July 8 – 14, 2021
FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE
FOU N D E D 1991 • VOL. XXXI NO. 21
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Controversial Op-Ed Puts F.C. Schools In Spotlight Board Candidate Writes in Wall Street Journal
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
The Falls Church School Board has found itself plunged into the angry national debate about the priorities of school systems thanks to an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal over the holiday weekend. It was penned by recentlyqualified Falls Church School Board candidate and City resident Ilya Shapiro, who was invited to write his July 3 commentary “The Local School Board is Unaccountable, So I’m Running for a Seat.” In it, he is critical of the City’s current board and Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan. It’s a debate that’s become far angrier than folks in Falls Church have been used to, with it escalating in Loudoun County recently when a veritable shout-
ing and shoving match occurred at a school board meeting there and one person was arrested. Instead, Falls Church has dealt with problems and controversies associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and the unanimous decision by the F.C. board to change the name of two of the City’s five public schools that had been named for Revolutionary Era founders who owned slaves. (The old George Mason High is now Meridian High and the old Thomas Jefferson Elementary is now Oak Street School). There have been grim externalities from this rising temperature that’s now affecting the Little City. A member of the Falls Church School Board has received a death threat from an unknown source, believed by
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THE OUTDOOR BAR at Ireland’s Four Provinces remains closed during the day because the pub can’t hire enough bartenders to staff it. (C������� P����)
Hiring Challenges Stunt F.C. Businesses’ Own Return to Normal BY MATT DELANEY
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
The past month and a half without any Covid-19 restrictions has been a welcome return to normal life for most people. But for many small businesses throughout the City of Falls Church, they’re struggling to
meet this revived demand the way they’d like due to so few qualified new employees — if they even get any at all, that is. “I’ve been in the business for 25 years, and I’ve never seen this,” said Kevin Scally, the manager of Ireland’s Four Provinces on West Broad Street. “As it stands right now,
this level of service is not what we’re known for.” Ever since the lockdowns were completely lifted roughly five weeks ago, it’s exposed how severely shortstaffed the popular Irish pub is in the heart of the Little City’s downtown. A dearth of bartenders has forced the Four P’s, as it’s colloquially
known, to keep its outdoor bar closed during times it normally wouldn’t, and a lack of servers has also affected the pace of food orders, according to Scally. The longtime manager has said he’s had to lower his bar for new hires just to get candidates in the door. While his preferred level of
experience is two to three years, he’s been meeting people who have anywhere from six months to a year in a food service job. A lot of them have been students either returning home from college or finding a job to fill their nonschool months. Scally did say that, once September rolls around, it’s “back to square one.”
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SEE STORY, PAGE 3
SEE STORY, PAGE 10
Signature Theatre’s “After Midnight” is a completely enthralling show with a brilliant cast. First performed off-Broadway, and later appearing as a hit 2013 Broadway musical, Arlington’s Signature is now streaming the show on demand.
The Mustangs football team had one of their winningest seasons in recent history during the Covid-altered “fall” season this spring, ending the shortened season with a 4-2 record and being declared co-champions of the Northwestern District as well. SEE STORY, PAGE 19
Falls Church is blessed with an array of ethnic restaurants, none finer than Fatouche’s true Iraqi eatery across the street from Birch & Broad shopping center along West Broad Street. Its warmed Samoon bread and mixed mezze plate are truly divine.
INDEX
Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 Comment ................................ 7,12,13 News & Notes................................... 11 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar .....................................16-17 Business News ................................. 19 Classified Ads ................................... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 21 Critter Corner.................................... 22
