4-24-2025

April 24 - 30, 2025

Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free

Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXV N o . 11

The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia

Tough F.C. Town Hall On Budget Tonight

EGGS ABUNDANTLY

Schools May Face $600k Cut as Trump Roils Region

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Doing with $1.2 million less cannot come easily for anyone, except perhaps for its anyone in the nation’s wealthiest top 1 percent.

Thus, the public town hall tonight (Thursday, April 24) at 7 p.m. at the Council chambers in the Falls Church City Hall promises to be one of the more robust and possibly contentious in years.

It has to do with how and what the F.C. City Council will decide to cut in its next fiscal year budget, due for a final vote next month, given the troubling news that the City’s revenue projections have been revised downward by $1.2 million, due to the impact of widespread federal job and contractor cutbacks coming from the Trump administration in the last three months.

The cuts are being required below the budget recommendations from City Manager Wyatt Shields that he presented last month that included the Falls Church City Public Schools’ funding request.

A complicating factor is the revenue sharing agreement that has been operational between the City government and the FCCPS schools for the last seven years and the cause of much serenity in the budget process over the course of that time.

So, faced with having to endure its 50 percent of the $1.2 million reduction, the FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan

Continued on Page 3

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT the number of participants in this year’s Easter egg hunt, sponsored by the City of Falls Church’s Recreation and Parks Department in Chery Hill Park last weekend, could have actually topped two thousand. It took a lot of chocolate eggs to make sure everyone was happy, even if it wasn’t that much of a hunt, actually. Those eggs were all quite visible and accessible. (Photo: Gary Mester)

New Wave of West Falls Retailers, Homes Announced

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

As Falls Church’s stunning new 10-acre development speeds toward construction completion, new retailers and housing options are opening up with the prospect of inviting countless new dollars to the Little City from not only its current residents, but from the surrounding region with its estimated $14 billion in annual disposable income.

It is the largest of a remarkable four major retail hubs in the 2.2 square miles of the Little City. Falls Church residents

and the wider region, both, are its beneficiaries, including Founders Row 1 and 2, Broad and Washington and the Eden Center at the opposite end.

Hoffman and Associates, a nationally recognized developer of mixed-use and residential communities now in charge of the 10-acre West Falls project, has announced the latest wave of retail openings at its West Falls.

Here’s what they’ve announced this week that’s opening soon: Ice Cream Jubilee, 151 West Falls Station Blvd. Named ‘Best Ice Cream in DC’ for nine years

running, Ice Cream Jubilee brings its popular ice cream offerings to West Falls with a wide range of flavors, from timeless classics to daring and innovative combinations.

BurgerFi, 168 West Falls Station Blvd., is a chef-founded, fast-casual burger concept offering a casual dining atmosphere with American cuisine.

BurgerFi uses 100 percent American Angus Beef with no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives. Its menu also includes high-quality Wagyu Beef Blend Burgers, All-Natural Chicken offerings, Hand-Cut Sides and

Frozen Custard Shakes.

Honoo Ramen Bar, 153 West Falls Station Blvd. Located centrally on The Commons, Honoo Ramen Bar will be a full-service restaurant offering Japanese yakitori, traditional Japanese ramen, aburasoba and tsukemen, all made in-house daily.

Dok Khao Thai Eatery, 180 West Falls Station Blvd., serves an array of authentic, madeto-order dishes inspired by the night markets in Bangkok.

Using locally sourced ingredients, the menu features a variety of offerings, including small

Continued on Page 4

PAGE 2 | APRIL 24 - 30, 2025

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 3

Town Hall on F.C. Budget Tonight. Will School Request Be Cut?

Continued from Page 1

has led the charge this week to notify the School Board and the wider community of the dire consequences of having to absorb what would be $600,000 in new cuts.

He urged School Board members and the public to attend the town hall tonight to speak out against such a deep cut into the school system’s budget, given especially the substantial student enrollment growth that is expected come this fall.

As for the City Council, it labored until just before midnight Monday at a work session that took up the budget question as the last item on its agenda.

An option for mitigating the impact of the revised revenue projection could be to eliminate the proposed 2.5 cent reduction in the real estate tax rate. The Council acknowledged this option when it voted unanimously last week to advertise the budget with no tax rate reduction such that, by law, it could resort to that option or bring the rate down before its final vote on May 12.

The most sobering remark during that late night deliberation came from Shields who stated flatly that “next year’s budget is going to be worse.” Mayor Letty Hardi a few minutes later added, “This is just the beginning of a bad year. It’s going to be really hard next year.”

Shields cited the City’s pension fund losses arising from the markets’ volatility in the wake of Trump administration actions to slash the federal workforce and impose punitive tariffs. The City’s financial director Kiran Bawa noted the “hard decisions” facing the Council, urging a new deep look at departmental budgets with an eye to making cuts on a caseby-case basis.

While no one on the City Council as of Monday night had any discussions with their school system counterparts, Noonan issued a strong statement to the News-Press Tuesday morning, and then gave a full-throated presentation to the School Board at its work session Tuesday night.

If the City Council decides to reduce the school transfer by $600,000 due to the revised rev-

enue projections. Dr. Noonan told the School Board there will be three options, none of them good.

They include increasing class sizes, not filling critical vacancies in special education, security and other areas, and reducing the costof-living adjustment for school employees agreed to in last year’s collective bargaining agreement.

Board members expressed concerns about these options, especially given the enrollment growth of approximately 154 new students projected for next fall.

Noonan noted that an alternative solution exists: the City Council could implement a smaller tax rate reduction (a half cent instead of 2.5 cents) that would still provide some tax relief while fully funding both schools and city services.

Noonan made his case for this in the statement he released to the News-Press earlier that same day.

His statement is as follows: “With the $1.2 million revenue reduction by the Falls Church City Council, the City schools would be responsible for a reduction of $600,000 due to the revenue sharing agreement the schools have

with the City.

“The schools have grown by over 200 students in the past two years and expect another 150 next year which means we need more teachers and staff. A cut to the schools would be devastating because we can’t cut teachers in our budget. It would mean we will either need to raise class size in the division by between 3-5 students per class. That will result in either a reduction in force or, as we need to honor the collective bargaining agreement with our employees, we will need to reduce the cost of living adjustment (COLA) to meet the Council’s budget.

“Each option is terrible but the schools’ hands are tied by the potential actions of the Council. We’ve met the guidance from the Council for the past seven years, and now there is a possibility that the Council will provide a tax reduction to homeowners before fully funding the schools and the general government.

“This would also be the second year in a row that the Council would cut funding to schools after being a great bud-

NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

JD CALLANDER and ED BLANCHARD

(TO25-03) ORDINANCE SETTING THE RATE OF TAX LEVY ON REAL ESTATE FOR TAX YEAR 2026 AND ON PERSONAL PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND TOOLS AND ALL OTHER PROPERTY SEGREGATED BY LAW FOR LOCAL TAXATION IN THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH VIRGINIA FOR TAX YEAR 2025

CURIOUS what your home

The City of Falls Church proposes to increase property tax levies.

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NEWS-PRESS

Assessment Increase. Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 5.46 percent.

Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment. The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above would be $1.147 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate”.

Effective Rate Increase. The City of Falls Church proposes to adopt a tax rate of $1.21 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.063 per $100, or 5.49 percent. This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase”.

Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage.

For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk's office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov 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 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

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Proposed Total General Fund Budget Decrease. Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total General Fund budget of the City of Falls Church will decrease by 2.9 percent.

Public hearings on the increase will be held on April 28, 2025 and May 12, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as they may be heard, in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. The hearings shall be open to the public. The City Council will permit persons desiring to be heard an opportunity to present oral testimony within such reasonable time limits as shall be determined by the City Council.

get partner and working within the revenue sharing agreement.

“If the Council gives a 1/2 cent cut to homeowners instead of a 2.5 cent cut, the schools and the general government will be fully funded. This seems to be a win for all.”

Among the new added costs in the budget discussed at Monday’s City Council budget work session are what Falls Church pays Arlington County for fire and ambulance services may surge. Under a proposed new agreement, the projected cost of these services would increase by 20 percent — from $3.24 million to $3.89 million.

Also Falls Church Police Chief Shahran Fard told the Council that he favors terminating the City’s participation in the Photo Red Light program, the contract for renewal for which is also imminent. The two locations in the City, at W. Broad and Annandale and E. Broad and Cherry, have served their usefulness, he said.

This is not to be confused with the speed cameras that will remain operational during school hours in the 800 block of W. Broad.

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PAGE 4 | APRIL 24 - 30, 2025

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

10-Acre West Falls Development Proving All It’s Hoped to Be

Continued from Page 1

plates, salads, curries, noodles and other signature meals. In addition to a diverse and dynamic menu, the restaurant also features gourmet coffee, tea, craft cocktails and a dessert bar.

These retailers add to what’s already opened at the site: Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, 243 West Falls Station, Designed with a casual coastal ambiance and friendly service, Mason’s provides guests with an authentic taste of New England, focusing on sustainably sourced seafood, led by 100 percent Maine lobster rolls – including both Classic Maine and Connecticut styles.

Chase Bank, 118 West Falls Station Blvd., Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. serving more than 82 million consumers and 6.4 million small businesses. They provide a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing.

Tierra Encantada, 131 Haycock

Road. As a leader in Spanish Immersion early education, Tierra Encantada provides a distinguished early education experience that focuses on the growth of the whole child.

Perspire Sauna Studios, 7140 Leesburg Pike. Perspire combines the centuries-old healing practice of traditional sauna with the sciencebacked technology of infrared (IR) and red light therapy (RLT) to optimize health and wellness.

CityDance Studios, 255 West Falls Station Blvd. A division of CityDance offerings, Studios offers high-quality, in-person classes for students ages 18 months to adults.

The newly built facility includes three studios where students can enjoy classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, zumba and more taught by Studios’ esteemed teaching faculty.

Levine Music, 255 West Falls Station Blvd., This state-of-the-art facility features specialized studios where students can learn over 22 instruments and their voices guided

by Levine’s expert artist faculty. The campus also includes a cutting-edge recording studio, a digital piano lab for group learning, early childhood

music education spaces and a versatile performance space for recitals and master classes.

Residential units now being offered include: The Oak (Now selling, move-ins begin this summer), 255 West Falls Station Blvd. A 174,000-square-foot, 11-story building features 126 elevated condominium residences with inviting amenities and curated retail, as well as community, arts and civic space. The Oak provides residents with modern, welcoming spaces filled with natural elements, connection to the dynamic West Falls community and the convenience of a location with unparalleled connectivity to the region.

The Alder (Now leasing, move-in ready), 136 West Falls Station Blvd.

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Pope Francis, An Epochal Leader of Humanity Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

“Communication should be at the service of an authentic culture of encounter.”

Pope Francis said, World Communications Day, 2014.

For those of us in the news business, this stands as the late beloved Pope Francis’ affirmation of and challenge to our work.

“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups,” Pope Francis wrote last year. It was in direct and forceful contrast to President Trump’s and Vice President Vance’s vapid sophistry justifying their mass deportation policy.

Pope Francis took on Vance’s wildly false claims about the Catholic Church’s historical teaching, dating to St. Augustine, of “Ordo Amoris” (on the proper hierarchy of love).

Vance claimed it means the self (and immediate family) coming first, and strangers last.

The ever compassionate, ever combative Pope, shortly after learning of Vance’s duplicitous interpretation, countered, “The true ‘Ordo Amoris’ that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.” He prefaced that by affirming the “equal dignity of every human being,” almost the direct opposite of what Vance had contended.

However, quite in keeping with his life’s mission and work, this Pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, himself the son of struggling migrants, being far more a pastor, or shepherd, than ideologue, would not in the final hours of his life turn his back even on Vance, this recent adult convert to Catholicism, granting him a very brief audience on Easter Sunday. It came just prior to his stepping out on the balcony and delivering an Easter blessing to everyone and a run around the grounds amid a mass of humanity, in his classic Popemobile.

Amazing the world by surviving a grave illness in what seemed his final hours while in a hospital for months, Pope Francis had come home where

he could deliver final gestures of holy servitude on Easter before passing in the next few hours, culminating his 13 years as Pontiff. He was 88.

Contrast Pope Francis’ passion lifting up the downtrodden, those least able to fend for themselves, to Trump’s Easter message: “Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country. Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten! Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country…He was, by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing, and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected.”

One leads by love, the other by hate. It’s that simple.

Pope Francis was not fooled for a minute by what passed for the form of “American conservative Catholicism” with which Vance had became aligned in 2019.

Its roots lie in the dark rightwing cult of the church known as the Opus Dei, which is exposed in author Gareth Gore’s comprehensive new book, “Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church” (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2024).

“At the heart of the organization,” Gore writes, “lies an elite…group (that) lives according to a dystopian set of rules and regulations – an Orwellian blueprint for society…where almost every move is meticulously prescribed and watched over, where contact with friends and family is restricted and monitored…Living in closed, segregated communities, they operate as clandestine cells in almost every major city in the world.”

He says the largest group is in the Washington, D.C. area.

He writes that in 2022, Pope Francis “made his first attempt to rein in the organization…downgrading the institution within the hierarchy of the church.” Also aligned with this cult are Leonard Leo of the powerful Federalist Society and Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito.

CO MME NT A Penny for Your Thoughts

By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor

Nearly 50 years ago, my husband and I purchased property on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and had a small cottage built at Avon, a village on Hatteras Island about six miles north of the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (which currently is surrounded by massive scaffolding for restoration in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary). At Eastertime, we would make the 600mile round trip to open the house for summer tenants. If Easter was early, the weather often was cold and rainy; late Easters would be sunny and warmer.

Sunny and warm was the order of the week for our beach trip last week. Sunsets were gorgeous, bright corals and soft pinks against cloudless skies, and the constant yammering of news outlets was refreshingly absent. It seemed almost sacrilegious to activate electronic devices in such a bucolic beach atmosphere.

The whole idea was to leave the political and commercial turmoils behind. And it worked, for the most part.

The Outer Banks are fairly isolat-

ed. No commercial airports serve the islands; no trains and few buses are scheduled there. The North Carolina Ferry system serves some islands, but the primary mode of transportation is private vehicle. As we navigated the various sites along the narrow beach roads, the diversity of visitors was expansive. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Canadian windsurfers rented houses on the “sound” side of the island to take advantage of good winds on Pamlico Sound.

Most of the vehicles bore Quebec license plates. Apparently, the Trump-manufactured rift between the U.S. and Canada didn’t affect windsurfers. That was good news for Dare County tourist revenues.

Several multi-generational Indian families were aboard the Ocracoke ferry. I heard Spanish spoken by visitors to the Bodie Island lighthouse, and an Eastern European language by four fellows at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk.

At that same site, I observed what appeared to be an interesting religious/cultural exchange by a man dressed in traditional Hasidic fur hat

Week of Apr 14 - 20, 2025

5:26 p.m., police responded to a report of commercial burglary. A male, 39, of Alexandria, was arrested for Commercial Burglary.

C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h C R I M E R E PO RT Larceny from Building, S Maple Ave, between 2:00 p.m. on April 11 and 5:30 p.m. on April 14, an unknown suspect cut cable locks off two bicycles, a gray and purple women`s Schwinn Circuit Hybrid Bike and men`s Schwinn Trailway and stole them.

Larceny from Building, Founders Ave, between 12:00 p.m. on March 28 and 5:00 p.m. on April 14, an unknown suspect stole two 700 M Quick Disc 5 EMR bicycles and various bike accessories.

Reckless Driving, E Broad St, Apr 15, 8:21 a.m., a female, 39, of Rockville, MD, was arrested for Reckless Driving.

Reckless Driving/No Valid Operator’s License, Roosevelt Blvd, Apr 15, 9:35 AM, a male, 41, of Fairfax County, was arrested for Reckless Driving and No Valid Operator’s License.

Animal Cruelty, Chanel Ter, Apr 15, 9:50 a.m., a report for animal cruelty was taken.

Larceny from Building, W Broad St, Apr 15, 8:30 a.m., an unknown suspect stole equipment from a business. A male, 39, of Alexandria, was arrested for Petty Larceny.

Commercial Burglary, W Broad St, Apr 15,

Defrauding an Inn Keeper, W Broad St, Apr 15, 7:46 p.m., a suspect ate a meal and left without paying. A male, 39, of Alexandria, was arrested for Defrauding an Inn Keeper.

Assault and Battery, Wilson Blvd, Apr 16, 1:44 a.m., victim reported they were assaulted by a known suspect.

Possession of Burglarious Tools/Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, Founders Ave, Apr 17, 3:10 p.m., police responded to a report of a suspect attempting to steal a bicycle.

A white male, 56, of no fixed address, was arrested for Possession of Burglarious Tools, and served with two outstanding warrants from another jurisdiction.

Public Intoxication/Assault and Battery, W Broad St, Apr 18, 11:43 p.m., police responded to the report of an assault. A black male, 62, of no fixed address, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

Assault and Battery, W Broad St, Apr 19, 12:15 p.m., victim reported they were assaulted by an identified suspect.

Assault and Battery, N Washington St, Apr 19, 11:31 p.m., victim reported an unknown suspect touched them inappropriately. The

APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 5

(called a Shtreimel) and long coat who approached a small group of men and women who appeared to be Mennonite. Photos were taken, but a long conversation, maybe 20 minutes, followed. I was too far away to hear what was discussed, faith or sightseeing? Hundreds of miles from home, on remote islands, it essentially was the world in a teacup!

And that’s to be celebrated, again and again. Diversity adds to our strength. It is not something to be feared, erased, or demonized. As I write this column, the death of Pope Francis has just been announced.

His passing removes a global advocate of compassion and support for migrants at a time when such advocacy is sorely needed to counteract the odious policies of many world leaders, including Donald Trump. One of the Pope’s last audiences was a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance, who has clashed with the Pope, especially about immigration. One can only hope that one of the last papal blessings might instill more compassion and introspection in Mr. Vance. Pope Francis was known as a voice for the “poorest people on earth.” He knew, and accepted, that vast numbers of people fit that category, and that they deserve the same measures of compassion and humanity enjoyed by those more fortunate.

suspect is described as a white male, approximately 55-60 years of age, roughly 6`2`` in height, with short gray hair, wearing a black button-up shirt and blue jeans.

Public Intoxication, S Washington St, Apr 20, 1:29 p.m., a white male, 47, of Woodbridge, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

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Editorial

E D I TO R I A L

Why We Keep On Printing

Everybody please take extra caution when on our roadways in these parts. Among the collateral consequences of the Trump slash-and-burn approach to federal worker and contractor layoffs that are disproportionately hitting this Northern Virginia region now are manifestations of rage and frustration that probably are leading to erratic and dangerous behavior.

Arlington County experienced a 100 percent increase in DUI deaths, and Fairfax County averages a DUI crash every 13 hours. And last Saturday night, there was a multi-jurisdictional high-speed chase down Route 7 in Falls Church involving police, state police and more. On Sunday afternoon a citizen observed a car flying down West Broad at possibly 70 miles per hour or more.

The News-Press is striving to continue its weekly print editions, available at more than 140 locations in and around the Little City (see the comprehensive list at fcnp.com), because we contend that a tactile, print product is vastly superior in a wide variety of ways to online versions (notwithstanding that we have an amazing and active website as well).

Here are just some of the reasons why we believe print is superior and why access to it continues to be important: 1. One in four seniors don’t use the internet, even as a lot of the news and notifications may be of particular value to them.

2. Numerous studies have shown that information is retained far better by reading something on a printed page that the reader can mark up and refer back to than by reading it online.

3. Recent events are causing many to be wary about how secure the Internet is in the face of an authoritarian regime that wants to limit public access to information. It’s already been seen where a despot orders a switch be flipped to turn it all into darkness. Do you really think that couldn’t or won’t happen here?

4. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the famous astrophysicist, has predicted that only too soon, AI will have advanced to the point that the Internet will be useless for anything but the sharing of pet photos, because it will be impossible to differentiate between what’s true and what’s not.

There are more good reasons, too. Just watch TV and pay attention to how often a reference to a newspaper comes up.

On the subject of Mr. Tyson, note that there are more neurons in the human mind than there are stars in the Milky Way (400 million), which is one of over two trillion galaxies.

So, the human mind is pretty darned important, for anyone who hasn’t already figured that out. And the shared discourse through newspapers has been an indispensable component of the ongoing struggle for democracy and freedom.

Platform 1. Keep the news clean and fair.

2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy.

3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial content.

4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe.

5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

6. Give ‘value received’ for every dollar you take in.

7. Make the paper show a profit if you can, but above all keep it clean, fearless and fair.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Letters to Editor City’s Novel Sign Raises Questions Editor, A novel traffic sign at the nonemergency “Services/Deliveries” driveway entrance to Fire Station 6 in Falls Church may inadvertently block access to the public trail along Four Mile Run. The sign’s unusual design intermixes the text “No Thru Traffic” with symbols that misleadingly ban cars, bicycles, and pedestrians.

According to the City’s director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) at the time of installation, the “graphics provide inclusion [for] people who speak English as a second language [and] people with cognitive disabilities.” Ironically, these symbols exclude nearly everyone and particularly disadvantage the same people that the sign was meant to assist. In response to community feedback, DPW added another sign to correct the unintentionally deceptive, contradictory message; however, the signage is still confusing.

Additionally, DPW’s use of a nonstandard sign to regulate traffic from Little Falls Road raises legal questions. On public roads, nonstandard signs typically require statelevel approval. The then-director argued that special approval was not required because the sign was on a “private driveway.” Regardless of the sign’s uncertain legal status, adherence to both the letter and spirit of the laws governing sign uniformity, design, placement, and messaging is fundamental to public safety.

Moreover, DPW’s resistance to transparency undermines a core value of our City government, thereby eroding public trust. People deserve to know the justification for creating this novel sign and whether engineering judgment was properly exercised, especially when safety and access to shared spaces are at stake.

Understandably, DPW’s staffing shortages and workload may necessitate triage, but clarifying the signage could be as simple and inexpensive as replacing the novel sign with the standard “No Thru Traffic” sign (R512 in the MUTCD). Alternatively, DPW must commit to transparency by providing documentation that confirms compliance with best practices.

I remain hopeful that our City government will heed Mayor Letty Hardi’s often-stated sentiment: “Values are only as good as the actions that follow them; otherwise, they’re really just fancy words on

paper.”

The views expressed here are solely my own. I serve as Secretary of the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department.

Richard Klein

City Needs Tree Preservation Editor, I write as a resident of Falls Church (22046), a city fortunate to enjoy a strong tax base, excellent schools, and low crime. With these advantages, one would expect our local government to be careful stewards of our natural and historical assets. Sadly, recent events tell a different story.

The city recently sold the parcel long known as the Kisling Tract, formerly the Quail Hill estate, which later became the site of Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center.

While much of the land was developed last year, I remained confident that the remaining trees and gardens—recognized with “trees of note” status and believed to be stateprotected—would be preserved.

That space included ancient boxwoods, mature hollies, a towering red oak, and a Japanese maple planted in 2007 to commemorate the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting. These trees were not just beautiful—they were part of our region’s living history.

This area that was intended for public gardens instead was cleared

by HITT construction to make way for another condominium development, with no meaningful public discussion or effort to preserve or document what was lost.

More broadly, despite steady budget growth, the City of Falls Church has not increased staffing for its arborist (a part-time position), and we lack any formal plan to manage invasive non-native plant species.

With rising global trade and warming temperatures, these oversights are not just cosmetic—they represent a failure to protect our environmental future.

I urge city leadership to enact a tree preservation ordinance, fund full-time environmental staffing, and create a public inventory of heritage trees and landscapes. We cannot afford to continue trading away our natural legacy in silence.

Not one city resident benefitted. I wonder who did?

Wendy Schulman

APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 7

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Benton’s New Book: Inclusivity, Newspapers & Big Local Battle

by By J. Rosslyn

You might expect a bare knuckle, intelligent, lively discourse when you begin reading Nicholas Benton’s recent book, “My Faith, My Newspaper: Why I am an Ecumenical Christian, The Importance of Local Newspapers, The Epic Church Battle in Falls Church,” and you will not be disappointed.

Right out of the gate, Benton declares, “I believe in God. I am firmly convinced that what the term, God, or the ultimate God, the God above the Gods, refers to is an actual reality and not a mental construct. I mean this in the sense that Einstein did when he said, ‘I believe in the God of Spinoza.’” Benton makes clear that he believes that God is evident in the far reaches of our universe and the molecules that are central to our being. Thus, in only 106 pages, Benton, who received a Master of Divinity, from Berkeley’s Pacific School of Religion, leads us through his understanding of ecumenical Christianity, and why he is not and never will be “Christian Nationalist.” Indeed, he explains that

the “spirit of ecumenicism” has been critical to his actions as a Christian, writer, and newspaper founder.

Benton has founded and/or worked for many papers, including the Benton Star, which he founded at age 7. He also was a writer and editor for multiple newspapers in junior high, high school, and college, and of course, The Falls Church News Press. Benton founded the News Press in 1991, and it has never missed an issue in 34 years.

Benton lays his beliefs and his personal history on the line in this book; or as Hemingway put it, he sat down at his typewriter and bled. That takes enormous courage. So much of who Benton is now and who he has been is in this book. Benton also offers the guidance necessary to live above the morass of daily crap thrown our way. He writes: “In this incredible universe, with its manifestations on our planet Earth exhibiting the richest and more amazing possible diversities of things and laws being cause for deep and profound gratitude by those of us who find ourselves as the most advanced of sentient beings here, we enjoy the amazing gift of being able to witness. “

The book is a memoir and a reflection on Benton’s long tenure in the newspaper industry, particularly focusing on his experiences running a local publication in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

A central theme is his conviction that journalism is not just a profession, but a moral calling. He touches on the role of newspapers in shaping public opinion, fostering community engagement, and providing a voice for those often left unheard in mainstream media.

In the book’s third section, Benton recounts the contentious schism within the historic Falls Church Episcopal congregation, a pivotal event in both the church’s and the city’s history. The dispute began in 2006 when a significant majority of the congregation voted to sever ties with the Episcopal Church.

This decision was primarily in response to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson, the denomination’s first openly gay bishop, which many conservative members viewed as a departure from traditional Christian teachings.

Benton provided extensive coverage of the ensuing legal and theological battles. He characterized

the breakaway faction as driven by homophobia and a rigid interpretation of scripture, contrasting it with the wider Episcopal denomination’s more inclusive stance.

The legal struggle over the church

property culminated in a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld a Virginia court ruling, granting ownership of the historic church building to the mainline Episcopal denomination.

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PAGE 8 | APRIL 24 - 30, 2025

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News & Notes

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Panelists Finalized for CBC Forum on ‘How to Run’

F.C. Concert Features 2 Acclaimed Soloists Saturday

The panelists have been finalized for the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) and League of Women Voters of Falls Church’s (LWVFC) May 1 forum on how to become a candidate and conduct a campaign in Falls Church. They include: City Registrar, David Bjerke; City Treasurer, Jody Acosta; City Council members Justine Underhill and Erin Flynn; former School Board member, Erin Gill; and, recent City Council candidate, John Murphy. The event will take place on Thursday, May 1st, 2025 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.

The Washington Sinfonietta performs The Later Romantics at the Falls Church Episcopal this Saturday night. The program includes Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Dvořák’s Two Legends Op. 59, Nos. 2 and 7. Guest Ava Pakiam will perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and guest Alon Goldstein will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 16, K. 451. A reception follows the concert.

Tickets are available online and at the event.

Crossing Guard to Be Honored on Her 100th Birthday Janet Haines, the beloved former crossing guard who waved to generations of children at St. James School at the corner of Broad and Spring Streets for over 52 years, is turning 100 next month in May. Former Falls Church Police Officer Sgt. James Brooks is spearheading an effort to collect at least 100 birthday cards and messages of fond memories from the community to honor her centenarian milestone.

He is asking the public to join him in her celebration by either mailing or hand delivering cards to the F.C. Police Department at 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046 by May 1 to ensure timely receipt. No gifts or packages will be accepted.

Arts Day in Falls Church is This Saturday Saturday, April 26 is Arts Day and Falls Church will be celebrating the City of Falls Church’s local arts scene. There will be over 35 artists displaying their work, interactive arts activities, and live music and dance performances at Cherry Hill Farmhouse.

Soon-to-Open Paragon Theater Holding Career Fair This Saturday This Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the soon-to-open Paragon Theater in Falls Church will hold a Career Fair on the theater’s site at Founders Row. The chain will be looking for all roles, full time, part time, seasonal, hourly and salaried: bartenders, cooks, runners, concessions and box office staff, and guest services managers. The benefits include free movies, discounted food and beverage, flexible schedules, and growth opportunities.

Vehicle Registration Awareness Campaign This Week As part of an ongoing effort to ensure that all vehicles are properly registered with the City of Falls Church, the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue will be sending out a postcard mailing this week to all City addresses without a registered vehicle, to raise awareness about Falls Church City’s vehicle registration requirements and to address common misconceptions regarding the process.

As a reminder, all vehicles must be registered or titled with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 30 days of moving to Virginia. A Virginia Driver’s License should also be obtained within 30 days of moving to Virginia; both transactions should also be done by persons who have moved within Virginia as well. Additionally, vehicles must be registered separately and locally with the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office within 60 days of moving here, or from the date of purchase.

If a vehicle does not have a green Permanent City Decal on its windshield, it is likely not registered with the City for personal property tax purposes, and the owner can be issued a $50 ticket for failure to display a valid City auto license sticker.

Creative Cauldron Launches ‘Women on Fire’ This Weekend Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron will produce the regional premiere starting April 24 of “Woman on Fire.” Written by Marisela Treviño Orta and directed by Helen Hayes Awards nominated Elena Velasco as a part of its Bold New Voices Initiative, “Woman on Fire” tells the tale of Juanita and her struggles with both her identity as a Mexican-American woman and with a haunting presence that begins to appear in her paintings. The production opens this Thursday and runs through May 11.

Teddy Bear Repair Clinic at Mr. Brown’s Park Saturday This Saturday, April 26, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., two Falls Church businesses, The Learning Quest and The Toy Nest, will host a Teddy Bear Fix-It Clinic. Folks are invited to bring a wellloved teddy bear or stuffed animal in need of a little TLC to Mr. Brown’s Park. Donations of needles, thread, wool, and buttons may be dropped off at the event. Those who wish to showcase their repair expertise are invited to join the clinic.

402 National Science Foundation Grants Cancelled Late last Friday afternoon, hundreds of researchers funded by the National Science Foundation got emails with bad news: their grants or fellowships had been cancelled.

Elon Musk’s DOGE — the questionably constitutional initiative that shares a name with a meme coin — celebrated that the NSF had cancelled at least 402 grants as part of the cuts. The cuts were made to awards “that are not aligned with NSF’s priorities,” according to an announcement on the NSF site, “including but not limited to those on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and misinformation/disinformation.” – Sarah Scire

George Mason Regional Library Spring Book Sale This Weekend Fairfax County’s George Mason Library Friends will hold their semi-annual Spring Book Sale at George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike, in Annandale.

Free to all, the sale begins today, Thursday, April 24 and runs through Sunday, April 27, with hours 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

The sale offers a selection of hardback and paperback books in a wide variety of subjects including popular and classic fiction, crafts, cookbooks, art, reference, CDs, DVDs, comic books, graphic novels, history, travel, collectibles, rare books, children’s books for all ages, and much more.

Bluesky Online Platform Begins New Verification System Starting this week, Bluesky is rolling out a new verification system, complete with the familiar blue check marks popularized by Twitter.

The social platform, which has experienced rapid growth since it opened to the public in early 2024, formerly relied on an unconventional self-verification system where users could “authenticate” themselves by including custom domains in their web handles. Now it’s adopting a more proactive and traditional verification strategy, with the Bluesky team identifying notable accounts and bestowing blue check marks. –Kate Knibbs, Wired

FALLS CHURCH SCHOOLS Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan (right) briefed a work session of the Falls Church School Board Tuesday about options the schools will face if they’re required to cut $600,000 from their proposed budget. A town hall at City Hall on the subject is scheduled tonight (Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m.). (Photo: News-Press)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 9

Falls Church Hosted Annual Easter Egg Roll Last Saturday

THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES turned out for this year’s Falls Church Easter Egg Roll, celebrating spring with family fun, games, and community cheer. (Photos: Gary Mester)

PAGE 10 | APRIL 24 - 30, 2025

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Thursday, April 24 On Stage: In The Heights March 6, 2025 – May 4, 2025 Signature Theatre 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA

Lights up on Washington Heights, NYC where the streets are full of music, and everybody’s got a dream. With the neighborhood on the brink of gentrification, and a life-changing winning lottery ticket somewhere in their midst, the vibrant inhabitants share hope, loss and love as they plan their futures while cherishing their home. Latin rhythms and hip-hop lyrics infuse “96,000,” “Paciencia y Fe,” “Carnaval del Barrio” and the title song as this breathtaking celebration of community and culture energetically bursts off the stage with Signature’s trademark immersive style. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org.

Let Me Run Club March 24, 2025 – May 17, 2025

Let Me Run is a nonprofit program that empowers boys to be themselves, stay active, and build a sense of belonging. Through running and lessons on emotional, social, and physical health, trained coaches guide teams of runners twice a week for seven weeks. The season ends with a 5k race that celebrates their growth. The program kicks off week of March 24, and will culminate May 17 at a local 5K. Henderson MS Info: Tuesdays & Fridays 7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.; Meridian HS Track Oak Street Info: Mondays & Wednesdays 7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.; Oak Street soccer field. Participants: All OSE and Henderson MS boys are welcome! Signups will be separated by school and grade. Note: Space is limited in each group based on the number of coaches. Fee: $135; need-based scholarships are available. Register at https://northernva.letmerun.org/teams. Questions? david.newton.sr@gmail.com or jamescthompsonjr@gmail.com

Art Show: In the Absence of Nurture...Nature March 27, 2025 – June 15, 2025 Rare Bird Coffee Roasters 230 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 Operation Smooth Streets March 31, 2025 – May 2, 2025 Falls Church, VA

Get ready for smoother rides ahead! Starting Monday, March 31, the Department of Public Works is launching Operation Smooth Streets, a 5-week initiative to address potholes and ensure safer roads for everyone. Schedule (weather permitting): Southside: March 31 - April 11, Northside: April 14 - April 25, Citywide: April 28 - May 2.

How to Help: Report potholes! fallschurchva. gov/report or email to dpw@fallschurchva.gov.

Falls Church Fitness Challenge April 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025 Falls Church, VA

The City of Falls Church is celebrating its title as the Healthiest Community in America as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. Get ready to move, because the Falls Church Fitness Challenge kicks off on April 1! This month-long event is designed for all ages and fitness levels, making it easy and fun to get active, challenge yourself, and even win prizes along the way. Here’s how it works: Starting April 1, you can pick up your Fitness Challenge Passport at the library, City Hall, or the Rec & Parks office. Then, complete different activities — like walking, yoga, team sports, and workouts — to check off challenges on your Bingo Board. The more challenges you finish, the bigger the rewards! Complete 6 challenges – Earn a Falls Church Fitness Challenge Decal. Complete 18 challenges – Get a pair of Fitness Challenge Sport Socks. Complete 32 challenges – Score a Fitness Challenge Duffel Bag. Plus, turn in your completed passport at the end of the month for a

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chance to win even more prizes in our raffle! Learn more at https://visitfallschurch.com/fallschurchfit

Spring Egg Hunt in the Gardens April 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025 Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA

Enjoy a delightful Spring Egg Hunt adventure available daily, April 1-30, 2025, from 10am6pm! Embark on a self-guided hunt through the gardens as you search for treasures – giant eggs!

The fun is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3! Start your quest at the Visitor Center where you’ll receive your egg fun find sheet, your key to unlocking the fun.

Hop along winding paths through the Spring gardens. When you find a giant egg, draw its design on your egg hunt sheet. Once you have found all of the eggs, show your completed egg fun find sheet to our staff and receive an EGGcellent prize! The Spring Egg Hunt is $8 per egg hunter which includes garden admission. Regular garden admission ($5-$8) or garden memberships apply to those accompanying the egg hunters. All fees are paid at the door. All ages are welcome.

Art Exhibits: Spring Solos April 17, 2025 – June 14, 2025 McLean Project for the Arts 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA

Featuring work by Jackie Hoysted, Emon Surakitkoson and Heidi Fowler. Opening Exhibition Reception: Thursday, April 17, 7-9pm.

For more information info@mpaart.org.

Live Performance: Akram Khan

Faces & Figures April 19, 2025 – June 1, 2025 Falls Church Arts Gallery 700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

The exhibit will open April 19 with a meet-theartists reception at the gallery of Falls Church Arts from 7 - 9:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The Juror’s Choice Award will be announced at the reception. Artworks will also be available online at https://www.fallschurcharts. org. All pieces are offered for sale and can be purchased at the gallery or on the website. For more information, please email info@fallschurcharts.org.

Live Performance: Woman on Fire April 24, 2025 – May 11, 2025 Creative Cauldron 127 E Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Juanita has reluctantly moved to a small Arizona town so her husband Jared can begin a new government job. Jared surprises her with a canvas, easel, brushes and paints, hoping it will reignite her passion for painting and make her more comfortable in their new home. Her attempts to paint a family portrait are disrupted by an otherworldly presence in their home, revealing a nightmare in her midst. Tickets at www.creativecauldron.org.

Spring Book Sale at George Mason Regional Library April 24, 2025 – April 27, 2025 George Mason Regional Library 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA

The General, free, 4-day sale, will run from Thursday, April 24 thru Sunday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily. A Preview sale, $20 per adult, will be held on Wednesday evening, April 23, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.. A great selection of high-quality used books, CDs, and DVDs in various categories for all ages and interests will be available. Come early for the best selection, then back on Sunday for half-price bargains. Visit our website at georgemasonfriends.blogspot.com.

Free Rare Books Appraisal Day 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Quinn's Auction Galleries 360 S Washington St, Falls Church, VA

Curious about the value of the books in your home? Do you have rare books you are inter-

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

AROUND

ested in consigning? Sign up at the link below to make an appointment with our specialists! There will be staff on hand to assist you if you choose to consign on the spot! 5 item limit per appointment. More than 5 pieces? Contact us to schedule a longer appointment! If the time slots shown don’t work for you, please email us at info@ quinnsauction.com to schedule an alternate appointment. https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/30E044EAFAC2BA3F94-56332036-rare#/

Caregiver Support Group 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Kensington Falls Church 700 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

YOU, as a caregiver, matter to us as much as our residents do. We understand that caregiving for someone can, at times, be a demanding commitment. We also believe it is one you should not undertake alone. That’s why we strive to preserve your well-being by helping you stay positive, manage fatigue and make the most of time spent with your loved one. Let The Kensington Falls be your trusted resource for information and the comforting ally you need. Join us on the last Thursday of each month to share time connecting with other caregivers and discussing common challenges in a welcoming, private setting.

Preschool Nature Nuts: Nature is so EGGciting!

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA

Visit Meadowlark Botanical Gardens for a colorful spring adventure! In this hands-on program, preschoolers (ages 2-4) will learn about the different animals who lay eggs.

Children will enjoy a read-aloud, sing songs about nature, and create a fun bird's nest craft to take home. Nests and animals that lay eggs will be the focus of our garden walk. This session is perfect for little ones curious about nature and excited to welcome springtime! $10 per preschooler, for children ages 2-4 and their parents / guardians, online registration is required. Register at www.novaparks.com

20s & 30s Singles Happy Hour 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Quincy Hall 4001 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA

Gear up for an amazing Singles Happy Hour at Quincy Hall! Our last event brought out over 200 of DC’s most eligible singles and completely sold out—and we’re doing it again! Enjoy an evening of great conversation, fun energy, and unbeatable drink specials. Mark your calendar and invite your single crew, this is one you won’t want to miss. Get your tickets now before they’re gone!

Must be 21 years old. Tickets $25.00 at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/20s-30s-singles-happyhour-tickets-1314092519099?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Art Night: Fun Printmaking!

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Art House 7: Art Classes & Art Supplies 5537 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA

Come enjoy an evening at Art House 7 making simple linocut prints. Linocut is like woodcut but easier! You will carve into a soft block, ink it up and make multiple prints. You will make notecards and multiple art prints. You can use our designs or come up with your own. Sign-up with a few friends and have a fun, creative night out! BYOB For more details on registration, please visit our website https://arthouseseven.com/workshops.

Thursday Night District Trivia 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Clare & Don's Beach Shack 130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA

Bring your friends and show off your trivia chops!

Friday, April 25 Preventing Tickborne Diseases 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Virtual

Ticks can be tiny and hard to spot, and bites from these arachnids can be irritating and harmful to your health as they can transmit serious diseases, including Lyme disease, the Alpha-gal food allergy, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ahead of the spring planting and gardening season, join Elizabeth Forrey, Tick Surveillance Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health, for a timely presentation on the ecology of tickborne diseases in Virginia with a discussion of several tick species and important tips on tick bite prevention.

FREE. RSVP at http://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-publiceducation-classes/ to receive a link to participate.

Memory Cafe 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Falls Church Arts Gallery 700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Deepen connections with your loved one and build new support networks in a safe, supportive and engaging environment. The Kensington is proudly partnering with Insight Memory Care Center and Falls Church Arts to host our bi-monthly Memory Café. Our group meets on-site at Falls Church Arts and is a social gathering: an opportunity to make new friends and interact with others without fear of embarrassment or being misunderstood. Many also find it an avenue for sharing concerns and providing support. Come and share a cup of coffee, participate in an activity while meeting others for support, companionship and fun. Make new connections, discover new tools and resources – so that you can be the best caregiver you can be!

Bug Bingo 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park 2845 Marcey Rd, Arlington, VA 22207

Join our naturalist for a special bug hunt! We’ll explore the park as we look under logs, search the gardens, and more to find our creepy crawly friends. We’ll also learn what makes these critters unique and why they’re so important. Along the way, we’ll record our observations in the iNaturalist app and fill out our bingo sheets. You’re sure to have an excell-ant time! Appropriate for participants ages 5 and up. Any attendee over 5 (to include adults) is considered a participant.

Program is FREE. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the nature center. All participants must preregister at www.novaparks.com.

Live Music: DL Funkband 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Clare & Don's Beach Shack 130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA Friday Night Concert Series at Water Park 6:00 p.m.– 8:30 p.m.

National Landing Water Park 1601 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA

Get ready for live music from talented local bands, food vendors, lawn games, and an array of beverage options to keep the good times flowing. Bring your friends and family for a memorable night filled with plenty of summer vibes on the lawn.

We’ll also be holding a costume contest to see who best embodies the theme associated with that particular event. Prizes include tickets to games and events, promo codes for league discounts, complimentary drink at the bar, and MORE! April 15th: Hand Painted Swinger (Theme: White out)

Live Music: Crushing Diamonds 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

F.C.

Live Music: David Andrew Smith 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Dogwood Tavern 132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Saturday, April 26 Arlington Festival of the Arts April 26, 2025 – April 27, 2025 3140 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA

Join us for the highly-anticipated event in the heart of Clarendon, one of Arlington's most vibrant neighborhoods! Discover a stunning array of handmade-in-the-USA artwork, carefully selected by HAE's rigorous vetting process.

Visitors can expect to be impressed by a diverse range of artistic mediums, including sculpture, pottery, jewelry, photography, mixed-media, painting, and much more. The show will be located on Washington Blvd from Clarendon Blvd to N. Garfield St and on N. Highland St from Washington Blvd to 11th St. N. in the Clarendon Neighborhood. For more information: www. artfestival.com/festivals/arlington-festival-arts

NoVa+ Bookstore Crawl Passport Program April 26, 2025 – May 31, 2025 One More Page Books 2200 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA

Fifteen independent bookstores across Northern Virginia, Frederick, MD, and Wardensville, WV are partnering for the second annual NoVa+ Indie Bookstore Crawl! Starting on Indie Bookstore Day, pick up the special Passport to help book lovers explore more of our region’s growing bookstore scene and celebrate with your favorites. While each store will be celebrating Indie Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26th with their own festivities, all of us will be handing out this special Passport.

Throughout May, customers can visit as many stores as they’d like in order to collect stamps from each stop. Once you have visited 4 stores, you collect a book prize. After visiting 8 bookstores, you earn a tote bag. And, avid readers who visit at least 10 of the participating stores by June 2nd will be entered to to win the Grand Prize--a basket filled with goodies from all the participating stores!

Ballet Performances: Little Mermaid, Tapestry, and Jardin Animé April 26, 2025 – April 27, 2025 Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts, 51 Mannakee St, Rockville, MD

This spring join Maryland Youth Ballet for an exciting spring concert featuring three unique ballets.

Tickets at: https://www.marylandyouthballet.org.

Arts Day in Falls Church 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Cherry Hill Farmhouse 312 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA

Arts Day in Falls Church celebrates the City of Falls Church's local arts scene. There will be over 35 artists displaying their work, interactive arts activities, and live music and dance performances at Cherry Hill Farmhouse. Several of the organizations that make up the City's Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church will be on hand to share more about what they do.

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace: Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Carlyle House Historic Park 121 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Join an instructor-led gentle flow yoga class on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. Build heat with sun salutations, then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel, and yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga attire.

Class may be canceled due to inclement weather, you will receive an email if class is canceled. Tickets are non-refundable unless class is cancelled by the museum. Tickets at www.novaparks.com.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM Senator Mark R. Warner Annual Academy Day 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

University of Mary Washington 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA

The event hosted by Sen. Mark Warner will include a seated program that will provide a comprehensive overview of the United States service academies and their admission processes. Information will also be shared regarding application procedures for congressional nominations, medical requirements for the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB), and other military-related options that exist at higher education institutions in Virginia. Register at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/academy-day-2025-tickets-1264362053939?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Teddy Bear Repair Clinic 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mr. Brown's Park Falls Church, VA 22046

Got a well-loved teddy bear or stuffed animal in need of a little TLC? Bring them to our Teddy Bear Fix-It Clinic. We'll be repairing stuffed animals and giving them a second chance at life, and we need YOUR help! We’re looking for donations of needles, thread, wool, buttons, sewing kits and other sewing materials. Have some supplies to spare? Or maybe you want to showcase your repair expertise? Bring your skills and materials, and let's make these beloved toys whole again! Donations can be dropped off at the event, and we encourage you to volunteer your time and knowledge to help out! Let’s spread the love and help these treasured toys live on! See you there! RSVP: info@thelearningquest.org

New Movie Theater Career Fair 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Paragon Theater 112 Founders Row Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

The brand new Paragon Theater is holding a Career Fair on site at Founders Row. They are looking for all roles, full time, part time, seasonal, hourly and salaried: bartenders, cooks, runners, concessions staff/box office staff, and guest services manager. The benefits include free movies, discounted food and beverage, flexible schedules, and growth opportunities. If interested and unable to attend the event, employment applications are accepted at www.paragontheaters.com/employment.

National Take Back Day 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Falls Church Farmers Market 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Drop off and safely dispose any expired or unused medications. Liquids of any kind are not allowed, neither are sharps, needles or epi-pens.

Family Fun Day 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Sleepy Hollow Preschool 6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003

Sleepy Hollow Preschool invites you to its annual Family Fun Day. Bring the whole family for a day of free activities -- live music, facepainting, moon bounce, food trucks, and more!

Spring Beer Fest 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Join us for our annual spring beer fest complete with live music, local artisans, entertainment and of course, craft beer!

Ticket holders will receive a commemorative cup and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Hopelink. Tickets athttps://solacebrewing.com/events/?site=falls-church#!.

On Stage: In The Heights March 6, 2025 – May 4, 2025 Signature Theatre 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA

Pickleball Tournament 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meridian High School 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA

$20.00 per ward future

team, proceeds go toGive Day packing events.

Art Through the Ages: An Art History & Craft Experience 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Kensington Falls Church 700 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Discover the beauty of art history while unleashing your creativity! The Kensington Falls Church invites you to an engaging and interactive event where artist Jennifer Zicht will guide us through the fascinating evolution of art across different time periods. As Jennifer shares captivating stories of renowned artists and movements, you’ll also have the chance to create your own inspired craft.

No fee to attend and open to all!

Patrick is a native Gaelic speaker, and his performances include original and traditional songs in Gaelic. Tickets $25 in advance (members $22.50) / $30 at door (members $25), $15 virtual at https:// focusmusic.org/shows#sat-4-26-patrick-o-flaherty

Live Concert: The Later Romantics 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

The Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Two incredible musical artists featured in the same event. Ava Pakiam, violinist, a 14 year old sought after soloist and recitalist, a student at the Pre College of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since the age of seven, making her solo debut at Carnegie Hall at age 8. Alon Goldstein, admired for his musical intelligence and dynamic personality, made his orchestral debut at the age of 18 with the Israel Philharmonic. Tickets: $20.00/$15.00 at https:// www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6451779.

Turn of Phrase: Conversations Between a Poet and Bassist 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Live Music: The Rockits 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St., Falls Church, VA

Celebrate National Poetry Month by experiencing a poetry reading enhanced by a musical response! Heather and Chris will highlight a few poetic forms and demonstrate the process of their call and response. Register at www.mrspl.org.

Live Music: JMM Funk 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Dogwood Tavern 132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

City Nature Challenge Hike 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park 2845 Marcey Rd, Arlington, VA 22207

Sunday, April 27

The City Nature Challenge is an international event motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their own cities. At this program, we'll hike around the park and use the free iNaturalist app to make our own observations on a beautiful spring afternoon! Once we've practiced with the app, we'll head out and record vegetation, insects, amphibians and more. Event will be led by Arlington Regional Master Naturalists.

No rain date. Appropriate for participants ages 8 and up. Any attendee over 8 (to include adults) is considered a participant. Program is FREE. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the native plants demonstration garden (past the nature center nearby the frog pond). All participants must preregister at www.novaparks.com.

Holi at Mosaic 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Strawberry Park, Fairfax, VA 22031

In partnership with RASA, Mosaic invites you to the vibrant celebration of Holi, the Festival of Colors. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s event, we are bringing back the festivities with even more excitement. Get ready for an evening filled with authentic Indian flavors, great music, dancing, cocktails and festivities. 5:00 PM: Suggested arrival. Guests will receive a satchel of colored powder and a t-shirt upon arrival (while supplies last). 5:45 p.m.: Time to throw the colors! 6:00 PM-7 p.m.: Music and dancing.

Live Music: Wilbur’s Redemption 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Clare & Don's Beach Shack 130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA Boys Lacrosse Youth Night 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Meridian High School 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043

The Meridian High School Boys Varsity lacrosse team will welcome youth players from Falls Church Youth Lacrosse Club (FCYLC) as special guests at their games against Liberty HS. The Boys Varsity team will play at 7:15 p.m., JV at 6:00 p.m.

Musician Patrick O'Flaherty 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

St Aidan's Episcopal Church 8531 Riverside Rd, Fort Hunt, VA 22308

As a dedicated promoter of the Celtic Arts, he performs as a singer and songwriter and a highly respected player of the harmonica, bouzouki, mandolin, button accordion, banjo, and mandola.

Britain on the Green 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

George Mason's Gunston Hall 10709 Gunston Rd, Lorton, VA

Britain on the Green, which welcomes all British cars and motorcycles, is well-established as one of the premier all-British shows in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area this being its 27th annual show. Additionally, the Nation’s Capital Jaguar Owners Club will again hold their Concours d’Elegance during Britain on the Green. Spectator Admission: $10 adults, $5 children 6-18.

Tickets at https://www.britainonthegreen.org.

Del Ray GardenFest 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Colasanto Park baseball field, Commonwealth and Mt. Vernon Avenues, Alexandria

GardenFest is a fun, free, educational afternoon of garden-centric demonstrations, informational booths, and interactive activities. The Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia will be there to assist with gardening and landscaping questions, and there will be free seeds to plant now for spring and summer gardens. GardenFest is hosted by the Del Ray Citizens Association and you can find more information at https://delrayalx.wixsite.com/gardenfest2025.

Art Class: Color Deep Dive 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Falls Church Arts Gallery 700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Do you love color, but struggle with it? Do you mix mud too many times? Do you run out of color and when you mix again, it’s not the same as what you started with? In this rollup-your-sleeves workshop, we won’t make finished paintings, but we will explore color and how to put your new knowledge to good use.

Cost: $190.00. Register at https://greenscap. wufoo.com/forms/color-deep-dive-apr-27-2025.

Langston Boulevard Earth Day Every Day Festival 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Langston Boulevard Alliance (Formerly Lee Hwy Alliance) 4500 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA

This family friendly event has something for everyone. There will be live music, art vendors, local food and more. We will also be featuring a host of educational programming as we all learn how to better take care of the beautiful planet we call home. For more information go to: https://www.earthdayonlangston.com/.

Author Talk: Sharon Wishnow on The Pelican Tide 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

On the fifteenth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, come listen to a talk by acclaimed author Sharon Wishnow on her novel The Pelican Tide, which deals with a Louisiana family whose lives are upended by an oil spill. Register at www.mrspl.org.

Afternoon Ball by the Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Scott Lounge, 3737 Seminary Rd Alexandria, VA

Step into a world of refinement, where live orchestral music fills the air, dance sets the scene for merriment, and an array of refreshments, including passed hors d'oeuvres, awaits you. Don your finest attire and prepare for an afternoon of grandeur as society’s most esteemed guests gather for an unforgettable affair. Tickets for $40.00 at www.sonovamusic.org.

Russian/American Pianist, Alexander Kobrin, to Perform 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

St. Ann Catholic Church 4001 Yuma St NW, Washington, DC

Called the “Van Cliburn of today” by the BBC, pianist Alexander Kobrin is placed at the forefront of today's performing musicians. He will give a free recital and the program will include Brahms, Six Pieces for Piano Op.118 and Four Pieces for Piano Op.119. After an intermission Kobrin will play Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op.106 “Hammerklavier”. For more information call 202-966-6288 or visit www.stanndc.org/music.

Odeon Chamber Music Series Present: Last String Quartet 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church 3241 Brush Dr, Falls Church, VA

Welcome back! The Last Stand Quartet brings together four National Symphony Orchestra’s musicians. Don’t miss experiencing their exalting passion for chamber music! Wine & cheese reception follows the concert. Admission: Free (donation of $25 or more to partially defray costs is appreciated) www.laststandquartet.com

Monday, April 28 Live Performance: Sister Act April 28, 2025 – May 17, 2025 Ford's Theatre 511 10th St NW, Washington, DC

Sister Act is a riotous musical comedy based on the hit 1992 film that has audiences jumping to their feet!

Tickets at www.fords.org.

Family Movie Night at the Library 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Grab your favorite people and join us for a screening of this fun movie. This program is a great way for families to enjoy an evening out together. Movie: Trolls. Movies are free but registration is required. Register at www.mrspl.org

Tuesday, April 29 Tuesday Morning Book Group 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

A general book discussion held roughly every 6 weeks from September through June, usually on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Focuses on a variety of fiction and nonfiction titles selected in advance (over the summer) by the group. For April we will be discussing James by Percival Everett. Register at www.mrspl.org.

APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 11 Supporting LGBTQ+ YOUTH 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

The Falls Church City Schools Pride Alliance, supported by Falls Church City Public Schools and funded by the FCEF Benton Diversity Fund, presents Supporting LGBTQ+ YOUTH: Community Allyship and Parenting Today, an info/discussion session with SMYAL, a DC organization with 40+ years of experience supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Traditional Irish Music Session 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Ireland's Four Provinces 105 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Wednesday, April 30 Homestretch Annual Benefit Breakfast & 35th Anniversary Celebration 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park 3111 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA

The mission of Homestretch is to empower families experiencing homelessness to secure permanent housing and attain the skills, knowledge, and hope to achieve self-sufficiency. Celebrate 35 years of Homestretch's work in the community! https://www.homestretchva.org/ events/annual-benefit-breakfat-35th-celebration

Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

Most of us are always on the go in some capacity, tasking ourselves to keep things running smoothly or remedying situations that aren’t going as we hoped. The practice of mindfulness meditation gives us the skills to step out of our habitual mode of doing and allows us to have mindful recognition of what is present here and now. In our group setting we investigate the practical application of bringing mindfulness into our daily lives. Open to beginners and experienced meditators. Register at www.mrspl.org.

Resume Writing Workshop 5:30 p.m.– 7:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

Time to update your resume or create a new one for a career change? At this workshop, veteran writing guide Colette Thomas Worm will share her checklist and process for creating a dynamic resume. Listen and take notes, or bring along your resume and laptop to make edits as she goes! Register at www.mrspl.org.

Navigating Senior Living: Understanding Your Options As You Age 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The Kensington Falls Church 700 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Steve Gurney, Founder of Positive Aging Community, as we explore the diverse housing options available for aging adults. Whether you’re planning for yourself or a loved one, understanding the differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing is essential in making informed decisions for the future.

No fee to attend and open to all!

Open Mic Night 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA

Questions about Open Mic can be directed to alextheredrobert@yahoo.com

Have an event you want to be featured in the News-Press.

Send us your events to calendar@fcnp.com

PAGE 12 | APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE: On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., the City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and meeting, located in the City Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue Falls Church, VA. 22046, on proposed amendments to the West Falls Church Economic Development (West Falls) Project Special Exception Entitlement (SEE), focusing on grocery store-related Voluntary Concessions VC#2. Public comments can be submitted in advance to the lead planner via email hzhang@fallschurchva.gov. The Planning Commission will review the following item and provide a recommendation to the City Council: (TR25-09) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE VOLUNTARY CONCESSIONS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEST FALLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SPECIAL EXCEPTION ENTITLEMENT (SEE) APPROVED BY RESOLUTION 2021-23, DATED AUGUST 9, 2021, TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM SIZE OF THE GROCERY STORE COMPONENT FROM 39,200 SQUARE FEET TO 32,900 SQUARE FEET The agenda and materials for the public hearing meeting will be available on the following page ahead of the meeting date: http://www. fallschurchva.gov/PC. More information about the West Falls Project can be found on the project webpage: West Falls Development Project | Falls Church, VA - Official Website This location is fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. Special services or assistance can be requested in advance.

(TTY: 711) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA City Council will hold a public hearing on the following on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard: (TO25-07) ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH CHAPTER 26, “MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC” TO ADD AND ENACT ARTICLE VIII, “PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION” Key provisions of the proposed City Code update include: a requirement that motorists stop (not just yield) for pedestrians within marked crosswalks and at street intersections; a provision that police may not stop pedestrians for crossing the street outside a marked crossing; and the authority to install stop signs at marked crosswalks and to assess special fines for violation of those signs.

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva. gov. Remote participation information at www. fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. For copies of legislation and other information, contact the City Clerk’s office at 703-248-5014 or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www. fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. 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) or e-mail cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov.

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C L AS S I F I E DS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The ordinances referenced below were given first reading on April 14, 2025. Public hearings are scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025 and Monday, May 12, 2025, with second reading and Council action scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2025. All meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.; public hearings will be held as soon thereafter as the matters may be heard.

(TO25-02) ORDINANCE FIXING AND DETERMINING THE BUDGET OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR EXPENDITURE, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026, ACROSS THE FOLLOWING FUNDS: GENERAL FUND; SEWER FUND; STORMWATER FUND; CABLE ACCESS FUND; AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND; SCHOOL OPERATING FUND; SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND; SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE FUND; COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS; AND TO ADOPT THE FY2026-FY2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM The FY2025 proposed budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) includes: $133,871,318 for the General Fund revenues and expenditures. $7,636,765 for the Sewer Fund revenues and expenditures. $2,337,000 for the Stormwater Fund revenues and expenditures. $290,185 for the Cable Access Fund revenues and expenditures. $7,539,412 for the Affordable Housing Fund revenues and expenditures. $69,547,486 for the School Operating Fund revenues and expenditures. $2,663,200 for the School Community Service Fund revenues and expenditures. $1,621,448 for the School Food Service Fund revenues and expenditures.

The proposed FY2026 budget and appropriation for the CIP includes $2,684,000 for the General Government and Schools, $8,998,424 for the Special Transportation Fund, $14,047,765 for the Sewer Fund, and $640,000 for the Stormwater Fund. The FY2026 CIP is funded with $6,066,424 in grants, $2,172,000 of General Fund revenues, $2,410,000 of General Fund Capital Reserves, and $2,642,765 of Sewer Fund revenues and fund balance;$320,000 of Stormwater fund balance; $11,405,000 of debt proceeds and $1,354,000 is unfunded.

The proposed FY2026-2031 CIP includes $51,442,236 for the General Government and Schools, $59,202,892 for the Special Transportation Fund, $34,525,344 for the Sewer Fund, and $3,010,000 for the Stormwater Fund for a total of $148,180,472 to be funded with $46,159,892 in grants, $13,993,000 of General Fund revenues, $9,925,000 of General Fund Capital Reserves, $11,918,633 of Sewer Fund revenues and fund balance, $1,030,000 of Stormwater fund balance, and $57,606,711 of debt proceeds; $7,547,235 is unfunded.

The FY2026 budget and appropriation for the West Falls Community Development Authority Fund includes $866,429 in expenditures and revenues from prior year surplus of $233,286 and special assessments of $633,143 which will be levied and collected by the City in accordance with the request from the West Falls Community Development Authority (CDA) at its meeting of April 17, 2025, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding dated July 1, 2022 between the City, CDA, and other parties.

(TO25-03) ORDINANCE SETTING THE RATE OF TAX LEVY ON REAL ESTATE FOR TAX YEAR 2026, AND ON PERSONAL PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND TOOLS AND

ALL OTHER PROPERTY SEGREGATED BY LAW FOR LOCAL TAXATION IN THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH VIRGINIA FOR TAX YEAR 2025 The proposed real estate tax rate for the tax year beginning July 1, 2025 is: $1.21 upon each $100.00 of assessed value of real estate in the City of Falls Church, which is no change from the current rate.

The proposed tax rate for tangible personal property, and machinery and tools, and all other property segregated by law for the tax year beginning January 1, 2025 are: $5.00 upon each $100.00 of assessed value on tangible personal property, and machinery and tools, and all other property segregated by law for local taxation within the City, including the property separately classified by § 58.13500 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, which is no change from the current rate; $5.00 upon each $100 of assessed value for vehicles classified under § 58.1-3506.A.48.a through 58.1-3506.A.48.d, which is an increase of $0.20 (4.2%) from the current rate; and pursuant to § 58.1-2606 of the Code of Virginia, a portion of assessed value of tangible personal property of public service corporations shall be taxed at the real estate rate.

(TO25-04) ORDINANCE TO SET THE STORMWATER UTILITY BILLING UNIT RATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 42, ARTICLE VII OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA AS OF JULY 1, 2025 Under the legal authority granted by VA § 15.22114, an increase to the City stormwater utility unit billing rate from $20.77 per 200 square feet of impervious surface (billing unit) to $21.33 per billing unit annually is proposed, effective July 1, 2025, which would constitute an increase of 2.7% per billing unit.

(TO25-05) ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, CHAPTER 42, “UTILITIES,” ARTICLE III, “SEWERS,” SECTION 42-172, “AVAILABILITY CHARGE,” TO INCREASE SEWER SERVICE AND AVAILABILITY CHARGES, AND TO CLARIFY THE TITLE OF SECTION 42-172 Under the legal authority granted by VA §15.22119, Sewer rates and fees are proposed as follows: an increase to the sewer commodity rate from $10.86 per thousand gallons of water billed (billing unit) to $11.15 is proposed, effective July 1, 2025, which would constitute an increase of 2.7% per billing unit. an increase to sewer availability charges from $9,746 to $10,009 for single-family dwellings and detached and semi-detached duplexes or townhouses; from $7,797 to $8,008 for apartment or condominium buildings; from $2,437 to $2,503 for motel, hotel units; and from $487 to $500 for each drainage fixture unit for commercial, industrial, and other uses.

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www. fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK

fcnp.com

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APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 13

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

It’s Thursday—Do You know Where Your News-Press Is?

• 24 Hour Fitness, 1000 E Broad St. • 450 W Broad St. Lobby Building • 7 Eleven (Box), 3019 Annandale Rd • 7 Eleven (Box), 201 S Washington St. • Amazing Smiles, 444 W Broad St – D • Arlington Hospital Center (Box), 1701 N George Mason Dr. • Anthony’s Restaurant, 3000 Annandale Rd. • Arlington Hospital Center ER (inside), 1702 N George Mason Dr • Bakeshop. E Fairfax St • Borek G Turkish Mom’s Cooking. 315 S Maple Ave. • Bowl America, 140 S Maple Ave. • Box at Federal Credit Union, 1226 W Broad St. • Broad Falls Apartments, 809 W Broad St. • Brown’s Hardware, 100 W Broad St. • Burke & Herbert Bank, 225 West Broad St. • Bus Stop (Box), Lee Hwy and Hollywood Rd • Café Kindred, 450 N Washington St. • Celebrity Deli – Graham Park Plaza, 7263A Arlington Blvd.

• Central Library. 1015 North Quincy Street.

• Cinthia’s Bakery, 5860 Columbia Pike.

• City Hall. 300 Park Ave • Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N Washington St. • Crumbl Cookies, 1106A W Broad St • Cuates Grill 502 W Broad #5t.

• CVS, 1150 W Broad St. • CVS (Box), 134 W Broad St. • CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd.

• Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St. • Dominion Hospital, 2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd. • Dominion Wine and Beer, 107 Rowell Ct. • Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W Broad St • Dude’s Doghouse. 7257 Lee Hwy • East Falls Church Metro (Box), 2001 N. Sycamore St • El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy. • Elevation Burger, 442 S Washington St. • Eaves Fairfax Towers, 2251 Pimmit Dr. • Exxon Gas Station, 400 W Broad St. • Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B W Broad St. • Falls Church City Public Schools, 800 W Broad St. • Falls Church City Public Utilities,

Gordon Rd. • Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. • Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Suite #310 • Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Lobby • Five Guys, 913 W Broad St. • Flippin’Pizza, 800 W Broad St. • Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax • Foxcraft Design Group, 110 Great Falls St. • Giant Food, 1230 W Broad St. • Goodwin House, 3440 South Jefferson St. • Happy Tart. 410 S Maple Ave. • Harris Teeter, 301 W Broad St. • Harvey’s, 513 W Broad St. • Meridian, High School, 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043 • Hillwood Cleaners, 165 Hillwood Ave. • Hilton Garden Inn, 706 W Broad St. • Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2300 Pimmit Dr. • Idylwood Towers Condominium, 2311 Pimmit Dr. • Ireland’s Four Provinces, 105 W Broad St. • Islamic Center, Leesburg Pike and Rio Dr. Bus Stop • Java Loco Coffee & Tea. • Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do, 1136 W Broad St.* • Lazy Mikes Deli, 7049 Leesburg Pike • Ledo Pizza, 7510 Leesburg Pike • Liberty Barbecue, 370 W Broad St. • Lil City Creamery, 114 W Broad St. • Lincoln At Tinner Hill Apartments, 455 S. Maple Ave. • Long Foster Realtors, 4600 Cherry Hill Rd • Lost Dog & Cat Rescue, 6801 Wilson Blvd • Madison Apartments, 600 N Roosevelt Blvd.

• Mark’s Pub, 2190 Pimmit Dr. • Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike • Mary Riley Styles Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave. • Medical Building, 405 N Washington St. • Medical Building, 407 N Washington St. • Merrill House Apartments, 210 E Fairfax St. • Metro Diner, 4711 Lee Hwy.

• Moby Dick House of Kabob, 444 W. Broad St. • Modera Founders Row. 110 Founders Avenue.

• Mom’s Organic Market, 8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax • Multicultural Center. 701 W Broad St. • Munson Hill Apartments, 6729 Leesburg Pike • N Virginia Av & W Broad St (Box), 105 N Virginia Ave. • N. Washington & E. Columbia St., 106 E Columbia St. • Northern Virginia Immigration Law, 180 S Washington St. • Northern Virginia Pediatric Associates, 107 N Virginia Ave • Northgate Apartments (lobby), 450 N Washington St. • Northside Social, 205 Park Ave. • Nue Vietnamese Restaurant, 904 W Broad St. • Falls Green Apartments (formerly Oakwood), 501 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

• Park Towers Condos, 200 N. Maple Ave. • Peach Tree Towers, 2042 Peach Orchard Dr. • Pearson Square Apartments, 410 S. Maple Ave. • Pete’s Barber Shop, 5847 Washington Blvd.

• Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7700 Leesburg Pike • Pizzeria Orso (Tax Analysts building), 400 S. Maple Ave. • PNC Bank, 402 W. Broad St. • Point of View, 701 W. Broad St. • Post Office, 800 W. Broad St. • Preservation Biscuit102 E Fairfax St. • Professional Building, 313 Park Ave. • Quick Copy, 417 W. Broad St. • Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St. • Read Apartments, 402 W Broad St. • Rembrandt Assisted Living, 6669 Gouthier Rd, • Roosevelt Towers, 500 N Roosevelt Blvd.

• Safeway, 5101 Wilson Blvd.

• Safeway, 2500 N Harrison St. • Safeway – Route 29, 7397 Lee Hwy. • Sfizi Café, 800 W Broad St. • Silver Diner, 3200 Wilson Blvd.

• Sislers Stone, 7139 Lee Hwy. • Shell. 7231 Arlington Blvd • Smokey’s Garage, 1105 W Broad St. • Solace Outpost. 444 W Broad St • Sonic Car Wash, 1050 W Broad St. • The Spectrum, 444 W. Broad St. • The Spectrum Cleaners, 444 W. Broad St. • Sturbucks, 244 W Broad St • Sturbucks, Loehman’s Plaza • Sunrise of Falls Church, 330 N. Washington St. • Super A Market, 2800 Graham Rd. • Super Giant. Loehmann’s Plaza • Taco Rock, 116 W Broad St • Target, 500 S Washington St. • Target – Skyline Mall (Box), 5107 Leesburg Pike • Tasty Dumpling, 112 W Broad St • Harris Teeter 301 W Broad St. • The Broadway Apt (in mailroom), 500 W Broad St. • The Byron Apartments, 513 W Broad St. • The Falls Church Episcopal, 115 E Fairfax St, • The Kensington Falls Church, 700 W Broad St. • The Neighborhood Barbershop, 417 W. Broad St. #103 • The Original Pancake House, 7395 Lee Hwy. • The UPS Store, 1069 W Broad St • Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd.

• Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave. • Unity Club, 116-B W Broad St. • UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr. • US Post Office, 2045 Wilson Blvd.

• Verso Founders Row, 105 Founders Row • Washington & S. Broad St. (Box) 101 W Broad St. • Westlee Condominium 2200 N Westmoreland • Wendy’s – Bus Stop, 7391 Lee Hwy. • West Falls Church Metro (Box) 7040 Haycock Rd. • Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr • Yaila Bistro, 2201 N Westmoreland St.

PAGE 14 | APRIL 24 - 30, 2025

LO CA L

Fletcher Saaty Powers Meridian Boys Soccer Over Millbook

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C ritter C orner

by Ryan McCafferty

Tuesday evening marked the first sports action at Meridian High School in more than a week, as the students – and their extracurricular activities – returned from spring break. The Mustang boys’ soccer team was ready to get back to work after winning three straight prior to the time off, and they would put their 6-2 record to the test against visiting Millbrook on a beautiful night in Falls Church.

It took a while to shake off the rust, but Meridian dominated possession early on and Henry Brown opened the scoring fifteen minutes into the first half. That would be the only goal prior to the intermission, but only a few minutes after play resumed, Quinn Drennan made it 2-0.

Millbrook responded by scoring on a penalty kick, but then it was Fletcher Saaty’s time to shine. He recorded a natural hat trick with three consecutive goals, each separated by a handful of minutes, and the 5-1 Mustang advantage had Millbrook just wanting this one to be over and done with. Meridian still wasn’t done yet, tacking on two more garbage time goals courtesy of Osteen Espina-Campos and Jackson Watt, as the home team cruised to its fourth win in a row.

The Mustangs, now 7-2, face Sherando on the road on Friday. Their next home game will be next Tuesday against Warren County.

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APRIL 24 - 30, 2025 | PAGE 15

Fa l l s C h u r c h

Our Man In Arlington

Networking for Impacted Federal Workers and Contractors:

Bill Fogarty

Business News & Notes

BizLaunch is hosting an exclusive networking event for displaced federal workers and contractors tomorrow, April 25, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. The event will connect professionals to new opportunities across various industries, offer guidance to those interested in starting a business or nonprofit, and build connections with leaders and peers. BizLaunch is located at 1100 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1500, Arlington, VA and is sponsored by The Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia, BizLaunch a program of Arlington Economic Development, and the Virginia State Department of Small Business Supplier Diversity. Register for the free event at https://wbcnova.centerdynamics. com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450028.

Arts Day in Falls Church Saturday is Arts Day and Falls Church City will celebrate the local arts scene. There will be over 35 artists displaying their work, interactive arts activities, and live music and dance performances at Cherry Hill Farmhouse. Several of the organizations that make up the City’s Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church will be on hand on Saturday, April 26, to share more about what they do.

Microloans 101: Small Dollar Financing for Small Business The Community Business Partnership is hosting hybrid training on financing for small businesses. The free session is offered Tuesday, April 29, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The class will help participants develop a financing plan, learn about options when bank loans aren’t available, and learn about micro-financing as a strategy. Register at https://cbp.ecenterdirect.com/events/998196.

Homestretch Benefit Breakfast Join Homestretch for networking followed by a breakfast presentation on Wednesday, April 30, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. at the Fairview Marriott. The mission of Homestretch is to empower families experiencing homelessness to secure permanent housing and attain the skills, knowledge, and hope to achieve self-sufficiency. Celebrate 35 years of Homestretch’s work in the community!

Bethany House: Teams Forming Now Bethany House provides a safe, supportive place where women and their children can rebuild their lives after abuse. On May 8, Bethany House executive director Tiffany Santana will spend One Night Homeless for her 5th year in a row. This year, she’s inviting you to join her. Caring participants will spend One Night Homeless in Solidarity with the thousands of women across the U.S. who choose homelessness over domestic violence. Participation is open to all, alone and in groups, families, individuals, faith and school groups, sports teams, the scouts, and businesses, or join Tiffany at her site! You may also participate as a fundraiser where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to domestic violence intervention programs that include the safe house shelter, counseling, life advancement program, medical care, food, clothing, and childcare. Register here: https://p2p. onecause.com/onenighthomeless25/home

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.

The study of history is under a microscope of sorts these days, with much controversy about content. The recent erasure by the federal government of huge swaths of history content reminds me of the saying I often use when giving a presentation -- history depends on who tells the story. Historian Barbara Tuchman, famous for collecting notes on thousands of index cards, expounded on this theme when talking to a visiting class: history depends on which cards she picked out, and in what order.

It certainly helps to have a wide range of storytellers, and it especially helps to have organizations devoted to the study of history, the preservation of history, and the dissemination of history to the wider public.

We are fortunate in Arlington to have the benefit of the work of many volunteers who have guided the Arlington Historical Society (AHS) since its founding in 1956. We are also fortunate that AHS is about to re-open its museum, with a grand reopening on Saturday, May 3.

Beginning in 1963, AHS has operated a museum highlighting Arlington’s long history. The museum is located at 1805 S. Arlington Ridge Road, in an elementary school that closed in 1956.

The AHS Museum has been closed for nearly a year, with extensive preservation and renovation work, including the daunting task of preserving its 47 historic wood windows. New and updated exhibits will be on display on the ground floor, with an education center and community room on the second floor.

This is an exciting time for the Arlington Historical Society, with much activity going on, not only with the AHS Museum, but also on-line, at www.arlhist.org (which then leads you to a terrific app at www.arlingtonhistorical. com.) If you want to dig into some further reading, you can peruse the archives of the annual AHS Magazine, with articles dating from 1957.

The first volume of the magazine included a history of the Potomac Bridges, which may need

to be updated, as three bridges have been built over the Potomac since 1957. Can you name them?

The many museum exhibits and AHS online collections contain history that educates, informs, and entertains. Let me give you one quick example of an on-line artifact that has entertained and enlightened me. It is the 1927 high school yearbook of the first graduating class of Washington-Lee High School (open only to White students at the time, and since renamed Washington-Liberty).

I have spent way too much time reading about high school life in Arlington in 1927. The short biographies (and photos) of the 33 graduates are extremely compelling, causing me to go down the rabbit hole of history to find out whatever happened to a number of those graduates.

The credit for such a readable and substantial yearbook (134 pages) is likely due to a capable editor-in-chief, Elizabeth Gideon, who also happened to be the vice-president of the senior class.

In one section in the yearbook, entitled “Class Prophecy,” an anonymous author tells a dramatic story about falling asleep in a garden of the Temple of Prophecy in Egypt. This author then dreams about the future of all 33 graduates.

Interestingly, a Charlotte Hagan is seen in this dream giving a speech for women’s rights, and is quoted as saying, “In a few years a woman will be president of this country.”

Each short prophecy is very well-written. I suspect that the anonymous author was the editor, Elizabeth Gideon, who comes across as a remarkable young woman. Reading the aspirations of these young people, alongside their sense of playfulness, reminds me that while much has changed in the world, much remains the same.

There is much history to discover in Arlington, starting with the grand reopening of the AHS museum, at 1805 S. Arlington Ridge Road, on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum will then return to its regular hours of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

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