A new set of Virginia laws goes into effect next Monday, July 1, and they’re going to impact all of us right here in Falls Church and across the Commonwealth. These changes touch everything from road safety and consumer protection to digital privacy and environmental responsibility.
Some of these are big shifts. Others are more technical but still important. Together, they reflect the work we did during this year’s General Assembly session to address the real-world issues Virginians are facing, whether it’s keeping our kids safe at school, protecting sensitive health data, or simply making sure people buckle up in the back seat.
Here are some highlights: Environment & Health
As of July 1, large restaurant chains (those with 20 or more locations) and nonprofit food vendors are banned from using polystyrene takeout containers. That includes foam cups, plates,
A LAYING ON OF HANDS
It was a memorable scene in the recently remodeled and enlarged semi-circle for worship in the sanctuary of the Dulin United Methodist Church on E. Broad in Falls Church last Sunday. A standing room only gathering was there to pay homage to their pastor of the past two-dozen years, the Rev. M. Davies Kirkland, who is retiring at the end of this month from a total of 35 years in ordained ministry.
A crowning moment in the emotional service came at the very end, when it was announced that the church’s leaders had formally
voted to ascribe to Kirkland the title of “Minister Emeritus,” with “Emeritus” being attributed in online definitions as “an honorary designation given to a retired individual, most commonly in academia or religious leadership, to recognize their distinguished service and accomplishments. It signifies that while they have retired from active duties, they are still acknowledged and honored for their past contributions and may retain certain privileges associated with their former position.”
The service concluded with members of the congregation invited to perform a “laying on of hands” connecting to ones placed on Kirland’s head standing on the dais. Then the
hundreds of congregants moved out to the church’s Fellowship Hall for a special meal held in Kirkland’s honor. As he technically has one more week to go in the church’s leadership, he will formally depart July 1.
He told the News-Press in a formal interview last week that his plans are to get some rest, but to remain active. It was his role in the wider Falls Church community that made him a welcome face wherever he went around the community that he also loves. Coming to Dulin in 1999 at age 41, he has completed his service here at age 66.
His congregation has grown to an average Sunday attendance of
well over 200 according to official United Methodist Church data. He is the longest serving minister of the church since its founding 155 years ago. More recently, the Rev. Paul D Perez served as Associate Pastor from 2007 to 2008, the Rev. Joanne Maughlin served as Associate Pastor from 1998 to 2002. and Rev. J Wade Munford: Served as Pastor from 1992 to 2000.
Kirkland dates his call to ministry to his fourth grade year in Petersburg, Virginia where he grew up as the son of a tobacco buyer. He graduated from Duke University at age 28 and had a decade of ministry assignments
AT THE DULIN United Methodist Church on E. Broad in Falls Church last Sunday, a packed house said its goodbyes after 25 years to the Rev. M. Davies Kirkland by bestowing upon him a full congregational laying on of hands to sanctify his elevation as pastor “Emeritus” of the church. (Photo: News-Press)
and clamshell packaging. The law is part of a broader effort to reduce waste and protect waterways from microplastics. All food vendors regardless of size must comply by 2026, though some may qualify for hardship exemptions.
Transportation
Everyone in a vehicle must now wear a seatbelt, including adults riding in the back or they could get a $25 fine. Previously, back-seat passengers over 18 were not required to buckle up. Although this is a secondary offense (meaning you can’t be pulled over just for that), it can be cited if there’s another violation.
It is now a Class 1 misdemeanor for an adult to knowingly allow an unlicensed or learner’s permit teen to drive a car. The law was prompted by a number of tragic accidents involving unlicensed teenage drivers and is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
In attempt to make the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, drivers who fail to yield and seriously injure or kill a pedestrian or cyclist can now be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Public Safety
Tampering with someone else’s mailbox or stealing their mail is now a Class 6 felony under Virginia law. The goal is to curb check-washing (where stolen checks are tampered with) and package thefts from your doorstep.
It is already illegal to put swastikas in public areas with the intent to intimidate. Starting in July, this law expands to include private property as well. It’s a clear message that hate has no place here.
If an employee assaults someone, especially in a workplace that serves vulnerable people, and the employer doesn’t take reasonable steps to prevent it, they can now be held liable in civil court.
Victims of violent crime now have three years to file for compensation with the Virginia Victims Fund, an extension from one year under the previous law. The extension applies to crimes occurring on or after July 1 and gives survivors more time to seek help and access financial support.
Consumer Protection
Digital platforms can no longer collect or sell Virginians’ reproductive or sexual health data without your explicit consent. This is a big win for privacy and bodily autonomy in a post-Dobbs world, protecting patients from having their sensitive medical information used without their knowledge.
Third-party delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats now have to disclose all required fees before you click “place order.” No more surprise charges popping up after the tip screen.
Education & School Safety
School districts are now formally authorized to implement policies that restrict student cell phone use during the school day. Many districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, have already adopted such policies. Now, other school jurisdictions are encouraged to follow suit.
Schools must now have extreme heat safety protocols in place for sports and outdoor activities. It’s about preventing heat stroke and other dangerous conditions during summer and early fall practices. Considering the extreme weather we are experiencing right now, this is clearly necessary.
Schools must now have formal policies to address cyberbullying that addresses incidents that happen on or off-campus but affect student well-being.
Campaign Finance Reform
It is now illegal for candidates and elected officials in Virginia to use campaign contributions for personal expenses like country club memberships, vacations, or mortgages. Having worked on this particular issue for so long, it’s past time that Virginia joined the majority of other states that already addressed this issue.
What It Means for F.C.
These new laws will touch nearly every part of daily life in Falls Church whether you’re picking up takeout, buckling into a Lyft, registering your kids for sports, or voting in local elections. They aim to make life safer, fairer, and more transparent in ways big and small. For a more complete list of new laws, check out the Department of Legislative Services’ In Due Course, which can be found at dls.virginia.gov.
(Del. Simon represents Falls Church in the Virginia State Legislature).
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Rev. M. Davies Kirkland Ends 25 Years of Service at Dulin Church
in Harrisonburg and Del Ray before being appointed by the regional bishop of the denomination to Dulin. It is entirely uncommon for a minister to stay at one location in the United Methodist denomination more than six or seven years, but Kirkland’s effectiveness here led to being maintained in his position for over two dozen years.
His steady leadership helped the church navigate the difficult period in 2024 when the denomination split globally, losing 25 percent of its total membership over the issue predominantly of the affirmation of LGBTQ+ persons. Now the church has a large LGBTQ+ flag flying out in its front facing on E. Broad.
The church under Kirkland’s leadership has taken major roles in efforts to provide a homeless shelter in Falls Church. An initial plan to locate one in the Little City proposed placing the shelter on Dulin Church property. Stiff opposition from neighboring residents quickly led to the development of alternative plans and the eventual choice of plac-
ing a winter emergency homeless shelter in an industrial section on City-owned property on Gordons Road.
The church also has played a major role in the success here of Homestretch, Inc., a Falls Church faith-based non-profit that accepts and trains homeless persons to eventually find employment and housing.
In 2019, on the 150th anniversary of the church, Rev. Kirkland wrote a piece in the News-Press about the history of Dulin Church. An excerpt from that essay includes the following:
“Dulin Church has its roots in Fairfax Chapel built in 1779 and located behind the present Koons Ford on Broad Street. It was rebuilt in 1819 as one of the few brick structures in the village. At the onset of the Civil War in 1861, the location of Fairfax Chapel was incorporated into Camp Buffalo, a Union soldier camp. The chapel was torn down and the bricks were used to build winter quarters. In the wilderness with no church, church members gave the land for a cemetery where Oakwood Cemetery now is. They worshipped in homes
and later at The Falls Church from 1867 to 1869.
“In 1867, William Dulin, who owned a large farm, gave the congregation, now known as Dulin Church, two acres of land. The church was built on that plot by Dulin members with no power tools or electricity. Women brought lunch each day. The clay from the pit of the basement of the parsonage being built next door was used to make bricks for the church by two young AfricanAmerican men.
The Shreve, Febrey, Birch, Brunner, Ball, Gordon, Ellison, and Torreyson families played significant roles, not only in the founding of Dulin Church, but also in local government, commerce and civic institutions. Recognize any street names?
“The Bailey family were very active members of Dulin Church. They purchased land in what is now known as Bailey’s Crossroads, where the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”’ were penned during the Civil War. The Baileys founded the Bailey Circus, which later merged with PT Barnum to form the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
“Dr. D.J. Moran, a member of Dulin Church, was Falls Church’s first mayor in 1873. In 1869, the town of Falls Church’s population was 300. It is now over 12,000.
“The Dulin Church building has been modified several times to meet the needs of its disciples and the community.
Fifty-six clergy persons have served Dulin Church.
“The Church has transitioned from being heated by a wood stove, to coal, then to a gas fired boiler; from gas lights to electric lights; from funeral home fans to air-conditioning; from an outhouse to indoor plumbing; from pump organ to pipe organ; from horse and buggy to cars; from a segregated balcony to a sanctuary seating everyone together.
“During the Temperance movement of the late 19th century, Dulin Church women picketed local taverns. Through their efforts, the liquor license was removed from all Falls Church places of business. (Licenses have since returned….)
“Outreach in our 150 years has been local, national, and global through a combination of
money, hands and feet.
“Dulin Church founded the Dulin Preschool in the late 1950s because there was no early childhood education in the public school system. Dulin Church has supported global missionaries and missionaries in the United States. It has provided support for refugee families, especially after the Vietnam War.
“It has helped immigrants and visitors to the United States by providing English-As-a-Second Language classes for 25 years.
“Dulin Church was a leader in forming the Falls Church Winter Shelter. We now focus on the homeless and working poor with our Ministry of Hope serving 40-60 persons on Sunday mornings with breakfast, worship, and assistance cards.
“We support Homestretch, a Falls Church non-profit, which gives families in need a new start; L’Arche, for persons with intellectual disabilities; and Meals on Wheels. We support Pastor Dave as he runs annually in the 5k Run to End HIV held in Washington, D.C. The list goes on and on.”
A ‘Peace Through Fusion’ Alternative to Global War
Nicholas F. Benton
How about proposing to any and all nations harboring nuclear fission based weapons of mass destruction that they trade them in for an accelerated program to build nuclear fusion alternatives done on the scale of the Manhattan project for all participating nations?
Fusion, the way the sun burns, is of no significant military use or safety threat, but with water as its fuel, is now becoming a feasible and eventually an indescribably potent source of unlimited energy.
So, Iran claims its nuclear program is solely for domestic use. Put them to the test on that claim with this option.
The bombers I would send over there would go high above Teheran and drop bomb-like carriers that would be made to open up at about 1,000 feet so that millions of leaflets outlining the practicality of this peaceful alternative would be dropped onto the population there.
As it is now, Putin wants war in the Middle East to draw attention away from the fact his invasion of Ukraine is failing badly and swiftly turning his entire country against him.
Trump wants war in the Middle East because his administration is failing badly in all quarters and if he’s going to be the strong man dictator he fantasizes himself to become, he’s going to have to do it by presiding over martial law conditions in the U.S.
If their wishes are granted, the losers in the first wave will be both Iran and Israel. Both, or at least one, Israel more likely, I fear, may be pulverized beyond recognition.
After the first wave, the losers will be the rest of us on Planet Earth. If anyone thinks Putin and Trump and their sycophants are not stupid enough to engulf the world in a World War 3, they should read up on how events unfolded that put us into the two earlier iterations.
Stupidity, macho-man male egos and miscalculations, guided
by a spirit of pure evil, led to the elimination of probably about 250 million military and civilian lives between 1914 and 1945, an incredibly compact period of time. We are on the brink of another cataclysmic war right now.
Yes, pure evil. I paused using that phrase as to whether the verb, the action, associated with it should be best characterized by the words “driven by” or “guided by” or something where the individuals involved are even more passive in their association with it. I chose “guided” because the lust that draws on it comes from within those who tap into it, and it is not the evil, itself, that leads the process.
Does evil exist? Only through really tortured mental gymnastics can one make the claim that it doesn’t. Evil, itself, though no single person, is a force in the universe that drives the argument of its non-existence among those who are inclined not to want to deal with it, anyway.
Cruelty may not exist for those who have never been its victims. But the ribald extremism and rampant lying and hypocrisy of today’s richest and most powerful are “in your face” these days, thinking of Trump, of course, but also Bezos buying the occupation of Venice for his wedding while censoring this type of activity, or objections to it, pretty much as he chooses, as he advocates for more tax cuts for the rich at the expense of life-saving programs for the poor in his Washington Post.
In this sense, these are “Biblical times” when God, according to that record, imposes harsh judgment on the privileged and on the victims, for straying from God’s ways, alike. We are still in the Biblical time line when it really comes to it.
Poor Jeff Bezos thinks that he is immune from all this. He and his rich boy fraternity pals allow themselves to be convinced that evil doesn’t really exist nor its consequences, nor that powerful moral force inside of them that can conquer it.
Now we stand on the brink of a thermonuclear holocaust more devastating than anything experienced on this planet in the 60 million years since it was hit by a large asteroid.
A “Peace Through Fusion” option stands to avert this inevitability.
A Penny for Your Thoughts
By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor
In January of 1955, the United States Senate approved a resolution that essentially gave President Dwight D. Eisenhower carte blanche to use American military forces to protect Formosa (Taiwan) against an armed attack. Only three Senators voted against the resolution – Democrat Herbert Lehman of New York, Republican William Langer of North Dakota, and Wayne Morse of Oregon, who had left the Republican Party in 1952 to become an independent.
In 1957, Eisenhower asked for authority to use military force to “help nations requesting assistance against armed aggression from any country controlled by international communism.” Eisenhower’s “Middle East Resolution” passed the Senate 72 to 19. Morse, now a Democrat, was one of the “no” votes. The following year, the president used his “Eisenhower Doctrine” to send thousands of U.S. marines to intervene in a civil conflict in Lebanon.
In August of 1964, the United States Senate adopted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by a vote of 88 to 2. Several senators expressed concerns but ultimately followed the direction of Senator William Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and voted for the resolution. Only Morse and Senator Ernest Gruening
of Alaska voted against the resolution which later, it was determined, was based on a naval “incident” in Vietnam that never happened. A former law school dean, Morse opined that the resolution gave the executive branch power not contained in the Constitution. President Lyndon Johnson used the Tonkin Gulf Resolution to order tens of thousands of American troops to Vietnam and mired the U.S. in the Vietnam War for more than a decade.
In January of 1991, the Senate voted, 52 to 47, to approve S.J. Res. 2, a bipartisan resolution that authorized the use of U.S. armed forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 that condemned the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Following the vote, Operation Desert Storm launched precision bombing attacks in the first Gulf War and made General Norman Schwarzkopf a household name.
Fast forward to the present.
Donald Trump’s decision to order the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities was a surprise, at least for the timing since, just the day before, Trump said he would make his decision in the next two weeks. The military mission appeared to be wellexecuted by the bomber pilots, jet fighters, refueling planes, even submarines who provided cover, but Congress was not in the loop. No resolution was
City of Falls Church Crime Report
Week of JUNE 16 - 22, 2025
Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, May 14, 9:52 a.m.; May 15, 11:44 a.m.; May 15, 5:05 p.m.; May 15, 9:26 p.m.; May 16, 11:57 a.m. — multiple delayed reports of two unknown suspects that stole merchandise without paying. The first suspect is described as a white male, possibly Hispanic, approximately 5’7” in height, with longer hair in a bun. The second suspect is described as a light-skinned Black male with dreadlocks.
Larceny from Vehicle, W Broad St, June 8, 10:30 p.m. — an unknown suspect stole a black sling bag containing an iPad, cash, and checks from an unsecured vehicle.
(Delayed report)
Shoplifting, W Broad St, June 16, 3:17 p.m. — a male, 24, of Fairfax, was arrested for Shoplifting.
Malicious Wounding, Wilson Blvd, June 16, 6:48 p.m. — a male, 30, of no fixed address, was arrested for Malicious Wounding, Attempted Malicious Wounding, Public Intoxication, Destruction of Property, and served with an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
Larceny from Building, Founders Ave, June 19 — an unknown suspect stole the victim’s iPhone from their unlocked apartment when the victim left briefly.
Attempted Armed Robbery, Haycock Rd, June 20, 6:55 a.m. — officers responded to a call for service of an individual stating they had a firearm and were demanding
proposed, no committee hearings, no floor debate. Security briefings about Iran’s nuclear potential were scheduled but cancelled by the government agencies.
The U.S. Constitution bestows explicit power on the legislative branch to declare war, not the executive branch. The argument seems to center on the definition of war. The American Heritage Dictionary definition is “a state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried between nations, states, or parties.” Does offensive bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites meet the definition? Sending Marines to Lebanon? Troops to Grenada? Since the end of World War II, Democratic and Republican Presidents alike have usurped Congress’ prerogative, sometimes conferring with legislators; often not. As much as the Trump Administration ballyhoos that bombing Iran’s nuclear sites protects Israel, our longtime Middle East ally, that action also emboldens America’s enemies and puts our nation at risk of retaliation and reprisals. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine’s War Powers Resolution reinforces that constitutional power is reserved to Congress to declare war. The resolution is “privileged,” meaning that the Senate must take a vote on it. When introducing his resolution, Kaine insisted that “the U.S. should not be at war without a vote of Congress.” Regardless of the eventual vote, I think Wayne Morse would be proud of Kaine’s courageous action. I know I am.
money at a construction site. Officers later located the offender, and a Black male, 45, of no fixed address, was arrested for Attempted Armed Robbery.
Shoplifting, W Broad St, June 20, 7:34 a.m. — a male, 45, of no fixed address, was arrested for Shoplifting.
Public Intoxication/Assault and Battery, Founders Ave, June 21, 2:18 a.m. — an female, 29, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Assault & Battery.
Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, W Broad St, June 21, 8:05 p.m. — a male, 22, of Harrisonburg, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
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Vol. XXXV, No. 20 June 26 - July 2, 2025
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Our colleagues at the online ArlNow news site reported on our chief’s presentation to the Falls Church City Council last week where he offered our paper’s services in a fight to counteract the devastating impact of the Trump administration’s federal workforce firings and contract cancellations. The article noted the response seemed “lukewarm” despite Mayor Letty Hardi’s comment following the presentation at the meeting by commenting, “We certainly appreciate all the contributions of the News-Press to this community, and how special it is we have a community paper.”
We can report more directly that “lukewarm” is hardly an understatement, our chief having met with the Mayor and Vice Mayor for an hour and a half discussing the subject late last week. Our Nicholas Benton proposed that with an increased City investment in the News-Press, the paper’s circulation readily be doubled or more to reach wider audiences in Arlington and Fairfax with steady news aimed at attracting people here thereby mitigating the precipitous decline in revenues at our local restaurants and entertainment venues as frightened and cautious federal employees and their families await the full impact of Trump’s policies in the coming months.
Many layoffs have already occurred in a region where federal jobs are a vital component of the economy, Falls Church having the highest percentage of its workforce in government jobs of all jurisdictions in the region, and almost all restaurateurs here have reported sharp dropoffs in their business. Fear of ICE raids has also exacerbated the problem.
Let us be clear, this problem is one that will hit all City residents directly in their pocketbooks as lower sales, meals and other tax revenue yields will add to a burden that residents will have to make up for in the coming period. The only way to offset these cuts is to attract more outside dollars and the NewsPress is uniquely positioned to do this by reaching beyond the City borders to a wider audience.
Falls Church, Benton said, with the opening of the Paragon Movie Theaters at Founder’s Row, is now ready to market itself as a bonafide regional destination with four nodes of dining and entertainment along a Route 7 strip through its 2.2 square miles. The Hoffman Company’s West End development, the Founders Row with its world class restaurants and the Paragon theater complex, the City center where the new flagship Whole Foods has also just opened, and the “Little Saigon” nexus at the Eden Center represent a totally unique attraction to the five million people in the greater Washington D.C. “DMV” area. This is a “Restaurant Row” of truly massive potential.
So, expanding the News-Press’ distribution into a wider market can capitalize on this. Beyond simply an immediate return on investment, the benefit to everyone in Falls Church would be incalculable. And, It would take only four votes out of seven on the Falls Church City Council, and the internal fortitude to get them, to make it happen.
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Arena Stage’s Smashing Musical, ‘A Winkle in Time,’ Going Places
to the energy, enthusiasm, colorful sets and costumes and sheer acting and singing talents of the cast.
I have a friend who said she read Madeleine L’Engle’s sci-fi novel, “A Wrinkle in Time,” as a book-wormish 10-year-old when it was published in 1961 and claims it was her favorite and changed her life.
Most people have heard of it one way or another, including as the result of its 2018 movie version with Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon, though that version was somewhat altered from the book, as my friend noted much to her chagrin. It’s also had a TV movie rendering. It is aimed at a teenage audience, but of course, it is universal and the music and pace truly rock.
Now comes a new version, again slightly altered but that is easily overlooked when compared
It’s at D.C.’s Arena Stage through the middle of July and I have only three words to say about it, “Go see it!”
The story line is set in the context of new astrophysical evidence coming out of quantum physics suppositions that accounts for its title. In its book form it preceded, of course, “Star Trek” and “Star Wars.”
It is about two kids and a friend searching through the universe for their missing father. They have assistance from what may be surmised to be colorful, friendly aliens and have to overcome a powerful force of evil, called IT, that has imprisoned the dad for his refusal to conform with IT’s wishes in a transparent column in the Central Intelligence Building on the distant
planet Camazotz.
Our three heroes, with the aid of some helpful alien tips, travel via a “tesseract” (a shortcut through space and time achieved by folding spacetime) to find and liberate the dad, but not without encountering and struggling against temptations thrown in their way by the disemboweled mind of IT, a powerful and malevolent disembodied brain that controls the minds and thoughts of all the planet’s inhabitants.
Importantly for younger audiences, the book/movie/musical takes issue with indifference or cynicism, suggesting that all things that matter in life come from striving. At one key juncture, when the daughter Meg (played by Taylor Imah Jones, the star of the show), goes head to head with the evil IT, one of her otherworldly advisers suggests that she’s got a weapon that IT doesn’t, and Meg under-
From
takes to figure out what that is in order to use it. (No spoiler here, you’ll have to see the show to find out!)
The original novel at the time was controversial and banned in some quarters for, essentially, mixing religion, science and the supernatural, according to the CarnegieMellon University’s Banned Books Project.
For example, a person in Alabama wanted it banned because In 1990, a parent at Tenth Street Elementary School in Anniston, Alabama requested the book be removed because it “sends a mixed signal to children about good and evil” and “[lists] the name of Jesus Christ together with the names of great artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders when referring to defenders of Earth against evil.”
But it has been widely defended,
including by a professor of literacy education at the University of Minnesota, Marek Oziewicz who said the author “was engaged in this project of revisioning Christianity, pretty much like C.S. Lewis was with The Chronicles of Narnia. It was “a vision of Christianity as a form of science, and science as a form of search for spirituality.”
The author herself, L’Engle, said of it, “There’s overlap between science and spirituality, and that new Christianity would be fully compatible with what modern science tells us about the universe.” It was the first of five books expanding on a similar story line, the others being “A Wind in the Door,” A Swiftly Tilting Planet, “Many Waters,” and “An Acceptable Time.”
The Arena Stage is the musical’s first stop, surely on its way to Broadway.
NYC to FC: ‘The Materialists’ Lights Up Paragon Theaters
By Lisa Sinrod
Are you in the mood for a summer rom com? This romantic comedy released in theaters nationwide on June 13 features a high-end professional Matchmaker, her many neurotic clients and two men vying for a relationship with the Matchmaker herself. “The Materialists” stars Dakota Johnson, who brings the right combination of heart and soul to carry the film. Handsome and wealthy Harry Castillo is portrayed by Pedro Pascal and a cute but broke guy next door type named John is played by Chris Evans. They both give credible performances as part of a love triangle with Dakota Johnson’s Lucy in a plot that is at times a bit silly, but also clever and tender.
The film is an immersion in New York City’s glittery dating scene, with all the trendy clothes and materialistic focus that ostensibly inhabits Upper East Side young professionals in the 21st century. Lucy seems self-aware and also cognizant of the conundrum between love and money when it comes to picking a mate, as she works relentlessly to find perfect matches for her clients while ignoring her own
relationship needs. As a workaholic, she takes the vital statistics of her clients very seriously (particularly as they have to do with earning capacity and lifestyle metrics) and can rattle these off in a manner that is believable and funny. The business of dating is commodified and all about statistics at Adore, the agency Lucy works for. Lucy is driven to succeed until a challenging situation involving one of her professionally arranged matches goes awry in a big way and forces her to reconsider everything. What ensues shakes up not only Lucy’s professional world at the matchmaking agency, but also her personal world. It is in these challenges that the film presents some tender moments and during which larger and more universal themes involving romantic relationships emerge.
The film is a good showcase for Johnson’s talents. I was pleasantly surprised by her emotional depth and comedic timing. What at first seems unrelatable, yet fun for a rom com romp, becomes more relatable as we follow Lucy’s personal path forward. The film can be both light and also a heavy commentary on the darker side of modern day dating.
Writer-director Celine Song’s (“Past Lives”) script provides nuance and originality, from which Johnson, Pascal and Evans flourish in inhabiting their roles. I found myself rooting for everyone. The simplicity of that can feel good in these crazy times we live in. All of this is not to be taken too seriously, of course, as the film still remains a glossy rom com. However, the combination of a fairly good script and the adept acting of Johnson, Pascal and Evans leads me to rate it a notch above the average romantic comedy (in this case, also a “dramedy”). As for the deeper themes involving what one wants in a life partner, it is your choice whether to simply be along for the fun ride or whether you’d like to ponder these matters more deeply. The film’s editor, Keith Fraase (he also edited Song’s “Past Lives” film), summed it up as follows to IndieWire as reported by Bill Desowitz on June 19. “In cutting any comedy, I can do everything with a light touch, but specifically with Celine’s writing, it’s like Shakespeare in the theater: you don’t want to overly perform the lines. It’s supposed to be effortless. There’s a certain poetic and intellectual wit to it that you just let it be.”
by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press
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Monday, July 21
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. In Person: City Hall (Dogwood Conference Room) Virtual: Microsoft Teams
The News-Press BEST OF FALLS CHURCH reader vote is back and it’s time to cast your ballot for your Falls Church-area favorites! Our 16th annual contest features a host of categories — now 45 in all — for readers to vote on the best eating, drinking, shopping and more in and around the Little City. Winners will be featured in a special BEST OF FALLS CHURCH edition of the News-Press on August 14!
News & Notes
Rep. Beyer Formally Announces Re-Election Plans for Next Year
Virginia U.S. Congressman Don Beyer issued the following statement today announcing that he will seek reelection as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District:
“Today, Northern Virginia is under attack, and we need a proven fighter to stand up to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their corrupt Trump Administration cronies to defend our community. I am seeking reelection to Congress because I am that fighter, and I know how to do the important work that begins with retaking power in Virginia and in Congress.
“I was one of Trump’s most vocal critics during his first term, when I led numerous effective oversight actions against his administration, which helped build successful cases to win the 2018 midterms. Since his return, I was one of the first to lead Democratic pushback to his abuses of power: at USAID, in the halls of Congress, and in our region.
“From my positions on the Ways and Means Committee and as top House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, I’ve helped focus counterattacks on Trump’s tariffs, tax cuts for the rich, and broader economic record. I will not shy away from challenging this lawless president, or for standing up for federal workers and contractors, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and all those who have unjustly come under threat.
“But the work we have to do is not just about Trump, it’s about lifting up Northern Virginians – something I do every day with the help of my worldclass constituent services team. It’s about creating a more equitable economy, ensuring everyone is treated fairly, supporting workers and guaranteeing them universal paid leave, fighting gun violence, and winning the fight against climate change. This work is more important than ever, and I am just as committed to it as I have ever been. Serving the people of Virginia’s 8th District is the greatest honor of my life, I am humbled by the trust they have placed in me, and I will continue to put their needs foremost as I fight for progress in our community and our country.”
Appeals Court Dashes Arlington Move Vs. Missing Middle Housing
The Court of Appeals of Virginia has issued an order to reverse and remand the trial court’s ruling in the contentious “Missing Middle” legal proceedings in Arlington. This order, issued on June 24, has far-reaching implications for all parties involved, with a spectrum of possibilities to be studied and decided upon in the coming weeks.
The original lawsuit, filed in 2023 by nine homeowners in Arlington, challenged a 2023 ordinance passed by the County Board that provided for expanded housing options on a “by-right” basis (as opposed to requiring discretionary site plan approval, for example). The trial court judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on four of their seven claims. The judge entered an order stating that zoning ordinance was “void ab initio” (basically, void from the beginning), with the effect of cancelling approved permits. Existing construction was stopped in its tracks.
This June 24, 2025 order by the Court of Appeals was prompted by the filing of a motion by Wilsons Ventures LLC in October of 2024 to intervene in the lawsuit. The company had obtained a permit based on the new ordinance (referred to as the “EHO Ordinance,” for its expanded housing options). The company had nearly completed the new building by October, but the trial court judge denied the motion to intervene. This denial of the motion to intervene is an integral part of the Court of Appeals order.
The Court of Appeals order includes the following determination: “We conclude that appellees [the plaintiffs] failed to name an indispensable party to those proceedings. This conclusion requires that we do not adjudicate these appeals but reverse the circuit court’s judgment and remand for further proceedings. Thus, we reverse the circuit court’s judgment declaring the Amendment void and prohibiting the Board from acting under the Amendment and remand the cases to the court so necessary parties may be added if the appellees are so inclined”.
– William Fogarty
VISITING FALLS CHURCH Monday was Paul Ferguson (right), the elected Clerk of the Court for the Arlington Commonwealth’s Office that includes the City of Falls Church. He is shown here with former F.C. Vice Mayor Hal Lippman (left) and current F.C. Commissioner of the Revenue Tom Clinton. (Photo: FCNP)
IT’S NOT EASY TO SPOT owner/chef Thomas Harvey inside the gaping jaws as employees and patrons posed for this picture during the third anniversay of Harvey’s Restaurant and the 50th anniversary of the iconic Jaws movie last weekend. (Photo: Courtesy)
Benton Re-Elected Chair of LGBT Falls Church
Re-elected chair and CEO this week of LGBT Falls Church, Nicholas Benton is founder of the group with over 1,000 followers to date.
Benton was co-founder of the Berkeley, Calif., Gay Liberation Front in 1970, author of the editorial in the first issue of the Gay Sunshine newspaper that year, founder and editor of The Effeminist newspaper in 1972 and founder in 1991 and still owner-editor of the Falls Church News-Press.
He was named an OUTstanding Virginian by Equality Virginia, twice president of the F.C. Chamber of Commerce and recipient of its Pillar of the Year award, and named Businessman of the Year by the Falls Church City Council. He serves on the board of the LGBT Democrats of Virginia. He was honored at a major World Pride event in D.C. last month, having been selected as a Capital Pride Champion, and was chosen by the Washington Business Journal as a LGBT Business Awards recipient to be feted next month. He is the author of seven books and has lived in Falls Church since 1985.
Creative Cauldron’s Summer Cabaret Season Now Underway
Falls Church’s remarkable Creative Cauldron, at its new E. Broad location, has launched its annual “Summer Passport Music Festival,” offering weekends of music, featuring some of the most talented and diverse musicians in the Metro D.C. area and beyond.
The festival was launched last week and runs through September 14.
Stephen Carter-Hicks makes his return to the Cauldron stage in his newest cabaret performance of “One Last Step into My Parlor” this Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. A Broadway veteran, Carter-Hicks has performed as Old Deuteronomy in the national tour of Cats, as well as collaborating for benefit concerts with Michael Fierstein, creator of the Great American Songbook Foundation.
Falls Church Vehicle Registration Forms Mailed This Week
The 2025 Vehicle Verification Forms should be arriving in City of Falls Church’s residents and business’ mailboxes, Revenue Commissioner Tom Clinton reports. The Vehicle Verification Form is a snapshot of what the Commissioner’s office currently has on file for residents and businesses, including street address and vehicles listed (both leased and owned) which will be billed in late August. Any changes are due back on July 11. All vehicles parked in the City of Falls Church must have a green Falls Church City Permanent Decal in the lower left corner of the driver’s side windshield, next to the State Safety Inspection Sticker. Violators could receive a $50 ticket. The Commissioner’s office can be reached at (703) 248-5450.
Mark Warner and Tim Kaine
Urge Rejection of Medicaid Cuts
Virginia’s U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine this week urged their colleagues to reject proposed Republican Medicaid cuts that are projected, they say, to inflict severe harm on millions of families. They cited a new analysis estimating that the GOP’s plans to slash health care would push 5.4 million people – including 2.2 million people currently on Medicaid and 3.2 million people with coverage through the Affordable Care Act – into medical debt and increase the total medical debt that Americans owe by $50 billion – a 15 percent jump.
“Health coverage is prevention. It’s not just treating illness; it’s protecting families from financial ruin. Republicans are trying to gut Medicaid to give tax breaks to the wealthy, and working families will pay the price with their health, their homes, and their financial futures. We should be focused on expanding access to health care and lowering costs, not ripping coverage away and sticking people with thousands of dollars in new debt. We’re calling on our Republican colleagues to drop this dangerous proposal before it’s too late,” the senators said in a statement.
FOUR OUTSTANDING VOCALISTS provided the music for a near sold-out fundraiser for the Creative Cauldron held at their new digs in the 100 block of E. Broad Street in Falls Church. The Cauldron has a full schedule of weekend cabarets in store through September.
LIVE MUSIC
Clare and Don’s Beach Shack celebrated the onset of summer last weekend with live music performances that drew large turnouts to the backyard area of the popular restaurant. In fact, last Saturday night, there were no less than six live music offerings within a block of the intersection of Broad and Washington in downtown Falls Church. While there was a musical performance at the new Creative Cauldron site, the Washington Sinfonietta was performing in the sanctuary of the Falls Church Episcopal, and there were live music offerings at Ireland’s Four Provinces, Clare and Don’s, the State Theater and Dogwood Tavern, too. (Photo:
(Photo: FCNP)
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Falls Church Business News & Notes
When is Assisted Living the Right Move
The Kensington is hosting a discussion designed to help you recognize signs pointing toward assisted living and have the conversation about making that decision. The event offers guidance, emotional reassurance, and a supportive setting to ask your questions.
This will be held at the Mary Riley Styles Library on Sunday, June 29, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. and is free of charge.
Government Contracting 101: Laying the Groundwork for Success
Here is an opportunity for those interested in becoming a government contractor to learn the basics and where the opportunities lie at the local and state level. Learn how to assess your readiness and eligibility, which market to pursue, and gain resources from the SBA’s Washington Metropolitan Area District Office. This is hosted by the Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia with speaker Lisa Wood, Statewide Director Virginia APEX Accelerator. The session will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. and the registration is free via this link: https://wbcnova.centerdynamics.com/workshop.aspx?ekey=10450037
Call
for Entries: 2025 Made in Virginia Awards
Virginia Magazine is hosting the Made in Virginia Awards again, for those who make products locally for sale. The categories are Food, Drink (including non-alcoholic), Style and Beauty, and Home and Lifestyle. The grand prize is $1,000, a spotlight in the December 2025 issue, and digital exposure. Entries are accepted through July 7 and more information is available at the link: https://info.virginialiving.com/2025made-in-virginia-awards-submissions?utm_campaign=14118699-Made%20in%20 Virginia%202025&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ub1LjAVTEW2J97yuu4frzuLqMh34U5zDn8tPbY-VAe5zTs5WfHlUZSdXkHKZsYHNmhYiIzx3UofOKn9LiNNBOeCaPWTyOIlD7FF9S2SLAI_6_NE&_hsmi=367773001&utm_ content=367773001&utm_source=hs_email Spotlight on Creative Cauldron Performers
Arlington Magazine gave the duo, Veronneau, the spotlight as “Arlington’s Jazz Power Couple”. Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau will perform at Creative Cauldron on August 23 as part of its Passport Music Festival. The article tells the story of their meeting, music, connections, and awards. They have won seven Wammie Music Awards and play often at Creative Cauldron. Their repertoire includes bossa nova, swing, blues, and pop. Thei newest studio album, Blue Tapestry, was released in May. Read the entire article linked here. https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/veronneau-jazz-arlington-va/?utm_source=Arlington+Magazine&utm_ campaign=939c87d83a-AM_Weekly_6_23_2025&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=0_1ba2ab098a-939c87d83a-150574406&ct=t(AM_Weekly_6_23_2025)&mc_ cid=939c87d83a&mc_eid=2c285825b6
Local Restaurant Coverage
Arlington Magazine gives several Falls Church restaurants great coverage. In the article, The Best Brunch in and Around Arlington, VA”, the article highlights dishes from Ellie Bird, Harvey’s, and NUE Elegantly Vietnamese. Read more at this link: https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/best-brunch-arlington-va/. The magazine also wrote a review of Seoul Prime, a new Korean ‘upscale steakhouse’ in Founders Row. Noted for dry-aged USDA Prime quality beef, owner and co-founder Wan Bok Lee opened this concept in Founders Row. The 9,000-square-foot space seats over 200 and 25-seat bar in the front. Read more here: https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/seoul-prime-falls-church/?utm_source=Arlington+Mag azine&utm_ campaign=939c87d83a-AM_Weekly_6_23_2025&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=0_1ba2ab098a-939c87d83a-150574406&ct=t(AM_Weekly_6_23_2025)&mc_ cid=939c87d83a&mc_eid=2c285825b6
Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.
Our Man In Arlington
Bill Fogarty
The local protests for “No Kings Day” on June 14 might go down in Arlington history as one of the biggest one-day demonstrations within Arlington’s borders, if not the biggest. At the very least, the 5.2-mile human chain down Langston Boulevard could possibly claim the honor of the bestorganized.
It is of course too early to judge the effectiveness of “No Kings Day,” but the recent public demonstrations call to mind the local history of “carrying signs” of protest. What were the topics of protest? Where were demonstrations held? Who were the organizers?
We certainly have had many citizens crossing the Potomac River to take part in protests, dating back at least as far as the suffragist fight for voting rights over 100 years ago. One of our most remarkable citizens was Mary Morris Hall Lockwood, who was arrested for picketing the White House in 1917. She became the founding organizer of the Arlington Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1920.
Gertrude Crocker, who was also arrested in 1917, sent a letter to her mother from jail, calling herself “a rat in a trap…merely for holding a banner in front of the White House.” Crocker went on to operate a successful business known as the Little Tea House in Arlington.
In trying to uncover public protests that took place within Arlington, I would highlight the work of civil rights activists in the early 1960s. Local Black activist Dorothy Hamm led the picketing of a movie theater that refused to integrate. There is a terrific photo of her holding a sign with this statement: “A Ticket at the Price of Your Conscience.” The picketing was effective, and the theater owners finally relented. In 1960 there were sit-ins at some drug store counters on what was then Lee Highway (renamed Langston Boulevard in 2021). The protestors achieved their goal of integration within weeks. Those sit-ins also provided perhaps the first Arlington example of counter-pro-
testors with their own signs. Members of the local chapter of the American Nazi Party (including its leader George Lincoln Rockwell) walked into the drugstores to intimidate the protestors at the lunch counter. Rockwell’s men carried signs with ugly racist slogans. There are many other instances of public protest, including the picketing of Arlington Hospital in the 1960s for its refusal to admit Black women to the maternity ward. And of recent memory, the protests for Black Lives Matter in 2020 were significant in number. But getting back to current protests, the “No Kings Day” demonstration in Arlington stands out as something unique, with much credit going to a group known as We of Action Virginia (with the acronym of WofA).
WofA was founded in Arlington by a public-school teacher, in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. It is part of a decentralized movement known as “Indivisible,” which has local groups now operating in all 50 states, committed to advocating for a just government, and for upholding civil rights and liberties. WofA in Arlington now numbers more than 1,800 members, with goals that include strengthening the values of civic engagement, and empowering positive actions on key issues.
WofA had only two weeks to organize a coordinated effort for June 14, but they quickly went to work, with plans to recruit people to gather at twenty highway overpasses leading into Washington. However, it soon became apparent that they had too many people pledging to show up, so they pivoted to an ambitious plan: to create a five-mile human protest chain on Langston Boulevard, from Key Bridge to the Falls Church line. WofA had 3,200 people sign up to participate in specific sections. Word of mouth spread, and the total number of people waving signs alongside the road on June 14 was estimated to be 5,000 people. It is difficult to draw comparisons to past protests, but it is interesting to note that the moral tension inherent in Dorothy Hamm’s sign in 1960 is also present in one sign seen on June 14: “When Cruelty Becomes Normal, Compassion Becomes Radical”.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
This Week Around Falls Church
Thursday, June 26
Founders Groove – Live Music
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Founders Row Located at Broad & West Streets Free live music outdoors.
Concerts in the Park – Bushmaster ft. Gary Brown
7:00 p.m.
Cherry Hill Park 300 Park Ave
Presented by Tinner Hill Foundation.
Sketchbook Club
5:00–5:30 p.m.
National Gallery of Art Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC
Léon Gischia’s Le Halterophile.
Friday, June 27
IPA Release – “No Clouds” All Day
Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St. Limited batch IPA release.
Concert: Plena Libre
6:00–8:30 p.m.
National Gallery of Art
Sculpture Garden 7th St & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC Live music in the garden.
Top Juan (Live Music)
7:00 p.m.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack 130 N Washington St. Rock music performance.
The WAVOS (80s Covers)
8:00 p.m.
Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St. Live cover band show.
Saturday, June 28
Reading with Joy –Pride Author Talk
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N Virginia Ave.
Featuring Susie Dumond & Chip Pons.
Falls Church Arts All Member Show
June 7, 2025 – August 10, 2025
Falls Church Arts Gallery 700-B W Broad St.
Falls Church Farmers Market
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. City Hall Plaza 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA Fresh produce and local goods.
Garden Series –Pollinators
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Potomac Overlook Regional Park 2845 N Marcey Rd, Arlington, VA Talk on garden pollinators.
Kerry OC (Acoustic Set)
1:00–4:00 p.m.
Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St. Live acoustic performance.
Czar of Leisure (Live Music)
9:30 p.m.
Dogwood Tavern 132 W Broad St. Late-night rock show.
Jazz for Kids
10:00 a.m.
McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA Interactive family music program.
Shooting Star
7:30 p.m.
Providence Players at James Lee Community Center Theater 2855 Annandale Rd. Mainstage Theater Production.
Groovejet (Dance Music)
6:00 p.m.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA Live outdoor show.
Better Said Than Done
6:30 p.m.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack 130 N Washington St, Storytelling performance.
Herbal Experience with Area 2 Farms
1:00–2:00 p.m.
248 W Broad St. Hosted by Area 2 Farms and Stylish Patina.
Bubbling with Joy –Pride in the Park 4:00 p.m.
Cherry Hill Park
300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA
Family-friendly Pride celebration.
My Generation Band 8:00 p.m.
Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St. Classic rock.
Live Performance: The Play That Goes Wrong June 7, 2025 –June 28, 2025
Little Theatre of Alexandria 600 Wolfe St, Alexandria,
Sunday, June 29
OpinioNation Trivia 2:00 & 3:00 p.m. Solace Outpost 444 W Broad St. Interactive group trivia.
Fantastical Worlds for String Orchestra 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library 5005 Duke St. Alexandria, VA Presented by SONOVA.
Broadway in the Park 8:00 p.m.
Wolf Trap 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA
Signature Theatre & Wolf Trap collaboration.
Michelle Swan (Live Music) 5:30 p.m.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack 130 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA Acoustic set.
Monday, June 30
Explore Eden Center Eden Center 6751–6799 Wilson Blvd,
Tuesday, July 1
Church of Christ –Men’s Prayer Meeting
7:30–8:30 p.m. Church of Christ 6149 Leesburg Pike. Weekly men’s prayer and fellowship gathering.
Wednesday, July 2
Ask the Council Session 9:00–10:00 a.m. Oak Room, City Hall
300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA
Informal Q&A with City Council members.
Murphy Funeral Homes
Community Blood Drive & Wellness Fair
All Day
Murphy Funeral Homes 520 W Broad St, Blood drive and wellness fair. Organized by Chamber of Commerce.
Vienna Independence Day Celebration
6:00–10:00 p.m. Yeonas Park 1319 Ross Dr SW, Vienna, VA
Music, food trucks, kids’ games, and fireworks.
Planning Commission Meeting
7:30–10:30 p.m. Council Chambers / Court
Where to Find the News-Press
• 24 Hour Fitness, 1000 E Broad St
• 450 W Broad St. Lobby Building
• 7 Eleven (Box), 3019 Annandale Rd
• 7 Eleven (Box), 201 S Washington St.
• Amazing Smiles, 444 W Broad St – D
• Apple Federal Credit Union, 1226 W Broad St.
• Arlington Hospital Center (Box), 1701 N George Mason Dr.
• Anthony’s Restaurant, 3000 Annandale Rd.
• Arlington Hospital Center ER (inside), 1702 N George Mason Dr
• Bakeshop. E Fairfax St
• Borek G Turkish Mom’s Cooking. 315 S Maple Ave.
• Bowl America, 140 S Maple Ave.
• Broad Falls Apartments, 809 W Broad St.
• Broadway Apt (in mailroom), 500 W Broad St.
• Burke & Herbert Bank, 225 West Broad St.
• Bus Stop (Box), Lee Hwy and Hollywood Rd
• Byron Apartments, 513 W Broad St.
• Café Kindred, 450 N Washington St.
• Celebrity Deli – Graham Park Plaza, 7263A Arlington Blvd.
• Central Library. 1015 North Quincy Street.
• Cinthia’s Bakery, 5860 Columbia Pike.
• City Hall. 300 Park Ave
• Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N Washington St.
• Crumbl Cookies, 1106A W Broad St
• Cuates Grill 502 W Broad #5t.
• CVS, 1150 W Broad St.
• CVS (Box), 134 W Broad St.
• CVS (Box), 6404 N Williamsburg Blvd.
• Dogwood Tavern, 132 W. Broad St.
• Dolan Uyghur, (Tax Analysts building), 400 S. Maple Ave.
• Dominion Hospital, 2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd
• Dominion Wine and Beer, 107 Rowell Ct.
• Don Beyer Volvo, 1231 W Broad St
• Dude’s Doghouse. 7257 Lee Hwy
• East Falls Church Metro (Box), 2001 N. Sycamore St
• El Tio Restaurant, 7630 Lee Hwy.
• Elevation Burger, 442 S Washington St.
• Eaves Fairfax Towers, 2251 Pimmit Dr.
• Exxon Gas Station, 400 W Broad St.
• Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B W Broad St,
• Falls Church City Public Schools, 800 W Broad St.
• Falls Church City Public Utilities, Gordon Rd.
• Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St.
• Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Suite #310
• Falls Church News-Press, 105 N. Virginia Ave. Lobby
• The Neighborhood Barbershop, 417 W Broad St #103
• Thomas Je erson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd.
• Towne Place Suites – Marriot, 205 Hillwood Ave.
• Unity Club, 116-B W Broad St.
• UPS Store, 1069 W Broad St
• UPS Store Seven Corners, 6312 Seven Corners Ctr.
• US Post O ce, 2045 Wilson Blvd.
• Verso Founders Row, 105 Founders Row
• Washington & S. Broad St. (Box) 101 W Broad St.
• Westlee Condominium 2200 N Westmoreland
• Wendy’s – Bus Stop, 7391 Lee Hwy.
• West Falls Church Metro (Box) 7040 Haycock Rd.
• Woodrow Wilson Community Library, 6101 Knollwood Dr
• Yaila Bistro, 2201 N Westmoreland St.
LEGAL NOTICE
CIRCUIT COURT FOR PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, MARYLAND
Case Number: C-16-FM-25-001784
Other Reference Number(s): LESLY MALDONADO RAMIREZ VS. WILLIAM MEJIA SANCHEZ
Date: 5/21/2025
ORDER OF PUBLICATION BY POSTING
ORDERED, ON THIS 21st day of May, 2025, by the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County MD:
That the Defendant, William Jacobo Mejia Sanchez is hereby notified that the Plaintiff, has filed a PETITION FOR CUSTODY and PETITION FOR FACTUAL FINDINGS ESTABLISHING MINOR’S ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS naming him/her as the defendant and stating that the Defendant’s last known address is: 6004 Argyle Drive, Apt #2, Falls Church, VA 22041, and therefore it is;
ORDERED, that this Order shall published at least once a week in each of three successive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circulation published in Falls Church and provide proof of publication to the Court, and it is further; ORDERED, said publication to be completed by the 20th day of June, 2025; and it is further; ORDERED, THAT THE DEFENDANT, WILLIAM JACOBO MEJIA SANCHEZ, IS HEREBY WARNED THAT FAILURE TO FILE AN ANSWER OR OTHER DEFENSE ON OR BEFORE THE 20th day of July, 2025, MAY RESULT IN THE CASE PROCEEDING AGAINST HIM/HER BY DEFAULT.
Mahasin El Amin #773 Clerk of the Circuit Court
DIVORCE SUMMONS NOTICE
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO Case No.: 25FL002239C
You are being summoned to respond to a divorce petition filed by JUSTIN DEVANTE PADILLA in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. The action is for dissolution of marriage. The court has ordered service of summons by publication as Respondent’s whereabouts are unknown after due diligence. This notice will be published once a week for four consecutive weeks.
You must file a response to the Petition within 30 days of the final publication date. If you do not, the court may enter a default judgment against you and make decisions affecting your marriage, property, and any other relief requested by the Petitioner.
Filed in Court: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
Court Location: 1100 Union St, San Diego, CA 92101 Case Number: 25FL002239C
This notice is published pursuant to an order from the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, dated April 30, 2025.
Contact: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego Address: 1100 Union St, San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 844-2700
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
A Planning Commission public hearing and possible recommendation to City Council is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on the following: (TR25-12) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO UPDATE CHAPTER 10: “HOUSING A COMPLETE COMMUNITY” TO ADD “AFFORDABLE LIVING POLICY”
The Affordable Living Policy outlines the City’s strategy to address the diverse housing needs of its current and future populations by encouraging and actively supporting a mix of housing types and price levels. The City of Falls Church first adopted an Affordable Housing Policy in 2000 with a five-year update cycle. This revision of the Affordable Living Policy Update will be processed as an update to Chapter 10: “Housing a Complete Community” of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Affordable Living Policy contains substantial goals and strategies for the City to undertake under the authorities granted to the City by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and pursuant to state law and the City Charter. More information may be found at https:// www.fallschurchva.gov/2332/AffordableLiving-Policy-Update.
The materials for the above item will be available on the city’s webpage prior to the public hearing: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/PC. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. For copies of materials and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov.
All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva. gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov.
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION
PUBLIC HEARING
A Planning Commission public hearing and possible recommendation to City Council is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on the following:
(TO25-10) ORDINANCE TO VACATE THE 4,133 SF PUBLIC SIDEWALK EASEMENT AT 111 E. BROAD ST. (RPC 53-104-037), DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH AND RECORDED IN THE LAND RECORDS AS INSTRUMENT NO. 20220100013843, AND TO ACCEPT THE CONVEYANCE OF A 4,092 SF PUBLIC SIDEWALK EASEMENT, WHICH TRAVERSES THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 111 E. BROAD STREET (RPC 53-104-037) ALONG THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PROPERTY BORDERS, FROM 127 E. BROAD STREET, LLC TO THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE DEED OF EASEMENT AND VACATION UPON APPROVAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AS TO FORM
The materials for the above item will be available on the city’s webpage prior to the public hearing: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/PC. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. For copies of materials and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov.
All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to
jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva. gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on July 10th, 2025 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, located at 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following item:
- Variance application V1667-25 by Kiara Ventura-Lopez (Applicant), on behalf of Tracy Montgomery (Owner), for variances to (1) Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow a front yard setback of 17 feet 6 inches instead of the 30 feet minimum, and 2) Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow a side yard setback of 9 feet 8 inches instead of the 13 feet minimum allowed to construct a covered front porch at 509 South Spring Street, RPC# 52-602-025 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential District.
- Variance application V1668-25 by David and Ashley Boulware-Kelley, Jeff Dubro and Lucia Critchley, (applicants), on behalf of 618 Laura Drive, LLC, (owners), for variances to 1) Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow a front yard setback of 25 feet instead of the 30 feet minimum, and 2) Section 48238(3)(a) to allow a rear yard setback of 30 feet instead of the 40 feet minimum to construct a new single-family residence at 618 Laura Drive, RPC# 52-605-101 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential District.
Public comment and questions may be submitted to zoning@fallschurchva.gov until 4:30 pm on July 10th, 2025. Agenda and application materials will be available the week prior to the scheduled hearing at: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/BZA Information on the above application is also available for review upon request to staff at zoning@fallschurchva.gov.
ABC NOTICE
QTN Group LLC trading as Casabella Salon, 267 W Falls Station BLVD, Falls Church, VA 22046 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Marketplace Application - Day Spa, Wine, Beer, Consumed On Premises License to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the
Meridian Tennis Player Reaches Singles State Finals
by Ryan McCafferty
The spring sports season has come to a close at Meridian High School, and it with the conclusion of a number of successful campaigns for the Mustangs. The boys’ soccer team took home the VHSL Class 3 State championship, while both the boys’ lacrosse and girls’ tennis squads qualified for the State Semifinals.
Lost in all the commotion, meanwhile, was the boys’ tennis singles tournament, which featured Meridian’s Thomas Lapp. Lapp, only a sophomore, won the individual Regional championship on June
2nd to advance to the State tournament in Lynchburg, and in the Semifinals, he faced Lord Botetourt’s Ethan Steryous in a grueling battle that lasted more than two and a half hours before Lapp won in an extra set. That advanced him to play in the Finals against Brader Eby of Western Albemarle, who defeated him to capture the title.
While coming up short in the State Finals, Lapp and Meridian deserve recognition for a strong season. The team finished 16-3 and reached States, and Lapp’s Regional singles title marked a first in program history for Meridian boys’ tennis. With two more years ahead, his future remains bright.
MERIDIAN SOPHOMORE THOMAS Lapp made school history by winning the boys’ tennis Regional singles title—the first ever for the program—before advancing to the VHSL State Finals in Lynchburg. His run capped a standout spring season for the Mustangs, which also included a state title in boys’ soccer and deep playoff runs in boys’ lacrosse and girls’ tennis.. (Photo: Western Albemarle High School)
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. THIS
Drs Love and Miller provide a family practice with special emphasis on healthy and beautiful smiles for adults and children Both doctors graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and have been practicing together in Falls Church for over 25 years
We take time to listen to our patients so that we truly understand their needs. With emphasis on overall health, we o er services including composite restorations, metal-free crowns, implant restorations, veneers and other cosmetic procedures Our oral hygiene program excels at understanding the vital relationship between oral health and other systems in the body Drs. Love and Miller, along with our amazing team, greatly appreciate the community’s trust and support.
