May 1 - 7, 2025
Tonight in F.C., How To Run for
City Council
As Budget Awaits Final OK, Worries Loom on Forecasts
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
Two major new developments have arisen so far for this coming period in Falls Church. The first is the announcement in Wednesday’s daily schools update that the proposed new Superintendent, who the school board has selected to replace departing Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, will be unveiled this Monday at 5 p.m.
The second is more immediate, as in tonight (Thursday, May 1) at the American Legion Hall on N. Oak, when the venerable civic association, the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) and the F.C. chapter of the League of Women Voters join hands to host a panel on how to run for the City Council here.
It promises to be interesting in Virginia this year, with one of the only significant elections nationwide for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, along with all two-year state delegate seats up for grabs.
That includes the races for the Falls Church City Council.
As the final two weeks of deliberations are currently underway for the upcoming fiscal year budget, there is a looming June 17 deadline for citizens to file the necessary paperwork and 120 signatures of registered voters here, to be on the ballot for the November general election. Tonight’s panel will be discussing the “how to’s” of such an effort for anyone thinking of throwing their hat in the ring.
Continued on Page 3
FALL OF SAIGION: 50 YEARS LATER
Region Reeling as Connolly Won’t Seek Re-Election
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
The entire Northern Virginia region was shaken this week by the news from long-time U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly that his cancer has returned and he will not seek re-election to another term in 2026.
In a statement to constituents Monday, Connolly wrote, “When I announced my diagnosis six months ago, I promised transparency. After grueling treatments, we’ve learned that the cancer, while initially beaten back, has now returned. I’ll do everything possible to continue to represent you and thank you for your grace.
“The sun is setting on my
time in public service, and this will be my last term in Congress. I will be stepping back as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee soon. With no rancor, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we’ve accomplished together over 30 years. My loving family and staff sustain me. My extended family — you all have been a joy to serve.”
Long time friend and colleague U.S. Rep. Don Beyer yesterday reacted to the announcement with the following statement:
“Northern Virginia is a better place for Gerry Connolly’s decision to enter public service. He has left an indelible mark on Fairfax County, our region,
our Commonwealth, and our country as a tireless advocate for our federal workforce, the U.S. Postal Service, and our public transit system. He served his constituents faithfully, was a vigorous fighter for government reform, and remains one of the most effective legislators in either party.
“I cannot imagine the House without Gerry. We have been friends for many years, but for the past decade our partnership was an essential starting point from which so much important work followed. I deeply respect Gerry’s decision to put his constituents first by stepping back, but I will miss him terribly in Congress. Megan and I send our love to Gerry, Smitty, and the
Connolly family, with thanks for years of friendship and a great career, and our best hopes for the future.”
Karl Frisch, chair of the Fairfax County School Board, added, “Today, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate a true champion for our community and our public schools — Congressman Gerry Connolly, who announced yesterday that he will not seek reelection following the recurrence of his cancer diagnosis.
“Throughout his career — from his time representing Providence District (the same community I serve) on the Fairfax County Board of
Continued on Page 4
THIS WEEK MARKED THE 50TH anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in April 1975. Where were you that day? A large delegation of brightly-attired business owners from Falls Church’s Eden Center showed up to be the recipient of a heartfelt proclamation from the City marking the important date. (Photo: News-Press)
Falls Church
Business News & Notes
Community Appreciation Event
The Toy Nest and Babycito are co-hosting their 3rd Annual Community Appreciation Day in front of the Falls Church Farmers’ Market at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. Celebrity kids’ comedy magician The Great Zucchini will be the highlight, and families are invited to enter to win a private two-hour playdate at The Toy Nest for 10 kids! The event is free to the public and perfect for kids from 3 to 8 years old. Blankets or lawn chairs are recommended.
Casual Pint: Bricks ‘n Brews
Saturday, May 3, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. - The Bricks ‘n Brews team is coming back to the Pint with a springtime custom Lego build of a garden next to a weathered tree stump. Build with friends and your first pint is included in the ticket price. This event sells out every time. Tickets are available on Eventbrite via the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bricksn-brews-tree-stump-home-garden-at-casual-pint-falls-church-tickets-1317556770769?utmcampaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utmterm=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
A Work of Heart: Culmore Clinic Spring Fundraiser
Saturday, May 3, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Culmore Clinic is hosting Work of Art, an evening dedicated to supporting free, life-saving healthcare for the community. Held at Hendry House, located at 2411 24th Street, N in Arlington, guests will enjoy food and beverages while viewing the art exhibition. The event is free, and donations are encouraged. The Clinic ensures that neighbors receive the compassionate, high-quality care RSVPs are requested for planning purposes: https:// secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/O1VKM--mLJCTo--N1ByUiw?t=1743599631
Job Fair for Federal Workers and Contractors
Congressman Don Beyer, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, the City of Falls Church, Arlington County and Fairfax County, invites all federal workers and interested jobseekers to attend a networking and hiring fair. The event is Saturday, May 3, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria. Meet and network with 50 hiring companies and find your next career. It is walking distance from the Braddock Road Metro.
Functional Fitness
Sunday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. - For those that aren’t familiar with Functional Fitness VA co-founder Tom Abbey, he lost his battle with Brain Cancer in May of 2018. He liked running, so every year around May his friends try to run in some sort of event and this year it’s the National Brain Tumor Society 5k. Held every May, The Race for Hope 5k raises money for brain cancer treatment and research. Join Functional Fitness to run or walk with the #AbbeyStrong team or donate towards their goal.
Ribbon Cutting for Mason’s Famous Lobster Roll
The public is invited to join the Falls Church Chamber and elected officials at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Mason’s Famous Lobster Roll in West Falls on Tuesday, May 6 at 5:00 p.m. Meet the owner, Boniface Tsimi, and enjoy the reception. Guests will note that Nathan’s Hot Dogs, grilled cheese and Whoopie Pies also grace the menu. The address is 243 W. Falls Station Boulevard.
Coming Soon: Little Falls Café
The Little City will soon have a new restaurant, Little Falls Café. The creperie has been created with European-inspired food and vintage décor. Anastasiya Algarme, co-creator of Pupatella, purposely created different cuisine and a different vibe with the Café. She expects to open in May with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
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.
Our Man In Arlington
Bill Fogarty
Front-Page History: When I review newspapers for history research, the important stories are usually located on Page 1. The problem for me is that I get distracted by all the front-page stories on any given day. These other stories are so interesting that I thought I would write an occasional column based on the front-page news of one day in the life of Arlington. Today I am sharing news from 80 years ago.
On Friday, May 4, 1945, the headlines in The Sun newspaper reflected national and local concerns, ranging from stark news about men serving in the armed forces, to the mundane details about the County budget: “2 Arlington Men Are Reported Dead”; “Tax Rate Boosted 15c per $100 Value”.
The war news referred to the recent deaths of President Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler. A weekly columnist complained that folks were becoming apathetic about the war: “Two or three months ago a German report that Hitler was dead would have stirred quite a cheer. This week we heard scarcely anyone comment on the report.”
The newspaper reported the death of Sgt. William Furr, killed in action in the Philippines. Sgt. Furr was one of the first graduates of Washington-Lee High School. Another Arlington soldier had died of malaria in the South Pacific. Seven men were reported wounded or missing in action. Lieutenant James Einum, 33 years old, was wounded by shell fragments on the right side of his body. The article noted that he was married, and that he and his wife “have a year-old daughter, Jean Kay, who has never seen her father.”
Benjamin Pennifill, Jr., who lived with his grandmother, was an18 year-old serving with an armed reconnaissance division in Germany. He suffered severe head, back and chest injuries.
Edward McCarthy, 19, the son of Judge Walter McCarthy, had suffered shrapnel wounds in late 1944. Then, on April 12 in Germany, McCarthy stepped on a land mine and his left foot was partially taken off by the explosion. Each short report on the soldiers was very matter-of-fact about these experiences at war.
On the home front, the Arlington Civic Federation was in the news. With the recent surrender by the German army, Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) was named as a national holiday in Britain for May 8. The Federation voted to recommend to the County Board that there be no celebration in the County on V-E Day. Their motion stated, “it would be inappropriate to celebrate victory in one place when we do not know how long it will be before there will be victory in the other.”
The Federation voted to support the Cherrydale Citizens Association in their request to the County to acquire five acres at North Thomas Street and Old Dominion Drive for a playground. Nearby property owners were objecting to the acquisition because it would lower their property values. (The property was never acquired.)
At the Federation meeting members brought up a number of concerns: about a zoning approval of a project in the Nauck neighborhood (now known as Green Valley); asking for a traffic light at the intersection of Lee Highway and Kirkwood Road; and recommending all citizens take advantage of the County program to schedule x-ray appointments to detect tuberculosis.
The County Board voted to increase the property tax rate by 15 cents, from $2.70 per $100 of assessed value, to $2.85 per $100. (Our 2025 rate is $1.033 per $100 of assessed value). Board members heard two interesting complaints: (i) residents in the area of George Mason Drive and 25th Place North wanted the County to require the developer to finish paving their streets; and (ii) residents in the Woodmont neighborhood wanted the County to require a neighbor to “do away with 30 chickens he is keeping on his property”. It is assumed the streets were paved and the chickens were relocated.
This trip down memory lane raises questions that I may need to research. Was there a spontaneous celebration of V-E Day in Arlington? What happened to those soldiers who were wounded, and the families of those who died? The meaning of Memorial Day comes into sharper focus with even a little bit of local history.
CBC/LWV Panel on How to Run for City Council is Slated Tonight
From what we’ve learned so far, incumbent Council member David Snyder, who has been on the Council since 1994, has already submitted his paperwork to be on the ballot, as has Laura Downs, who was elected last fall to fill a vacancy on an interim basis, but now will be seeking a full four-year term.
Other candidates have not as yet let their intentions be known. Incumbent Vice Mayor Debbie Shantz-Hiscott has remained non-committal on another run to date, and chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation (CACT), one of the more involved advisory bodies to the Council, Arthur Agin, has been circulating petitions to run. He was introduced to the News-Press last week at the budget town hall by Mayor Letty Hardi.
Council member Marybeth Connelly has also been circulating petitions and voters have until the end of this month to register to vote in the June 17
primary, where there will be no Republicans on the ballot, with Fairfax Supervisor Jack Herrity having withdrawn from a potential run for lieutenant governor leaving no intra-party contests to be decided.
On the Democratic side, former U.S. congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is the lone candidate for governor, while there are six candidates for lieutenant governor, and two for attorney general.
It is not known how the minor debates underway for how the $1.2 million shortfall now anticipated in City revenues will be finalized by the May 12 date for the final adoption of the coming fiscal year budget.
However, consensus at this Monday’s long Council meeting seemed to point to retaining a small tax rate reduction, but not at the 2.5 cent level originally recommended by City Manager Wyatt Shields in mid-March, prior to the more recent report that now anticipates a $1.2 million shortfall.
With the revenue sharing agreement in effect for the last half-dozen years, the arrange-
ment in advance is that both the cityside and schools should enjoy the same benefits of net growth in annual revenues. The schools made a big deal of paring their request back from over a 9 percent growth request to the 5.9 percent level cohering with the overall growth actually anticipated.
But now the schools are not willing to accept a $600,000 cut below that with the revised projections, and large turnouts at Council chambers both at the town hall last Thursday and at the full-capacity Council meeting this Monday were designed to drive home that point, especially with the schools projecting an enrollment growth by over 150 next fall and having committed to the new collective bargaining agreements hammered out last year.
As of this week’s Council meeting, it appeared there is a consensus for a 1 to 1.5 cent cut in the tax rate (better than any of the surrounding jurisdictions) and some interest in only a .5 cent cut before a final public hearing is held prior to the Council’s decisive vote May 12.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
(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 City of Falls Church proposes to increase property tax levies.
• 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.
• 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.
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
ARTHUR AGIN, chair of the CACT, circulated petitions last week to qualify for the November ballot as candidate for the Falls Church City Council. (Photo: News-Press)
Area Rep. Connolly Announces He Won’t Seek Another Term
should do it with a smile.
Supervisors and then leading it as Chairman, to his work and leadership in Congress — Gerry has been a tireless advocate for progressive values and strong public schools.
“He has always recognized that investing in our students, educators, and schools is crucial to creating a better future for our entire community. Time and again, he has fought for increased education funding, greater support for teachers, and critical programs that give every child a fair shot at success.
“When I first decided to run for the School Board, Gerry didn’t hesitate to offer his advice, inviting me to visit with him and discuss my plans. In the years since, he has consistently provided thoughtful counsel, grounded in a singular focus: to do what we can to improve the lives of those we represent.
“Gerry’s laughter, wit, and sense of humor set an uplifting tone for the work we do as public servants, reminding us that it is a privilege to serve and that we
Here in Fairfax County, we see the lasting impact of his advocacy every day — in classrooms where opportunity is alive and well, in programs that uplift children and families, and in the green spaces and affordable housing he helped establish.
“I am proud to call Gerry Connolly a friend and a partner in this important work. Please join me in extending our deepest gratitude and best wishes to him as he continues to lead with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to our community.”
Jeff Person, chair of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee added the following statement:
“The Falls Church City Democratic Committee stands in solidarity with Congressman Gerry Connolly as he bravely confronts a new chapter in his battle with cancer. His decision not to seek re-election marks the end of an extraordinary era of service — but not the end of his towering influence on the fight for our democracy, our workers, and our communities.
“For over three decades, Gerry Connolly has been a fearless advocate for the people of Northern Virginia and beyond. His leadership helped transform Fairfax County into a model of good governance and vibrant growth. In Congress, he has been a relentless champion for federal workers, voting rights, and international human rights — always standing on the side of democracy against the forces of extremism and authoritarianism.
“At a time when our fundamental rights are under daily assault, Gerry Connolly’s voice has been indispensable. He has shown that principled leadership, grounded in local values and community spirit, can make a national impact.
“In Falls Church and across Virginia’s 11th District, we owe Congressman Connolly an enduring debt of gratitude. His legacy is not only in the legislation he passed or the causes he championed, but also in the thousands of public servants, activists, and everyday citizens he inspired to believe that democracy depends on their engagement.
“The Falls Church City Democratic Committee remains
committed to carrying forward the values that Gerry Connolly is fighting for — and to honoring his service by redoubling our work to elect leaders who will continue the fight for justice, equity, and oppor-
tunity for all.
“We extend our deepest thanks to Congressman Connolly and offer him our full support as he focuses on his health. His fight is our fight.”
Cult Century: 1970s Roots Of Trumpism, Part 1 of 25
Nicholas F. Benton
The U.S. population as a whole is now finding out what it’s like to be in a cult. Every move that the new Trump administration has been taking, especially since his re-election in 2024, corresponds to what has been a cookie cutter script for the myriad authoritarian anti-science cults that exploded across the land in the late 1960s and 1970s.
It appears to me, as one who looked at the cult phenomenon from the inside for longer than I would like to admit, finally breaking clear in the mid-1980s, that this cult formula was transferred out of the bizarre haunts and practices of narrow mind-controlling cults to the general culture through the promotion of and rise of the Trump franchise.
Every aspect of the behavior and tactics that Trump has demonstrated since announcing his first run for the U.S. presidency in 2015 to the present (Spring 2025) corresponds with remarkable consistency with the major facets of what true believers experienced from their usually sociopathic leaders in almost countless cults. I will describe all of these, and their parallels with Trump, over the course of these coming pages.
Trump as a cult leader, obviously also with many key senior advisors and enablers, constitutes the reason, in my view, that no one has really fully understood and therefore not been able to stop him to this point. In important ways I think his niece, Mary Trump, has come closer to “getting it” than almost anyone else.
But even more prominent anticult personalities, like Steven Hassan, miss key points because they focus on the matter too narrowly and with an emphasis on deprogramming individual cult victims.
No, to understand cults properly, one must start with what we now have and work backwards. Trump is back in the White House and his minions in all major positions of power, who were appointed rather not for their competency but solely in terms of their pure loyalty.
That loyalty has had to go to extremes, shocking the intelli-
gent world, including devotion to Trump’s obsession that he was cheated out of winning the 2020 election (he doesn’t really believe it, except on some level of his rotting brain he does) while harboring any number of bizarre beliefs, the wilder the better for sticking it to the establishment, as in the case of RFK Jr.’s appointment (and confirmation by GOP colleagues in the Senate) to head Health and Human Services.
Starting from now, and working backwards brings us to the postWorld War era when the many Hitler sympathizers embedded in corridors of power in the U.S. discovered something new coming out of that war and decided to try it out.
Don’t get me wrong, sheer evil has existed long before that and it is what got us into the two great conflagrations of the 20th century, and a deadly pandemic and Great Depression in between, such that over 200 million lives that otherwise would not have been miserable and cut short can be attributed to this harrowing period of 1914 to 1945.
What made the post World War II era different, and potentially even more crippling than what was experienced before was born out of the frustration that the wrong side won that war, and more needs to be done to prepare for a better outcome the next time the opportunity arises.
Coming out of that war, and more importantly from the Korean conflict that followed it in the early 1950s, was the discovery by American military intelligence as reported by POWs of hard core brainwashing methods that Chinese adversaries had used with a considerable amount of success.
Through the 1950s, while on the domestic front the nation was contending with residual Naziism in the form of McCarthyite “Red Scare” demagoguery, in clandestine military and intelligence community efforts, ways were being explored for mastering and applying these brainwashing methods in the general population.
It started with experimentation efforts using LSD and other disorienting drugs through operations like MK-Ultra, and evolved quickly toward what some elements disturbed by these developments made public in the form of a book and then 1961 movie titled, “The Manchurian Candidate.”
(Part One. To Be Continued)
A Penny for Your Thoughts
By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor
This week marks the end of the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term as president. Has it only been 100 days? Seems like the national and international chaos created by the Trump White House has been affecting economies across the globe for much longer.
Shortly after last November’s election, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay warned that Trump’s election would have a devastating effect on the county’s economy. In his remarks, McKay noted that 40 percent of Virginia’s federal contractors are located in Fairfax County. A shakeup of the federal workforce and cuts to housing programs were concerns voiced by Chairman McKay, but he also said that “we have to assume that Congress isn’t crazy enough to destabilize our government.” Sadly, it looks like the Republicancontrolled Congress has abandoned its role as an equal branch of government and has allowed Trump’s orders and activities to destroy trust in our democratic institutions, spiraling down in a race to the economic bottom.
Virginia is a top state for federal contracting, accounting for more than $100 Billion per year to the Commonwealth’s economy. Of
that figure, 62 percent is spent in Northern Virginia, and 16 percent in Hampton Roads. 441,488 civilian jobs in Virginia are dependent on federal contracting, according to the Virginia General Assembly’s Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, chaired by Fairfax delegate David Bulova. In testimony before the committee earlier this month, Chairman McKay suggested that the Commonwealth consider adjustments to the state childcare subsidy to ensure that providers can continue to offer quality services as families are affected by job insecurities stimulated by Trump’s federal cuts. Housing assistance and support for additional research and development in Virginia’s high-tech industry were among other suggestions by McKay.
A local initiative by Northern Virginia Community College, called NOVAnext, is designed to assist dislocated federal workers to attain new workforce credentials or otherwise prepare for new employment in less time, and less cost, than a regular associate degree would take. At a meeting of the NOVA Annandale campus Advisory Committee last week, a participant reflected on his own employment history. When he was laid off as a federal employee, his mental health and feeling of selfworth were affected for a time, a situation felt by many in the same boat. He found a new and interesting job and is trying to help others as they navigate the choppy waters of retooling their skills for new opportunities. More about the NOVAnext program can be found at next@nvcc.edu.
City of Falls Church Crime Report
Week of Apr 21 - 27, 2025
Reckless Driving, E Broad St, Apr 21, 12:45 p.m., an female, 40, of Fairfax Station, was arrested for Reckless Driving.
Trespassing, W Broad St, Apr 22, 12:38 AM, a male, 67, of no fixed address, was arrested for Trespassing.
Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, Hillwood Ave/Cleave Dr, Apr 22, 2:45 AM, a white male, 21, of Tampa, FL, was arrested on two outstanding warrants from another jurisdiction.
Larceny from Building, Gundry Dr, between 12:00 p.m. on March 28 and 8:00 a.m. on April 22, an unknown suspect stole lawn equipment from an unlocked shed.
Larceny from Building, E Broad St, between 12:00 PM on March 27 and 4:00 p.m. on April 22, an unknown suspect stole a locked black Cannondale 105 bicycle.
Fraud - Credit Card, Gundry Dr, Apr 22, 6:15 p.m., victim contacted an airline customer ser-
vice line using a phone number they found online. While speaking with the customer service agent, the victim provided their credit card information as payment. After the victim’s credit card was charged, they realized the phone number they called was not the correct customer service number.
Driving Under the Influence, W Broad St, Apr 24, 9:37 a.m., a male, 29, of Fairfax County, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Hit & Run of Unattended Vehicle.
Assault and Battery, W Broad St, Apr 24, 6:26 p.m., victim reported they were assaulted by an identified suspect.
Trespassing, W Broad St, Apr 25, 7:10 a.m., an unknown suspect stole merchandise without paying. Victim declined prosecution.
Driving on Suspended License, E Broad St, Apr 25, 10:40 a.m., a female, 33, of Vienna, was arrested for Driving on Suspended License.
No Valid Operator’s License, E Broad St, Apr 25, 1:47 PM, a male, 30, of Killeen, TX, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.
The Board of Supervisors held its traditional three days of budget hearings last week. Board members heard from school advocates, employee groups, childcare providers, supporters of the arts, and individual residents who shared their own particular concerns, sometimes tearfully, about the proposed budget and real estate taxes. I testified about maintaining the free summer concert programs in the parks, which are targeted for massive reductions. It was a bit strange to stand at the lectern facing the board dais when I spent 28 years behind that same dais, listening to thousands of residents testify about the budget. Speakers are limited to three minutes, something that also was difficult. You must be very focused to get your message across in three minutes! The Board now will have the tough job of deciding the real estate tax rate, which programs to continue funding, and which may be cut. Budgets reflect the values of the community and the governing body. Given the uncertainty of cuts to the federal workforce, programs, and even entire departments, these may be the most difficult county budget decisions in a couple of decades.
Driving on Suspended License, Hillwood Ave, Apr 25, 8:16 p.m., a male, 40, of Arlington, was arrested for Driving on Suspended License.
Felony Assault on Law Enforcement/Felony Eluding Police, S Washington St, Apr 26, 11:10 a.m., officers initiated a traffic stop for Improper Stopping. A black female, 53, of Vienna, was arrested for Felony Assault on Law Enforcement, Felony Eluding Police, Driving on Suspended License, Reckless Driving, two counts of Destruction of Property and Improper Stopping.
Larceny from Vehicle/Destruction of Property/ Credit Card Theft/Fraud - Credit Card, Roosevelt Blvd, between 2:00 PM on April 26 and 10:00 AM on April 27, an unknown suspect shattered the window of the victim’s vehicle and took a fanny pack containing credit cards, then attempted several fraudulent transactions.
Obstruction of Justice/Reckless Driving, W Broad St, Apr 27, 9:52 PM, a male, 34, of Burke, was arrested for Obstruction of Justice and Reckless Driving.
6 | May 1 - 7, 2025
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Vol. XXXV, No. 12 May 1 - 7, 2025
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N-P Proposes Push For ‘Restaurant Row’
As the Falls Church City Council comes down to its final two weeks before a May 12 vote that will set the real estate tax rate for the coming fiscal year, there is little doubt that a great deal of uncertainty looms over this region. We face, with the draconian cuts in the federal workforce and federal consultants, an impact that, actually, is impossible to predict right now.
What we know for sure is that discretionary dollars are already being pulled back as this region, perhaps the most vulnerable in the U.S. in the face of all this, with suddenly frugality winning over generosity in countless personal and corporate decisions on when to open the pocket book and when not to. It can be assured that the area’s resources will be taxed to the max as the longer term impacts of layoffs and joblessness begin to sink in.
Falls Church may consider itself in a relatively strong position, given its focus on economic development the last two decades, but this is little solace given how bad it might get overall.
At the News-Press, we are here to help. Our chief presented a draft resolution to the City Council this week offering to exchange an advance on an authorization already secured to enable this paper to expand its distribution around the City in hopes of driving important dollars to the City’s now emerging nexus of fine restaurants.
We are already set up to achieve this goal. But there was no immediate reply from the Council this week.
Here is the text of the draft resolution:
WHERAS the small businesses and especially restaurants in the City of Falls Church are faced with a special challenge in this period given the extraordinary layoffs of federal employees and contractors that have been undertaken by the new federal administration the last 100 days, and WHEREAS Falls Church enjoys a unique advantage for addressing this looming crisis in the form of a popular and widely-distributed weekly newspaper, the Falls Church News-Press, now in its 34th year of consecutive weekly publication with over 140 conveniently located distribution sites in the City alone, and
WHEREAS a recent survey by the Falls Church City government about where residents get their information about goings on in the City, the Falls Church News-Press was by far the preferred source, and WHEREAS the Falls Church News-Press has promised that with a sufficient but not major funding boost it is prepared to double or triple its current circulation to zip codes around the City that the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis has determined to have $14 billion in annual disposable income, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council instructs the City Manager to immediately release $50,000 of $100,000 earlier authorized to the News-Press as payment in advance for advertising to augment its expanded distribution with the launch of a new Page 1 campaign, “Dine Along Falls Church’s World Famous Restaurant Row.’
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.
Letters to Editor
the value of unpaid care.
Editor,
Alzheimer’s is a devastating progressive disease that destroys one’s memory and significantly impairs the ability to perform routine daily functions. Nationally, there are almost 7 million people living with Alzheimer’s and in Virginia there are 164,000 aged 65 or older.
Among the stakeholders, caregivers are vital in providing service and support to those living with Alzheimer’s. In Virginia, there are 342,000 caregivers. Across the country in 2023, Alzheimer’s caregivers provided 662 million hours of unpaid care valued at $12.5 billion. Of these family caregivers, 40 percent have a household income of $50,000 or less. In 2021, dementia caregivers bore, on average $12,388 in out-of-pocket costs. Of the total lifetime cost of dementia care, 70 percent is borne by families-either through out-of-pocket health and long term care expenses or from
Thankfully, for those of us in Virginia’s 8th congressional district, US Rep. Don Beyer can play an important role in standing up for dementia caregivers in our state and across the nation. Recently, the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, H.R. 2036, was introduced in the House of Representatives. This legislation will create a new, non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for eligible family caregivers. This bipartisan legislation would offset the cost of some caregiving expenses such as a home health aide, adult day services, home modifications, respite care or other supports that help them and their loved ones.
Because family caregivers provide such important service to their loved ones, the assistance available through this legislation will certainly benefit them in their good work.
Please join us, and the Alzheimer’s Association, in requesting that Rep. Beyer cosponsor the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act.
Guy Mayer, F.C. Catherine Beddow, F.C. CITY
Arts & Entertainent
See Pages 8-11
A Musical, a Classic, and Comedy Horror on High School Stages in F.C.
by Mark Dreisonstok
Several plays of high interest are being presented in early May at Falls Church high schools. Falls Church High School Spotlight Theater Company is staging, for example, “The Addams Family,” the musical mixing comedy and horror and based on the Chrales Addams New Yorker cartoons and the subsequent television series. In this musical incarnation, we are reacquainted with the familiar characters of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Pugsley, and a teenage Wednesday. Wednesday, now a teenager, is in love! The object of her affection and his family pay a visit to the Addams, where there is a conflict between the Addams’ unconventional ways and the utter conventionality of the beau’s family. When asked why she chose “The Addams Family” musical, director and drama teacher Beth Becker told us: “We chose this musical because its theme—the quest for unconditional love—is enduring and so important right now.” It is Spotlight Theater Company’s first production to be staged in the renovated Falls Church High School auditorium.
Love is also the theme of Jane
Austen’s first novel “Sense and Sensibility,” which is being presented in dramatized form at Trinity School at Meadow View. Falls Church’s Trinity School is devoted to a Humane Letters program focusing on the world’s classics, and Patty Whelpley, co-director of the play, tells Falls Church News-Press:
“We chose ‘Sense and Sensibility’ because a large portion of our school read it as an extracurricular book club last year. The book fits well with our focus on classical literature.”
The Austen characters of Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, and John Willoughby are enacted respectively by students Francesca Cook, Lizzie Messeh, and Shane Monroe. Seth Luisi, playing the role of Edward Ferrars, says that he appreciates the way “Sense and Sensibility” explores “the interplay between reason, emotion, and human nature.”
“Set sail for laughter and romance!” announces George C. Marshall High School’s Statesmen Theatre announces, as it proudly presents “Anything Goes,” which it further describes as “a high-energy musical filled with toe-tapping tunes, madcap comedy, and whirlwind romance.” This 1934 classic Cole
Porter work of the American musical theatre takes place aboard a ship sailing to England and features a cast of eccentric characters: singer Reno Sweeney, who is in love with broker Billy Crocker, who is in turn hopelessly in love with the heiress Hope. She, in turn, is preparing to marry Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Gangster and public enemy “Moonface” and his moll add to the cast of comic characters. Director and choreographer Ahmad Matty informs us “Anything Goes” is exactly the kind of musical he adores, and he brings it to his theatre students with great enthusiasm. He has chosen “Anything Goes” as this production encourages his students to “dream big, work hard, and realize their dreams.”
One recent afternoon, this writer had an opportunity to catch a rehearsal of “Anything Goes” and was impressed by the vocal range of some of the lead players (notably, lead actress Saniya Desai as Reno) as they performed classic Cole Porter songs such as “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and, of course, “Anything Goes.” The titular song involved much lively tap dancing! Sets were designed well, with classic boat steam-stacks in the back and a runway surrounding the
orchestra pit. The orchestra, conducted by Paul Vesiland, recreated in upbeat fashion the swing style of the early 1930s.
Falls Church area schools are clearly presenting a great variety of dramatic fare to their students and audiences who will no doubt enjoy these productions.
“The Addams Family” will be performed at Falls Church High School on May 2 and 3 at 7 p.m., May 4 at 3 p.m., May 10 at 2
p.m. and 7 p.m., and May 11 at 3 p.m. Trinity School at Meadow View’s “Sense and Sensibility” will be staged at the Pozez Jewish Community Center (8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, Virginia) on May 8 and 9, beginning at 7 p.m. The show dates for “Anything Goes,” to be performed at George C. Marshall High School, are: May 2, 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. In addition, there is a matinee performance on May 10 at 2 p.m.
PICTURED IS FALLS Church High School’s “The Addams Family,” left to right: Uncle Fester, played by Benjamin RodriguezChicas, Pugsley, played by Max Purtill, Gomez, played by Colt Armstrong, Lurch, played by Sebastian Neff, Morticia, played by Kate Schlageter-Prettyman, Wednesday, played by Ellie Child, and Grandma, played by Sasha Wendell. (Photo: Katie Child, Falls Church High School Graduate)
6:30PM - 7:30PM
FOUNDERS GROOVE JUNE - AUGUST
From food festivals to theatrical premieres, the summer season in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., promises a rich mix of cultural experiences, community fun, and bold storytelling. Whether you’re looking for family outings, date-night ideas, or immersive entertainment, these five standout events offer something for every interest.
Founders Row Summer Series – Falls Church, VA
Founders Row continues to grow into a summer gathering spot for Falls Church, offering a weekly lineup of free Friday concerts, outdoor movie nights, and pop-up vendors. With local musicians, food trucks, and activities for all ages, this series turns the plaza into an open-air celebration of community every weekend. Surrounded by new restaurants and shops, it’s the
perfect spot for a casual evening under the stars.
St. Katherine Greek Festival – Falls Church, VA | June 6–8
Celebrate the sights, sounds, and especially the flavors of Greece at the St. Katherine Greek Festival, happening June 6–8 at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church. A longstanding community favorite, the festival features homemade Greek food including gyros, spanakopita, moussaka, and irresistible desserts like loukoumades and baklava. Enjoy live bouzouki music, traditional folk dancing, Greek imports for sale, and church tours — all in a familyfriendly, tented outdoor setting.
Arena Stage Summer Productions – Washington, D.C.
This summer, Arena Stage presents two imaginative and emotionally resonant productions that showcase its range and artistic reach. First up is “We Are Gathered Here
Today,” a poignant and often humorous exploration of family and grief as a loved one’s funeral spirals into unexpected revelations. Later in the season comes “A Wrinkle in Time,” an inventive stage adaptation of the beloved sci-fi novel, perfect for all ages. Arena’s summer offerings promise thought-provoking entertainment with Broadway-caliber performances in the heart of D.C.
Creative Cauldron – Falls Church, VA
Creative Cauldron kicks off summer with the regional premiere of “Woman on Fire,” running April 24–May 11. Written by Marisela Treviño Orta and directed by Elena Velasco, this poetic drama follows a Mexican-American woman grappling with identity, ancestral ties, and a mysterious spirit that interrupts her artistic journey. It’s a bold, haunting production that blends myth, memory, and the supernatural.
Following that, the Summer Cabaret Series returns from late June through August, bringing weekend performances by acclaimed local and
national artists in an intimate black box setting. The theater also hosts youth theater camps, offering immersive performing arts experiences for young actors, culminating in vibrant end-of-session productions.
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival –Manassas, VA | Saturday, May 3
Kick off the season with a full day of southern flavor at the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, set for Saturday, May 3 at the Prince William County Fairgrounds. Enjoy unlimited tastings of over
60 beers and 40 bourbons, feast on slow-smoked meats, and groove to live bluegrass and rock. The event includes a VIP tasting area, cigar tent, and local craft vendors, all in a laid-back festival atmosphere just outside the Beltway. Whether you’re in the mood for classic storytelling, global cuisine, outdoor music, or a smoky barbecue blowout, this summer’s lineup of events has your calendar covered. Dive into the season with these local highlights — and make it one to remember.
Evan Crump (Jared)
Lenny Mendez (Paola)
Nadia Palacios (Araceli) Odet royo (Juanita)
Woman on Fire’ Grips Audiences in New Creative Cauldron Show
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
Falls Church, VA — A compelling new work by acclaimed playwright Marisela Treviño Orta is bringing suspense, culture, and ancestral reckoning to the stage this spring. A Bold New Voices Regional Premiere, directed by Elena Velasco, tells the story of Juanita, a woman who relocates with her husband Jared to a small Arizona town for his new government position.
To help ease her transition, Jared surprises Juanita with a canvas, brushes, and paints, hoping to revive her lost passion for art. But as Juanita attempts to paint a family portrait, she finds herself disturbed by a mysterious and otherworldly presence in their new home.
The ghostly interruptions soon evolve into something deeper and more unsettling, prompting Juanita to seek help from her sister and perform a traditional ritual cleansing. What follows is a tense and emotional unraveling of long-buried family secrets and cultural truths. As the visions intensify, Juanita is forced to confront her own past and identity, ultimately embarking on a journey to reclaim her Mexican-American
STARTS JUNE 12
heritage and answer the call of her ancestors.
Director Elena Velasco brings a richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant vision to the stage, blending elements of the supernatural with themes of memory, migration, and self-discovery.
The production is being hailed as “a beautifully crafted ghost story that speaks eloquently to our times,” offering audiences both an intimate character study and a larger commentary on heritage and healing.
The play runs from April 24 through May 11 and marks a signifi-
cant addition to the regional theater calendar with its bold storytelling and cultural relevance.
Director: Elena Velasco
Assistant Director: Camilo Linares Scenic Designer: Margie
Lighting Designer: Lorenzo Miguel
Projection Designer: Julian Kelley
Jervis
Costume Designer: Nyasha Klusmann
PICTURED IS LENNY Mendez (Paola) (Photo: Creative Cauldron)
News & Notes
Beyer Assails Trump’s 1st 100 Days: Recession Risk!
Virginia’s U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents the 8th District that includes th City of Falls Church and serves as the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, yesterday reacted to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) release of its advance estimate for the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. BEA found that: “Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025… In the fourth quarter of 2024, real GDP increased 2.4 percent.”
Beyer said: “Trump’s chaos is clearly and significantly raising the risk of a recession, and the economic warning lights are all flashing red.
“The economy just shrank in the first three months of Trump’s presidency, after years of growth and a strong previous quarter. This GDP report also showed inflation rising, and all of this is before we even begin to see the worst impacts of Trump’s tariffs. Private sector hiring in April declined sharply, consumer confidence fell to its lowest point in three decades, and consumer expectations for the near-term economic performance are worse than they were at any point of the pandemic. Trump just had the worst stock market performance to start a presidency in over 50 years. Recession odds from economists and forecasters paint an increasingly grim picture.
“The economic news is so bad that Trump is trying to distance himself from his own economic performance and blame others for an economy he declared, upon being sworn in 100 days ago, would ‘flourish’ ‘from this day forward.’ Even his own supporters will not believe these flimsy excuses. Trump inherited a strong economy and is running it into the ground with stupid and disastrous tariffs, as Republicans in Congress refuse to stop him.”
Cappie Hero Janie Strauss Is Fondly Remembered
Former Fairfax County School Board member Janie Strauss, who has died at age 78, is being remembered as a community champion with a focus on improving the lives of youth.
Strauss, who served as the school board’s Dranesville District member for nearly
30 years, representing the McLean, Great Falls and Herndon areas, died at home on April 11 after a year-long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer, her family said, according to an ARLNow report by Scott McCaffrey.
In addition to her school board service, Strauss was perhaps most noted for chairing the CAPPIES, a national initiative supporting student theater and journalism.
The organization had been founded by her late husband, William, in 1999, and has an active presence across Northern Virginia.
The death of her husband in December 2007 resulted in a more prominent role for Strauss in the CAPPIES, an organization that trains student-journalists to review high school theater productions and, at the local level, culminates in a Kennedy Center awards gala each spring.
For her community work, Strauss was named “Lady Fairfax” for the Dranesville District by the Board of Supervisors in 2021.
She is survived by her four children — Melanie (Cyril) Yee, Victoria (Jeremy) Hays, Eric Strauss and Becky Strauss — as well as five grandchildren.
Facebook’s Zuckerberg Cites Decline in Use
“The company,” Meta and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said, has lately been involved in “the general idea of entertainment and learning about the world and discovering what’s going on.”
This under-recognized shift away from interpersonal communication has been measured by the company itself. During the defense’s opening statement in a recent law suit, Meta displayed a chart showing that the “percent of time spent viewing content posted by ‘friends’’’ has declined in the past two years, from twenty-two per cent to seventeen per cent on Facebook, and from eleven per cent to seven per cent on Instagram.”
“The crackdown on spammy content comes as AI slop is becoming a serious problem across social media platforms, including Facebook,” he said. The company told TechCrunch that its crackdown is not targeting AI slop directly, but notes that accounts engaging in spammy behavior while also sharing that type of content will be impacted. Facebook says it’s aware of the concerns around AI slop cluttering users’ feeds and says it will address the issue as part of its broader focus on improving users’ feeds.
LONG TIME FALLS CHURCH resident Betty Allan will soon be celebrating her 102nd birthday, diligent son and former Planning Commissioner Bob Burnett reports. She’s shown here with with Granddaughter granddaughter Jenna Burnett and grandson Charlie Allan. (Photo: Courtesy)
AT THE ANNUAL LGBTQ+ VICTORY FUND luncheon in D.C. last weekend were (l. to r.)
Virginia State Sen. Danica Roem, Jeff Person, chair of the F.C. Democratic Committee, and the News-Press’ Nicholas Benton. (Photo: News-Press)
In Memoriam: Johnnie Duff Gambill, Jr.
Johnnie Duff “Jack” Gambill, Jr., age 91 of Murfreesboro, TN, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2025. A native of Middle Tennessee, he was the son of the late Johnnie Gambill, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Young Gambill. Jack was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Mary Lynn Wilks Gambill, granddaughter Jessica Lee Gambill and his brothers, Claude, Doris and Mark Gambill.
Mr. Gambill is survived by his sons, Johnny Keith Gambill and his wife Lisa of Murfreesboro, TN, and Todd Edward Gambill and his husband Timothy Watkins of Washington D.C.; grandchildren, Lynsi Blankenship and her husband Adam, Elly Linam and her husband Patrick, and J. D. Gambill III and his wife Karson; and seven great-grandchildren; brother, David Gambill and his wife, Barbara; and a sister, Mitzi Wall of Nashville, TN.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, April 29th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel while the funeral services started at 1:00 p.m. Brother Tony Holt will officiate. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
Jack was a retired educator, coach and athletic director who worked for the Falls Church, Virginia George Mason School system before his retirement in 1994. He graduated from MTSU with a BS and Master’s in education. He was a life-long athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball in high school and college, and then coaching these sports and tennis throughout his career with many district, regional and state champi -
In Memoriam: Jim Spiridopoulos
It’s with a broken heart that I share the news that my husband, Jim, has passed away. We were blessed to have 57 wonderful years together, and I’m so grateful for every one of them.
Jim was an incredible husband, dad to our two kids – Lisa Spiridopoulos Herman and Greg Spiridopoulos and the best Papou to our three grandkids.
Jim dedicated over 50 years to teaching physical education in Virginia and coaching countless athletes in multiple sports. His true passion was women’s basketball. He coached at Dematha, George Mason, Bishop O’Connell High School, and Robison High Schools, winning a state championship at George
onships. He acted as the chairman of the Bull Run District Athletic Directors and then was chosen as the Athletic Director of the Year by the Virginia State High School Athletic Directors’ Association. He also served on the Board of Directors for many years.
Jack was a true southern gentleman, known for his quick laugh, great sense of humor and easygoing demeanor. He loved playing golf, collecting American coins, and creating beautiful gardens with flowers and vegetables. He was passionate about bridge and the longtime friends he played with each week over many decades. He supported MTSU sports and especially enjoyed attending the women’s basketball games. He loved to travel with his family and particularly reminisced over his trips to Israel, England, Italy and Hawaii. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the apples of his eye and he organized Friday night dinners each week for all who could attend. Most of all, he loved spending time with his extended family and friends, and the many students whose lives he touched. Some of his students have continued to visit him regularly from the 1970’s!
Jack was a long-time member the Falls Church, Church of Christ (Northern Virginia) congregation where he served as deacon for over 30 years, giving back to many in the community. After retirement, he was a member of the North Boulevard Church of Christ.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of his beloved wife, Mary Lynn, or the ASPCA, a cause he greatly supported.
Mason in 1998 and earning Washington Post All-Met DC Coach of the Year honors in 1989. He was so proud to be inducted into the George Mason and O’Connell Athletic Halls of Fame.
Twenty years ago, we moved to Hilton Head, SC, where Jim enjoyed retirement playing golf three times a week and watching all the sports he loved — especially women’s college basketball, the WNBA, and his Washington Redskins.
Jim lived a full life with heart, humor, and dedication. He touched so many lives, and we will miss him more than words can say. Thank you to everyone who has already reached out — your love and support means the world.
ARBOR DAY was celebrated in the City of Falls Church last weekend with its proud legacy as a “Tree City USA” for many years. Events were held at Frady Park on E. Broad to mark the important day. (Photo: Gary Mester)
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH was honored in Falls Church last weekend with an energetic and cheerful reception. (Photo: Gary Mester)
A LARGE TURNOUT almost filled the Council chambers in City Hall last Thursday for the second town hall on the budget. (Photo: News-Press)
THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.
or
Thursday, M ay 1
On Stage: In The Heights
March 6, 2025 – May 4, 2025 Signature Theatre 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206 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. - 8:15a.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
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.
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, 7-9 p.m. 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 22046
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.
NoVa+ Bookstore Crawl Passport Program April 26, 2025 – May 31, 2025
One More Page Books
2200 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA 22213
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!
Live Performance: Sister Act
April 28, 2025 – May 17, 2025
Ford's Theatre
511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
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.
FC City Wellness and Benefits Fair
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Falls Church City Hall
300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046
The Wellness and Benefits Fair in City Hall includes fitness centers, personal trainers, mindfulness and relaxation resources, healthy eating, and physical therapists. This event will be open to the public and coincides with the City’s employee benefits open enrollment.
Rockin' Raw Bar
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dogwood Tavern
132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
$1 Oysters? Check. Scrumptious seafood? Check. The talented and groovy Rob Hornfeck? Check.
See you at our ROCKIN' Raw Bar!!
Music by the Metro –Clarendon Concert Series
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
3100 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
Music by the Metro, a free outdoor concert series presented by the Clarendon Alliance.
Every Thursday evening in May, enjoy live performances from a diverse lineup of talented musicians in the heart of Clarendon.
It’s a perfect way to kick off your weekend early with great music and community vibes.
Performer: Zedicus
Folger Book Club
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Virtual Our May 2025 Pick, The Death I Gave Him, by Em X. Liu. A lyrical, queer sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a locked-room thriller. Free but registration required at www.folger.edu.
FCCPS Choral Boosters Karaoke Night
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Clare & Don's Beach Shack
130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA Karaoke Night, starts at 7:00 p.m., raffle at 8:15 p.m. and special guest singers! Dust off your vocal cords and prepare for a night of laughter, unforgettable (and maybe slightly off-key!) performances, and pure fun. Last year was an absolute blast with a packed house, and this year promises to be even bigger and better! Don't miss your chance to shine (or hilariously belt it out!) on stage. Plus, rumor has it the coveted trophy for Best Faculty Performance is back up for grabs! There may or may not be bongos on stage to enhance your performance. Free entry for FCCPS Faculty and Staff. For everyone else tickets $10.00 at https://fccpschoralboosters.org/karaoke-night.
Federal Workers Workshop: Professional Branding for Job/Career Transition
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
One More Page Books
2200 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA
Join us for a free workshop focused on professional branding for career transition with Allison Pickett! This workshop is for federal workers, former or current, and anyone whose career has been affected by tumultuous shifts in government jobs. Participants will receive a free 30 minute 1 on 1 session (at a later time) with Allison as well! Registration required at www.onemorepagebooks.com.
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, May 2
The Hospitable Gardener: Welcoming Birds to Your Garden
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Virtual Birds are some of the most visible and charming visitors to our gardens. Are you interested in being a better host to them? Alyssa Ford Morel, an Extension Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist, will provide you with cultural tips and plant suggestions to invite them in and help your feathered friends feel at home. FREE. RSVP online at https:// mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes/ to receive the link to participate.
Friday Night Concert at Water Park
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
National Landing Water Park
1601 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
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. Performer: Deanna Dove (Theme: Peace and Love)
Unfiltered: Body Image, Self-Talk, and Mental Health for Teens
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Aspire Afterschool Learning
909 S Dinwiddie St, Arlington, VA 22204
This special night is all about helping teens feel strong, confident, and seen. Through education, engaging group activities and real conversations,
we’ll explore how to feel more at home in your body, the power of positive self-talk, what self-care really means (and how it can help your mental health), ways to support your friends—and yourself. Whether you’re navigating body image struggles, want to boost your confidence, or just need a night to feel uplifted and understood, this event is for you. Come as you are, bring your friends, and leave feeling encouraged, equipped, and connected. Let’s build confidence from the inside out. Snacks will be provided. Open to teens ages 12 –18 of all genders.
Live Music: Holding a Grunge 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA
Saturday,
May 3
Virginia Opera: Loving v. Virginia May 3--4 Center for the Arts at George Mason University Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony present the highly anticipated world premiere of Loving v. Virginia. A young couple's interracial marriage in 1958 sparks a case that leads to the Supreme Court and a victory for civil rights in the United States. This operatic retelling is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving. Tickets start at $40; half-price youth tickets available. https://cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/virginia-opera-loving-v-virginia
Alexandria Springtime Art Festival May 3, 2025 – May 4, 2025
300 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA
Free to attend, the Festival Features a juried selection of artwork from local and national fine artists. See thousands of pieces, all made in the USA, across every medium. Offerings include, but are not limited to: life-sized sculpture, paintings, jewelry, pottery, and textiles.
URBNmarket Spring Pop Up Market May 3, 2025 –May 4, 2025 Mosaic District 2910 District Ave, Fairfax, VA
Get ready to shop, dine and groove from May 3 + 4 at Mosaic. Browse vintage and handmade goods from 75+ vendors while supporting small and local businesses. Enjoy live music, delicious food and refreshing cocktails while browsing the creative makers at URBNmarket’s pop-up market.
Arlington Civitans Open Air Flea Market
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4001 15th St N, Arlington, VA 22207
The Civitan Open Air Flea Market, one of Northern Virginia’s largest and oldest public flea markets, is located in the I-66 garage in North Arlington adjacent to Washington-Liberty high school and the Arlington Planetarium at 15th and North Quincy Streets, in Arlington. Here you’ll find over one hundred and fifty vendors selling a variety of goods ranging from books,clothes, furniture, garden tools, household goods, jewelry, shoes, toys, records, and so much more. Spread out over 5 levels of a 20,000 square foot parking garage, the flea market was originally conceived as a way for local people to sell goods in a central location. Every dollar made at the Arlington Flea Market, from the sale of the rental spaces to vendors and the monies made from the sale of refreshments, goes to support the causes espoused by Civitans.
Bluemont Spring Community Yard Sale 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
850 N Lexington St, Arlington, VA 22205
This free event is open to all Bluemont residents and visitors, offering an opportunity to connect with neighbors, declutter, and shop locally. No registration is required to participate. Sellers will
set up shop in their own yards or
Reopening of The Arlington Historical Society Museum
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Arlington Historical Museum (Hume School)
1805 S Arlington Ridge Rd, Arlington, VA The reopening of the AHS museum coincides with a growing interest in the history of the people, places, and events shaping Arlington County. It also comes just in time to celebrate two significant milestones in 2026: the 70th anniversary of AHS and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Following the May 3 reopening, the Museum will resume
hours on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00
St, Arlington, VA Help the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival make up for lost federal funding. Shop in store or online and 15% of proceeds will go towards this incredible organization.
Controlling Invasive Plants How to Make Your Efforts Count 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
a networking and hiring fair. Meet and network with 50 hiring companies and find your next career. It is in walking distance from the Braddock Road Metro.
The Hippo Tiger Giraffe (HTG) Games
4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Meridian High School
121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043
The Hippo Tiger Giraffe (HTG) Games are an annual City of Falls Church school-spirit event that draws over 1500 students, families, teachers, and staff. The teachers and staff from Oak Street Elementary competes against the teachers and staff from Mount Daniel and Jessie Thackrey in Olympics-style competitions with the winner receiving the ultimate prize – the Golden Pencil! HTG is one of the PTA’s biggest fundraisers, providing attractions other than the Games. Support your teachers with spirit gear and enjoy the game with pizza, baked goodies, and other snacks from our concession stands. You also can enter to win a classroom raffle basket before the event. The HTG Games is the biggest fundraiser held by the FCEPTA. It is a huge event that builds community spirit and is enjoyed by students, staff, teachers and parents!
Live Music: The BadManors
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Clare & Don's Beach Shack
130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA
A Work of Heart: Spring Fundraiser
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Hendry House
2411 24th St N, Arlington, VA 22207 Culmore Clinic is hosting Work of Art, an evening dedicated to supporting free, lifesaving healthcare for the community. Held at Hendry House, located at 2411 24th Street, N, Arlington, guests will enjoy food and beverages while viewing the art exhibition. The event is free and donations are encouraged. RSVPs are requested for planning purposes: https://www.culmoreclinic. org/work-of-heart
Live Music: Hand Painted Swinger
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA
Sunday, May 4
Crafting with Mom
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Winkler Botanical Preserve
5400 Roanoke Ave, Alexandria, VA 22311
Join us in making fun and colorful paper flowers for Mother’s Day while learning about the different parts of a flower! Whether it’s for a mom or a favorite teacher everyone can join in on the creativity and share some love! Register at www.novaparks.com.
Tiny Music Fest on Main
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
10409 Main St, Fairfax, VA
The outdoor music series will be held in the parking lot located at 10409 Main Street, Fairfax from Noon to 5 p.m. and will feature free live music with pizza and beer for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs as limited seating is available. Cancellations due to weather will be posted on Facebook and Instagram pages.
Board Game Sunday for Adults
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046 Come check out the wonderful and varied world of modern board games. Play various tabletop games that are simple to learn and fun to master. This is a great way to meet new people. Experienced players will be on hand to offer instruction. We normally meet in person every 1st Sunday of the month. Newcomers are always welcome! For adults 18+. No registration required. Attendance is first-come, first-served until seating capacity is reached.
Live Music: Borisevich Duo, Piano and Violin 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Alden Theatre 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA
Tickets for purchase at https://mcleancenter.org/ calendar/performances.
Live Music: Piano Concert 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Church of the Holy Comforter 543 Beulah Rd, Vienna, VA 22180
Featuring a concert by the husband-andwife two-piano team of Nikita Fitenko and Katerina Zaitseva. Their program will include Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals, Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 1, and selections from Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess. The concert is free and open to the public. More information is available at https:/holycomforter.com/events.
A & A Comedy Presents…. 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Clare & Don's Beach Shack
130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA
Expect to laugh until your stomach hurts.
A&A Comedy is putting together the best shows with the best comedians from around every area. With food and drink specials and the comedy show there isn’t a better combination. Come join the fun and have a laugh. Buy tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aa-comedy-showcase-tickets-1320004150949.
Live Music: James Stevens 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Dogwood Tavern
132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
Monday, May 5
Sunny Garden Butterfly and Host Plant Presentation 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Sunny Garden at Bon Air Park
878 N Lexington St, Arlington, VA
Join Extension Master Gardener Interns
Lesli Mangeri and Bonnie Packer for a short presentation to learn about local butterflies and the plants that host them. Our interns will review host plants, lifecycle of the evolution of the egg to butterfly and some other points of interest regarding butterflies. While you are there, visit our beautiful Sunny Garden, and our Shade Quarry Garden further down the Bon Air path.
Crafty Café - Perler Beads 6:00 p.m.– 7:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046
Relax at Crafty Café on the first Monday of the month. We will enjoy snacks and a different artsy activity every meeting. Teens in grades 6-12 are welcome! This month we will be making perler bead designs. Register at www.mrspl.org.
Free Online Home Buying Seminar 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Virtual
In this value-packed session, you’ll learn: current real estate market trends and what they mean for buyers, step-by-step breakdown of the home buying process, key tips to avoid common pitfalls, hat to know about financing, inspections, and more.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or just need a refresher, this seminar will give you the insights and confidence to take your next step. Register at https://kathypippin.samsonproperties.net.
Evening Art Critique Group 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Falls Church Arts Gallery
700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
Join creative artists in a Falls Church Arts month-
ly discussion and critique group. Bring a piece of art you’d like feedback on—something new or old, something in progress or complete—and our community of artists will share their thoughts. The meet-
ing is open to all so invite your artist friends. Feel free to join even if you don’t have a piece to share this time. If you have questions, email our facilitator, John Valenti, at info@fallschurcharts.org.
Live Music: Eric Zatz
9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Dogwood Tavern 132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
Tuesday, May 6
Just a Walk - A Free Peek at Meadowlark
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA Enjoy free garden admission and a guided walk around Meadowlark's 95 acres. Each one-hour walk will be over hilly terrain, have a positive focus, and include a silent, meditative portion and a few interesting facts from our docent along the way. The walk is free, and garden admission free for participants of this program. These walks start promptly at 10:15 a.m. Weather permitting. Participants should wear good walking shoes and bring a bottle of water. This is a drop-in activity. No reservations are required. For ages 18+
Dog Man May-nia / Coloring Club
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046
It's Dog Man May-nia at MRSPL! Grades K-5 are invited to join us for an hour of listening to music and coloring Dog Man themed coloring pages. No registration required. Attendance is first come, first served.
Author Talk: A Protest History of the U.S. by Gloria Browne-Marshall
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Busboys and Poets
450 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Professor Gloria Browne-Marshall delves into the history of protest movements and rebellion in the United States. Beginning with Indigenous peoples' resistance to European colonization and continuing through to today's climate change demonstrations, Browne-Marshall expands how to think about protest through sharing select historical moments and revealing the role of key players involved in those efforts. Free tickets at https://www.busboysandpoets. com/events/th-evt-47015772/#
Author Talk: A Poisonous Silence by Jenny Adams
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
One More Page Books
2200 N Westmoreland St, Arlington, VA
Join us as we celebrate the most recent book in the A Deadly Twenties Mystery Series by Jenny Adams! Preceded by A DEADLY ENDEAVOR (A Deadly Twenties Mystery #1), A POISONOUS SILENCE (A Deadly Twenties Mystery #2) is perfect for fans of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Dead Dead Girls. Adams will be joined in conversation by local mystery author Stephen Spotswood (Pentecost and Parker Mystery Series)! Register for free at www.onemorepagebooks.com.
Wednes day, May 7
Body Dynamics Class: Dance Fitness
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Body Dynamics Inc
410 S Maple Ave #106, Falls Church, VA A 55-minute dance class for all levels. No previous experience necessary. Dynamic warm-up, mobility and stability challenges, aerobic challenges, all through the lens of a lively dance class. Emphasis will be placed on use of proper body mechanics to facilitate increased body awareness. Each class will devote time to learning a dance combination which challenges the dancer to develop their own style of movement! Register with ghegyi@bodydynamicsinc.com
Dog Man May-nia / Headbands 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA
It's Dog Man May-nia at MRSPL! Grades
K-5 are invited to join us to enjoy music and a craft at this specially themed crafternoon! We will be making Dog Man Headbands. Register at www.mrspl.org.
Health Talk: Massage for Chronic Pain and Injury Recovery 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA
Chronic pain is complex and persistent but under-
MAY 1 - 7, 2025 | PAGE 15
standing the science behind it can help you take control. In this session, we'll explore how chronic pain affects the body and how massage therapy can support healing by calming the nervous system and reducing discomfort. Register at www. mrspl.org.
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NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION PLAN BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2025-00022
In 2020, recognizing that the increased deployment of motor vehicles powered by electricity (“electric vehicles” or “EVs”) could potentially affect the affordability and reliability of electricity service delivered to consumers by regulated utilities, the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) established a docket, Case No. PUR-2020-00051, in which interested persons and entities were invited to file comments and participate in a public session regarding the increased deployment of electric vehicles.
The General Assembly subsequently enacted Chapter 268 of the 2021 Virginia Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, which directed the Commission to “submit a report to the General Assembly, no later than May 1, 2022, recommending policy proposals that could govern public electric utility programs to accelerate widespread transportation electrification in the Commonwealth.” On April 29, 2022, the Commission submitted its report (“Report”) to the General Assembly. Among other things, and as stated in the Report, the Commission directed Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) and Appalachian Power Company (“APCo”) to file transportation electrification plans in Case No. PUR2020-00051 on or before May 1, 2023. APCo and Dominion filed their respective transportation electrification plans on May 1, 2023. In an Order dated August 7, 2024, the Commission determined that APCo and Dominion should file updated transportation electrification plans in new and separate dockets on or before February 3, 2025, due to the passage of time since the original plans were filed. The utilities were directed to incorporate the impacts of any new and updated regulations promulgated since the original plans were filed and to comply with any prior requirements imposed by the Commission for the original plans.
On February 3, 2025, pursuant to the directives in the August 7, 2024 Order in Case No. PUR-2020-00051, Dominion filed its updated transportation electrification plan (“Plan”) in the present docket. The Plan includes, among other things, the current status of transportation electrification in Dominion’s service territory, fiveyear EV peak demand and energy forecasts, and the Company’s near-term plan to support transportation electrification. The Plan also examines transportation electrification as part of system planning.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s Plan and assigned a Hearing Examiner to conduct all further proceedings in this matter on behalf of the Commission. A hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Company’s Plan shall be convened telephonically by the Hearing Examiner at 10 a.m. on October 28, 2025. On or before October 21, 2025, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission: (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/case-information/webcasting/; or (ii) by calling (804) 371-9141 to register. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia. gov/case-information/webcasting/
Beginning at 10 a.m. on October 28, 2025, the Hearing Examiner will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above.
On October 28, 2025, at 10 a.m., or at the conclusion of the public witness portion of the hearing, whichever is later, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Plan from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission Staff (“Staff”).
To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and
pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.
An electronic copy of the Company’s Plan may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Jontille D. Ray, Esquire, McGuire Woods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or jray@ mcguirewoods.com Interested persons may also download unofficial copies of the Plan and the public version of other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/case-information/.
On or before October 21, 2025, any interested person may submit comments on the Plan by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc. virginia.gov/case-information/submit-public-comments Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00022.
On or before July 16, 2025, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company, any other respondents and Staff electronically as described above. Pursuant to 5 VAC 520-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq. (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00022. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.
On or before September 9, 2025, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served electronically on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with their filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00022.
Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.
The Company’s Plan, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and the public versions of other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information/.
AND POWER COMPANY
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC
LEGAL NOTICE
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
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
City Council will hold a public hearing on the following on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard:
(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
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
Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information. Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month.
Architectural Advisory Board Board of Equalization
City Employee Review Board
Environmental Sustainability Council
Housing Commission
Human Services Advisory Council
Library Board of Trustees
Public Utilities Commission Urban Forestry Commission West Falls Community Development Authority
Regional Boards/Commissions
Continuum of Care Board
Coordinating Council for the Aging and Adults with Disabilities
Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Health Systems Agency of Northern
Meridian Lacrosse, Soccer Stay Hot
As Spring Season Hits Stretch Run
by Ryan McCafferty
It feels like only yesterday that spring sports season was just getting underway, and now it’s nearly time for the calendar to turn to its final month. Playoffs are only a few weeks away, and at Meridian High School, several teams are hitting their stride at exactly the right time. After they returned from a week off due to spring break, let’s take a look at how the Mustangs fared last week.
The baseball team had a light week of action, playing in only one contest at Skyline on Friday. It was a 10-3 loss, dropping the squad to 5-7 in what has been a turbulent season due to the home field being under construction, but they’ll have opportunities this week to right the ship at Fauquier on Friday. Softball meanwhile split a pair of matchups with a 14-6 win at Mount Vernon last Wedneday and a 10-0 loss at Skyline on Friday, bringing the girls to 4-7. This week they will play at Fauquier on Friday in conjunction with baseball.
On the lacrosse field, the boys held serve at home against John Handley last Wednesday (10-1) and Liberty-Bealeton
on Thursday (11-8), improving to 6-2. They’re on fire, and yet the girls are even hotter after completing a 4-0 week that included two tournament victories over the weekend. They beat Annandale 24-1 last Wednesday and Liberty 24-4 on Thursday, both on the road, before defeating Battlefield 10-9 and Washington-Liberty 17-6 on Saturday at Battlefield.
Both soccer teams are riding high as well, with the boys grabbing another pair of wins to extend their streak to five. They beat Millbrook 7-1 lastTuesday at home and took down Sherando 2-0 on the road on Friday, and now with a record of 8-2, They
beat Warren County 19-0 at home Tuesday and visit Maggie Walker on Friday. The girls on the other hand have climbed their way back to .500 after starting the season 1-4, beating Millbrook 4-2 on the road last Tuesday and Sherando 1-0 at home Friday to mark three straight victories. This week they’ll take on Maggie Walker on Friday.
Finally, the co-ed track and field group participated in split squad meets last week, traveling to Sherando and Chantilly. The girls’ 4x100 relay squad was the highlight, finishing second overall at Sherando while team members earned a total of 22 personal bests in various events.
MUSTANGS TRACK AND FIELD. (Photo: FCCPS)
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE PETITION OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA FOR APPROVAL OF A PLAN FOR ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION GRID TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS PURSUANT TO § 56-585.1 A 6 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2025-00051
On March 24, 2025, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed a petition with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) for approval of a plan for electric distribution grid transformation projects (“Petition”) pursuant to § 56-585.1
A 6 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”). Specifically, Dominion seeks approval of Phase IIIB of its plan to transform its electric distribution grid (“GT Plan”), which consists of proposed projects in 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as work performed in prior years for certain Phase IIIB projects.
Dominion states that Phase IIIB of the GT Plan includes the continuation of two projects: (i) mainfeeder hardening and (ii) the outage management system (“OMS”). The Company seeks approval for mainfeeder hardening work it undertook on three mainfeeders in 2024 and proposes to continue the mainfeeder hardening project on 20 additional feeders in 2025 and 2026. The Company proposes an additional $234.7 million of capital investment in mainfeeder hardening as part of Phase IIIB of the GT Plan.
The Company also proposes to continue deployment of its OMS, which was previously approved in Case No. PUR-2023-00051, with the addition of enhanced capabilities and expanded functionality. According to Dominion, since first receiving approval of the OMS, the Company has identified additional requirements necessary to achieve the expected customer benefits, meet minimum functionality standards for operational excellence, and further secure the OMS against cyber security threats. Enhancements to the previously approved OMS would include expansion into a mobile platform, a module for customer outage texting, additional damage collection functionality, enhanced visibility and integration, increased consulting and technical support, expanded reporting capabilities, and the creation of disaster recovery, training and development environments. The Company asserts these enhancements would enable its OMS to improve user efficiency and situational awareness, emphasize public and employee safety, and provide timely customer restoration information. The Company proposes an additional $19.1 million in capital investment and $1.5 million in operations and maintenance (“O&M”) expenses for OMS as part of Phase IIIB of the GT Plan.
Dominion also requests approval of one new project in conjunction with Phase IIIB: a remote sensing, image management and analytical program (“iMAP”) to acquire information about the Company’s electric distribution assets using digital technology and without making physical contact. The Company states that iMAP consists of two components: (i) a foundational platform which is a Company-managed cloud-based system hosted by an industry standard cloud solution to centrally store, manage, and analyze remotely sensed data; and (ii) analytical solutions, which would be a combination of third- party and Company proprietary analytics to enable operational use cases for electric distribution. The Company is requesting approval to stand up the foundational platform and deploy three individual technology pilots. According to Dominion, iMAP would help to reduce trips to the field to scope projects, provide better information for work planning, identify failing equipment before it caused an outage, and allow for more effective decision making around repairs and replacements. The Company proposes $24.4 million of capital investment and $3.0 million of O&M expenses for iMAP as part of Phase IIIB of the GT Plan.
In total, the proposed cost associated with Phase IIIB of the GT Plan is approximately $278.3 million in capital investment and $4.5 million in O&M expenses.
The Company also represents that, in preparing the GT Plan, it evaluated each proposed project to determine whether there were any environmental justice concerns.
Interested persons are encouraged to review the Petition and supporting documents in full for additional details.
The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s Petition and assigned a Hearing Examiner to conduct all further proceedings in this matter on behalf of the Commission. A hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Company’s Petition shall be convened telephonically by the Hearing Examiner at 10 a.m. on July 14, 2025. On or before July 7, 2025, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission: (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc. virginia.gov/case-information/webcasting/; or (ii) by calling (804) 371-9141 to register. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/case-information/webcasting/
Beginning at 10 a.m. on July 14, 2025, the Hearing Examiner will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above.
On July 14, 2025, at 10 a.m., or at the conclusion of the public witness portion of the hearing, whichever is later, in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Petition from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission Staff (“Staff”).
To promote administrative efficiency and timely service of filings upon participants, the Commission has directed the electronic filing of testimony and pleadings, unless they contain confidential information, and required electronic service on parties to this proceeding.
An electronic copy of the public version of the Company’s Petition may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Jontille D. Ray, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or jray@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons may also download unofficial copies of the public version of the Petition and the public versions of other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/case-information/
On or before July 7, 2025, any interested person may submit comments on the Petition by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia. gov/case-information/submit-public-comments Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00051.
On or before May 23, 2025, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company, any other respondents and Staff electronically as described above. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq. (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00051. For additional information about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.
On or before June 10, 2025, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served electronically on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with their filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2025-00051.
Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.
The public version of the Company’s Petition, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, and the public versions of other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information/
