8-20-2026

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 Founded 1991 • Vol. XXXVI N o . 28

Northern Virginia’s Newspaper

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

‘Democracy Thrives In Sunshine’

3 Responses To Virginia Village RFP Bid So Far

THE NEW & TALLEST

Up to 200 Affordable Units Proposed on 4.5 Acre Site

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Executive summaries are now available on the public City of Falls Church website for requests for proposals for the affordable housing development of the Virginia Village site on S. Maple in downtown Falls Church. The developer proposals range from those calling for the development of up to 200 units on the site ones proposing smaller alternatives.

The three submissions currently listed are from Homes for America, True Ground, and Urban Atlantic Development.

The City’s Virginia Village Proposals Evaluation Committee (VVPEC) is an ad hoc multidisciplinary committee representing relevant City boards, commissions, elected leadership, and professional staff serving in an advisory capacity to City Council. The committee will evaluate and rank Virginia Village developer proposals and submit its evaluation and recommended ranking of respondents to the City Council, who retain sole authority to determine final ranking of respondents and to select the top-ranked

respondent.

The next meeting of the committee is slated for today, Thursday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m. It will start in an open session. Follow on meetings will be held next Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 27.

Members of the evaluation committee include Falls Church City Council member Marybeth Connelly, Economic Development Authority’s Jim Coyle, Planning Commission’s Phil Duncan, Housing Commission’s Sara Silverstein Ferrara, and from the City staff, Finance Director David So, director of planning Matt Mattauszek and Deputy City Manager Cindy Mester.

Virginia Village is an approximately 4.5-acre site along South Maple Avenue, between Bowl America and the Tax Analysts building. It features some of the only market affordable housing in the City, with 20 four-unit apartment buildings. The City has strategically purchased several of the Virginia Village properties over time, with the goal of preserving and expanding the neighborhood’s affordability through redevelopment.

In a heated discussion of these proposals in an open session of

Continued on Page 3

Table Of

WINNERS

Contents Editoral Classads Calendar Critter Corner Our Man In Arlington

Page 6 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23

2026

BESTOFFC.COM Pages 7-18

THE NEW TALLEST BUILDING in the City of Falls Church is the senior living facility that goes by the name of The Reserve and that it still under construction, slated to open next spring. Its 15 stories and over 200 units offering a variety of degrees of elder care will stand about 150 feet above ground when completed, and as it is built on a rise over the Little City, it looms as by far the city’s tallest, at least so far. (Photo: FCNP)

Results Are In: Readers Pick Best of F.C.

by Nick Gatz

Falls Church News-Press

After 17 years of winners, close calls, and plenty of opinions, Falls Church once again decides who earns a place among the Best of Falls Church.

After 20 years in Falls Church, I

still can’t figure out how we fit all of this into 2.2 square miles.

The restaurants. The bars.

The coffee shops. The real estate agents. The doctors, lawyers, gyms, salons, auto shops, and businesses tucked into corners where you’d swear there wasn’t another corner left. Seriously, look at the City’s

business rolls sometime and you’ll understand what I mean.

And then there are the opinions.

Lots and lots of opinions.

I’ve been lucky enough to be here for all 17 years of the Best of Falls Church, and if there’s one

Continued on Page 4

PAGE 2 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Falls Church News Briefs

First Day of Classes Highlights Next Week in F.C. The coming week marks the official return to school for students in the City of Falls Church. According to the Falls Church City Public Schools 2026–27 calendar, Monday, August 24, is the first day of school.

Families can use the days leading up to Monday to prepare for the new academic year, review school schedules, organize supplies, and establish morning and transportation routines. Wednesday, August 19, through Friday, August 21, are important final preparation days for students, parents, and educators, although the school division’s published calendar does not list public student events on those dates.

On Friday, August 21, the City will host Sunset Cinema: Lilo & Stitch at Cherry Hill Park from 7:45 to 10 p.m. While not specifically a school event, it offers families a community-oriented way to enjoy one of the final evenings before classes begin.

On Saturday, August 22, the Falls Church Farmers Market will operate from 8 a.m. to noon at the City Hall parking lot. That same day, a public meeting on the City’s Urban Design Guidelines Master Plan is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. at Nicolson Hall at The Falls Church Episcopal.

Then, on Monday, August 24, classrooms throughout Falls Church City will welcome students for the first day of the 2026–27 school year – a fresh start for students, teachers, and families alike.

Summer Restaurant Week Starts Saturday in F.C. Falls Church is ending the summer with two celebrations designed to showcase the best of the Little City’s food, drink, and local businesses.

Summer Restaurant Week runs Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 30, marking the first summer edition of Falls Church Restaurant Week. Over 10 days, participating restaurants will offer special menus and dining deals, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to discover new favorites while supporting local establishments. The event highlights the city’s remarkable culinary diversity, with cuisines ranging from Afghan and Bolivian to Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, and more.

Diners can also take part in a Restaurant Week Passport challenge by collecting stamps at participating restaurants for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

Adding to the festivities is the second Little City Sips event on Saturday, August 22, from 5 to 10 p.m. Downtown Falls Church will become a walkable destination where adults 21 and older can enjoy beverages from participating businesses while strolling within the designated event area. The program debuted in June as a pilot and returns this month following its initial success.

Together, Restaurant Week and Little City Sips offer a perfect late-summer invitation to eat locally, explore downtown, and enjoy Falls Church’s lively community atmosphere.

Overdose is a preventable tragedy. Awareness is a critical step in saving lives.

By opening conversations, we reduce the stigma that prevents individuals and families from reaching out for help.

Together, we can address the root causes and consequences of addiction in our community.

The public is urged to remember and reflect by lighting a candle, sharing a story, or holding space for loved ones during this day of remembrance. The public is urged to educate themselves and others about overdose prevention and the importance of safe practices, such as naloxone administration.

People should seek connection and support: If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. You are not alone.

Social Media Campaign: Share messages of hope and awareness.

Resources for Support: Substance use and addiction are complex challenges that require compassion, understanding and accessible resources. If you or a loved one need support, please reach out.

George Mason High School Class of 1976 Celebrates 50th Reunion Event planners invite fellow George Mason High School 1976 graduates to join the reunion festivities. Beginning on Friday, September 18, the class of 1976 will reunite for four events over three days. The former classmates will gather on Friday, September 18th at 6:30 p.m. with a Meet and Greet at Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N. Washington Street. Events on Saturday, September 19, include a tour of Meridian High School (RSVP required), followed by a cookout at a classmate’s home (RSVP requested). The Reunion Committee is requesting a cash donation of $10 per attendee to help cover expenses. The reunion wraps up on Sunday with a picnic at a pavilion along the Occoquan River. Interested parties should contact Lisa Gilley Varouxis at lisavarouxis58@gmail.com and full details will be sent via Evite.

Public Office Hours For F.C. Council This Week The City Council offers evening office hours on the last Wednesday evening of each month. Mayor Letty Hardi and Council member Erin Flynn will be at Little Beast (119 E Broad) on Wednesday, August 26, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to answer questions and listen to feedback from community members. As this will not be a private setting, members of the community are also welcome to submit feedback by emailing the Council.

International Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31 On August 31, area jurisdictions join millions around the world in observing International Overdose Awareness Day, to remember the lives lost to overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths, and spread hope to those affected by substance use and loss.

This year’s theme is: “25 Years. Still Needed.” “Still needed” reflects a shared truth: overdose continues to affect people from every walk of life. Behind every statistic is a person – someone loved and valued. This year’s theme also points to something hopeful. Overdose is preventable, and we know what works.

In Fairfax County, the memories of those lost are honored, survivors supported and stand united in a commitment to make a difference.

F.C. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE members were welcomed to the Pop Up in the Eden Center for a lunch this Tuesday that offered a variety of foods, all very tasty. The center’s director Allen Frank and Graham Eddy were hosts for the event. (News-Press photo) (Photo: FCNP)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

AUGUST 20 -26, 2026 | PAGE 3

LOCAL

3 Respond to Call for Virginia Village Affordable Proposal

Continued from Page 1

Monday’s meeting of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority (EDA) at City Hall, Mayor Letty Hardi defended the decision to opt for greater openness and lack of specifics in the RFP call to enable the widest range of potential proposals to be submitted.

This week also, the Citizens for a Better City submitted another policy paper urging however many units get built on the site, that they allow for sufficient participation by families with lower income levels than usually accommodated in Falls Church.

Here is the latest CBC statement: For decades Falls Church has tried with limited success to meet the needs of affordable housing in the community. In 2021, the Citizens for a Better City and the League of Women

Voters jointly focused attention on this issue by hosting panel discussions on the past, present, and future of such efforts.

Notably, the forums took place amidst the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. The key conclusion was that there needed to be a major expansion in the amount of affordable housing opportunities, along with an overarching objective of bringing about increased economic and racial diversity.

In 2026, the situation outlined in the forums remains largely unchanged. Since 2021, 43 affordable housing units (those at or below 60% of the Washington, D.C. Area Median Income [AMI]) have become available and over the past 20 years the City has brought 204 units into its inventory. While these accomplishments were hard won, it is important that the vast majority of the added units targeted wage earners with

incomes at the 60% AMI level (about $80,000 for a family of four in 2021). What this meant then, and for the last 20 years as well, is the City has focused for the most part on middle income/ workforce wage earners such as teachers and public safety personnel. Largely ignored were lower income wage earners at the 30% AMI level ($49,170 for a family of four in 2021), such as retail/hotel workers, house cleaners, janitors, kitchen staff, fast food workers, and servers/ waitstaff.

Lastly, the City’s commitment to diversity and trying to address its legacy of segregation – notably, the late-1890s ceding back to Fairfax County of a large area where many African Americans lived – has been one of the driving forces behind the efforts focused on these items, including affordable housing. At least partly attributable to such efforts the

City has clearly become more diverse over the past 20 years; Hispanics, up from 8% to 11% of the population, are now the largest non-white minority.

During the same period, however, for reasons likely to include affordable housing, the African American population has been at 4-5%, with Falls Church commonly being viewed as the region’s least racially diverse community.

Recommendations: informed by our City’s history of affordable housing efforts, CBC recommends that the City Council: Act intentionally about who the residents will be as the Virginia Village project evolves. We strongly suggest the focus be on creating opportunities primarily for lower income wage earners.

Significantly expand the number of affordable housing units in Virginia Village, a minimum of 50% of which should be targeted on wage earners at the

30% AMI level.

Preservation: Seek extensions for existing affordable housing, such as the Fields’ 96 units set to expire next year. The City must continue to fund them adequately to ensure their AMI levels are sustained. Expanded affordable housing at Virginia Village should not be offset by the loss of existing units.

Financing: Prepare for the possibility that added taxpayer support could be needed to finance the Virginia Village units. If this need arose, we would actively engage to ensure such funding is available.

Diversity: Work to ensure that racial diversity is increased as a result of the City’s affordable housing efforts, including the Virginia Village Project.

(Hal Lippman is chair of the Citizens for a Better City, a former vice mayor of Falls Church and an elected member of the School Board).

PAGE 4 | AUGUST 20 - 26 , 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Best of F.C. Results Reveal Readers’ Favorite Businesses Across the City

Continued from Page 1

thing this contest has taught me, it’s this: Falls Church knows what it likes.

More importantly, Falls Church knows what it doesn’t like.

And it will tell you.

Every year we ask readers where they eat, where they drink, where they shop, who they trust, and which people and businesses make this little City what it is.

We’ve had repeat winners, newcomers, razor-thin races, and the occasional result that makes somebody call us and demand, “Who the heck voted for that?”

That’s part of the fun.

This year, 45 winners earned a place among the Best of Falls Church. And nobody made a bigger entrance than Stratford Garden, winner of both Best New Restaurant and Best New Business.

Two categories. Two wins.

That’s one heck of a way to introduce yourself to Falls Church.

And having sampled the menu

myself, I can personally attest to one thing: the lobster roll is delicious. If you haven’t tried it yet, put it on the list.

Stratford Garden’s two victories tied it for the most wins this year with two places that certainly don’t need introductions. Dogwood Tavern took Best American Restaurant and Best Bar/Brewery, while Clare & Don’s Beach Shack won Best Outside Dining and Best Seafood.

That’s pretty serious company for the new kid.

Falls Church is home to some of the best schools in Virginia, with Meridian High School recently ranked fifth in the state. People here read. They research. They compare.

They ask questions. That carries over to where they eat, where they shop, who they hire, and where they spend their money.

Being new gets you attention.

Being good keeps you around. But being named among the Best of Falls Church year after year takes something more.

You have to become part of the community.

Which brings us to Tori McKinney, once again named Best Real Estate Agent, while ROCK STAR Realty took the company honor.

I’ve never bought or owned a house in the City of Falls Church, but I can certainly attest to Tori’s professionalism and what she has meant to this community. She has hosted events, supported local causes and, maybe most importantly, shown up. Again and again.

And she didn’t win in a weak field. Falls Church is loaded with great real estate agents, many of whom I’ve been fortunate to know and work with over the years. That makes winning this category again mean even more.

That’s how you build a reputation here. You don’t announce that you’re a Falls Church institution.

You stick around. You do the work.

You show up. Eventually, the community makes that decision for you.

For 35 years, the Falls Church

Movie Review: The Brink of War

by Lisa Sinrod

This recently released PG-rated film, written and directed by Michael Russell Gunn (whose other credited work has largely been in television), dramatizes the 1986 Reykjavík Summit nuclear arms negotiations between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. It was released by Angel Studios, which is a somewhat unique American film and television company.

Angel Studios features work which is described as “values driven.” Although many of their productions have faithbased themes, the studio also produces historical dramas, documentaries and other genres.

“The Brink of War” focuses exclusively on the circumstances which led to the Reykjavík Summit and the summit negotiations and outcome. The audience appeal is likely limited to those interested in historical political dramas and/or the Cold War period. During the Cold War, the United States and its allies were in prolonged conflict with the Soviet Union and its allies (lasting from approximately 1947 until the fall of the Berlin Wall in

1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991).

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a dangerous nuclear arms race. Each superpower had amassed a vast nuclear arsenal capable of destroying the other. This global tension is the backdrop of the film, which quickly takes us to the beautiful and isolated setting in Reykjavík, Iceland, where the summit is about to begin. Jeff Daniels plays Ronald Reagan and Jared Harris plays Mikhail Gorbachev. Despite the makeup, it took me some time to accept Daniels as Reagan, although by the midpoint I was mostly about to do so.

Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”, “Mad Men”) as Mikhail Gorbachev was another story.

His performance is intense, gripping and convincing throughout, greatly contributing to the authentic feel of the high-stakes negotiating process.

The film, which was extensively shot on location in Iceland, makes the most of the country’s striking scenery, providing a welcome visual relief with excellent cinematography. The crux of the negotiations, which took place over a period of 48 hours, was to seek a reciprocal

News-Press has been part of that same community — telling its stories, introducing its businesses, celebrating its successes, and covering its challenges. And for 35 years, you’ve let us in. You’ve read us, advertised with us, supported us, and trusted us to tell the story of this little City.

We don’t take that for granted.

Maybe that’s what Best of Falls Church has really been about all along.

Dogwood isn’t simply burgers and beer. Clare & Don’s isn’t simply seafood and outdoor tables.

Tori isn’t simply somebody selling houses. They’ve become part of this little City.

Now Stratford Garden gets its chance.

For Stratford Garden, winning two awards in its first Best of Falls Church contest is basically the community saying: Okay. We see you.

Because the News-Press doesn’t decide the Best of Falls Church.

The community does.

We count the votes. Falls Church

agreement for the reduction of nuclear arms despite the disagreements the parties had over Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Despite the straightforward and somewhat dry topic matter of this narrowly focused true story, the negotiating scenes often played like a thriller and held my interest. The ominous tension in the room where the two leaders and their top advisors met was palpable. With acceptable dramatic license, the plot stays fairly close to the historic record, although it granted Gorbachev a command of the English language that he didn’t have. For the ease of the script, his reliance on interpreters at the actual summit is not shown. The film is dialogue-rich, providing enough factual context to help viewers unfamiliar with the Cold War follow the story without becoming overwhelmed.

My main criticism is that while the film successfully tackles a complex topic, at times creating an edge-of-your-seat viewing experience, it presents Reagan in an overly simplistic and positive light. Interestingly, the presentation of Gorbachev is richly filled with nuance and complexity. Both the script and the acting by Jared Harris make this happen, showing Gorbachev’s pragmatic and at

makes the call.

So congratulations to all 45 of this year’s Best of Falls Church winners.

Meet all 45 winners inside on pages 7–18. And to everyone else: start planning for next year.

There are 45 Best of Falls Church winners this year. Why not 60 next year? Help us grow Best of Falls Church. Tell us about the businesses, people, and places we should be watching. Get involved.

Vote. Make your case.

Because maybe next year, your name will be among the Best of Falls Church.

To this year’s winners: put the sticker on the window. Post it on Instagram. Tell your customers. Tell your employees. Tell your mother.

Brag a little. You’ve earned it.

Because if Best of Falls Church has taught me anything, it’s this: Everybody here has an opinion.

This year, these are the people and places the Little City agreed on.

Enjoy it. Because next year the Little City is voting again.

times hard-nosed negotiating style. Per the historic record, he was a committed Soviet who was also a reformer genuinely seeking a reduction in nuclear tensions.

Harris brings the Soviet leader’s contradictions to life, portraying him as both idealistic and pragmatic, yet politically calculating – a far more nuanced portrayal than the script’s depiction of Reagan as a president determined to avoid being labeled a warmonger. Daniel’s performance is good enough, but not superlative.

George Schultz, Reagan’s Secretary of State during the 1986 summit, is played convincingly by J.K. Simmons.

Accomplished actress Hope Davis gives an endearing portrayal of Nancy Reagan, capturing her reputed influence behind the scenes. Serbian actress Branka Katic submits a warm and spirited portrayal of Raisa Gorbachev. Without the quality cast, this movie would not have come to life beyond a recitation and history lesson. The film is praiseworthy for its thorough research, including the use of George Shultz’s transcripts. Adding to its realism, the film was shot on location at the specific seaside house where the summit took place and with the same artwork that adorned the walls in 1986.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 5

LOCAL

Teddy Bear Clinic at Inova F.C. is a Healthy Success

BY STUFFIE BOWKER

I’ve never been to a hospital before, so I was a little curious (and maybe even a little nervous) to attend the Teddy Bear Clinic held at Inova’s L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in Falls Church last Sunday. As it turns out, I needn’t have been nervous, but my curiosity certainly paid off when I met several wonderful healthcare specialists who helped make my visit painless and informative.

The hospital is part of the larger Inova Fairfax Medical Campus located at 3300 Gallows Road. The Teddy Bear Clinic has been held at Inova’s nearby children’s hospital in Loudoun for several years and this is the second time it’s been held in the Falls Church location.

Even before I arrived, I had some idea what to expect with my check-up, thanks to the advice of Susan Jarosz, a Pediatric Critical Care Transport Nurse at the hospital. According to Susan, the event would be “staffed with Inova Team Members across multiple campuses that have graciously volunteered their time.” The volunteers included nurses, child life specialists, respiratory therapists, physicians, radiology technicians, physical therapists, paramedics, and more.

That seemed like a highly qualified crew to perform my check-up, so I was pretty impressed!

My human guardian accompanied me and we were met in the lobby of the hospital

by Jamie Gentille, System Director of Child Life Services and Community Engagement.

Because I was a member of the press, Jamie graciously offered to spend some time with me before the event. She said she expected around 500 visitors to the clinic that day, and I counted more than 50 volunteers in pink or green T-shirts.

Next, I was taken to the Vital Signs & Assessment table where I was introduced to Gaby Shutler, a Pediatric ICU Nurse who

would perform my examination. Gaby took my blood pressure by carefully wrapping a white Velcro cuff around my right arm. It squeezed a little but didn’t hurt. My overly inquisitive guardian asked Gaby what the cuff felt like and Gaby said reassuringly, “It gave his arm a big hug.” (I can verify!)

Then Gaby used a metal stethoscope to listen to my heart and lungs. As she performed the exam, she told me in a soothing voice, “Take a deep breath, relax.” My exam was quick and painless and Gaby told me that everything sounded healthy.

The event began at 10 a.m. at the hospital’s Playground Entrance. Visitors first stopped at a registration table where they could pick up a pamphlet that listed all of the check-up stations. Stuffed animals were also available for adoption here.

Visitors were then routed into the lobby of the hospital where the check-up stations were arranged on long tables side-by-side. The following stations were available: Vital Signs & Assessment, IV Placement, Vaccination, Imaging, Splint, Respiratory, Surgery & Anesthesia, and Sutures & Staples.

I was amazed by all of the equipment at the event. The Imaging station had an impressive portable X-ray machine. Patients were placed on a flat mat on the table and the machine had a long arm with a box that hovered over the patient and took a picture. This station also had an MRI bed that was small enough for a teddy bear like me! The Surgery & Anesthesia station had a variety of oxygen masks in different sizes so that each patient could find one with a comfortable fit.

There were lots of children and accompanying adults and a wide range of stuffed companions being examined, including pandas, dogs, cats, tigers, and penguins. I even saw a shark! There were a lot of exams taking place around me though I was careful not to eavesdrop. People and stuffed animals like to have privacy when they are meeting with their doctors. I can say, however, that everyone seemed very happy to be there and all of the stuffed animals seemed to be very comfortable during their exams. I think that says a lot about the quality of the people who work at the hospital. They know how to put their patients at ease, whether that patient is a child, or a teddy bear, or a shark. Each one of us is unique. And it’s nice to be treated that way by our doctors.

The event also featured an Inova Children’s Critical Care Ambulance and two medic units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. They were parked in front of the hospital so that people and stuffed animals could climb in and look around.

I asked Jamie for some advice for new patients like me, as well as human patients, who need to go to the hospital. She said, “Ask questions. There are a lot of helpers at the hospital here to help you feel better.” She said the Teddy Bear Clinic was a great way for children to feel more comfortable visiting a doctor themselves because they felt empowered during their own stuffed animal’s exam.

I saw that firsthand, as children were allowed to choose which station to visit and which exams their stuffed animals underwent. That first visit “might be hard,” Jamie said, “but we’re all here to help.”

If you have a chance to visit one of Inova’s Teddy Bear Clinics, I highly recommend the experience for both children and their stuffed companions. As Susan had explained to me,

“The Teddy Bear Clinic gives children a chance to meet their healthcare team before they need them. By exploring medical equipment, practicing on their stuffed animal, and learning tools to ease pain and anxiety during vaccinations and procedures, children build confidence that can last longer after playtime is over.”

Inova succeeded well in this goal. Susan herself has also seen the rewards of this clinic.

She told me, “This was very evident when we had a young school-aged patient come and before we needed to do one of our procedures, the child says, I know what to do, my Teddy had to do this at the Teddy Hospital.”

Next time I have a check-up, I’ll know what to do too, thanks to the Teddy Bear Clinic.

Pediatric ICU Nurse Gaby Shutler examines Stuffie during INOVA’s Teddy Bear Clinic.

(Photo: Amy Bowker)

6795 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22044

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PAGE 6 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

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

Vol. XXXVI, No. 28 AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 • City of Falls Church ‘Business of the Year’ 1991 & 2001 • • Member, Virginia Press Association •

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The Bending Of Time

For some reason plodding through this month of August 2026 has seemed to us more arduous than usual. We know that time, itself, is flexible, ultimately governed by other factors. It seems to move from one standpoint very quickly and from another at a snail’s pace. Usually by the end of the year, the assessment is that the previous 12 months flew by, and every year more quickly than the previous ones.

So, at one moment it seems to race, at another, to almost stand still. At some point we may gain further insight into this process. But August 2026 so far appears to be crawling at a very slow pace. Readers are encouraged to share their experiences. Still, it is making it, apparently, toward Labor Day weekend in early September. Not that anything unusually bad has happened, not yet anyway, but an extreme, but not unheard of case, came when we were particularly exhausted one evening and fell fast asleep, only to awaken with the idea that an entire night’s time had passed when, in fact, it was still the previous evening.

So, thinking it was predawn, we became flummoxed when outside it continued in darkness when the sun should have been coming up. Only after a while of this did we think something more was amiss, and indeed the unsettling discovery was made that we’d been asleep. At times like this, it feels like less than the full night’s sleep we though.

It’s possible that we’d actually been transported during that period to another reality altogether and then brought back to be fit back into the current time zone. So what happened when we were gone? Nothing too extraordinary that we could tell right off. So, if someone is actually causing these distorted events and time warps to occur, they got away with this one.

Nothing would really surprise us about any of this, however. Given the age of the universe and the billions of years it has taken human beings on Planet Earth to get to this point, it cannot surprise us that alternative intelligent life forms even just a few million years ahead of us have mastered technologies that appear downright mystifying to us, including the ability to manipulate time such that, almost by definition, the speed of light is no longer an absolute limit to anything.

So, stay alert and stay tuned.

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AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 7

BEST OF FC

WINNER 2026

BESTOFFC.COM

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2026 For the seventeenth consecutive year, Falls Church News-Press readers filled out ballots and cast their votes to support their favorite places to eat, drink, shop and more in and around The Little City.

This year, 45 winners have been selected in categories representing the City’s best purveyors of food, drink, retail services and more. On the following pages, you’ll find many repeat winners along with many first-timers, hoping to start a “Best Of” win streak of their own.

Read on for all of your selections in the News-Press’ 2026 Best of Falls Church.

American

International

Brunch

Dogwood Tavern

Ireland’s Four Provinces

105 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Northside Social 205 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: The Falls, Cafe Kindred, Harvey’s, Lazy Mikes

RUNNERS-UP: Lucky Thai, Borek G, Maneki Neko, OneTea Taiwanese Cafe & Tea House

RUNNERS-UP: Godfrey’s, Cafe Kindred, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Harvey’s

132 W Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

PAGE 8 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

Treats and Sweets

Burger

Asian

Bake Shop 100 E. Fairfax St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Five Guys 913 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Lucky Thai 240 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Lil City Creamery, Paris Baguette, OneTea Taiwanese Cafe & Tea House

RUNNERS-UP: Ireland’s Four Provinces, Elevation Burger, Harvey’s, Stratford

RUNNERS-UP: Maneki Neko, Nue, Banh Mi Oi, RH Bistro

Outside Dining

New Restaurant

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack 130 N. Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22044

RUNNERS-UP: Stratford, Dogwood Tavern, Godfrey’s, Banh Mi Oi

Stratford Garden 300 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Fish Taco, My Home Thai, Little Beast

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Bar/Brewery:

Dogwood Tavern

132 W Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Ireland’s Four Provinces, Solace, Dominion, Audacious Aleworks

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FC

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 9

PAGE 10 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Pizza

Vegetarian

Seafood

Badd Pizza 346 W. Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Haandi Indian Cuisine 1222 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack 130 N. Washington St, Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP: Paisanos, Flippin, Little Beast, 10 Pizza

RUNNERS-UP: Lucky Thai, Saffron, Banh Mi Oi, Loving Heart

RUNNERS-UP: Fish Taco, Chasin Tails, Borek-G

Sandwich

Gluten-Free Menu

Best Latin

Lazy Mike’s 7049 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22046

The Happy Tart 410 S Maple Ave #110, Falls Church, VA 22046

Taco Bamba 2190 Pimmit Dr, Falls Church, VA 22043

RUNNERS-UP: Dogwood, Banh Mi Oi, Cafe Kindred, Borek-G

RUNNERS-UP: Clare and Dons, Harvey’s, OneTea Taiwanese Cafe & Tea House, Borek-G

RUNNERS-UP: La Tingeria, Super Chicken, Helena’s, Borek-G

2026

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BEST OF FC

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 11

PAGE 12 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Group

Home Improvement

Tori McKinney 2111 Wilson Blvd, Ste. 1050, Arlington, VA 22201

ROCK STAR realty group 2111 Wilson Blvd, Ste. 1050, Arlington, VA 22201

Botanologica 817 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Kelly Thompson, Susan Tull O’Reilly, RUNNER-UP: Keller Williams FC Bethany Ellis, Chris Earman

RUNNERS-UP: Home Depot, Foxcraft, DuBro Architects and Builders

Retirement Community

Live Entertainment

New Business

Kensington 700 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

State Theatre 220 North Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Stratford Garden 300 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNER-UP: Chesterbrook Residences

RUNNERS-UP: Creative Cauldron, JVs Restaurant, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Clare and Don’s Beach Shack

RUNNERS-UP: CoCo, Little Beast, The Barberhan, Mane Edit

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FC

stratfordgarden.com

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 13

PAGE 14 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Builder

Gym/Fitness

Nail/Day/Skin Spa

Zimmermann Homes Falls Church, VA

KiPS Family Gymnastics 7395 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042

Rex Day Spa

510 S. Washington St., Ste B, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNERS-UP: Foxcraft, Schroeder Design Build, DuBro Architects and Builder,

RUNNER-UP: OneLife, Alloy Personal Training, Balanced Female Fitness

RUNNERS-UP: Grace Nails, Lee Nails & Spa, Nail Bonita, Skin Lab Med Spa

Specialty Store

Private School

Physical Therapists

Doodlehopper 4 Kids 234 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

The Falls Church Episcopal Day School 115 E Fairfax St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Bodies in Motion 80 E. Jefferson St Ste. 200, Falls Church, VA

RUNNER-UP: Stylish Patina, Botanologica, Antique Annex

RUNNERS-UP: St. James, Congressional, Bishop O’Connell, Levine School of Music

RUNNERS-UP: Artizo: Exclusive Men’s Pelvic Health Physical Therapy

THANK YOU!!!

We're honored to be chosen as Best PT Clinic of Falls Church in 2026!

Falls Church Clinic 80 E. Jefferson St., Suite 200 Falls Church, VA 22046 T: 703-237-2000 F: 703-237-2155 fallschurch@bodiesinmotionpt.com Mon - Thurs: 7:00am - 7:00pm; Fri: 7:00am - 3:00pm

www.bodiesinmotionpt.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FC

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 15

Thank You For Voting Spectrum Cleaners Best Dry Cleaners 2026!

2026 “We’re truly honored and incredibly grateful to be named Best of Falls Church Cleaners once again!

This recognition means so much to us because it reflects the hard work, care, and dedication our entire team puts into what we do every day. We’re so proud of our amazing team and the pride they take in providing the highest standard of cleaning and service to our customers.

A huge thank you to the newspaper for recognising our work, and an even bigger thank you to all of our wonderful customers for continuing to trust and support us. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a supportive community.

Thank you for choosing us, supporting our small business, and helping us earn this honour once again. We truly couldn’t do it without you!”

Owner: Yeon Mee Lee

703-237-2889 450 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

PAGE 16 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Garden Services

Orthodontist

Doctors

Merrifield Garden 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030

Drs. Berman & Masoud 311 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046

Capital Area Pediatrics

407 N. Washington Street, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA

RUNNERS-UP: Botanologica, Hambleton, Darling Lawn Service, Hall’s Landscaping

RUNNER-UP: Dr. Gottlieb, Dr. Maull, Elizabeth Jones- Merrifield Orthodontics

RUNNERS-UP: Point of View Eyewear, Bridget Casadaban OBGYN, Abby Evans, Dr. Terri Remy

Therapist

Professional Services

Dentist

Amy Clay 124 D E. Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Falls Church Wellness Center 520 N. Washington St, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA

Nova Premier Dental-Dr. Peterson Huang 313 Park Ave #306, Falls Church, VA

RUNNER-UP: Think Happy Live Healthy, Expand Psychology, Sunstone

RUNNERS-UP: Point of View Eyewear, BlueHuki RUNNERS-UP: Drs. Love & Miller, LP Dental, Group, Diener & Associates CPAs, Neat Financial Planning Dr. William V. Dougherty

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FC

Bank

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 17

Property Management

Camp

Winfield 234 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046

Creative Cauldron 127 E Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Truist 3030 Annandale Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042

RUNNERS-UP: Bozzuto, Globetrotter

RUNNER-UP: KiPS Family Gymnastics, Congo, Battle Camp, Aerials Gymnastics Camp

RUNNERS-UP: Burke and Herbert, Wells Fargo, Apple FCU, Chase

Yoga - Teacher

Yoga - Studio

Buy Local Art

Jenny Mayo Mind & Movement .jennymayomindandmove.com

Karma Yoga 246-A W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Falls Church Arts Gallery 700-B W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

RUNNER-UP: Cindy Wargo

RUNNERS-UP: Balanced Female Fitness, Hot Yoga Tysons

RUNNERS-UP: Stylish Patina, Botanologica, Art and Frame Falls Church, Antique Annex

The Winfield Group Inc.

Thank You, Falls Church!

WINNER 2026

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PAGE 18 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

BEST OF FC

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Hair Salon

Barbershop

Dry Cleaners

Nash Hair Design 100 A E Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Father & Son Barber Shop 242 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Spectrum Cleaners 450 W Broad St, Suite 130, Falls Church, VA

RUNNERS-UP: Perfect Endings, Rooted Mane, CJ Beauty Hair Salon, Mane Edit

RUNNER-UP: Neighborhood Barbershop, Neo, The Barberhan, Golden Blade

RUNNERS-UP: Hillwood Cleaners, Classic Cleaners

Accountant

Pet Services

Architect

Diener & Associates 125 Rowell Ct, Falls Church, VA 22046

Dude’s Dog House & Spa

Moore Architects 105 North Maple Ave, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA

RUNNER-UP: Arden Financial

RUNNERS-UP: Falls Church Animal Hospital, Dogtopia, Barkley Square

RUNNERS-UP: Lee Design, Jeff Dubro

Nash Hair Design

7257 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22046

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

We All ‘Shall Be Released’ Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

It’s the dog days of summer, so it’s okay for me to step back for a week or so and reflect on one of my favorite songs, Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.”

There are some songs that seem to belong to a particular time and place, and others that somehow escape those limitations altogether. “I Shall Be Released” is one of the latter.

Written by Dylan in 1967, it has endured because its message is as simple as it is profound: We may be confined, we may suffer, we may be subjected to injustice, but none of those conditions need be the final word.

The title itself sounds like the declaration of a prisoner.

Yet, as with so much of Dylan’s best work, exactly what kind of prison he is talking about is never made clear.

It could be an actual prison, of course. But it could just as easily be the prison of political or social oppression, of loneliness, grief, guilt or despair. It can also be understood in spiritual terms, as the longing for redemption and liberation from the burdens of this life.

Perhaps that is why the song has always had such universal appeal. Almost everyone, sooner or later, knows something about feeling trapped.

The song’s great image is that of a light shining from far away. The singer is not free yet. That is the important thing.

He does not announce that his troubles are over. He sees the possibility of freedom while he remains confined.

There is an enormous difference between those two things.

Hope is easy enough when everything is going well. It is something else entirely when it persists in the midst of suffering. That is where this song gets its power. Its promise is not that life will be without injustice or pain, but that neither injustice nor pain has the last word.

There is something almost biblical about it, which helps explain why “I Shall Be Released” can sound so much like an old spiritual or gospel hymn. The freedom being anticipated seems to come from somewhere beyond the immediate circumstances of the singer. It is visible, but still distant.

Dylan also refuses to make the song simply about one man’s suffering. There are other prisoners, other people being judged, blamed and punished. The singer is surrounded by suffering, which makes his insistence upon eventual liberation all the more remarkable.

Is the ultimate “release” death? It certainly can be heard that way. But I don’t think it has to be. Release can be freedom from oppression, from despair, from fear, from alienation or from any of the countless things that imprison human beings without ever putting bars on the windows.

That ambiguity is essential to the song. Dylan doesn’t tell us what our prison is, nor precisely what our release will look like. He leaves that part to us.

And maybe that is why, nearly 60 years later, people are still singing it.

We live in another period when it can be difficult to see the light coming from very far away. There is plenty in the world to make people feel confined, discouraged or powerless. There always has been.

But the remarkable thing about Dylan’s song is that its narrator never accepts his present circumstances as permanent.

He does not say he might be released.

He says he shall be.

There is faith in that little word “shall.” There is defiance in it, too.

For all the prisons human beings build for themselves and for one another, there remains the possibility of something beyond them. Freedom may be distant. Justice may be delayed.

The light may sometimes seem impossibly far away.

Still, it shines.

And, in the end, we all shall be released.

COMMENT

A Penny for Your Thoughts

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 19

By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor

In 1997, when Nick Benton suggested that I write a weekly column for the Falls Church News-Press, I asked Vic Gold, a Mason District constituent and Washingtonian columnist, for advice. He said I should do it but have someone else write it since I would be too busy to do it myself. I heeded half of his advice, but decided that, if my name was on the column, I should write it myself. A quarter-century later, I had written 1300 columns, or about 750,000 words!

When Nick asked me to continue writing my weekly column after I retired as Mason District Supervisor, I had planned to cover a broader range than just Fairfax County. I warned Nick that many of my filings would be political since elective politics was my career for decades, but I always had enjoyed reading local columnists like Charlie Clark of this paper, John Kelly of The Washington Post, and Bob Welch of the Eugene (Oregon) RegisterGuard. Their local interest columns had touches of humor, pathos, and the occasional head scratch, but always enlightening.

Maybe I could do the same.

I am not a journalist. I never worked on a school or college

newspaper, never took classes about research, asking the right questions, or writing on deadline. I observed the work of many outstanding journalists who interviewed my employers on the Hill but never considered that anyone might interview me – until I became an elected official myself. In the 1990s, before social media became so pervasive, The Washington Post assigned new young reporters to cover Board of Supervisors meetings in person. That’s how Peter Baker, Eric Lipton, Michael Shear, and Lisa Rein, most with The New York Times now, honed their skills – in Fairfax County! Eric Lipton was an especially dogged reporter, buttonholing supervisors in the hallway behind the board auditorium in pursuit of a story. During one stressful personnel issue, I ducked into the ladies’ room; he wouldn’t dare try to question me there!

A student in a writing class at George Mason University once asked me to describe my column writing process. That stumped me because I usually just sat down at my computer and tried to write about whatever was happening at the Board of Supervisors that week.

Sometimes the words flowed, but other times I bored myself when my prose wasn’t very interesting. Nonetheless, I had to have 500 words to Nick by 5 p.m. every Tuesday.

Today, my process takes longer, probably because I have the luxury of time in retirement to ponder. My deadline now is Monday at 5 p.m. so I usually spend part of the weekend mentally planning the next column, trying out a few sentences or a paragraph to see if it works. Living in the whitehot center of global politics is exciting but also chaotic, so I often must pivot quickly to the next shiny object launched by the White House. It can be exhausting writing about Mr. Trump’s antics and reaffirming that his view of governance and presidential power is not how democracy and the American dream works, but when you are given a voice, you must use it, not suppress it. That means responsible dialogue and discourse, and standing behind what you say or write.

The final step of the writing process is how to end the column. With a question? A final comment? A challenge to readers? This week I will opt for a simple “thank you.” Thank you for reading the Falls Church News-Press, for appreciating the importance of local news and opinion, for allowing me to share my thoughts, and for defending democracy.

City of Falls Church Crime Report

Week of AUGUST 10 - 16, 2026 Destruction of Property, Hillwood Ave, Aug 11, 1:01 p.m., an unknown suspect defaced bumper stickers on the victim’s vehicle.

Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, Wilson Blvd, Aug 11, 6:30 p.m., a male, 41, of Fairfax County, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for another jurisdiction.

Shoplifting, W Broad St, Aug 14, 2:25 p.m., an unknown suspect stole merchandise. The unknown suspect is described as a black male with short hair, wearing a gray shirt and black pants.

Domestic Assault and Battery, W Broad St, Aug 14, 10:30 p.m., a male, 21, of Arlington, was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery, written

threats of bodily harm, obstruction of justice, petit larceny, public intoxication, enter property with intent to damage, felony destruction of property, and misdemeanor destruction of property.

Aggravated Assault, Wilson Blvd, Aug 15, 1:02 p.m., officers responded to an assault in progress. A male, 58, of Chantilly, was arrested for felony assault by acid/caustic substance.

Trespassing, W Broad St, Aug 16, 1:00 p.m., a male, 35, of Washington, DC, was arrested for trespassing.

Shoplifting, W Broad St, Aug 16, 1:27 p.m., a male, 35, of Washington, DC, was arrested for shoplifting.

Fraud - Swindle, W Broad St, Aug 16, 5:01 p.m., victim reported a contracted moving company collected their property and has withheld the property for 2 months.

Visit us at fcnp.com

PAGE 20 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

C L AS S I F I E DS

PUBLIC NOTICE

AUCTIONS

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FAYETTE COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Promote your upcoming auctions statewide! Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audience. Call this paper or Commonwealth Media Solutions 804-521-7570, advertising@ commonwealthmediasolutions.com

IN RE: PETITION OF YVONNE PHILLIPS, for Adoption of: E.Z.C., a male Minor Child ADOPTION NO. 2026-A-0009 NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION TO: Jaya Dominique Jenkins Unknown Address Notice is hereby given that YVONNE PHILLIPS, Petitioner in the above-styled case, by and through the undersigned, filed her Petition for Termination of Parental Rights and Petition for Adoption in the Superior Court of Fayette County, Georgia, on or about April 21, 2026, seeking to adopt the Minor Child, E.Z.C., a male Minor Child born in 2019.

You are hereby summoned and required to file an Answer in writing with the Clerk of the Superior Court of Fayette County, Georgia, whose address is One Center Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214, within sixty (60) days from the Notice for Service by Publication, and serve a copy upon Petitioner, by and through her attorney of record, Chloe James, Esq., Slepian & Schwartz, LLC, 42 Eastbrook Bend, Peachtree City, Georgia 30269.

This 15th day of July, 2026.

SLEPIAN & SCHWARTZ, LLC /s/ Chloe James CHLOE JAMES, ESQ. Georgia State Bar No. 553364 Attorney for Petitioner 42 Eastbrook Bend Peachtree City, Georgia 30269 Phone: (770) 486-1220 Facsimile: (770) 631-2340 Email: chloejames@slepianfirm.com

PUBLIC NOTICE In accordance with VA 15.2-1720, the public is hereby notified that the City of Falls Church Police Department has recovered the following bicycles MAKE MODEL COLOR TREK BLU EUROBIKE RED/BLK HUFFY SEASTAR BLU/WHI NISHIK PUEBLO TEAL/YEL TREK 730 BUR MONGOOSE SIL HYPER RED/BLK TREK MARLIN BLU/BLK KENT 700 BLU MURRAY USA EAGLE RIVER BLK/RED TOMCAT

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

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CALENDAR

Thursday, August 20

Sunset Cinema Series

Little City Sips

Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave.

Various spots in Falls Church

AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 21

This Week Around Falls Church

Falls Church Fiber Artists

10:00 a.m. – Noon

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 210 N. Virginia Ave.

Informal meet-up for knitters and crocheters. Adults 18+, free.

Falls Church Forward Member Happy Hour 6 – 8 p.m.

Stratford Garden, 300 W. Broad St., FC

Meet fellow members for a Happy Hour in the beer garden of Stratford Inn.

Friday, August 21

Spotted Lanternflies are Here! What to Do Now

7:45 p.m.

Enjoy the family-friendly classic “Lilo & Stitch,” screening as part of this Little City outdoor movie series.

Falls Church Restaurant Week (thru 8-30) Various Times

Various locations throughout Falls Church

Support local restaurants and score dining deals at the Little City’s first annual Summer Restaurant Week. Visit fallschurchrw.com for list of participating restaurants.

Saturday, August 22

Falls Church Farmers Market 8:00 a.m. – Noon

City Hall Parking Lot, 300 Park Ave.

10 – 11 a.m.

Award-winning market, open year-round.

As part of the Virtual Classroom Series, Extension Master Gardeners and Arlington’s Natural Resource team offer information and advice on dealing with the ubiquitous Spotted Lanternflies. Free, online. Sign up for link: mgnv.org.

Back-to-School Bash at Caboose Commons

Online

Poetry Kickoff with María Fernanda 3 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.

Folger Shakespeare Library 201 East Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Award-winning poet María Fernanda hosts a poetry workshop from 3 – 4 p.m., then from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. she’ll read from her own work as well as poets who have influenced her. Free but registration is required. Visit: folger.edu.

Met Park Movie Nights - Shrek 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Mosaic District, 2918 Eskridge Rd., Fairfax

This end of summer event features family-friendly activities including face painting, live music, and a bounce house.

Urban Design Guidelines Master Plan Meeting Noon – 2 p.m.

The Falls Church Episcopal, Nicolson Hall, 115 E Fairfax St.

Discussion to shape the upcoming master plan that covers streetscape, store frontage, green infrastructure, and site layout. Public is welcome.

Park, 1330 S. Fair St., Arlington

20th and 21st Century Virginia Politics Lecture

Marcel Penzes

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Main Level Conference Room

National Landing, Metropolitan This family-friendly movie series features an outdoor screening of Shrek. Free.

7:30 p.m.

Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad St.

Creative Cauldron’s Passport Music Festival features the signature jazz and trombone styling of Marcel Penzes.

2 – 3 p.m.

This non-partisan presentation will examine the evolution of Virginia politics and demographics. For high school ages and adults. Registration required.

Visit: mrs pl.org.

5 – 10 p.m.

Patrons 21 and older can purchase drinks from eight participating restaurants and then enjoy live music at several city venues. Find details at: visitfallschurch.com/sips/

Veronneau 7:30 p.m.

Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad St.

Creative Cauldron’s Passport Music Festival features Veronneau with their full band and guest violinist Dave Kline.

New Jack City with Live Score 8:30 p.m.

Sylvan Theater, Independence Ave SW & 15th St. NW

The 1991 Wesley Snipes starrer will be scored live by DJ 2-Tone Jones as part of the Can I Kick It event. Free, RSVP: shaolinjazz.com. Note: this area will experience road closures and restricted parking due to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

Sunday, August 23

All Member Show M-Z

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B West Broad St. FC

Closing day of the Falls Church Arts Gallery All Member Show. See fallschurcharts.org for more details. Free.

Monday, August 24

English Conversation Class

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, main level conference room, 102 N. Virginia Ave.

English language discussion group for adults 18+ to practice language skills.

Free. No registration required.

City Council Work Session 7:30 – 11 p.m.

City Hall, 300 Park Ave., Dogwood Room A and B

Open to the public, though the public is not generally invited to speak. Visit the fallschurchva.gov calendar section for link to watch online.

Tuesday, August 25

Wednesday, August 26

Young Explorers @ MoCA Arlington

Mindfulness Meditation

10 a.m. - Noon

Innovation Studio & Store, 525 14th St. South, Arlington

This free drop-in program is held every Tuesday with activities to help young children express creativity, explore art materials, and develop motor skills. No registration required. Activities change weekly.

Author Talk: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N Virginia Ave., main level conference room

Author Will Hackman will discuss Radically Reframing Climate Change.

For adults 18 and over. Free. Required.

Visit mrspl.org.

Have events?

Send an email to calendar@fcnp.com Free Events to the public post free or $20 for paid events.

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N Virginia Ave.

Take some time to slow down with this free meditation workshop for Adults 18+. No prior meditation experience necessary.

Play Cafe

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St., Fairfax

This free event features toys and activities for ages 0 – 5 with caregiver. No storytime this week. Registration is not required.

Rosslyn Farmers Market 2 – 6 p.m.

Central Place Plaza, 1800 N. Lynn St.

This popular market runs on Weds from May to October. This week, the Dog Days of Summer are hosted by Dogma Bakery, Playful Pack, and Snarfies.

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JAZZIE IS 4 years old. Her hobbies include going for walks, eating like it’s her last meal, and terrorizing her feline roommate.

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We have a way of losing track of what our holidays are really about.

St. Patrick’s Day has become a reason to wear lots of green and drink beer.

Memorial Day means sales and the opening of the neighborhood pool. And Labor Day has become the unofficial end of summer – one last long weekend, one last backyard barbecue, and one last chance to enjoy the pool before school and fall routines take over.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying any of that. But as we celebrate the unofficial end of summer, it’s also worth remembering what Labor Day represents – the contributions of working people and the generations of workers who fought to make our workplaces fairer, safer, and more secure.

It’s also a reminder that things we now take for granted – the 40-hour work week, weekends, workplace safety protections, and fair wages – didn’t just happen. Working people organized, fought for them, and, in many cases, made real sacrifices to secure them.

So, as we prepare to celebrate Labor Day, I thought I’d use this month’s column to highlight several new labor-related laws that took effect on July 1st, expanding protections and benefits for workers and families across the Commonwealth.

Virginia’s minimum wage is going up again. After a brief pause under the former Governor, the most recent General Assembly put us back on course to hit $15 per hour by January 1, 2028. After that, the minimum wage will be adjusted based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.

It’s taken a while to get there (I first introduced a $15 minimum wage in 2015), but regardless of the work you do, a higher minimum wage is one way we can make sure that Virginia’s workers share in the prosperity they help create.

We also took a major step forward on paid sick leave. Virginia law now guarantees paid sick leave for most workers, including employees of private businesses and state and local governments.

Workers will earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and, in most cases, workers can carry their accrued leave with them, including when a business changes ownership.

Paid sick leave can be used for more than staying home when you have the

flu. Workers can use it to care for themselves or a family member, address a physical or mental health issue, or seek help and services related to domestic, sexual, or physical abuse. No one should have to choose between going to work while sick and paying the bills or staying home to care for a loved one and losing a paycheck. And someone trying to escape an abusive situation shouldn’t have to worry that taking time to get help will cost them their job.

The paid family and medical leave insurance program is also now law and will eventually give eligible workers access to paid time away from work for major life events and serious health needs. Together, these laws recognize that people have responsibilities outside of their jobs, and our workplace policies should reflect that.

Further, we have tools to hold employers accountable for knowing violations, including civil penalties.

Workers can also take legal action in certain circumstances when they are denied the leave they are entitled to, potentially recovering unpaid leave and damages.

Another new law addresses a different kind of workplace inequality: salary history. Employers are now prohibited from asking job applicants about their salary or wage history. What you earned at your last job shouldn’t determine what you’re worth at your next one.

For too long, salary history has been used as a shortcut for determining compensation, which can perpetuate unfair pay disparities from one job to the next. By taking salary history out of the equation, we give applicants a better opportunity to negotiate based on the job they are applying for, not what they happened to earn somewhere else.

That is what Labor Day is about recognizing the people whose work keeps our communities and our Commonwealth moving forward, and making sure our laws recognize their contributions.

And what better way to celebrate that progress than by gathering together? I hope you’ll join me for my annual Labor Day BBQ on Monday, September 7th, for good food, good company, and a chance to celebrate the people who make our communities and our Commonwealth strong. I’d love to see you there. For more information, please reach out to my office at info@marcussimon.com.

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BY DEL. MARCUS SIMON

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Marcus Simon: August Column

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AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026 | PAGE 23

Fa l l s C h u r c h | Business News & Notes

ArtsFairfax Grants Announced ArtsFairfax awarded $601,900 in new operating support grants to 65 local arts organizations including three in Falls Church. Creative Cauldron, Little City Concerts, and Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation received grants for fiscal year 2027.

The awards go to organizations in Fairfax and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.

Get Ready for Wonder

August 21 at 7:45 p.m. The free Thursday evening films run from August to October, and guests may bring a blanket. Then the second Little City Sips will be held on Saturday, August 22, 5-10 p.m. The State Theater welcomes Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, one of the first grunge bands of the 1990s on Friday, August 28, 8 p.m. Closing out the month, the public may enjoy the Guitar Renegades, an instrumental group that plays a range of genres and covers from Bach to Nirvana in a free performance at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse on Saturday, August 29, 7-9 p.m.

Kensington Roll in Workshop

The grand opening of Wonder is coming to Falls Church on Thursday, September 3. The public is invited and the first 100 guests to place an order will receive giveaways. The innovative food hall founded by e-commerce entrepreneur Marc Lore is opening this location in the former space of Brown’s Hardware. The concept offers meals from 20-30 different celebrity-chef and restaurant brands such as Bobby Flay Steak and José Andrés in one order for dine-in, pickup, or delivery through Wonder.

Coffee & Ice Cream Coverage Two new coffee shops in Falls Church received coverage in Northern Virginia Magazine, Shotted and Underdog Coffee and Bread. The magazine highlighted 14 new coffee shops in the area and these two are on the outskirts. Slotted, the Saudi-style shop, took over the former Compass Coffee site on Lee Highway.

Their menu also includes ice cream and cake. Underdog Coffee and Bread opened on Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads. It features specialty coffee drinks as well as sandwiches, pastries, and burritos, serving breakfast all day. The magazine also covered local Jake’s Ice Cream in an article on vegan and non-dairy ice cream. They rotate flavors, have a designated vegan-non-dairy menu, and carry Vietnamese iced coffee ice cream.

Back to School Bash 2026 at Solace Outpost

The Kensington hosts the Kensington Roll In Workshop in partnership with WheelCare.Health on Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The community is invited to have your rollator, wheelchair, or mobility scooter inspected and serviced by experienced technicians dedicated to helping you maintain safe, reliable mobility.

Attendees can receive free check-ups on a first-come, first-served basis. The first service and any in-stock replacement parts are provided at no cost. Technicians will also perform scooter battery testing and address common maintenance concerns to help keep your equipment operating safely and efficiently.

Mahjong Benefit for Alzheimer’s Local mahjong venue, Talk Tiles to Me, is participating in four days of mahjong, August 27-31 to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. The event crosses six venues in the DMV and is free to attend but registration is required in advance.

This is open play, no instruction is provided, and you need your 2026 NMJL card.

There is also the option to donate directly to the local team, Talk Tiles to Me for a Cure.

Another Little City Sips

August Heavy with Events

The second Little City Sips will be held this Saturday, August 22, 5-10 p.m., kicking off the Summer Restaurant Week. Adults ages 21 and older can sip, stroll, shop, and dine across downtown Falls Church. Drink purchases and live music are offered at Mr. Brown’s Park (6-10 p.m.), Dogwood Tavern (9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.), Stratford Garden (6-9 p.m.), and Clare & Don’s Beach Shack (5:30-9 p.m.). Purchases may be made at other participating restaurants: Ireland’s Four Provinces, Lucky Thai, Maneki Neko Japanese Restaurant, Northside Social, and Pho 88.

Among the “26 Things to Do in August,” Arlington Magazine included several planned events in Falls Church. The flurry of activity begins with Falls Church Restaurant Week running August 21-30. Sunset Cinema returns to Cherry Hill Park with “Lilo & Stitch” on

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschurchchamber.org.

Celebrate the school year with a full belly after filling up on free food and drinks at Solace Outpost on August 20, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Solace is located at 444 W. Broad St., Falls Church.

Our Man In Arlington Bill Fogarty

What comprises the “justice system” in Arlington? That question came at the end of last week’s column about Virginia’s convoluted law enforcement systems and the elected position of “Sheriff.” In a nutshell, the significant players in the county justice system are the Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, and the Police Department. Today let’s explore the primary duties of a sheriff’s office in Virginia, which are to (i) manage detention facilities, (ii) provide courtroom security, and (iii) serve civil and criminal process papers.

These duties are reflected in the Arlington Sheriff’s Annual Report for 2025, which describes a complex

organization.

The first item in the annual report is the Organizational Chart, which starts with Sheriff Jose Quiroz, Jr., who was elected to the office in 2023, and oversees a staff of over 290 people. Below him on the chart are the directors of the three divisions (Administration, Corrections, and Judicial Services). In addition, there is a Chief Medical Officer (a newly created position in 2025), and an Internal Affairs Commander, who both report to the sheriff.

The Judicial Services Division is responsible for two of the three main duties: providing courtroom security and serving process papers.

If you have been to the courthouse, you know there is a screening process to get in (and you might have been surprised when you found out you cannot take a phone into the

courthouse with you). The Annual Report reveals that 279,340 people were screened entering the courthouse last year – more than one thousand people every workday.

Once you are inside the courthouse, there are three separate courts that need security – the Circuit Court, General District Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. In 2025, there were a total of 69,591 court cases that were heard by the judges of all these courts (I will leave it for a different column to try to explain the duties of those different courts). In addition to providing security for the judges (and the general public), deputies have to ensure the safe transfer of inmates to and from the detention facility to the courthouse for court proceedings.

The deputies also have to manage the jurors, both in the courtroom, and also when there are jurors who have to be sequestered (yes, that does happen in Arlington from time to time).

The second main duty of the Sheriff’s Office requires the deputies to serve “papers” on residents – in 2025 there were 33,305 civil process papers attempted to be served, with 15,819 papers actually “received.” Criminal warrants are also served (1,906 served in 2025).

Deputies are also required to serve and execute evictions (738 evictions took place in Arlington in 2025).

These are a lot of numbers to toss out at you, but in looking at the eviction numbers, one can start to see the underlying human toll on people (on evictees, and on the deputies who have to witness and oversee more than 14 evictions per week).

The third main duty of the Sheriff’s Office is undoubtedly the most challenging: the operation of the detention facility. In 2025, the average daily population of the facility was 353 individuals, with charges ranging from petty larceny to first-degree murder.

There was an intake of over 4,700

individuals in 2025. Staff have to tailor supervision based in part on the noted behaviors of the inmates, and the known risks (if any) of the jailed population. One of the most difficult challenges relates to medical care of the inmates. Sheriff Quiroz, in response to the history of inmate deaths before his election, has transitioned the detention facility to a self-operated medical care model. Many changes were made regarding medical care, but unfortunately the basic challenges remain. This month an inmate (who had been jailed for over a year) had a medical emergency and was transported to Virginia Hospital Center. Despite ongoing lifesaving efforts, the inmate was pronounced dead at VHC. A lot of questions come to mind regarding this death. I will touch on some of those questions in a future column, perhaps with a broader look at our justice system in Arlington.

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