June 29 – July 5, 2017
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d ed 1991 • Vol. X X V I I No. 19
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week Leaders Move Toward School Referendum
On Monday, the Falls Church City Council was unanimous in giving preliminary approval to developing language for a school bond referendum on November’s ballot, and to move ahead with the discussion on how much debt the City should absorb at this stage. See page 4
Summer Real Estate Special Inside
The News-Press’ Summer Real Estate special issue is here, with features on Falls Church mortgage lending, the cost of Little City living, real estate numbers and more inside.
Target, Aldi Announce Moves To Downtown F.C. This Week
See pages 13 – 20
David Leonhardt: A Vote of Conscience & Courage
Forget for a minute about partisan labels and listen to members of the U.S. Senate talk about why they work in politics. See page 21
George Mason High School’s Class of 2017 Last Wednesday, 194 George Mason High School seniors received their diplomas during the school’s commencement. See inside for more photos of the school’s 2017 graduating class. See page 12
Index
Editorial..................6 Letters..............6, 24 News & Notes.10–11 Comment.. 12, 22–23 Calendar........26–27
Classified Ads......28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword...........29 Critter Corner.......30 Business News....31
AN ARTIST RENDERING of the new Target coming to Falls Church’s Lincoln at Tinner Hill on S. Washington St. (Photo: courtesy Target)
Big Revenue Gains Anticipated From 2 Big Retailers Coming In by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Two major chain retailers have announced plans in the last two days to move to within blocks of each other in downtown City of Falls Church. Wednesday, Target formally announced plans to open a 26,000-square foot, smallformat store on the now-vacant ground floor of the new Lincoln at Tinner Hill mixed-use development project on S. Washington, projected to open next March. It was also reported Tuesday that just up the street at the Tower Square Shopping Center, the
German-based discount grocery chain Aldi has signed a lease for a 19,000-square foot store, replacing the Halalco supermarket and other stores there now. The news comes as a major boost to potential new revenues to the City, and not a moment too soon as the prospect of paying for a new high school and renovations at City Hall and the library loom. City Hall’s economic development office, in addition to helping work out the details of the new additions, will be calculating how much the City can expect to gain in terms of new tax revenues to help pay for these needs.
City Councilman Phil Duncan, chair of the Council’s Economic Development committee, hailed the news, saying that Target “will be a highly popular addition to the City’s commercial mix, a national retailer that’s within strolling distance of thousands of City residents as well as our neighbors in nearby county neighborhoods. The Target-Aldi announcements come at a really great time that helps us make the case to citizens that we are not relying on the residential tax alone to pay for a new high school, City Hall and library improvements.” As for Target, in a press statement issued Wednesday, the new location “will be the company’s fifth small-location store in the greater Washington, D.C. area, joining the Rosslyn, College Park, Bethesda and Ballston (project-
ed to open in 2021) locations.” Larger Target stores are already functioning at Seven Corners and the Mosaic District on either side of the new Falls Church location. The new store will fill the vacuum left at the Lincoln at Tinner Hill when The Fresh Market, originally inked to move in there, back out of their deal. “Target is focused on expanding small-format stores in dense urban and suburban neighborhoods, as well as on college campuses,” the corporate statement noted. “With small-format stores, Target provides assortments tailored to meet the needs of local customers, a quick-trip shopping experience with a curated assortment mix, including a grocery selection with a focus on wellness
Continued on Page 5
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PAGE 4 | JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
F.C. Council, School Board Move To Authorize School Referendum BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Taking its first formal step to place a school bond referendum on this November’s ballot, the Falls Church City Council was unanimous in giving preliminary approval to the developing language for the ballot Monday night, and to move ahead with the discussion on how much debt the City should absorb at this stage. The following night, Tuesday, the Falls Church School Board signed off on the same process, by a 6-1 vote, with John Lawrence being the only dissenting vote. So, for the sake of getting the debate underway in the upcoming month before final approval of the language for a bond referendum needs to be adopted by late July, the Council OK’d the preliminary terms of a “capital improvements projects” (CIP) budget that includes $120 million for a new high school, $11.7 million for a renovation of the City Hall, and $8.7 million for the renovation and expansion of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library. Along with some other CIP expenditures, the package totaled $167.5 million and, if approved in its form this way, would more than quadruple the City’s debt from $50.1 million to $218 million with daunting
consequences for the real estate tax rate. The School Board’s resolution touched only on “constructing, expanding, reconstructing, renovating, equipping, and/or reequipping, in whole or part, a new or improved high school and part of a middle school.” Cost offsetting factors touched on at the Council meeting Monday include the $43 million the City has been told by consultants it can get through sale or lease of 10 acres of the land on the 36 acre campus site for commercial development, and a revision in the CIP to postpone the library improvement plan to Fiscal Year 2022. The plan proposed last week called for delaying the library plan to 2025, but on Monday it was revealed that it may need a postponement only until 2022. Still, the library delay brought out the most impassioned opposition among citizens Monday night, who pointed to the fact that voters overwhelmingly approved a bond referendum for the library work last November and that improvements, including basic ADA compliance needs, should not be delayed. A modified CIP combined with the land sale or lease, if it goes through, could result in a new high school that would cost taxpayers
nine cents on the tax rate above its current level (currently at $1.33 per $100 of assessed valuation) for the first three years, then drop to seven cents for two years and four cents through the end of the next decade. Lawrence, as the only dissenting vote on the School Board, said his vote was motivated “because we have no financial plan to pay for the school and I think moving ahead without that is just irresponsible.” On the other side, long-time Falls Church public servant Kieran Sharpe, who’s served on both the City Council and School Board since the early 1990s, came before the City Council Monday night to suggest that the $40 million estimate for the 10 acres of commercial land at the campus site could be low. Sharpe noted that by his calculations, the sale of nine acres at the Wiehle Road Metro station to the west for what is now called the Reston Station involved nine acres that sold to Comstock Homes for $56 million. Instead of $4 million an acre, he proposed, it went there for closer to $6 million per acre. F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields told the Council the coming month is “a very important time” in the history of Falls Church for settling on what should
CHET DELONG of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library Board of Trustees spoke at Monday’s City Council meeting in favor of keeping the schedule for the renovation of the library as it currently stands, which would begin this fall. (P����: N���-P����) be built and when, with a mind to winning popular support on a November bond referendum that will be for the single largest dollar amount in the City’s history, and in an election year, to boot, with four seats on the City Council and four on the School Board up for grabs. Citizens speaking up Monday said they were “flabbergasted,” in the words of one, about plans to delay the library improvements after voters approved a bond referendum to fund them by a wide margin last November. Another citizen said it amounted to a “bait and switch.” But Shields assured everyone
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that the money approval for the library work by the voters last November would not be diverted into other projects, like the school or City Hall, because the library bonds have not yet been sold and will not be until the library project is set to begin. However, it was pointed out that delaying the library work until 2022 would necessarily inflate the cost from $8.6 million to about $10.7 million. There is bound to be a lot of animated discussions of all the moving parts in this scenario over the next month. The Council is slated to settle on the final language for the November bond referendum at its July 24 meeting.
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JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 5
Aldi, Target Announce Plans To Open Stores in Falls Church Continued from Page 1
offerings, including fresh produce, grab-and-go items, snacks and meal solutions.” The store is coming into a neighborhood already dominated since its opening a year ago by a new Harris-Teeter 24-hour supermarket and to be shared soon with Aldi, a smaller grocery option coming in, part of a 900-store expansion of the company’s brand into the U.S. It will be the 14th location in Northern Virginia. The Falls Church store is scheduled to open in early 2019, according to the McLean-based Rappaport company that brokered the deal (they’re also involved in the Target deal and the Harris Teeter deal in Falls Church before that). Aldi, the name being short for “Albrecht Discount,” is owned by a company in Essen, Germany, that controls thousands of outlets in Europe, and also owns Trader Joe’s in the U.S. The store will go into the space
now occupied by the Halalco Market, plus spaces next to that that include a Russian food store, Troika Gastronom, that will relocate to the other end of the shopping center into a currently-vacant space next to an ABC store. As for Target, there are already 36 small-format stores open around the U.S. and 130 slated to be opened by the end of 2019. In addition to groceries, the store here promises to offer home decor and accessories, beauty, health and personal care products, apparel and accessories for men, women and children, electronic and entertainment items, a selection of toys and sporting goods and a CVS pharmacy and order pickup, as well as Target’s own pickup service, offering convenience and security of buying online and picking up at the store, usually within one hour of the ordering. Duncan touted the Target announcement as enhancing the “SoBro” (South of Broad) section of the Little City, adjacent
to Pizzeria Orso, the Happy Tart and Elevation Burger.” Other new additions in the immediate area include Falls Church Distillers, which is on the verge of opening directly across from the future Target location, and a relocated Panjshir Restaurant into the Lily Building (100 E. Fairfax) that will also feature a new brew pub. These are all slated to be augmented by a three-phase multimodal project on S. Washington at Hillwood that will begin with utility line undergrounding this summer to become a transit plaza with bus shelters, benches and bike racks augmented by brick pavers, street lighting, new signage, rain gardens and landscaping. Duncan noted that the coming developments there cast the new Pearson Square Apartments “in a more positive light,” given that the project’s conversion from condos to rental apartments disappointed City residents a half-dozen years ago. But by replacing “scruffy old warehouses and old auto uses,” and
THE NEW ALDI in Falls Church will take over the space currently occupied by the Halalco supermarket and Troika food store. (Photo: News-Press) in conjunction with the Lincoln at Tinner Hill and other new developments, including new ones that will want to be next to the Target once it opens, “we are creating a vibe on S. Washington that will continue to bring proper amenities to that neighborhood, among other things bringing more people into contact with the City’s rich civil rights history symbolized by the Tinner Hill arch located there now.” All this “validates the City as a highly sought-after place to do
business,” Rick Goff, director of Economic Development for the City, said in a statement from City Hall Wednesday. “Our office has put in a lot of time behind the scenes with marketing, recruitment and relationship cultivation. The persistence is paying off.” Falls Church Mayor David Tarter is quoted in a statement saying, “This is a big win and perfect fit for the City’s vibrant, diverse community of families, young professionals and active adults.”
PAGE 6 | JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017
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E D I TO R I A L
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The GOP Health Care Fiasco
Virginia’s two U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, jumped on a conference call with mostly Virginia media outlets yesterday to delineate their grave concerns with the draft health care reform legislation unveiled this week by the Senate Republican leadership. “It’s the worst piece of legislation I have ever seen,” Warner said at the outset. It cuts $770 billion from Medicaid and represents “an enormous tax break for the wealthiest.” Kaine noted that its impact would be “very tough” on Virginians, with the Medicaid cuts hitting the most vulnerable, the children and the elderly, the most. Kaine was very generous to Republican supporters of the bill when asked if he feels they’re “just heartless.” No, he said, they just haven’t taken the time to appreciate what its consequences really are. That’s because, he observed, the Republican leadership chose to hide their efforts even from their own ranks when the locked themselves away, with the benefit of no public hearings or open debate, to piece the thing together. Now, they are stalled but not giving up on tweaking the bill to get the votes they need from their own ranks to pass it. The longer it is delayed, however, the less likely those chances become, as the polls are showing overwhelming opposition, with only 12 to 17 percent of those polled approving of it. Based on these polls, it can be expected that what the GOP senators will hear from their constituents when they return to their home states over the July 4 holiday will only drive them further from passing it. While Kaine and Warner concurred that only by working together with Democrats can the Republicans get a bill that can win enough support to pass the Senate, the unintended consequence of the GOP’s unilateral and secretive approach stands to leave them in much poorer stead as this fall’s Virginia statewide elections and the 2018 midterm elections approach. They will have no one to blame but themselves for the horrible legislative product they crafted. Stupidly, the GOP leadership felt empowered to deliver on their draconian healthcare reform bill because they believed that’s what their constituents would swallow. But their constituents, unfortunately for them, only want a health care system that works for their families, and the GOP plan fails at that. While the tax breaks their plan offers the super-rich show where their loyalties lie, that won’t play with their electoral base. That’s why the bill was hidden even from the GOP rank-and-file senators, who feel compelled to be responsive to their populist base. “Just vote for it,” they’re being told by the cynical GOP leadership, and that’s why they wanted the votes before these senators head home to face first-hand public reaction. Our esteemed Virginia senators tend to be more polite than many in the general public who will be greeting their GOP lawmakers with much more sensuous and colorful language all across the land in the coming days.
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No Substance from F.C. Campus Consultants
Editor, It’s time to admit that Falls Church has a crisis of vision related to the campus development site. The bevy of consultants employed by the city to weigh in on the matter still hasn’t produced much substance, or at the very least anything new. The latest report covered last week showed once again that the city is still operating passively and allowing outside consultants to shape a fair-
ly unimaginative agenda. First, of all the groups paid to determine how much that land is worth, not a single one offered up a creative solution outside of an outright sale. The smartest thing we could do as a city is to consider a mechanism where a developer finances the land acquisition through us, by paying an annual amount equal to the annual borrowing costs needed to build the high school. The city collects
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more in the long run and covers debt payments until the site begins to generate tax revenue, which also means we do not need to raise the tax rate accordingly. It’s been done in other cities successfully but it requires us to think outside the box. Second, why not ask actual developers and investors to bring their best and brightest ideas forward immediately to help shape the conversation. It engages the development community early on, and moves this beyond a purely academic exercise. That site should be so much more than another plain vanilla mixed use development. Think tech focused, performing arts and world class
office space, all constructed sustainably and incorporating progressive urban planning. The opportunities extend beyond apartments and street level retail. Ross Litkenhous Falls Church
It’s Time to Change The Name of J.E.B. Stuart High School Editor, The debate on renaming J.E.B. Stuart High School is 100 years too old.
Letters Continued on Page 24
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
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JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 7
Education Foundation: A Resource for Our Schools B� C����� S��� � M��� A���
Thanks to the generosity of individual donors and businesses, Falls Church Education Foundation was able to give $151,984 to the schools for the 2016-17 school year to provide funding primarily in three areas: super grants, advanced teacher training grants and programs (support of the ESOL after-school program, special education Thomas Jefferson-Mary Ellen HendersonGeorge Mason buddies program, backpack meals program, support for each PTA/PTSA and TJ-MEH-GM maker spaces). In addition, the Falls Church Education Foundation, or FCEF, provided over $140,000 in scholarships to GMHS students and staff, for a total award over $292,000. The purpose of FCEF, a non-profit organization founded in 2003, is to raise funds for Falls Church City Public Schools to ensure our students are well-prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. FCEF’s three areas of funding are: equity of access, student preparedness and staff readiness. Executive Director Debbie Hiscott works with the schools, parent groups and the community to ensure that FCEF knows about teacher/staff/student needs and coordinates ways to meet them. FCEF has an active volunteer board of directors and a half-time executive director. In order to make this slim (down from a fulltime director and half-time assistant in 2012) administrative structure work, a number of board members “roll up their sleeves” and spend 20-40 hours per month each doing
strategic and administrative work. The Foundation has two types of funds: unrestricted and restricted. FCEF raises unrestricted money, over which the Board of Directors has discretion, through general donations and its major fundraisers, the annu-
“FCEF is a unique organization and has a number of advantages for those who donate to it.” al gala and Run for the Schools and, this year, the home and garden tour. This money funds super grants, advanced teacher training grants, FCEF’s programs and other requests. Restricted funds, which comprise the largest part of FCEF’s assets, are donor-directed and are given out according to agreements between FCEF and the donors. FCEF scholarship funds fall into this category, as do select other funds, such as the Nicholas Benton Diversity Fund and the Nancy Sprague Leadership Fund. Our newest donation, $100,000 from Todd Hitt, focused on the arts and humanities, is also a restricted fund. FCEF is a unique organization and has a number of advantages for those who donate to it. A professional auditing firm conducts an annual audit of our funds and procedures. FCEF can accept large donations that can
be used over a long period of time. These donations are invested, professionally managed and can grow over time. FCEF receives donations from the entire Falls Church community and beyond to fund projects at all five schools. FCEF funds projects that include multiple schools and provide continuity of services. Falls Church City Public School staff know that FCEF is the place to come if they have an innovative idea or want specialized professional development. FCEF has just sent out applications for the 2017 super grants and teacher training opportunities. In the fall, we will be able to share with you what we will be funding. Highlights of some of the super grants FCEF has awarded over the past three years are: STEM Support: the EPA award-winning George Mason/Mary Ellen Henderson hydroponics program; George Mason auditorium lighting and sound equipment; creation of Maker Spaces at Thomas Jefferson and MEH; GM Maker Space and Robotics equipment; new sound system for TJ. Arts and Humanities: GM Mindfulness research project; headphones for MEH language classes; large string instruments for the MEH strings program; cameras, lenses and printers for the GM art department and the yearbook; Big Books for JTP; cultural exchange art projects for TJ and GM art students. Specialized Programs: sensory room for special ed students at MEH; a specialized reading program (LLI) for at-risk students in second grade and MEH to create conti-
nuity in teaching and learning; a specialized music program for special ed life skills students; multi-sensory equipment for JTP; “Teachtown” social skills curriculum for MD; standing desks and sitting balls for MEH special needs students. Other: furniture for the MEH lobby for students to work in a non-classroom setting; outdoor amphitheater at MEH; standing desks at GM; funding for a system-wide emergency fund. Advanced Teacher Training Grants provided advanced training/conference attendance for teachers in the following areas: ESOL; Gifted and Talented; Special Education (Orton-Gillingham); Advanced IB and MYP; IB counseling; career and college counseling; Colonial history (the Williamsburg Institute); using technology for math/science and for writing/thinking; teaching and discussing diversity; speech and hearing; literacy; teaching languages; mindfulness; an eight-day professional development program in guided reading for MD and TJ that covered using the reading technique with all students (ESOL, special ed, gifted and typical); training for 50 teachers in using Google educational applications. For more information about FCEF, please go to the website at www.fcedf.org or contact Debbie Hiscott at dhiscott@fcedf.org. Cecily Shea is president of the Falls Church Education Foundation and Mary Asel is the foundation’s vice president.
Q������� �� ��� W��� Are you happy with the news of Target and Aldi opening stores in Falls Church? • Yes
Last Week’s Question:
Should the Falls Church City Council drop the Mary Riley Styles Library improvement project?
• No • Unsure
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Fa l l s C h u r c h
NEWS BRIEFS Schools Announce New Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Principal The Falls Church City School Board named Valerie K. Hardy the new principal of Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School on Tuesday. Hardy, who will assume her role on July 10, is currently the assistant principal at Fairfax’s Daniels Run Elementary School and will replace departing principal Ty Harris who announced his resignation in May. In a press release Monday, new Falls Church Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan said “We are so excited to bring in such a qualified candidate who has the skills and background to support the excellence that happens daily at Mary Ellen Henderson." According to the release, Hardy has more 18 years education experience. She began her career as a middle school special education teacher in Charlottesville and served as a middle school counselor in Mary Ellen Henderson the Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, North Carolina, New Middle School principal before returning to her native Virginia. She has spent the majority Valerie Hardy. (Photo: of her career in Fairfax County Schools serving as a school coun- FCCPS) selor, director of student services, central office administrator and as assistant principal at Daniels Run Elementary. Hardy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Special Education from James Madison University. She received her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received her Educational Administrative Endorsement from the University of Virginia.
July 4 Fireworks Show in F.C. Set A free Independence Day celebration in Falls Church will be held on Tuesday, July 4 on the grounds of George Mason High School at 7124 Leesburg Pike. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and seating will be on the Jack Gambill Athletic Fields and the Northern Virginia Graduate Center parking lot, with blankets and flat-based chairs allowed on the field. Food vendor trucks and live music by the Darby Brothers will be provided. Fireworks are scheduled to start at approximately 9:20 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to park free at the 2,000-space West Falls Church Metro Station parking garage, accessible from Haycock Road. George Mason High School and Mary Ellen Henderson parking lots are restricted to event personnel and visitors with handicap placards. Nearby shopping center parking is for patrons of the center businesses only and towing may be enforced. Parking will be restricted within City limits near the high school so that emergency vehicles can use residential streets. From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on July 4, the following streets will have parking restricted to one side of the street only: Grove Ave., Birch St., Spruce St., Offut Dr., and Falls Ave. Handicapped parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the school campus "Senior Parking Lot" off Haycock Road.
July 4 Government Closings Announced The following City of Falls Church services will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, in observance of Independence Day: City Hall and all government offices, Courts, Community Center, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Permits Counter, Senior Center, Sheriff's Office.
Vehicle Owners Asked to Move Cars The City of Falls Church issued a statement this week asking citizens to move vehicles off the streets from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the day their area of the City is scheduled for street sweeping. Crews will be working to keep over 200 tons of debris from entering our local waterways. Residents can also use a broom or shovel and dustpan to sweep the gutter in front of residences when debris accumulates — including pollen, leaves, trash, and sediment. This is especially helpful in areas that routinely have cars parked on the street. The July street sweeping schedule is subject to change for weather: Monday, July 10 and Tuesday, July 11: residential areas south of Broad St., Wednesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 13: residential areas north of Broad St., Commercial areas and municipal parking areas will be swept in the evening and overnight. The City has contracted with a new vendor this year. “Quiet Sweep” uses trucks that are known as “regenerative sweepers.” This technology uses forced air to create a swirling effect inside a contained sweeping head and then uses negative pressure to suck road debris off the street and dump it inside a hopper. The F.C. Department of Public Works manages many projects and programs to protect City streams and the Chesapeake Bay from polluted runoff. In 2016, over 100 cubic yards of debris were removed from the system by cleaning catch basins, sediment traps and pipes. This is equivalent to a debris pile 27 feet long by 10 feet wide by 10 feet high.
JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 9
The Benefits of Conservation Landscaping and Rain Barrels Conservation Landscaping and Rain Barrels are not only good for the environment, but you could potentially earn a 10 percent discount on your Stormwater Utility Fee. Conservation Landscaping is able to reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff on the environment by using carefully planned plantings of native plants. Many native plant species are deeply rooted, resistant to insects, and drought. They are perfect for our climate and create new natural homes and food for local wildlife. By replacing grass with native plants, you can reduce use of pesticides, fertilizers and water, which in turn will save you time and money. It is also aesthetically pleasing for you and your neighbors. Conservation Landscaping can be designed to receive the stormwater runoff from roofs, sidewalks, driveways and patios, which allows the water to soak into the ground naturally and thus reducing stormwater runoff. This is a great way to help protect our local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Rain Barrels are designed to catch stormwater runoff from the roofs for reuse. Rain water is better for plants and soils because rainwater is highly oxygenated, free from salts, inorganic ions and fluoride versus tap water. Rain barrels can also help keep moisture away from your homes foundation. Collecting water in the rain barrel will also help eliminate the amount of pollutants from entering the stormwater drain, and helps keep the pollutants out of our local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Remember, only rain down the storm drain! Please help us keep our local streams and the Chesapeake Bay clean. Every little bit counts. For further information concerning stormwater runoff and pollutants, please contact Jason Widstrom, P.E., Civil Engineer with the Department of Public Works at 703-248-5026 (TTY 711) or via email at jwidstrom@fallschurchva.gov.
PAGE 10 | JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017
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News-Press
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Community News & Notes
LIVE ON THE AIRWAVES were three fifth grade students from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, who made an appearance on an episode of the Book Club for Kids podcast that is geared toward middle grade readCHAMPIONS of Arlington Soccer Associations 3 vs. 3 tournament in their ers. The students (from left to right) Diego Chavez, Callie Petit and Valeria age group are four rising fourth graders from Thomas Jefferson Elementary Vargas-Perez discussed Lindsey Eager’s novel Hour of Bees on the podcast, School (from left to right) L. Meade, S. Meade, H. Boesen, C. Weatherly and S. where the talked about how the book addresses the droughts that occur in the southwestern U.S., a prickly grandfather and especially bees. (Photo: Kitty Felde) Witt. (Photo: Liz Weatherly)
VPIS Remembers Independence Day
Shepherd’s Center Receives Upcoming Fundraiser
ical appointments and grocery stores.
This annual event hosted by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society of Falls Church allows attendees to focus on the meaning of Independence Day with a review of the issues of the times and the reading of the important documents that created the basis for the United States. It includes readings of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. The event is non-political and runs for roughly 70 minutes. All are welcome. The discussion will take place in the City Hall Chambers (300 Park Avenue, Falls Church) on Tuesday, July 4 and will begin at 12 p.m.
The Locker Room Sports Bar & Grill (502 W. Broad St., Falls Church) is hosting a fundraiser for the Shepherd’s Center in order to raise funds that will assist the senior communities in McLean, Arlington and Falls Church on Wednesday, July 12 from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. 15 percent of all gross proceeds will be donated to the Shepherd’s Center by the day’s end. The Shepherd’s Center is an all-volunteer interfaith group dedicated to assisting senior adults in Falls Church, McLean and Arlington maintain an independent and safe lifestyle by providing transportation to med-
Travel Basketball Team To Play In National Tourney Beltway House of Hoops, a Northern Virginia travel basketball team, has a top seed in the upcoming Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Tournament to be held in Orlando, Florida from July 19 – 23. Three of the House of Hoops players attend nearby Marshall High School, two of which are starters and the other is team’s sixth man off the bench. Two of the local team members played in the Falls Church recreation league and one played on the Falls Church 7th grade coun-
ty team. The House of Hoops earned the top seed by winning the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia regional AAU tournament back in May and are excited for an opportunity to compete with elite competition from around the country in Orlando.
Recap Of Literary Council Of Northern Virginia Event Last Thursday, June 22, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (LCNV) held its Annual Recognition Event at the James Lee Community Center Theater (2855 Annandale Rd. Falls Church). Students, teachers, volunteers and community partners were recognized for their commitment to adult
literacy in Northern Virginia. Students read essays based on the theme of “Learning Gives Me Power.” and community partnership awards were presented to Accenture, Crestwood Elementary School and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation. LCNV’s Volunteers of the Year awards were presented to Liz Castillo, Alexandra Roncal and Valerie Sutter. Over 200 attended the event, which included an inspiring keynote speech by Dr. Jorge Ribas, President and CEO of the MidAtlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. At the conclusion of the event, the LCNV Board recognized Patricia Donnelly, who after 15 years of service is retiring as Executive Director, with
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The News-Press is always on the lookout for photos & items for Community News & Notes, School News & Notes and other sections of the paper. If you graduate, get married, get engaged, get an award, start a club, eat a club, tie your shoes, have a birthday, have a party, host an event or anything else you think is worth being mentioned in the News-Press, write it up and send it to us! If you have a photo, even better! Because of the amount of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee all submissions will be published, but we’ll try our best!
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JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 11
Mason Student Participates In Olympic Program
VALERIE K. HARDY (third from right) was announced as Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School’s new principal on Monday and will be of�icially appointed to her new role on Monday, July 10. With over 18 years in the �ield of education, Hardy brings a bevy of experience as a teacher, counselor and administrator to the position. (P����: C������� FCCPS P����) the introduction of the Patricia M. Donnelly Merit Scholarship. This yearly scholarship will be awarded to a deserving beginning-level student to support and promote their continued education with LCNV.
Free Public Education Courses Offered In July The following are free public education events offered by the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia throughout the month of July. They are open to all, and posted at mgnv.org/ events/mgnv-events/. On Monday, July 10 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Barrett Branch Library (717 Queen St., Alexandria) a class titled “Mosquitoes and Ticks: Identification and Control” will be held. In this presentation,
guests will learn the science of how to best control mosquitos and ticks and keep them away from you and your family. This includes how to identify the ticks and mosquitos prevalent in this area, their life cycle, how they reproduce and where they go in the winter. The presentation will focus on more sustainable options for you and your yard. Advance registration at mgnv. org. Questions can be answered at 703-228-6414 or by e-mail at mgarlalex@gmail.com. On Tuesday, July 11 from 11 a.m. – noon at the Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens (420 E. Monroe St., Alexandria) will be the “Simpson Gardens Stroll.” Guests can stop by and chat with the VCE Master Gardeners who maintain the Simpson Park Demonstration Gardens and see what is in bloom. Gardening questions will be answered, too.
No registration necessary. On Tuesday, July 18 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Westover Library (1644 North McKinley Road, Suite 3, Arlington) will be a presentation titled “Gardening for Wildlife: Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary Certification.” If you are looking for a way to make an environmental difference in your yard, church grounds or condo complex by creating a sanctuary for wildlife using native plants and other resources, this is event is geared toward you. The presentation reviews the whys and hows of supporting local wildlife in the area, and how you can obtain an Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary Certification for your garden. Advance registration at mgnv.org. Questions can be answered at 703-2286414 or by e-mail at mgarlalex@ gmail.com.
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Rising senior Daniel SanGiovanni of George Mason High School started all of his matches at center back for the U17 Virginia State Soccer Team at the 2017 Region I Olympic Development Program Tournament. In addition to representing the Virginia State team, Daniel served as a volunteer assistant coach at DC Scores, an organization delivering free after-school soccer programs and summer camps to help low-income 3rd – 8th graders throughout the District of Columbia. In May of this year SanGiovanni received an award from the Cornell University Alumni Club for for his service and leadership in school and youth soccer programs.
Stuart Graduate Is Finalist At SkillsUSA Competition Juan Pineda of Falls Church, Va., was recognized as a SkillsUSA National Finalist in the Customer Service Competition after he placed in the Top 10 at 9th place at the National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championships held in Louisville, Kentucky from June 19 – 23. Pineda also received a SkillsUSA SkillPoint award for the scores earned on customer service industry technical standards. Juan is a recent graduate of J.E.B. Stuart High School and was enrolled in the Education for Employment (EFE)/SkillsUSA Program. Pineda represented SkillsUSA Virginia as their customer service, gold-place state winner and competed against 37 state contestants at Nationals. SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing
for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. JEB Stuart High School’s Skills USA Chapter, is a co-curricular part of the total EFE learning experience and is a 100 percent member chapter which enables all students to be involved in a professional organization. For more information, visit SkillsUSA.org.
Champion Trees Bike Ride Taking Place July 1 Enjoy some of Arlington’s trees on this leisurely ride over mostly level, paved pathways, while stopping at points of natural and environmental interest along the way. The route will pass by county and state champion trees. Bring your own bike, water, snacks, and repair kit (just in case). Teens ages 12 and up are welcomed, but must be accompanied by an adult. For information, call 703228-1863 or e-mail Vincent Verwij at vverweij@arlingtonva. us. Meeting point is at Barcroft Community Center (2400 S Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington) No registration required. Ride will be cancelled in case of inclement weather.
Witness D.C. Fireworks Display From Arlington Celebrate Independence Day at Arlington’s sixth annual July 4th Celebration at Long Bridge Park (475 Long Bridge Dr., Arlington). From 5 – 10 p.m., join in the patriotic spirit with a food truck rally, live music featuring Jeff From Accounting, sports and games for all ages and moon bounces (weather permitting), face painting and clear views of the Washington, D.C. fireworks display. Free shuttles from Pentagon City and Crystal City metro stations are offered. For more information, call 703-228-3329 or e-mail lbarragan@arlingtonva.us.
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PAGE 12 | JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017
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Mason High Class of ‘17 Graduates a Record 194
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
GRADUATING A RECORD-SETTING number of students that totaled at 194, George Mason High School’s Class of 2017 will be remembered in more ways than one. From juggling multiple projects and assignments in the classroom to leaving it all on out on the field of competition in school athletics and bringing their best during theatrical performances or in musical concerts, 2017’s graduating class will live on in the school’s history fondly. After one final celebration as a class later that night, it’s on to the next step in life for these young adults. (Photos: Courtesy FCCPS Photos)
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
R EA L E STATE
Real Estate Summer 2017
Seniors Face Pricing Out Alone As City Stalls on Housing Plans
by Matt Delaney
SUMMER 2017 | PAGE 13
Falls Church News-Press
A quiet conflict is bubbling underneath the surface of Falls Church’s small-town civility. Long-term, and occasionally, lifetime residents are entering old age and finding themselves pinched by the City’s escalating fiscal demands that run counter to these seniors’ often static budgets. To both the seniors experiencing the increased financial pressure and to the City government aiming to assist them, affordable housing and tax relief resolutions may be clear, but the path to get there is far from it. That resolution is simple: help
keep seniors in Falls Church. It works in the favor of the elderly citizens who intend to spend their remaining years in the community they helped build and the City has no objection to that. Diversifying the tax base among residents of varying age groups and economic statuses is preferred as it keeps Falls Church appealing to a range of people. The City’s tax relief and deferment programs are a go-to option to take the edge off expenses for seniors. However, deferring can induce anxiety among residents who view the growing pot of back taxes as an unpaid bill (with interest), and relief programs can’t afford to be as generous as other
jurisdictions due to Falls Church’s smaller population. In short, the programs do aid seniors, but they aren’t the cure. A true remedy comes from a top-to-bottom affordable housing structure, though the steps taken to achieve such a development have received lukewarm support at best. The clock is ticking for all residents who fall below the City’s Area Median Income, especially the seniors who feel they’re dwelling on borrowed time. “Falls Church is such a highend place that [the City Council] doesn’t stop to think about lower income people who just barely make it from month to month,” Ruth Kaufman said. “There are
AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING complex for seniors in San Francisco, Cal. (Photo: Bridge Housing) good people that come from low income backgrounds and are trying to live on Social Security...or a pension, [but] the pension has to pay for medical needs, so anything left over is just nil.” Even seniors with means are feeling the burden. Jack Gordon is a transplant from San Francisco who’s owned a condo in the Broadway of Falls Church since 2010. The Bay Area’s high property values and taxes seemed to follow Gordon east as the financial upkeep between his new home
and his old one are near identical. Lydia Gorman and Lois Eister have lived in Falls Church since their twenties and have paid off their homes, making the City’s taxation more manageable for them than most. Still, both acknowledge that Falls Church has gone from a middle class settlement to an upper-middle class enclave that lacks the sociability and affordability it once did, specifically in terms of housing.
Continued on Page 14
INSIDE: Little City Loans Approved – A Lot page 17 | Tysons’ Residential Transformation page 18 | F.C. Home Sales #s pages 19–20
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R EA L E STATE
PAGE 14 | SUMMER 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Remedy for Pricing Out? Fund Affordable Housing Projects Continued from Page 1
“I’ve seen no signs that affordable housing is possible,” said one senior who requested anonymity as their involvement in this story could spark disputes with their landlord. “I’ve told a couple of people on the City Council that there are big demographic problems developing right now for housing people over 55. It’s really a crisis because we don’t know what to do.” This challenge isn’t exclusive to Falls Church. It’s been a growing problem throughout the U.S. for the last decade as Baby Boomers have reached retirement age and began going on fixed incomes. But what is unique to the City is its tight space available to build an affordable housing project and the public aversion to the ripple effect they fear it would have on surrounding property values. Currently, the City offers over 100 Affordable Dwelling Units (ADU’s) sprinkled throughout new and old developments in Falls Church with plans to add 150 more units by 2022. City Housing Program Analyst, Dana Lewis, explains that, while help-
ful, ADU’s aren’t a permanent solution to affordable housing as they are limited in supply and eventually time out. The notion of an affordable housing complex leaves residents aghast as stable development costs aren’t covered alone by the rents of would-be tenants, putting the onus on other residents to help bridge the gap. Asking residents to willingly up their tax load while potentially risking value on their homes is a tall order, which is why the City’s focused on commercially developing the area in order cajole taxfatigued citizens into keeping their wallets open. “We know that the costs of government go up over time. So you either tax people more or you grow the pie — more revenue from other sources,” Commissioner of Revenue Tom Clinton told the News-Press. “That’s what the encouragement of mixed-use is [attempting], to get more money from our tax base. Now, we’re only 2.3 square miles. We don’t have whole corridors we can revitalize like Fairfax County...[They] can make a mistake here or there; we can’t. With these projects, it is important that they appease the neighbors and generate additional
revenue over their service cost.” Some residents perceive the City’s development direction is more reactive than proactive, where the City bends to developers’ demands rather than having developers abide by pre-ordained guidelines. But Clinton contends that to win over developers in a competitive market and shed a reputation of being unfriendly toward business, Falls Church has to grant exceptions to developers so that the City can remain relevant in a commercial sense. As time wears on and as the commercial investments mature, the dividends are paid back to the community. In fact, the City has already witnessed returns and facilitated tax dispersion from its recent economic development. Yet some older residents fear it’s not unfolding fast enough and current trends present serious roadblocks to the City’s end goals. Working-age professionals’ infatuation with mobility can make Falls Church into a pit stop until their children get an education. Furthermore, the growing influence of online retail and the propensity to work from home threaten to undercut prospective commercial and office develop-
SERVICES FOR SENIORS, such as Bingo at the Community Center, are exemplary for citizens in Falls Church. But if affordable housing options don’t become concrete soon, seniors could be playing their last game within City limits. (P����: N���-P����) ment in the future, challenging the economic outlook for the City and feeding a higher resident turnover rate. For seniors relying on bonds with long-time neighbors to help champion the cause for affordable housing, a more transient citizenry puts their interests in jeopardy. “We have some people that are very passionate for affordable housing, and then you have other people that probably won’t admit it, but don’t feel like subsidiz-
ing it,” Clinton continued. “It’s like any [public good] – it costs money and someone’s got to pay for it.” The path to a satisfactory resolution continues to be out of reach. Ideally, commercial development will boom with revenue, lessen the tax burden on all residents and make people more willing to pony up for affordable housing. But the current situation isn’t remotely ideal. Just ask the seniors.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
SUMMER 2017 | PAGE 15
T T R S OT H E BY ’S I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E A LT Y I S P R O U D TO A N N O U N C E K E N T R OT T E R H AS J O I N E D O U R A R L I N GTO N B R O K E R AG E
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ttrsir.com
PAGE 16 | SUMMER 2017
R EA L E STATE A Falls Church News-Press Advertorial
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Meet Falls Church’s Real Estate Experts B������ E����, L��� � F�����
Bethany is a hard-working, ethical and detail-oriented market leader in real estate. She serves all of NOVA and is now licensed in D.C. Bethany is a full-time real estate agent who will communicate with you and listen to you. Throughout the entire process, she will deal with any hiccups while valuing your input. From your first meeting until closing, Bethany will ensure your experience is enjoyable and seamless. Bethany’s goal is to build a long-term relationship with her clients so she can help you, your friends and your family, for years to come. When you are ready to buy, sell, invest, move up or downsize, contact Bethany. Her expertise and experience will help guide you through the complexities of the real estate market.
Bethany Ellis, Long & Foster, McLean Sales Office, 1355 Beverly Road, Suite 109, McLean, VA 22101 703-307-7003 • buyandsellwithbethany.com
M������ K���, M�E������� A��������� Falls Church City is my family’s home, and I have had the privilege of being a REALTOR here since 1970. My husband Art and I raised our children here and I’m delighted that my daughter Karin Kaye Morrison joined us in the business. I remain as passionate about serving the needs of my clients today as I was the day I started. And that’s because it’s not just about selling homes — it’s about selling the unmatched quality of life we have in Falls Church and being a committed member of the community. I served on the Falls Church City Historic Commission and the BIE, I was a founding member of the Friends of Cherry Hill, and am president of Historic Falls Church. For years I served on the Mt. Daniel Library Committee putting on Book Fairs featuring famous children’s book authors. I love Falls Church, and the fact that I have had the opportunity to serve many of my clients, and their children, multiple times is the strongest testimony that I have the knowledge and the marketing and negotiating skills to assure your smooth home buying or selling experience. It has been my privilege to have sold more real estate in The City than anyone. There is no substitute for experience and passion.
Merelyn Kaye, McEnearney Associates 1320 Old Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 350, McLean, VA 22101 703-362-1112 • merelynkaye.com
T��� M�K�����, K����� W������� As a resident of the Little City for nearly two decades, Tori believes a sense of community requires active participation, and she leads by example. She actively supports: Falls Church City Schools, Business in Education, Falls Church Education Foundation, Falls Church Chamber of
Commerce, FIRSTFriday/Art-a-Lot, Tinner Hill Blues Festival, Falls Church Arts, and Taste of Falls Church. Tori is also Vice Chair of the Housing Commission, a member of Business in Education, named Pillar of the Community by the Falls Church Chamber, named one of the Top Producing Real Estate Agents by Washingtonian Magazine, North Virginia Magazine, and for the 5th consecutive year, has been voted Best Real Estate Agent in the Falls Church News-Press “Best of Falls Church.” As a tireless Falls Church advocate, Tori has helped countless families buy and sell homes over the past 13 years. Tori puts her heart and soul into the Falls Church community and gets so much in return. When you’re ready to buy or sell your home, call Tori, your Falls Church expert.
Tori McKinney, ROCK STAR Realty, Keller Williams Realty 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201 703-867-8674 • torirocksrealestate.com
L����� M�����, RE/MAX West End Louise Molton is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX West End, a boutique firm that specializes in Falls Church City and the surrounding areas. Having lived in Falls Church City for more than thirty years and basing her real estate business here for the last decade, Louise inherently understands the specific needs of buyers and sellers moving in and out of the community. RE/MAX West End’s roster of outstanding agents with deep community ties enables us to keep ahead of our highly competitive market, with information on homes not currently listed and an ongoing database of buyers who want to move into the City. Our office is conveniently located next to the Hilton Hotel on West Broad; stop on by anytime for a current market update or for assistance with any of your real estate needs! We are also happy to provide our office as a community meeting place or drop off center for local charities; if you have a request please email the details to info@moltonrealestate.com so we can coordinate!
Louise Molton, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX West End 710 West Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046 703-244-1992 • louisemolton.com
C���� S����, K����� W������� A Falls Church REALTOR and resident, Colin has specialized in residential real estate throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. since 2007. With many years of experience as a Graphic Designer and in a leadership role in 4 and 5 Star hotel environments, Colin brought a firm grasp on high level proactive client care, and an understanding of design and aesthetics. Skills that have proved indispensable in preparing homes for sale, preparing marketing plans to generate the best results possible for home sellers, and in working hand in hand with his
A Falls Church News-Press Advertorial
clients along the way. In a time when many homes sell in the first or second weekend it can be tempting to sit back and allow the market to do most of the work. It is Colin’s belief that, even in this environment, a carefully prepared home, a carefully crafted marketing plan, and a hands on marketing launch can still make a notable difference to a home seller’s bottom line. As marketing best practices have changed over the years, Colin has tracked with these changes, adding a higher quality of photos and videos for selling clients and adapting online marketing approaches accordingly. EcoBroker® certified, Colin is passionate about the “Green Home” and energy efficiency movement. He also looks forward to doing more volunteering in “The Little City” with his wife and four kids now that the kids are a bit older! Keep an eye out for Colin and his crew around town, this summer they’ll be a convoy of bicycles and dangling swim towels! Please do say hello! Colin Storm, Keller Williams Realty Falls Church 105 West Broad Street, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22046 (c) 703-638-9144 • (o) 703-533-5300 • fallschurchliving.com
K�� T������, TTR S������’� I������������ R����� When you have a home to sell, give yourself the advantage of working with a Top Selling Agent who has strong ties to the Falls Church community. Ken is among the Top Tier of Falls Church real estate professionals, having sold Falls Church’s most expensive residential sale in 2016 at $2.05 million and second most expensive residential sale in 2015 at $1.75 million (based on data provided by MRIS). With more than 20 years experience in the real estate and legal industries, Ken believes in raising the bar in every transaction to deliver only exceptional service and top results. Due to his custom marketing plans, Ken and his listings have been featured in our hometown favorite, the FCNP, as well as The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, Curbed DC, and DC Magazine. Ken has lived in Falls Church for more than a decade and is an active member of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. Drawing from his experience as a former litigating attorney, Ken believes in making his client’s interest his sole focus in any transaction and embraces his role as a Trusted Advisor and Advocate for his clients. With a deep understanding of the local real estate market and community, Ken develops a custom marketing plan for each of his listings. Ken has access to exclusive high-end advertising that spans from hyper-local to international audiences. If you are selling your home, you deserve to work with the Top Selling Agent. So, contact Ken who knows how to sell your most valuable asset.
Ken Trotter, J.D., Realtor,
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 703-863-0650 (c) 745-1212 (o); KenTrotterHomes.com
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
R EA L E STATE
SUMMER 2017 | PAGE 17
Falls Church Loan Approval Rate is Highest in Virginia
BY PATRICIA LESLIE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Falls Church has the highest percentage rate of mortgage loans approved in Virginia, concludes New York financial technology firm, SmartAsset. Almost three out of every four (74 percent) submitted loan applications in Falls Church are approved, compared to Virginia and national averages of about six of every ten loans (60 percent) okayed by mortgage lenders Local lenders and real estate agents weighed in on the reasons for the Little City’s success and top ranking. “Falls Church has very sophisticated buyers,” said Keith Brown from Intercoastal Mortgage who’s been making home loans here for more than 20 years. In Falls Church, Brown finds “a much higher qualified buyer than what you see in other areas.”
According to Brown, Falls Church buyers are often repeat buyers who have money to put down on a house, which is important to lenders. First time home buyers without as much cash for a down payment are more likely to go out to Prince William and Loudoun counties which have better affordability and larger inventories. Amit Kaim, a lender for 16 years with George Mason Mortgage, agrees with Brown. Kaim noted that some condominium buyers in Falls Church come from million dollar homes which they have sold to downsize and move to properties worth between $600,000 to $700,000. From the sale of their bigger houses, these buyers may carry lots of cash which make them more attractive to lenders. Falls Church buyers often have dual incomes, high credit scores and lower debt to income ratios
than other localities, which signals a “go” to lenders. It’s also a matter of supply and demand. When there are multiple offers, a seller can pick and choose the strongest buyer which will be more appealing to a lender. Brown said multiple offers, which can be separated by only a few thousand dollars, are common in Falls Church and give sellers opportunities to be selective when choosing the best financially qualified buyer. Conversely, sellers in Springfield face more competition with larger house inventories and often only one offer to consider. Buyers in those localities are pretty well qualified, but there is more fallout with loans simply because there are not as many buyers. “Definitely, there’s a difference” and higher loan approvals in Falls Church, Arlington and McLean when comparing them
to Prince William and Loudoun counties Like Brown, Kaim attributes the high approvals loans in Falls Church to the strength of buyers who want to live here for the strong schools and proximity to Washington, D.C. Government jobs make a difference in incomes and make them noticeably more attractive to lenders. Neither Brown nor Kaim see much difference in loans approved in Fairfax or Arlington compared to Falls Church. (In its most recent analysis, SmartAsset says Arlington placed fifth in Virginia in percentage of loans approved at 70.98 percent and Alexandria, sixth at 70.84 percent). Buyers in Arlington “are just as qualified as buyers in Falls Church,” Kaim said, although you see more tear-downs in Arlington. Lot sizes are small in both places with little wiggle room for expansion.
Louise Molton is the principal broker and owner of Re/Max West End in Falls Church who described reasons for the high number of approved loans in a written statement: “First of all, Falls Church City is very small and it’s predominantly a neighborhood more than a city [which] attracts government and international families that are financially secure, and are coming here to work in good jobs in Washington DC.” These buyers seek “a nice community and schools convenient to D.C. and nearby job hubs and Falls Church is perfectly located.” Northern Virginia is “a very competitive real estate market and lending marketplace.” According to Molton, real estate agents do their homework to avoid problems that occur down the road, such as a loan falling through. Cathy Poungmalai of Frankly Real Estate has never had a preapproved loan for a Falls Church property rejected for a mortgage loan. She’s been selling homes in Falls Church for 15 years and credits Falls Church’s “small town feel” where students are within walking distance to school as a main draw. Plus, the proximity to the Washington-Old Dominion Trail and other regional landmarks is an advantage to living here. Most of Pougnmalai’s buyers are very well qualified, and to be sure, she has them answer a series of key questions designed to help determine their financial status which helps reduce mortgage fallthroughs. Another local lender is Burke & Herbert Bank whose director of products, sales and marketing, Terry Cole, submitted a statement: “As an active business in Falls Church we’re delighted to see reports that recognize the potential of the Falls Church community.” B & H’s mortgage team constantly tends to local customers and its criteria for making mortgage loan decisions is welldesigned to accommodate multiple markets. Unsurprisingly, the key factor in determining whether or not a candidate is worthy of being awarded a loan by B & H or any of the other institutions is based on the customer’s’ ability to repay the loan in full in a timely manner. “Our advice to anyone with a goal of buying a home is to pay attention to your finances. Solid money management habits are essential to building a strong credit history which is an important factor in loan decisions.”
R EA L E STATE
PAGE 18 | SUMMER 2017
Tysons Corner
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Residential Appeal Eludes Area’s Commerical Hub
by Orrin Konheim
Falls Church News-Press
Tysons Corner has long held a reputation as Northern Virginia’s most vibrant commercial and job hub while lagging behind in residential growth. A 2010 initiative for mixed-use growth from the Fairfax Office of Community Revitalization (OCR), however, is finally starting to come to fruition and changing the face of Tysons Corner. Since 2010, 27 major rezoning applications have been approved under the plan covering nearly 3.6 million square feet and 3,239 domestic units. This is part of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment adopted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2010 in anticipation of the Metro Silver Line’s 2014 opening. “We wanted to add density in support of rail, but we wanted it to be more of a mixed-use environment,” said Fairfax OCR Director Barbara Byron. As of July 2016, the Fairfax OCR estimated that Tysons has the capacity to support 21,000 and up to 88,000 employees. By 2030, OCR projects the population to increase to 44,000, employment capacity to increase by 59 percent from 2010’s estimates. The plan is intended to oversee progress until the year 2050. In 1961, when the plans for Tysons Corner Mall were first submitted, the area was a rural crossroads (of Routes 7 and 123) marked by an ESSO gas station and peach orchards. Since Tysons Corner was built in 1968 and the traffic along those roads became augmented through the completion of the Capital Beltway in 1964, the neighborhood’s rapid growth gained national attention. In 1991, Joel Garreau’s seminal urban policy book “Edge City” posited Tysons Corner as a new type of city with traditionally suburban roots driven by retail and office space. Garreau claimed that if Tysons Corner were a city, it would be one of the biggest in the nation in terms of office capacity. Additionally, the Washington Post reported in 2011 that Tysons had more office space than the metropolitan areas of San Antonio and Jacksonville, Florida (America’s 7th and 11th largest cities respectively). “Literally a rural intersection as recently as mid 20th century, today’s near incomprehensible assembly of autonomous shop-
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS has never been the problem for Tysons Corner, a booming commercial center in Northern Virginia. Instead, it’s getting those same people to buy into the residential units, like the Adaire Apartments picutred here, that are starting to occupy space in the area along with the established office and retail buildings. (Photo: Adaire Tysons) ping centers and office parks (and recent demand for housing) represents in gross amount of built space the 13th largest commercial center in the nation,“ read the syllabus to a 2006 Harvard University Graduate School of Design course focused exclusively on Tysons Corner. One of Garreau’s qualifiers for his definition of the “edge city” was having a bigger population during daytime than at night, which has long been an apt description for Tysons Corner which boasts five Fortune 500 Companies and attracts shoppers from all over the Mid-Atlantic. At the same time, the highdensity development hasn’t left a lot of room for the ingredients that fuel residential growth including cultural amenities, nightlife, convenience stores, supermarkets and walkability. “There’s a lot of world class office space that’s there, it’s very accessible for urban means whether via I-66 or the Beltway or the Metro,” said Dr. Mark White who serves as Deputy Director of George Mason University’s
Center for Regional Analysis. “But at night, if they want to sit and work where they live, they tend to want the amenities in an urban environment that’s walkable. The mall may have attractions but sometimes they want more than that.” Realtor Mimi Edmy Salazar of DiMaVi Homes agrees: ”In terms of millennials, a combination of the northern price point, congestion and there not being an abundance of fun activities will probably be factors they would deem not appealing in considering calling Tysons Corner home. But that could be changing.” If the experience of the newest residential towers are anything to go by, the potential for change has already arrived and looks promising. Alexandra Hartman, assistant community manager of The Adaire luxury apartments has reported astronomical growth. Her building, which opened in July of 2016 was budgeted with expectations to reach 95 percent occupancy within 18 months and they are on track to beat that with
an average pace of 31 move-ins per month. On the other side of Spring Hill Road, the Ascent Luxury Apartments, which opened in April 2014, is at 91 percent capacity for its 412 units. Dr. White describes the dynamic between developing commercial or residential spaces first as a “chicken and egg” scenario where it’s difficult to say whether the amenities create the residential allure or vice-versa. Either way, he predicts the region is changing in more ways than one. “If you have more residents moving there, presumably, they’re going to be demanding more services and as a result, there will presumably be more people there at night. You’ll get more retail broadly, then you’ll get some of your restaurants and bars and some of that sort that are likely to attract people,” said White. The area’s main obstacle appears to be traffic and walkability. The intersection of highways that made Tysons a logical point for a commercial hub 50 years ago has also made it undesirable
for residents because voluminous traffic makes pedestrian movement difficult. “While logistically appealing, the price point of the area may not justify the traffic hassles that come along with its proximity to the Beltway. The target demographic is more inclined to spend less on a house with more expansive property and live 20 minutes further from the congestion,” said Salazar. According to Byron, road improvements and pedestrian byways are created partially through development. When builders get zoning approval, they commit to a one-time contribution per square foot. And though residential development is booming, Byron advises that it will take time for the region to transform fully. “I was walking down King Street in Alexandria the other day and realizing ‘this is a transformation that took 30 or 40 years,’” said Byron. “This [work that’s being done in Tysons Corner] is the biggest transformation in the country and it takes time.”
R EA L E STATE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Real Estate
SUMMER 2017 | PAGE 19
Top Falls Church Home Sales
M a r c h - M ay
#1 $1,721,290
#2 $1,610,000
#4 $1,540,000 #3 $1,550,000 Top 5 F.C. Home Sales March 1, 2017 – May 31, 2017 Address BR #1 2038 Stephanie Marrie Dr. 6 #2 2218 Tulip Dr. 6 #3 2237 Beacon Ln. 6 #4 3441 Gallows Rd. 6 #5 110 Lee St. 6
FB
6 5 5 7 6
HB 1 1 1 1 1
List Price
$1,721,290 $1,610,000 $1,525,000 $1,599,999 $1,549,000
Sale Price
$1,721,290 $1,610,000 $1,550,000 $1,540,000 $1,507,000
Zip
22043 22046 22043 22042 22046
Date Sold 3/15/17 3/10/17 3/20/17 3/6/17 5/1/17
Source: MRIS, Inc.; Photos: MRIS, Falls Church News-Press
#5 $1,507,000
R EA L E STATE
PAGE 20 | SUMMER 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Falls Church Area Housing Market — 1st Quarter 2017 Report Zip Code
Area
Average Price
Number of Homes Sold
Average Days on Market
22046
Falls Church City
$683,582
56
51
22041
Bailey’s Crossroads
$356,704
48
63
22042
Sleepy Hollow
$496,988
71
57
22043
Pimmit Hills
$647,349
57
64
22044
Lake Barcroft
$406,550
32
58
Home Sales Vs. 1 Year Ago
Home Prices Vs. 1 Year Ago
Change in # of Homes Sold: 1Q ‘17 vs 1Q ‘16
Change in Average Home Price: 1Q ‘17 vs 1Q ‘16
+40.00%
Change in Falls Church City (22046)
-11.97%
Change in Falls Church City (22046)
-11.11%
Change in Bailey’s X-roads (22041)
-8.03%
Change in Bailey’s X-roads (22041)
-20.22%
Change in Sleepy Hollow (22042)
+9.14%
Change in Sleepy Hollow (22042)
+14.00%
Change in Pimmit Hills (22043)
-1.75%
Change in Pimmit Hills (22043)
+28.00%
Change in Lake Barcroft (22044)
-4.56%
Change in Lake Barcroft (22044)
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. Copyright © 2017 Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
NATI O NA L
Behind All Creation is Love
I have been a practicing Christian most of my adult life and to the extent I’ve been aligned with an institutional church, it has always been with a congregation of the progressive United Church of Christ. I often wonder why. In a conversation with a new friend recently, she told me that she lost her Catholic faith when as a child her dog died, and the next day she asked a priest if dogs go to heaven. “Of course not,” the grumpy priest replied, and the woman, then very young, never went to church again. (She added that a friend of hers told her that just recently the current Pope made a different claim, stating that animals can and do go to heaven.) I’ve had my rebellions with my FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS adopted church denomination, too. I originally chose the UCC while in college because I believed it allowed its adherents the maximum ability, and indeed responsibility, to arrive at “answers” through faith on their own. Having been exposed to fundamentalist religious strands that demanded loyalty to this or that creed or doctrine, I definitely preferred the UCC approach. So, with no formal churching in my upbringing, I actually desired an adult baptism, at age 20, very unusual for UCC churches. My initial experience that led me to seek that baptism came during my second year in college when I took a course in comparative religions. It was in the second semester, following a first semester devoted to a history of philosophy. In the religion class, we were exposed to all the great world religions, and I tried my mental hat on them all. Buddhism, Hinduism, Tao, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity — they all had a lot going for them, I thought as the class progressed. For the final exam, we were all told to take a blue book into a carrel in the library and were given two hours to write an essay on which religion we most preferred and why. None of us expected this to be the assignment. I remember vividly sitting there and thinking, and then beginning to write what I in no way would have predicted I might say. I chose Christianity and for what seemed the most unusual of reasons (at least to me). I chose it because it was the only one which did not try to conform its tenets to rational thought in the normal sense, but in its myths — stories of creation, the nativity and the resurrection — reached beyond the usual way of thinking with the astonishing proposition that the universe is governed by love. I became so moved by my own words that they became more and more impassioned, and by the time I was done, I’d converted myself! I subsequently became baptized and entered graduate theological seminary, where I graduated with honors, being the only New Testament major in my class. In seminary, I worked for three years as a youth minister at a UCC church in Oakland, Calif. It’s easy to get discouraged by hateful and prejudiced fundamentalists who claim that Christianity is theirs. They’ve been so aggressive that it seems to many who still adhere to a more loving version of the faith that we almost need to ask permission of somebody to quote the Bible or recite the Lord’s Prayer. For me, the points at which I tended to fall away from my church were when I felt it didn’t stand up strongly enough for social justice. The sermons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were a source of great strength for addressing this. Now, with a nation and world so torn by division and hate, my church is finding many, including many young adults, are wandering through its doors seeking an alternative, coming just as I did with no previous doctrinal religious exposure. So I am feeling more emboldened than ever to claim the Biblical tradition for love and all that forms the basis to bind, and not separate, humanity on this planet. The Bible presents a God who is far from perfect, but who is faithful to creation, and who issued it forth, including us, from the beginning by the power of love.
JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 21
Nicholas F. Benton
Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.
A Vote of Conscience & Courage Forget for a minute about partisan labels and listen to members of the U.S. Senate talk about why they work in politics. Rob Portman talks about a 16-year-old constituent who died of a drug overdose — and about honoring his life by fighting drug use. Lisa Murkowski talks about protecting children from fetal alcohol disorders, and Lamar Alexander speaks about premature babies. There are many more stories like these, and they’re not only for show. They reflect deeply held beliefs that senators have about themselves. Republican or Democrat, they see themselves as public servants — their preferred term for politicians — trying to make life better for their fellow Americans. Sure, NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE when they’re being honest, they admit that they enjoy the power and perks. But even with all the cynicism Washington engenders, senators still take pride in the high ideals of politics. This week, these senators will face a career-defining choice. It is not an easy one for many of them. Republicans have spent years promising to repeal Obamacare. Now the Senate is nearing a decision on whether to do so. Opposing the bill risks marking any Republican as a traitor to the party. By late Monday, enough Republicans were nonetheless expressing skepticism about the bill to put its success in serious doubt. Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Dean Heller of Nevada have all distanced themselves from the bill. But we’ve seen a version of this story before. House Republicans also expressed serious doubts — only to wilt after party leaders made superficial changes to the bill. The Senate bill remains alive until it’s dead. In the meantime, I hope that each senator takes some time away from the daily swirl of Capitol Hill to think back to the reasons they entered politics. I hope they understand that this bill is a test of conscience and of courage. A “yes” vote is still the politically easy vote for any Republican. But it is also a vote that will come back to haunt many senators when they reflect on their careers — and when more objective observers pass historical judgment on those careers. There is little precedent for a bill like this one. That’s why Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, kept it secret for as long as possible. Americans have often fought bitterly about how large our safety net should
David Leonhardt
be and about the precise forms it should take. But once the country commits to a fundamentally more generous, decent safety net, it becomes an accepted part of society. Poverty, disease and misfortune that had been accepted as normal became rejected as cruel. Once we stopped allowing 10-year-olds to work in factories and fields, we didn’t go back on it. Once we outlawed 80-hour workweeks at miserly pay, we didn’t reinstate them. Once we made health insurance and Social Security a universal part of old age, we didn’t repeal them. The Senate health care bill would be a reversal on that scale. Yes, Obamacare is flawed, and it needs to be improved. But the Senate bill would not fix those flaws. It would instead take away health insurance from millions of Americans — middle class and poor, disabled and sick, young and old — largely to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. Ultimately, the bill would lead many Americans to lose medical care on which they now depend. I hope the senators will listen to some of these people’s stories. The most affecting that I’ve read recently is about Justin Martin, who has overcome cerebral palsy to become a thriving student at Kenyon College. As the HuffPost’s Jonathan Cohn reported, Martin depends on Medicaid to pay for a wheelchair that helps him get around and for health care aides who help him in the bathroom. When history comes to judge today’s senators, do they want to have made life harder on Justin Martin? I hope the senators will also take the time to ask themselves why virtually no health care expert supports the bill. Conservative health care experts have blasted it, along with liberal and moderate experts. The Congressional Budget Office says it will do terrible damage. Groups representing doctors, nurses, hospitals and retirees oppose the bill. So do advocates for the treatment of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and, yes, cerebral palsy. I hope the senators will watch a two-minute video created by doctors around the country. In it, each one looks into the camera and explains how the bill would damage medical care. “This bill would dramatically affect my patients,” said Dr. Gregory Lam of Circleville, Ohio, “and my ability to care for them.” I hope the senators grasp the weight of the decision they face, for the country and for themselves. It takes only three Republican senators to prevent millions of their fellow citizens from being harmed. Which of them has the courage to make the right choice over the easy one?
CO MME NT
PAGE 22 | JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
Aging in place is a goal for many older residents who wish to stay in the community where they’ve worked, worshipped, raised their children, maintained their home, and their friendships. For healthy individuals, aging in place means continuing to practice that treasured independence, relying little, or not at all, on family members to assist when asked. But, if you’re not so healthy, reliant on family members as caregivers, and losing your independence, what can you do? Fortunately, there is a program available in Northern Virginia called PACE – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE is an innovative program that provides integrated healthcare and social services to senior citizens in a community-based setting. The goal is to keep senior citizens healthy and living in their community as long as possible. PACE provides a community-based alternative to nursing home placement for those who may require nursing home levels of care, but who may be able to continue to reside in the home with additional services. The InovaCares for Seniors PACE Program celebrated its open house on Monday in the City of Fairfax. Senator Mark Warner who, as Virginia governor, spearheaded bringing the PACE program to Virginia, was the guest speaker at the Inova event. Senator Warner alluded to his mother’s dilemma with dementia at a time when few understood or spoke out about the needs of families facing similar crises. Today, with the PACE program, qualified participants live at home, but are provided transportation to the center where they receive individualized medical and social services, including adult day care. Primary medical care is provided by a team of professionals with expertise in caring for
the elderly. The whole family can participate in creating a personalized care plan for their loved one. One participant’s daughter described how happy the PACE care team made her mother feel each and every day of the program, and how that same team responded to a middle-of-the-night crisis. For more information about the PACE program at INOVA, call 703/239-5888, or email pace@inova.org. The Art in the Mason District Governmental Center exhibit features photographs by local resident Rick Reda. One favorite is the Yellowstone National Park in snowfall, but also captivating is the photo of a bright green Dublin mailbox, a paean to tradition and simpler times. Mr. Reda captures both pastoral and iconic images, and prints many of his photos with pigment rather than ink. Visit the show weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale. Happy 4th of July! Tuesday is the celebration of the 241st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the creation of our nation. This year, especially, is a good time to examine our treasured democracy and representative government, at risk from both internal and external forces. Beyond the picnics, the parades, and the fireworks, let’s remember that the American flag flies over all of us, not just some, not just a few, but all of us, long-time residents and newcomers alike. It does not differentiate between races, faiths, genders, social standing, or wealth. All of us. Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
On average, 1 in 6 Americans will get a foodborne illness this year. You can’t see these microbes, but they might be there. Always use a food thermometer to check if meat has reached a safe internal temperature before eating.
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Congressman Beyer’s News Commentary
Celebrating LGBT Pride By Donald S. Beyer
We celebrated June as LGBT Pride month this year with hope, but also with anxiety for the future. Thanks to victories in courts and state legislatures, LGBT Americans and their allies have seen a substantial rise in government recognition and protection. Now there is a shadow of worry and fear in many communities. President Trump nominated a number of senior officials with checkered or outright bad records on equality. His administration has taken a number of steps that seem hostile to me, including changes to the census and White House websites, and rolling back Obama-era rules protecting transgender students in public schools. I share the anxiety of my constituents regarding the actions of this Administration, including those of the Justice Department led by Attorney
General Jeff Sessions. It has actively sought to minimize civil rights enforcement in federal agencies, and has proposed a budget that would cut funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. So what must be done to move the ball forward and continue making our society more inclusive? We can start this year by passing the Equality Act, which I was proud to cosponsor when Congressman David Ciccilline introduced it. This important measure, which enjoys broad bipartisan support in Congress, strengthens the patchwork collection of laws that protect LGBT people across the country by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual or gender identity. So many LGBT Americans face harassment or discrimination, not to mention the threat of job
loss, just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Passing the Equality Act would go a long way towards righting that wrong. June is a month which saw major strides forward: the rulings in Lawrence v. Texas, Hollingsworth v. Perry, Windsor v. United States, and Obergefell v. Hodges. Let us continue to commemorate the diverse culture that brought us to this moment in history, remember and honor those who fought, struggled, and died so that we could have these debates, and stand proudly with millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. Rep. Donald Beyer can be reached through his website at www.beyer.house.gov, on Twitter @RepDonBeyer or his office at (202) 225-4376.
Before anything else, we are all human. It’s time to embrace diversity. Let’s put aside labels in the name of love. Rethink your bias at lovehasnolabels.com
Our Man in Arlington
JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 23
In Arlington Circuit Court, By Charlie Clark neighbors cited a covenant requirA vacant lot and an adjoining home bear noteworthy “for sale ing homes to be “in harmony in — contract pending” signs where exterior construction and design.” Military Road meets the road to This “peculiar structure” devalued nearby homes, an appraiser said. Chain Bridge. After a scheduled mid-July set- The subdevelopment’s covenants tlement, that property in my boy- “should maintain the values of the hood neighborhood of Rivercrest community, and the county ceased will be the site of “real nice to do so when they granted Eustice homes,” I’m told by agent Timothy the building permit.” Furthermore, opponents said, Eustice had failed Clasen of RE-MAX Allegiance. The buyers know well that this to consult the subdivision’s lot in 1969 was cause of a national Architectural Control Committee. Neighbor William Gapcynski debate over property rights and told Life magazine his goal was to conformity. The sliver of land left over “retain the very pleasant, beautiful after the fancy subdivision rose nature of Rivercrest,” so the “only 7:00 ΑΜ up in the ‘50s and early ‘60s was remedy” was to tear the oddity originally part of a 10,000-acre down. Not tract used by the state forLastwidening PM all Rivercrestians agreed. Modified 9-28-2010 3:57 Colors In-Use Road. User As I reported Printer Output Date Rosemarie Rintels said Glebe for the Realtor ma-jsforza2 (3) 9s-exp260 titan 9-28-2010 3:57 PM Cyan a vacant, unkempt lot next door Yorktown High School newspaper Magenta Mechd By: TBD RTVd By: None Yellow in 1970, Arlington County autho- would do more devaluing than Black rized architect Brockhurst Eustice would Eustice’s creation. “The neighbors kind of snuck to buy the remaining 6,000 square feet for $5,000 to build a custom- up on me, and if I’d known, I might not have proceeded,” Eustice told ized home. Private, maintenance-free, with me in the 1990s (he had moved to a beautiful view,” was his plan for a farmhouse in Fairfax). The subthe skylighted, unpainted wood division boasted an architectural paneled two-cube home connect- review committee, but it had never ed by a passageway. Construction met, “so I had no one to tell my side of the story.” began in April 1969. Arlington Circuit Court Judge But five couples, led by nextdoor neighbors John and Florence Charles Russell sided with the Binford, complained. “It looked miffed neighbors, halting conlike a couple of boxcars with a struction before Eustice installed corridor in between,” Florence lighting or appliances. He ruled told me decades later. “Every time that as an architect, Eustice I stepped out of my house, I had should have been aware of covto look at this big wall with no enants’ enforceability. During Eustice’s appeals, the story drew windows.”
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The Washington Post expressed sympathy that Eustice “has tried to build something different in a neighborhood where conformity seems to have greater value than ingenuity.” Both the Binfords and Eustice received letters from around the country, and the case was debated in law journals. H. Rutherford Turnbull III in the 1971 Wake Forest Law Review called Russell’s ruling “one of the most outrageous cases of judicial meddling and misconstruction of residential covenants.” In September 1971, the Virginia Supreme Court rejected Eustice’s appeal. In 1972, he was forced to tear down his $30,000 investment. He sold the lot to the Binfords. Arlington setbacks laws have since loosened. “At the time, there was a principle at stake,” Eustice said later. “But I’ve mellowed over the years.” *** Two fine Arlington families made plans last Saturday to host birthday parties for their twoyear-olds. Both invited family and friends to Parkhurst Park, but neither reserved the pavilion. Did they fight? I watched as the two hosts warmed to one another, dividing use of the serving tables. The strangers of all ages mingled – they even joined in separately timed renditions of “Happy Birthday.” A little boy thanked one hostess for inviting him to the other kid’s party. 59, of no fixed address was arrested for being Drunk in Public.
CRIME REPORT
Simple Assault, 900 Blk S Washington St, June 23, a male, 52, of Falls Church, was arrested on two counts of Assault and Batter.
Drunk in Public, 600 blk Hillwood Ave, June 19, 02:19 AM, a male, 36, of Woodbridge, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Destruction of Property, 551 N Washington St (IM Autohaus), between 8 PM, June 19, and 10:45 AM June 20, a window was broken in a parked vehicle. Hit and Run, 6793-C Wilson Blvd (Eden Center parking lot), June 20, between 11 AM and 10:39 PM, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left
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the scene. Larceny – Theft from Building, 450 W Broad St #220 (Chi Wellness Retreat), between 8 PM Jun 19 and noon on June 20, a business sign was taken. Larceny – Theft from Building, 450 N Washington St (Northgate Apts), between 8:15 PM June 21 and 8:15 AM June 22, parts were taken from a bicycle located in the parking lot. Drunk in Public, 200 blk Grove Ave (West End Park), June 22, 4 PM, a male,
Hit and Run, 200 blk Poplar Dr, June 23, between 1 and 3 PM, vehicle parked on street was hit by a passing vehicle, which failed to stop. Panhandling, 6600 blk Wilson Blvd, June 23, a female, 54, of Falls Church, was arrested for Panhandling. Panhandling, 6600 blk Wilson Blvd, June 23, a male, 21, of Falls Church, was arrested for Panhandling. Destruction of Property, 1200 blk Offutt Dr, between June 17 and 21, the screens of two windows were cut. Hit and Run, 6700 blk Wilson Blvd, June 24, between 2:30 and 3 PM, a parked vehicle was struck by a vehicle which left the scene. OTHER ARRESTS A male, 44, of Laurel, MD, was taken into custody June 21, on an outstanding warrant from Montgomery County, MD.
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APPROBATION
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Whether or not Stuart was an honorable man, a good general, or a slave owner is not disqualifying. After all, George Washington, the father of our country, was all three. Whether the Civil War was about slavery, or not, is important, but not central to the debate. We should look to the 1950s, not the 1850s, as the community considers the name issue. The 1950s, when Elvis was King, McDonalds was a new burger joint, Ike was president, and massive resistance to school integration was alive in Virginia and Fairfax County, is when the school was named after Stuart. The name was selected to send an unmistakable message to Black students and their parents: you are
TO THE
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
EDITOR
not welcome here! It was selected to symbolize exclusion not inclusion. And it was selected to reaffirm our community’s worst fears and prejudices. For these reasons alone, it is time to change the name of the high school. Marty Machowsky Falls Church
Fixed-Income Citizens Overwhelmed by Increased Taxes Editor, Your recent article about the capital improvement plan identified two options with different tax impacts. Option 1 includes $120 million for a new high school, $13 million for city
hall, and $8 million for library improvements with a projected increase of nine cents on the tax rate. Removing the library from the equation supposedly reduces the rate to four cents. How can that be? Removing the smallest improvement cost to the plan reduces the rate by over half. The math just doesn’t add up! I hope that the council considers all citizens in this decision. As a retired senior citizen on a fixed income I feel overwhelmed by ever increasing real estate taxes. We were promised lower taxes with the increased density of commercial space in the city. The commercialization has happened but the taxes keep increasing! Diane Mularz Falls Church
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Almond-Crusted Chicken Tenders Will Be Your New Favorite Go-To BY MICHELLE STARK TAMPA BAY TIMES
I decided my almond chicken obsession was becoming a bit much. Whenever I needed a quick lunch, or didn’t know what to eat, or wanted to be kind of healthy but not go all in on a lame salad, I opted for almond-coated chicken tenders over kale slaw and sweet potato noodles from Fresh Kitchen. It’s still my go-to bowl, but I realized I should pull back a bit, mostly because it was not an efficient use of my precious funds. I am no stranger to cooking, I thought. And I could definitely make the star of that bowl, the almond chicken, at home. I tried a couple of recipes before deciding I liked the method from EatingWell’s recipe best. It uses sliced almonds and just a little bit of flour, and that’s it, to form the nutty coating. No bread crumbs required, making these tenders even lighter and crispier than I anticipated.
The end result is very appealing, a simple bite that harkens back to the chicken nuggets you noshed as a kid. It’s a great thing to make for a week’s worth of work lunches, good in everything from a bowl of rice to a crisp salad. Almond-Crusted Chicken Tenders will be your new favorite go-to. Honestly, I could eat about
10 of these on their own in one sitting, with little ramekins of ketchup and mustard nearby for deep dunking. My mouth may be salivating as I write this. Lately, I’ve been pairing the tenders with fresh, saladlike sides that counteract the hot, salty chicken. Here are my three favorites. All of these sides would also be appropriate for a Fourth of July
Almond-Crusted Chicken Tenders • Olive or canola oil cooking spray • ½ cup sliced almonds • ¼ cup whole wheat flour • 1½ teaspoons paprika • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 1½ teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large eggs • 1 pound chicken tenders • Whole-grain mustard and ketchup
1. Heat oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on the baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray. 2. Place almonds, flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until the almonds are finely chopped and the paprika is mixed throughout, about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in oil; process until combined. Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish. 3. Whisk eggs in a second shallow dish. Add chicken tenders and turn to coat.
$20 will get you a delicious and healthy dinner for two at any of Eden Center’s 25 restaurants.
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food spread. Sides For Summer Broccoli-carrot slaw: Shred some broccoli and whole carrots into a bowl. (Or buy a premade dry broccoli slaw from the grocery store.) Add 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine, and if the slaw is too dry for your liking, add more yogurt. Simple salad: Place 1 handful romaine lettuce in a bowl. Top with my new favorite addition to salad: pickled banana peppers. (I just buy a jar at the store.) Add
JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 25 any other vegetable you’d like, such as shredded zucchini, diced tomato or thinly sliced radish. Dress with something creamy; I typically mix mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese) with lemon juice and olive oil for a dressing that lasts the week. Cabbage and corn: This side has a real crunch factor. Into a bowl, shred 1 head red cabbage and 1 small red onion. Add two handfuls cooked corn -- I cut mine straight from the cob, but you can use frozen in a pinch. Squeeze the juice from 1 lime over the bowl, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer each tender to the almond mixture; turn to coat evenly. (Discard any remaining egg white and almond mixture.) 4. Place the tenders on the prepared rack and coat with cooking spray; turn and spray the other side. Bake the chicken fingers until golden brown, crispy and no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Begin checking at 18 minutes to avoid overcooking. Serves 4.
Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders. (P����: M������� S����)
Source: Adapted from EatingWell
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR COMMUNITYEVENTS THURSDAY, JUNE 29 Teen Craft Circle. Bring your knitting, crocheting or other needle arts to work on. Though this is not a class, attendees can troubleshoot problems and learn new techniques together. For Grades 6-12, registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703248-5034. Concerts in the Park: Flashback to the 60s. The Village Preservation and Improvement Society and the Recreation and Parks Department are hosting the 25th annual Summer Concerts in the Park series beginning on June 22 and continuing through August 3. The series features local musicians of various genres every Thursday evening. All concerts are free to the public. Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church) 7 p.m. 703-248-5077.
MONDAY, JULY 3
TUESDAY, JULY 4
Preschool Storytime. Stories and fun for ages 0-5. Drop-in. All storytimes are followed by playtime with the Early Literacy Center toys. Mary Riley Styles (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m. 703-248-5034.
Fourth of July Celebration. Celebrate Independence Day in the Little City with an evening of food, fellowship and fireworks. Seating is available at Jack Gambill Athletic Fields or the Northern Virginia Graduate Center Parking Lot. The event is free to the public. Blankets and flat-based chairs are allowed for seating on the field. Food and drinks will be sold on site from Margaret’s Soul Food Truck, Los Wingeez and others for lemonade and ice cream, but alcohol, smoking, glass containers, fireworks and pets are not permitted. The Darby Brothers Band will be performing live starting at 7 p.m. The best way to get to the high school for the celebration are the West Falls Church Metro or walking. Parking will be restricted within City limits near George Mason High School so that emergency vehicles can use residential streets. From 6 – 9 p.m. the following streets will
Playtime with Early Literacy Center. Explore educational and manipulative items (aka toys) to teach early literacy through play. Ages birth to 5 years. No registration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 703248-5034. ESL Conversation Group. General conversation group for adults learning English as a second language. Meets every Monday at the regular time. No resistration required. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 7 – 8:30 p.m. 703-2485034.
have parking restricted to one side of the street only: Grove Ave., Birch St., Spruce St., Offut Dr. and Falls Ave. Drivers are reminded that they should heed towing warnings in shopping centers and business parking lots; towing is usually enforced by the property owners or businesses. Parking also not allowed along Broad St./ Rt. 7/Leesburg Pike, Haycock Rd. and other major roadways in the area. George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Gates open at 6 p.m., fireworks start at approximately 9:20 p.m. 703-248-5077 (TTY 711).
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 LED Art at the Library. Art activity for children grades K-5. Registration is required. Registration opened June 21 at the Youth Services Desk by phone or in person. Registration is not accepted by email. Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). 3 – 3:45 p.m. 703-248-5034.
THEATER&ARTS
FRIDAY, JUNE 30 “August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned.” From the late August Wilson, one of America’s greatest playwrights and creator of award-winning titles like “Fences” and “Jitney,” comes this autobiographical tour de force. “How I Learned…” follows Wilson’s provocative, funny and heartfelt story as a struggling writer in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and how the neighborhood inspired his cycle of plays about the African American experience. Edlavitch Jewish Community Center (4545 East-West Hwy., Bethesda, MD). $30 – $51. 8 p.m. roundhousetheatre.org.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY SATURDAY, JULY 1 2 “Broken Glass.” A riveting psychological drama from one of America’s master playwrights, Arthur Miller. Sylvia Gellburg has suddenly, mysteriously, become paralyzed from the waist down, and her husband, a self-denying Jew, can’t figure out why. Set in Brooklyn throughout the rampage of Kristallnacht in 1938, this rare and gripping drama demands we
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confront our fears, our assumptions, and our anguish. Miller balances private and public morality in this astonishing and electrifying play about being American, being married, and coming to terms with one’s own identity. Edlavitch Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). 7:30 p.m. $67. edcjcc.org.org.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Brilliantly innovative, heartbreaking, and wickedly funny, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is the landmark American musical by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask that is “shamelessly enjoyable and furiously funny” (The New York Times). This genrebending musical sensation, with a pulsing score and electrifying performances, tells the story of one of the most unique characters to ever hit the stage. It’s about finding your other half; it’s the story of the origin of love. The Kennedy Center – The Eisenhower Theater (2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.) 7:30 p.m. $75. kennedy-center. org.
SUNDAY, JULY 2 “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The icon. His traitor. The most famous story ever told. Experience Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s stunning award-winning rock opera in a sleek, modern, environmental production. With the legendary songs “What’s the Buzz,” “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright” and the title song, Joe Calarco (Gypsy) directs this dazzling and fiery epic of celebrity, passion, guilt and salvation. Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington). $74. 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. sigtheatre.org.
Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $29.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500. Dave Chappell Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-2419504. EmiSunshine & the Rain, Annie Stokes. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566 Kentucky Avenue with Heartbeat. Iota Club & Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340. Justin Shapiro. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703-237-8333.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30 Art Daniels Band. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). 12 a.m. 703-237-8333 Dinorock: Favorite Dinos. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $12. 10:30 a.m. 703-255-1900. Dan & Chuck. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-532-9283. Vivian Green. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $45. 7:30 p.m. 703549-7500. Back to the 90s featuring Good Time Boys, Sex Type Thing, Cupcake and First Gentleman. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15 – $25. 8 p.m. 703255-1566.
JOHN MELLENCAMP will be at Wolf Trap in Vienna next Monday. (Photo: Billboard) Washington St., Suite F, Falls Church). 8 p.m. 571-327-2215. Roots, Rhythm & Soul Tour 2017: Harry Jay & the Bling + Roosevelt Dime + Jenna Lotti. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.
SATURDAY, JULY 1
An Evening with Last Train Home. Iota Club & Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $15. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340.
The Snake Farmers. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-2419504.
Dan Hovey Band with guests 83. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 9 p.m. 703241-9504.
Page Turner Adventures: The Mixed-Up Fairytale. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $12. 10:30 a.m. 703-255-1900.
Hera Music Festival. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $25. 4:15 p.m. 703237-0300.
SUNDAY, JULY 2
Andrew O’ Day. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack. (130 North Washington St., Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-532-9283.
Lyfe Jennings Night 1. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $59.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500.
Kathleen Edwards with Ken Yates. The Birchmere (3701
Redacted. Café & Townshend Bar
LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, FEBRUARY THURSDAY, JUNE 292
JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 27
Kindred (450 N.
Jon Spears Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. Lyfe Jennings Night 2. The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria). $59.50. 7:30 p.m. 703-549-7500 Jammin
Java’s
Mid-Atlantic
Band Battle #17 Prelims Night 1. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Wolf Blues Jam Weekly Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.
Braddock Station Garrison with Lisa Said and Crooks and Crows. Iota Club & Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8 p.m. 703522-8340.
TUESDAY, JULY 4
Dan Sachs CD Release Party. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.
MONDAY, JULY 3 John Mellencamp’s Sad Clowns and Hillbillies Tour, with opening acts by Emilylou Harris and Carter Carlene. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd., Vienna). $45 – $125. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1900. Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle #17 Prelims Night 2. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.
Josh Allen Band 4th of July Celebration Party. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5 Wheels of Soul 2017 Summer Tour: Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Wood Brothers, Hot Tuna. Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Rd. Vienna). $30 – $80. 7 p.m. 703-255-1900. Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle #17 Prelims Night 3. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 – $20. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566. Open Mic with Vernon Santmyer. JV’s Restaurant (666 Arlington Blvd., Arlington) 8 p.m. 703-5228340.
Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 200 Little Falls St., #508, Falls Church, VA 22046 Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.
PAGE 28 | JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017
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Public Notice PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF FALL CHURCH VIRGINIA BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on July 13, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following items: New Business Variance application V1591-17 by Andrew and Lauren Young, applicants and owners, for a variance to Section 48-238(3) (a) to allow a side yard setback of 12 feet instead of 15 feet for the purpose of constructing an attached garage and 2ndstory addition, on premises known as 615 Poplar Drive, RCP #52-605-024 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-IA, Low Density Residential. Information on the above application is available for review at: Zoning Office 300 Park Avenue, Suite 300W Falls Church, VA. 703-248-5015 (option 1) zoning@fallschurchva.gov This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
The City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 17, 2017,at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 to consider the following: An application by Railroad, LLC for a Special Exception (Resolution TR17-15) for a cottage housing development in the R-1A, Low Density Residential zoning district on approximately 1.25 acres of land, located at the east end of Railroad Avenue and comprising three parcels (Real Property Code Numbers 52-102-030, 52-102-031, and 52-102-032 [1006 Railroad Avenue]), known as “Railroad Cottages”. Application materials are available on the City’s webpage at the following link: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/1792/Railroad-Cottages-1000-block-of-Railroad Materials can also be viewed at the Planning Division, City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Room 300W, Falls Church, VA. 22046, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 703-248-5040. This location is fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities and special services or assistance may be requested in advance. (TTY 711)
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA The City of Falls Church Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 17, 2017 at 7:30 PM, or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, to consider the following: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FROM “LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (4.0)” TO “LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (6.0)” AND “TRANSITIONAL”; AND (TO17-01) AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, BY REZONING A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 51,454 SQUARE FEET OF LAND FROM R-1A, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO R-1B, MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AT 116 GREAT FALLS STREET AND A PORTION OF THE COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH PROPERTIES AT 308, 310, 312 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE & 103 WEST COLUMBIA STREET, AND REZONING APPROXIMATELY 26,845 SQUARE FEET OF LAND FROM R-1A,
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO T-1, TRANSITIONAL DISTRICT, FOR A PORTION OF THE COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH PROPERTIES AT 308, 310, 312 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE & 103 WEST COLUMBIA STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 51-103005 THROUGH 51-103-008, 51-103-023, AND 51-103-024), ON APPLICATION BY DAVID F. & EDITH H. SNYDER AND THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH
#BeUnderstood
Materials can be viewed at the Planning Division, City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Room 300W, Falls Church, VA. 22046, M-F 8:30 AM to 5 PM. 703-248-5040. 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).
We are pledged to the letter andspirit 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 th e hearing impaired call (804) 367-9753.
SOME PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS TO TRY HARDER. SOME KIDS ARE TRYING AS HARD AS THEY CAN. Learning and attention issues can look different to parents and kids. That’s why there’s Understood, a free online resource with answers, advice and tools to help your child thrive. Go from misunderstanding to understood.org.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Crossword
ACROSS
By David Levinson Wilk 1
2
3
4
5
17
8
9
10
18
23
25
29
30
32 38
42 46
33
35
39
40
41
43
44
53
54
55
49
56
57
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62
60 63
27
50
51
45 48
52
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31
34
47
58
13
22
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37
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19 21
28
11
16
20
61
7
15
14
36
6
64
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70
© 2017 David Levinson Wilk
Across
1. "The Price Is Right" airer 4. Spin doctor 9. "In my view ..." 14. "... ____ lack thereof" 15. 1978 Superman portrayer 16. Rolls-____ 17. Searchlight in comics 19. Queen ____ lace 20. What many feared 1962's Cuban Missile Crisis would lead to, for short 21. Feature of Wednesday but not Thursday? 23. Cousin of -trix 24. Areas between hills 25. Understand, slangily 28. "Ta-ta" 30. "Rats!" 32. Actress Jessica 34. No one in particular 35. The year 1550 36. Swimming unit 39. Ryan of "Sleepless in Seattle" 40. Suffix with winter 41. Opposite of WNW 42. "Selma" director DuVernay 43. "____ the ramparts ..." 44. Pitchers Darling and Guidry 46. Be part of the opposition 48. "Explorer" channel 52. NAACP part: Abbr. 53. TV producer Michaels 57. Defeat 58. Greeted silently from afar 60. Shish ____ 61. Nontext part of a text 63. "Relax!"
1. "The Price Is Right" airer
JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 29 38. A strong one includes a special character (see 17-Across), a number (see 63-Across) and a capital (see 11-Down?! Not THAT kind of capital. Look at the grid's center ... THAT kind of capital ...) 45. Pope with a Nov. 10 feast day 47. Stuck 49. "The Prophet" author Kahlil 50. Relative of euchre 51. "No problem here" 54. More bizarre 55. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff 56. What Montana was in the '80s 59. Big name in plastic 60. Olympic skater Michelle 61. Parapsychologist's study 62. Goat's cry 64. "More than I needed to know!"
65. Bareilles and Gilbert 66. Plant swelling 67. You can bank on it 68. "Top Chef" host Lakshmi 69. Eager as heck 70. Amal Clooney ____ Alamuddin
DOWN
1. Sign of neglect 2. Big and muscular 3. Nicole Kidman's role in "Moulin Rouge" 4. Automotive plural selected in a 2011 promotion 5. Coffee order: Abbr. 6. Org. that calls itself "the high IQ society" 7. To no ____ (fruitlessly) 8. Harper Lee's given name 9. Dry country whose name is an anagram of wet weather 10. "Stay!" 11. Doctor's diagnosis 12. High/low card 13. "Damn right!" 18. Tuscan tourist city 22. Sports-themed restaurant chain since 1998 24. Bug 26. Hefty refs. 27. MacLachlan of "Twin Peaks" 29. Actor Edward James ____ 31. Evil animal in "The Lion King" 33. The "A" of USDA: Abbr. 34. It's mostly nitrogen 36. Newswoman Spencer or Logan 37. NYC's 5th and Park
CHUCKLE BROS BRIAN & RON BOYCHUK
4. Spin doctor
Sudoku
9. "In my view ..."
Level:
1
2
3
Last Thursday’s Solution V E S P A
A T E A M S
S H I L O H
J U H O P S H A T N T A R E B E N C O D
S N J I E T N A Q A S T I R O W M E A Z E
M O O T U M S N A S S E R
A L L C D E A L Z A W A F U T E C U S S I L L E O M O O S T O R E A T A O S B O U N T S T O W A D A H A L I C I T E S H O T
D A Y O I R O N A C M E Z P B S N E A L O T T O I E S R O A R
N O R U S H
E N D O W S
A S H E N
By The Mepham Group 4
14. "... ____ lack thereof" 15. 1978 Superman portrayer 16. Rolls-____ 17. Searchlight in comics 19. Queen ____ lace 20. What many feared 1962's Cuban Missile Crisis would lead to, for short 21. Feature of Wednesday but not Thursday?
1
23. Cousin of -trix 24. Areas between hills 25. Understand, slangily
LOOSE PARTS
DAVE BLAZEK
28. "Ta-ta" 30. "Rats!"
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
NICK KNACK
1
© 2017 N.F. Benton
7/2/17
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
LO CA L
PAGE 30 | JUNE 29 – JULY 5, 2017
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Critter Corner
BACK IN THE DAY
laz y The dog. c k q u i fox sly p e d jum e r o v lazy the g . d o is Now time the all for o d g o to cows
20 s Yearo Ag
e c o mthe to of aid i r t h e re. pastu w N o the is e t i m all for o d g o to cows e c o mthe to
20 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press Falls Church News-Press Vol. VII, No. 16 • July 3, 1997
Stabbing At 7-11 on N. West St. A 19-year-old McLean man was stabbed in front of the 7-11 convenience store at 110 N. West Street in Falls Church Tuesday night at 11:56 p.m. Three young caucasian men, described by eyewitnesses as the assailants, fled the scene, two in a burgundy van with wood paneling and one on foot. Police reported the arrest of a 17-year-old boy yesterday, charged with malicious wounding in connection with the incident.
Falls Church News-Press Vol. XVII, No. 17 • June 27, 2007
It is no the timw e for g o all o cows d to go to the aid of the pa stu ir re. *** **
10 Year s Ago
Thr ow it up. Pour it up It now is the time for all go od cows to go the to aid
Tysons Re-Design Called ‘One of Most Exciting Opportunities in U.S.’ With the extension of a new Metro rail “Silver Line” from the East Falls Church station through Tysons Corner, and the construction of four new stations there, citizens and Fairfax County officials have an opportunity to re-design the layout of 1,400 acre area to make it more diverse and user, including pedestrian, friendly
Fa l l s C h u r c h
Business News & Notes Longtime Manager Hassett Takes Over F.C.’s Clay Cafe Studio After managing Clay Café Studio in Falls Church for 19 years, Gayla Hassett has purchased it from founder Helene Safford, who opened the Falls Church location in 1998. The popular pottery painting studio, located at 101 N. Maple Avenue, also offers glass fusing, art-intensive summer camp programs, along with corporate team building and party packages. For more information, visit www.claywire.com.
I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE a little guy that’s feasting on the McDonalds’ Hostas in their backyard. Give up yet? Here’s a hint, he’s found just off the center of the picture, but can’t tell you which side. It has to be a little challenging for you to find him! Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.
Body Dynamics Offering Free Classes in July Body Dynamics Inc. is offering free classes or use of FitRx for the month of July to first time visitors who attend with a member. Body Dynamics, which is known for physical therapy, offers a wide variety of classes including new ones such as daytime Zumba, stretch and roll, flexibility over 50, BDI Barre and myofascial release. Body Dynamics is located at 410 S. Maple Avenue in Falls Church. For more information, visit bodydynamicsinc.com.
Mosaic’s Free Summer Series Now Underway The Mosaic District has kicked off their summer series of weekly free events including Tuesday Stories from Strawberry Park, Thursday evening Yoga in the Park, Friday Night Under the Stars, Saturday Cartoons & Coffee, Stories from Strawberry Park, and its Sunday Farmers Market. These free outdoor events are scheduled through July. For information about these and other Mosaic events, visit www.mosaicdistrict.com.
Chamber Offering Discounts for F.C. Businesses Online The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce has a number of local business discounts available from its website. Go to www.FallsChurchChamber.org and click on Hot Deals for special offers from Dogfish Head Alehouse, Dogwood Tavern, Italian Café, Jiffy Lube, The Locker Room and Mad Fox Brewing Company. These offers are available to the general public as a service from the chamber and participating businesses.
Virginia Hospital Medical Brigade Recognized as Top Nonprofit The Virginia Hospital Medical Brigade was named “one of the best nonprofits” by the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Since its founding 15 years ago, the Catalogue has raised $38 million for nonprofits in the region while also offering trainings, neighborhood-based opportunities, and a speaker series. It selected 76 charities to feature in the print edition, 34 of which are new to the Catalogue this year, an additional 32 nonprofits to be re-featured on its website, and it congratulated ten on growing beyond its $3 million budgetary limit. The Brigade, founded in 1999 by local retired doctor Barry Beyer, provides sustainable community development interventions that improve health. For more information, visit www.vhcmedicalbrigade.org. Business News & Notes is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at sally@fallschurchchamber.org.
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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017 | PAGE 31
PAGE 32 | JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2017
For Sale
502 W Broad St #321 | Falls Church City
Beautiful & spacious 2 BD/2 BA condo in The Broadway. Gleaming hardwoods, private balcony overlooking quiet courtyard, 2 garage parking spaces, and 2 storage units. Fantastic location! Offered at $549,000
Happy 4th of July! For Sale
For Sale
7027 Haycock #G | Falls Church
2 BD/2.5 BA, spectacular two level condo that feels more like a townhouse. Huge patio, 2 parking spaces and Storage. Seconds to WFC Metro! Offered at $555,000
Pristine 4 BD/2.5 BA town home in Whittier Park. Many updates and shows beautifully. 2 car garage and walk to all that Falls Church City has to offer. Offered at $839,000
Steps to Metro!
Under Contract
2720 BellForest Ct #209 | Vienna
Lovely 1 BD/1 BA + den just steps from Dunn Loring Metro, and minutes to the Mosaic District. Offered at $250,000
Louise Molton
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
405 Hillwood Ave | Falls Church City
ct Contra s! y in 6 da
6909 Farragut Ave | Falls Church
Wonderful 3 level Cape featuring 4 BD/3 BA with family room addition and beautifully remodeled. Large flat lot and great Falls Church Location. Offered at $535,000
Under Contract ct Contra s! y in 3 da
1004 Broadmont Terr. | Falls Church City
Phone: 703 244-1992 louise@moltonrealestate.com
Under Contract
Lovely 4 BD/2.5 BA brick home on cul de sal in desirable Broadmont neighborhood. Less than a mile to metro and huge private lot. Offered at $800,000
1305 Seaton Circle | Falls Church City
Situated on quiet cul de sac in desirable Virginia Forest. Featuring 5 BD/3 BA, updated kitchen and master bath, three finished levels and large private deck overlooking landscaped lot. Offered at $830,000
710 W Broad St, Falls Church VA 22046 ~ 703-596-5303 Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
®
REALTOR
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Serving all of Falls Church, Arlington, McLean, Vienna, Great Falls & Northern VA markets. Take a look at my website- where you can search for homes, view my new Falls Church & McLean videos, and more!
www.buyandsellwithBethany.com If you're thinking about selling, contact Bethany for a free, confidential meeting.
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UNDER CONTRACT 2200 N. Westmoreland St. #531 Arlington, VA 22213 Beautiful 1BR+Den on the Penthouse level in the WestLee! Pecan Floors, High Ceilings, Granite Counters and SS Kitchen! MUST SEE! For Sale $405,000 or For Rent $2,100
SOLD 2230 George C Marshall #309, Falls Church VA 22043 2BR/2BA beautiful and open floor plan! Granite, SS, hardwood floors. Close to parking, year round pool & tennis courts. Super convenient to 495, 66 and Metro. Shuttle bus takes riders to WFC Metro from condo building front door! SOLD PRICE $358,900.
(Photo: courtesy of News-Press)
JUST LISTED 259 Gundry Drive Falls Church VA 22046
Completely updated 3 level townhouse in Winter Hill. 3BR/2 Full Bath/2 Half Baths, Open Kitchen, Updated Baths New SS appliances, HVAC & Hot Water Heater, Fresh Paint Sale Price $642,000
UNDER CONTRACT
2613 Claxton Dr. Herndon VA 20170 5BR/3BA home on large, level lot. Fox Mill Estates. Master BR suite and 2 car garage addition. Screened in porch. $529,000