Falls Church News-Press 6-13-2024

2 Meridian Students Win Cappie Awards

Music Festival Fever

Abby Berg and Carlos Ortiz of Falls Church’s Meridian High School won prestigious Cappie awards for theater arts in a gala that filled the Kennedy Center concert hall to capacity. They were both chosen for their roles in the spectacular spring production of “Frankenstein,” which was also nominated for Best Play among the over 50 schools in the wider National Capital Region.

Berg, now a rising senior, was selected as Best Lead Actor in a Female Role for the two parts she played in “Frankenstein,” and Ortiz was selected in the category of “Creativity” for his role in composing the musical score for the same play.

Commenting on the awards at Tuesday’s meeting of the Falls Church School Board, FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan said that “In all my 32 years as an educator, this was the best high school performance I’ve ever seen.”

It was designed and directed by drama instructor Shawn Northrip, who actually commissioned the play, which was written by Danielle Mohlman, and recruited Ortiz to compose the score. It topped his previous year’s production of “The Love

Warner Talks Russians, Beyer Talks Fusion

Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, again last week leveled a stark warning about foreign interference in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, saying that “in some ways, we are more vulnerable now than four years ago.” He made his remarks in a telephone press briefing.

There are more nations now than then using these tools of disinformation, he said, because

they are far cheaper than building up military capabilities for one thing. Moreover, there are more Americans who are believing “crazy conspiracy theories” that hostile foreign governments merely need to amplify rather than create from scratch.

An inability to come to an agreement with 21 major Internet companies set the effort to constrain this back six months, he added, and now, advanced artificial intelligence tools are introducing “deep fakes” that can emulate the voices and images of persons.

The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that European parliamentary elections have begun and elections in Great Britain begin July 4. He noted the case of Slovakia, which had been a pro-Ukrainian country, where as a result of such efforts a pro-Russian president has been elected, and now a majority of citizens there believe that it was the U.S. that started the war in Ukraine.

He said there will be a public hearing of the Intelligence Committee with updates on all these efforts this summer.

In another telephone briefing, this one with constituents, this Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. said he was gravely concerned for Ukraine, given the six month delay in sending severely-needed U.S. military aid due to objections from Republicans in the Congress. He also said that “there are far too many civilian casualties and displaced lives in Gaza.

“The toll is too high, too many children,” he said, blaming Hamas for intentionally using

Abby Berg, Carlos Ortiz Win For ‘Frankenstein’ Roles

THE ANNUAL TINNER HILL Music Festival was an enormous success last weekend at Cherry Hill Park, drawing a huge crowd on a warm and friendly day for some of the best live music around. Headliners kept the audience wrapped and tons of food, drink and souvenirs were also part of the experience. (Photo: Josh Brick)

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

NEWS BRIEFS

Gun Buyback Event Called ‘Major Success’

A gun buyback event in coordination by the City of Falls Church and Arlington County held last weekend exhausted all of the private funds raised within the first half-hour of its opening, reported F.C. Council member Debbie Shantz-Hiscott.

Fifty-five weapons were turned in at the event in that first half hour. A followon event is being organized.

Del. Simon Presents Richmond Kudos to 4 F.C. Leaders

At Monday’s Falls Church City Council meeting, State Del. Marcus Simon made presentations of formal unanimous proclamations from the Virginia General Assembly to four leaders of the City of Falls Church.

The four leaders include the late Mayor Carol DeLong, who was recognized for her trailblazing work as a woman civic leader, the City’s first mayor from 1980-1988; Phil Duncan, journalist and civic activist, elected to three F.C. City Council terms and now on the Planning Commission, having recovered from lung replacement surgery; former Mayor David Tarter, upon his retirement after eight years as mayor; and, former F.C. Police Chief Mary Gavin.

Higher Education in Prison Inaugural Event This Saturday

Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison has announced its inaugural event, launching a statewide tour of community conversations about the importance of higher education in prisons, made possible by the reinstatement of federal Pell grants for incarcerated students. Hosted by McGennis Williams and Arlington Presbyterian Church, the film screening and panel discussion will include among expert panelists, Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington and Falls Church.

Clips from the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary, “College Behind Bars,” will illustrate the transformative impacts of college programs from a personal perspective. The event is Saturday, June 15, 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. at the Arlington Presbyterian Church, 918 S. Lincoln St. No. 1, Arlington, VA.

City of F.C. Thanked for Key Role in NAIOP Bus Tour

Spencer Stouffer of Transwestern, chair of the NAIOP commercial real

estate association, in a final report on the recent NAIOP bus tour, thanked the City of Falls Church for its seminal role in the success of the tour, that included a stop at the West Falls in the Little City for lunch last month.

Stouffer thanked sponsors Rubenstein Partners and Carlyle Tower, the City of Falls Church, EYA, Founder’s Row, Hoffman and Associates, Rushmark Properties, The Wellness Center at West Falls, and Trammell Crow.

Sen. Warner Hosting Passport Acceptance Fair

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner is hosting a Passport Acceptance Fair in Annandale on Wednesday, June 26 at Northern Virginia Community College from 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. to help Virginians apply in one convenient location. Agency employees will be on site to help folks submit applications for a new or renewed passport. The event is free to attend — though participants will have to pay the normal processing fees, and can expect to receive passports in 6-8 weeks, or in 2-3 weeks if expedited. Interested persons must register for an appointment ahead of time.

Partisan Fake Newspapers Now Outnumber Real Ones

The number of partisan-backed outlets designed to look like impartial news outlets has officially surpassed the number of real, local daily newspapers in the U.S., according to a new analysis, Editor and Publisher reports. It matters, they say, because many of those sites are targeted to swing states — a clear sign that they’re designed to influence politics.

There are at least 1,265 websites identified as being backed by dark money or are intentionally masquerading as local news sites for political purposes, according to a new report from NewsGuard, a misinformation tracking company.

S en. Kaine Reports Polls Show Dead Heat in Va.

Virginia U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine reported yesterday that Democrats “are at risk of letting Trump and his allies buy their way to victory in Virginia,” as polls now show Biden and Trump neck-and-neck.

“There’s no math that keeps the Senate or the White House blue without Virginia,” he said. “Let me be clear: I refuse to let Trump use Virginia as a springboard to win back the White House. But I can’t win this fight by myself, with money pouring into Virginia from GOP mega-donors all across the country.”

Berg, Ortiz Score Cappie Wins for Roles

Doctor” at Meridian, which starred Berg as Marotte. Ortiz is the son of F.C. School Board member Dr. David Ortiz.

FCCPS Vice Chair Kathleen Tysse, who came to the stage representing the Falls Church school system to make a presentation and coincidentally had the honor of announcing Berg’s win and presenting the award to her, said she had the honor of driving a car full of Meridian students to the event and was impressed, she said at Tuesday’s School Board meeting, by the enthusiasm all of them had hailing the victories of their high school colleagues.

In the play, Berg played two roles, that of Mary Shelly, the author of the original Frankenstein story, and the creature that Dr. Frankenstein created. Playing dual roles was not new to her, as she had played both Bardolf and Northumberland in a 2023 production of Henry IV.

According to Dr. Noonan this week, two years ago, Northrip came to him to ask for the OK to commission a play that would do better at its representation of females in leading roles., which led to the play and

Berg’s and Ortiz’ seminal roles.

Berg was the subject of an interview in last month’s Meridian High student newspaper, The Lasso, by Victor Kidwell. In it, she said her passion is dance and gymnastics and she will be choreographing next year’s production of the musical “Matilda” at Henderson Middle School. An IB student, her extended essay is on the subject of the role of the legendary Bob Fosse on modern dance.

Asked about the impact of Northrip and the Meridian drama program on her, she said the message is, “Give it your all. Take risks.

Definitely take risks. Because I think [Meridian theater teacher Mr. Northrip’s] favorite thing is people who come in and take risks. You can come in and in an audition and perform a role completely wrong; but if you take a risk, that shows that you have more to work with, in some way.”

The Kennedy Center concert hall holds 2,500 and was filled to capacity with dressed-up student actors, stage crew and student critic nominees, along with parents, friends and instructors.

The Cappies program, which originated in the D.C. area with the

help of the Washington Post, is now operating a dozen active chapters across the U.S. All the reviews of high school plays and award recipients are products of students in the program. It is a program that celebrates the theater arts, on the one hand, and journalism, on the other, as all the play reviews are written and circulated by students.

The News-Press was recognized as one of the news organizations that regularly publishes Cappies studentwritten reviews, and the News-Press’ Nicholas Benton was invited to the awards gala Monday night to make a presentation for the fifth year in a row.

A total of 47 presenters made up of elected officials and representatives of eight school districts and dozens of schools across the National Capital Area came together to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of students and teachers in the theater arts and journalism. This year’s gala was the 24th annual event.

The Cappies, according to the non-profit organization’s website, is “a writing and awards program that trains high school theater and journalism students to be expert writ-

ers, critical thinkers, and leaders. Student critics vie to be published in local media outlets by attending productions at other schools and writing critical reviews. Theatre and journalism students are trained as critics and attend each other’s shows. Cappies students discuss and learn about theater production. Throughout the year, newspapers publish the reviews with the students’ bylines. At the end of the year, Cappies student critics decide who among their peer performers

and technicians should be recognized for awards at the end of the season with glamor and excitement.”

Other Meridian nominees for Cappies were “Frankenstein” for best play (“Romeo and Juliet” by Lake Braddock won), Featured Actor in a Female Role Alexis West, Sound, Jocelynn Johnson, Carlos Ortiz, Ashe Stoner, Special Effects/ Technology Millie Beaudry, Sean Cunniffe, Naomi Lewis, Carlos Ortiz.

ABBY BERG and David Ortiz won Cappie Awards for their contributions to Meridian’s production of “Frankenstein!” (Photo: Carol Sly, David Ortiz)

Sen. Warner Fears Kremlin Interference in U.S. Elections

civilians as human shields.

He said he will not attend the scheduled address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Congress coming up, due to his opposition to his policies, which Beyer suggested are aimed more at “staying out of prison” than anything else, and policies which are not in the U.S. national interest.

But Beyer was upbeat about the future, especially touting the “game changing impact” of his favorite subject, controlled thermonuclear fusion energy.

He is a member of the Fusion Caucus in Congress, he said, to press development of the limitless energy source to practical applications beginning in 2032 instead of a decade later, as is now predicted, to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels as an energy source. It “will be a silver bullet, a panacea,” he said.

He noted that when operational, it will “change humanity,” capable of ending hunger for the two billion on the planet who now go to bed hungry every night.

He said that the 34 companies that are working on it in the U.S. are all small businesses, including two in Virginia, but when developed, the power plants involved will be the size of tennis courts, meaning they could be located in places in his district, including Falls Church.

He said amazing gains are also occurring in other alternative energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal.

Major advances in these areas are vital, he said, because of the alarming rise in suicides, on the one hand, and the lowest birth rate in the U.S. ever (at 1.2 per couple, far below the 2.2 need to keep the population stable.

He said the child tax credit implemented on an emergency basis during the pandemic reduced the child poverty rate down to 5.5 percent, but since it expired, it is now back up to 12 percent.

“We need it back,” he said.

He called the U.S. Supreme Court decision to end Roe V. Wade “is the worst decision ever made” by the high court, the first, he noted, to actually take away a right from citizens in this country.

He said he is worried that Virginia Gov. Youngkin will defer to the radicals in his party and attack IVF and contraception, as well.

The Supreme Court, he said, “has now become a landing

place for partisan ideologues,” the exact opposite of what it was set up in the Constitution to be. The recent revelations of gifts to and partisan expressions by Justice Alito and Thomas “distress me” and are “embarrassing.”

“This is the most unethical and dysfunctional court in our history,” he intoned, and he said he is surprised that Chief Justice Roberts hasn’t done anything to redress that situation.

U.S. SENATOR MARK WARNER (D-VA), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, at a May Intel hearing on threats to the 2024 Elections. (Photo: Office of Sen. Mark Warner)

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

Vol. XXXIV, No. 18

June 13 - 19, 2024

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Benton Feted in Editor & Publisher

Our esteemed News-Press founder/owner/editor Nicholas F. Benton was feted in the June 2024 edition of Editor & Publisher magazine as one of its “Class of 2024 ‘15 over 50’ committed to truth, community engagement and sustainability in our industry.” E&P author Robin Blinder introduced the segment in the magazine this month, saying “the honored news media professionals were nominated for their strong leadership skills, transformational mindsets, commitment to journalistic and publishing excellence and ability to lead during challenging times. They are hopeful about the future and proud to be part of guiding the next generation forward.”

Benton, specifically, was introduced by Blinder as follows, “In his position as founder, owner and editor at the Falls Church News-Press, Nicholas Benton has led and mentored scores of young journalists in his career. His tenet is “journalists work for the readers and the truth.”

Editor & Publisher has been the gold standard in news covering news for far more than a century, with its special role in the more recent era being to document and comment about the considerable challenges facing the news industry in these troubled times. According to Wikipedia, “Editor & Publisher evolved from several publications, the oldest of which — the weekly The Journalist, the first successful American trade newspaper covering journalism — had been founded in 1884. The Editor & Publisher: A Journal for Newspaper Makers itself was founded in 1901.

Benton’s profile in the magazine this month included the following quotes:

Asked about his first job in news, Benton responded, “I founded my own newspaper, The Benton Star, at age seven. My first paying job as a writer, at age 14, was for my hometown paper, the Santa Barbara News-Press.”

Asked “What are some of the most important lessons you have learned while working in news?,” Benton replied, “I’ve often said that either I was born with printer’s ink in my veins, or I just have never grown up — or both. The key lesson is that journalists or newspapermen work for their readers and the truth, not for themselves. You must be willing to be ‘unpopular’ or ‘not one of the gang’ in order to do the job.”

Asked “When you reflect on your career to date, what brings you the greatest sense of accomplishment,” Benton answered, “All of it (had brought a sense of accomplishment), but in particular, having an impact on a community.”

Asked “What are your predictions for where the news publishing/news media is heading?,” Benton responded, “Not in a good direction. When I was growing up, the major network nightly news did not permit advertising to confirm its independence. That says it all. I am also troubled by the loss of print journalism in favor of digital. I do not think online sources contribute to the sense of community engagement that a real print newspaper does. It has been proven that people don’t retain information they read online nearly as well as when they read something in print.”

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.

Editor,

I would love for someone to address what is clearly, if I am to believe your paper, a rising crime rate in our city. When we moved here 8 years ago we were thrilled to live in such a safe place. I feel disheartened to see that the column had to be carried over to another page this

Jennifer de Vignier

Love-Rock Musical ‘Hair’ Delivers Powerful Performance

by Patricia Leslie

Big, bold, and brassy are what you get at this memorable “Hair” onstage now through July 7 at Signature Theatre.

Rocking outasight! And that’s what they do nonstop. Drugs, sex, rock and roll...but wait! There’s more, much more!

This bunch of energetic hippies sing a song, song a sing, song, song, song, sing their story in this first ever “rock musical” for the stage with the never-old, the familiar “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” “Good Morning Starshine,” “Easy to be Hard,” and many more.

The youngsters preach that “peace can guide the planets and love will steer the stars.”

When this classic broke ground in the late 60s all they wanted was “harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust abounding...golden living dreams of visions... and the mind’s true liberation,” not too different from now.

With the cast only a few feet away and parading up and down the aisle, various audience members are invited to join the fun, and one woman sitting on the front row when we were there, rocked, swayed and clapped the night away, almost standing up to kick her heels and become part of the show.

“Hair” is all about free love and free everything (“unless someone gets hurt”). “I don’t want to be a dentist or a lawyer or a movie star,” Claude (Jordan Dobson) says wistfully to no one in particular: “I just want a lot of money.”

The tribe conveys the message, rebelling against the Vietnam tragedy, the draft, institutional power and religion, middle-class values, discrimination, the uncompromising future which lies ahead.

America’s youth worked to make their voices heard and they succeeded! “Especially people who care about strangers, who say they care about social injustice.”

Claude’s roommates, Berger (Noah Israel) and Sheila (Alex De Bard) join him to resist societal pressures while Claude debates whether to flee the draft or accept his call to the military.

In one of the rare funny scenes, Woof (Nolan Montgomery) falls in love with a poster of Mick Jagger (“but I’m not gay or any -

thing”), the Mick Jagger whose name still runs across political headlines today, more than 50 years later. (See Florida and Ron DeSantis.)

Closing the first act is the memorable fast nude scene. At Signature the actors disrobe in the shadows and, although you know it’s coming, it happens in a flash, making it easy to miss the good parts if your eyes aren’t fast enough.

Wikipedia says the authors wrote the nude scene in their script after they witnessed an anti-war demonstration in Central Park, where men stripped naked to show their independence and defiance of all things “normal.” The singer Donna Summer, who was in the German production, said that “it was not meant to be sexual. ... We stood naked to comment on the fact that society makes more of nudity than killing.” Yep. It was controversial then; now, not so much.

The knockout set (by Paige Hathaway) is reminiscent of those rooms where we used to party hearty in college in the 60s while the period costumes (by Kathleen Geldard) show little difference from those of today.

Angie Benson is the music director and keyboardist who leads eight musicians behind the scenes who, at times, almost overcome the vocalists.

Matthew Gardiner, the director, says in his notes that “Hair” “broke all the rules of musical theater convention” and presents “so much to reflect upon and learn about our present” including the upheaval in society in comparison to today.

“How can people be so heartless? How can people be so cruel? Easy to be hard, easy to be cold, how can people have no feelings? How can they ignore their friends?” This group won’t.

Also in the cast are Amanda Lee, Solomon Parker III (also the dance captain), Nora Palka, Caroline Graham, Jamie Goodson, Keenan McCarter, Greg Twomey, Savannah Blackwell, Patrick Leonardo Casimi, Ethan Turbyville and Teralin Elise Jones.

Book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado (both graduates of Catholic University). Music by Galt MacDermot.

Other members of the creative team are Jason Lyons,

lighting; Eric Norris, sound; Patrick W. Lord, video; Anne Nesmith, wigs; Sinai Tabak, orchestrations.

Kerry Epstein was production stage manager and Julia Singer was assistant stage manager; Ashleigh King, choreographer; Casey Kaleba, fight choreographer and Chelsea Pace, intimacy consultant.

For all those children, like mine, who question their parents about what college life was like in the 60s, here’s a chance to see part of it in full living, singing color! And for the boomers, time to relive a carefree (well, kinda) fun, outrageous time. I need a friend.

Tickets start at $40, available at sigtheatre.org or calling the box office at 703-820-9771. Duration, 2.5 hrs with one intermission.

Signature Theatre is in Shirlington with plenty of free parking and many restaurants within walking distance, located at 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

SIGNATURE THEATRE’S performance of “Hair” is all about free love. On Stage through July 7th. (Photo: Christopher Mueller)

Civil Insults in an Age of Mindless Name Calling

Nicholas F. Benton

This is presented in the interest of our nation’s vital need for civility, intelligence and humanity in our discourse as key components in the battle against mindless acquiescence to paradigms of brutality, shameful prejudice, dumbed-down, anti-democratic diatribes and brain-damaged ramblings that a big part of our national politics is now committed to. I found the following on the Internet and feel it is worth sharing. I thank whoever went to the trouble to assemble them.

The following were presented as “insults from an era before the English language got boiled down to four-letter words.”

“He had delusions of adequacy.”

—Walter Kerr

• “He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” — Winston Churchill

• “I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure. —Clarence Darrow

• “He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” —William Faulkner (of Ernest Hemingway)

• “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?” —Ernest Hemingway (of William Faulkner)

• “Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.” —Moses Hadas

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” —Mark Twain

• “He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” —Oscar Wilde

• “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one.” —George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

• “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one.” —Winston Churchill, in response

• “I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here”

—Stephen Bishop

• “He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” —John Bright

• “I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” — Irvin S. Cobb

• “He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” — Samuel Johnson

• “He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up. —Paul Keating

• “He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.” —Forrest Tucker

• “Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” —Mark Twain

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” — Mae West

• “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” —Oscar Wilde

• “He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination.” —Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

• “He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.” —Billy Wilder

• “I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But I’m afraid this wasn’t it.” —Groucho Marx

• The exchange between Winston Churchill and Lady Astor: She said, “If you were my husband I’d give you poison.” He said, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”

• “He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.” —Abraham Lincoln

• “There’s nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won’t cure.” — Jack E. Leonard “They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.” —Thomas Brackett Reed

• “He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them.” —James Reston (about Richard Nixon)

This week, we have been assailed by the desperate efforts of Trump World to equate the trial of President Biden’s son with the conviction of Trump on 34 felony charges of, as what it boiled down to, an attempt to disenfranchise every voter in America on the eve of the 2016 election, resulting in one of the worst U.S. administrations in our history to date.

The major media must take the blame for falling into line behind this feeble attempt at asserting moral equivalency. While the media reported accurately on what are obviously huge differences between the Hunter Biden and Donald Trump cases, the optics remained something that Trumpists used to cancel out the impact of the Trump convictions.

It is pathetic that the media fell into this, with the only upside being that the “rule of law” was affirmed in both cases.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Penny Gross

Trees are beloved in spring and summer when they provide beauty and shade to our neighborhoods, and sometimes reviled in autumn when their fallen leaves must be raked and composted. Even in winter, their bare branches can create a familiar skyline, hinting at the next seasons to come. Although pleasing to the eye, those same trees play a much more important role. A healthy tree canopy – encompassing forests, woodlands, and individual trees – provide significant levels of environmental and ecological services. Healthy trees improve air and water quality, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and heat island effects, and sequester and store carbon. As the planet warms at a dangerous pace, trees are among our best defenses against the deleterious effects of climate change.

Preservation and enhancement of the tree canopy is a shared responsibility between local jurisdictions and constituents, but the effort must be regional, not encumbered by jurisdictional boundaries. In mid-April, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) took its latest step in a decadeslong history of initiatives relating to the regional tree canopy and endorsed a goal of maintaining a minimum tree canopy coverage of 50 percent across the region. Previous efforts include voluntary ozone mitigation measures in 2005, establishing a Regional Tree Canopy Work Group in 2012, and a Tree Conservation “Cookbook” that provides detailed approaches to achieving tree canopy goals.

COG Board Chair Charles Allen noted that the “best time to plant

a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is tomorrow,” and added that “maintaining healthy tree canopies and preserving our region’s natural assets is one way we get closer to a more sustainable, livable, prosperous, and equitable future.”

The COG report, “Conserving Trees and Forests in Metropolitan Washington,” was adopted unanimously by the COG Board of Directors and will be followed by a regional tree action plan for consideration next year. The new regional tree canopy goal was a long time in coming. The COG Board established a Regional Tree Canopy Subcommittee under its Climate, Energy and Environmental Policy Committee in 2019.

Members of the subcommittee were volunteers whose professional credentials support many of COG’s member jurisdictions in their “day” jobs. Then the Covid pandemic intervened.

The work continued virtually but agreement about recommendations faced some hurdles which, fortunately, were worked out.

Three tiers of goals were adopted: an overarching goal of 50 percent minimum tree canopy coverage; intermediate goals based on population density and urbanization; and smaller scale target goals for general land use categories. The recommendations are aspirational and are not intended to be prescriptive or universally applied in every scenario. Localities must base their tree canopy objectives on the unique sets of conditions within their jurisdictional boundaries. An analysis of land coverage data suggests that it is feasible to support a tree canopy coverage of 45 to 50 percent

City of Falls Church

Week of June 3-9, 2024

Reckless Driving, N Fairfax St, June 3, 8:22 AM, a female, 23, of Arlington, was arrested for Reckless Driving.

Reckless Driving, Hillwood Ave, June 3, 2:13 PM, a male, 20, of Washington, D.C., was arrested for

Reckless Driving. Violation of a Learner’s Permit, Hillwood Ave, June 3, 7:13 PM, a male, 26, of Fairfax County, was arrested for Violation of a Learner’s Permit.

Larceny of Vehicle Parts, N Washington St, between 3:30 PM on June 3 and 5:45 AM on June 4, all four tires and rims were removed

over the next 25 years, which essentially takes the region to 2050. The adopted recommendations include reevaluating the target goals once every five years. That re-evaluation may change when new Chesapeake 2025 goals are promulgated by the federal Chesapeake Bay Program next year.

Residents can take their own actions by planting trees on private property (fall is a good time to plant; the cooler weather gives roots time to establish before winter sets in) and by maintaining the health of existing trees, especially by carefully removing invasive plants and vines that use tree trunks for their infrastructure. It takes some time and effort to cut back ivy and clear the area around a trunk, but the result can be very satisfying, and much healthier for the tree. Earlier this year, the Virginia General Assembly passed bipartisan bills, introduced by State Senator Saddam Salim and Delegate Holly Siebold, that would have required garden retailers to educate consumers about invasive plant species and encourage alternatives, but the bills met with a gubernatorial veto. Senator Salim plans to try again next session.

COG’s Tree Canopy Goal is one of the first efforts in the nation to take aim at conserving tree canopy at such a large scale (the landmass of COG’s 24-member jurisdictions exceeds 2.2 million acres). Some of those jurisdictions already have estimated tree cover of more than 50 percent at this time, but many do not, and the annual loss of regional tree cover – due to weather, health, or development, is growing. The 50 percent goal is considered a floor, not a ceiling, so the idea that a jurisdiction could reduce its above-thegoal tree canopy is a fallacious assumption. The regional goal is to preserve and enhance the tree canopy, not play numbers games!

from the victim’s vehicle. No Valid Operator’s License, S Roosevelt St, June 4, 3:05 PM, a male, 23, of Hyattsville, MD, was arrested for No Valid Operator’s License.

Unintentional Discharge of a Firearm, E Broad St, June 4, 3:18 PM, officers

Continued on Page 22

F.C.’s Tinner Hill Music Festival Celebrates 30th Year

by Alex Russell

Taking place at its usual venue, the green, open expanse of Cherry Hill Park, the 2024 Tinner Hill Music Festival brought together a powerhouse lineup of musical acts to The Little City last Saturday. A foottapping blend of blues, reggae, jazz, gospel, and funk, this year’s artists drew a massive crowd — a sizable portion of whom spent a good deal of time dancing near the stage.

After kicking off with Miss Niki’s Music Class, Batalá Washington performed drumming routines with spectacular timing and choreography. See-I, a Reggae-infused group, followed, along with the JoGo Project, a band dedicated to preserving the go-go genre of music, which originated in Washington, D.C.

The Blackbyrds next brought their endless energy to the show, and as the day started to draw to a close, arguably the biggest acts of the festival appeared: the six-time Grammy Award-winning Gospel group The Blind Boys of

Alabama, followed by George Porter, Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners.

The founder of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, Dr. Edwin B. Henderson, II, gave remarks near the start of the festival, explaining the event’s background, the work of the Foundation, and the importance of recognizing the history, longevity, and contributions of African American culture both in Falls Church and beyond.

This year welcomed a new producer for this year’s festival, La’Verne E. Washington, who has a long career in the entertainment business, having been an arts and events management specialist for 30 years. She added that “the idea of producing a music festival was very intriguing to me.” One unique challenge for Washington was the nature of the venue, “because you can work hard on something like this, but when the day comes, it’s actually Mother Nature’s party. Well, she was clearly pleased and gave us an absolutely beautiful day.”

While not the producer on record, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the large role

Tori Mckinney and team played in the production of this year’s event. Tori has been involved with producing the event for 6 years. Tori stated, “Oh what a day! Tinner Hill Music Festival was a resounding success again this year. Since the summer of 2018 when I began to prepare for the 2019 Festival, my Key Krewe group of friends, my Rock Star Realty Group team, dozens of volunteers, and I have produced 5 phenomenal Festivals that have superseded any of our dreams. My sixth year in production did not disappoint.”

Speaking about the festival vendors, Washington explained that “we sent out solicitations to those from last year to ask if they wanted to be a part of 2024. There were the regular vendors and one or two new ones. Many were very excited about it and returned.” The hardest step in the process was “the Fairfax temporary food license. I had to start the process with a long online form. Then once I was done, they each had to sign up under our application.”

Reflecting on the importance

of the festival, Washington said that the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation “does an amazing job educating the community and the region about the rich history of Tinner Hill and its Black history.”

Tori added, “The Tinner Hill Music Festival, now the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation’s most prominent annual event, contributes to the heightened awareness for the Foundation to levels never seen before. We have grown the reach of the Festival beyond Falls Church City and the local region. Attendees now come from Boston and New York, North Carolina and Florida, California and even Guam! We are on the summer’s festival map!”

Not knowing this specific history before taking the contract, Washington notes that she has since learned about Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson, who was “recognized for organizing the first rural branch of the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)” and Joseph Tinner, a stonemason at whose home the early meetings took place.

“Today,” Washington adds, “there are legendary citizens like Dr. Edwin Henderson, II, and his wife Nikki Henderson who keep that amazing history alive.”

Tori stated, “While this is my last year of participating in the production of the Tinner Hill Music Festival, it is a legacy that my team leaves behind and are proud of. We have every hope for its continued success, and look forward to my continued legacy in the Rock Star Beer Garden. Cheers!”

Washington also emphasized that this year’s festival was the result of a strong group effort, and would like to thank all “all the volunteers, Key Krewe, sponsors, Festival Committee, vendors, artists, and Media and Board Directors” for working together “to make the 30th anniversary such a great success.” She also thanked Mayor Hardi, the City Council, City Staff, Falls Church, Recreation and Parks, and the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

To learn more about the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and its work, visit tinnerhill.org.

Highlights From The 2024 Tinner Hill Music Festival

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

(Photos: Alex Russell)

Community News & Notes

June Events Announced By Tinner Hill Heritage Fdn.

Two events are taking place this week, held by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation (THHF). The first is the dedication ceremony for the newly unveiled mural, “Welcome to Tinner Hill,” at the intersection of S. Washington Blvd. and Tinner Hill Rd.

The ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. at 106 Tinner Hill Rd., followed by a reception at 12:00 p.m.

THHF says “Welcome to Tinner Hill” serves as a beacon to one of the historically African American areas of Falls Church, VA, founded in 1872 by Charles Tinner — an outstanding Stonemason — and his wife Elizabeth, who purchased land for their family, built a home (which still stands today), and divided the land among their ten children to build their own homes.

In 1915, after the town of Falls Church proposed racially segregating housing, nine men gathered in the home of Joseph and Mary Tinner to organize and oppose the ordinance. This group, led by Joseph Tinner and Edwin B. Henderson would (in 1918) become the first rural branch of the NAACP in the nation and fight discrimination and injustice throughout Northern Virginia.

Images in the mural are based on the Tinner Hill neighborhood, which remains intact today and historic photographs from the Tinner Family Collection, the Henderson Family Collection and the Collection of THHF.

THHF invites the community to their Juneteenth Festival on Wednesday, June 19, from 12:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. A day of fun, festivities, friendship, “edutainment” and refreshments, the Juneteenth Celebration is inspired by the freedom celebrations that began June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas when the last enslaved people in America were liberated.

Family-friendly activities will include music, songs, games, storytelling, a bouncy house, African drummers, a mime,

book readings, authors, chalk art, and historic re-enactors.

Speakers include Chad Eric Smith from the Mural Arts Philadelphia Project, and Bellen Woodard — a 13 year old author, the worlds’ first “Crayon Activist,” and a Time Magazine “Kid of the Year” honoree.

Juneteenth Celebrations and traditions pay tribute to the liberation of America’s enslaved people.

FCCAN to Host Home Electrify & Efficiency Event June 22

On Saturday, June 22, from 9:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. the Falls Church Climate Action Network (FCCAN), along with Falls Church Forward, will host “Electrify Falls Church,” an open house event to help F.C. residents shift away from fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change, save money, and improve the health and comfort of their homes.

The event is an opportunity to learn from neighbors and a few experts about the range of actions citizens can take. Some topics to be covered at the event include heat pumps, rooftop solar and battery back-up, electric cars and bikes, induction cooking ranges, home insulation and air sealing, and electric garden equipment.

Free pre-registration is required to attend at: fccan.net/ electrify-rsvp. The location of the event will be provided upon registration. The event will be held “shine or rain.” Free ice cream will be served.

If you have your own experience or expertise to share, FCCAN encourages you to consider volunteering. Learn more at fccan.net/volunteer-rsvp.

To learn more about FCCAN, visit fccan.net. To learn more about Falls Church Forward, visit fallschurchforward.org/.

Kensington F.C. Announces Summer Concert Series

Summer is here, and it’s time to groove at The Kensington Falls Church’s Summer Concert Series! Join an evening of live music as they launch their summer concert season in style. Sit

back, relax, and soak up the sounds of talented musicians surrounded by great company.

Enjoy an afternoon filled with live music, dancing, fun, and signature summer bites

The first of these monthly concerts begins on Thursday, June 20, from 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. at The Kensington (700 W. Broad St., Falls Church), with swingin’ summer sounds by PG and The Hot Tips.

Next month’s performance will be Wednesday, July 24, from 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. at The Kensington with acoustic tunes by Sam O’Hare & Josh Earls.

Bringing the series to the close will be a performance by Ginny Carr Goldberg, with vocals and keyboard from the Great American Songbook, Thursday, August 15 from 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. at The Kensington.

Cauldron’s “Summer Concert Series” Lineup Announced

This week Creative Cauldron announced the lineup for their annual “Summer Concert Series,” featuring some of the most talented and diverse musicians in the DMV and beyond, which will launch on June 28 and run through August 24, The series is curated by Wammy Award-winning artists Ken Avis and Cauldron’s resident associate artistic director Matt Conner, and features musical styles and genres from Latin, jazz, and blues to acapella.

2024 “Summer Concert Series” Performances (all begin 7:30 p.m.)

• June 28: The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook Tribute

• June 29: The Fly Birds

July 12: Griefcat

July 13: The Dave Kline Band

July 19: Taisha Estrada

July 20: Josanne Francis

July 26: Daryl Davis & Friends

July 27: The Guitar Renegades”

• August 2: Vox Pop

• August 3: Be Steadwell

“Queer Love Songs”

• August 10: A Toast to Tosti with Wesley Diener

• August 16: Sharón Clark

Citizens for a Better City (CBC) Youth Representatives pose after being sworn-in by City Council on Monday. ( News-Press Photo)

ONE OF MANY local artist works in the Falls Church Arts All Member Show (A-L), opening Saturday. (Photo: “Land of The Lost” by James Hengst)

THE ODEON CHAMBER Music Series presents vocal ensemble Classical FX, Sunday at St. Patrick’s Episcopal. (Courtesy Photo)

• August 17: Ayo “Celebrating

Ms. Sarah Vaughan”

August 23: Irene Jalenti

• August 24: Veronneau

For more information about the series or to purchase tickets, visit creativecauldron.org or call the box office at 703436-9948.

FCPS Chair Statement on Staff Collective Bargaining Vote

Fairfax County School Board

Chair Karl Frisch released the following statement on the heels of news that instructional and operational staff in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) — one of Virginia’s largest employers — have voted to allow Fairfax Education Unions to represent and collectively bargain for them:

“This is a historic and exciting day for Fairfax County. Collective bargaining will help staff retention and student success. After all, teacher working conditions are student learning conditions. Everyone wins when educators and other school staff have a seat at the decision-making table — pay increases, working conditions improve, and turnover becomes less common.

“Growing up, my dad had a public sector union job, and my mother waited tables. Our family’s stable middle-class existence was a direct result of their hard work and the transformative power of collective bargaining. I am excited that our tireless educators and staff now have that right too.”

In February 2020 the FCPS School Board voted unanimously to reverse its longstanding opposition to collective bargaining rights for teachers and staff, adopting a Frisch-sponsored amendment to the FCPS legislative program —issues the school division lobbies for and against in Richmond and Washington.

A few weeks later, the General Assembly came through, giving localities, including school boards, the option of granting collective bargaining rights to public employees. The FCPS School Board moved quickly, initiating a process following an “interestbased” model to draft a resolution for board consideration.

Each of the school division’s 17 certified employee associations was invited to participate in the collective bargaining resolution’s development, working with division counsel, staff, and experts for more than a year to reach a consensus.

Following that process, the FCPS School Board hosted a work session to discuss the draft

resolution’s finer details, and a public hearing to receive feedback from staff, students, families, and community members.

Last March the School Board passed a resolution providing collective bargaining rights to teachers and other staff in FCPS, opening the door for today’s historic staff vote. Frisch sponsored the resolution, which was seconded by then-board member Stella Pekarsky, who now represents western Fairfax County in the Virginia Senate as a Democrat.

Two Fairfax Co. Lawmakers Named ‘Legislators of the Year’ Freedom Virginia — a nonpartisan non-profit organization dedicated to building a commonwealth where all families have the financial freedom to thrive — this week named two Fairfax County lawmakers “Legislators of the Year,” explaining the decision by saying:

“Virginia Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D-Fairfax) was honored for her bill, SB 388, which would have banned surprise junk fees in Virginia. The Richmond TimesDispatch called Sen. Pekarsky’s legislation “the most sweeping consumer protection measure to emerge in this year’s General Assembly session.” Sen. Pekarsky took on special interests and fought for consumers in an effort to end surprise hidden fees on transactions. Every year, the average family of four loses $3,200 to junk fees on concert tickets, rental cars, food delivery, cell phone bills, rental apartments and other purchases. SB 388 passed the Senate with bipartisan support, and made it all the way to the House floor in its first year.

“Del. Karrie Delaney (D-Loudoun) was selected for her bill, HB 570, which would have created a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to lower the cost of medicine for Virginians. If adopted, the board would be empowered to set reasonable upper payment limits on certain high-cost prescription drugs. This year marked the first time that a Prescription Drug Affordability Board bill passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. Although Governor Youngkin sided with Big Pharma and vetoed the bill, Delegate Delaney’s ability to work across the aisle has built critical bipartisan momentum ahead of the 2025 legislative session.

“Both as lawmakers and as parents, Senator Pekarsky and Delegate Delaney know that we need to fight for policies that lower costs for hardworking

LOCAL

families,” said Freedom Virginia Executive Director Rhena Hicks. “We thank them for their fearless leadership in standing up to special interests so that Virginians can keep more of their hardearned money.”

Sen. Pekarsky thanked Freedom Virginia for the recognition, and committed to continue working to ban junk fees in the state, saying “Every year, too many hardworking Virginians lose thousands to this deceitful practice that also undermines honest small businesses. I am proud of the progress we made this year and know we will continue to build support in the legislature to pass this bill in the future.

“I will never back down from fighting Big Pharma in order to lower prescription drug costs for my constituents,” said Delegate Karrie Delaney. “I appreciate this honor and look forward to building even more bipartisan support for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Virginia. Together, we can do the work to make medicine more affordable.”

Other legislators representing Fairfax County who were honored include Affordability Champions Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon) and Del. Kathy Tran (D-Springfield); Economic Security Allies Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Arlington), Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Falls Church), Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D-Burke), Del. Rozia Henson (D-Woodbridge), Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra (D-Reston), Del. Holly Seibold (D-Vienna), and Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church).

Freedom Virginia’s full legis

lative scorecard is available at tinyurl.com/FCNP0624fv.

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OVER 100 STUDENTS rode to the FCCPS secondary campus last Friday, including 70 participating in the last “Bike Bus” of the 2023-2024 school year. (Photo: George Lee)

A CONTINGENT FROM The Falls Church Episcopal marched in the Capital Pride Parade last Saturday. (Courtesy Photo)

ACTON ACADEMY learners cleaned up Tripps Run stream last week, finding incredible things, like a shopping cart! (Photo: Acton Academy F.C.)

FCKLL All-Star and Select Teams Announced

by Erika Toman

We are thrilled to announce the exceptional talents selected for the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League (FCKLL) AllStar and Select teams. These players have demonstrated outstanding skill, dedication, and sportsmanship, earning them a well-deserved place on these prestigious rosters. For players, coaches, and families alike, this marks a thrilling journey filled with friendship, competition, and unforgettable moments on the diamond.

Little League All-Star Teams

Falls Church White (Majors Division) (Managed by Nick Toman, and coached by Anthony Verdi, and Chris McCormack): Ryan Alderson, Mikey Baltrym, Simon Coho, John (Tig) Fatzinger, Kellan McCormack, Matthew Miller, James Owen, Luca Pipia, Evan Toman, Hayes Vaughan, Anthony Verdi and Will Wood Falls Church Blue (Ages 9-11) (Managed by Mike

Caddy, and coached by Chris Thompson and David Izawa): Lucas Berthiaume, Max Caddy, Emmett Grenfell, Aidan Izawa, Theo Jones, Charles Longley, Stanley Lu, Franco Perez, Logan Pinkerton, Will Schiffer, Paul Thiede and Finn Thompson Falls Church Red (Ages 8-10) (Managed by Alex Kuczkowski, and coached by Sean Mullin and Chris Talbert): Spencer Allan, Mookie Baltrym, Adam Dunbar, Evan Iweagwu, Gavin Kuczkowski, CJ Mullin, Andrew Quinn, Ryan Richards, Hunter Roy, William Strong, William Talbert and Timmy Verasin

Each of these teams represents the culmination of hard work, talent, dedication, and a passion for the game. They will carry our town’s banner into district, state, and regional tournaments, with the Majors team aiming for the ultimate dream: a chance to compete in Williamsport for the Little League World Series. Go to www.fckll.org for tournament dates and locations.

Little League Select Teams

Alongside our All-Star teams, we’re thrilled to announce the rosters for our AAA and AA Select teams, who will play in an exhibition game to showcase their skills and teamwork.

AAA Select: Coached by Mike Sawyer and Rob Fay Michael Sawyer, Evelyn Kauke, Shayne Bhavsar, Quinn Caddy, Colin Dailey, Brendan Korves, John Sutton, Brendan Mehm, Will Jenkins, Gabriel Madrid, Andrew Owen, Cole Shorter, Luke Lopes, Neal Ryan, Stevens Portillo, Will Berthiume, Will Thompson, William Southworth, Tommy Ollinger, Harrison Hite, Faris Sarsour, Jude Blanchard, Charles Queler, Austin Iweagwu

AA Select: Coached by Luis Fernandez and Anthony Shetter Ryan Santos, Vincent Knouse, Henry Walton, Collin Smith, Brendan Kirchgraber, Sean Campbell, Remy Nevue, Landon Moore, Tate Chuhay, Michael Christian, Leo White, Ryan Fish,

Andrew Landers, Sam Nowlin, Ryan MacVicar, Miles Shetter, Lleyton LaBeau, Jackson Boyd, Dominic Kurian, Drew Odedra, Jack Previte, Linus Moore, Veer Shetti, Brady Flanigan

These talented young ath -

letes represent the future of our community and the promise of excellence in sportsmanship and skill. Let us come together to support them as they embark on their journey of competition and camaraderie. Go, Falls Church!

THE FCKLL SELECT Teams (pictured) will next play in an exhibition game to showcase their skills and talents. (Photo: Nadia Caddy)

T h e LGB T Q + R e ach

by Brian Reach Falls Church News-Press

A Ray of Hope in The Sunshine State

On Tuesday, for the first time, a Federal court permanently blocked a law targeting Trans healthcare from taking effect, after issuing a preliminary block last June following passage of the law — Florida SB 254. The ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Tallahassee Division) not only blocked just about all of Florida Statute 456.52 as unconstitutional, but also similar sections of the Florida Administrative Code.

Though the ruling itself is a hopeful sign for how similar challenges may play out, the actual text of the 105-page ruling is quite phenomenal. I’ve included highlights below (read the whole ruling at tinyurl.com/FCNP0624qr).

The ruling begins as one would expect (boring), with a section defining the background: the plaintiffs (four Trans adults and seven parents of Trans minors) and defendants (Florida), followed by a section explaining the challenged provisions.

The third section, however, made things clear in its title: “III. Gender identity is real.” It began to say that more than 99 percent of people have external sex characteristics and chromosomes — what the ruling calls “natal sex” — that match their gender identity. For Trans folks, which the ruling says represents less than one percent, the two do not match.

The Elephant In The Room

“The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear. The defendants, speaking through their attorneys, have admitted it. At least one defense expert also has admitted it.

“...[that expert] explicitly stood by his prior testimony [from a similar case], and he again acknowledged that genderaffirming care is sometimes appropriate. He said ending a patient’s cross-gender identity should not be a goal of treatment — that that kind of treatment is ill-informed and unrealistic.”

Not A Single Reputable Medical Association

“The overwhelming weight of medical authority supports treatment of transgender patients with GnRH agonists and cross-sex hormones in appropriate circumstances. Organizations who have formally recognized this include the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and at least a dozen more. The record also includes statements from hundreds of professionals supporting this care.

“At least as shown by this record, not

a single reputable medical association has taken a contrary position.”

Not Different In Kind Or Intensity

“Despite the defense admissions, there are those who believe that cisgender individuals properly adhere to their natal sex and that transgender individuals have inappropriately chosen a contrary gender identity, male or female, just as one might choose whether to read Shakespeare or Grisham. Many people with this view tend to disapprove [of] all things transgender and so oppose medical care that supports a person’s transgender existence.

“The defendants have explicitly admitted that prohibiting or impeding individuals from pursuing their transgender identities is not a legitimate state interest. But the record shows beyond any doubt that a significant number of legislators and others involved in the adoption of the statute and rules at issue pursued this admittedly illegitimate interest.

“For some, the denial that transgender identity is real — the opposition to transgender individuals and to their freedom to live their lives — is not different in kind or intensity from the animus that has attended racism and misogyny, less as time has passed but still today. And some transgender opponents invoke religion to support their position, just as some once invoked religion to support their racism or misogyny”

In The Meantime

The courts continued, “In the meantime, the federal courts have a role to play in upholding the Constitution and laws. The State of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment — treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the state’s full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patient’s transgender identity.”

The Bottom Line

What remains of Florida 456.52 is still unacceptable, requiring a physician to be “physically present in the same room” before providing Trans adults with “sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures,” which excludes telemedicine, though not for follow-up care. The court deemed this mild enough to let slide.

This may not seem like a big deal, but it is of critical importance. The courts said, without reservation, that this law was passed in pursuit of an “admittedly illegitimate interest” of the state. Why should any of it remain?

How can the courts call their opposition “not different in kind or intensity from the animus that has attended racism and misogyny,” but still offer them a consolation prize?

What message does it send that, even in loss, the hateful still managed to move the needle — if ever so slightly — against their Trans neighbors?

Falls

Church Business News & Notes

Magical Mendelssohn Concert

The Washington Sinfonietta performs the final concert of the season on Saturday, June 15, 7:30 pm at Falls Church Episcopal. Enjoy Die Hebriden, Op. 26, Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 1, Op. 11. Ava Pakiam, a 14-year-old violinist studying at the Pre College of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, performs Violin Concerto, Op. 64. She made her solo debut in Carnegie Hall at eight years old. Tickets are available online and at the door. A reception follows. Visit washingtonsinfonietta.org for full details and information about the orchestra.

Hoffman & Associates New CEO

DC-based developer Hoffman & Associates has announced that Brian Dawson is the new CEO, replacing Mark Dorigan. Dawson comes from JLL where he focused on the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions and worked with Hoffman’s team on The Wharf. Dorigan will remain as a member of the investment committee board. Hoffman & Associates is currently developing the West Falls project.

Inova GoHealth Urgent Care Open House

Inova GoHealth Urgent Care is having an Open House Celebration. Join the City Council and the Falls Church Chamber for the ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments, and tours of the renovated center on Tuesday, June 18, from 3:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. at 1208-D West Broad Street.

F.C.-McLean Children’s Center Earns National Accreditation

The Falls Church McLean Children’s Center (FCMLCC) has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the top programs in the country. NAEYC Accreditation uses a set of 10 researchbased standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality improvement in high-quality early learning environments. FCMLCC was established in 1968 and goes through this process every five years.

Local James Beard Semifinalists

While two chefs in DC won James Beard Awards Monday evening, 15 Virginia and DC restaurants and chefs were named semifinalists. In Falls Church, 2941 was named an Outstanding Restaurant. Local chef, Yuan Tang of Ellie Bird, was named a semifinalist as Best Chef for his DC restaurant, Rooster & Owl.

Local Ice Cream Shops to Try

In the spirit of summertime, Arlington Magazine listed 14 ice cream shops to try. Three of these are in Falls Church. Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen was noted for the classic treats and shaded patio. Lil City Creamery was noted for sippable treats and Jake’s Ice Cream for artisanal small-batch ice cream made onsite.

 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.

THIS WEEK AROUND F.C.

THURSDAY

JUNE 13

Chamber Networking Breakfast

Stop by for an informal gathering to meet fellow Chamber members. No agenda and no cost other than the cost of your breakfast. The Original Pancake House (7395 Lee Hwy., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m.

Affordable Living Policy Workgroup Meeting

Affordable Living Policy Update Workgroup meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Founders Groove: Four Star Combo

Free music series on the plaza, weekly on Thursdays through July 25. This installment features 1950s rockabilly cover band Four Star Combo. Founders Row (109 Founders Ave., Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting

Board of Zoning Appeals meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

JUNE 14

Bailey's Juneteenth Celebration

Join an evening of commemoration, education, and joy honoring the significance of Juneteenth. This event is not only a celebration of freedom, but also a time for reflection, inclusion, and community unity. With food tasting, games and giveaways, presentation and Juneteenth screening. Free and open to the public. Bailey's Community Center (5920 Summers Ln., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

JUNE 15

Falls Church

Farmers Market

Shop the award winning market every Saturday, yearround! City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Children's Summer Reading Festival

Annual festival to kick of Fairfax County Public Library's summer reading program, designed to encourage young readers to continue their enthusiasm for reading straight into summer vacation.

With games and crafts, bounce houses, snacks, facepainting, a photobooth, food trucks a live DJ and entertainment, and more. Free and open to the public. Woodrow Wilson Library (6101 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church), 10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.

Tinner Hill

Mural Dedication

Dedication ceremony and reception for newly installed mural, “Welcome to Tinner Hill,” which serves as a beacon to one of the historically African American areas of Falls Church. Free to attend. Tinner Hill Mural (503 S. Washington St., Falls Church), 11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.

Father's Day Cook Out

Celebrate Father's Day at a special cookout featuring BBQ dishes and other delicious food. Free to attend; registration requested at thekensingtonfallschurch.com. The Kensington Falls Church (700 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Mosaic Live Summer Concert Series

Mosaic Live is a free, outdoor, all-ages summer concert series, Saturday evenings through August 17. This week's performers: Lillian Hackett, School of Rock Vienna, and a Phippino performance by The Wrizzards. Strawberry Park (Mosaic District, Fairfax, VA), 6:00 p.m.

FCA All Member Show

Opening Reception

Meet the Artists Reception for the annual FCA All Member Show (for members with last names beginning with A-L). View or purchase June 15 through July 14 in the FCA gallery or online at fallschurcharts. org. Free and open to the public. M-Z show dates July 20 through August 18. Falls Church Arts (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church), 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Magical Mendelssohn

Washington Sinfonietta presents Magical Mendelssohn, featuring a violin concerto by 14-year old Ava Pakiam, who was admitted into the pre-college program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music at age 7, where she currently studies. Tickets at washingtonsinfonietta.org. The Falls Church Episcopal (115 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church), 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY JUNE 16

Providence Players: Twelve Angry Jurors

The Providence Players of Fairfax present a dramatic “twist and turn” court drama telling the story of twelve jurors charged with the unenviable task of deciding a young man’s fate. Accused of brutally murdering his father, a young man’s life hangs in the balance as a jury of his peers battle reasonable doubt, prejudice, and their own morality in a cramped, overheated deliberation room. Tempers flare as the reality of a death sentence weighs on the minds of these twelve strangers, the life or death of the accused foisted upon them. Guilty or not guilty. Life or death. Freedom or damnation. Each juror must vote. Based on "Twelve Angry Men," the 1954 Emmy-winning television movie by Reginald Rose. Tickets at tinyurl.com/ FCNP0624pp. James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church), 2:00 p.m.

The Elephant In The Room

A witty, dark comedy about just your typical Indian met -

alhead and software-engineer-turned-actor who must navigate life as an immigrant arriving in Trump’s America. When Priyanka makes the bold move to defy her family by quitting her IT job and moving to the US to pursue an acting career, things don’t quite turn out how she imagined. Watch Priyanka’s real life story unfold as she transitions from her deeply embedded roots in India to find context and common ground in America. Gear up for a funny, tumultuous ride through immiscible cultures, unforgettable love, irreparable loss, and the desperation of not belonging anywhere. On stage through June 23. Tickets at keegantheatre.com. Keegan Theatre (1742 Church St. NW, Washington, DC), 3:00 p.m.

Classical FX Vocal Ensemble

Odeon Chamber Music Series presents Classical FX, a fabulous vocal ensemble consisting of members of the Washington National Opera Chorus. Free to attend; $20 donations to partially defray costs appreciated. Wine and cheese reception to follow the concert. St. Patrick's Episcopal Church (3241 Brush Dr., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m.

Gay Mens Chorus of Washington: Portraits

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC presents the world premiere of "Portraits," a nine-movement commission that represents the vibrant spectrum of sexual, gender, racial, ethnic, and cultural identities through visual art, music, and dance. Each movement will feature one of nine artworks and come to life through music and motion. Each piece will highlight an aspect of the human experience, with lyrics and dance supporting the artist's original intent. Nine artists. Nine composers. Nine choreographers. One GMCW. Tickets at gmcw.org. Kennedy Center Concert Hall (2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC), 5:00 p.m.

Where The Mountain Meets The Sea

After he learns of his estranged father’s death, a son recreates the cross-country trip his Hai-

THE GAY MENS Chorus of Washington present the world premier of nine-movement commission "Portraits," this Sunday at the Kennedy Center. (Photo: Michael Key)

CALENDAR

EVENTS, LIVE MUSIC, & ARTS

tian immigrant parents took before he was born. As he traces their journey across America, and bonds with the music his father adored, time blurs and erases the distance between them. Lyrical storytelling and an evocative folk score drive father and son to rediscover love, each other and their everlasting bond. On stage through July 7. Tickets at sigtheatre.org. Signature Theatre (3200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA), 7:00 p.m.

MONDAY JUNE 17

From Idea To Law

w/ Del. Holly Seibold

Join Del. Holly Seibold (D-Vienna) for a free community presentation explaining how an idea works its way through the political process to become a law. Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA), 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY JUNE 18

Electoral Board Meeting

Electoral Board meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, FallsChurch),7:00a.m.—7:00p.m.

Chamber Networking Luncheon

Monthly networking opportunity over lunch. This month's speaker is new Falls Church Police Chief Shahram Fard. Meet other chamber members, community members, business owners, and civic leaders to enjoy an informative presentation and a delicious meal. $30 tickets ($35 for nonmembers, $5 walk-in fee) include your meal, available at fallschurchchamber.org. Italian Café (7161 Lee Hwy., Falls Church), 11:30 a.m. — 1:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

JUNE 19

Electoral Board Meeting

Electoral Board meets. City Hall

(300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m.

Tinner Hill Juneteenth Celebration

Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation invites the community join in a day of fun, festivities, friendship, “edutainment” and refreshments. Free to attend. Tinner Hill Historic Site (106 Tinner Hill Rd., Falls Church), 12:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Juneteenth Holiday

Juneteenth Holiday. City Government offices and services are closed, as are all public schools. The Mary Riley Styles Public Library is closed. The F.C. Community Center is open 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Summer camps will not be held. Everywhere (Anywhere, All Over, USA), all day.

THURSDAY JUNE 20

Government Ops. Committee Meeting

Government Operations Committee meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Oak Room, Falls Church), 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

Arts and Humanities Council Meeting

Arts and Humanities Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.

Electoral Board Meeting

Electoral Board meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, FallsChurch),2:00p.m.—5:00p.m.

PG and The Hot Tips

Summer is here, get ready to groove at The Kensington's Summer Concert Series, monthly through August. This month enjoy swingin' summer sounds by PG and The Hot Tips. A lively afternoon with live music, dancing, fun, and signature summer bites. Free and open to the public. The Kensington Falls Church (700 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.

F.C. Chamber Orientation

F.C. Chamber representatives will provide an overview of the Chamber's mission, member benefits, and more. A great time for new and potential members to network over refreshments, with plenty of time dedicated to answering questions. Free to attend. Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center (603 W. Broad St., Ste. 200, Falls Church), 5:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

FCCPS-W&OD Connect Community Meeting

Community meeting to discuss the East/West pedestrian and bicycle connection between the W&OD trail and the FCCPS secondary schools campus. West End Park (1048 W. Broad St., Falls Church), 6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

Founders Groove: Six Pack Rodeo

Free music series on the plaza, weekly on Thursdays through July 25. This installment features new country covers and originals by Six Pack Rodeo. Founders Row (109 Founders Ave., Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Human Svcs. Advisory Council Meeting

Human Services Advisory Council meets. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Dogwood A-B, Falls Church), 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Films In The Park: Barbie

Watch your favorite flicks on a larger-than-life outdoor screen while sitting picnic-style. All movies are shown rain or shine unless otherwise noted. Thursdays through August 15. This week's movie: "Barbie." Strawberry Park (Mosaic District, Fairfax, VA), 7:00 p.m.

Environmental Sust. Council Meeting

The Environmental Sustainability Council and its Energy Transition Subcommittee meet. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Council Chambers/Court Room, Falls Church), 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.

THE CAST OF "Where The Mountain Meets The Sea," on stage at Sig Theatre through July 7. (Photo: Christopher Mueller)

ATTN.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

A public hearing and possible City Council action is scheduled for Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

(TR24-05) RESOLUTION TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADD: “THE TINNER HILL HISTORIC & CULTURAL DISTRICT”

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

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Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-844-947-1479 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

When veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack® animal healthcare products for cats, dogs, & horses. At Tractor Supply® & Southern States®.

SERVICES

DIVORCE-Uncontested, $475+$86 court cost. WILLS-$295.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-4900126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. https:// hiltonoliverattorneyva.com.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-888-550-3083 www.dental50plus. com/virginia #6258

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted

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.

Legal Notice

On May 1, 2024, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Company” or “Dominion”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) its application (“Application”) pursuant to Code § 56-249.6 to revise its fuel factor effective July 1, 2024.

Dominion’s total fuel factor consists of a current period factor (“Current Period Factor”) and a prior period factor (“Prior Period Factor”). For the July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 fuel year (“Rate Year”), the Company projects jurisdictional fuel expenses, including purchased power expenses, of approximately $2.178 billion, which results in a Current Period Factor rate of 2.4725 cents per kilowatthour (“¢/kWh”). Dominion proposes a Prior Period Factor rate of (0.3990) ¢/kWh. The Prior Period Factor is designed to credit approximately $265.660 million to customers, which represents (i) the projected June 30, 2024, over recovery balance of approximately $263.384 million associated with recovery of the July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, current period expense and (ii) the projected June 30, 2024, over-recovery balance of approximately $2.275 million associated with recovery of the remaining June 30, 2023, prior period expense.

Together, these components result in a total fuel factor rate of 2.0735 ¢/kWh for the Rate Year. This represents a 0.7852 ¢/kWh decrease from the total fuel factor currently in effect and a fuel revenue decrease of approximately $636.1 million when applied to the Company’s projected current period kWh sales over the Rate Year. Implementation of the total fuel factor rate of 2.0735 ¢/kWh would decrease the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month by $7.85 per month over the Rate Year.

Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents in full for details about these and other proposals.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing on the Application. Pursuant to Code § 56-249.6, the Commission also directed Dominion to implement the proposed rate decrease on an interim basis for usage on and after July 1, 2024.

On October 3, 2024, at 10 a.m., the Commission will hold a telephonic portion of the hearing for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before September 26, 2024, 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 in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804)371-9141. This public witness portion of the hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting

On October 3, 2024, 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 Commission will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Application from Dominion, any respondents, and the Commission’s 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 has 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 Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies of the public version of the Application and other documents filed in this case from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia. gov/pages/Case-Information.

On or before September 26, 2024, any interested person may submit comments on the Application electronically by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/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 comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00078.

On or before July 23, 2024, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may 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 parties or their counsel, if available. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s 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-202400078.

On or before August 23, 2024, 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 on the Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with its filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, except as modified by the Commission’s Order Establishing 2023-2024 Fuel Factor Proceeding, 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-2024-00078.

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 2024-2025 Fuel Factor Proceeding, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

The Commission’s Rules of Practice, the public version of the Company’s Application, the Commission’s Order Establishing 2024-2025 Fuel Factor Proceeding, and other documents filed in this case may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

F.C. Crime

responded to a report of an unintentional discharge of a firearm with injury; the firearm owner suffered nonlife threatening injuries. Incident is under investigation.

Trespassing, Wilson Blvd, June 5, 12:15 PM, a male, 53, of no fixed address, was arrested for Trespassing.

Violation of a Learner’s Permit, N Cherry St, June 5, 12:40 PM, a male,

22, of Annandale, was arrested for Violation of a Learner’s Permit.

Simple Assault, N Oak St, June 6, 9:10 PM, victim reported they were assaulted by a known suspect.

Reckless Driving, Park Ave, June 7, 10:05 PM, a female, 24, of Alexandria, was arrested for Reckless Driving.

Driving Under the Influence (2nd Offense), Hillwood Ave, June 9, 12:11 AM, a male, 33, of Arlington, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (2nd Offense).

Driving Under the Influence, N West

St/W Broad St, June 9, 2:47 AM, a male, 54, of Sterling, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Reckless Driving, Hillwood Ave, June 9, 11:16 AM, a male, 31, of Fairfax County, was arrested for Reckless Driving.

Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, June 9, 12:02 PM Unknown suspect took merchandise without paying, described as a white male, thin build, long, wavy dirty blonde hair, eyebrow and lip piercings, wearing a black jersey, black jacket, black shorts, and a backpack.

MEET CHARLIE, an adorable kitten, who judging by his photos is keeping the Mitchells — Christina, Jon, and six year-old James (pictured) — on their toes! We couldn’t fit all of Charlie’s pictures in our print edition, so be sure to check out a special online Critter Corner at tinyurl.com/tcc624! (Photo: Christina Mitchell)

Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Please send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

the ocean

Scrawny

Chowder shellfish

PUZZLE NO. 231

LEGAL NOTICENOTICE

Legal Notice

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FEE TO BE PAID BY RETAIL CUSTOMERS TO FUND THE PIPP CASE NO. PUR-2024-00081

On May 1, 2024, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed an application (“Application”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) requesting approval of a proposed update to the rates, terms, and conditions of a universal service fee (“USF”) to be paid by retail customers to fund the Percentage of Income Payment Program (“PIPP”). Specifically, Dominion proposes a reduced USF to fund the PIPP of $0.00 per kWh effective November 1, 2024, through October 31, 2025 (“Rate Year”).

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 kilowatt hour (“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.

On July 11, 2023, the Company requested that the Commission approve a proposed update to the rates, terms, and conditions of the USF in Case No. PUR-2023-00105. In the request, the Company explained that it would work with DSS towards a launch of the PIPP application process in November 2023, with the program being active and payments beginning December 1, 2023. On October 13, 2023, the Commission issued its Final Order on the application approving the Rider PIPP to be effective for service rendered during the rate year of November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024.

Dominion states that it is proposing a zero rate in the current Application because the Company projects that revenues collected through October 31, 2024, from the currently approved USF will be sufficient to fund the PIPP through the end of the Rate Year. For a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month, the Company states that its proposed zero rate for the Rate Year would result in a decrease of approximately $0.73 cents per month.

In addition to the proposed reduced USF, Dominion also requests that the Commission:

(i) Exercise its authority, both general and pursuant to Code § 56-585.6 C, to ensure the Company receives adequate and timely compensation from the PIPP Fund for its reasonable costs, and find that the Company may seek reimbursement of administrative expenses that vary in amount from the estimates provided in the Application and other PIPP filings;

(ii) Find that administrative expenses may include unforeseen expenditures outside of the categories projected in the Application and other PIPP filings; and

(iii) Grant the Company permission to file an interim update, if needed, within the next twelve months.

Further details are set forth in the Company’s Application and supporting exhibits, and interested persons are encouraged to review these 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 Rules of Practice, 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, Lisa R. Crabtree, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or lisa.r.crabtree@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/pages/Case-Information

On or before July 15, 2024, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/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-2024-00081.

On or before July 15, 2024, 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 the address above or 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. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. 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 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-2024-00081.

On or before July 15, 2024, any interested person may file a written request for a hearing with the Clerk of the Commission at the address above or at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a request for hearing electronically may file such notice 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 on counsel to the Company. 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-2024-00081.

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 version 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/pages/Case-Information

ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

VIRGINIA