up?

Sure. Reporters are vulnerable when it comes to access; getting close to the candidate might give them some insights into the candidate’s plans.

But there is always the potential problem that the reporter or the candidate may become confused about their roles and mistakenly think of each other as friends. They’re usually not. It’s not that they’re enemies, either. They are simply Continued on Page 46

Nine years ago The Economist ran a big story on oil, which was then selling for $10 a barrel. The magazine warned that this might not last. Instead, it suggested, oil might well fall to $5 a barrel.

In any case, The Economist asserted, the world faced “the prospect of cheap, plentiful oil for the foreseeable future.”

Last week, oil hit $117.

It’s not just oil that has defied the complacency of a few years back. Food prices have also soared, as have the prices of basic metals. And the global surge in commodity prices is reviving a question we haven’t heard much since the 1970s: Will limited supplies of natural resources pose an obstacle to future world economic growth?

How you answer this question depends largely on what you believe is driving the rise in resource prices. Broadly speaking, there are three competing views.

The first is that it’s mainly speculation -- that investors, looking for high returns at a time of low interest rates, have piled into commodity futures, driving up prices. On this view, someday soon the bubble will burst and high resource prices will go the way of Pets.com.

The second view is that soaring resource prices do, in fact, have a basis in fundamentals -- especially rapidly growing demand from newly meat-eating, car-driving Chinese -- but that given time we’ll drill more wells, plant more acres, and increased supply will push prices right back down again.

The third view is that the era of cheap resources is over for good -- that we’re running out of oil, running out of land to expand food production and generally running out of planet to exploit.

I find myself somewhere between the second and third views.

There are some very smart people -- not least, George Soros -- who believe that we’re in a commodities bubble. My problem with this view, however, is this: Where are the inventories?

Normally, speculation drives up commodity prices by promoting hoarding. Yet there’s no sign of resource hoarding in the data: Inventories of food and metals are at or near historic lows, while oil inventories are only normal.

The best argument for the second view, that the resource crunch is real but temporary, is the strong resemblance between what we’re seeing now and the resource crisis of the 1970s.

What Americans mostly remember about the 1970s are soaring oil prices and lines at gas stations. But there was also a severe global food crisis, which caused a lot of pain at the supermarket checkout line -- I remember 1974 as the year of Hamburger Helper -- and, much more important, helped cause devastating famines in poorer countries.

In retrospect, the commodity boom of 1972-75 was probably the result of rapid world economic growth that outpaced supplies, combined with the effects of bad weather and Middle Eastern conflict. Eventually, the bad luck came to an end, new land was placed under cultivation, new sources of oil were found in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, and resources got cheap again.

But this time may be different: concerns about what happens when an ever-growing world economy pushes up against the limits of a finite planet ring truer now than they did in the 1970s.

For one thing, I don’t expect growth in China to slow sharply anytime soon. That’s a big contrast with what happened in the 1970s, when growth in Japan and Europe, the emerging economies of the time, downshifted -- and thereby took a lot of pressure off the world’s resources.

Meanwhile, resources are getting harder to find. Big oil discoveries, in particular, have become few and far between, and in the last few years oil production from new sources has been barely enough to offset declining production from established sources.

And the bad weather hitting agricultural production this time is starting to look more fundamental and permanent than El Nino and La Nina, which disrupted crops 35 years ago. Australia, in particular, is now in the 10th year of a drought that looks more and more like a long-term manifestation of climate change.

Suppose that we really are running up against global limits.

What does it mean? Even if it turns out that we’re really at or near peak world oil production, that doesn’t mean that one day we’ll say, “Oh my God! We just ran out of oil!” and watch civilization collapse into “Mad Max” anarchy.

But rich countries will face steady pressure on their economies from rising resource prices, making it harder to raise their standard of living. And some poor countries will find themselves living dangerously close to the edge -- or over it.

Don’t look now, but the good times may have just stopped rolling.

April 24 - 30, 2008

We knew this was going to happen. With Sen. Hillary Clinton’s double-digit victory in Pennsylvania Tuesday, there is now no conceivable way that the Democratic nomination is going to be wrapped up before the Democratic National Convention in Denver in late August.

It makes no difference whether it will be good for the Democratic Party to have the process extended to that point or not. It’s going to happen, and that’s that.

The more undecided socalled “super-delegates” feel pressured to get this over with sooner rather than later, the more they’re likely to get their dander up and stubbornly insist on their right to take their sweet time. And well they should. It’s a free country.

Why are people getting so upset at letting the political process play itself out the way that’s allowed for in this wonderful democracy?

What is happening is great for the American people and for the country. The Democratic campaigns are now attracting the attention of a prime time hit TV series and what could be better than for every political debate and speech to drive home points about the need for universal health care, economic revitalization and other critical issues that Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama talk about every day?

Party leaders are getting nervous and they shouldn’t be. Also, media pundits are getting tired and running out of things to say.

When you’ve got to fill 24 hours a day with poignant commentary, you’d prefer a little more variety in what you cover, or otherwise you wind up repeating your limited knowledge too much. Even those who love the sound of their own voices the most get bored and caught in verbal loops. All the “what if” talk becomes tedious and irrelevant. There are no Brittany Spears or Paris Hiltons in this presidential campaign, after all. Bummer.

A friend with a condominium in downtown Denver told me that everyone who lives and works in the area around the Pepsi Center has already been notified by the local police that a tight security perimeter may be required, seriously limiting access during the Democratic convention, which runs from August 23 to 28.

Insofar as the nomination will still be up in the air, you can expect that MoveOn.org and other activist groups will be turning out the unwashed masses to subject that area to maybe the biggest mass demonstrations since the legendary Democratic convention of 1968 in Chicago.

If the “candidate of choice” of those demonstrators winds up being denied the nomination at the convention, it could get ugly, even as well as security has been improved at such events over the years. Fun, fun, fun.

It will all also be enhanced by the extent to which the recession has deepened by then, although it may be too soon for its full impact to be felt. Higher gas prices over the summer, more layoffs, and sharply rising food and basic goods prices could add a lot of edge to the demonstrations as well.

It appears that the best advice is to batten down the hatches.

Unless the recession trend line somehow miraculously reversed fast, the impact of economic contraction and the rising oil and gas prices, just beginning to be felt in the pocketbooks of ordinary Americans now, will define the political landscape for the rest of the year, and potentially beyond.

The Obama campaign has been animated by a lot of teen spirit and color-balloon idealism up until recently, but Democratic voters are going to drive it with a lot of angst and anger as the economy begins to tip downward like a jumbo jet preparing to crash.

A chaotic Democratic convention, an economy in the ground, mass unrest, these are all on our horizon as virtually inevitable.

It should not be the task of responsible leaders to attempt aborting or suppressing this irreversible process, but to guide and manage it to the best eventual outcome.

One thing also seems clear. It is going to involve regime change in November. Because of the recession, a Democrat will win. So it is less important in the next couple months to try to dictate an early decision on which Democratic candidate becomes the nominee, than it is to lay the groundwork for navigating the process between the convention and the November election.

Page 11

He’s never going to shake her off. Not all by himself.

The very fact that he can’t shake her off has become her best argument against him. “Why can’t he close the deal?” Hillary taunted at a polling place on Tuesday.

She’s been running ads about it, suggesting he doesn’t have “what it takes” to run the country. Her message is unapologetically emasculating: If he does not have the gumption to put me in my place, when superdelegates are deserting me, money is drying up, he’s outspending me 2-to-1 on TV ads, my husband’s going crackers and party leaders are sick of me, how can he be trusted to totally obliterate Iran and stop Osama?

Now that Hillary has won Pennsylvania, it will take a village to help Obama escape from the suffocating embrace of his rival. Certainly Howard Dean will be of no use steering her to the exit. It’s like Micronesia telling Russia to denuke.

“You know, some people counted me out and said to drop out,” she said at her victory party in Philadelphia, with Bill and Chelsea by her side.

“But the American people ... well, the American people don’t quit. And they deserve a president who doesn’t quit, either.”

The Democrats are growing ever more desperate about the Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. With gas prices out of control, with the comically oblivious President Bush shimmying around New Orleans -- the city he let drown -- and Condi sneaking into Baghdad as rockets and mortars hail down on the Green Zone, beating the Republicans should be a cinch.

But the Democrats watch in horror as Hillary continues to scratch up the once silvery sheen on Obama, and as John McCain not only consolidates his own party but encroaches on theirs by boldly venturing into Selma, Ala., on Monday to woo black voters.

They also cringe as Bill continues his honeycrusted-nut-bar meltdown. With his usual exquisite timing, just as Pennsylvanians were about to vote, Hillary’s husband became the first person ever to play the Caucasian Card. First, he blurted out to a radio interviewer that the Obama camp had played the race card against him after he compared Obama’s strength in South Carolina to Jesse Jackson’s. And then, with a Brobdingnagian finger-wagging on the screen, he denied it to an NBC News reporter.

“You always follow me around and play these little games, and I’m not going to play your games today,” he said, accusing the reporter of looking for “another cheap story to divert the American people from the real urgent issues before us.”

If there’s one person who knows about crass diversions, it’s Bill. But even for him, it was an embarrassing explosion, capped with some blue language to an aide that was caught on air.

The Democrats are eager to move on to an Obama-McCain race. But they can’t because no one seems to be able to show Hillary the door. Despite all his incandescent gifts, Obama has missed several opportunities to smash the ball over the net and end the game.

Again and again, he has seemed stuck at deuce. He complains about the politics of scoring points, but to win, you’ve got to score points.

He knew he tanked in the Philadelphia debate, but he was so irritated by the moderators -- and by having to stand next to Hillary again -- that he couldn’t summon a single merry dart.

Is he skittish around her because he knows that she detests him and he’s used to charming everyone? Or does he feel guilty that he cut in line ahead of her? As the husband of Michelle, does he know better than to defy the will of a strong woman? Or is he simply scared of Hillary because she’s scary?

He is frantic to get away from her because he can’t keep carbo-loading to relate to the common people.

In the final days in Pennsylvania, he dutifully logged time at diners and force-fed himself waffles, pancakes, sausage and a Philly cheese steak.

He split the pancakes with Michelle, left some of the waffle and sausage behind, and gave away the French fries that came with the cheese steak.

But this is clearly a man who can’t wait to get back to his organic scrambled egg whites. That was made plain with his cri de coeur at the Glider Diner in Scranton when a reporter asked him about Jimmy Carter and Hamas.

“Why,” he pleaded, sounding a bit, dare we say, bitter, “can’t I just eat my waffle?”

His subtext was obvious: Why can’t I just be president? Why do I have to keep eating these gooey waffles and answering these gotcha questions and debating this gonzo woman?

Before they devour themselves once more, perhaps the Democrats will take a cue from Dr. Seuss’ “Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!” (The writer once mischievously redid it for his friend Art Buchwald as “Richard M. Nixon Will You Please Go Now!”) They could sing: “The time has come. The time has come. The time is now. Just go. ... I don’t care how. You can go by foot. You can go by cow. Hillary R. Clinton, will you please go now! You can go on skates. You can go on skis. ... You can go in an old blue shoe.

“Just go, go, GO!”

Page 12

In 2002, a large gay rights organization was hosting a luncheon that featured a transgender speaker. During the Q&A, there was discussion of the merits of adding “gender identity” to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) – which, if passed, would protect people from being fired because of their sexual orientation.

In the middle of a serious debate, a new staffer, who was just hired from the bluest city in a blue state, earnestly rose to his feet.

He proclaimed that he “couldn’t comprehend” anti-trans attitudes and was dumbfounded that average people still held deep-seated prejudices against such non-conforming individuals.

“Why was this out-of-touch person hired for a GLBT movement job?” I thought to myself, upon hearing his assertion. It was one thing to believe that transgender Americans deserve equality – which I do – and quite another to be “perplexed” that some conservatives are still freaked out by transgender (and, yes, gay) people.

If we are really interested in change, employees of GLBT groups should be as comfortable in the Waffle House as they are in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you can’t speak the language of the American people, then you aren’t much help to the cause.

Workers at our major GLBT organizations should be encouraged to get out of their sterile cubicles and visit places where discrimination is still a daily part of life. It is easy to lose touch with the very people we are trying to persuade, and get a false sense of security when living inside an insular world.

I know this to be true, because I live in New York City, and previously resided in Miami Beach and Washington, D.C. Without frequent travel to other regions, it would be easy to confuse the echo chamber of Chelsea with the thoughts and values of Middle America.

Unfortunately, there are some activists who are living in a bubble. This was made clear to me on a liberal GLBT list serve last week when some advocates claimed that it did not matter whether Americans thought homosexuality was inborn or a choice.

Nothing, of course could be further from the truth.

To mainstream America, the question of nature vs. nurture is the only one that matters. In most of the country, when a person comes out they get asked three questions: 1) When did you know you were gay?, 2) Are you sure it’s not a phase?, and 3) Are you able to change?

Of course, the answers most often given are: 1) I’ve always known I was gay., 2) It definitely isn’t a phase. and 3) I believe I was born gay and there is no way I could change.

When a person comes out to people they care about, these straightforward answers are enough to turn many people from anti-gay to pro-gay. These responses help people realize: 1) Sexual orientation is often fixed at a very young age, if not in the womb., 2) A person’s coming out is not some sort of rebellion or attempt to mock their religion and values., 3) Attempts to go straight are a waste of time and quite possibly harmful, so why try?

The rise in acceptance of GLBT people directly correlates with the understanding that sexual orientation is a natural phenomenon.

A May 2007 Gallup Poll showed that 42 percent of Americans believe that homosexuality is inborn, compared with 13 percent in 1977. The number who say upbringing and environment fell from 56 percent in 1977 to 35 percent today.

Residual opposition primarily comes from those who still believe that homosexuality is a casual choice that can be altered through therapy and prayer. A November 2004 Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates poll shows that 79 percent of people who think homosexuality is inborn support civil unions or marriage equality.

Among those who believe sexual orientation is a choice, only 22 percent support civil unions or marriage rights.

In a perfect world, it would not matter whether sexual orientation was a product of nature or nurture. But, this is the nation that twice elected George W. Bush. Clearly, the issue of “choice” matters and activists who deny this reality are doing so at their own peril and that of the GLBT movement.

Of course, the message should not be shame-based, such as, “we can’t help being gay.” It is perfectly fine for homosexuals to point out that they are happy and would not change if they could. We should also say that homosexuality is a natural and normal orientation – and the moral equivalent of heterosexuality.

While we don’t choose our attractions, we can choose to be effective activists by telling the truth about sexual orientation and not promoting bizarre ideas that are a distraction and anathema to mainstream Americans.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Tuesday marks Earth Day, the annual event reminding all Americans that a livable, sustainable world cannot be achieved without action. In the last year, the New Direction Congress has taken up that challenge, beginning to reverse the old, failed energy policies of the past, breaking ground on new measures to develop and use clean, renewable energy.

Only five months ago, Congress passed the historic and bipartisan Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 with the goal of reducing American dependence on foreign oil, responding to the global warming crisis and growing our economy while lowering energy costs.

The new law is projected to save 5.3 billion metric tons in energyrelated CO2 emissions over the next 20 years and reduce oil consumption by 2.4 million barrels a day—almost a 25% reduction over today’s usage. By 2030, the emissions saved every year are equivalent to that of 130 coal burning power plants. The solar investment tax credit in H.R. 5351 alone will reduce carbon emissions by 240 million tons, or the equivalent of taking 52 million passengers cars off the road for one year The Energy Independence and Security Act also includes key provisions to create green jobs in both rural towns and big cities. By requiring fuel efficiency standards to be raised, American families will save from $700 to $1,000 a year at the pump. The stronger building, appliance and lighting effi-

We’ve already passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restores basic protections against pay discrimination by rectifying the May 2007 Ledbetter v Goodyear Supreme Court decision that overturned precedent and made it much more difficult for workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. The Senate ciency standards in the law will is scheduled to consider this also save consumers $400 bil- legislation this week. lion through 2030.

The House is also considerThe Democratic-led House ing the Paycheck Fairness Act, has a vision for a greener which would strengthen the America powered by new Equal Pay Act of 1963 by pro“green-collar jobs.” We can viding more effective remedies have it both ways on this, pro- to women who are not being moting a cleaner environment paid equal wages for doing while maintaining a strong and equal work. growing economy. HR 5351 Equal pay is not simply a was the first step in that direc- women’s issue, it’s a family issue. tion– providing an investment The wage gap hurts everyone in renewable energy with an – husbands, wives, children, and emphasis on reducing emissions parents – because it lowers famand lowering energy costs over ily incomes that pay for essenthe long-term. tials: groceries, doctors’ visits Not to be outdone, this week and child care. Furthermore, 41 also marks “Equal Pay Day,” a percent of women are their famitime advocates for equal pay for lies’ sole source of income. This women mark how far into the219191A02 fol- is an issue that deserves attention lowing year a woman must work, and one that I will continue to on average, to earn as much as a fight for in Congress. man earns in one year.

President John Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963 into law. But over 40 years later, the wage gap between men and women still exists.

In 1963, women who worked full-time and year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. In 2006, women earned 77 cents to the dollar.

House Democrats are taking action to address the wage gap.

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Page 13

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Fairfax County’s FY 2009 budget was marked up on Monday, with formal adoption scheduled for the regular Board of Supervisors meeting on April 28. In her remarks that set the context for this year’s deliberations, Budget Chairman Sharon Bulova (DBraddock) reminded the Board that the current fiscal issues are similar to those in Fiscal Year 1993. “Then, as now,” she said, “after a decade of soaring property values, the bubble burst.” In 1992, the overall value of residential property dropped 15 percentage points; in 2008, the county experienced a 21 percentage point drop. In 1992, under the chairmanship of Tom Davis, the Board closed the shortfall by freezing salaries of both school and general county employees, and increased the real estate tax rate by five cents, to $1.16 per $100 valuation.

The current budget package provides a $40 million increase to Fairfax County Public Schools, maintains pay equity for county employees, and increases the tax rate by three cents. Because of declining property values in most parts of the county, most home-owners actually will see a modest decrease in their tax bill. The budget reaffirms the Board’s commitment to funding affordable housing and stormwater management programs in the county, despite an attempt by Republican members of the Board to zero out those programs, an attempt that failed by a vote of 2 yeas to 8 nays. The county’s Revenue Stabilization Fund, nicknamed the “Rainy Day Fund” by some, remains in reserve for unanticipated emergency revenue needs.

The School Board requested a funding increase of $63.8 million, which is 4 percent from the previous year’s level. The Board of Supervisors’ adjustments provides an increase of $40 million (nearly two cents of the three cent tax increase), to the total schools transfer of $1.626 billion.

A new battle is looming in the sacred halls of the Arlington County Board.

No, it is not about taxes. That issue has already been resolved this year, with reasonably satisfying results for Arlington homeowners who have suffered less from the region’s general decline in residential property values than others.

This time we are dealing with the broad category of art and culture, a subject that can generate even greater passion than taxing and spending, at least in Arlington.

At issue is the future use of the Newseum space in Roslyn that was vacated when the Newseum was moved to its new location on Pennsylvania Avenue within sight of the U.S. Capitol, arguably its most prolific source of artifacts.

The old space has remained vacant for almost six years, except for occasional exhibits such as the recent spectacular “Bodies: The Exhibition,”

Including debt service, the transfer to the schools is $1.78 billion, or 53.13 percent of the county’s total budget.

About $18 million, or 1.1 percent, of the schools’ request was not funded.

The Board of Supervisors made a number of cuts to the County Executive’s proposed budget, including $3 million in technology project deferrals and $2 million in construction contingencies for the new Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center. By making judicious cuts and reallocating other funding, the Board was able to fund a third Code Enforcement Strike Team to curb multiple occupancy in residential areas, as well as provide funding for a streamlined police investigatory program called P’CASO (Protecting Children Against Sex Offenders).

Budget Guidelines scheduled for adoption at Monday’s Board include a Lines of Business (LOBs) review regarding county program and service priorities, possible areas for elimination, reduction, reorganization, consolidation, and/or alternative service delivery for both county and schools. A significant public input process for the LOBs review will be developed, beginning with a public hearing/forum this fall. The guidelines also call for a compensation and job class study for county employees, as well as an examination of fire and rescue personnel pay issues.

Supervisor Bulova noted that a budget is the art of compromise, requiring some give and take, but in the end, strikes a fair balance for county spending in FY 2009. Maintaining our balance in the chaotic financial winds blowing our way will be our next challenge.

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which exhibited everything you might want to know about the human body, and a lot you didn’t want to know.

Now, the county has acquired use of the space for at least ten years in return for approval of a major mixeduse development in the heart of Roslyn. The County Board has asked the county staff to engage in the long process of deciding how to best use the space. The county is now in the process of reaching out to museums and cultural organizations in the area.

The County Board will make the final decision.

Recent suggestions that the Corcoran Gallery of Art may be interested in the space has caused many Arlington advocates for the development of a multi-use local cultural center to reiterate their strong support of a center that would incorporate theater space, a concert hall, and exhibit facilities to be used by Arlington cultural organizations.

Arlington arts groups have

been pressing for a major cultural center for almost as long as I have lived in Arlington (40+ years). We have come close, but never quite made it. While the county has done reasonably well in some areas, it still needs the kind of space envisioned by the Arlington Citizens for the Arts.

The rub is that even with the space provided by the developers, a great deal of money is needed to run such a multi-faceted operation. Operating expenses alone will run in excess of $500,000 a year – before the inner space for an exhibition is outfitted, a play is produced, or a concert is tagged. Any group making a specific recommendation must also present a viable plan of paying for it.

I fervently hope that our goal of a major Arlington cultural center devoted to local cultural organizations can finally become a reality. It will be well worth the expense.

Richard Barton may be emailed at rbarton@towervillas.com 

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April 24 - 30, 2008

Meet a Soap Star at Volvo Dealership

donbeyervolvo.com or to Sandy at 703-768-2932.

Fans of ABC’s “All My Children” will be thrilled to know that star Aiden Turner will be dropping by Don Beyer Volvo (1231 W. Broad St., Falls Church) on Saturday, April 26 from 2 – 4 p.m. Aiden will host a question and answer session and will autograph photos for all in attendance.

Turner’s visit marks the sixth event in Don Beyer’s celebrity series, following Pulitzer Prize winner Edward P. Jones and thriller writer Joseph Finder.

The event is open to the public.

RSVP’s are required at rsvp@

J.E.B. Stuart’s Raider Run 5K Set for Saturday Bringing back an annual warm-weather tradition, J.E.B. Stuart High School is holding its 11th Annual Raider Run 5k and One-Mile Fun Run/Walk this Saturday, April 26, starting at 8 a.m.

All proceeds of the event will benefit J.E.B. Stuart athletic programs. Registration for the 5K run costs $10 for students and $25 for non-students. The Fun Run/Walk costs $5. Packet pick-up and race day registra-

tion runs from 6:45 – 7:45 a.m. on Saturday. All participants in the 5K run will receive a race T-shirt, and awards will be given to top finishers of the 5K run in each age category.

A registration form is available at www.freewebs.com/ raiderrun, with checks to be made payable to J.E.B. Stuart High School Athletic Boosters Club, Inc. and mailed to Peter Zapple, 3401 Slade Run Dr., Falls Church.

City Public Schools’ Relay for Life Teams will be holding a fundraising yard sale on Saturday, April 26 from 8 a.m – noon in the parking lot of 803 W. Broad St., Falls Church.

The sale is sponsored by the “Central Office Coconuts.” All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

monthly newsletter for library users. Webster also served as the Chair of the Employees Advisory Council 2007, playing a crucial role in the Citywide Pay-forPerformance training initiative.

Congratulations to Webster for a year of great work.

FC City Council Names Employee of the Year

FC Schools’ Relay for Life Yard Sale

The Falls Church City Council named Library Reference Supervisor Marshall Webster its 2007 Employee of the Year for Falls Church on Monday, April 14. Webster, who works at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, created a main floor information desk, started and led an adult book discussion group and started a

The Mroz Chapter of the DeMolay youth fraternity, a Masonic youth organization, will be hosting a spaghetti dinner on Sunday, April 27 from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Kemper-Macon Ware Lodge (411 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Requested donations of $10 for adults and $7 for youths will go towards benefiting community service activities. For more information, please e-mail mrozdemolay@gmail.com.

With Relay for Life steadily approaching, the Falls Church

PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS of the St. James Catholic middle school in Falls Church turned out in force at City Hall to oppose the construction of a Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in the 700 block of West Broad St. Monday night. Shown surrounded by the opponents seated in the front row is the developer of the site, Bob Young. The Planning Commission listened to the protests but took no action Monday. See story, elsewhere in this issue. (Photo: News-Press)

Mroz DeMolay Chapter Spaghetti Dinner

A DELEGATION FROM PAJU, SOUTH KOREA was welcomed to Falls Church on Friday, April 18. Staff from Paju’s Department of Planning and Budget traveled to Falls Church to learn about the City’s budget process. Pictured from left to right are Payroll Specialist Eun Soon Jang, Hyeokgi An and Ji Yuin Lee from Paju, Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester and CFO John Tuohy. (Photo: Courtesy City of Falls Church)

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April 24 - 30, 2008

First ABC Community Advisory Council Meeting The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has created a Community Advisory Council for the North region, and the council will be holding its first meeting on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.

– 2:30 p.m. at ABC’s Bureau of Law Enforcement Alexandria Regional Office (6308 Grovedale Dr., Alexandria). The council was established to provide insight, accountability and support to ABC. At the first Community Advisory Council meeting held in Richmond, citizens made a number of suggestions that were then implemented by ABC and are now available on the ABC website. For more information about the ABC Community Advisory Council, visit www. abc.virginia.gov or e-mail abc_ ac@abc.virginia.gov.

Fine Arts Hit the Market Anyone looking for a little extra décor for their house in the spring and summer months is in luck, as the MOD Arts

Page 15

Gallery is holding a Fine Arts Sale on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. in their gallery (201 Pennsylvania Ave., Falls Church). The gallery features the works of Michael Clark Fox, Eric Vanlaer, Diane Brunner and Henry Gallucio.

All of the works are highly collectible. Leasing of fine art is also a consideration for corporations. For more information, visit www.modarts.org.

NoVa Mental Illness Alliance Annual Speaker On Monday, April 28, the Northern Virginia Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is holding its annual speaker meeting with an “askthe-doctor” session led by Dr. Colton Hand from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Falls Church Christian Church (6155 Leesburg Pke., Falls Church). The evening will be devoted to questions about mental illnesses, medications or any other topic related to psychiatric disorders. For more information, contact Joe Lipari at 703-256-2908.

AT A FELLOWSHIP luncheon following services installing the Rev. Michael Pipkin as the “priest in charge” at the Falls Church Episcopal Church, temporarily housed at the Falls Church Presbyterian, Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner (left), a member of the church, joins Senior Warden Bill Fetsch, Falls Church Vice Mayor Lindy Hockenberry (right) to greet the Rev. Pipkin (center) and his fiancée Molly Hamon (to his left). See story, elsewhere in this issue. (Photo: News-Press)

31-Cent Scoops for Fallen Firefighters Ice cream lovers rejoice, as Baskin Robbins’ is holding its 31-Cent Scoop Night on Wednesday, April 30 to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Baskin Robbins’ is commemorating the event with a $100,000 donation to the foundation, with local stores looking to raise additional funds for local firehouses by inviting the fire departments to their stores that night to collect donations. The 31-Cent Scoop Night will be held from 5 – 10 p.m. at any Baskin Robbins around the area. To find the nearest Baskin Robbins, or for more information, visit www. baskinrobbins.com.

Hilligass for FC City Council Picnic Ed Hilligass, a citizen of Falls Church running for the Falls Church City Council, is looking to thank his supporters this weekend with a picnic

on Sunday, April 27 from 2 – 6 p.m. at the Cherry Hill Park (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). Along with free hot dogs, drinks, and pizza provided by Jerry’s Subs and Pizza, Hilligass will be bringing a moon bounce to the park. Live music by Donald Dobert will top the afternoon picnic off for Hilligass supporters.

registration available at www. petco.com/petcounleashed. The race begins at 10 a.m., with registration kicking off at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit your local PETCO or e-mail Marta Karpinska-Dean at martak@petco.com.

PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua Races

Local author Cathy Taylor, admitted lighthouse enthusiast, will be at Argia’s Restaurant (124 N. Washington St., Falls Church) on Sunday, April 27 from 3 – 5 p.m. for a booksigning of her visual history of Maryland’s Lighthouse in Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series. Along with her work on the “Images of America” series, Taylor also founded a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization called the Historical Place Preservation, in order to preserve and promote lighthouse history. Books will be available for purchase for $20 at the signing.

America has become obsessed with being the best, and PETCO has taken America’s obsession to the next step: finding the fastest Chihuahua in all of America. PETCO is sponsoring the PETCO Unleashed Chihuahua Races on Saturday, April 26 at the Alexandria PETCO (6612 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria), where Chihuahuas will speed down a 35-foot track, with the winner heading to San Diego for a chance to become America’s fastest Chihuahua. Up to 300 spots are available, with

Falls Church Author Booksigning

BARBARA CRAM RECEIVES THE MAYOR’S AWARD in recognition of her outstanding volunteer work in the City of Falls Church. Back Row, Left to Right: Council Member Dan Maller, Vice Mayor Lindy Hockenberry, Council Member Hal Lippman, Council Member David Snyder, and Council Member Dan Sze. Front Row, Left to Right: Mayor Robin Gardner and Barbara Cram. (Photo: Courtesy City of Falls Church)

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Dogwood Tavern is opening Thursday, April 24 at 132 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. The new casual dining restaurant will serve slightly southern American fare including a raw bar. While Dogwood Tavern is in the space previously occupied by Broad Street Tavern, owners Chris Lefbom, Adam Lubar and Wilson Whitney have made dramatic improvements and changes to the interior and have added outdoor seating in the back. Entertainment will include live acoustic music and sports on large flat screen televisions. Lefbom, Lubar and Whitney also own and operate Ragtime (www.ragtimerestaurant.com) and Rhodeside Grill (www.rhodesidegrill. com). *** Famous Footwear is opening a retail store in Idylwood Plaza. Famous Footwear offers brand name shoes for the entire family on the web and in their more than 800 stores nationwide. A date has not been released regarding their opening. For more information about the discount shoe store, visit www.famousfootwear.com. *** Sonic Soft Car Wash in Falls Church is now offering nonprofits the opportunity to earn 50 percent of the cost of prepaid wash books including their new Everyday Wash Pass. To learn more about this offer, contact Louis Kim at Louiskim@sonicsoftcarwash.com. Sonic Soft, located at 1050 W. Broad Street in Falls Church, is a full service car wash that offers cleaning of both the interior and exterior of a vehicle. For more information about Sonic Soft visit www.sonicsoftcarwash.com. *** Event Solutions, the Falls Church-based full service event management company, is now offering car and truck detailing. For information call Dan Greenwood at 703477-9242. *** Falls Church-based SmithGifford and Qorvis Communications have teamed up to create â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheep,â&#x20AC;? a 30 second television spot, designed to promote the Virginia Lotteryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tax Free Million scratch game. Like all Virginia Lottery products, proceeds from the ticket benefit the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s K-12 public school system. The commercial began airing in April, features a â&#x20AC;&#x153;creativeâ&#x20AC;? accountant who tries to maximize his clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deductions classifying his home as a farm and his sheep as dependents. For the lucky winner of the Virginia Lotteryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top prize, however, taxes will be paid by the Lottery and a $1,000,000 check will be presented to the lottery winner. SmithGifford is an award-winning full-service advertising agency with a number of high-profile regional and national clients including Roy Rogers, AOL, Discovery Channel Stores, Virginia Lottery, Centex Homes, American Trucking Associations, SourceFire, Voxant, Approva, Titan America and Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Car Stores. For more information or to view the ad, contact Matt Smith at msmith@smithgifford.com and visit the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website www.smithgifford.com. *** Argiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is hosting a book signing with Falls Church resident Cathy Taylor from 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. Taylor has recently published a visual history of Marylandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lighthouses as part of Arcadia Publishingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Images of Americaâ&#x20AC;? series. Taylor founded Historical Place Preservation to promote the conservation of lighthouses and she and her husband recently renovated the historic DePutron-Wollenberg House on Lincoln Avenue where they reside. Books will be available for purchase for $20 at the signing.

Proceeds from the books will to the restoration efforts at the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Lighthouse. Visit www.craighillrange.org. Argiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is located at 124 N. Washington Street in Falls Church â&#x20AC;&#x201C; www.argias.com. *** A film by GVI, where Falls Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bob Burnett is VP/Creative Director, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stop the Aerial Hunting of Wolves in Alaska,â&#x20AC;? received the Grand Remi Award; the top honor at the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival this past weekend. WorldFest is one of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, with more than 4,500 category entries received from 37 countries for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stop the Aerial Hunting of Wolves in Alaskaâ&#x20AC;? was produced for Defenders of Wildlife and received its first award recognition at the Falls Church Film Festival, where it received the Best Documentary Award. For more information about the Washington DC based GVI, visit www.g-v-i.com. *** The Falls Church News-Press was recently recognized as being the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Remnant of the Liberal Mediaâ&#x20AC;? by the Washington City Paper in its â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best of D.C.â&#x20AC;? edition, April 18, 2008. Visit www.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestof/2008/ to view the entire issue. *** The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the Falls Church Housing Corporation have both joined the Falls Church Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coalition in support of mixed use development projects and the policies and procedures needed to review such projects. The Coalition is against the Charter Change referendum which would restrict residential units to no more than 40% of any development project on commercially zoned property because it would deny flexibility by decision makers to review projects based on market conditions, citizen input, and the needs of the City.

The referendum will appear on City ballots May 6th. Groups interested in joining this Coalition can contact the Chamber office at 703-532-1050 or email sally@fallschurchchamber.org. ď ľ The Business News & Notes section is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@ fallschurchchamber.org

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 17

Former Mayor Alan Brangman . . .

“Our City Will Be Well Served If Ed Hillegass Is Elected to Our City Council.”

It is conventional wisdom for most of the people following the peak oil story that we still have a few years to go before the real troubles begin. Some say 2011, others 2015 or later, but in general, among those calculating the depletion vs. new supply balance most have been talking about troubles starting in years rather than months.

Let’s ponder for a second the meaning of “peak oil.” Ever since the concept was invented some 50 years ago, peak oil has meant the point in time when world oil production increases to a level that never again will be reached. For most of us, however, peak oil will not be a point on a government chart, but will be the day when we drive up to a gas station and find the tanks empty, restrictions on how much we can buy, or more likely a price that makes us realize our lifestyles are going to change.

We can no longer afford to use our cars in the manner that we have been doing all our lives.

In recent weeks there have been developments suggesting that the troubles associated with peak oil may be coming faster than many realize.

First, it is necessary to recall that world oil production has been essentially flat for the last three years. We did hit a new nominal “peak” a couple of months back, but the increased production was minor as compared to the forces of demand building across the world. With production stagnant, consumption in the rich countries holding about the same, and consumption in China, India, Russia and the Middle Eastern oil producers surging higher, something had to give. The “give” was in those places that could afford $20 a barrel oil, but could not afford it at $120 a barrel. For the last few years, an increasing share of the oil flow going to poor countries has been redirected to those that could pay the price. Outbidding the world’s poor is finite, however, so that at some point there simply won’t be enough oil going to poorer places for the richer ones to buy up.

Then we have the interesting news from the big producers.

After ten years of rapid postSoviet growth, Russian oil production seems to have reached a plateau. As Russian domestic consumption is rising rapidly, there is nowhere for their

exports to go but down – and they are.

Next the Saudis, who after spending $100 billion or so on new oil wells in recent years, say they will soon have the capacity to produce 12.5 million barrels a day. However, the King of Saudi Arabia announced last week that he has decided to leave some of their oil in the ground for the grandchildren.

Somebody passed the word the Saudi production was going down to 9 million barrels a day from 9.2 million -- so much for the hope that the Saudis were going to keep us in our accus-

tomed lifestyles.

Then we have Mexican production and exports dropping faster than predicted and Venezuela doing its best to sell its oil to anyone but the U.S. The most important factor, however, may be the Chinese who insist on growing their economy at 10 or 11 percent a year.

Chinese oil imports are up 14 percent over last year in the first quarter and by almost 25 percent in March as domestic production stagnates and Beijing prepares for the Olympics. Chinese imports for May are already looking to be above normal.

As could be expected, given flat or dwindling world exports, and stiff competition for the remainder, U.S. imports of crude and petroleum products have not been keeping up during the last few weeks and U.S. stockpiles have been dropping more than normal for the time of year.

Some say this is because our economy is slowing and we will need less oil.

Others say ordering and refining more oil is about to pick up so that all will be well

shortly. The definitive answer to this question is not far away, for this is the time of year when our stockpiles of crude oil, gasoline, and distillates normally build. If the situation stabilizes and stocks start climbing in the next few weeks, we can relax a little for another year. This week’s stockpile report shows some improvement with crude inventories up, but gasoline and distillate inventories still falling. Despite the weakening U.S. economy, the Department of Energy still shows U.S. oil and gasoline consumption up by nearly one percent over last year. Thus far in 2008 our crude imports are down 1.7 percent over last year and our net imports of refined products are down by 5.2 percent.

If our stockpiles do not start to build more rapidly in the next month or two, then watch out, for in recent years the U.S. has slowly moved towards a just-intime system for oil and products to lower inventory costs. Keep in mind that much of our “stockpile” is trapped in pipelines, sitting in partially-processed tanks at refineries, and aboard ships and barges where it is no use to the consumer. It was only a couple of years ago that we were hours away from shortages.

There are many forces at work in the world’s oil markets today. How they will all balance out over the rest of the year is impossible to tell. During the last few months, however, developments suggesting much higher prices and shortages have come to the fore as witnessed by the steadily increasing prices for oil and gasoline. Unless something comes along to reverse these forces in the next few months, we are likely to suffer very serious economic troubles before the year is out.  Tom Whipple is a retired government analyst and has been following the peak oil issue for several years.

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With compassion and common sense, Ed Hillegass will bring to the Council the tools necessary to help meet the immense challenges now faced by our community.

Passage of the Referendum and Ed’s election will begin to move the city back toward its core values: Preserving the Small City Character of Falls Church Restoring a Public Process that Respects All Citizens Maintaining the Small Class Size of Our Schools It is for all these reasons and many more that I will be casting my vote on May 6 th for Ed and I encourage you to do the same.

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Page 18

Tuesday night’s Game Seven between the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals was the sort that lived up to every ounce of the mystique inherent in its name. It was the kind of marquee event where you spell “drama” by writing “OT” and “heartbreak” with a lonely “L.” And if you’re a Caps fan, it’s the kind of defeat that can leave you muttering to yourself. Eventually, grudgingly, reason takes over and the sting subsides to the salve of time and a boundless optimism for the home team that has been made famous by the North side of Chicago. Just wait ’til next year!

Sadly, next year is several months off yet, so we have some time to digest the downer of Game Seven and turn a tentative eye to the offseason. It’s a good time to confront that instinctive voice inside your head that’s not going to rest until the referees’ decisions are somehow re-written. So as to subvert a spate of stripeshirted effigies, let’s address those questions first.

The refs were as bad as a week-old cheesesteak. How can they make those calls?

It was pretty shocking that they called Tom Poti for tripping when it appeared he made contact with the puck, something that should negate a potential tripping call, however it wasn’t nearly as shocking as when the refs swallowed their whistles when John Erskine hooked the skates of Sami Kapanen while Erskine was lying prone on the ice. After that, the Caps were clearly not going to get the first power play.

Two wrongs (bad no-call on Erskine, bad call on Poti) don’t make a right, but it’s hard to say the Caps got jobbed when they clearly caught an initial break in overtime.

What about the Flyers’ second goal? That was obviously goaltender interference!

Actually, it’s not that obvious. I spent the morning trying to decipher “Rule 78 – Protection of the Goalkeeper” in the NHL rulebook and there is nothing that explicitly states the proper call for when Philly’s Patrick Thoresen pushed Washington’s Shaone Morrisonn into Caps goalie Cristobal Huet, clearing the net for an easy goal by Kapanen. The rule never discusses the use of a defenseman as a “buffer” of sorts to slam the goalie, though the interpretation was previously used against the Caps in their final game against Tampa Bay this season. In that instance, the Caps had a goal taken off the board.

April 24 - 30, 2008

The rule does say, however, that the goalie cannot be “prevented from returning to his crease area due to the deliberate actions of an attacking player, such player may be penalized for goalkeeper interference.” It seemed pretty clear to me that Thoresen was pinning Morrisonn on top of Huet to make sure the goalie couldn’t return to the crease.

Again though, it’s all at the ref’s discretion and he either didn’t see it or didn’t think it warranted a penalty. Tough pill to swallow, but you’ve got to choke it down if you don’t want to be spewing sour grapes all summer.

But how can the Flyers win Game Seven? The Caps had everything going for them coming into the game and now Philly’s obnoxious fans get to celebrate.

Where’s the Karma?

I actually have no explanation for this one. It seems clear that Karma should intervene against the Flyers’ fans, especially when one of them has the “class” to pour his beer on the head of Ted Leonsis’s son after Game Six. Furthermore, when you boo your own team in the playoffs it doesn’t seem fair that you get to rally around them again in the second round.

I guess Karma couldn’t slip one by Flyers goalie Martin Biron either. Biron was magnificent with 39 saves and controlled almost every rebound in Game Seven. The Caps still had a few chances late, but the puck skipped over Alexander Semin’s stick and Alex Ovechkin tried to pass for the higher-percentage look, instead of wailing another shot on goal from the slot. Those two plays are going to stick with the Alexes all summer.

But rather than focus on what the Caps didn’t do, let’s focus on their achievements. They pulled themselves up from worst to first in the Southeast Division and nearly tipped a veteran Flyers team in the first round after essentially spotting them two games. Even more impressive, they turned D.C. into a hockey town. Coming into the office on Wednesday, everyone was talking about Game Seven.

The last time sports were the topic du jour here was probably the Super Bowl.

It was a fairly sad finale, but this was easily the team’s most memorable season since the run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998. Fans ought to savor what they can today and unleash the fury again next year.  Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com.

After taking some lumps early in the season, the George Mason High School girls varsity tennis team has won three of its last four matches, including the first meeting of the year against Clarke County, the Mustangs’ only opposition for the Bull Run District title.

On Tuesday, April 22 the team outlasted Freedom-South Riding, prevailing 7-2 and avenging a 7-2 loss to that team just 20 days earlier.

The Mustangs took a 4-2 lead in the match following the completion of singles competition. Mason’s No. 1 player, Michelle Repper, set the tone for the afternoon by breezing past her adversary 10-0.

In what Mason Head Coach Chris Madison labeled her “best match of the year,” No. 4 player Claire Sedmak added to the Mustangs’ win total with a 10-4 victory over her opponent, after South Riding claimed both contests at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. Isis Hanna and Tyler Morris tilted the even match in the Mustangs’ favor with a pair of 10-2 wins, setting the stage for Mason’s eventual victory in doubles’ play.

The Mustangs secured their first district win of the season on April 17, when the team topped the Clarke County Eagles, 7-2.

The Mustangs stormed ahead thanks to performances from the top three players on their tennis ladder, Repper, Kelsey Kane and Annie Zweighaft.

Repper played to her usual fine form, winning easily 10-2, as Kane followed suit with a 10-1 ledger. Zweighaft had to battle through some early adversity in the form of a 3-0 deficit, but cruised from there to a 10-4 win.

Hanna similarly was forced to rally. Trailing 8-5, she eventually pulled even and prevailed, 11-9. A sweep by the Mustangs in the doubles portion of the match accounted for the final margin.

The team seems to be hitting its stride at the right time after skidding to six straight losses against larger schools like Robinson and WashingtonLee. The Mustangs will square off with three more non-district opponents, beginning Thursday, April 24 at home against National Cathedral.

Mason matches up against Clarke County at home for the final match of the regular sea-

son on May 7. A win there would give the Mustangs their third straight district title. Last season, Clarke temporarily spoiled the Mustangs’ coronation by defeating Mason 5-4 in Falls Church and forcing a tie-breaking third match. The tie-breaker was ultimately won

by George Mason.

“Clarke will always give us a tough fight,” Madison said.

“If we’re fortunate enough to qualify for regionals, our path will not get any easier.”

Repper meanwhile is vying

Bill Broderick, in just his second year at the helm of the George Mason High School girls basketball squad, earned the Region B Coach of the Year award for leading his squad to the Single A, Division 2 region title. However, the accolades did not stop there.

Once the Mustangs completed their miraculous run to the state semifinals, Broderick was awarded the Northern Virginia Coach of the Year by The Washington Post, selected ahead of coaches from AAA powerhouses across the area.

Mason finished third in the Bull Run District dur-

for her first Class A singles title, an honor that was claimed the past two years by nowgraduated Tara Sheets of Gate City. Repper is the defending Bull Run District and Region B singles champion.

“Michelle is playing better than she ever has in a Mason uniform,” Madison said. “With Repper leading the way, this team is poised to get back to the state tournament and finish what we left unfinished the past two years, winning a state championship.”

ing the regular season, and earned a seventh seed in the expanded Region B pool. Under the direction of Broderick, the Mustangs reeled off four straight wins, taking down Strasburg, the number one team in the state along the way.

Their season ended at 20-10, with a loss at the Siegel Center in Richmond to eventual state champion Floyd County. The humble coach credits the awards directly to his team.

“For the girls, I’m really, really happy that little George Mason here in Falls Church City was recognized among the likes of T.C. Williams and Edison and all of those schools.

I’m just glad that people are taking notice of what our girls are doing.”

April 24 - 30, 2008

A few gaffes on the base paths and some missed offensive opportunities marked the difference when the George Mason High School varsity baseball team squared off for the first time this season with the defending state champion Strasburg Rams on Friday, April 18. The squandered chances proved costly, as the Mustangs dropped a 3-1 decision on the road, despite a strong performance by starting pitcher Mike Straub.

Straub went the distance, allowing only one earned run over his six innings for work.

Sophomore Brian Lubnow drove in sophomore Quinn Casteel to account for Mason’s only run in the game, though they had several chances to add to their run total.

“We didn’t do our job offensively. We had opportunities, but some poor baserunning decisions ran us out of some innings,” Mason Head Coach Adam Amerine said. “Neither team played a real crisp game but they did enough to win and we hurt ourselves with our mental decisions during the game.”

A day later, Mason righted itself and hammered out a victory against Briar Woods.

Scoring four runs in the first inning, the Mustangs never looked back and sophomore

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Tyler Roth secured the win with three strong innings on the mound. Straub, Casteel and Evans Mandes each finished the game with two hits apiece.

“The key to the game was that our pitchers cut down their walks and we were finally able to string some hits together,” Amerine said.

Mason next takes the field against Clarke County on the road, Friday, April 25, followed by a non-district game against the Potomac School on Saturday. A road game against Manassas Park awaits them on Tuesday, April 29.

Note: Former Mason star pitcher Byron Mendenhall was named the Division III National Pitcher of the Week for March 31-April 6.

Mendenhall, a 2007 graduate of Mason and currently a freshman on the team at RandolphMacon, held the opposition scoreless in two starts over that span, striking out 14 in 12 innings of work. He was also named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.

On the season, Mendenhall holds a record of 6-0 with an earned run average of 1.88 and has 56 strikeouts in 57.1 innings.

Jimmy Piscopo, another Mason 2007 graduate, has three hits in 14 at-bats this season, with one of those hits a home run.

George C. Marshall Boys Soccer After a week of tie games, the Marshall Statesmen soccer team finally notched two victories to bump their season record to 5-2-3 overall and 3-1-1 in district.

The Statesmen finished last week with a game on district rival Madison’s field on Friday night, a hard-fought affair that the Statesmen ended up winning, 1-0. The defensive pressure of the two teams, especially Marshall, was evident throughout the game, as the teams were still knotted at zero by halftime. The Statesmen goal came 15 minutes into the second half, when a free kick from senior Scott Bugby found senior Brendan Stringer on the back post of the net.

Stringer simply tapped the ball home for the game winning goal.

On Monday night, the Statesmen held off McLean at home, 3-2. After scoring the first-and-only goal last game, the Statesmen proved their early-season habit of having the oppo-

The Mustangs were experiencing a strange new feeling this season — the sting of a loss.

With three days to straighten themselves out before a home game with Potomac Falls, the Mason lacrosse team was preparing for a strong second half of the season.

The Mustangs charged out onto their own field on Thursday night against Potomac Falls, dominating both offensively and defensively in an 11-3 victory. Anchored by sophomore Michael Duning, with five goals and junior Josh Brew, with three goals and two assists, the Mustangs built up a 8-1 lead, scoring three more goals in the second half. Goalies Ewan Oglethorpe and Tim Koning switched at the half, both playing sensationally against the Panther attack with 12 saves combined.

Seniors Russell Intermaggio, Andrew Breen and sophomore Ben Stewart led the Mustang defense to stifle Potomac Falls throughout the game, allowing very few open shots on net.

The Mustangs kept rolling Monday, pasting visiting Wakefield, 20-0. Junior John Mann and Duning headed a Mustang charge that scored relentlessly throughout the game.

The Mason defense played equally well, limiting Wakefield to under 15 shots for the entire game. The tandem of Mason

nent score first might be coming to an end, with senior Gregory Goldbach tallying the first goal of the game.

Goldbach scored again in the second half on a quick transition play for his second goal. Freshman Dylan Goodale stretched the lead to 3-0 quickly thereafter, breaking free from two defenders and beating the goalie. McLean wasn’t done yet, scoring with 10 minutes left and again on a penalty kick with less than two minutes left, but the Statesmen lead was too much for the Highlanders to handle.

The Statesmen have the rest of the week off before a game on Monday at Mt. Vernon at 7:15 p.m.

J.E.B. Stuart Girls Tennis When a team goes winless for two straight seasons, players clearly become demoralized, however the Raiders have taken heart with three wins already this season.

Last Monday, the girls traveled to

goalies stoned the Warriors for the first shutout of the season.

Now 9-1, the Mustangs look to keep their momentum rolling this week with a home game against Freedom-South Riding at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 24.

at press time. On April 26, Falls Church faces Lee High School and begins a stretch of three district games over five days, including a Senior Day match against Yorktown at home on April 28.

Falls Church H.S. Girls

Falls Church H.S. Boys

A 12-0 route of Edison High School last Friday pushed the Falls Church High School varsity girls lacrosse team’s winning streak to five games and sends the Jaguars into the home stretch of their season on a hot streak.

A sustained attack and domination in the face-off circle led six goals in the first half and another half-dozen in the second half for Falls Church as the Jags breezed to the win. Seniors Valerie Gibbons and Jessica Thatcher each scored four goals to lead the charge, while junior Jackie Jubien added three for a hat trick of her own. Junior Sarah Kane accounted for the other Falls Church tally.

Junior Bridget Drain and Hannah Wilkerson split time between the pipes for Falls Church, with each turning aside two shots to earn the shutout.

“We played well against Edison,” Falls Church Head Coach Sabrina Yarie said. “It was our third game last week and to come away with three wins is a great accomplishment.”

The Jaguars faced Westfield on the road Wednesday, April 23, but results were not available

The Falls Church High School boys varsity lacrosse team extended its unbeaten record to 8-0 following a 10-9 defeat of Edison last Friday night.

Junior Connor Simmons found the back of the net six times for the Jaguars to lead the attack that claimed the lead with two goals in the first three minutes of the second half and never relinquished it.

Falls Church Head Coach Geoffrey Young attributed the win in part to the team’s gritty performance in winning ground balls, edging Edison 41-34 in that department.

In addition to Simmons’s six tallies, junior Alex Nanthavong scored two goals, while junior Andy Frank added another.

Junior Paul Cossack registered 13 saves in goal for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars’ unblemished mark will be put to the test with a pair of upcoming games against Westfield and Yorktown. Westfield is ranked No. 5 in the region according to Young, while the Jaguars haven’t defeated Yorktown in six years.

Mt. Vernon and edged their National District foe, 5-4.

Led by senior Julie Nguyen and junior Carina Gutjahr, the Lady Raiders’ strength lies in their depth, according to their coach Nancy McGirr.

“We don’t have the powerhouse players at No. 1 and 2 that many other teams have, but we have strength and depth across all top six positions, which gives us a bit of an advantage,” McGirr said.

Along with Nguyen and Gutjahr, the strong, balanced play of Kelly Weirick, Vicky Nguyen, Kathy Nguyen and Aiza Brahim provide incredible talent from top to bottom of the varsity lineup.

Unfortunately, the girls could not maintain their momentum from the Mt. Vernon victory, dropping a home game to National District rival Yorktown 8-1 last Tuesday.

“Our toughest challenge comes in competing against Yorktwon and Washington-Lee that traditionally have strong teams and in recent history have finished in the top two positions in the National District,” McGirr said. “Beyond these two teams, however, competition is fierce for finishing the season in the

No. 3 and No. 4 positions.”

With an away match on Monday canceled against Wakefield, the girls travel to Falls Church April 24 at 4 p.m. for their next match.

McLean Boys Lacrosse After four straight losses, the McLean Highlanders were looking for some redemption on Senior Night at home last Thursday. Unfortunately for the visiting Marshall squad, the Highlanders took out their aggression and celebrated their senior class in grand fashion with a 17-5 victory.

Sean Flint led the way for the Highlanders, scoring four goals on the night while compiling an outstanding 80-percent face-off winning percentage.

Junior goalie Tyler Quinn and senior defender Aaron Cornwell anchored the steady Highlander defense. Senior midfielders Alex Russomanno, Ryan Jarriel and Matt Wellens dominated the midfield position all game, allowing for easy transition goals for the Highlanders against Marshall.

The Highlanders travel to Stone Bridge, Thursday, April 24 at 7:15 p.m.

Page 20

April 24 - 30, 2008

The George Mason High School girls varsity soccer team continued their district dominance this past week, rolling over Rappahannock County 8-0 to remain undefeated in the Bull Run. Even though their much-anticipated matchup with defending state runner-up Clarke County was rained out on Monday, the Mustangs released some of their excitement against the Panthers at Moore Cadillac Stadium on Tuesday night. A barrage of firsthalf goals led to a six-point margin for Mason entering the break, which they never relinquished.

With eight minutes left in the contest, a beautiful corner by senior Rachel Kazman found sophomore Karen Hamill in the middle of the box. Hamill promptly headed the ball into the back of the net for the slaughterrule decision.

Hamill also scored early in the first half, while senior Olivia Scott netted two goals as well.

Kazman, freshman Violet Miller,

Despite being truly tested for the first time in Bull Run District play this season, the George Mason High School boys varsity soccer team posted a pair of wins to remain unbeaten since beginning the district schedule.

A determined squad from Strasburg, led by senior goalkeeper Phil Ramsey threw a scare into the favored Mustangs on the field at Moore Cadillac Stadium, Friday, April 18.

The Rams, winless on the season with nine losses and a tie against Clarke County serving as their best showing to date, refused to back down from the Mustangs and entered the half with the score even at zero. It wasn’t until 10 minutes into the second half that Mason could crack the score sheet. Sophomore Anthony Andrianarison scored the first goal of the game when he redirected a corner kick from senior Antonio Randrianasolo.

That strike seemed to open the floodgates for the Mustangs who scored two more goals over the course of the next 10 minutes, with Randrianasolo and senior Andres Ramos both finding the back of the net.

“Their goalkeeper kept them in the match. He made four or five incredible stops to keep the first half 0-0,” Mason Head Coach Art Iwanicki said, noting that the game was the first

time he had been concerned an outcome for the first time in recent memory. The Mustangs out-shot the Rams 18-4 over the course of the match.

Entering the season, Iwanicki believed that his team’s game at Rappahannock County this past Tuesday, April 22 could be a pivotal point in the season. After weathering an aggressive Rappahannock attack, the Mustangs emerged unscathed, thanks in large part to a 15-minute, first-half spurt in which Mason scored four times to seize control of the game and secure a 6-2 win.

Mason sophomore Alex Casteuble started the run by potting the rebound off of a saved penalty kick and sophomore Teddy Rueckert capped the scoring with the final goal of the game.

The pair of wins sets the stage for a Friday showdown with Clarke County at Mason High’s Moore Cadillac Stadium. A win over the Eagles would firmly establish the Mustangs as the team to beat heading into the second half of the Bull Run District schedule. However, Mason’s head coach believes his team’s unblemished mark means little heading into Friday’s alwayscompetitive rivalry game.

“Throw out the records,” Iwanicki said. “This is ArmyNavy, Notre Dame-U.S.C., Duke-North Carolina.”

The game gets underway at 7 p.m.

The George Mason girls lacrosse team faced a dangerous point in their season in the middle of last week, but have since turned the tide to even their season at .500.

On April 14, the Lady Mustangs dropped their fourth consecutive game to Broad Run, a state semi-final team from last year, 13-5. The home loss dropped the team to .500 on the season. As has been the theme for much of the season, freshman midfielder Abby Johansen led the team with two goals, with senior attack Allie Atkeson, junior Sally Blakemore and sophomore Gwen Edwards each adding one.

April 17 provided the Lady Mustangs a chance for redemption and a chance to start climbing above .500. Facing Dulles District foe Potomac Falls on the road, and with freshman star Johansen sidelined with an injury, the Lady Mustangs struggled to get into an offensive rhythm while Potomac Falls shot the lights out. Mason trailed by seven at halftime and could never establish momentum in the second half. They ultimately dropped the game by the score of 13-6.

On Monday the Lady Mustangs started to correct their course with a demolition of non-league National

and juniors Mayssa Chehata and Virginia Fresne tacked on the rest of the Mustang scores in the rout.

After scoring six goals in the first 20 minutes, Mason was held without one for the next 40.

However, the Mustang forwards were able to break free from the Panther defense seemingly at will, but shot after shot fell harmlessly into the hands of the Rappahannock keeper.

Strong Mason defense, anchored by goalies Rebecca Jackson and Catlin Sickler, as well as the midfielders, kept the ball on the Panther side of the field for the majority of the game. With juniors Tegan Argo and Abby Stroup back from sickness, the alreadyexperienced defense was at full strength all night.

A scary moment marred the game late in the first half when senior defender Stephanie Pinch was clipped by a Panther player and crumpled to the ground. The transfer from Yorktown High lay there for several minutes before being driven off the field. Early reports indicate a blown-out knee

with a possible ACL tear.

Sandwiched within their district schedule, in which Mason has slaughtered every opponent and put up 26 goals in three games, was a non-district contest last Wednesday against AA Briar Woods High.

Two quick Falcon goals put the Mustangs in a quick hole, and the score remained 2-0 for the first 70 minutes. With 10:21 left in the second half, a free kick by junior Kim Kenny was pinned against the top cross-bar by the Briar Woods keeper, but Miller was there to launch the rebound past the defense. The Mustangs would not strike again however, and succumbed by a 2-1 final score.

Mason returns to district play Thursday, April 24 against Strasburg High School, which is fielding a varsity girls team for the first time in the school’s history. With a 3-0 district record and their high-powered offense in full gear, it appears as though the only time the Mustangs will be tested will be against Clarke County on senior night on May 13.

District opponent Wakefield.

The team welcomed back Johansen, sophomore attack Lexi Dahl and freshman midfielder Amanda Rolander to the lineup from assorted injuries, with Dahl playing her first game since the start of the season.

With all of their pieces once again in place, the Lady Mustangs cruised 20-2 against the Warriors. Edwards locked into an offensive groove, scoring six goals for the Lady

Mustangs, with sophomore midfielder Christina Perez adding four of her own. The Mustang defense played tenaciously, keeping the ball on the offensive side of the field for most of the game. With the win, the Lady Mustangs moved back up to .500 on the season with a 5-5 record.

The Mason girls look to keep the momentum rolling with an away game against Freedom High School Thursday, April 24, at 7:15 p.m.

This past Saturday, the Boys U13s and U11s hosted games on a beautiful spring morning at George Mason High School’s Moore Cadillac Stadium. The U13s got the early lead against an undefeated Arlington squad but were not able to hold them off in the second half loosing 5-2. Austin Nooter scored both goals for Falls Church off feeds from midfielders Preston Custer and Jim Boryan. Goalie Keenan Glahn made numerous outstanding saves to keep the game close.

Following the U13s, the Boys U11s shutout Fort Hunt No. 2, 6-0, to remain undefeated behind two goals

apiece from Brandon Ward and Eriksen Johansen, and goals from Jackson Cogar and Connar Mulcahy. The team showed excellent ball movement, as three of the goals were the result of assists — two from Johansen and one from Ward. Five players tied for the lead in ground balls — Andrew Trauth, Sean Fitzgerald, Hayden Sausville, Ward and Johansen. Goalie Dan Dusenberry stopped all five Fort Hunt shots.

— Mark Johansen • For an expanded version of this article, visit www. fcnp.com.

April 24 - 30, 2008

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April 24 - 30, 2008

F.C. Education Foundation Benefit a Smash Hit

MORE THAN $75,000 was raised at the Falls Church Education Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual banquet in Arlington last Saturday night. More than 200 attendees heard Dr. Gregory Howard Williams, a nationally-acclaimed author, president of the City College of New York and former George Mason High School teacher in Falls Church (pictured at the right in the top photo on the left with former F.C. Mayor and FCEF Chair Dan Gardner and School Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin). Upper right photo, F.C. schools pioneer Jesse Thackrey with honoree Bob Morrison. Middle left, Lou Olom with Eileen Levy. Center, Bob Wilden with mother of a student in the after-school computer training program he sponsors. Lower right, honoree Bob Young. See story, elsewhere in this issue. (Photos: News-Press)

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 23

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Public Hearing Looks at Special Education Starting Monday, April 28, the Virginia Department of Education will be accepting written public comments regarding proposed revisions concerning the regulations governing Special Education programs for children with disabilities in Virginia. A public hearing will be held locally on Monday, June 2, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Oakton High School. A total of nine public hearings will also be held. For more information on the hearings or how to submit comments, call 804-225-2013.

Twelve Win National Merit Scholarships Twelve Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students took home corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The students are part of a group of approximately 1,100 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by companies, foundations and other business organizations. Winners included Christian Eubank of Herndon High, David Tran of Marshall High, Katherine Comey of McLean High and Joseph Rampino of Woodson High.

The remaining eight students came from Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology: Hannah Chartoff, Sean Cruz, Allison Hegel, Arjun Khanna, Steven Mechner, Dustin Moore, Michelle Oresky and Benjamin Parr.Corporate sponsors all the way from Lockheed Martin to the Unisys Corporation provide merit scholarship awards for National Merit finalists who are children of their employees or members, who are residents of communities the companies, serve, or who have career interests the sponsors want to encourage.

Literary Magazines Nationally Recognized Five student-produced literary magazines have been cited in the National Council of Teachers of English Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines.

Cited as excellent were Carson Middle School’s “Endless Currents,” Centreville High School’s “Zoic,” Franklin Middle School’s “Pearls and Diamonds,” and South County Secondary School’s “Xanthus.” Cited as above average was Lee High School’s

April 24 - 30, 2008

“Troubadour.”

Out of 439 submitted entries, these five local publications made an impact in categories of content and quality, content variety, editing and proofreading, artistic quality, and front matter and pagination. The magazines were judged from the 2006-07 school year.

Time Capsule Made to Celebrate 50 Years Glen Forest Elementary School turned 50 last week and celebrated the big 5-0 occasion with the creation of a time capsule. After the presentation of the colors, performances followed by school singing ensembles and stringed orchestras.

Students have been preparing for the school’s 50th anniversary by counting down the decades, concluding with a celebration of the 1950s and a school wide sock hop.

Students Present Multicultural Musical Fifth and sixth grade students at Floris Elementary School will present “A Small Part of the World,” a musical by Sally Albrecht, on Thursday, April 24, at 9:30 a.m. for students in grades 3-6, and at 7 p.m. for parents and members of the community.

The performance will feature multicultural songs, dances and speaking parts representing Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Israel, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

students will perform in the Viking Music Festival at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Patrick Henry Library.

Members of the Vienna Elementary Band, Advanced Strings, Mixed Chorus and Jammers will perform. The Mixed Chorus is a select group of sixth grade students who participated in All-County Chorus or the Madison Pyramid Singers.

They work during lunch and before and after school to learn choral literature. The Jammers is a percussion ensemble of students in grades 3-6 who use traditional and nontraditional percussion instruments. They perform traditional music and students’ original compositions.

Limited seating is available.

Call the library at 703-938-0405 to reserve a seat.

Kings Glen Elementary students (above) dressed in their best Western gear and performed square dances to the calls of Mac McCall during their physical education classes.

Prizes were awarded for best costume, best set and best couple.

Aldrin Plants Trees to Help Environment

Oakton High Tops FBLA

Between 80 and 100 trees will be planted at Aldrin Elementary with help from Fairfax ReLeaf on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 9 a.m.

Parents and students will dig holes and plant the trees in two areas of the Aldrin campus. They hope to add to tree cover on campus to reduce the need for mowing, supply erosion control, and encourage the Aldrin community to understand how individual and collective actions can positively affect the local environment. They are also aiming to make the com-

(Photo: Courtesy Christine Kamerow)

munity aware of some of the groups that support the care of the environment, including Fairfax Master Naturalists, Fairfax ReLeaf, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the Reston Association.

The Oakton High Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team finished in the top five in all six events at the FBLA State Conference held recently. Top five winners include: Sarah Parsons and Daniel Novick, second place in Business Financial Plan, Nickolas Sojka, third place in Introduction to Business, Andrew Wong, third place in Accounting II, Matt Ellis, fifth place in Economics, Peter Lee, fifth place in Computer Problem Solving, and Kelcey Stone, fifth place in Personal Finance. The Oakton FBLA

also received Honor Chapter recognition.

Courtyard Turtle Makes Waves at Bailey’s Melanie Carney’s third grade class at Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences has been monitoring the movements of a turtle with a transmitter throughout the school year.

The turtle, who lives in the school courtyard, has worn the transmitter during the 200607 school year. Students have observed where the turtle goes during the day and night, where her favorite spot is, and the characteristics of that spot. The students are interested in creating other places in the courtyard similar to her frequently visited spots. They have also noted weather conditions, time of day, season and location of the turtle.

Little Run Kicks Off Science Fair Student use of the scientific method will be one of the criteria used to judge science fair projects during the Little Run Elementary School annual Science Fair on Thursday, April 24, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Judges will include five staff members from the National Security Space Office, who will use a rubric to judge projects and award first, second, and third place ribbons to sixth grade projects.

The annual Science Fair is part of the school’s tradition of promoting and encouraging exploration of the scientific inquiry and gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of and interest in the sciences.

Vienna to Premiere in Viking Music Festival Vienna Elementary School

Nearly 200 Music students (above) from George Mason High School performed at the the Myrtle Beach Fiesta-Val Music Competition earlier this month, and decided to reward themselves with some South Carolina sight-seeing following their many collective wins, including some first place rankings. (Photo: Courtesy Mary Jo Webster)

April 24 - 30, 2008

Eighteen-year-old senior at J.E.B. Stuart High School Hallie Colegrove may have the potential to be the next Barbara Walters, but says that journalism isn’t something she wishes to pursue as a future career.

“I don’t want to study journalism, but I really like some of the aspects of being an editor.

I like that kind of leadership position,” said Colegrove. “I’d love to take a creative writing class, and I hope they offer it wherever I go to college. I don’t want to stop writing.”

Colegrove was recently named High School Journalist of the Year by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) for her work as Editor-in-Chief for Stuart High’s student newspaper “Raider’s Digest.” The

Page 25

esteemed title also came with a $500 academic scholarship named in honor of the celebrated publications adviser Charles Savedge, known as “Mr. Yearbook.” After being nominated by a panel of student publication advisers at her school, Colegrove started the application process for the award. Honored, she went forward without any high expectations.

“I found out that I was nominated and thought ‘OK, I’ll do it, you never know.’ Then, I heard I had won it and I was like, ‘Wow, I have no idea where that came from,’” said Colegrove with a laugh.

Colegrove has been active on the “Raider’s Digest” staff since her freshman year at Stuart. After taking the journalism elective course on a whim, Colegrove soon discovered her

knack for writing. From there, her position and influence over the paper escalated during her consecutive years at the school.

She became a staff writer her sophomore year, managing editor her junior year and finally achieved her current position as editor-in-chief as a graduating senior. Colegrove admits the increase of responsibility, while sometimes tricky, has primed her as an outstanding leader in a

team atmosphere.

“I’ve taken away so many valuable things from this experience,” Colegrove said. “I really think it has helped me as a leader, and learning how to mediate. When you have a bunch of high school-aged teens in a small room without the advisers, there’s going to be fights.

It’s really taught me how to step forward and break it up.”

Like many seniors caught in

the midst of prom and graduation plans, Colegrove is keeping the future open for possibilities with hopes to study sociology or anthropology wherever she decides to go for college. Until then, she remains surprised and grateful for this honor and experience.

“I’m so happy. I put so much work into the paper and this really just means so much,” said Colegrove.

Whether you are new to running, or have competed in 5K and 10K races in the past, the Friends & Fitness Runners Training Program helps participants successfully complete 13.1 miles (half-marathon).

Our program is geared to the novice and intermediate runner.

The Friends & Fitness Runners Training Program is a charity-based program benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington.

Program begins Saturday, May 10th.

Join before April 30th and receive a FREE dri-fit runners shirt!

For more information on this year’s program, visit our website:

FriendsAndFitness.com

or by calling Craig Mastrangelo, (703) 932-3622

Laura Mac & Craig Mastrangelo THE

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April 24 - 30, 2008

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office space, but also resulted in 100% residential townhouses, the only such between Broad St. and Park Ave. A “yes” referendum vote coupled with elected officials directing developers, as several of this year’s candidates want to do, will likely result in zero development — and will continue to put pressure on the residential tax base.

Voting for Gardner, Hockenberry and Webb, and against the Referendum will keep our great City great.

Dan Sze Falls Church City Council

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Lunch & Learn The Facts on Osteoporosis Free Event for Seniors at Sunrise of Falls Church You’re invited to join us at one of our upcoming “Lunch & Learn” events at our beautiful community in Falls Church. Mel McLallen, a CVS Pharmacist, will lead this informative presentation on Osteoporosis.

Learn how to slow the progression and treat the symptoms. During the lecture, enjoy a lunch buffet prepared by our in-house chef, Keeyon Raspberry.

Our professional staff will be present to meet with you and discuss how living at our community can eliminate the burden of maintaining a home so you are free to pursue your interests, friendships and active lifestyle.

EVENT DETAILS

Lunch & Learn

Hosted by Sunrise of Falls Church with speaker Mel McLallen, CVS Pharmacist

Monday, April 28th 12:00-1:00pm Space is limited. RSVP to Myra Gourley at 703-534-2700

A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

RSVP for you and a friend today!

Sunrise of Falls Church

Continued from Page 6

703-534-2700

330 North Washington St., Falls Church, VA

ÃÃ ÃÌi`Ê Û }ÊUÊ i ÀÞÊ >ÀiÊ For more information and a FREE online newsletter, visit www.sunriseseniorliving.com

BW N-08QAT0453-REV001 Sunrise Senior Living Community: Falls Church Pub: Falls Church News Title: LUNCH AND LEARN - OSTEOPOROSIS 4/28

Editor, A Martian reading your paper no doubt would agree with your editorial that the May 6 referendum is “a very bad idea.” That is assuming that the Martian had access only to the disinformation and misinformation circulating in the News-Press.

Instead, last week’s editorial featured comments by a former mayor of Seattle, concluding that the referendum is “a very bad idea” because “all commercial, or a preponderance of commercial development, equals a 9-5 downtown that is pretty much dead at night.”

But in fact the referendum would allow 40 percent residential development on commercial property. That sounds like a good definition of “mixed-use” to me and hardly “dead at night.”

We wouldn’t need the referendum had City Council encouraged more healthy mixed-use such as the Read Building, with commercial on the first two floors and apartments on the top two floors.

But the new “City Center South” carries to an extreme Council’s recent disturbing pattern of abuse of the mixeduse concept: now we get (often vacant) commercial on the ground floor topped by highrise apartments and condos. This is not the “harmonious mix” of residential and commercial envisioned by the Falls Church “Vision and Strategic Plan.”

No wonder the City Planning Commission recommended against City Center South.

Since City Council ignored the Planning Commission, a wake-up call referendum is a very good idea.

George Southern Falls Church

Editor, My husband and I are very supportive of the City Center Plans. I could go into all the pluses about the City Center development as far as the revenue it will generate for the city, how it will keep our schools excellent and keep our home values high, but these have already been wellcovered by others. I want to emphasize the position from the perspective of a resident and homeowner.

As new residents of the Cherry Hill/Winter Hill area, we specifically bought a home in this area two years ago, because of the potential of mixed-use, “smart growth” new developments planned by the City. We are residents who have closely followed the many incarnations of the City Center Plan.

As population growth continues in urban areas in Northern Virginia like Falls Church and in other urban areas across the nation, new developments are inevitable.

Smart Growth developments are not only happening all over the country, but it is a lifestyle many people seek out. We need to attract residents who will stay here and we need to have amble housing for them now and in future.

Many of us who live in the Cherry Hill/Winter Hill development are looking forward to walking to a grocery store, restaurants, retail stores, and other mixed-use amenities.

Smart Growth neighborhoods provide convenience for homeowners and opportunities for alternatives modes of transportation including pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit connectivity.

On the internet you can find a plethora of smart growth success stories from the perspective of homeowners associations and community organizations. Yes, there are challenges a community will need to grapple with to ensure success. Challenges which our community has deliberated over and over again coming to a conclusion that I believe a majority of our citizens can not only live with but will enjoy.

As members of this community we need to embrace the future of mixed-use development projects or choose to live in the alternative-suburban sprawl.

Please vote in our local election on May 6 and vote no on the referendum.

Donna & Mark Byrne Falls Church

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 27 PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Editor, I had quite committed to voting NO, against the proposed directive that limits the Council’s options in negotiating with developers. After all, it was clear to me that 40% was egregiously liberal, and a far more effective limit would be 37.5%.

Then I realized that I had forgotten whether that limit was to apply to the provision for commercial use or to residential.

In a quandary, and with regard to another matter, I happened to come across the following in Lincoln’s First Inaugural: “But no organic law can ever be framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practical administration. No foresight can anticipate, nor any document of reasonable length contain, express provisions for all possible questions.” Hmmm.

It occurred to me that the proposed language probably is, if nothing else, of reasonable length, but will it for certain adequately address any and all pertinent questions that might arise in the future?

He goes on to throw doubt on the wisdom of asking the people “to take or reject propositions originated by others not especially chosen for the purpose, and which might not be precisely such as they would wish to either accept or reject,” even if they do, in fact, “have the rightful authority ...over the whole subject.”

Perhaps leaving these percentages up to the people “especially chosen for the purpose,” namely, those we elect to make tough calls such as these, would make sense, even when, as Abe acknowledges, we have the legal right to intervene (inexpertly or not).

William P. Schellstede Falls Church

Editor, I am writing to comment on the April 10 letter by Stan Fendley asserting that the pace of condominium and apartment developments in Falls Church is too fast and will cause problems for schools and services, followed by the April 17 response

by Paul Barkley rebutting that assertion, citing examples from

history and neighboring jurisdictions. To be clear, Barkley may be right. But then again, so may Fendley. A fundamental question is where lies the greatest downside risk? If Barkley is correct, then following Fendley’s suggestion of slowing down development would result in...well, slower development and some degree of lost tax revenue. But if Fendley is right, then the result of continuing the current path, which Barkley defends, will be a building glut with negative implications for decades.

I sincerely hope Barkley is right and Fendley is wrong. I hope the City Council’s current development strategy leads us to the vibrant mix of upscale restaurants, bookstores, and pedestrian areas we all want in Falls Church. But there is one glaring piece of evidence that tells me Fendley may unfortunately be right—the fact that condo-to-rental conversions are already occurring due to slow condo sales.

When facing evidence that past assumptions may be wrong, it is the duty of government to reassess those assumptions. I think that is the complaint being raised by Fendley and many other Falls Church residents, and I share their concern. Even in the face of a serious indicator of an overbuilt market, the City Council continues its same policies, approving more and more condos and apartments. That, in my view, is irresponsible.

I, therefore, agree with Fendley on the need to consider independent candidates for City Council—like Nader Baroukh— who will take a critical look at the current development strategy. I encourage residents to consider the platform of each candidate in the May 6 election rather than simply voting for the slate put forward by the Citizens for a Better City (CBC).

John Kennedy Falls Church

Editor, I would like to commend Peter Davis, a senior at George Mason High School, for standing up for fair and civil discourse on elections in Falls Church in a Letter to the Editor last week. I (and other adults) have stood by and not asked local bloggers to refrain from name calling for fear of being caught in the fray.

Ida Peterson Falls Church

Got Beef?

LETTERS@fcnp.com

New Condos and Apartments in Falls Church Too Much, Too Fast?

Nader Baroukh For Falls Church City Council

x The City Council has recently approved over 1200 new condos and apartments. x Already, one development has converted from condos to rentals. x Yet the City Council continues to approve more residential projects. x Is the City Council acting responsibly? x What will be the effect on schools, services, traffic, and adjacent neighborhoods? x The City Council must provide better planning and oversight.

About Nader Baroukh x Graduate, University of Virginia School of Law x Senior Attorney with Management Responsibilities

at the Department of Homeland Security x Served on the City’s Major Design Team for the City Center Project x Board Member, Winter Hill Community Association

Placing Citizens First Responsible Leadership You Can Trust www.friendsofnaderbaroukh.com Please join us and meet Nader at 2 Sisters Coffee, 255 West Broad Street.

Saturday, April 26 th 10am -12pm (Rain Date, May 3rd 10am-12pm) All are welcome. Coffee and Donuts will be provided.

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Nader Baroukh

Page 28

April 24 - 30, 2008

Fifty-three-year-old Robert Petillo has performed operas, arias, passions, choral pieces and just about any other vocal musical arrangement you can think of. In fact, virtually any local concert featuring classical music or musicians likely has Robert Petillo’s name attached to it in some form.

“It’s just all whatever I’m called to do,” Petillo says of his numerous collaborations and projects with local musical notables. He often performs with pianist Alex Hassan, with whom he recorded an album in London last year, as well as Jacklyn Anderson, a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra, City Choir of Washington conductor Robert Schaffer, Stanley Engebretson, the Director of Choral Activities at GMU, and

many others.

A native of New Jersey, Robert Petillo started studying music in earnest at Rutgers University, where he earned a BA in musical arts in 1978.

Then, in 1979, he moved to Maryland to attend graduate school at the University of Maryland. He earned his Masters Degree in music in 1982 with several recitals.

Petillo wasn’t finished however, and added a Doctorate in musical arts to his list of academic credentials in 1994.

In 1985, after a year of work on his doctorate, the 29year-old Petillo was contacted by a friend who told him of an opening for a tenor in the Army Chorus. At that time he was supporting himself by working on the Maryland Police Department’s computer network, a very new concept back then.

“I was ambivalent about

having to attend basic training with 17 year-olds,” he recalls.

Fortunately for him and the Army Chorus, he shoved his doubts aside.

“A few months later I found myself freezing my butt off in basic training thinking ‘Oh God, what have I got myself into?’”

While officially a member of the armed forces, with a rank of Sgt. Major and Senior

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Soloist, and probably more knowledgeable in the ways of firearms than your average Tenor, his main duty in the Army is “to build morale and maintain the esprit decorps,” as he puts it. “We would only be called into active duty in really dire situations.”

Army musicians such as Petillo are a staple for any army function, including funerals, parades, speeches, black tie dinners and banquets.

“Because of the particular power of singing words, the way songs can move people more than just instrumental music, we’re often called to sing at diplomatic dinners at the White House, or at the home of the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs.”

He also sang during the state funeral service for former President Ronald Reagan. His duties do occasionally stretch beyond musical engagements however. Such was the case in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon.

“We were all down there working shifts,” he recalls.

Petillo moved to Falls Church in 1998. A year later, he met pianist Alex Hassan. They met through their children, who were attending Thomas Jefferson.

The two started talking music when Petillo noticed Hassan’s piano and sheet music scattered about.

“Alex is one of the finest players of the syncopated style in the country, probably the world,” says Petillo.

In 2002, the two performed together in London for the centennial of the birth of Billy Mayerl, a famous British piano composer. The two perform recitals locally, somewhat regularly, at venues such as the Fellowship Hall.

Petillo’s contributions to

the local musical community extends beyond performing. For a while, Robert Petillo was the interim music director for the Falls Church and he regularly sings with their choir.

“It wouldn’t have worked if I hadn’t lived right down the street,” Robert says of managing the responsibility of directing two choirs, a chorus and an orchestra in addition to his normal musical activities. “It’s a full time job and I was trying to squeeze it in.”

Professionally, one of Robert Petillo’s main fortes is Oratoreo, pieces of music that are performed by a chorus and an orchestra, whose subject matter is usually something sacred or religious.

“Oratoreo is a lot of what I do, I’m not someone who sings a lot of opera,” although he has sung some to be sure. “A lot of the major performances I’ve done have been [Johan Sebastian] Bach’s ‘St. John’s Passion’ and ‘St. Matthew’s Passion.’ The evangelist, the narrator of the passion, typically has a higher voice, while the voice of Christ is typically a lower one.”

Petillo is fluent in German, from long study and visits with his wife’s German relatives.

His fluency is useful for singing German language passions, as a good understanding of vocal inflection and the nuances of the language are critical for an exacting performer.

“They are very high and very expressive, and very demanding musically. They are probably what I’m best known for.”

Petillo will perform Bach’s monumental B Minor Mass at the Schlesinger Hall in Alexandria with the New Dominion Chorale on Sunday, April 27. For tickets and more information, visit www.newdominion.org.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 29

‘Spring Solos 2008’ Through May 31 at Arlington Arts Center (3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington). Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. For further information, call 703-248-6800, or see www.arlingtonartscenter.org.

The current round of solos at Arlington Arts Center offers a look at six new artists. The Tiffany Gallery houses a multitude of matchbox-sized art by Jennifer Mattingly. These threedimensional collages are crafted from lone matchboxes. The Lilliputian works bump along at the limit of what people can be expected to take in without offering them a magnifying glass. A few pieces made me wish I’d brought my own.

Jeremy Drummond and Jennie Fleming both use photography to show us the built environ-

ment we’ve created for ourselves.

Drummond concentrates on new subdivisions and the bizarre aesthetic thereof, while Flemming offers us a drive-by view of Maryland Route 1, and another such view of Charles Street in Baltimore. Though depicting the street-front urban facade we all see day to day in our travels, generally speaking, the photo assemblages are made up of sharp photos likely made while on foot.

Drummond seems to hit the ball a little further with his assemblage titled “Drive By,” made up of 74 still frames from video shot of the roadside as driven by. The photos, filled with motion blur, offer a sort of homogeneous smear, as we experience the space between where we were, and where we want to be on a dally basis. We rarely take note of the details between point A and point B, largely concern-

ing ourselves with the simple act of getting there. Visually, it’s the sort of fast-forward we do to leap-frog the commercials on home-recorded TV programs.

The remainder of Drummond’s work here deals with street names, how they are selected and juxtaposed with each other, and what that may or may not say about our suburban cultural milieu.

No question, my favorite here is the work of Erin Williams.

Oh, what a sly creature we have here in Ms. Williams. She has created a sort of Victorian parlor room exhibition. Comprised of four main pieces — a bear hunting net rifle, a recording/ listening device, a time machine and a wheeled wedding dress form for a legless girl.

Describing the work is akin to telling the end of a movie.

Folks, it’s all a ruse. One giant elaborate, intricate and quite ingenious scam. The dress form seems 100 percent plausible. The thing looks like it’s made of the right stuff from the Victorian era.

The thinking is period correct.

The notion is completely plausible and tears at our empathy.

Who wouldn’t want to be able to stand up and seem normal for their wedding day?

How well was this played off? Well, everyone I talked to was taken by it. Everyone. The

time machine and Gramophone and homemade blunderbuss are pretty shaky as for execution.

Gun powder would likely split the copper pipe gun with a few firings, if not the first time. The time machine looks like some twisted fantasy out of the movie Brazil, had Brazil been placed in the 1800s. The wedding dress ruse however, is by itself hook, line and sinker good. The girl in the photo? It’s the artist.

The best story of opening night was how Williams displayed her work in her MFA show with tags that read “On loan from the Williams Museum.” Apparently everyone wanted to know why this stuff from the museum was here in the MFA show. Oh, sometimes we take ourselves entirely too seriously. Thank you Ms. Williams, executive director of the Williams Museum.

4th Annual Falls Church City Art Show & Sale Opening reception Friday, April 25, from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday, April 26 from noon4 p.m. at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church).

Falls Church Artists, there is still time to get in this show.

Artists living or working in Falls Church City may drop off up to

two pieces for exhibition. The drop-off period begins Monday, April 21 and goes right up to noon, Friday, April 25 when the installation begins. On the back of each piece, list your name, phone number and selling price if the work is for sale.

Volunteers are sought to help with the actual hanging of the show between noon and 3 p.m.

Contact Jenny Elmore, City Art Show Coordinator 703-248-5199.

‘Jung-Eun Kim; Circulation’ Through Wednesday, April 30 at Korea Monitor Art Gallery (7203 Poplar St., Annandale).

For more information, call 703750-9111 or see www.kmartgallery.net. Note: The web site is pretty tough to get info off of if you don’t read Korean.

Jung-Eun Kim presents 22 sizable prints in this exhibition, mostly mezzotint, and aquatints, with three etchings as well. You never know what you’ll find in these offbeat art venues. Kim’s imagery is nature-based and deals with the cycle of life and how we are all a part of it, rather than separated from it.  The Northern Virginia Art Beat is compiled by Kevin Mellema. See www.fcnp.com for photos and more. To e-mail submissions, send them to mul-

Providence Players Of Fairfax Opens Next Weekend At The James Lee Community Center Theater

Written by Robert Harling

Steel Magnolias

“The Funniest Show to Ever Make You Cry”

PERFORMING AT

The James Lee Community Center Theater 2855 Annandale Road Falls Church, VA 22042

Coming Next Season All My Sons

Tony Award Winning Drama by Arthur Miller

Rehearsal for Murder

A Gripping Murder Mystery by D.D. Brooke

Rough Crossing

The Hilarious Comedy by Tom Stoppard

May 2 - May 17, 2008 Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM Two Sunday Matinees May 4 & May 11 At 2:00 PM

TICKETS AND INFO

www.providenceplayers.org providenceplayers@cox.net 703-425-6782

Adults $15 Students/Seniors 62+ $12

Page 30

April 24 - 30, 2008

Send community event submissions to the News-Press by e-mail at calendar@fcnp.com; fax 703-532-3396; or by regular mail to 450 West Broad Street #321, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.

Community Events THURSDAY, APRIL 24

bicycles, printer cartridges, eyeglasses, hearing aids and medical supplies. Falls Church Recycling Center (217 Gordon Rd., Falls Church). Free. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call 703-248-5176.

Story Hour. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. Mon. – Thurs. 10:30 a.m. 703-2485077 (TTY 711).

Rotary Club Meeting. Dan Tiedge speaks about the Virginia Hospital Brigade. Harvest Moon Restaurant (7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). $10. 6:30 p.m. Visitors welcome.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25 Arts and Spirit Art Festival.

Celebration of 60 years of arts in worship and community.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington). Free and open to public. 9-11 a.m. For more information, call 703-892-2135.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26 Farmers’ Market in Falls Church.

Falls Church City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m.

– noon.

Drawing Family Workshop. Oil pastels, crayons and other wax mediums to create drawings and rubbings on special rice paper.

Ages 4-8.McLean Project for the Arts (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) $10/family. 10-11:30 a.m. For more information, call 703-790-1953.

Dog Race. 4th annual Unleashed Chihuahua race. Alexandria PETCO (6612 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria) Registration at 9:30 a.m., Race at 10 a.m. For more information, call 703-660-1300.

Spanish Story Time. Stories and songs in Spanish conducted

by Rose Ann Renteria. Ages 2-6. Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s Bookstore (2499 N. Harrison St., Arlington) Free. 11 a.m. For more information, call 703-241-8281.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

Recycling Extravaganza. City of Falls Church residents are invited to donate used electronics, cell phones, clothing and textiles,

Four-Minute Dating. Speed dating every Sunday night hosted by Professionals in the

City. Stacy’s Coffee Parlor (709 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-538-6266.

Meet Tedd Arnold. Come meet children’s book illustrator and author of award-winning Fly Guy series. Ages 4-7. Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s Bookstore (2499 N Harrison St., Arlington) Free. 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-241-8281.

Ed Hilligass Event. Picnic for supporters of Ed Hilligass, who is running for City Council.

Moon bounce, free hot dogs, soda, bottled water, pizza from Jerry’s Subs and more. Live music from Donald Dobert.

Cherry Hill Park (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church) 2-6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 Open Mic Night. Sign up at the door. Stacy’s Coffee Parlor (709 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-538-6266.

Corduroy’s 40th Anniversary.

Celebration of the classic picture book character with readings and chance to win a Corduroy plush animal. Ages 2-6. Aladdin’s Lamp Children’s

&

Gabriel Iglesias. From “Last Comic Standing.” The Improv (1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, D.C.). $28. 8:30 p.m. 202-3933939.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

Jazz Orchestra. Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, led by Chief Arranger for the “Airmen of Note” jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Band.

Kennedy Center (2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.). Free. 6 p.m. 202-467-4600.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

Project Natale. A contemporary jazz quartet will play originals,

standards, Latin, Afro-Cuban and calypso. Outdoor musical Performance. Palladium Civic Green (1445 Laughlin Ave., McLean). Free. 7 p.m. 703288-9505.

Fairfax Symphony. Maestro Hudson conducts two popular symphonic renditions based on Romeo and Juliet and follows with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. GMU Center for the Arts (4400 University Dr., Fairfax). $25-$55. 7 p.m.

703-993-2787.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

Amadeus Orchestra.

The Amadues Orchestra, conducted

by A. Scott Wood, will present

THURSDAY, MAY 1 Story Hour. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. Mon. – Thurs. 10:30 a.m. 703-2485077 (TTY 711).

Gift of Relaxation. Every Thurs. evening, 15-30 min. session of Energy Work, e.g., Reiki, Healing Touch, CranioSacral, etc. Falls Church Caring Center (100 N. Washington St., Ste. 307, Falls Church). Free, donations accepted. 7:30-9 p.m. For more information, call 703-534-1321.

NARFE Meeting. Del. Bob Hull & Supervisor Penny Gross will report on the VA legislative session. Mason District Government Center (6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale).

Free. 10 a.m. 703-978-3812.

T

Theater Fine Arts THURSDAY, APRIL 24

Bookstore (2499 N. Harrison St., Arlington) Free. 11 a.m. For more information, call 703-2418281.

“La Belle France,” showcasing French classical music of the 19th and early 20th century by Debussy, Faure, Ravel and Bizet.

Post-concert refreshments and chance to meet performers. St. Luke Catholic Church (7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean) $30, students 17 & under free.

4 p.m. For more information, call 703-759-5334.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

Marc Maron. From “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

The Improv (1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, D.C.). $15. 8:30 p.m. 202-3933939.

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Imagine 2008

Torpedo Factory Arts Center, Alexandria, Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. (following house parties all over the region)

T

he annual Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry fund-raising event is among the most creative and effective of the year. The dessert and cocktails party at the Torpedo Factory follows scores of house parties that volunteers throw all over the region, and includes many civic leaders and elected officials.

The highlight of the party, in addition to many amazing auction items, are performances by the “D.C. Cowboys,” a troupe of shirtless, buff young cowboys who know how to strut their stuff in a variety of high-steppin’ dance routines. They’ve become “worth the price of admission” alone at these annual events, so make sure you elbow yourselves forward to get a good look. Hundreds attend and $171,000 was raised last year. To find a house party near you, call (703) 533-5505.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 31

live_music&nightlife THURSDAY, APRIL 24 L��� J���. Sign of the Whale (7279 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). For more information, call 703-5731616.

G��������. 60s Power Blues.

Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 7:30-11 p.m. For more information, call 703-5340095.

J����� C�����. Acoustic Pop/Rock.

Featuring Angie Mattson. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1566.

B������. Canadian Fiddling. The Barns at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1900.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25 W���’� N���� O��. With Idle Americans. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 7 p.m.

For more information, call 703534-0095.

D�� F������ � W� H��. Classical. The Barns at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $30. 8 p.m. For more information, call 703-2551900.

S�� V���. With Bobby Bare, Jr. The 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $20. 9 p.m.

For more information, call 202

265-0930.

D���� F���� � W����� E���.

Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. For more information, call 703-534-0095.

F����� � C������� L�����. Rock/ Reggae. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 10 p.m. For more information, call 703-2551566.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26 H���� T��� H�����. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. For more information, call 703-534-0095.

B�� S������� � E���� P���.

Contemporary folk. The Barns at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $18. 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1900.

T�� B-52�. With Eagle Seagull. The 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). 8 p.m. For more information, call 202 265-0930.

T�� R����. With Idle Americans.

Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 10 p.m. For more information, call 703-534-0095.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27 R������ ��� R����. Featuring Der, Fikistache, and The District Ambulance. Fundraiser

for American Cancer Society.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 2 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1566.

B���� J��. With Acme Blues Co. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 7 p.m. For more information, call 703-534-0095.

D���� B����� B������� � K��� �� K�������. The 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). 8 p.m. For more information, call 202 265-0930.

J����� A. Featuring Peter and Alex. Rock Guitar. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $18.

7:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1566.

MONDAY, APRIL 28 H������ P�����. With We Shot the Moon, Kaddisfly, and Farewell Flight. Rock. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10.

7 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1566.

D���� P�����. Country. Patriot Center (4400 University Dr., Fairfax). $45.50-$75.50. 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-993-3000.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29 S���� R������� ��� F������.

Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad

St., Falls Church). 7:30-11 p.m.

For more information, call 703534-0095.

T�����. CD release show. With Old Springs Pike and Helgi.

Acoustic Folk/Alternative. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. 703-2551566.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 D����� D������. With special guest Jess Klein. Irish. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

B��� M������ T���. Jazz. The Barns at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $25. 8 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-1900.

H�� B������� R��. Rock/Roots Rock. The State Theatre (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $10 advance, $12 day of. Doors open 7 p.m., Showtime 8:30 p.m.

For more information, call 703573-1616.

THURSDAY, MAY 1 H�����. With Steven Kellogg & The Sixers and Kate Voegle. Indie/Rock/Pop. The State Theatre (22o N. Washington St., Falls Church). $33 advance, $35 day of. Door open 7 p.m., Showtime 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-573-1616.

P������� A����...

A

s April comes to an end and the heat and humidity of D.C. summers are just around the corner, it’s best to enjoy the still-mild spring weather while you can. And you have the perfect opportunity this weekend at the 5th Annual French Market of Georgetown. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, the Georgetown Business Improvement District will transform the collection of over 30 Book Hill shops and boutiques into an open-air European market with a wide assortment of items including antiques, fine art, custom jewelry, furniture, designer fashion and more.

Also taking place on Saturday will be the Georgetown House Tour, offering visitors a glimpse at some of the most extraordinary and charming homes in D.C. for over 90 years.

What: 5th Annual French Market of Georgetown When: Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Book Hill of Georgetown, Wisconsin Ave, N.W., between P St and Reservoir Rd, Washington, D.C. See www.georgetowndc.com for more info

Friday, May 2 — Perspectivo: Unexpected Views of Nature Art Show. Members of Falls Church Arts exhibit their interpretations of the world of nature in an entirely different way. Falls Church Art Gallery (111 Park Ave., Vienna). Free to public. 6-8 p.m. 703-5344202.

Monday, May 5 — Lisa Lillien Book Signing & Discussion. Meet the author of famous Hungry Girl recipes for “Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World.” Borders Books & Music (8027 Leesburg Pke., Falls Church). Free to public. 7:30 p.m.

C������� S���������� Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations.

Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.

Email: calendar@fcnp.com Fax: 703-532-3396; Attn: FCNP Calendar Mail: 450 West Broad Street, #321, Falls Church, VA 22046

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April 24 - 30, 2008

F.C. Council Candidates Debate Business Issues who attended the forum last week, also failed to show for the Chamber-sponsored debate.

Housen delivered a letter to Sally Cole, executive director of the Chamber, the day of the debate saying, “I have concluded my participation in a debate sponsored by a group engaged actively in an attempt to foil efforts to pass the referendum, which I support, would be an effort in futility,” and declining her invitation to participate.

Lepczyzk offered no expla-

Continued from Page 1

proclaimed “independent,” as in non-CBC endorsed, candidate to show for the debate Tuesday.

Among the “no-show” candidates was Ed Hillegas, who also failed to appear at a candidates’ forum co-sponsored by the F.C. League of Women Voters and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society last week at City Hall.

Margaret Housen and Patric Lepczyzk, candidates

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nation. She indicated that she opposed the referendum at the forum last week, but surprised the audience when she passed on a question asking for her comment on the city budget.

Questions from local business leaders, moderated by Chamber President Gary LaPorta, focused on the impact on small local businesses of new development, and the need for affordable “work force housing” to permit workers to live near where they work.

All the candidates spoke in

favor of an array of tax credits and incentives and on the longer-term benefits to all existing businesses of more population living downtown and a greater mass of retail, overall, attracting shoppers.

Noting that a recent poll showed 92% of all workers in Falls Church businesses drive their cars to get to work, all also discussed the need for affordable housing and the environmental benefits of being able to walk to work.

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But the benefit of a vibrant residential component to commercially-zoned developments was a bone of contention between Gardner, Hockenberry and Webb, on the one side, and Barkouh, on the other.

“I have worked with the Chamber of Commerce to help invite a dynamic environment for business,” Gardner said. “Falls Church is a strong, close-knit community with both cohesiveness and diversity. It’s a unique place and tops among surrounding jurisdictions,” she said.

The City “needs a critical mass of people for a solid customer base” to support the current business community,” Hockenberry said.

Baroukh questioned when a “critical mass” would appear, and warned of the “downside risks” over the long term of too much residential in the City’s commercially-zoned areas. He cited pressures on the schools and services and said that the tax benefits of the existing mixed-use projects will only be short-term.

Hockenberry, however, said that the benefits will continue to flow over many years, noting that in just two years, the benefit of the projects have held down the residential real estate tax rate almost 12 cents.

For existing businesses during the new construction, she and Webb proposed that developers might be asked to proffer “affordable leasing rates” for small businesses just as they are asked to proffer affordable housing.

Baroukh criticized the current Council for “approving almost any mixed use project no matter what the proportion of commercial to residential,” while Hockenberry retorted that the Council, in fact, turned down proposals for the current Pearson Square site three times, and “sent Hekemian packing” more than once.

Gardner noted that there is nothing limiting all commercial projects in the City now, but that until more mixed-use flexibility was put into the City’s development options through the “special exception” process, there were no takers. “We tried, but got nothing for 20 years until we did that,” she said.

Hockenberry added that the value of the property that is now home to The Byron jumped from $800,000, when only a poorly-performing Red Lobster was there, to $33 million now.

Baroukh said, “I am not antidevelopment. It’s about how to go about it, and having clear criteria for what to expect.”

Webb said, as another candidate running for the first time, “I will bring new eyes” to the City Council process.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 33

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Larceny from Vehicle, Curry Automotive,105 Falls Ave., April 15, 12:58 p.m., unknown person(s) damaged two vehicles and stole a Pioneer Radio.

Fraud, 500 blk. Greenwich St., between April 14, 12:01 a.m. and April 15, 6:19 p.m., unknown person(s) used victim’s credit card number to make several unauthorized purchases totaling $776.32.

Robbery, 500 blk. Roosevelt Blvd., April 15, 10:07 p.m., unknown person(s) approached victim, shoving the victim in a corner behind a door and demanded $1.00 to buy a soda.

Incident to the case, the suspect was scared off by another resident. No one was injured.

Harassing Phone Calls, 300 blk. Park Ave., April 9, 10:52 a.m., unknown person(s) sent an email to the victim stating that he/she had been contracted to terminate the victim’s life for $30,000.00. Incident to the case, the unknown person(s) stated that if the victim would pay the amount of $30,000.00, he/she would not terminate the victim.

Larceny, Applebee’s, 127 E Broad St., April 16, 4:44 p.m., police arrested a female, 25, of Arlington, VA for Defrauding an Innkeeper.

Burglary, Commercial, Stacy’s Coffee Shop, 709 W Broad St., between April 16, 10:00 p.m. and April 17, 4:25 a.m., unknown person(s) entered the establishment by smashing the front glass door and stealing $667.50 cash.

Solicitation, 100 blk. N Fairfax St., April 18, 2:10 p.m., police arrested a female, 42, of Michigan City, IN for Unlicensed Solicitation. Incident to the case, she is wanted out Michigan for Obstruction of Justice.

Urinating in Public, 6800 blk.

Wilson Blvd., April 18, 10:41 p.m., police arrested a male, 35, of Silver Spring, MD for Urinating in Public.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle, UHaul, 1107 W Broad St., April 18, 10:48 a.m., police recovered a stolen vehicle U-Haul truck in Arlington, Virginia. Incident to the case, the vehicle was originally stolen out of New York.

Drunkenness, 600 blk. S Washington St., April 19, 11:20 p.m., police arrested a female, 45, of NO FIXED ADDRESS, for DIP. Drunkenness, 600 blk. S Washington St., April 20, 12:51 a.m., police arrested a male, 46, of Annandale, VA for DIP. Motor Vehicle Theft, 900 blk. Ellison St., April 20, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., unknown person(s) stole a silver 2002 Honda Odyssey. Incident to the case, the vehicle was recovered in Prince Georges County, Maryland.

Memorial Day is almost here! Make sure you get your ad in the FCNP Memorail Day Parade Guide! ads@fcnp.com

Page 34

April 24 - 30, 2008

Gretchen Kuhrmann, Artistic Director

AN EVENING OF FUN, FOOD, AND MUSIC! Saturday, May 3, 2008 GALA SILENT AUCTION – 6:30 pm ƜCHOS in concert – 8 pm Select vocal chamber ensemble sings selections from Mendelssohn and Brahms to “You are the New Day” and “Ode to a Toad”

Falls Church Presbyterian Church 225 E. Broad St., Falls Church, VA Tickets/info: www.choralis.org, 703 237-2499

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Maybe it’s the approximately 15 years of doing improv sketches together, both in Chicago at Second City and the iO Theater and then more famously on “Saturday Night Live,” that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler share. Or perhaps it’s that other magic the two actresses also display -- exquisite comic timing and “chemistry.” It doesn’t hurt that “Baby Mama” also features a wellhoned script and some terrific supporting players to round out the picture.

Put it all together, and you have one of the funniest movies to be released so far this year.

While “Baby Mama” will be quickly perceived as a “chick flick” or a “girls-night-out” moviegoing experience (the title alone makes that pretty obvious), let’s hope that a lot of men, especially married ones or those in committed relation-

ships, go to see this film. For while it is hilariously funny, “Baby Mama” also makes some poignant statements about the nature of romantic relationships, the desire to parent and the whole concept of nurturing.

Fey plays Kate Holbrook, an intelligent and creative, harddriving single career woman who finds herself at age 37 increasingly anxious to become a mother. For years, she never gave the idea of having kids much thought as she concentrated on moving up the corporate

ladder. Now, as vice president of a successful chain of healthfood grocery stores (named Round Earth, an obvious homage to Whole Foods), she’s been handed her company’s latest challenge -- sole responsibility for opening a new store in a gentrifying Philadelphia neighborhood.

After disappointing attempts to become pregnant via artificial insemination, Kate considers the adoption route, where she quickly learns she’s low on the totem pole. Even today, financially secure, emotionally stable single women find it can be difficult to adopt an American child through traditional agency procedures. She ends up on the doorstep of Sigourney Weaver’s very expensive (Hello! Try $100,000!) agency that provides “foolproof” connections with highly screened surrogates -- women who will, for a fee, carry an infertile woman’s child to full term.

The comedy takes a wonderful turn when Kate discovers she’s paired with Angie (Poehler), a girl from what used to be called the “wrong side of the tracks,” who has been talked into this whole surrogate thing by her boyfriend, Carl (Dax Shepard).

He’s a n’er-do-well get-richquick kind of guy who refers to himself as Angie’s “common-law” husband.

Kate and Angie come from such different worlds, yet despite any number of issues (including one big one, which I won’t give away), they bond in a bizarre but charming and sweet way. After a fight with Carl, Angie moves into Kate’s upscale digs -- and then the fun really begins.

Fey and Poehler are absolutely perfect in their roles, with Fey superbly understated (as she usually is) as the “straight woman” reacting to Poehler’s absurdity. They also are blessed with a fine ensemble of supporting players. Weaver, as surrogate agency owner Chaffee Bicknell, is solid -- milking plenty of laughs from the fact that she’s

April 24 - 30, 2008

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C

hapter 27 (Drama, R, 84 minutes). Three days in the life of the pathetic wacko who killed John Lennon, leading up to the murder. Jared Leto put on more than 60 pounds to play this character, who barely even exists beyond his belly. The murderer is a sporadically suicidal misfit with a history of mental illness, a “Catcher in the Rye” fan enraged at the “phoniness” of other people, a former Beatlemaniac, a gun owner, and a “born-again” Christian who occasionally became incensed when recalling that thing Lennon said in 1966 about the Fab Four being more popular than Jesus at the time. None of which accounts for anything. Rating: One star. (Jim Emerson)

D

eal (Drama, PG-13, 86 minutes). The story of collegeage card shark Alex Stillman (Bret Harrison) and his incredibly short rise to glory on the big-time Texas Hold ‘Em poker circuit. But he doesn’t do it alone. With Burt Reynolds in the Fast Eddie Felson/ Mickey Goldmill mentor role as former card star Tommy Vinson, the cliche-riddled “Deal” apes not only “The Color of Money” but a bit of “Rocky,” as well. Poorly penned dialogue, undeveloped characters and a tired plot play out the movie’s bad Roland (Macaulay Culkin ) (left ), Mary (Jena M alone), hand.

Rating: One and a half stars. and Cassandra (Eva Amurri) in United Artists' comedy "S(Mike aved!" © Thomas) 2004 - United Artists - All Rights Reserved

D

eception (Thriller, R, 108 minutes). “Deception” -which, deceptively, has been tracked under such aliases as “The List,” “The Tourist,” “Manipulation” (in

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Steve Martin clearly is having the time of his life playing the eco-friendly Barry, the founder of Round Earth, who is obsessed by new-age philosophical psychobabble and the ability to make a fortune as he capitalizes on America’s current devotion to all things ecofriendly.

As Carl, Shepard delivers a spot-on performance as a good old boy who really ain’t so good.

And an actually believable love interest develops when Kate goes into a neighborhood juice bar (“It’s NOT Jamba Juice!!!”) run by the conveniently single Rob (Greg Kinnear) as she’s

secretly scouting out the neighborhood for that new Round Earth outlet.

This is the kind of subplot that could have sidetracked writer-director Michael McCullers.

He makes only passing reference to neighbors’ concerns about the big conglomerate (Round Earth) swooping in and potentially putting small, independent merchants out of business.

No, that doesn’t happen, and the fun-filled yet poignant romp that is “Baby Mama” is never diluted or messed up.

Here’s a winner from start to finish.

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France) and “Untitled Hugh Jackman Project” -- trades in the title commodity, and you don’t believe a second of it. Meek, bespectacled auditor Jonathan McQuarry (as in McVictim, played by Ewan McGregor) meets suave, predatory lawyer Wyatt Bose (Jackman) in a conference room late one night. The former finds himself on “The List,” the envy of Eliot Spitzers everywhere, which involves hot Wall Street babes calling him for anonymous sex at ritzy hotels.

Oh, but it’s never that simple, is it?

Rating: One star. (Jim Emerson)

T

he Life Before Her Eyes (Drama, R. 90 minutes). As its title suggests, “The Life Before Her Eyes” follows the aftermath of tragedy: in this case, Diana (Evan Rachel Wood), who’s caught in the crosshairs during a Columbine-style massacre, which forces her to ponder heavy questions related to promiscuity and pregnancy. Flashing backward and forward in time, the movie teases us with the possibility that high-schooler Diana might suffer a horribly violent death. Round about the fourth such insinuation, director Vadim Perelman even hints that dirty Diana might actually deserve it. While this queasy material is set in 1993, long before the Columbine tragedy, the film’s parallel story takes place years later, as another, older Diana (Uma Thurman) wonders whether to visit her alma mater on the 15th anniversary of the nightmare. “The Life Before Her Eyes” is not a film entirely devoid of virtue, though it comes closer to that mark than any movie so far this year. Rating: One star. (Rob Nelson)

T

HE GOLDEN COMPASS (Fantasy, PG-13, 114 m., 2007). A darker, deeper fantasy epic than the “Rings” trilogy, “The Chronicles of Narnia” or the Potter films, offering more complex villains and posing more intriguing questions. As a visual experience, superb. As an escapist fantasy, challenging. With gifted newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, a 12-year-old who won the role in competition with 10,000 others. Also starring Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliott.

Rating: Four stars.

T

HE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (Drama, PG-13, 112 m., 2007). The story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a French fashion editor, who after a stroke could move only his left eyelid and used it to dictate, one blink at a time, a memoir. Julian Schnabel’s wonderful film looks out through his eye, sees what he sees, remembers and imagines, and is filled with life and color -- not nearly as depressing as it sounds. With a supporting cast of warm and loving women, and Max von Sydow as his wise old father.

Rating: Four stars.

C

HARLIE WILSON’S WAR (Political comedy, R, 97 m., 2007). Based on a true story. Tom Hanks as a hard-drinking Texas congressman who, at the urging of a Houston socialite (Julia Roberts), uses his congressional subcommittee to arrange a secret $1 billion arms deal between Israel and Afghan freedom fighters, with Pakistan as the intermediary. That results in the defeat of the Russians, and the beginning of the end of the

Continued on Page 36

www.MerrifieldGardenCenter.com 8.indd d 1

4/21/2008 1:38:13 4/ 38:13 PM

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April 24 - 30, 2008

Continued from Page 35 Cold War. Philip Seymour Hoffman is droll and funny as a rogue CIA man who becomes Charlie’s partner in deception. A smart, funny, wicked political comedy by Mike Nichols, written by Aaron (“West Wing”) Sorkin. Rating: Three stars.

C

LOVERFIELD (Horror, PG13, 80 m., 2008). Six yuppies flee from a towering monster that is destroying Manhattan; one of them carries a video camera, and the entire movie is shot “queasy-cam”

style. Undeniably scary, especially in the first 45 minutes when we don’t know quite what is causing the crisis.

Produced by J.J. Abrams, creator of TV’s “Lost.” Rating: Three stars.

T

HE SAVAGES (Drama, R, 113 m., 2007). The time has come for Wendy and Jon Savage (Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman) to relocate their aged father (Philip Bosco) from his retirement home to a nursing home. The process is difficult, opens old wounds and yet is not without humor. Dad is a hostile curmudgeon who doesn’t make it easier. The performances depend on nuance, and writer-director Tamara Jenkins is quietly insistent that we observe little

moments and dropped words and exchanged glances. Rating: Three and a half stars.

T

HE ORPHANAGE (Thriller, R, 106 m., 2007). Raised as a girl in an orphanage, Laura (Belen Rueda) returns as an adult to buy it and run it as a hospital for needful children. Married with a young son, she begins to have disturbing ideas and visions, and her son sees ghosts, or maybe they’re not ghosts.

A superior psychological thriller by Juan Antonio Bayona, produced by Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) and depending not on shock but on a sense of mounting dread. Rating:

Three and a half stars.

J

UNO (Comedy, PG-13, 92 m., 2007). Very smart, very funny and then very touching; it begins with the pacing of a screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we have come to love.

Ellen Page in an Oscar-worthy performance as a pregnant 16-year-old who decides to keep the child. With J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney wonderful as her parents, older and wiser than most parents in teenage comedies. And Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the would-be adoptive parents, and Michael Cera, shyly winning as Juno’s boyfriend.

Screenplay by Diablo Cody, directed

by Jason Reitman; the best movie of 2007. Rating: Four stars.

B

EFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD (Drama, R, 117 m., 2007). Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play brothers who conspire on a “victimless crime” with dire consequences, in one of the year’s best thrillers -- and films.

Co-starring Marisa Tomei, Amy Ryan, Rosemary Harris; one of the best films by the cinematic treasure Sidney Lumet. Rating: Four stars. (c) 2008 The Ebert Co.

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April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 37

It’s hard not to have empathy for the protagonist featured in Jeremy Fisher’s self-made music video of his most popular song to date. The main character in the rock and roll love ballad is the sort that gives temporary satisfaction and because

of it, often finds him or herself being used repeatedly in ultimately destructive relationships. There’s an element of pity for the protagonist, portrayed by a cute, cuddly, huggable, lovable ... cigarette.

No, Fisher is not employed by Phillip Morris or any other big tobacco company.

In fact, he’s not even a smoker. Fisher is, however, a talented songwriter, capable of

looking at people and issues from more than one perspective. Casting a smoke in a sympathetic light with his song “Cigarette” is just one instance of Fisher’s multi-pointof-view music on his album Goodbye Blue Monday.

“Whether you’re a songwriter or a visual artist or a storyteller or a filmmaker, you have to feel empathy. You have to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes,” Fisher says.

What’s most striking isn’t the attempt to explore foreign situations, as he does with “American Girls,” a tune that covers a female U.S. soldier’s involvement in the Abu Ghraib interrogations from the point of view of a prisoner. It’s the fun and festive notes that are notable, drawing a contrast that invites exploration of the female soldier’s point of view as well. It’s a tune that her girlfriends back home might be tapping their toes to while breaking hearts out on the town. But while the whimsical words they hear would likely be sung by Tom Petty, Fisher’s soldier story features spirit-breaking lines like: “And her eyes / are the sky, blue and wide / Dropping bombs, planting mines / She paints my world in red.”

“I’m most inspired by John Prine, who just has an amazing way of telling things in an honest and humorous and sometimes sad way. I think that it’s important to mix all things ... not a single one of us humans are one-dimensional,” Fisher says. “And that’s what makes a great song, that it’s not just one-sided, that it makes you feel and decide how it resonates with you rather that just telling you one point of view or what to feel or what to think.”

It’s an ethos he also applies to his live show. The jingling strings on tunes like “American Girls” are fit for a dance-happy, drink raising good time. The lyrics are a bit of a buzz kill. You won’t find Fisher trying to bring his crowd down though if they happen to be happy when he plays what is ultimately a heavy tune.

“There are many different ways to experience the same song,” Fisher says. “I don’t want to be the person that’s like, ‘Okay, well this is a heavy song and you all need to understand how heavy it is and feel that emotion.’ That doesn’t make sense when people are dancing around and having a good time, but that sort of paradox is where the songs come from and that’s what’s great about art and great about music. It’s not just any one thing.”

• Fisher plays The Birchmere Sunday, April 27, with The Proclaimers. Tickets are $25 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

For more on Fisher, visit www.jeremyfishermusic.com.

Page 38

April 24 - 30, 2008

By Bryan Toporek Self-described as “a little French, somewhat Italian, sort of American with East Indian Accents,” the experience at Village Bistro is undeniably unique.

With a bar in the middle of the restaurant and a maximum capacity of no more than 40 occupants, the staff at Village Bistro aims to create an intimate experience for every patron. Nestled in the heart of Rosslyn on Wilson Blvd., one would not expect to find such a delicious meal for such an affordable price.

Village Bistro’s menu defends their self-description, as they focus extensively on delicious pasta, seafood and meat dishes. The meals range from $10$25, but a meal for two can easily be kept around $50, even with indulging.

The meal begins right as you sit down at Village Bistro, as the waiter presents your table with an unlimited supply of oven-fired Italian bread. Our meal kicked off with two delicious starter-sized samplings — an order of the Escargot ($8.95) and the Fried Calamari ($8.95) with aioli sauce. For someone inexperienced in the world of escargot, the healthy plate served at Village Bistro supplied a craving of mushrooms, walnuts, garlic and snails even after the meal. The freshness of the calamari also suggested there was an exceptional meal ahead.

The side Caesar Salad ($5.95) continued Village Bistro’s mastery of the premeal dishes, as the creamy dressing was mixed in perfect proportion with the crisp lettuce, savory Parmesan and crunchy croutons.

The Bistro’s real specialties lie within their entrée menu. During our visit, I chose to order the Linguine with Clams ($18.95), a mix of white wine, garlic, clams and lemon in a delicious blend of seafood and pasta. The clams came in their shell, loaded with tomatoes and garlic, and served over home-cooked pasta and white wine sauce. The sauce later provided a perfect dip for the Italian bread. A guest of mine decided on a Village Bistro special: The Penne Portofino ($14.95), a mix of chicken, apple slices and cream sauce. While decidedly unique, the particular blend of the crisp-yet-chewy apple slices mixing with the chicken and penne in cream absolutely melts in the mouth. Village Bistro offers nightly specials, such as Lobster Ravioli ($22.95), fresh lobster stuffed into pasta squares with ricotta cheese. Much like the other two entrees at the table, the Lobster Ravioli more than exceeded expectations, and everyone at our table was left full of delicious food at the end of the meal.

For dessert, Village Bistro finishes with a bang. For cake lovers, the Cheesecake du jour, espresso- or orange-flavored ($6.95) or the Chocolate Mousse Cake ($6.95) will delight the taste buds of anyone who left enough room after the main dishes. Traditional dessert lovers can savor the Crème Brulèe ($6.95), topped with delectable sweet brown crumbs.

Village Bistro is perfect for nearly any occasion, whether a date, dinner with friends, or family lunch. No matter what brings someone into Village Bistro, they’ll be glad they found their way once they sit down and enjoy a delicious, Italian-American-French-East Indian dinner of their own.

Village Bistro 1723 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington, VA 703-522-0284 Monday – Friday (Lunch): 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Monday – Sunday (Dinner): 5 - 10 p.m.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 39

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Page 40

TAMPA - Wine Spectator ratings, Robert Parker accolades, menu or wine shop descriptions, and, most important of all, a price tag. These are tools the wine enthusiast uses to set expectations about a wine.

In honor of tax day, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse &amp; Wine Bar set out an interesting hypothesis: With the absence of prices, diners would not be able to decipher between expensive and inexpensive wines, assuming both were paired carefully with foods.

Is food-friendliness directly correlated with the price of a wine? Five courses matched with wines and our conclusion could be summed up by my tablemate Heather Jones, attorney by day, “supertaster” by night: “On a wine list we often steer away from the most expensive wines, but we’re leery of the least expensive. You have to rely on your own preferences. An expensive wine is not always the best match.”

What’s a supertaster?

Ten years ago Yale Medical School researcher Linda Bartoshuk introduced the term. She divided the world into supertasters, tasters and nontasters. “Supertasters live in a neon food world,” Bartoshuk said. “Nontasters in a pastel food world.” Nontasters have five taste buds per square centimeter, supertasters have 30.

Supertasters make up roughly 25 percent of the population, and 35 percent of women but only 15 percent of men.

Supertasters have a sensitivity to bitterness and a wimpiness when it comes to the burn of hot peppers.

The setup The private dining room at Fleming’s was at capacity, the bluster of imminent tasting bravura palpable. I was blustering along with the best of them.

First challenge: two Russian River chardonnays, Chalk Hill Imagine 2004 (roughly $17) vs. Patz &amp; Hall Dutton Ranch 2005 (about $30), both paired with a sweet celery root soup swirled with truffle oil. I got it! The wine in the etched glass is richer, with bright fruit character and a fair amount of oak; it practically screams $30.

Buzz, thanks for playing. The Patz &amp; Hall is more restrained, lighter, more like a Chablis.

Learn your lesson, and try again.

Aha! Obvious. The etched glass this time is definitely the pricier, more of a brick color (the other one has shades of Juicy Juice), with a complex earthy, mushroomy aroma.

It’s got to be the Estancia Santa Lucia Highlands Stonewall Vineyard 2005 pinot noir (almost $30), not the MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast 2006 pinot ($13).

Wrong.

I’m thinking too much, drawing on what I know about regions, terroir and winemaking styles. I realize the woman seated next to me is guessing correctly. Is she a ringer? A pro brought in to make us look bad? No, she is Heather Jones, 35, attorney with Fowler White Boggs Banker in St. Petersburg. She has gotten into wine slowly, making the gradual ascension from white zinfandel to chardonnay to settle on an enthusiasm for cabernet sauvignon.

With our marinated rib-eye, red onion confit and spinach mashed potatoes, I watch Jones carefully. She’s swirling, she’s sniffing. She nails it again, identifying the glass containing the Rombauer 2004 cab blend ($35), and the other containing a Hess 2005 cab (about $21).

Me, I’m now 0-for-3.

The Rombauer is tannic and brawny, but many at my table prefer the spicy Hess. Despite her mad skills in identifying the expensive wines (she cited smoothness and a long finish as the giveaways), even Jones didn’t always prefer them. Call us cheap dates, but our findings at Fleming’s may result ingreater financial solvency next tax day.

The Wine Line

 Laura Reiley can be reached at lreiley@sptimes.com. Her blog, the Mouth of Tampa Bay, can be found at www.blogs. tampabay.com/dining.

April 24 - 30, 2008

Powerful drawing hands like a pair with a flush draw, or even conventional straight and flush draws, are often good opportunities to try a semi-bluff – making a bet or raise that you hope will not be called, but leaves you some outs if it is.

Here are a few dos and don’ts to consider before making such a play.

Do play a big draw aggressively on the flop. On the flop, with two cards yet to come, a big draw can actually be favored over even a hand like pocket aces. If, for example, you have 6c-8c and the flop comes 5c6s-7c, despite the fact that your opponent has Ad-Ah, your hand will win the pot more often. In fact, you would be close to a 2to-1 favorite.

Do attempt a semi-bluff only if you think there’s a decent chance that your opponent will fold. Otherwise, it’s really not a bluff at all. Try to get a read on your opponent. If you think he has a weak or marginal hand, a semi-bluff is probably in order.

Do make sure that your opponent has enough chips in front of him so that he doesn’t feel pot committed. Give him an opportunity to fold. If, for example, he bets 2,400 chips but only has another 2,000 remaining, a bluff probably won’t work. That’s because with 2,400 of his chips already invested, he’ll likely call any raise that you make.

And moving on to the don’ts ...

Don’t try to make a big bluff on the turn with a drawing hand.

With only one card to come, even a big draw is an underdog against a made hand. Keep the betting small.

Let’s look back at the earlier example: You have 6c-8c, your opponent has Ad-Ah, and the board now reads 5c-6h-7c-2h.

With only one card to come, you’ll need to catch a 4, 6, 8, 9, or any club to win the pot – that’s a total of twenty outs.

On the flop, your drawing hand was close to a 2-to-1 favorite.

But now, on the turn, the pocket aces are a 55% favorite to win.

Don’t play an aggressive semi-bluff anytime you think your opponent has a strong hand. Instead, take the safer route. Just call your opponent’s bet and hope to catch your draw cheaply. If you do get lucky and hit pay dirt, that’s the time to get maximum value by making a big bet.

Don’t try to bluff a beginning player or a calling station – a weak and passive player who often calls and rarely rais-

es or folds. If you know that your opponent consistently calls with marginal to weak hands, avoid bluffing them completely. It’s just not worth it. Instead, play cautiously, as though you feel your opponent has a strong hand.

Try to see the draw cheaply and hope you catch your card.

That’s the best way to take advantage against an opponent who calls too often.

These general tips will help you recognize when to play draws aggressively and when to take it slow. But remember, there are other important factors that must always be considered.

First and foremost, you’ve got to know how tough your

table is.

If you’re playing at a soft table against some bad players, adopt a more riskaverse style of play and avoid playing big pots with drawing hands. Alternatively, if you feel that you might be outclassed by your opponents, the best approach is to “gamble up” and hope to get lucky.  Visit www.cardsharkmedia. com/book.html for information about Daniel Negreanu’s new book, Hold’em Wisdom for All Players. © 2008 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

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April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 41

Level: 1 3

2 4

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

4/27/08

© 2008 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

ACROSS 1. “Cool your ____!”

5. ____ this world 10. Expand 14. Apple.com purchase 15. Tito Puente’s nickname 16. It wasn’t built in a day 17. Keep the published works of TV host McMahon to a minimum?

20. 30% of dieci 21. Jazz singer Anita 22. Flabby 23. Vera of fashion 24. Tennis ace Bjorn 26. Legally allow a fan of NYC mayor Koch to help elect him?

33. “____ My Heart in San Francisco” 34. Whirlpool 35. Minute 36. Caesar’s 701 37. Door-to-door work 39. People’s 1999 Sexiest Man Alive 40. Acorn producer 41. New Mexico tribe 42. It may include a cc or bcc list 43. Put the icing on baked goods made for TV actor Asner?

47. Cat’s warning 48. It follows 11 49. Take the wrong way?

52. Part of NAACP: Abbr.

53. Ore. neighbor 56. Get movie actor Harris addicted to a modern reading method?

60. Klein of fashion 61. Two-time batting champ Lefty ____ 62. Gillette brand 63. Botch, with “up” 64. Funnyman Youngman 65. Actress Amanda

Down 1. Leave at the altar 2. Kuwaiti VIP 3. Lacking thrills 4. Chem. or biol.

5. “You ____ bother!”

6. Senescence 7. Charlotte’s ex-husband on “Sex and the City” 8. Multivolume Brit. reference

THE QUIGMANS Buddy Hickerson

1

2

3

4

5

14

6

7

10

21

28

33

34 37

50

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55

35

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43

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25

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40

13

22 24

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12

19

23 27

11

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9

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8

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© 2008 David Levinson Wilk

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

crossword / By David Levinson Wilk

9. “Thought you’d like to know” 38. “No ifs, ____ ...”

10. An American in Mexico 39. Fed 1. ____!"

11."Cool Partyour of the mouth 41. Scrabble 10-pointer 5. this with worldpotent 12.____ Prefix 42. Budget brand name 13.Expand ____ Bank starter 10.

18.Apple.com Raise a glass to 44. Frothy drinks 14. purchase 19. Topsy-____ 45. Freshly-cut wool, e.g.

15. Tito Puente's nickname 23. Modern computer con46. In a ritzy manner 16.

It wasn't built in a day nection 49. Pillow cover 17. the“Adam published works of TV 50. host Timbre McMahon to a minimum?

24.Keep Eliot’s ____” 25.

Ten to one, e.g.

51.

Major stretches 20. 30% of dieci 26.

Free from 52.

Ever’s partner 21. Jazz singer Anita 27. Dana of “The Sting” 53. Quote 22. Flabby 28. Creature with padded toes 54. Zoning unit 23. of fashion 29.Vera Thing of the past 55. Its highest possible 24.

Bjorn 30.Tennis Adjustace slightly score is 180 31.Legally Like some 57.Koch “What an elect idiot him?

I am!”

26. allowcoincidences a fan of NYC mayor to help 32. Fast dances 58. Poem of exaltation 33. "____ My Heart in San Francisco" 37. Hauls to court 59. Doze Across

34. Whirlpool

35. Minute Last Thursday’s Puzzle Solved 36.

D Caesar's D E 701 P

E B R A

R A K E

A L A N B A T E S

M A D E I N U S A

A A G P I E L L R O T R O B B R A N O G A T G B O A R N T T E E S E S

I A F S T O P E S S A Y B E G I O R G R E O G D O S P E E S P P E R S A L B U O O S M W E

S L O P E W A R F G H I

D I T S I R R E E V E E A N A R D O N A M E O G I V N L I Y L L M A C H A A L A L J U I C A R O R Y A

Y E S I N D E E D T A E B O

nick knack

© 2008 N. F. Benton

Page 42

April 24 - 30, 2008

Announcements

Services

Public Notice

ATTIC TREASURE SALE

ALL AROUND ARTISANS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED BUDGET BY THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Saturday, May 3th, 10am - 1pm. Donations accepted Friday May 2nd 9am - 9pm at Falls Church Community Center. Benefits activites of Village Preservation + Improvement Society See www.vpis.org

All Home Repairs - Painting/DrywallSpring Cleaning - Tub Regrout - Garage Cleanup & Pressure Washing Call Greg 703-217-7253

For Sale

Call us for brick, stone, steps, walkways, patios and all types of repairs and installation. Powerwashing & sealing too. Jeff Cadle 703/698-1390

2 INTERMENT SITES++ EXTRAS

National Memorial Park. Retail over $15,000 (will sell for less) 2 Interment sites at National Memorial Park ++1 Concrete Vault, 1 bronze marker, 1 granite base. 772-232-0207

COMPUTER

Free Internet Education Event! tutorials $199 703-212-9174

Set includes

BRICK & STONE RESTORATION

CHILD CARE

Experienced childcare provider provides quality care for your infant in F.C. home. (703) 241-0605.

DIGITAL TRANSFERS

Record and tapes to CD. Home videos to DVD. WWW.SAVEITONCD.COM 703-263-9212

EDUCATIONAL COACH/TUTOR

COPIER SUPER SALE

Home-Based Tutoring Services. Experienced Qualified & Caring. Bill Connors 314-348-1346

FOR RENT - FALLS CHURCH CITY

For Removal of Junk, Trash, Yard Debris, Appliances, Furniture & Estate clean-ups. Call 703-533-0094/

Award Winning Richo,Copiers, Fax and Printers at 50% off List Price. New and Rebuilt Call Washington Photocopy 703-560-3900.

Spectacular 2BR+den, 21/2 BA condo in The Byron. Former model loaded with upgrades. Over 1800 sq.ft. . 2 garage parking places. $2950/mo.

Call Rosemary Hayes Jones, Long & Foster - 703-905-7206

FOR SALE PARK TOWER CONDO

Extra Large 2bed, 1Ba unit for sale. 1100 square feet, extra storage, pool, updated kitchen, great condition, no investors, no pets. Email Suzanne@ Buckrealtors.com 703-395-8741

KIDS STUFF TAG SALE

Saturday, April 26, 9am - 2pm., the Falls Church, 115 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church. Toys, baby gear, maternity and children’s clothes, shoes, books, outdoor toys.

MOVING SALE IN FALLS CHURCH

EVERTHING must go! Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm.

Bolling Rd (behind Italian Cafe).

Mulch Top Soil Wood Chips

Free delivery. 703-623-0101

YARD SALE

Multi-Family, Sat. April 26--Furniture, Tools, Bikes, Housewares, kids items; 7400 block Allan Avenue.

Help Wanted BOOKKEEPER

Casual Washington-Metro publishing office seeks part-time full-charge bookkeeper to manage financial reports, journal entries, GL, AP, AR, budgeting, etc. Candidates will have 4+ years experience. Send resume with cover letter and salary requirements to bookkeeper@fdanews.com

GIT RID OF IT

HANDYMAN SERVICE

Windows, doors, rotted wood, petdoors, lighting, fans, faucets, fences, bath, Flat screen TV installation and kitchen remodeling. Insured Free estimates. Call Doug (703) 556-4276 www. novahandyman.com

HONEY-DO HANDYMAN

Cosmetic Home repairs and inspections.

Painting, plumbing, electrical service, carpentry. Bsmts and bathrooms finished.

Problem solver with references. Gutter cleaning & repair. Subpumps, drainage, snaking. Tree removal and expert landscape service by Certified Arborist. Decks, fencing, siding & roof repairs. Service calls for appliances. 703-560-0799.

HOUSE CLEANING BY JAKELIN

Licensed, Honest, Experienced, References. Call 703-863-3821

Excellent

HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE

Available 7 days a week. Week, biweekly, monthly or one time. Good references in Falls Church City.

10 years experience. For further information call me at 703-848-8322. Senior discount, Ask: Susy.

House Cleaning Service. Low rates.

Good references. Call Dolores 571/2321091.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

C++, C#, VB,.Net, OOAD, SDLC, RUP, PMP Introductory Prices $250.00/course.

Objectech, Inc. Call: 703-362-9716

LAWN & GARDEN

CLEANING HELP WANTED

Lawn mowing, cleaning, mulching & edging. Low rates. Call Ernesto 703-932-9565

DRIVERS: LOCAL CDL-A

Good References & experience, 703-395-5971 or 703-231-4135

Cleaning,buffing floors, Falls Church area. $9.00 hr. 7am-9:30am. 1/800-342-2104 Career Training. Swift Transportation Trains and Employs! Dedicated, Regional & OTR Fleets.

800-397-2423

HELP WANTED

Sheet Metal Mechanic or experienced helper.

Dixie Sheet Metal. 703/533 -1111.

INFANT CENTER SUPERVISOR

Fairfax Preschool established since 1983 is looking for a mature individual to fill the position of Infant Supervisor. Position is Full Time. 2 yrs experience required. Must have strong command of English Language, criminal records check required.

Competitive Salary, All Fed Holidays paid/off.

Earned Leave, Healthcare, 401K, Paid Annual Training. Call 703.698.8050 Fax 703.698.8154 E.O.E.

For Rent FC ROOMS FOR RENT

2 rooms and bath in private home for a senior lady.

55 and older, non smokers only need apply. Rent negociable. 571-330-4466. Ask for Marlene.

PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT

Hours Monday to Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Must be detailed oriented, reliable, accurate, punctual, good communicator and organized. Proficiency with Microsoft Office; willing to train the right candidate 703-573-3029.

ROUTE 50 OFFICE WITH SIGNAGE 3 office suite at 6500 Arlington Blvd. $1,125mo incl util 703/243-4808

MARIAS HOUSE CLEANING

MORALES LANDSCAPE & LAWN CARE

Spring Clean - Up, Mulching, seeding & many others. Call David (o) 703-502-3990 or (c) 571221-4330

PREVENT FORECLOSURE

Owe less than $250,000 on your home and need to sell? Contact local family looking to buy. fairfaxhome@yahoo.com

PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT

and renovations, reasonable rates, painting, drywall, carpentry, deck, fence, siding, tile, electrical, plumbing. FREE ESTIMATES. Please call 703-655-2838.

News-Press Classifieds Remember, New Classified Deadlines: Every Tuesday, 2 p.m.!

The ordinances referenced below were given first reading and a public hearing on Monday, March 24, 2008. The public hearings will continue on April 14 and April 28, 2008, with second reading and final action scheduled for April 28, 2008 – all at 7:30 p.m., Official Time, or as soon thereafter as may be heard.

(TO8-07) Ordinance Setting The Rate Of Tax Levy On Real Estate, Personal Property And Machinery And Tools, And All Other Property Segregated By Law For Local Taxation In The City Of Falls Church, Virginia, For The Tax Year 2008. [Tax rate of $1.04 per $100 of assessed value.]

(TO8-08) Ordinance Fixing And Determining The Budget Of Expenditures And Revenues, Appropriating Funds For The Fiscal Year 2008-2009: General Fund; School Operating Fund; School Community Service Fund; And School Food Service Fund; Water Revenue Fund And Sewer Revenue Fund And Approval Of The Capital Improvement Plan The ordinance referenced below was given first reading and a public hearing on Monday, April 14, 2008 with second reading and final action scheduled for April 28, 2008, at 7:30 p.m., Official Time, or as soon thereafter as may be heard.

(TO8-09) Ordinance to Establish Sewer Rates and Fees (Robert Etris, Director of Public Works) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the following ordinance and resolution were given first reading on March 10, 2008, and referred to the Planning Commission and other boards and commission. The second reading and a public hearing scheduled for April 28, 2008 has been postponed to MAY 12, 2008.

(TO8-06) An Ordinance to Amend the Official Zoning District Map of the City of Falls Church, Virginia, by Rezoning Approximately 0.68 Acres of Land from T-1, Transitional District to B-1, Limited Business District for the properties with the Real Property Code Numbers 51-131-020, 51-131-021, 51-131-022, 51-131-023, and 51-131-029 by Jefferson Park LLC. (TR8-18) A Resolution to Grant a Special Exception for Commercial Height Bonus for Approximately 1.12 Acres of Land With the Real Property Code Numbers 51-131006, 51-131-007, 51-131-020, 51-131-021, 51-131-022, 51-131-023, and 51-131-029 by Jefferson Park LLC. All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Copies of legislation may be obtained from the City Clerk’s office (703248-5014) or at cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov.

This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities. Special services or assistance to persons with disabilities may be requested in advance. To speak at a public hearing, fill out a speaker slip and give it to the Clerk at the left front table.

Speakers will be called forward by the Mayor at the appropriate time.

KATHLEEN CLARKEN BUSCHOW CITY CLERK

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Please include payment (check or money order) with your ad or call us to arrange payment by credit card.

For public & legal notices, please email legalads@fcnp.com

The Falls Church News-Press accepts no financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements. Advertising which has minor discrepancies such as misspelling or small type transposition, but which do not affect the ability of the reader to respond to the ad will be considered substantially correct and full payment is required. The Falls Church News-Press is not responsible if the original copy is not typewritten or legible and clear. The Falls Church News-Press is not responsible for copy changes made by telephone.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ARLINGTON In Re: CM08-123 Order

IT APPEARING to the court that a Petition has been filed requesting the Court to order a referendum to be held pursuant to Va. Code Ann. §24.2-682 in the City of Falls Church on the question of “ Should the City of Falls Church amend the City Charter as follows: The Council may approve a project, including a pending project, for construction on commericallyzoned property only if at least sixty (60) percent of the total project’s square footage will be used for commercial or retail purposes. The City Council may not, by special exception or other approval, allow more than forty (40) percent of such a project’s square footage to be used for residential purposes.”

And it having been certified to the court by the General Registrar of the City of Falls Church that such a petition has been signed by registered voters equal to or greater than ten (10) percent of the largest number of votes cast in any general or primary election held in the city during the past five (5) years; it is therefore ADJUDGED, ORDERED and DECREED that the general election to be held on May 6, 2008, a Tuesday that is a least sixty days following the entry of this order, the qualified voters of the City of Falls Church on the following question to be printed on the ballot: Should the City of Falls Church amend the City Charter as follows: The City Council may approve a project, including a pending project, for construction on commericially-zoned property only if at least sixty (60) percent of the total project’s square footage will be used for commerical or retail purposes. The City Council may not, by special exception or other approval, allow more than forty (40) percent of such a project’s square footage to be used for residential purposes.

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING On Monday, May 5, 2008, the City of Falls Church Planning Commission, at 7:45 p.m. will hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting, in City Hall, Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22046, on the following applications: (TO8-06) An Ordinance to Amend the Official Zoning District Map of the City of Falls Church, Virginia, by Rezoning Approximately 0.68 Acres of Land from T-1, Transitional District to B-1, Limited Business District for the properties with the Real Property Code Numbers 51-131020, 51-131-021, 51-131-022, 51-131-023, and 51-131-029 by Jefferson Park LLC. (TR8-18) A Resolution to Grant a Special Exception for Commercial Height Bonus for Approximately 1.12 Acres of Land With the Real Property Code Numbers 51-131-006, 51-131-007, 51-131-020, 51-131-021, 51131-022, 51-131-023, and 51-131-029 by Jefferson Park LLC. Interested persons may appear and present their views. Please note that persons who appeared and presented views at the April 21, 2008 public hearing need not reappear and re-present, but may do so. Information on or copies of the proposed Ordinance and Resolution may be viewed in the Planning Division, City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 703-248-5040.

Attention:

Starting May 1, there will be new classified ad rates

Yes_______ No_______ The Clerk of the Court shall cause notice of the referendum to be published once a week for (3) consecutive weeks prior to the election in the Falls Church News-Press, a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Falls Church and a copy of the notice shall be posted during the same on the door of the City of Falls Church Courthouse.

The Clerk of the Court shall send a copy of the Order to the State Board of Elections and the Secretary of the Electoral Board of the City of Falls Church. The election shall be held and the results shall be certified as provided in §24.2-684 of the Code of Virginia.

Classified Rates Beginning May 1: • $20 for up to 20 words (First two words of each ad are bold and all caps) • Each additional word: 50¢ • Bold a Word: $1 per word • Add a Box Around Ad: $10 Call 703-532-3267 and ask for Danielle for more info

Post office Now HiriNg

avg.

Pay $20/Hr, $57K/yr including Federal BeneFits and Overtime Placed by adsource, not affiliated with UsPs who hires.

call 1-866-533-3140

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 43

Professional Services

Professional Services

Walsh & Assoc.

PC Attorneys

COMPUTER REPAIR

•Injury cases & Death cases •Medical/Legal malpractice •Breach of contract •Commerical/Insurance • Car accidents Free Consultation 703-448-0073 Hablamos Español 703-798-3448

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II III

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• (703) 536-6731

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JOSEPH HOME IMPROVEMENT Drywall • Paint Exterior / Interior, Bath & Kitchen Remodeling, Basements, Handyman, Moving, Clean Garage, All kinds of hauling

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703-868-5999

CGA Immigration Associates, LLC Skyline Plaza 3705 S. George Mason Drive. Suite C8-S Falls Church, Virginia 22041 Immigration Services: 1. Family-Based Petitions • Spouse • Parents • Children • Siblings 2. Employment-Based Petitions

703.578.3556

Shaun R. Murphy REALTOR®, Licensed in VA, MD & DC www.ShaunRMurphy.com Remax Allegiance

Benton & Potter, P.C. www.bentonpotter.com

Government contract law, all areas of business and corporate law.

In Falls Church 703-992-9255, in D.C. 202-416-1660

Mike’s Carpet Cleaning 5 Rooms deep cleaned only $98 •Stretching•Mold Remediation •Oriental Rugs•Upholstery•Pet Problems • 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage We Clean the White House!

Call Mike 703-978-2270

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J. NINA PLUMBING Repair, Remodeling, New, 20 years experience For New and Remodeling Free Estimates Call

(571) 214-3006

MOTTERN MASONRY DESIGN

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703-496-7491

H&R MORTGAGE

Cleaning Services

Licensed Free Estimates 703-593-3383

ShinerRoofing.com/FallsChurch

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QUALITY REPAIR

VA License #2705 023803

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FALLS CHURCH

Home Improvement Since 1981

Joseph

Licensed Work

Cell 703-507-5005 Tel 703-507-8300

REMODELING & ADDITION, CERAMIC, TILE, FINISHED CARPENTRY, CROWN MOLDING, CHAIRS, DECK RAILS, STAIR, WINDOWS, DOORS, CONCRETE, SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS, BRICK INSTALLED & REPAIRED

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703-848-8322 703-901-2431

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Driveways • Steps Sidewalks • Patios Small Jobs Welcome

Licensed and Insured. Free Estimates.

With Personal Service

JEFF L. CADLE

Local brick n’ stone mason installing patios, walkways, steps, chimneys, etc.

Specializing in repairs. Local references.

Free Estimates.

703-698-1390

Insured

Licensed

Lawn & Garden Seven Brothers Landscaping Service

Spring Cleanup, mulching, mowing, edging, trimming.

Residential & Commercial Tree Service & Snow Removal

with

Eileen Levy Create unique art masterpieces using acrylics, water-based oils, pencils and an innovative variety of tools and brushes.

Held at 111 Park Avenue Falls Church on Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Cost: $90 On-going monthly enrollment Enroll on-line at www.creativecauldron.org Or call 571-239-5288

Food & Dining

Ledo Pizza Caterers Tysons Station • 7510 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA

(703) 847-5336

Pizza • Pasta • Wings • Subs • Salads • Desserts

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Spring Special •Yard Cleanup •Mulching • Edging • Trimming • Pruning • Planting & Removal • Lawn Care • Power Washing • Deck • Siding • Painting • Hardscapes • Other repair services

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703-508-3976 or 703-323-9251

Weaver Enterprises

703-532-3267 Ask about our specials!

Jack Murray postampg@gmail.com 703-920-0028

Postage Stamp Gardens for town homes and city dwellings

Design • Installation • Maintenance

The News-Press Business & Service Directory Call 703-532-3267 to advertise today!

703-532-3267

703-532-3267

to advertise!

Ask about our specials!

Business & Service Directory 1 x 1” Ad 3 mo. = $220 • 6 mo. = $400 • 1 yr. = $725 1 x 1.5” Ad 3 mo. = $330 • 6 mo. = $600 • 1 yr. = $1100 1 x 2” Ad 3 mo. = $440 • 6 mo. = $800 • 1 yr. = $1450

1 x 2” 1 x 1.5” 1 x 1”

Page 44

April 24 - 30, 2008

Mayor Robin S. Gardner . . . . . . . . . .

Vice Mayor M. R. Lindy Hockenberry . . . .

City Council David C. Chavern . . . . . . . . . .

Harold Lippman. . . . . . . . . . .

Daniel Maller . . . . . . . . . . . . .

David F. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . .

Daniel X. Sze . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

City Manager Wyatt Shields. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Home Page <www.fallschurchva.gov> * Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

city calendar

APRIL 24 Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

Human Services Advisory Council, 7 p.m.

25 City Art Show & Sale, Community Center Armchair Travel Group, 10:30 a.m.

26 Voter Registration Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for Absentee Voting Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon Recycling Extravaganza, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Recycling Center City Art Show & Sale 27 Passover Ends 28 Yard Waste, Bundled Brush, & Special Collections Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

City Council, 7:30 p.m.

Volunteer Fire Department Training, 7:30 p.m.

29 Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court in Session Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

30 General District Court in Session Story Hour, 7 p.m.

MAY 1

2 3

The Week

703-534-8644 703-241-0934 703-538-2398 703-237-9089 703-731-8433 703-241-0419 703-538-5986 703-248-5004*

State Income Tax Returns Due (Individual & Corporate) Business Tangible Personal Property Tax Returns Due First Quarter 2008 State Estimated Income Tax Due, Voucher #1 (Paid in Commissioner’s Office) Story Hour, 10:30 a.m.

Book Discussion Group, 7:30 p.m.

North Washington Streetscape Workshop, 7:30 p.m.

FIRSTfriday Event Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-Noon Voter Registration Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for Absentee Voting Attic Treasures Sale, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Council to Adopt FY 2009 Budget Monday, April 28 The City Council will hold a final public hearing before adopting the FY 2009 Budget on Monday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, located at City Hall.

View the proposed FY 2009 Budget and Council Vision and Strategic Plan at www.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).

Register for the City’s Online Newsletter at www.fallschurchva.gov

Register to Receive Emergency Alerts

provided as a public service by the city of falls church

Questions or Comments? City of Falls Church, Harry E.Wells Building, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church,VA 22046 703-248-5003 (TTY 711) The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

4th Annual Falls Church City Art Show & Sale Starts Tomorrow The City’s finest artwork will be on display this weekend at the 4th Annual Art Show & Sale. Photography, paintings, and drawings by City residents and employees of all ages will be showcased at this event.

You’re invited to the opening reception at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) tomorrow night from 5-7 p.m. The Exhibition & Sale, also at the Community Center, will be held on Saturday, April 26 from noon-4 p.m.

Call for entries! If you’d like to submit your original artwork, you have until tomorrow to do so. Artists must include their name, phone number, and selling price (if interested in sell-

ing the artwork) on the back of each entry. Submissions from children K12 must also include their grade and age. Submissions can be framed or unframed.

This free event is sponsored by the City of Falls Church Recreation & Parks Division with support from Falls Church Arts. For more information, please call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711) or visit www.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 703-248-5077 (TTY 711).

Water Distribution System Spring Cleaning Underway Falls Church City water customers may notice a slight chlorine taste and odor through May 12 because Washington Aqueduct water treatment plants have temporarily switched their secondary disinfectant from chloramine (chlorine combined with ammonia) to free chlorine (chlorine in an uncombined state). The temporary switch in disinfectant from chloramine to chlorine will not affect the safety of the water for drinking. The water will continue to meet federal health standards.

The resulting chlorine taste and odor is normal and poses no health risk. Dialysis centers, medical facilities, aquatic pet owners, and other customers who take special precautions to remove chlorine from tap water should take note of this temporary addition of chlorine.

In conjunction with the temporary switch in disinfectants, the City of Falls Church water utility will conduct

its annual flushing program of the entire distribution system in order to keep water mains clean and free from harmful bacteria. The flushing process removes sediment and provides routine maintenance to more than 3,500 fire hydrants in the City’s water service area. It entails opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time.

If your water has a noticeable chlorine taste during this period, you may be able to reduce the taste by refrigerating a pitcher of drinking water overnight. You may also notice a slight discoloration in the water and the presence of sediment; these conditions are not harmful and should not last long. Simply run the faucet until the water turns clear. In the unlikely event that water is discolored and remains cloudy after flushing, please contact the City of Falls Church Utilities Customer Service Division at 703-248-5071 (TTY 711).

FOR THE WEEK of

GEORGE Can Get You There for Free April 30 and on Code Red Air Quality Days Ride GEORGE for free on Wednesday,April 30 to help kick-start RIDE FREE season for forecasted Code Red Air Quality days. April 30 is the RIDE FREE kickoff day across the region, when bus riders can enjoy free trips the entire day on most Northern Virginia bus routes.

After the kickoff event,bus trips are free on any forecasted Code Red days through Sept.30.

Code Red air quality days occur when pollution levels are harmful to all sensitive persons.

This program is sponsored by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

Transit agency staff will be present at regional locations on April 30 from 6 a.m.-10 a.m. to answer questions. GEORGE staff will be joined by Virginia State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple at the West Falls Church Metro station from 8 a.m.-9 a.m.

The City’s GEORGE clean-diesel buses run between the East and West Falls Church Metro stations and throughout the City of Falls Church.GEORGE is a friend to the environment, removing particulate matter from its exhaust while making public transportation easily accessible in Falls Church City. Sunlight and hot weather cause many pollutants to form in harmful concentrations in the air,making it even more important to ride public transportation during warm weather months.

The Washington, D.C. metro area is ranked 11th worst in the U.S. for short-term particle exposure and 20th for year-round exposure to particulate matter. Particulate matter are small particles that can lodge in the heart and lungs and cause serious damage including shortness of breath and even heart attacks. Area residents can help reduce particulate matter in our air by choosing public transportation.

Visit www.fallschurchva.gov for GEORGE schedules and details. More information about the RIDE FREE program and air quality forecasts are available at www.ridefreenova.org.To receive air alerts via e-mail or mobile device,visit www.cleanairpartners.net/airalert.cfm.

Growing Green Recycling Extravaganza and Paper Shredding Event This Saturday Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to say“goodbye”to all of your unwanted electronics, computers,TVs,clothing,textiles,bicycles,printer cartridges,and so much more! New this year – PNC Bank is sponsoring paper shredding! Bring up to three boxes of personal documents to shred—free of charge. Come to the Falls Church City Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Falls Church Recycling Center, 217 Gordon Road (across from the Giant Shopping Center and next to Don BeyerVolvo).

All items collected will either be reused or recycled.Acceptable items may be dropped off free of charge. (A $10 donation is requested per bicycle to help cover the cost of shipping the bikes to developing countries.)

The Recycling Extravaganza is sponsored by the Falls Church Department of Environmental Services, the Falls Church Environmental Services Council and PNC Bank. For more details, call the Falls Church City Recycling Hotline at 703-248-5160 or visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

May 1 Reception to Benefit Kokolopori Health Clinic On Thursday, May 1, the Kokolopori-Falls Church Sister City Partnership is hosting a benefit reception to raise funds for the health clinic in Falls Church City’s sister community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The benefit will take place from 7-10 p.m. at The Atrium at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna) and will feature live Congolese music, African hors d’oeuvres, and inspiring presentations, including a discussion and video about Sister City Partnership Director Ingrid Schulze’s visit to Kokolopori in January 2008.

The money raised will pay the next year of the clinic doctor’s salary and provide urgently needed medicine, equipment, and training. Women in Kokolopori do not have access to contraception, and malaria and poor nutrition contribute to high mortality rates among mothers and babies. On average, 127 babies and 18

mothers die for every 1,000 births (compared to 6.9 babies and 0.13 mothers in the United States). About 40 babies are born every month in Kokolopori, and about 225 cases of malaria are treated monthly.

A $50 donation is requested per person -- enough to buy 80 doses of a drug that saves lives by stopping hemorrhaging during childbirth; $75 will buy 15 insecticidetreated bednets for preventing malaria; and $100 will buy a bicycle to get a doctor quickly to the bedside of a critically ill patient.

RSVP by April 25 at www.kokolopori-partnership.org.

Between April 25 and May 1, reservations can be e-mailed to info@kokolopori-partnership.org and payment will be accepted at the door. Donations can also be made online at www.kokolopori-partnership.org or www.bonobo.org, with “Atrium benefit” in the designation line.

Falls Church Recreation & Parks Division 223 Little Falls Street Falls Church, VA 22046 703-248-5077* Phone Numbers Open Gym/Weather Hotline 703-248-5125* Special Events Hotline 703-248-5178* Fax 703-536-5125 Senior Center 703-248-5020*/21* Community Center Hours Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m. - Midnight Saturday 8:30 a.m. - Midnight Sunday Noon - 6 p.m.

Open Gym Hours Open Gym hours are updated on a bi-weekly basis and are also posted on the Open Gym Hotline, 703-248-5125*. All hours are subject to change. * Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 45

ly Focus

Chairman: Craig Cheney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vice Chairman: Ronald Peppe II . . . . . . . . . .

School Board Rosaura Aguerrebere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kathryn Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Susan Kearney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kieran Sharpe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Joan Wodiska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Superintendent: Dr. Lois Berlin . . . . . . . . . . .

government and the falls church city public schools

April 24-30, 2008

For more news about the Falls Church City Public Schools visit: www.fccps.org

“Of all the candidates who applied for the position, Vincent Baxter emerged as the best candidate to lead TJ,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said. “His life experiences and educational credentials give him a solid leadership foundation, and his first-hand knowledge of the Mary Ellen Henderson culture will further ensure TJ fourth graders have the foundation they need

is always student-centered. He has established himself as a highly effective instructional leader and communicator who is easily approachable and who makes students, staff and parents feel comfortable and accepted.

Vincent Baxter becomes principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary on July 1. to make a smooth transition into middle school.”

Baxter’s FCCPS experience began in August 2006. In his two years at MEHMS, Baxter has distinguished himself as a firm, but fair administrator whose leadership approach

Brick Pathway Orders Now Being Taken The BIE Brick Pathway is accepting orders for new bricks.

Located at the auditorium entrance to George Mason High School, the Pathway has been a Falls Church tradition since 1995.There are more than 1,000 inscribed bricks that tell the stories of individuals, families, events and organizations.

Bricks are a special way to honor a graduate, a favorite teacher, coach or other school employee.

This year, the profits from the sale of bricks will support Nora’s Garden, now under construction at George Mason High School in the Senior Courtyard, in memory of Nora Hemphill, class of 2005.

The deadline for the 2008 brick order is July 11.

FCC-TV Spotlight: In The Fight

SCHOOL CALENDAR School. He also spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English to 9, 10 and 11-year-old children in Central Africa.

When asked about taking on the leadership of Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Vincent Baxter said, “It will be an honor to serve the Thomas Jefferson school community. I look forward to getting to know each student, each family and each teacher.”

Baxter is a graduate of J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, Va. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, and he earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from The George Washington University, where he is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in educational administration.

Prior to joining the FCCPS, Baxter served in various capacities within the Washington, D.C. Public Schools. He was a second and third grade teacher at Walker-Jones Elementary School, an administrator at Rock Creek International School and a summer school principal at W.B. Patterson Elementary

The search for a new principal at TJ began in January after the current principal, Trudy Taylor, announced her plans to retire at the end of this school year. Nine candidates applied for the position, five were interviewed by a principal selection committee, and two finalists were interviewed by Superintendent Lois Berlin.

Review of Recommended Social Studies Textbooks The Falls Church City Public Schools/Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Social Studies Department is currently reviewing textbooks for the civics and economics curriculum. The following textbook has been recommended and the public is invited to review it and provide comments for the department’s consideration:

DATES ARE SubjEcT To chAngE TESTIng now – 4/25 SELP, SOL VAAP, VGLA & VSEP Testing (TJ/MEH/GM) 4/28–5/1 6th & 7th Spanish Proficiency Testing (MEH) 4/28–5/23 K-3 PALS Testing (MD/TJ) 4/28–5/30 AP & IB Testing (GM) April 24 4:15 p.m. Natl. Cathedral @ Mason (G Tennis) 5:00 p.m. JEB Stuart @ Mason (Softball) 7:00 p.m. Poetry Open Mic (MEH) 7:00 p.m. Mason @ Strasburg (G Soccer) 7:15 p.m. Mason @ Freedom (G Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Family Life Education Adv. Comm. (GM) 7:30 p.m. Freedom @ Mason (B Lacrosse) 25

The textbook will be on display through April 30 at the Falls Church City Public Schools Central Office, 803 W. Broad Street, in Suite 320. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m. Clarke Co. @ Mason (Soccer) 2:30 p.m. Mason @ Potomac School (Baseball)

28

4:00 p.m. Briar Woods @ Mason (B Tennis) 4:00 p.m. Mason @ Briar woods (G Tennis) 7:00 p.m. Mason @ Loudoun Co. (B Lacrossse) 7:15 p.m. Loudoun Co. @ Mason (G Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Elementary PTA Home & Garden Tour Meeting (TJ)

29

7:30 p.m. FCCPS Pyramid Concert 30

8:00 a.m. Rising Junior Parent Coffee (GM) 5:00 p.m. Mason @ Madison County (Track)

FCC-TV airs on Cox Channel 12, Verizon FiOS Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2. For more information about FCC-TV, or to view a complete schedule of the variety of community programs on FCC-TV, visit www.fcctv.net or call 703-248-5538.

6:00 p.m. Mason @ Park View (G. Lacrosse) 7:00 p.m. Robinson @ Mason (B Soccer)

BIE Partner of the Week

7:30 p.m. Mason @ Park View (B Lacrosse)

Tania Hindert

May

Cox Communications

1

School involvement: Sponsor of the upcoming Falls Church PTA Home & Garden Tour;Worked with Falls Church Education Foundation on video production.

School content published in The Weekly Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, contact the Falls Church City Public Schools Communications Office. Phone: (703) 248-5699 Fax: (703) 248-5613.

7:00 p.m. Mason @ Manassas Park (Baseball/Softball/G Soccer) 7:00 p.m. Manassas Park @ Mason (B Soccer)

• Tuesdays at 11 a.m. • Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. • Sundays at 7:30 a.m.

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

5:00 p.m. Mason @ Clarke Co. (Baseball/Softball)

26

Civics In Practice: Principals of Government and Economics, Holt, Rinehart and Winston Publishing, 2007

Tune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch In The Fight, a monthly half-hour program showing the latest action from the field from all branches of the US Armed Forces. In The Fight airs on FCC-TV at the following times:

Why Tania is a BIE partner: “We are thrilled to help support this year’s Home & Garden tour in Falls Church. This partnership aligns perfectly with Cox’s historic commitment to supporting the communities we serve.”

703-536-8638 703-536-7564 703-532-0321 703-536-3130 703-533-1248 703-248-5601*

* Indicates TTY 711 Accessibility

New Elementary School Principal Hired A new leader will soon take the helm of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, but he won’t be new to the Falls Church City Public Schools.

Beginning July 1st, Vincent Baxter will leave his post as assistant principal of Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School to begin serving as principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary.

Baxter was officially hired last week with a vote by the Falls Church City School Board.

703-237-6931 703-534-4951

4:15 p.m. Stone Ridge Country @ Mason (G Tennis) 7:00 p.m. Rising 5th Grade Parent Night (MEH)

PTA home & garden Tour May 4th The Falls Church Elementary PTA Home and Garden Tour is just a week away, and it offers an inspiring look at historical properties, modern-day homes and magnificent gardens in the City of Falls Church. The annual fundraising project helps support the outdoor classrooms at Mount Daniel and Thomas Jefferson Elementary schools.

This year’s PTA Home and Garden Tour is scheduled for next Sunday, May 4th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information and a sneak peek at this year’s homes, or to reserve tickets, visit www.fallschurchpta.org/hgtour.

7:15 p.m. Mason @ Briar Woods (G Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Briar Woods @ Mason (B Lacrosse) (MD) Mt. Daniel Elementary (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary (MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle (GM) George Mason High Check the FCCPS Web site for more calendar information. www.fccps.org

April 24 - 30, 2008

Page 46

BACK IN THE DAY dog. lazy ick qu The fox sly p e d j u m the over dog. lazy is the w No for all time cows od go me to to coaid of the pastheir Now ture.

15 s Yearo Ag

time is the all for cows good me to to coaid of the pastheir Now ture. time is the all for cows good me to to coaid of the their.

15 & 10 YEARS AGO

IN THE

Falls Church News-Press Vol III, No. 6 • April 29, 1993

‘Council Acts to Welcome Taco Bell’ “Taco Bell could be open on West Broad Street at the corner of West Street in Falls Church by Christmas if the City moves with dispatch to repeal its restriction on fast food restaurants.”

“Students from George Mason High School, armed with 250 signatures of fellow students on petitions in favor of allowing the Taco Bell to set up for business here, highlighted the public hearing on the issue, along with a statement of uncategorical support for repealing...”

Helen Thomas Continued from Page 10

professionals doing their respective jobs.

On the topic of loyalties, Sen. Hilary Clinton, D-N.Y., must have a few choice thoughts, now that some of her Democratic friends have switched to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. -- some believing that Obama has a better chance to win the presidency.

Among them was liberal former Labor Secretary Robert Reich who broke with the Clintons when he was still in the Clinton Cabinet.

Two conservative former Democratic senators, David Boren of Oklahoma and Sam

NEWS-P PREESS

Falls Church News-Press Vol VIII, No. 7 • April 30, 1998

See the News-Press any time you want.

www.fcnp.com

CRITTER CORNER 10 Year s Ago

It is now the time for all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * * * Throw Pour it it up. up

‘Employee of the Year’ “Robert Goff was honored as the Falls Church City Employee of the Year by the entire Falls Church City Council Monday night. Chosen by the City Employee Review Board, Goff was recognized for his outstanding work as an inspector for a $650,000 water main trasmission main of the City Water Department located in McLean, handling issues ranging from tree replacement to drainage, site access to cleanup, landscaping and noise abatement.”

Nunn of Georgia, have signed up with Obama.

Obama also has the support of rock star Bruce Springsteen and Oprah, the TV and magazine mogul.

Once the Democrats’ civil strife is finished, one way or another, reporters should zero in on the November election candidates and ask relevant questions, such as: • How do we get out of Iraq?

• What should be done in Afghanistan?

• How can we get the economy moving and get more jobs created?

• Do we need more tax cuts at a time of enormous wartime spending and gaping budget deficits?

• Enough talk about universal health care -- how do we

Your area.

Your news.

Your schools.

Your sports.

Your nightlife.

Your “critters.”

Your timeframe.

It is now the time for all good to go cows to aid of the p a s their ture . * * * Throw * * Pour it up. it up

attain it?

• Does our new national policy favor preemptive war?

Torture?

• what is the solution to global warming?

By now, the candidates should know where they stand on these pressing issues and the voters should be perfectly clear about their solutions when they go to the polls.

It’s the job of reporters to put the candidates on the spot.

But if the past is prologue, you can be sure that the media will be blamed by the loser on Election Day. © 2008 Hearst Newspapers

HOLIDAY FINERY is a new embellishment for Lira the beagle.

Before Trish Reynolds of Falls Church adopted her, she lived with Beagle Rescue and Welfare (BREW, Inc.). Actually, the BREW VA/DC Beaglefest is scheduled for April 26 at ClubPet International in Chantilly. All beagles are welcome to attend and share fun, games and food. Lira is seen here awaiting a visit from Santa during the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department Christmas parade, dreaming of potentially munching on a holiday rawhide, cookie or possibly a small greenie. Her neighbors know when she enjoys a treat from Santa or her owners when they hear her happily howling up and down Midvale street.

If you would like to see your pet here, e-mail us at crittercorner@fcnp.com or send a picture and short description to Falls Church News-Press c/o Critter Corner, 450 W. Broad St., Suite 321, Falls Church, VA 22046.

Spring Open House Celebration at Sunrise of Falls Church Join in the festivities as Sunrise of Falls Church hosts a Spring Open House Celebration. At this exciting event you can mingle with neighbors, residents and guests.

You can also enjoy seasonal fare and delight in a variety of themed entertainment.

While you’re here, meet our team, tour our community and find out what we do to make our community a place seniors are proud to call home.

Come visit our communities and learn about our Spring Specials – see what makes living at Sunrise so special!

Lights, Camera, ACTION! Make Your Pet a Star Submit your glamour shots today.

crittercorner@fcnp.com

Sunrise of Falls Church

EVENT DETAILS

Spring Open House Celebration at Sunrise of Falls Church Saturday, April 26th 11:00am to 2:00pm

703-534-2700 330 North Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046 AL=Assisted Living MC=Memory Care For more information and a FREE online newsletter, visit www.sunriseseniorliving.com

AL, MC

April 24 - 30, 2008

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Accounting

Diener & Associates, CPA. . . . . . . . . 241-8807 Demeo PLLC, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 931-0815 Eric C. Johnson, CPA, PC . . . . . . . . 538-2394 Mark Sullivan, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-4511 Hahn & Associates, PC, CPAs . . . . . 533-3777

ANTIQUES & cOLLECTIBLES

Falls Church Antique Company . . . . 241-7074 Antique Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-9642

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ASSisted living

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Attorneys

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Sunrise of Falls Church . . . . . . . . . . . 534-2700 Bose Law Firm: Former Police . . . . . 926-3900 Mark F. Werblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9300 Phillip J. Walsh & Associates, P.C. . . 448-0073 John A. Boneta & Associates . . . . . . 536-6166 Janine S. Benton, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . .992-9255

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Automotive

Amsoil Dealer 526099 . . . . . . . . . 580-748-0055 VA Auto Repair (Wittstatts) . . . . . . . . 533-3000 Beyer Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5000

banking

Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. . . 519-1634 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-3505 Acacia Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506-8100

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beauty

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book Binding

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BUSINESS SERVICES

Universal Beauty Supply & Salon . . . 534-7926

Cleaning Services

Pressure Washing/Deck, Siding . . . . 980-0225 Maid Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823-1922 Carpets, Ducts, Windows . . . . . . . . . 823-1922

Clock repair

Falls Church Clockworks . . . . . . . . . . 536-6731

Computer services

Systems Management Technology . 891-1491 x14 Fast Teks On-Site Computer Srvcs . . 496-7807

Drs. William Dougherty, Julie D. Tran 532-3300 Drs. Mark A. Miller, Melanie R. Love . . 241-2911 Dr. Mike McCombs, Orthodontist . . . . 820-1011 Dr. Nimisha V. Patel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1993

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home care

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home improvement

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pet services

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physical therapy

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Plumbing

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Political Parties

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real estate

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tailor

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Travel

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Tutors

Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0140 Sacred Well Yoga and Healing . . . . . 989-8316 Miniatures from the Attic . . . . . . . . . . . 237-0066

Human Touch Home Health . . . . . . . 531-0540 NED Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7457 James Roofing & Home Improvement 593-3383 Joseph Home Improvement . . . . . . . 507-5005 FC Heating & Air Service . . . . . . . . . 534-0630 M.D. Painting & Decorating Co. . . . . 966-2954 DAST Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 898-8318 Shiner Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560-7663 J & S Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 448-1171 The Vinyl Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793-3111

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immigration services

CGA Immigration Associates, Inc. . . . 578-3556

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Equipment REntal/Sale

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insurance

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Eyewear

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interior design

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FLorists

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jewelry

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lawn & garden

VA Outdoor Power Equipment . . . . . 207-2000 Ace Tool & Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 532-5600 Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-6500 Galleria Florist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0770 Falls Church Florist, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1333

Furniture

chiropractor

music

Dentists

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Carol S. Miller, LCSW . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-4980 Josette Millman, APRN . . . . . . . . . . . 855-0396

SS Business Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . 830-9526 Jon Rizalvo, PAYCHEX . . . . . 698-6910 x27045

catering

Hobbies & Collectibles

Counseling

Framing

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Alba Construction, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-0733

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carpet CLEANING

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Construction

BCR Binders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9181

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health & FItness

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Art and Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-4202 Bratt Decor Baby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 448-6833 Antique & Contemporary Restoration 241-8255

Mike’s Carpet Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . 978-2270

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Gifts

B.D.G. Design Catering . . . . . . . . . . . 237-2964

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Graphic design

Stifel & Capra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-0770 What Works Design Group, LLC . . . . 864-2303

Dr. Raymond Solano, drsolano.com . 536-4366

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design2follow llc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-1610 www.ofallthebeads.com . . . . . . . . . . . 901-3738

masonry

Mottern Masonry Design . . . . . . . 571-212-1711 Jeff L. Cadle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698-1390 n

Dr Gordon Theisz, Family Medicine . 533-7555 The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy . . . 536-4042

Nationwide/Bob Pierce Agency . . . . . 241-7847 State Farm Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5105

Weaver Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323-9351 Postage Stamp Gardens . . . . . . . . . . 629-8698 Seven Brothers Landscaping . . . . . . 241-4990 Lawn Care Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . 691-2351

massage

medical

Academy of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938-8054 Columbia Institute - Fine Arts . . . . . . 534-2508 Foxes Music Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7393 Dog Trainer - Nicole Kibler . . . . . . . . 593-6340 Falls Church Animal Hospital . . . . . . . .532-6121 Theracare Wellness Center . . . . . . . 560-4300 J. Nina Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-3006 Falls Church Democratic Committee 534-8644 Merelyn Kaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .790-9090x218 www.helpfulmortgage.us . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222 Casey O’Neal - ReMax . . . . . . . . . . . 824-4196 Rosemary Hayes Jones . . . . . . . . . . .790-1990 H&R Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222 Leslie Hutchison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .675-2188 www.Mortgage1040.com . . . . . . . . . . 448-3508 The Young Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-8800 Shaun Murphy, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . 868-5999 www.TheJeffersonatBallston.com . . . 741-7562 Susan Fauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-8741 Tailor Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-8886 All Travel & Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970-4091 Your Computer Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204-2821 Huntington Learning Center . . . . . . . 379-8810

Massage & Hair Removal . . . . . . . 571-282-4522 Healthy by Intention, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 534-1321 Sheraton Premiere Women’s Massage 403-9328

All numbers have a ‘703’ prefix unless otherwise indicated.

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be!

Visit Us Online

Snap a pic of your critter and email it to: CRITTERCORNER@FCNP.COM OR mail it to Critter Corner c/o Falls Church News-Press 450 W. Broad Street #321 Falls Church, Va 22046

www.fcnp.com News•Photos•Online Polls•Sports and More

Page 48

April 24 - 30, 2008

Reduced & Open Sunday 1-4

Sunny, mint condition bigger-than-it-looks gem within 10 minute walk of WFC Metro! HW floors, spacious LR with FP, DR, 22 foot updated kitchen, with table space, has birch cabinetry and new stainless appliances. Five bedrooms, three new-from-the-studs-out bathrooms, great lower level Rec Room with built-in puppet theatre, outstanding daylight au-pair/in-law suite with atrium doors to exterior, full kitchenette, full bath, and huge LR/BR combo ( easily made into 2 rooms). Loads of updates and storage galore throughout house. Oversized 2 car garage Nice brick patio. Beautifully landscaped 18,000 sf yard, comprised of three 40X150 foot lots. Just reduced to $899,000 Dir: From Tysons Corners E on Rte 7 (Broad St) L on Haycock, R on Highland to 2328.

Merelyn Kaye Selling Falls Church Since 1970

Life Member, NVAR TopProducer Member 20+ Million Dollar Sales Club Top 1/2% of all Agents Nationwide

Home 241-2577 Office 790-9090 X218 Mobile 362-1112

Just Google â&#x20AC;&#x153;Merelynâ&#x20AC;?

For Your Real Estate Needs

1320 Old Chain Bridge Road McLean, Virginia 22101