6-11-2026

JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXVI N o . 18

Hardy Back To FC. Schools

Northern Virginia’s Newspaper

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

‘Democracy Thrives In Sunshine’

PRIDE WELCOMES ALL AGES

Popular Educator Returns As Executive Principal

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

A familiar face is coming back to Falls Church City Public Schools.

The Falls Church City School Board approved Valerie Hardy as the division’s Executive Principal at its June 9 meeting. She begins July 1. The role’s primary responsibility is supervising the division’s school principals and building leaders.

Hardy is no stranger to FCCPS. She led Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School as principal from 2017 to 2021, then served as Head of Secondary Schools from 2021 to 2023, guiding the International Baccalaureate continuum across Mary Ellen Henderson and Meridian High School. During that time, she launched the Academy for Sustainable Thinking and helped steer the division through three successful IB program evaluations.

She returns from Prince William

Continued on Page 3

Table Of Contents

Penny Gross Page 5 Editoral Page 6 Falls Church Arts Page 7 Business News Page 8 Our Man In Arlington Page 8 Sports Page 9 Guest Commentary Page 9 Calendar Page 11 Critter Corner Page 14

FAMILIES CELEBRATE Pride Month at Freddie’s Beach Bar during its monthly celebration of gay liberation last weekend. (Photo: News-Press)

Rep. Beyer Comes Back Sunday to His Beloved F.C. Turf

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., seeking reelection to a sixth twoyear term as the Congressman from the 8th District of Virginia, made his first public appearance since the Virginia Supreme Court cancelled the results of this spring’s statewide referendum to redraw the state’s 11 U.S. Congressional districts. The referendum had been the Democrats’

attempt to keep up with the Trump administration’s nationwide gerrymandering frenzy in advance of this November’s midterm elections.

The Court’s ruling returned Beyer to his 8th District, and while it remains to be seen what the impact of the ruling will be on the November election, there is no question that both Beyer and his supporters were happy to be back in the 8th district, whose

geographical and spiritual center is in the City of Falls Church.

Nowhere was that more evident than at the annual Falls Church Democratic Committee annual downhome potluck held in the Falls Church Community Center last Sunday night.

The popular lawmaker, once a Falls Church businessman, president of its Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s and winner of its Pillar of the Community award,

launched his political career as Falls Church’s Native Son with an upset win in a run for lieutenant governor statewide in 1989 and again in 1993. He lost in a run for governor in 1997, but stayed active in the political process by being one of the first to endorse and lead fundraising efforts for Barack Obama in 2008 and again in 2012, while serving as U.S.

Continued on Page 4

PAGE 2 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Falls Church News Briefs

Creative Cauldron Announces Summer-Long Passport Music Festival Creative Cauldron Stage will present its annual Passport Music Festival from June 13 through Sept. 13, bringing a summer of live music to Falls Church. Sponsored by The Reserve at Falls Church and curated by local musical duo Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau, the festival will feature performers from across the Washington, D.C., area in a variety of genres, including jazz, rock, folk, cabaret and world music.

Creative Cauldron describes the festival as an intimate musical experience, with audiences able to reserve private tables for two or four people. All performances will also be available via livestream through the Creative Cauldron website.

The 2026 lineup includes Kathy Halenda (June 13); Susan Derry Cabaret Intensive Finale (June 20); Sean Heely (June 26); The Big Lebowski Experience (June 27); The Fly Birds (July 10); Joe Coleman (July 11); Still We Sing Concert (July 17); Cecily (July 18); Eastern Standard Time (July 24); Dave Klein Band (July 25); Vox Pop (July 31); Eli Lev & Friends (Aug. 1); Valeria Stewart & Friends (Aug. 7); Seth Kibel (Aug. 8); The Guitar Renegades (Aug. 14); Jason Paul Curtis and DC Martini (Aug. 15); Marcel Penzes (Aug. 21); Veronneau (Aug. 22); and Shenandoah Run (Sept. 13).

All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The festival concludes with a 2 p.m. matinee performance by Shenandoah Run on Sept. 13.

Tickets for both in-person table seating and livestream access are on sale now. Because of the venue’s limited seating capacity, advance reservations are recommended.

What: Passport Music Festival Where: Creative Cauldron Stage, Falls Church When: June 13–Sept. 13, 2026 Tickets and Information: creativecauldron.org or 703-436-9948

The free event will celebrate freedom, family and community with live entertainment, historical presentations, educational activities and family attractions.

Featured guest Darius Wallace, a nationally renowned Frederick Douglass reenactor, will bring history to life through performances and presentations. Musical entertainment will include blues artist Carly Harvey, known as the “Queen of the Blues,” and the DC Retro Jumpers, who will perform jump rope demonstrations and engage audience members throughout the day.

Historical activities will include a Juneteenth storytime and book reading, a reenactment of General Gordon Granger’s arrival and reading of Emancipation Order No. 3, and appearances by U.S. Colored Troops interpreters in period costume.

The celebration will also feature traditional Juneteenth foods, vendors, period costume demonstrations, old-fashioned games, water games, chalk art, bubbles, snow cones, a bounce house and other family activities.

Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Additional information is available at tinnerhill.org.

What: Tinner Hill Juneteenth Celebration When: Friday, June 19, noon–5 p.m.

Where: Tinner Hill Historic Site, 106 Tinner Hill Rd., Falls Church Cost: Free admission Info: tinnerhill.org

Summer Concerts in the Park Returns to Cherry Hill Park

.

The Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS), in partnership with the City of Falls Church, will present its annual Summer Concerts in the Park series on Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a picnic, purchase snacks on-site and enjoy the city’s recently approved BYOB policy. The 2026 lineup begins June 11 with the Bushmaster Band featuring Gary Brown as part of the Tinner Hill Music Concert series, performing soulful blues and funk.

Additional performances include The Falls Church Concert Band on June 18, featuring blues, jazz and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”; Valeria Stewart on June 25 with Latin and American roots music; Big Tow on July 2 performing rock and blues favorites; the Andrew Acosta String Band on July 9 with American roots music; Avenue 66 on July 16 performing rock and funk; and Sirsy on July 23 with a mix of pop, rock and folk.

Weather-related postponement information will be available on the VPIS homepage at VPIS. org after 3 p.m. on concert days.

Virginia Village Walking Tour Scheduled June 15 The Falls Church City Council and Planning Commission will conduct a public walking tour of the area surrounding the proposed Virginia Village affordable housing project on Monday, June 15, from 6 to 7 p.m.

The tour will begin at Big Chimneys Park, 210 Gibson St., and will give elected and appointed officials an opportunity to view the neighborhood and discuss site-specific considerations related to the proposed development.

The walking tour is part of the city’s ongoing review process for the Virginia Village affordable housing project. Community members interested in learning more about the proposal are encouraged to attend.

What: Virginia Village Walking Tour with City Council and Planning Commission When: Monday, June 15, 6-7 p.m.

Where: Big Chimneys Park, 210 Gibson St., Falls Church

Tinner Hill Foundation to Host Juneteenth Celebration June 19 The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation will host its annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 19, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Tinner Hill Historic Site, 106 Tinner Hill Rd.

Former Falls Church City Council member Phil Duncan (left) greets attendees as U.S. Rep. Don Beyer poses with Mayor Hardi during the Falls Church City Democratic Committee’s annual potluck dinner on June 7. The event brought local Democrats together for an evening of food, conversation, and community engagement. (Photo: Courtesy)

Falls Church Mayor Hardi (center, in red) joins performers and organizers during Falls Church Vietnamese Heritage Day at Cherry Hill Farmhouse on June 6. Presented in partnership with the Vietnamese Literary and Artistic Club (VLAC), the event celebrated the heritage and culture of the local Vietnamese community through music, dance, martial arts demonstrations, cultural exhibits, and historic displays. (Photo: Gary Mester)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 | PAGE 3

Hardy’s Hire Culminates Productive Year for Schools in F.C.

Continued from Page 1

County Schools, where she is currently Director of Elementary Schools. There, she coaches and evaluates principals across multiple buildings, with work tied to gains of 5 percentage points in reading and 4 in math and science on Virginia’s SOL assessments, and a drop in chronic absenteeism from 21 percent to 14 percent.

“Valerie knows our students, our families, and our IB mission, and she leads with relationships first,” said Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade. “She rose to the top of a strong field because of her focus on every learner and her record of getting results alongside the people she serves.

I could not be more excited to welcome her home.”

Hardy emerged from a process that included a cabinet screening, a panel of principals, directors, and cabinet members,

and a final interview with the superintendent. Dade pointed to her student-centered focus on equitable access, her leadership experience at every grade level, and her drive to build trust with staff, students, and families.

Hardy earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and special education from James Madison University, a master’s in school counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an administration and supervision endorsement from the University of Virginia.

“Falls Church City has always felt like home,” Hardy said. “Its commitment to wellness, equity, and belonging is the kind of community I want to serve. I’m honored to return and to partner with our principals, teachers, families, and students to build on what makes FCCPS special.”

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) concludes the 2025-2026 academic year, mark-

ing another period of exceptional achievement, innovation, and community engagement.

Renowned as a premier PreK12 International Baccalaureate (IB) district, FCCPS continues to set the standard for academic excellence in Virginia.

Building on a legacy of success, FCCPS solidified its position as a top-ranked school division in the Commonwealth, once again leading in SOL pass rates in reading and science, while securing top-two rankings in mathematics and history.

The graduating Class of 2026 demonstrated academic mastery, with 64 seniors achieving the prestigious IB Diploma and many more earning CareerRelated Program certificates.

This year, the district earned national recognition from Youth Service America as a “Gold Ribbon School District” for service-learning excellence, highlighting initiatives like GIVE Day and the intergenerational

HipStangs Reading Club.

“This year’s accomplishments are a testament to our dedicated educators and our ‘students first’ approach,” said Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade.

“From achieving top state academic scores to fostering a culture of community service, our students continue to thrive.”

FCCPS also successfully implemented its FY26 budget, supporting record enrollment growth while investing in professional development, teacher compensation, and technological advancements.

Meridian High School’s Class of 2026 demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, particularly through the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.

According to Falls Church City Public Schools, 68 graduating seniors completed the requirements to become International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates and are

awaiting their official examination results this summer. An additional 22 students completed Meridian’s IB Career-Related Programme, which combines rigorous IB coursework with specialized career-focused pathways.

The Class of 2026 also achieved notable academic distinctions beyond the IB program. A total of 115 students earned the Meridian Scholar Award, recognizing students who maintained at least a 3.85 GPA while meeting advanced academic requirements.

Another 97 graduates were named Valedictory Scholars for earning GPAs of 4.0 or higher, and five students were recognized as National Merit Scholarship finalists.

The graduating class included 244 students, all of whom began their educational journey as members of the largest kindergarten class in Falls Church City Public Schools history.

THE KEEGAN THEATRE

in good company

JUNE 13-JULY 12 WWW.KEEGANTHEATRE.COM

1742 CHURCH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC Photo: Cameron Whitman

PAGE 4 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

For Beyer, Reclaiming F.C. Was a Fitting Homecoming

Continued from Page 1

ambassador to Switzerland under Obama until he ran for congress, first winning in 2014, and handily ever since.

Beyer wrote a column for the very first edition of the Falls Church News-Press in March 1991 and has been a frequent contributor since.

“Good to be home,” Beyer told the 80 people gathered for Sunday’s event at the Community Center. He shared an anecdote in noting that since Pi, 3.141595922635 goes on forever, it offers an infinite perspective that encourages you to stand back and see the big picture outside the finite.

Beyer offered the following three perspectives: One, times are bad. With Donald Trump, the war of choice in Iran, tariffs and inflation, cruel and foolish deportation efforts, disinvestment in research and health care and humanity, exceptional corruption, dictatorial urges, fears of loss of democracy, income and wealth inequality and a damaged American dream.

Two, times are good. The unprecedented number of women in power in colleges, legislatures and businesses; incredible break-

throughs in health care (Verve 102, GLP 1, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, life extension); fair elections so far all around the country; growth of wind, solar, fusion and geothermal; advances in general assembly, gubernatorial, lieutenant governor, and attorney general races; the April 21 rallies all around the country; the explosion of alternative media such as podcasts, Substack, Cardinal News, the Richmonder, and Nick Benton’s Falls Church News-Press; the progressive expansion of the universe of moral objects, gay and trans and non-binary; the election in Hungary; and the two trillion books read in the U.S. in 2025.

Three, times are what we make them.

Organize, not agonize! There is no such thing as a small voice. Bending that arc of the moral universe. Building community, non-profits, churches, synagogues, mosques, schools, chambers of commerce. Political realities may not be the ultimate grounding but are important. Key November elections turning the nation from Red to Blue, and getting ready for 2028, which will be here soon.

Beyer said, “I choose optimism, energy, the conviction that we can never quit, but must always work to make things better.

Sisyphus smiling!”

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BY LISA SINROD

Considered a comedy-drama, the R-rated film “Power Ballad” has its funny moments but also reaches for some serious themes. Set largely in Dublin, it is co-written and helmed by Irish director John Carney, known for directing music-centric films, including “Once” and “Sing Street.”

Paul Rudd stars as Rick Power, a wedding band singer, alongside Nick Jonas as Danny Wilson, a former boyband star striving to revive his career as a solo artist. When the film opens, Danny is now playing smaller venues as he tries to jump-start his music career. Rick is married to an Irish woman and they live with their teenage daughter in Ireland. Rudd’s natural charm comes through when Rick and Danny meet by happenstance at a wedding in Dublin. The chemistry between the two is what carries the film and provides the authenticity needed to make the story interesting.

Without that, the film would be pleasant but lacking in substance.

When Danny invites Rick back to his hotel for a drink, the two musicians have an impromptu jam session. If musical composition is of interest to you, you’ll likely find some delight in this scene.

While drinking, talking, playing music, and singing, Danny and Rick discuss song ideas and Rick shares with Danny the words and melody of a song he wrote many years ago.

The two sing the song together, blending their voices in harmony. After returning to the United States, Danny sends a guitar to Rick as a gift.

That would be the end of a short story until Rick hears his song climbing the charts as a new release by Danny. After the tune, “How to Write a Song Without You,” scores millions of streams and views and rises

rapidly on the Billboard Top 100, Rick makes great efforts to reach Danny and has to go through his management team to try to make contact. The rights to the song become the catalyst for the film’s main conflict. Authorship rights in music are a complex area that require strong evidence when a musician seeks attribution to another’s recorded work.

Rick wears his emotions on his sleeve as he yearns for acknowledgement that he wrote Danny’s come-back song.

When Rick finally locates the large and lavish home where Danny lives in Los Angeles, Rick tries to discuss the origins of the hit song. Will Danny acknowledge Rick’s authorship of the song? Now that he is at the top of the charts, will Danny even acknowledge the connection that the two formed during their fateful one-night jam session? And what about Rick’s obsession to get some credit for the song’s origin, at the expense of his family life and his current band as he melts down emotionally?

The movie is an easy watch, with deeper themes suggested but not fully explored. Jonas delivers an assured performance in this film. He plays a character with a similar background to his own, himself having been part of a highly successful band (the Jonas Brothers) and then launching a solo career.

The film would have benefited from more character development of the key players, including Rick’s wife and daughter. Paul Rudd does his own singing in the scenes where he is jamming with Nick Jonas’s character and when he is performing with his wedding band, Brides & Grooves.

“How to Write a Song Without You” was written by the film’s musical team and is catchy enough to be believable as the hit song central to the plot. On a letter-grade scale, I give this film a B.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor America’s celebration of its 250th anniversary takes as many forms as there are customs and cultures across the 50 states. Parades, fireworks and music are givens for a Semi-quincentennial celebration, a rare anniversary in our relatively young nation. Add local foods and customs that reflect the diversity of Americans everywhere, and you have a recipe for a grand commemoration of the past, present, and future of the United States. Not UFC fights on the White House lawn, not a Freedom 250 Grand Prix race on the Mall, not triumphal arches or promenades to the river.

Those are one man’s tasteless transient fantasies soon to be forgotten.

An early local celebration was presented last Sunday afternoon as the Nova Lights Chorale, a Northern Virginia community choral group founded in 2011, presented a well-attended free concert at the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bailey’s Crossroads. The program charted American history through musical selections, some familiar and some not. A pre-revolutionary patriotic song exhorted “Then guard your rights, Americans. Nor bend to lawless sway. Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose. For Free America.”

Centuries later, in today’s political atmosphere, that exhortation seems eerily modern and cogent.

Appropriate for the concert setting was the chorale’s rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic,

a signature melody of the Civil War. Many in the audience were unaware that the Union camp outside of Washington, D.C. that inspired Julia Ward Howe’s words was located near the intersection of today’s Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike, about two blocks from where they were sitting! The “watchfires of a hundred circling camps” segued to “Lift every voice and sing,” also called the Black National Anthem, and its recognition that the American story is full of dark times, tempered with a “hope that the present has brought us.”

It was the rendition of “America” and a reading of the Emma Lazarus sonnet, “the New Colossus,” which is mounted on the Statue of Liberty pedestal, that brought tears to my eyes. Her 1883 words embody the hopes of millions of people who have come to this country in search of their dreams. Those timeless words – “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door” – epitomize an ideal and a philosophy that often seems endangered 150 years later. America was in the throes of social and economic change in the 1880s, but the basic humanity of the poem, and the dreams it encompassed, reflect the words of Lincoln a generation before: “with malice toward none,

JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 | PAGE 5

with charity for all.”

The concert was bookended with familiar audience participation music – the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” along with immigrant Irving Berlin’s paean to his adopted country, “God Bless America.”

One could stand a little straighter, breathe a little more deeply, and sing a little louder as the patriotic melodies soared to the rafters and beyond. As a couple hundred people participated in the musical memories, it was an apt reminder that patriotism is a shared emotion, not relegated (or hijacked) by one political party or another. The catch in the throat, the tear in the eye, the love and commitment to one’s native, or adopted, country, exemplify the exceptional nation that has been built by generations who came before, and who entrusted its longevity, democracy, and fairness to each following generation. That’s a trust that cannot, and should not, be abrogated, diminished, or tarnished, by us or our leaders.

(The Mason District Arts Council is sponsoring a series of events throughout June to reimagine the ideas of the American Revolution and engage the public through the arts. Check out www.masondistrictarts.org for more information. The Nova Lights Chorale is open to all interested singers, without regard to musical training. Log on to www.novalightschorale.org for more information or to donate.)

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Week of June 1 - 7, 2026 Fraud – Identity Theft, E Broad St, Jun 3, 2:32 p.m., victim reported multiple debts were taken out in their name.

Larceny from Building/Credit Card Theft/Fraud - Credit Card, W Broad St, Jun 3, 3:00 p.m., victim reported an unknown suspect stole their wallet and credit cards from their desk, and multiple fraudulent charges were made using their credit cards.

4, 5:12 p.m., victim reported they provided banking information to an unknown suspect impersonating a Federal Trade Commission customer service representative, which led to fraudulent transfers of money from their account.

Shoplifting, W Broad St, Jun 4, 7:59 p.m., two unknown suspects stole merchandise.

Trespassing, Park Ave, Jun 5, 11:34 a.m., a male, 59, of no fixed address, was arrested for trespassing.

Larceny, W Broad St, Jun 4, 10:29 a.m., victim reported an unknown suspect stole their phone and glasses while they were at a park.

Larceny, Lawton St, Jun 5, 12:17 p.m., victim reported an unknown suspect stole a package containing silver and gold bars after signing for it at delivery.

Fraud – False Pretenses, E Broad St, Jun

Defrauding an Inn Keeper, W Broad St, Jun 5,

4:00 p.m., victim reported a group dined and left without paying their bill.

Trespassing, S Washington St, Jun 6, 12:21 a.m., a male, 48, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct, and served with an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.

Shoplifting, W Broad St, Jun 6, 8:36 a.m., an unknown suspect stole merchandise.

Driving on Revoked License, Parker Ave, Jun 6, 4:35 p.m., a male, 22, of Fairfax County, was arrested for driving on revoked license.

Driving Under the Influence, W George Mason Rd, Jun 7, 1:58 a.m., a male, 20, of Fairfax County, was arrested for driving under the influence.

PAGE 6 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026

Since 1991, an award-winning LGBT-owned general interest community newspaper.

Vol. XXXVI, No. 18 JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Member, Virginia Press Association •

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Editorial

Land of the Free, Ain’t Free for All

For someone like me, that should be enough. I grew up playing soccer and attended the 1994 FIFA World Cup when it came to the United States.

Some of my best memories were formed on soccer fields where race, religion, income, language, and politics mattered far less than whether you could work together as a team.

By every measure, I should be excited about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead, I find myself feeling something I never expected: sadness.

Not because of the sport. Because of what America has become. Perhaps nowhere is the contradiction more visible than here in Northern Virginia.

Walk through Falls Church, Annandale, Arlington, Alexandria, or Herndon and you’ll hear dozens of languages and encounter families whose roots stretch across the globe. If any region should be celebrating the return of the World Cup, it should be this one. Because soccer, at its core, is about bringing people together.

The World Cup represents something larger than a game. For one month, billions of people from different nations, cultures, religions, and political systems gather around a shared experience. They may not speak the same language, but they understand the same sport. Yet America increasingly seems uncomfortable with that idea.

The irony is impossible to ignore. Russia hosted the World Cup in 2018. Qatar hosted it in 2022. Both countries faced criticism for their human rights records, yet both made it relatively easy for fans to enter and participate in the tournament through streamlined entry systems.

America, meanwhile, is preparing to host the largest World Cup in history while sending mixed signals about whether the world is truly welcome.

Recent reports involving denied entry for international participants have amplified those concerns. Think about that for a moment.

The country that proudly calls itself the “Land of the Free” risks making it harder for some fans, officials, and participants to attend a global sporting event than countries Americans routinely criticize as less free.

That contradiction matters, not just for soccer, but for America’s image in the world. Soccer taught me lessons that modern politics seems determined to forget.You cannot build a successful team by convincing half the locker room that the other half is the enemy.

Every championship team requires trust. Every great team is diverse in its own way. The game does not care where you were born, what language you speak, or who you voted for. The goal is the goal.

America’s strongest soccer communities were built by people from different backgrounds working toward a common goal. Diversity is not a weakness. It is a strength.

Yet today’s politics increasingly encourages Americans to see one another as opponents rather than teammates. Immigrants are blamed.

Cities blame rural America. Rural America blames cities. Liberals blame conservatives. Conservatives blame liberals. Everyone is angry. Everyone is exhausted.

Meanwhile, many ordinary Americans—regardless of background— are struggling with the same challenges: housing costs, healthcare expenses, stagnant wages, and economic uncertainty.

Recently, I heard a lyric from Missouri musician Bryan Andrews that stopped me cold: “Land of the free, ain’t free for all.” The line resonates because it captures a growing feeling that opportunity is becoming harder to reach for millions of people.

Sports offer a different lesson. A team cannot succeed if players spend all their time blaming one another. Success requires cooperation, trust, and a shared goal.

The World Cup presents a vision of the world that many politicians cannot profit from: one where people recognize their shared humanity before their differences. The question facing America is not whether we can host the World Cup. We have the stadiums, infrastructure, and resources.

The question is whether we still possess the spirit that makes such an event meaningful. The harder question is this: What kind of America is showing up to greet the world?

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JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 | PAGE 7

ARTS

Vacations and Travel Entice in All Member Show at FCA

BY MARK DREISONSTOK

The current All Member Show (last names from A—L) at Falls Church Art Gallery features many different works in various media, but it being summer, the thoughts of many of our artists have turned to travel!

The watercolor “Rain Night in Paris” by Barabara Bird, for example, depicts in black-andwhite and glowing yellow two figures in the rain (one with umbrella), lumbering their way towards the Eiffel Tower. “The romance of Paris is quiet and ordinary in an extraordinary place,” comments the artist on the gallery card to her painting.

Passing by “happy villages and over green hills, we wander on towards Italy,” to quote the poet Eichendorff, for “A Night in Venice,” an oil painting by Spoorti Dandridge. “I wanted to paint a memory from my trip to Venice,” notes the artist. “It

was a romantic place after the city wound down for the night.

Monet’s paintings are in inspiration!” Monet-Impressionist is indeed the style that comes to mind as we spy two gondolas, shimmering water, and Italianate architecture through a painterly night filter.

Come fly now to the Americas for “Copacabana at Dusk!” This acrylic by Jeanine Babyak of the city of Copacabana on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia, has great personal memories for the artist, for this is the city in which her parents (including her Bolivianborn mother) had her baptized as an infant. This impressive painting reveals a city, large lake, and mountainous landscape.

A similar yet very different painting in terms of color and mood is “The Avila!” For artist Blanca Belisario, her acrylic on canvas of a city and surrounding mountainous environs brings back memories of her

Venezuelan homeland: “My city, Caracas, lies in a valley embraced by mountains. To the north rises The Avila, a majestic presence that defines the landscape. From the top, one side offers breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea while the other reveals the city. It’s always been an important inspiration for my art.”

We then experienced Al Krachman’s “Great Blue” in flight (a photograph of a blue heron from the pine woods of Kent Island, Maryland) and enjoyed Susan Hillson’s art photography of “Twilight at the Salt Flats” (returning us to Italy, this time Sicily.) Finally, we admired Lily Andrews’ “Mother of Pearls” (acrylic, watercolor, and pencil on paper), featuring an elegantly clad woman surrounded by sand, sea, and an enormous oyster shell, all “reminiscent of childhood and longgone vacations with my mother,”

writes the artist.

A less vacation-like landand-sea painting is Adi Rose Henderson’s “Peckish,” an acrylic on canvas featuring two marooned figures on a tiny island under a dark stormy sky. They are under attack by an enormous red sea serpent! The artist narrates the story: “The bold framing and colors of the sea serpent draw the viewers’ eyes in. The dull water and sky create a gloomy atmosphere, adding to the mood and intrigue about what is happening.” The artist also notes: “I left the meaning intentionally open.”

Not all of the works of the exhibition involve flights of travel and flights of fancy, though even in works such as the handcrafted glass mosaic “Mosaic Village” (alternately known as “pieces of a quiet Town”) by Laura Drain, we sense the theme of travel to new idyllic places is not far away. We are curious to

see if the M—Z exhibition later this summer follows the travel windings of the current A—L All Member Show, which may be visited at Falls Church Arts Gallery through July 12, 2026.

Caracas. (Photo: FCArts)

Night In Venice. (Photo: FCArts)

Falls Church Summer Concerts in the Park 2026 Thursdays 7pm Cherry Hill Park 312 Park Ave Falls Church, VA

Bring a picnic, buy munchies, now- BYOB-yes, June 11, 2026 - Bushmaster Band ft. Gary Brown Tinner Hill Music Concert, Soulful Blues & Funk 6795 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22044

www.edencenter.com

June 18, 2026 The Falls Church Concert Band Featuring blues, jazz, “Lift Every Voice and Sing".

June 25, 2026- Valeria Stewart Latin & American Roots July 2, 2026 Big Tow - Rock & Blues Favorites July 9, 2026 The Andrew Acosta String Band -American Roots July 16, 2026 Avenue 66 - Rock & Funk July 23, 2026 –Sirsy Pop, Rock, & Folk

Sponsored by

The Village Improvement Society (www.VPIS.org) See VPIS.org homepage for weather postponements (after 3pm)

The City of Falls Church

PAGE 8 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026

Fa l l s C h u r c h

Business News & Notes

BlueHuki: Named to Best Workplaces List BlueHuki has been named to the Inc. Best Workplaces 2026 list in the “On the Rise” category. Inclusion on the list gives national recognition to companies that have built exceptional workplace cultures and environments where employees can thrive. This comes at a time when employee engagement continues to decline globally and organizations across industries are searching for ways to attract, retain, and empower top talent.

The Inc. Best Workplaces program recognizes companies that have successfully created cultures where employees feel valued, supported, connected, and motivated to do their best work.

Concert in the Park Tonight Visit Cherry Hill Park tonight for the first concert of the season with the Bushmaster Band featuring Gary Brown at 7:00 p.m. The Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and the Falls Church City Recreation and Parks Department continue their partnership bringing the Concerts in the Park back for the 34th year. Concerts are free and run 60 - 90 minutes. In another partnership, Cheese Cartel will be selling snacks onsite.

Welcoming Falls Church Partnership Announced Welcoming Falls Church has announced a new partnership with Comunidad to support their large-scale, monthly food distribution on the 3rd Saturday of the month. This partnership strengthens the community and benefits both organizations. The public is invited to participate on June 20 or subsequent dates. To learn more and volunteer, contact Welcoming Falls Church at info@welcomingfallschurch.org.

Local Restaurants Highlighted Northern Virginia Magazine covered the newest restaurants in the area and several in Falls Church received good coverage. Helena’s Mexican Restaurant was noted for fajitas, tacos and mini margarita flights. Phở Thìn was recognized for its “iconic pho tái lăn — stir-fried rare beef pho.” And perhaps the newest restaurant, Little Beast, was noted for offering Detroit-style pizza and various toppings such as pickled jalapenos. northernvirginiamag.com/food-and-drink/2026/06/01/19-new-northern-virginia-restaurants-offering-freshflavors/

Little City Sips This Saturday Falls Church holds its first Sip and Stroll event this Saturday, June 13, 5 – 10 p.m., a pilot under the DORA Program, a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. This gives the public the opportunity to sip alcoholic beverages in public while visiting local shops, art, and restaurants. It is designed to support local businesses and create a vibrant, walkable community experience. Adults aged 21 and older can purchase drinks to enjoy in official Little City Sips cups, then explore gathering spaces within the designated event boundary near the intersection of Broad and Washington. A band will perform in Mr. Brown’s Park, and neighboring restaurants will have live music as well. Beverages will be sold in a number of restaurants, including Dogwood Tavern, and will be welcomed in Zoya’s Atelier among other locations. Learn more at https://visitfallschurch.com/ sips/

Career Fair for Vets and Spouses

Under sponsorship of the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the Virginia Department of Veteran Services, and others, the HIRE VETS NOW program will host a networking reception and career fair on Friday, June 12, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at The Clubs at Quantico and Crossroads Events Center. This is designed for transitioning service members, spouses, and veterans to connect with Virginia employers looking to hire military talent.

Resource providers will also be on hand to assist with resume writing, mentorships, and more. Learn more via the virginiahvn.com/events/quantico-base-wide-hiring-fair/

Grant Opportunity Boundless Futures Foundation supports female business-founders and mission-aligned nonprofit organizations through its two grant-making programs. The EmpowHer Grants provide up to $50,000 in funding and leadership resources to female founders driving both business growth and positive social impact. Applications for this next cycle are due by June 25. theboundlessfuturesfoundation.submittable.com/submit

Northrop Grumman Contracts In defense contracting news, Northrop Grumman Information Technology (GDIT) announced potential local layoffs as federal contracts wind down. GDIT reported that the F-35 Joint Program Office contract ends on July 31 and may result in the termination of 103 employees from Arlington if not extended. Another notice cited a contract ending on July 28 that may eliminate 133 employees in Fairview Park if not renewed. Federal contracting has been more volatile given the Administration’s review of nonessential contracts.  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.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Our Man In Arlington Bill Fogarty

Have you ever received a speeding ticket in the mail from the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD)? Well, if so, you are not alone. In 2025, over 60,000 tickets were issued for speeding, based on the ACPD PhotoSPEED Program that uses camera technology at 28 locations.

I was able to obtain that statistic thanks to the recent publication of the ACPD annual report for 2025.

It is a remarkable document, filled with many statistics, details, and history.

Here is one quick bit of trivia for you: The Arlington County Police Department was officially established in 1940, in response to a surging population boom and a need for professional law enforcement. Initially starting as a modest nine-member force, the ACPD now has 310 members of “Department Sworn Staff.” For reference, the County population was 57,040 in 1940; today’s estimated population is 245,000.

The report is available online, on the Arlington County government website. I highly recommend you look at it. You can discover where all those speed cameras are located and find out which ones have issued the most tickets. The prize for most tickets goes to the camera on the 5800 block of Williamsburg Boulevard, with over 10,000 tickets issued!

There is also a PhotoRED program, catching those who run red lights. Over 50,000 tickets were issued at the 20 locations with red-light cameras, with a whopping 14,816 tickets issued for the traffic light at Spout Run Parkway and Langston Boulevard. Much attention is paid to transportation safety, which is so important, especially considering the recent hit-and-run fatality on Columbia Pike (along with the death earlier this year of a woman on an electric scooter killed when hit by a bus).

There is much more to learn by looking at the entire 58-page report, starting with a concise summary provided by Chief Andy Penn, followed by a Highlights section with several informative videos (“The Stories Behind the Badge”). I especially appreciated the video about the Peace Officers Memorial that is located outside the Courthouse. The report also

contains a section called the “Hall of Honor,” honoring the line of duty deaths of seven police officers from 1935 to 2016. Those seven officers are listed on the Police Officers Memorial.

The report also reflects the challenges facing public safety efforts. One section in the report comes to mind: “Use of Force.”

The statistics include types of force used, and the reason force was used. Tasers were used nine times in 2025, and firearms were not used at all. Sadly, in early May this year there was an incident involving the use of firearms by two police officers, resulting in the death of a man who had barricaded himself with a knife inside a Columbia Pike 7-11 store. An investigation is being performed by a regional Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). Pursuant to ACPD policy, the officers have been placed on routine administrative leave. Following completion of the investigation by CIRT, the investigative file will be forwarded to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for independent review.

The most informative section in the report might be the “Crime Prevention and Control” section, with statistical information on crimes, arrests, and more. This section also contains detailed descriptions on “Notable Criminal Investigations” and “Notable Sentences in Criminal Investigation.”

These reports provide a revealing snapshot of the Public Safety work of the ACPD. Getting back to the reference to the Peace Officers Memorial, unfortunately one police officer will be added to the Hall of Honor next year. On May 22, 2026, Corporal Barry Foust lost his life as a result of cancer that he contracted while working in the rescue and recovery operations at the Pentagon following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. On the morning of September 11, Corporal Foust was on patrol on Columbia Pike when Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. He immediately relayed incident information over the radio, beginning Arlington County’s response to the attack. Corporal Foust remained working at the site for the following week, collecting evidence and the remains of victims. Let me close with these words from the Hall of Honor: “To serve and protect was their oath; to honor them is our duty.”

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 | PAGE 9

SPORTS

Meridian Eyes More State Titles as Spring Playoffs Continue

by Dinos Simcox

Boys lacrosse lost in the state semifinals 15-7 to E.C. Glass, ending their season and undefeated record. Despite the box score, the Mustangs kept the game close for a large portion of the game, but were unable to ever catch up to E.C. Glass. Their season ends with back-to-back region championships, as well as many players being named All-District, including senior Colin Williams being named District Player of the Year.

After one of the most successful seasons in Meridian history, this year’s squad has set a new bar for teams of the future to try and reach.

Boys soccer advanced to the state semifinals after a 3-1 victory over Tabb High School. They will face Christiansburg in the state semifinals, and the winner will go on to play in the state championship just a day later.

Both semifinal games, Meridian vs. Christiansburg and Brentsville

vs. Liberty Christian, as well as the championship game, will take place in Emory & Henry Stadium, a daunting five-hour drive from Falls Church. Meanwhile, for Meridian’s opponents Christiansburg, the drive is much shorter, falling just short of 90 minutes. Questions will likely be raised about the location choice of this final-four-esque event, as Christiansburg is significantly closer to the site than any other team participating. Nonetheless, the Mustangs’ title chances are still alive and well, as they look to

defend their state title and become back-to-back state champions.

In their state semifinal, girls tennis steamrolled Abingdon 5-0 to advance to the state championship.

This comes just four days after another 5-0 sweep in the state quarterfinals over Tabb. The Mustangs will face the reigning four-time state champions in Maggie L. Walker. Maggie Walker will look for their fifth state title in a row, and Meridian will look to avenge their loss in the regional championship.

Meridian boys lacrosse shakes hands with E.C. Glass after their heartbreaking loss. (Photo: Dinos Simcox)

Thomas Lapp and Mia Vuckovic Win Region Singles Championships; Advance to State Semifinals at Liberty University. Thomas Lapp (11) and Mia Vuckovic (9) each captured Region 3B singles championships this week at the University of Mary Washington. Lapp, who also won the regional title last year, claimed his quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship matches without dropping a single game. Vuckovic dominated her quarterfinal and semifinal matches before defeating Maggie Walker Governor’s School senior Ella Wiatt, 6-2, 6-2, in the championship match. Lapp and doubles partner Ben Behr (12) finished as regional runners-up, falling to James Monroe in a closely contested championship match, 6-4, 6-4. Vuckovic and her sister, Ana Vuckovic (12), also placed second in the regional doubles tournament, losing to a team from Maggie Walker. Lapp and Vuckovic will each compete in the VHSL Class 3 state semifinals at Liberty University tomorrow June 12. Both will face opponents from Western Albemarle High School for a chance to advance to the state championship match. (Photo: Alixandria Lapp)

Guest Commentary: Men’s Health Is More Than a Physical

by John F. Crownover

Every June, Men’s Health Month arrives with a familiar and worthy message: get the screening, check the blood pressure, see the doctor you’ve been avoiding. It’s good advice.

But after more than twenty years working with boys and men, I’ve come to believe the most dangerous health problem many men carry never shows up on a chart. It is the weight they refuse to set down, and the fact that they carry it alone.

Walk through any neighborhood in Falls Church or the wider Northern Virginia area and you’ll pass men who, by every outward measure, are fine. They show up to work.

They coach the team, fix the fence, pay the bills. And a striking number of them are quietly running on empty: stressed, isolated, and convinced that admitting as much would make

them less of a man.

The numbers are sobering.

Men in this country die by suicide at nearly four times the rate of women, and account for close to four in five suicide deaths. Men are less likely to have close friends they confide in, less likely to seek counseling, and more likely to cope in ways that cost them: overwork, drinking, a temper that flares and then hardens into shame. None of that is weakness. Much of it is simply what they were taught. Handle it.

Don’t complain. Keep moving.

Here is what I see up close.

The man whose temper keeps flaring at home is rarely upset about the small thing that set him off. For many men, anger is the one feeling they were ever allowed to express, so everything underneath finds its way out the same way. The father who cannot seem to connect with his kids is not cold.

He never had it modeled for him, and he is afraid of getting it wrong. The young man drifting between jobs is not lazy.

He is lost, and he has no one to tell. Underneath the surface, it is almost always the same thing: a man who needs to talk and does not know that he is allowed to.

The good news is that this can change, and it does not require a man to fall apart first.

In my experience, the turning point is rarely a dramatic breakthrough. It is quieter than that. It is a man sitting in a room with other men, discovering that the thing he was sure made him uniquely broken is something nearly everyone else in the room has felt too.

Isolation tells a man he is the only one. Connection tells him the truth.

So this Men’s Health Month, I would offer a few things worth doing.

If you are a man reading this, take stock honestly. Not just your cholesterol, but your connection. Who do you actually talk to? When did you last say something true to another person? Asking for help is not the opposite of strength. For a lot of us, it is the harder, braver version of it.

If you love a man who seems fine, check on him anyway. “How are you, really?” is a small question that can open a large door. You do not have to fix anything. You only have to be willing to hear the answer.

And if you are worried about someone, or about yourself, help is closer than it feels.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available any time, by call or text, for anyone who is struggling or supporting someone who is.

We tend to treat men’s health as a checklist of body parts. But a man’s health is also

his relationships, his sense of direction, and his willingness to be honest about how he is actually doing. Those things do not improve by accident. They improve when a man stops carrying it alone, and when a community decides that it is worth talking about.

That is the work I care about, right here in Falls Church. This month is as good a time as any to start.

John F. Crownover is the founder of Men Talking, a coaching and emotional wellness practice in the City of Falls Church serving men across Northern Virginia. He holds a master’s in Child, Youth & Families and is a Certified Family Life Educator, Qualified Mental Health Professional, and Certified Anger Management Specialist. Reach him at john@ realmentalking.com or realmentalking.com, or subscribe to his newsletter, Letters from the Circle, at mentalking.substack.com.

PAGE 10 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CALENDAR

This Week Around Falls Church Thursday, June 4 Falls Church Fiber Artists 10 a.m. – Noon

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Weekly knitting and crochet group.

All skill levels welcome.

Thursday, June 11 Summer Concerts in the Park: Bushmaster Band featuring Gary Brown 7 p.m.

Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church

The Village Improvement Society’s Summer Concerts in the Park series kicks off with soulful blues and funk.

Friday, June 12

June Author Talk: Melanie McCabe 2-3 p.m.

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

Author presentation and discussion.

June Joy: Pride in Cherry Hill Park 3-5 p.m.

Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church

Community Pride celebration.

Great Salt Water — The Chesapeake Bay Suite 7-9 p.m.

Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church

Musical performance celebrating the Chesapeake Bay.

Sunday, June 14

Military History Forum: Indian Wars of the Wild, Wild East

Determined: The 400Year Struggle for Black Equality

Senior Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church

Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church

10 a.m.-Noon

Presentation exploring lesser-known military history topics.

Saturday, June 13 Falls Church Farmers Market 8 a.m.-Noon

City Hall Parking Lot, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church

Weekly market featuring local produce, baked goods, prepared foods and specialty vendors.

Fairfax Library Foundation Children’s Summer Reading Festival 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkwy

Free family festival featuring books, crafts, games, bounce houses, entertainment, food trucks and more.

10 a.m.-Noon

Exhibit exploring the history of Black Americans and the continuing struggle for equality.

The Origin of the Blues: The Native American Influence 2-3 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church Educational music program examining Native American influences on blues music.

Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Concert & Open Mic

Meet the Artists Talkback — The Play That Goes Wrong

Following the 3 p.m. matinee

Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Audience discussion with cast and creative team.

Monday, June 15 Determined: The 400Year Struggle for Black Equality 10 a.m.-Noon

Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church Exhibit open to visitors.

Wednesday, June 17

Electoral Board Meeting

Determined: The 400Year Struggle for Black Equality

2-4 p.m.

Dogwood Rooms A & B, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church

Regular meeting of the Electoral Board.

Refugee Resettlement in Northern Virginia and Falls Church: An Update 6-7:30 p.m.

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

Environmental Sustainability Council Net Zero Building Tour

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

American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.

1-5 p.m.

Research assistance and access to local history materials.

Virginia Village Walking Tour with City Council & Planning Commission 6-7 p.m.

Big Chimneys Park, 210 Gibson St., Falls Church

Tour of the area surrounding the proposed Virginia Village affordable housing project.

Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation 6-7:30 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church Introduction to mindfulness techniques and meditation practices.

4-6 p.m.

Member concert and open mic.

Free admission and open to the public.

Dogwood Rooms A & B, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church

7:30-11 p.m.

10 a.m.-Noon

Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church Exhibit open to visitors.

Student Night — The Play That Goes Wrong Evening performance

Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Discounted admission for students with valid ID.

Discussion of current refugee resettlement efforts.

FC History Room WalkIn Hours

City Council Work Session (Includes Joint Session with Planning Commission)

Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Falls Church

Tuesday, June 16

7-8:30 p.m.

Tour highlighting sustainable building practices.

Have events?

Send an email to calendar@fcnp.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 | PAGE 11

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE APPLICATION OF VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA TO REVISE ITS FUEL FACTOR PURSUANT TO § 56-249.6 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2026-00058 On May 1, 2026, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) its application (“Application”) pursuant to § 56-249.6 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) to revise its fuel factor effective July 1, 2026.

Dominion’s total fuel factor consists of two components: (i) a current period factor (“Current Period Factor”); and (ii) a prior period factor (“Prior Period Factor”). The Company projects jurisdictional fuel expenses, including purchased power expenses, of approximately $2.691 billion, which results in a Current Period Factor rate of 3.6749 cents per kilowatt-hour (“ȼ/kWh”) for the July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 fuel year (“Rate Year”). The Company’s full projected Prior Period Factor reflects a total projected under-recovery balance of approximately $1.078 billion as of June 30, 2026, and results in a Prior Period Factor rate of 1.4723 ȼ/kWh. This approximately $1.078 billion Prior Period Factor balance consists of two components: (i) approximately $1.012 billion associated with the projected under-recovery of fuel expenses incurred during the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 (“2025/2026 Deferral”); and (ii) approximately $65.8 million associated with the remaining projected under-recovery of fuel expenses as of June 30, 2025 (“2024/2025 Deferral”). Together, the Current Period Factor and full Prior Period Factor result in a total proposed fuel factor (“Total Fuel Factor”) rate of 5.1472 ȼ/kWh for the Rate Year (“Standard Recovery Option”).

According to Dominion, the total projected fuel deferral balance continues to be substantial, due largely to significant commodity price increases during the prior period and extreme cold weather experienced over the past winter. The Company states that pending legislation would enable Dominion, with Commission approval, to establish a special purpose entity to issue securitized bonds to finance the significant fuel deferral balance as of June 30, 2026 (“Fuel Securitization”). Dominion asserts that Fuel Securitization could mitigate the near-term impact customers would otherwise experience due to the sizeable projected fuel deferral balance and, therefore, the Company intends to file a separate petition for approval of Fuel Securitization on or around June 1, 2026.

As such, Dominion recommends an alternative to implementing the Total Fuel Factor rate of 5.1472 ȼ/kWh under the Standard Recovery Option on an interim basis. Specifically, Dominion supports implementation of the Current Period Factor rate and only the 2024/2025 Deferral portion of the Prior Period Factor on an interim basis, which together total 3.7648 ȼ/kWh, while suspending implementation of the 2025/2026 Deferral portion of the Prior Period Factor pending the Commission’s consideration of Dominion’s Fuel Securitization proposal (“Fuel Securitization Option”). Should the Commission approve the Company’s Fuel Securitization petition, then the 2025/2026 Deferral balance would be recovered through the issuance of deferred fuel cost recovery bonds, which the Company currently estimates will be approximately $1.80 per month for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month. If the Commission denies the Company’s Fuel Securitization petition, then the full Prior Period Factor rate consisting of both the 2025/2026 Deferral and the 2024/2025 Deferral balances would be implemented at that time.

According to Dominion, if the Company were to implement the Total Fuel Factor rate of 5.1472 ȼ/kWh under the Standard Recovery Option, it would increase the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month by $21.79 per month over the Rate Year. In contrast, implementation of the Fuel Securitization Option on an interim basis would increase the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month by $7.97 per month for the Rate Year.

However, as noted above, if the Company’s Fuel Securitization petition is approved, in addition to the 3.7648 ȼ/kWh rate charged under the Fuel Securitization Option, customers would be charged for the fuel securitization bond beginning in early 2027.

The Commission entered an Order Establishing 2026-2027 Fuel Factor Proceeding in this matter that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on Dominion’s Application. A hearing for the receipt of testimony from public witnesses on the Company’s Application shall be convened telephonically at 10 a.m. on August 11, 2026. On or before August 5, 2026, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide required contact information to the Commission. 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. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/caseinformation/webcasting.

The evidentiary portion of the hearing on the Application shall be convened at 10 a.m. on August 11, 2026, 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, to receive the testimony and evidence of the Company, any respondents, and 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 Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Elaine S. Ryan, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons may also download unofficial copies of the public version of the Application and the public versions of other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/case-information.

On or before August 5, 2026, any interested person may submit comments on the Application 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-2026-00058.

On or before June 30, 2026, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding must do so by filing a notice of participation 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 person or entity and their counsel.

The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation electronically on counsel to the Company, Staff, and all other respondents. 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 notice of participation filed by a person not represented by counsel shall also set forth why the filer’s positions in this matter are not adequately represented by another party to this proceeding and cannot be expressed through written or oral public comments as provided for in this proceeding.

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-2026-00058.

Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents in full for additional details.

On or before July 14, 2026, 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-2026-00058.

TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may apportion revenues among customer classes and/or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Application and supporting documents and thus may adopt rates that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Application and supporting documents.

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 Establishing 2026-2027 Fuel Factor Proceeding, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.

The hearing on this matter will occur subsequent to July 1, 2026 – the beginning of the Company’s Rate Year. Consequently, the Company’s proposed Fuel Securitization Option rate of 3.7648 ȼ/kWh shall be placed into effect on an interim basis for usage on and after July 1, 2026.

The public version of the Company’s Application, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, the Commission’s Order Establishing 2026-2027 Fuel Factor Proceeding, and the public versions of other documents filed in the case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information.

For purposes of judicial economy, the Company proposes that the current proceeding and the Fuel Securitization proceeding, which the Company anticipates filing with the Commission on or about June 1, 2026, be consolidated. The Commission finds that for purposes of judicial economy, it may be appropriate for the procedural schedules for the current proceeding and the Company’s future Fuel Securitization proceeding to be consolidated; however, the Commission declines to make such a determination at this time and will instead consider the issue after the Fuel Securitization petition has been filed.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY

PAGE 12 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 ABC NOTICE Shekar Kollabatula and Parimala Kollabatla, owners of Kollabatla LLC, trading as Kollabatla LLC, 2251 Pimmit Drive, Suite A, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia 22043, are applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Off License. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Southeast South Riding LLC, trading as Southeast Impression, 23710 Schooler Plaza, Suite 180, Brambleton, Loudoun County, Virginia 20148, is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Beer and Wine On-and-OffPremises and Mixed Beverage license to sell alcoholic beverages. Kam Y. Wong, Managing Member. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to the ABC Authority no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or by calling 800-552-3200.

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Gutterworks We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-8530. Toll free call (888) 551-3247. For the hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.

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JUNE 11 - 17, 2026 | PAGE 13

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF ITS 2026 PIPP UPDATE PURSUANT TO § 56-585.6 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA CASE NO. PUR-2026-00057 On May 1, 2026, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed its 2026 Percentage of Income Payment Program (“PIPP”) update application (“Application”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”). The Application includes the Company’s requests for: (i)

Approval of a Universal Service Fee (“USF”) to fund the PIPP of $0.000158 per kilowatt-hour (“kWh”) effective November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027 (“Rate Year”);

(ii)

Approval of a Virginia jurisdictional revenue requirement of $14,811,509 for the Rate Year;

(iii) An order directing disbursement from the PIPP Treasury Fund to the Company for the Company’s reasonable administrative costs from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, in the amount of $1,581,194, to be audited by the Commission Staff (“Staff”) in this proceeding; and (iv) The entry of an order in this proceeding by October 15, 2026.

The PIPP was established as part of the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act as a mechanism designed to limit the electric utility payments of persons or households participating in certain, specified public assistance programs, based upon a percentage of their income, for customers of Dominion and Appalachian Power Company (“APCo”). The General Assembly further addressed the PIPP, its funding, and implementation, as part of the 2021 legislative session with the passage of Chapter 308 of the 2021 Virginia Acts of Assembly, Special Session I (“Chapter 308”). Among other things, Chapter 308 updated eligibility to be based on income thresholds relative to the federal poverty level. A PIPP-eligible utility customer is defined as “any person or household whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.” Eligible participants in the PIPP are customers of Dominion and APCo. The Commission issued an Order on July 29, 2021 directing, among other things, that Dominion: begin collecting the USF from statutorily designated customers to fund the estimated start-up costs that the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) needed to establish the PIPP; calculate a USF on a per kWh basis to recover $2.4 million on an annual basis; file tariffs reflecting such fee with the Commission; begin making payments to the state treasury to enable DSS to undertake the actions necessary to establish the PIPP; and defer its PIPP administrative costs and seek their recovery at a later date.

In its most recently adjudicated PIPP update filing, Dominion sought and was granted Commission approval of a USF to fund the PIPP of $0.00 per kWh, based on Dominion’s projections that revenues collected through October 31, 2024 would be sufficient to fund the PIPP through October 31, 2026. The Commission also concluded that $2,065,280 of audited PIPP-related administrative costs incurred between January 2024 and March 2025 could be appropriately recovered by the Company from the PIPP Treasury Fund.

In its Application, the Company requests a revenue requirement composed of: (i) a true-up for calendar year 2025 of ($32,793,199); (ii) an estimated current period (January 1, 2026 – October 31, 2026) revenue requirement of $23,943,273; and (iii) a projected Rate Year revenue requirement of $25,422,244. After applying a jurisdictional allocation factor of 89.375%, the resulting requested Virginia jurisdictional revenue requirement is $14,811,509. If the proposed USF for the Rate Year is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to Dominion, implementation of its proposed USF on November 1, 2026, would increase the monthly bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month by approximately $0.16.

The Company also requests adequate and timely compensation from the PIPP Treasury Fund for its reasonable administrative costs via an order directing disbursement from the PIPP Treasury Fund to the Company for the Company’s administrative costs from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, in the amount of $1,581,194 to be audited by the Staff in this proceeding. In order to implement the USF rate on November 1, 2026, the Company respectfully requests the Commission enter an order in this proceeding by October 15, 2026.

Further details are set forth in the Company’s Application and supporting exhibits, and interested persons are encouraged to review these documents.

TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may apportion revenues among customer classes

and/or design rates in a manner differing from that shown in the Application and supporting documents and thus may adopt rates that differ from those appearing in the Company’s Application and supporting documents.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Comment that, among other things, directed the Company to provide notice to the public and provided interested persons an opportunity to comment on the Company’s Application, to file a notice of participation and to request a hearing in this matter.

Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), 5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq., the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information.

An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Nicole M. Allaband, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or nicole.m.allaband@dominionenergy. com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the Application and other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/case-information.

On or before July 15, 2026, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions 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 with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2026-00057.

On or before July 15, 2026, 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 and their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation electronically on counsel to the Company, Staff, and all other respondents. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the 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 notice of participation filed by a person not represented by counsel shall also set forth why the filer’s positions in this matter are not adequately represented by another party to this proceeding and cannot be expressed through written or oral public comments as provided for in this proceeding. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-2030, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2026-00057.

On or before July 15, 2026, any interested person may file a written request for a hearing with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a request for hearing electronically may file such request by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. The interested person simultaneously shall serve a copy of the hearing request electronically on counsel to the Company, Staff, and all respondents. A request for a hearing shall include: (i) a precise statement of the filing party’s interest in the proceeding; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; (iii) a statement of the legal basis for such action; and (iv) a precise statement why a hearing should be conducted in this matter. All requests for a hearing shall refer to Case No. PUR-2026-00057.

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 Comment, 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 Application, the public versions of other documents filed in this case, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/case-information.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY

PAGE 14 | JUNE 11 - 17, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PUZZLE NO. 349 37. Current measure, for short 39. Insight 41. Out of bed 42. Prepared 43. Repetitious sound

C ritter C orner

37. ____-limits 39. Accompany 41. Directed 43. Fountain dr 44. Hang aroun 45. Roadway marker 46. Small bit

44. Bank transaction 45. Poker word 47. Calm 48. Work on copy 49. Squealers 52. Shoe part

Copyright © 2026, Penny Press

ACROSS

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19. Attendee 21. Fuss 23. Walk proudly 24. Race part 25. Cooking liquid 26. Keats poem 28. Bikini part DOWN 1. Statutes 29. Boater’s 2. Leave the stage utensil 3. In addition 30. Lamb’s 4. Railroad mother stations 33. Beasts 5. Pacify 34. Granny 6. Fighting

43. Go by, as time 46. Learn well 50. Partner of pro 51. So long, in Liverpool: 2 wds.

53. Baby’s father 54. Beret, e.g.

55. Object of adoration 56. Disregard 57. Undivided 58. Certain breads 59. New York ball team

Copyright © 2026, Penny Press

ACROSS

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 349

4. Tasteworthy 38. ____ out 1. Kitchen gadget 5. Fasten again (make do) 6. That woman 6. Place for a 39. Discharge 9. Porky ____ Hula-Hoop 40. Fashion 12. Ooze out 42. Items of value 7. December 31, 13. “____ Got a e.g.

44. Book or movie ANSWER TO PUZZL Secret” 8. Return the type: hyph.

14. Expert favor 47. Gator’s kin THIS IS BOOMER and his great9.nephew, Biscuit.

15. Make payment 48.

Daddy Additionally 16. Zing has taught 10. Cake frosterhow to Boomer Biscuit a great deal49. Injure Ballpoint 11.the Well-mannered Sidestep eat 17. fast, walk slow51.and lounge on couch!

18. Infants’ aprons 55. Tiny insect one 20. Alone 19. Made coffee 56. Fleecy one 22. More trite 21. Pod vegetable 57. Vocal solos 25. Glance 58. Nay’s opposite 22. Petty quarrel 26. Vatican dweller 59. Lawn moisture 23. Oz-visiting 27. Age pooch 60. Stairs 29. Sculpture and 24. Mimicked music 25. Make beloved DOWN 33. Eroded 1. ____ se 28. Acorn’s parent 34. Bundle of bills 2. Woodsman’s 30. “When in ____ 35. Be in the red tool . . .”

36. Fuss: hyph.

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REAL ESTATE SECTION — JUNE 18 PUZZLE NO. 351

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