Falls Church News-Press 8-26-2021 by Falls Church News-Press

August 26 – September 1, 2021

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FOU N D E D 1991 • VOL. XXXI NO. 28

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New School Year in Falls Church Begins with Cautious Optimism Superintendent Lays Out Theme of Emphasizing Resilience of Staff, Renewal of Strong Community Bonds

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

The big news made at yesterday morning’s Falls Church City Public Schools’ convocation, other than that it was the first big event held in the new Meridian High School

auditorium and marked the resumption of a new school year with full in-person instruction for all, was the fact that the system’s world class International Baccalaureate (IB) program gained even more stature with the announcement that its pre-school program at the

F.C. Stormwater Improvements Could Prompt Tree Removal BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

To make the necessary stormwater improvements throughout the City of Falls Church, some trees have to be removed. It’s not a thrilling topic of conversation for a place that’s held the title of a “Tree City USA” for 40-plus years, but it’s also one that won’t result in the permanent loss of tree canopy that some fear. The pages of the News-Press’ “Letters to the Editor” section was where those concerns played out. One letter, published on July 1, criticized home builders for removing trees during one of their projects. A follow up letter the next week redirected attention toward the City’s planned stormwater improvements for the reason that tree root systems were going to be destroyed and why they needed to be removed. Eyes will naturally turn toward the City officials who approve of these developments and the sub-

sequent denuding that takes place. However, City Arborist Charles Prince said that these removals aren’t typically a contentious process. In his work, most people are open to having a tree removed for free, and get a new one planted that can be more modestly sized. He also holds the power to overrule any tree replacement suggested by the developer to make sure it’s in line with what works for Falls Church. “I can veto any tree, so if it’s an invasive species that will proliferate and spread, kind of out of control, I can deny that tree,” Charles Prince, the City’s arborist, said. “Outside of that, developers are afforded a bonus when they plant native trees... and generally, that’s what we always see the majority of the time. We see native trees going in on properties.” The new trees may not be as mature as the ones being removed, as you might expect, meaning that there is a chance it could affect

Continued on Page 4

Jesse Thackrey site has also been officially certified as an IB institution, bringing the entire system, preschool through Grade 12, into its highly-prestigious fold. So, when FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan said yet again, as he did at yesterday’s convocation,

that the Falls Church system’s goal is to be the best IB system in the entire world, he wasn’t kidding. In-person classes begin for all students next Monday, Aug. 30, with no virtual learning options except for special circumstances. It will mark the official grand opening

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of the new $120 million high school facility, along with its new name, Meridian High. That first week will be short, however, with Friday off for the launch of the Labor Day weekend, the following Monday off

Continued on Page 8

THE TINNER HILL MUSIC FESTIVAL made a triumphant return this past weekend, dazzling attendees with live Blues, Reggae and more. See photos on page 22. (P��: G�� M��)

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The results are in! After multiple rounds of nominations and voting, the winners for the Best of Falls Church 2021 competition can be found inside this edition of the News-Press. SEE BEST OF F.C., PAGE 13

WINNERS!

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Meridian High School students and their impassioned music teacher are helping lead the way for a better understanding of cultural differences in a collaborative effort with students based in Sejong City, South Korea, who also wrote lyrics in their language.

Like the taste of country biscuits lathered with huge dollops of butter, Patsy Cline’s voice and songs are a taste of a sumptuous concert in Cherry Hill Park, the scene of Creative Cauldron’s newest show which runs through this weekend (pending rain).

INDEX

Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 Comment .................................7,11,12 News & Notes................................... 10 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 24 Classified Ads ................................... 28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 29 Critter Corner.................................... 30 Business News ................................. 31

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PAGE 4 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

City Officials to Negotiate with Home Owners Over Potential Tree Removals

Continued from Page 1

home values. According to HGTV. com, a mature tree can boost the value of a home from seven to 19 percent. That’s not including the energy savings shading can provide. But the City also has a more aggressive timeline in maintaining its canopy than the state of Virginia does when a replacement is put in place. The preservation and/or planting on the lot should provide 20 percent of the lot to be covered within 10 years. The state’s requirement is to achieve 20 percent of canopy coverage within 20 years. How open people are to having their trees removed will be tested once the City’s “Big Six” of stormwater projects gets underway. Totalling just over $8 million, the improvements are still in the planning phase, but the scope of addressing the “grey” pipe infrastructure that was first installed nearly 100 years ago will be an expansive process. The stated goal of the improvements

are so the City can better withstand severe weather events, namely deluges of summer rain, that are said to be a result of climate change. The pipes that collect stormwater typically run parallel or adjacent to the main streams within the City -- being Tripps Run and Four Mile Run and their many, sometimes buried, tributaries. They also often cross into privately owned land, requiring either land donations or negotiations by the residents in order to carry out the stormwater upgrades, according to Public Works Director Zak Bradley. There are a few proposed improvements that rely heavily on accessing private property. An existing stormwater system runs through a home on the corner of Poplar Drive and Spring Street. The proposed route appears to shift the route right underneath the tree line separating the home from its neighbor, and could potentially see some removals if that project goes through as planned. The Harrison branch of Four Mile

Run cuts through multiple private properties as it passes through the cul-de-sac at the end of E. Jefferson Street and underneath E. Columbia Street until it forks, heading toward both Noland Street and Midvale Street. The City’s current stormwater system runs parallel to that branch most of the way, meaning that at least six separate homeowners will be affected by the upgrades. Connecting a new stormwater pipe to an existing one at the corner of Brook and Berry Street would then follow the road to Hillwood Avenue before it veers into two homes with significant foliage by the corner of Linden Lane. All properties affected by the stormwater improvements will be looked over by the Stormwater Management Review team, and those proceedings will be advertised to all homeowners and neighbors who are within a 150-foot radius of the project, according to Bradley. A more robust stormwater system means that it could compete with soil

THE TREE is awfully close to the drain in the cul-de-sac of E. Jefferson Street, meaning it could be removed (Photo: News-Press) trees need to nourish themselves. It’s inevitable some trees will be removed as a part of these upgrades, though it’s not the first route City officials will go to. For all projects that take place in the City, including stormwater projects, developers hire an independent arborist and submit a grading plan. The City’s arborist reviews and comments on it, and if all requirements are met, approves the grading plan. One of the suggestions Prince can make is that, if a lot is big enough, the City can find a way to move the

house in order to make room for the improvements. That could wind up preserving a tree in some cases. In others, the City arborist will collaborate with the hired arborist to determine if a tree will be safe. If it is, again, Prince has veto power. If the tree will not be safe — either health-wise, or will create a hazard for the homeowner and its neighbors in danger of falling — then it has to be removed. “We’re definitely not asking for removal of any trees unless there is a safety concern,” Bradley said.

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An Upbeat New School Year

For as truly bad as things have been because of the Covid-19 pandemic in the last 18 months, especially for families with school aged children having to cope with the effects of lockdowns and quarantines, it was remarkable that the convocation marking the beginning of the new school year for the Falls Church City Public Schools was as upbeat as it was this week. The onset of the new school year is going to require masks for all students, in accordance with Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s mandate, but beyond that, it was all thumbs up and positive at the convocation, the first ever large scale public event held in the brand-spanking new $120 million state of the art newly-renamed Meridian High School. The school will open its doors on the first day of school Monday to a full complement of students for a full time in person education with the minor stipulation that, while indoors, all must wear masks, at least for the time being. FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan’s message to students, staff, parents and the wider Falls Church community was enormously positive and, as they say, cautiously optimistic. It is premised on the remarkable demonstration of support for the school system by the vast majority of City residents, a support that was underscored in recent years by the amazing majorities of school bond and other referendum votes. They were redoubled by the clear satisfaction the huge majority of citizens have indicated, even with, as Noonan noted, their “silence,” regarding the incredibly complex and complicated process by which the City and its school system leaders were able to work together to run the construction of the new high school and the imminent large-scale mixed use development of an adjacent 10 acres on the site of the old, now demolished high school. No balls have been dropped in the astonishing juggling act it has taken to accomplish both results simultaneously, even with the added emergency of a fierce Covid-19 pandemic. It has all proceeded flawlessly, to the considerable chagrin of a tiny band of naysayer residents who have never been able to accept that the City could do anything right. All this has happened even as one must accept the inevitability that something must go wrong. But, nope, not so far. The process has not only paid for the whole new high school with all the bells and whistles, but it’s done so by providing the region’s biggest real estate tax rate cut for all City taxpayers. Moreover, while we say all this while “knocking on wood,” superstition is proving no match for the competence and dedication of well-chosen professionals and talented volunteer residents of the Little City. Amidst all this, the City survived a global pandemic and years of one of the ugliest presidential regimes in U.S. history, and our students have proven themselves both highly qualified and uniquely compassionate, amazing present and future leaders.

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In Response to Ilya Shapiro’s Letter to the Editor from July Editor, I write in response to Ilya Shapiro’s letter dated July 19, 2021 in which he said that his goal is not to wage a culture war. If that were the case, he would not have run to The Wall Street Journal to try and attract national attention to his local school board campaign and to our community. Instead, he would have done what he finally did here: write a letter to this newspaper. One of his main concerns about the school renaming seems to be that it occurred in spite of split support from the community. I would expect that he would then be guided for all of his decisions based upon what the favored position is within the community if he serves on the school board. Mr. Shapiro is undoubtedly talented and accomplished, but I think he would be the first to admit that his positions are outside of the mainstream within Falls Church. Even so, we, as a community, should be welcoming of and open to diverse viewpoints and debate when we disagree. For that, Mr. Shapiro should let the community know if he is supportive of the positions taken by the think tank where he is a Vice President and whether he will try and institute poli-

cies consistent with those positions (particularly the ones tied to public education) such as: • Privatization of public schooling (“Public Schools: Make Them Private” dated June 23, 1995); • Opposition to child labor provisions (“A Case Against Child Labor Prohibitions” dated July 29, 2014); • Opposition to public sector unions (“Labor Unions Against the Public Interest” dated July 2, 2013); and • Public schools created individuals more likely to riot on January 6, 2021 (“Updated Rioter Data: Arrestees Disproportionately Attended Public Schools” dated April 13, 2021). Mr. Shapiro has argued against mask mandates in schools on Twitter (or at least retweeted others who argued that) and is also a signatory to a brief seeking Supreme Court intervention in a case involving a teacher’s union in Chicago. I would certainly be interested to learn if Mr. Shapiro would step away from his advocacy work when it touches on public education while he serves on the school board. Mr. Shapiro may view this letter as an attack on him. It is not. Mr. Shapiro’s website is very general and my hope (as a parent with a child in the school system) is that Mr. Shapiro (and the other candidates) will fully and specifically explain their positions so the voters can make an educated decision. Eric Crusius Falls Church

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AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 7

New School Year Brings Feelings of Apprehension, Excitement B� S�� L�� L�� D��

“Back to School” days have arrived in Falls Church City. Our school community — teachers, students and parents — feel excited, thankful, and perhaps a bit apprehensive about being back in school in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. We, your School Board, share these feelings and are thrilled to welcome everyone back. As a School Board, our primary responsibility is governance which entails setting policy, approving the annual budget, developing a strategic plan, and hiring the superintendent. The superintendent’s primary responsibility is day-to-day operations. We work together throughout the year, bearing in mind our different roles, to ensure Falls Church City Public Schools continue to serve our school community with caring and high standards. This remains true despite the Covid-19 pandemic. We continue to work closely with Dr. Noonan as the Delta variant takes hold in Northern Virginia. He is keeping us informed and we are asking tough questions and providing feedback regarding the school system’s Covid plans which follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of Health guidelines. For those who would like to become more informed of our work, our meetings are always open to the public and are

held the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Currently, the community may watch the meetings live on the FCCPS YouTube channel (youtube.com/fccpsorg). We hope to allow members of the public to physically attend our meetings soon. Community members can make public comments at our meetings either by submit-

“We, your School Board, share these feelings and are thrilled to welcome everyone back.” ting a letter for public comment (meaning it will be posted for the public to see) or by signing up to speak during a meeting. To submit comments or sign up to speak at a school board meeting, you may email our School Board Clerk, Marty Gadell. Meetings are always recorded and archived on our YouTube channel and the School Board website. All members of the community, even those who do not have children in the school system, are welcome to subscribe to FCCPS Morning Announcements. This daily newsletter will keep you updated on the school system. You can subscribe at fccps.org/page/morning-announcements. The morning after each School Board meeting, Morning Announcements will send “quick links” to various recorded portions

of the School Board meeting so that it is easy for you to watch discussions that may interest you such as the school calendar or SOL test results. We invite you to email the School Board with feedback. Our email addresses are on the School Board page at fccps.org/page/ school-board. Also on our web page, you will find the agendas for our meetings, the video archives, and “BoardDocs.” BoardDocs houses our meeting agendas, presentations, and other documents. You can find agendas and presentations going back to 2007. Unlike many school systems, the FCCPS School Board does not have full-time staff dedicated solely to the activities of the School Board. We are thankful for the hard work of the FCCPS Central Office staff who help us push communication out to the school community and answer questions from the community in addition to performing the rest of their job duties. We do our best to inform the community with the help of the FCCPS Communications staff. Knowing some members of the community may prefer face-to-face conversations, the Chair and Vice Chair will be holding “office hours” this Fall from 6 – 8 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month at Liberty Barbecue. Also, be sure to look for School Board members in FCCPS School Board shirts at various community events this fall. We are grateful for the support and partnership of our parents, teachers and staff,

No -- 81%

and the community throughout this challenging time. Local businesses partnered with us to provide food and financial assistance to some of our families, the City Council and General Government worked with us to ensure we had the fiscal resources to operate, and our Recreation and Parks Department supported families who needed help with childcare during virtual learning. A key bright spot during this extraordinary time has been the completion of our new high school. Despite Covid, the superintendent oversaw the completion of this state-of-the-art facility on time and on budget. As a community, we can all take pride in this accomplishment. We thank the voters and taxpayers who voted for the Bond Referendum years ago as an investment in future generations. FCCPS will be hosting a ribbon cutting for the new Meridian High School on Saturday Oct. 2. Tours will be available to the community and we hope everyone will attend. “We moved here for the schools,” is often a phrase mentioned in our Little City. As a School Board, we will continue to do our best to govern our school system, work closely with our superintendent and keep the community informed. We wish all our families the very best during the 2021-22 school year! Shannon Litton serves as Chair of the Falls Church City School Board and Laura Downs serves as Vice Chair.

Yes -- 10%

Q�� W�� Do you think schools will continue offering in-person classes? • Yes

• No

• Not sure

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[WRITE FOR THE PRESS]

sure Last Week’sNot Questi on:-- 9% Do you plan to attend the 27th Annual Tinner Hill Music Festival?

10% Yes 9% Not Sure

81% NO

FCNP On-Line polls are surveys, not scientiﬁc polls.

The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

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PAGE 8 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C. School System Opens Up For In-Person Classes This Year

for Labor Day itself and Tuesday off in recognition of Rosh Hashanah. Meanwhile, all outdoor falls sports programs, including football, cross country and field hockey, are underway already, with volleyball being the only indoor program and subject to mitigation protocols (that is, masking required of all spectators but none required of vaccinated athletes.) Noonan reported that, along with not a single infection being reported over the summer here, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Fairfax Health Department data projects that the Delta variant is expected to peak in the next week, and to become less prominent after that, according to a University of Virginia study. Presentations made at the packed auditorium convocation event came under the year’s new theme of “Roots, Resilience and Renewal.” As Noonan explained, the “roots” component included the metaphor of California’s giant redwoods, which despite their amazing heights, have very shallow roots. They stay standing through all kinds of adversity, he noted, because their shallow roots intertwine with one another to mutu-

ally strengthen the resilience of each. The system is opening fully to in-person classes, with all students and staff required to wear masks in the face of the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus, including on school buses. Because with the system’s aggressive mitigation measures, not a single case of a new infection was detected over the summer, and all but three members of the 350-person FCCPS staff are fully vaccinated now, and 80 percent of the City of Falls Church population of 12 to 15 year olds have received at least one dose, along with 94 percent of all ages 16-17 with a week to go before classes begin. Mitigation efforts will remain in effect, based on a mandatory masking policy and three-foot social distancing, Noonan reported. He went into detail on these measures in a virtual town hall presentation Monday night. At its peak, over 230 were watching on YouTube. He said he and other key staff personnel in the F.C. system are carefully monitoring the CDC, Virginia departments of health and education, and Fairfax Health Department reports to make sure current plans will hold. “We are practicing situational

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL will have its first day of school August 30th. This will be the first full year in the new high school. (P��: N��-P��) awareness,” he said, and is optimistic the outcomes will enable the system to move ahead. “We all have the same goals, to bring all our students safely back into the schools. We live in a community that is eager to make that work.” Meanwhile, unlike problems facing some other school districts, the Falls Church system is not facing any shortages in personnel, either in classrooms or otherwise, Noonan told the News-Press in an interview. He said there is a shortage of only

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one bus driver as of this week. Mitigation measures involve thorough hand washing and sanitizing, nightly deep cleaning of all buildings, limits on non-essential visitors, active Covid Response teams to implement contact tracing and monitoring, the presence of a public health nurse and fully-staffed clinics at all the schools. The clinics will include isolation rooms where an exposed student can be placed until a parent or social worker shows up in addition to the health clinic that will

take care of routing issues. Students who come in contact with an infected person will undergo a “pause,” a 48-hour quarantine, or an isolation of up to 10 days or a quarantine if unvaccinated and symptomatic for up to 14 days. At the Thackrey preschool, temperature checks of all students entering the facility will be taken daily. At Mount Daniel and Oak Street Elementary, checks will be on a random basis,

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C�� N�� N�� Correction: F.C. Library Opening Sept. 10, Not Sept. 7 Last week, the Falls Church News-Press erroneously published that the Mary Riley Styles Public Library’s opening date would be Sept. 7 based on information we had received. The correct opening date for the library is actually Sept. 10. The News-Press apologizes for any confusion caused by this error.

F.C. Resident Reappointed Middle States Commissioner The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSACESS) recently reappointed Daniel Stabile, Ph.D., college and academic counselor at Bishop O’Connell High School and a Falls Church resident, as a Middle States commissioner. “I am honored to continue my service as a commissioner for Middle States,” said Stabile. “Having guided close to two dozen schools through the Middle States accreditation process, I know firsthand accreditation is one of the most effective ways for schools — and most importantly students — to grow, develop, and improve with measurable results.” Based in Philadelphia, the MSACESS is the worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 130 years, Middle States has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development and advance stu-

dent achievement. Commissioners meet twice annually to review accreditation recommendations and the organization’s finances, policies and strategic plan. For more information, visit www.msa-cess.org.

First Annual Jazz4Justice Fundraiser Set for Sept. 6 The first annual Jazz4Justice fundraising event at Mr. Brown’s Park (100 W. Broad Street, Falls Church) will take place this coming Labor Day, Sept. 6, to celebrate the holiday for all Americans while also supporting the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) in its initiative for economic justice and labor rights. The event is free and familyfriendly. No tickets required to view the performance. The event will feature free hot dogs, door prizes, and the Jazz4Justice All Stars Ensemble. The jazz band, led by trombonist Shannon Gunn, will kick off at 2 p.m. followed by a Jazz Jam Session open to the public. Those who play music are encouraged to bring their instruments. Sponsorships are greatly appreciated. Visit jazz4justice.com for more information.

St. Mark’s ESL Program Seeks Students & Volunteers St. Mark’s Catholic Church of Vienna, is looking for new students and volunteers for its English as a Second Language program. Classes are scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday evening from Sept. 28 – Dec. 7, 2021.

CONGRESSMAN DON BEYER’S daughter, Clara, got married this past weekend. She met her husband, Andrew, at Brown University; their wedding ceremony took place in Rhode Island. (C�� ) All classes will be conducted online via Zoom. Interested students can register online from Sept. 7 – Sept. 17 by going to bit.ly/StMarkRegistrationFall2021. Those who register will need to take an online placement exam. For more information, visit stmarkesl. org or email stmarksesl@gmail. com. Those with questions can also call 703-980-9380 or 703-2427449.

Point of View Eyewear & Eyecare Grand Reopening After 30+ years, Point of View Eyewear & Eyecare has a brand new look. The office has undergone a complete, floor to ceiling renova-

tion. All are invited to visit the Point of View office for the same great service but with an updated, modern new appearance. New patients and outside prescriptions are welcome and Saturday appointments are now available. Eye exams and contact lens fits by doctor are also available. Full Covid-19 precautions continue to be in place. Customers who mention the Grand Reopening notice in the News-Press will learn about special deals running until Sept. 30. Point of View is located at 701 W. Broad St. and is open six days a week. Appointments can be made online at pointofvieweyewear.com or over the phone at 703-235-6500.

Fairfax Superintendent To Leave in July 2022 Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand has announced that he will be leaving the school division at the end of the 2021 – 22 school year. Dr. Brabrand will continue to serve as the school division superintendent through June 2022. He will work with the Fairfax County School Board to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition in leadership. In his nearly 30 years with FCPS, Dr. Brabrand has strived to promote a philosophy of putting people first — students, staff, families, and the broader Fairfax Community.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The Rebirth of Neocon Chickenhawks

Oh, Michael Gerson, and you were doing so well! The former G.W. Bush speech writer and erstwhile advisor, now a twice-a-week Washington Post columnist and frequent commentator on the PBS NewsHour, Michael Gerson was performing wonderfully as an unrelenting, harsh critic of Donald Trump throughout that man’s unfortunate one-term presidency. Clearly possessing a wordsmithing gift, Gerson found ways of trashing FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS Trump with matchless turns of phrases and eloquent run-on sentences, throwing shade (a contemporary term for scathing criticism) left and right. Gerson is a lifelong conservative Republican, graduate of the notoriously fundamentalist Wheaton College in Illinois (even more that way than my undergraduate school known as “the Wheaton of the West,” Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, where I went on a baseball scholarship), but when it came to the contemptible Trump, Gerson shined on with stunning word sequences condemning the horrid grifter in every possible way, even to the point of not infrequently finding good things to say about Biden. Gerson became mandatory reading for Trump haters everywhere, even more valued because of his Republican pedigree. But then, last week came President Biden’s decision to get the heck out of Afghanistan once and for all, and something went snap in Gersonville. His underlying identity as a W. neocon chickenhawk ripped to the surface, his temples pulsed and his eyes bulged, and what had been his lyrical prose took on a dark, brooding demeanor as he felt compelled to defend his former boss’ wickedly-bad decisions to invade Afghanistan and Iraq and to keep U.S. military forces there for what’s now become 20 years. Wow, the transformation was breathtaking. In his latest take in the Post this week, “Why Tie the Afghanistan Withdrawal to 9/11?,” Gerson calls Biden’s move “one of the most brutal acts of foreign policy cynicism in U.S. history.” He rants that driven by “selfish and pitiless interests...Biden’s ruthless realism deserves to be buried on some forgotten day,” as now, among other things, “the Taliban pose a massive counterterrorism threat” to the U.S. His appearance on Judy Woodruff’s PBS news show last Friday drew a huge national outrage because he wasn’t there to talk about the crimes of Trump this time, but suddenly in defense of his former boss’ bad decisions. Indeed, pundits railed against the major media repeatedly “handing the microphone” in the wake of Biden’s decision to those whose mistakes created the problems in that region in the first place. They have no credibility and yet they are being given the mic, contended by David Rothkopf and Faiz Shakir on Ari Melber’s MSNBC show last week. They praised the Biden withdrawal because at that point over 30,000 Americans and American allies had been airlifted out of Kabul without a single life being lost. Contrary to all the howling, Biden and his team carefully planned the whole operation with a goal of getting as many as 60,000 out by his deadline. Shakir reminded viewers that Biden had promised to do just this repeatedly during his campaign for president. By contrast, when Trump made the rules, he pulled forces partially out of Afghanistan, but tore up the applications of U.S. allies that needed to leave and in exchange, he OK’d the release of 5,000 of the Taliban’s most brutal terrorists. As with most wars, and especially 20-year ones, the timeless wisdom applies, “In war there are no winners or losers, only widows” (and orphans). Two things demonstrate this in the Afghanistan case most poignantly: First, when bin Laden was finally found after years, it turned out he’d been hiding right under their noses the whole time, within shouting distance of a military base where the U.S. was training forces. Second, when the final U.S. pullout was announced — 20 years of training and supplying a domestic Afghani military force, at a cost of billions and a lot of American lives, went up in smoke instantly. There was absolutely no resistance to the Taliban, whatsoever. American war profiteers probably knew this would happen but didn’t care. They fed at the trough of U.S. taxpayer dollars as long as they could, then just walked away.  Nicholas Benton may be emailed at nfbenton@fcnp.com.

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AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 11

Nicholas F. Benton

Our Man in Arlington By Charlie Clark

“Build Your Love Nest in Ashton Heights, Virginia,” read the ad in the Evening Star a century ago. “$500 cash will finance your home; $20 will reserve your lot.” Exclusive sales agents at the D.C.-based (all female) KayAlger Co. were luring federal employees to join the automobile generation’s embrace of suburbanization, to “get away from the crowded city and enjoy the freedom of a most picturesque surrounding.” Such fun facts were unearthed by Ashton Heights resident Peter W. Dickson in “Ashton Heights: Its Origin and History,” published this June in time for next month’s celebration of the centennial of the cozy neighborhood bordered by N. Glebe Rd., Wilson Blvd., Arlington Blvd., and N. Irving St. Then-and-now characteristics include quick access to Clarendon shopping (with its now-defunct Ashton movie theater), plus landmarks such as Columbia Gardens Cemetery and Clarendon United Methodist Church. But when it was planned, Ashton Heights was touted as being “275 feet above sea level, the highest point in a radius of two miles” and boasting the “best trolley line out of Washington, 22 minutes from 12th and Pennsylvania Ave.” Credited as the neighborhood’s “father” was Ashton Crenshaw Jones (1879 – 1960), born to a tobacco farming family in Lunenburg County in South Central Virginia. After a stint at the College of William and

Mary, he worked as a news reporter in Newport News and a furniture salesman in Hampton Roads. Jones married Margaret Rucker, and her Arlington real estate entrepreneur brother George Rucker, in 1909, offered him a sales job. (The Rucker firm was a fixture for decades at 1403 N. Courthouse Rd., now a county office building.) The Ashton Heights impresario in 1919 bought acreage from Fannie Hunter (of the family that owned Abingdon Plantation). With the coming Potomac crossing described as “Lincoln Memorial Bridge” (Memorial Bridge opened 1932), the woods of Ashton Heights offered a “direct line” to the bridge via Cathcart Rd., which bisects the neighborhood and which we know as Pershing Drive. Sample completed homes sold for $8,500, $6,850, or $7,850. (Today they’re $800,000 to $1.5 million.) Among the booklet’s fun facts are the old-time (pre-1935) street names: Current Lincoln St. was Milton Ave.; Monroe St. was West St.; Irving St. was “Clarendon Ave.” and N. Fifth St. was “Hunter Ave.” Jones “delivered on promises to install street lights and telephone lines throughout the neighborhood,” Dickson writes. Cavalry horses drilling from Ft. Myer were a common sight. An ad boasted that “the progressive spirit of purchases of Ashton Heights property has already been shown in the organization of an Ashton Heights Citizens Association.” Also formed was an Ashton Heights Women’s

Club, lasting from 1924 to 2005. Less flattering was enforcement in the detached-homes of racial covenants that excluded “those not of the Caucasian race.” And in the late 1930s, residents “mounted a strong and successful campaign to block construction of row houses within the projected Buckingham complex with the argument that this would bring a less desirable element into the neighborhood,” the history notes. Jones’ son Ashton Jr. also joined Rucker and went on to assemble the land that became Parkington (today’s Ballston Quarter) and to build Country Club Hills. Today in Ashton Heights, “there is a feeling of historic depth,” the history proclaims. “It does not have the feeling of a place that just came into being overnight.” *** Arlington will officially compost. As of Sept. 6, residents are encouraged to position on their countertops a white plastic, smaller-than-a-breadbox caddy distributed this month by sanitation crews. Green planners recommend putting food scraps in a disposable bag to line the caddy — or simply stuffing them with yard trimmings in the larger green cart. “Arlington will be the first jurisdiction in Virginia to provide food scraps collection to all residential customers,” the county says. There’s potential to divert 20 percent of the residential waste stream from incineration to composting, among other environmental benefits. A composter’s rule of thumb: “If it grows, it goes.”

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PAGE 12 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross

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ment, is working in Haiti, hoping to rescue anyone still alive in the collapsed buildings, but ready to perform sad recovery services, too. VATF-1 may have Virginia in its name, but nearly all of the members are Fairfax County employees, assigned to local fire stations. The federal government may reimburse their costs and overtime, but there is no reimbursement for time away from family and community. Harkening to those faith-based verses, there are some things we can do for ourselves that can help handle the stress that comes with adversity. The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management (fairfaxcounty.gov/emergencymanagement) has helpful information about putting together an emergency kit for home and vehicle. A gallon-size, resealable plastic bag can hold copies of driver’s licenses, insurance policies (including health insurance), marriage licenses and divorce papers, credit card numbers, phone numbers for family and friends contacts, and your Covid-19 vaccination cards! Take photos of all the same information on your cell phone and back it up. Don’t forget to put some cash in the resealable plastic bag. In the event of a power outage, ATMs won’t work. Neither will gas pumps, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your fuel gauge. Don’t be one of those drivers who waits until the last minute to gas up in advance of a hurricane. We can’t always avoid disaster, but we can plan, prepare, and practice for one. Guides to help you plan for emergencies are available at fairfaxcounty.gov/emergencymanagement/emergency-plans.

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Week of Aug. 16 – 22, 2021 Larceny-Shoplif ting, S Washington St, Aug 16, 10:26 AM, an unidentified suspect took an item of value and left without paying. Suspect described as male, 5’11”, medium build, wearing a black Reebok shirt with a black fleece jacket and black Under Armour shorts. Driving Under the Influence, S Maple Ave, Aug 20, 12:54 AM,

a male, 19, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and Possession of A Fictitious Driver’s License. Larceny-Shoplif ting, S Washington St, Aug 21, 7 PM, an unidentified suspect took items of value and left without paying. Suspect described as a male, 6`3”, 250 lbs., wearing a black shirt and khaki shorts.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 13

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021

or the Twelfth 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, 36 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’s 2021 Best of Falls Church.

Photos by J. Michael Whalen & Matt Delaney

PAGE 14 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021 |

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FOOD & DRINK READER VOTE

BEST

Dominion Wine and Beer

Bakeshop

Northside Social

107 Rowell Ct, Falls Church

100 E Fairfax St., Falls Church

205 Park Ave., Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

BEST

American

Dogwood Tavern • Liberty Barbeque Lazy Mike’s • Clare and Don’s Beach Shack

Brunch

Bakery

Happy Tart Bakery • Northside Social Nothing Bundt Cake

Burger

Breakfast

Lazy Mike’s • Preservation Biscuit Cafe Kindred • Original Pancake House

Chicken

Northside Social

Elevation Burger

Super Chicken

205 Park Ave, Falls Church

442 S. Washington St., Falls Church

422 S Washington St., Falls Church 22046

RUNNERS-UP:

Cafe Kindred • Dogwood Tavern Ireland’s Four Provinces • Liberty Barbeque

Claire and Don’s Beach Shack • Dogwood Tavern Dominion Wine and Beer • Ireland’s Four Provinces

Crisp and Juicy • Liberty BBQ • Liberty Barbeque • Spin Pollo

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021 |

BEST

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 15

FOOD & DRINK READER VOTE

BEST

Coffee Shop Delivery Food

BEST

Farmers Market Vendor

Northside Social

Taco Bamba

205 Park Ave., Falls Church

2190 Pimmit Dr, Falls Church, VA

Fresh Crunch

RUNNERS-UP:

BEST

Frozen Treat

International

New Restaurant

Lil City Creamery

Thompson Italian

Preservation Biscuit

114 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

124 N Washington St, Falls Church

102 E Fairfax St, Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

Rare Bird • Cafe Kindred Starbucks

Sweet Frog • Lazy Mike’s Bakeshop • Baskin Robbins

Lucky Thai • Paisano’s baddpizza • Moby Dick’s

Lucky Thai • Panjshir Haandi • Maneki Neko

Farmers Market, Falls Church

Borek G • Atwaters Spring Valley • The Mushroom Guys

Casual Pint • Solace Outpost Thompson Italian

PAGE 16 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021 |

BEST

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

READER VOTE

BEST

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack

Pizzeria Orso

Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen

130 N Washington St., Falls Church

400 S Maple Ave., Falls Church

7049 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

BEST

Outside Dining

Pizza

Dogwood Tavern • Northside Social 10 pizza • baddpizza Ireland’s Four Provinces • Dominion Wine and Beer Flippin Pizza • Anthony’s

Seafood

Accountant

Sandwich

Celebrity Deli • Dogwood Tavern Jersey Mike’s • Northside Social

Auto

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack

Diener and Associates

Smokey’s Garage

130 N Washington St., Falls Church

125 Rowell Ct., Falls Church

1105 W Broad St., Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

Chasin Tails • Dogwood Tavern Hot & Juicy • Koi Koi

Michael Wetmore, CPA • Arden Financial Gilliland and Associates • Johnson and Assoc

Top Japanese Auto • Beyer Automotive Liberty • Integrity Auto

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021 |

BEST

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 17

RETAIL & SERVICES READER VOTE

BEST

Chiropractor

City Event

Wells Fargo

Chantay Bess

Farmer’s Market

1000 W. Broad St. Falls Church

450 W Broad St Suite 350, Falls Church

300 Park Ave., Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

BEST

Bank

Burke and Herbert • PNC Truist

Dentist

Palmercare Chiropractic • Michael Armellino Ray Solano • Brooks Chiropractic and Rehab

Doctor

Memorial Day Parade • Concerts in the Park Taste of Falls Church • 4th of July

Dry Cleaners

Dr. William V. Dougherty, III

Northern Virginia Pediatric Associates

Spectrum Cleaners

200 Little Falls St #506, Falls Church

107 N Virginia Ave., Falls Church

450 W. Broad St., Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

Peterson Huang • Drs. Love and Miller Michael Paesani

Gordon Theisz • Capital Area Pediatrics Kevin Donohue • PMA Health

Hillwood Cleaners • Classic Cleaners Dry Clean NOVA • ZIPS

PAGE 18 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021 |

BEST

RETAIL & SERVICES READER VOTE

BEST

Grocery Store Gym/Fitness Trader Joe’s

Balanced Female Fitness

7514 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church

balancedfemalefitness.com

RUNNERS-UP:

Harris Teeter • Aldi Giant Food • Whole Foods

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Falls Church Jazzercise • Orangetheory Fitness Fit4Mom • Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do

BEST

Home Improvment Brown’s Hardware 100 W Broad St, Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

Lee Design Studio • Dubro Architects + Builders Sislers Stone • House Doctors

BEST

BEST BEST Live Entertainment New Business Professional Services Balanced Female Fitness State Theatre 220 N Washington St., Falls Church

balancedfemalefitness.com

RUNNERS-UP:

Creative Cauldron • Clare and Don’s Beach Shack Solace Outpost • Ireland’s Four Provinces

Sunstone Counseling 124D E Broad St., Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

Solace Outpost • FIT4MOM Mama Restore Fitness Gayle Matthews • Bodies in Motion Physical Therapy The Casual Pint • Preservation Biscuit Falls Church Wellness Center • Brainstorm Speech Therapy

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

BEST OF FALLS CHURCH 2021 |

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 19

RETAIL & SERVICES READER VOTE

BEST

Alison Miller

The Bitici Group

The Kensington Falls Church

Real Estate Agent

105 W Broad St #200, Falls Church

Real Estate Group

2111 Wilson Blvd. Suite 1050 Arlington

Retirement Community 700 W Broad St, Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

BEST

Tori McKinney • Bethany Ellis Chris Earman • Louise Molton

Salon

Rock Star Realty • West End The Gaskins Team • The Chrissy & Lisa Team

School

Sunrise Falls Church Chesterbrook Residences

Specialty Store

Rex Day Spa

Saint James Catholic School Brown’s Hardware

510 S Washington St, Falls Church

830 W Broad St., Falls Church

100 W Broad St, Falls Church

RUNNERS-UP:

Nash Design • Perfect Endings Neighborhood Barbershop • Kess Salon

Grace Christian Academy • Congressional Dulin Cooperative Preschool • Communikids

Botanologica • Stylish Patina Doodlehopper 4 Kids • Lemon Lane

PAGE 20 | AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Thank You From Rex Day Spa For Voting Us The Best Salon in Falls Church

703-533-8777 rexdayspa.com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 21

THE MUSIC CLASSROOM is soon to become a worldwide enterprise, as evidenced by the partnership between teachers and students at Meridian High School and Sejong Arts High School in Sejong City, South Korea. Meridian High students (right) have created an artistic blend of cultures and sounds in partnership with the students from Sejong City, who utilized traditional Korean instruments like the haegeum. (Photos: Mary Jo West and Dae Yeon Park)

Meridian & Korean Students Compose Climate Commentary with Music by Patricia Leslie

Falls Church News-Press

Mereidian High School students and their impassioned music teacher are helping lead the way for a better understanding cultural differences in a collaborative effort with students halfway around the world. At Meridian High School, Mary Jo West’s International Baccalaureate students have composed, arranged and have written music which they exchanged with students based in Sejong City, South Korea. who also wrote lyrics in their language. The musicians play traditional Korean instruments and sing “I’d Forgotten (We Can Change, We Can Live)” in their native languages. The music is based on the global calamity of climate change, a topic the American and Korean students chose together after discussion of the United Nations’ list of sustainable development goals. To understand how the project started and how everybody got together (online, of course, in today’s world), West said she searched for a partner for an international project and, “on a platform” at Sejong Arts High School, she found a willing teacher — Youngju Park. The two instructors met virtually. Soon after, the collaborative

project was off and running. “This is something very powerful,” West said. “The future of education allows kids to examine local and global issues and understand matters from a world perspective.” West went on to say that the students found similar world views on climate change and their love of music. They bonded by writing a song which inspires change. They “are talking about the next steps: asking people to sponsor them, maybe with their spare change. “There are simple things they can do. Music has inspired action,” West said. Most importantly, West added, it’s empowering the young artists from Meridian and Sejong Arts to become agents of change. “By confronting issues such as climate change through their music, they have been able to reach people across the world and create an awareness of a topic that can be so easily ignored,” she said. Composition is part of the IB music curriculum and students orchestrate at least three pieces throughout the year in a variety of styles and genres, West explained. What took the most time was not rehearsals or learning the music, but scoring it for all the instruments.

The project began last February. On a video of the finished project, West’s wind ensemble students in grades 9 – 12 are seen playing the music composed by juniors and seniors, one of whom, Joe Carpenter, is now a freshman at Tufts University. He took time from his busy schedule to answer questions. Carpenter’s favorite part of the project, he emailed, was “the collaboration — in class we wrote our compositions and projects in IB Music as an independent project with feedback from others, but in the South Korea project we were able to actively work collaboratively and combine our ideas into one music piece.” The hardest part during the process, in his mind, was being unable “to directly communicate and collaborate with the Korean students.” He continued: “It was interesting to see how the Korean students adapted the piece to represent their culture, and how natural it sounded.” Creating different versions of the same piece, according to Carpenter, provided a direct comparison of the ways music genres vary between cultures, as well as the ways music has a remarkabale consistency throughout the world. Other schools are looking for international partners.

“The world is becoming one big global classroom. A lot of the collaboration is just kids talking with other kids about school and science. We are kind of on the leading edge,” West said, before predicting that the “next big thing” will be global education. That her and Park’s classes are the only ones collaborating is unlikely, but she’s unaware of other Fairfax County classes conducting similar alliances. She hopes to produce more programs like this one. Many teachers and high school students rank understanding different cultures as a most important subject. “Music is a powerful universal language that speaks through all cultures,” she emailed. In July, the performance debuted at a virtual international youth forum, “Our Planet Matters,” held in Sejong City. West was a featured speaker. The music show may be seen on YouTube at youtube.com/ watch?v=D6z0okWhOt8. On the video, West conducted the Meridian portion and Alex Smith is the American soloist who sings the haunting words which include “I always thought the sun would shine forever” and “but now the sun is sinking under winter’s last farewell” and “water cries plastic polluted tears.” The South Korean students created the art that provided a

visual for the presentation. West laughed when asked the length of her teaching career: 25 years and counting. Her passion for the subject leaps over the phone; her enthusiasm is infectious. She knows a thing or two about global education, having taught at an international school in Japan and in schools across the U.S. She received the Washington Post Agnes Meyer “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award, the Wisconsin “Educator of the Year” award, and she has been a finalist for the Grammy Foundation’s “Music Educator National Award.” Under her direction, the bands at Meridian (formerly George Mason High) have consistently received superior ratings in competitions and have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Disney World in Orlando. West said: “The future will be all about enriching your education no matter where on earth it may be. “The world is changing so fast. Music speaks to the lyrics. We can change; we can live” which is just what West, her pupils, and the South Korean students are doing. When MHS hosts its winter concert on Dec. 9, “I’d Forgotten” may be on the program.

PAGE 22 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

The 27th Annual Tinner Hill Music Festival Rocks Falls Church

SPONSORED BY THE TINNER HILL HERITAGE FOUNDATION, the Tinner Hill Music Festival had to take a break last year due to Covid but returned this year with a stellar lineup of Blues and Reggae artists who provided a live and lively soundtrack to a fun and worthwhile event in the center of the City. (Photos: Gary Mester, J. Michael Whalen and Alex Russell )

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 23

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCHCALENDAR LOCALEVENTS THURSDAY, AUGUST 26 Welcome Back to the Library Scavenger Hunt. The TysonsPimmit Regional Library invites its patrons to test their memory and see if they still know their way around the library. Visitors will conduct the scavenger hunt based on a list of items compiled by the staff. School-age children and teens are encouraged to attend. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). All day event. Walk-In Tech Clinic. A tech tutor is available every Thursday morning at the Thomas Jefferson Library Group Study Room to help adults with their tech issues. Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. English Conversation Group. For

those interested in practicing their spoken English, a small conversation group will take place in the Conference Room of the Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). Geared towards adult learners. 12 – 1 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 Making Opera Soup. An entertaining and interactive show for all ages that invokes the magic and excitement of opera, presented by award-winning singer Mirabal. Running until Aug. 29. Tickets can be purchased online at 1ststage. org/event-details-opera-soup. All perfomances will take place at the Boro Park (8350 Broad St., Tysons). 11 a.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 Falls Church Farmers Market. The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey,

music and more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 8 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/547/FarmersMarket-To-Go. Paws to Read with Lucy. Interested participants are invited to read aloud to Lucy, a trained therapy dog. Visitors can bring their own book, or choose one from the library. Walk-ins are welcome. Geared towards kids ages 6 – 12. Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church). 2 – 3 p.m.

MONDAY, AUGUST 30 Origami Bookmarks. Those interested in creating origami bookmarks are invited to Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library for an all day origami-making event. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Storytime Fun for Preschoolers. Preschool-age children and their

caregivers are invited to a morning of storytelling fun at TysonsPimmit Regional Library. Space is limited to 15 kids with one caregiver each. Registration not required; customers allowed in on a first come, first served basis. Check in at the info desk upon arrival. Masks are required regardless of vaccine status. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 10:30 – 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 English Practice for Pre-Beginners. Students with no or limited prior English language experience are encouraged to attend this in-person lesson. The focus of this particular lesson is on basic vocabulary and every-day phrases. Students are encouraged to attend several sessions. This group is limited to 6 people; masks are required. Registration is required; register online at librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/7752223. There are four seats available. Tysons-

Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 6:30 – 8 p.m.

VIRTUALEVENTS MONDAY, AUGUST 30 ESOL Conversation Group (online). Practice your English with a weekly ESOL conversation group. This program takes place online, via Zoom. To request a Zoom invite, email Marshall Webster at mwebster@ fallschurchva.gov. 7 – 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 Bouncin' Babies (online). Join Ms. Kelly and her ukulele for a morning of songs, storytelling and fun. This online event can help your child build an early literacy foundation while also enjoying a fun time. Geared towards children ages 1 and under. Registration is required; there are 5 seats available. A Zoom link will be emailed to registered caregivers a day in advance. Register online at librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty. gov/event/7957229. 10:15 – 10:45 a.m.

Fall Festival Special Issue Thursday, September 9th The Fall Festival is Saturday, September 11th. Our special issue will include the vendor map, Taste of Falls Church participants, and lots of details about what's going on that day.

Advertise your Restaurants and Businesses in this Special Section that will be distributed at the Festival

Advertise with us Today! mmorse@fcnp.com • 703-532-3267

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

THEATER&ARTS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 Wesley Diener. A versatile performer known for crossing the barrier between theatre and opera, Wesley Diener made his Creative Cauldron debut last summer with songs of community, connection, and happiness in "No One is Alone.” After this and a sell-out performance at the "Passport to the World" concert, Wes returns with an evening of musical theatre, opera, and jazz selections. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave, Falls Church). Parking will be available in the Falls Church Community Center Lot (223 Little Falls St, Falls Church). $30. 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 Veronneau. One of D.C.'s most acclaimed, and one of the festival's most popular, musical groups comes to Falls Church to perform their signature, multilingual, world jazz. With three Top 10 releases to their name on both the world and jazz music charts, the Washington Post calls Veronneau a “powerhouse.” Veronneau has performed both internationally and in some of the capital’s top venues, including DC Jazz Fest, the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley and Strathmore. Their show in Cherry Hill Park promises to be a sell-out. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave, Falls Church). Parking will be available in the Falls Church Community Center Lot (223 Little Falls St, Falls Church). $30. 7:30 p.m. “Detroit '67.” Winner of the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama, this thought-provoking play comes to life with a soundtrack straight from the 1960s. Capturing the spirit and groove of Detroit, Dominique Morriseau’s play pays homage to the sounds and sights of Motown — a classic, influential era in American pop music. The story of “Detroit ‘67” follows Chelle and

CA L E NDA R

Lank Poindexter and the disagreements that erupt within the family when Lank comes home with a mysterious white woman. Life in and outside their family becomes more turbulent — and more dangerous. For more information, visit sigtheatre.org. Streaming for free on demand until Sept. 16, 2021.

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1 | PAGE 25

LIVEMUSIC THURSDAY, AUGUST 26 The Sisters: Outdoor Show. Clare & Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-532-9283. Michelle Swan: Live. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-858-9186. Whiskey Neat: Free Outdoor Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566. Bad Influence Band: Live and in Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703-241-9504.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 Josh Allen Live Acoustic Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4:30 p.m. 703-241-9504. Swamp Grass. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington St., Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703858-9186. Red Not Chili Peppers with Two By Sea. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $12 – $15. 8 p.m. 703-549-7500. Proof of vaccine or of negative test required for indoor shows. The Barefoot Movement: Live and in Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $12 — $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566. Sol Roots Band with Chris Timbers: Live. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT, the aclaimed acoustic Americana group, will bring their indelible talent to Jammin' Java this Friday at 8 p.m. (Photo: thebarefootmovementofficial.com)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 Smokin' Lounge: Janna & Rob. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-858-9186. Groovejet Band: Outdoor Show. Clare & Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church). 1 p.m. 703-532-9283. Jon Spears Band: Live and in Concert. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-241-9504. The Brahman Noodles. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6:30 p.m. 703-8589186. Skinny Wallace Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd.,

Falls Church). 8:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29 Bentwood Rockers:. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 3:30 p.m. 703-2419504. Jessica Yellowitz: Outdoor Show. Clare & Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church). 4 p.m. 703-532-9283. Open Mic Night with Bob Sheppard. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-8589186. The Nighthawks: Free Outdoor Show. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-237-0300. Proof of vaccine or of negative test required

for indoor shows.

George Mason University Jazz Faculty: Live and in Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10 — $15. 7 p.m. 703255-1566. Mike Tash & Linwood Taylor. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8:15 p.m. 703-2419504.

MONDAY, AUGUST 30 Tom Saputo Show: Live. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2419504.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 Wrabel: Nothing But the Piano Tour. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $30. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Calendar Submissions Email: calendar@fcnp.com | Mail: Falls Church News-Press, Attn: Calendar, 105 N. Virginia Ave., #310, 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 26 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

with

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS

AUGUST

26 AY

SD R U H T

Whiskey Neat Jammin’ Java 7 p.m. 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna 703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com

27 AY

FRID

Josh Allen Live JV’s Restaurant 4:30 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church 703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com

Swamp Grass Live and in Concert

Falls Church Distillers 6 p.m. 442 S. Washington St., Falls Church 703-858-9186 • fcdistillers.com

RDA U T A S

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Tribute bands occupy a unique territory in the music scene. To some, they’re the welcome embodiment of their nostalgia. To others, they’re just a bunch of actors with instruments, who don’t engage in the songwriting and composing that define “serious” musicians. The latter is a stigma that the Red Not Chili Peppers believe can be cleared up as more of a misunderstanding once you attend one of their shows, such as this Friday’s at the State Theatre. “My perception completely changed when I joined the band. I know how hard it is,” said band member and manager Paul Moffat, who transforms into the famous Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, Flea, on stage. “I’ve had to learn 80 songs, note for note, while also being able to improv over it. We’ve got to play so well that people can walk in, close their eyes and think they’re hearing the Red Hot Chili Peppers.” This is coming from someone who has been on the outside looking in. Moffat was a bassist in another band before joining the Not Chili Peppers about six years ago. The tribute group had started during the craze’s genesis in the late 2000s, but frequent turnover — seven different drummers, seven different guitar players and even eight different singers — had the band constantly trying to find itself. It’s a challenge to do that when the Not Chili Peppers are also trying to find out how to best represent the actual Chili Peppers. The band has been around since 1983 and its music has evolved throughout the decades. Moffat said the tribute group tries to focus on the eras that started with Mother’s Milk (1989) and ended with Stadium Arcadium (2006) in their performances, where the sound went from fast, funky and punk-ish to arena rock. But it’s less about being carbon copies of the original band and more about bringing their

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS. (P��: C�� B�� S��) spirit to the stage. “There are some tribute bands that are excellent at what they do. But what they do is imitate the band,” Moffat said. “We don’t do that. We try and do everything we can to emulate the live energy and just the feeling that you would get at a Red Hot Chili Peppers show.” The Not Chili Peppers seem to have some influence. According to Moffat, they’re the only nationally touring tribute act to the original Chili Peppers band. So when they come to town and a member gets sick or has to miss a few shows, they know most of the regional Chili Peppers tribute acts they can recruit from to fill in with them. Despite their success, Moffat said that they’ve never been contacted by the group itself. Likely because people can still see the Chili Peppers touring; however, not in nearly three years. Moffat believes the tribute act is a way to bring attention back to the group that has inspired such a devout following.

“Every one of our shows, we’re reminding the 400 or 500 people that are out there that that’s an amazing band,” Moffat said. “When they come through, and they’re two hours away, and you have a chance to go see them, you should because that’s how good they are.” Giving Flea a handshake or a hug is still on Moffat’s bucket list. After all that he’s done to inspire the tribute band’s bassist, he feels it’s the right reaction. And who knows — he could look out into the crowd one day and see that familiar, gap-toothed smile gazing back at him. The Red Not Chili Peppers will be performing at the State Theatre on Friday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. Note: All of the State Theatre indoor shows require a proof of vaccination (original card or picture is sufficient), or a negative Covid-19 test that is no more than 72 hours old for entry. For more information on tickets or Covid protocols, visit thestatetheatre.com or call 703-237-0300.

Skinny Wallace Band JV’s Restaurant

8:30 p.m. 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church

These singles whet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week:  Nicholas F. Benton – D Minor Symphony by Cesar Franck  Matt Delaney – As the World Caves In by Matt Maltese 

703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com



Nick Gatz – Radio by Ga Ga

Ted White – Time of the Season by The Zombies

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 27

F� � � � C � � � � �

NEWS BRIEFS F.C. Sets Mandatory Vaccination Policy City of Falls Church announced Monday that all City employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and required to have received at least one vaccination by Sept. 30. Employees who request an exemption for medical or religious reasons will be tested regularly. In recent meetings, the City Council expressed support for the requirement. Neighboring Fairfax County – with which the City contracts for health department services – announced the same requirements for their employees. “The vaccines are safe, effective, and they save lives,” said City Manager Wyatt Shields. “We join many other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, school systems, companies, and organizations in this important step toward ending this pandemic.” Covid-19 vaccines are readily available through physicians, pharmacies, and more at www.vaccines.gov. The Fairfax Health Department hosts walk-in clinics and vaccines by appointment at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/ vaccine/registration. The City will host its second public walk-in clinic, managed by Fairfax Health, at the Falls Church Festival on Saturday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; more information can be found at www.fallschurchva.gov/Festival.

F.C. Schools Receives Grant For 2 New Electric Buses As Falls Church City Public Schools prepared for students to head back to class following the summer break, news has come that FCCPS is one of 19 Virginia school divisions receiving a grant to replace diesel school buses with new electric buses. The grant announcement came last Thursday, in a news release from the governor’s office. FCCPS will receive $530,000 for two electric buses from the Volkswagen (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust. The electric school buses are a first for Falls Church. “We are, quite simply, thrilled with the award of two electric buses to Falls Church City Public Schools,” said Superintendent Peter J. Noonan. “We anticipate that more funding will be available for our academic programs with the reduced life cycle and operating costs for these vehicles. Environmental sustainability and resilience are core values of our community,” Dr. Noonan said. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam made the

grant announcement Thursday as part of a push to transition to a cleaner economy across the state. “We all benefit from transitioning away from diesel school buses and investing in clean alternatives for our transportation system,” said Northam. “I know how important clean air is for children’s health.” “Our curriculum and outreach programs influence our students to understand the social and technical aspects of our use of energy resources,” Dr. Noonan said. “In addition, the health benefits to our children from cleaner air and reduced noise in and around the buses also resonate strongly in our community, rated one of the healthiest in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.”

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Anti-Gerrymandering Group Hails Va. Redistricting Process This week, the nonpartisan anti-gerrymandering coalition OneVirginia2021 applauded the Virginia Redistricting Commission on their vote to begin the map-drawing process from scratch, without regard for existing electoral maps. The vote tally was 12-4, with members of both parties supporting the motion. “Today marked an enormous victory for Virginia voters,” said OneVirginia2021 Executive Director Liz White. “As several commissioners stated during the debate, this decision was a direct result of the tireless advocacy of engaged citizens from every corner of Virginia.” “While it’s no secret that we haven’t agreed with every decision the commission has made, we thank them for voting today to do what is best for all Virginians. This was the most consequential vote the Commission has taken thus far, and they got it right.” Board President Sharron Kitchen Miller added, “An overwhelming majority of Virginians voted for a redistricting process with unprecedented levels of transparency and public input, and today’s vote embodied this mandate. All of the deliberations were done in full public view, and the end result was one of fundamental fairness. “Public engagement works. And while the Commission has a long way to go before their work is done, today proved that citizens have a direct voice in this process like never before.” In the coming days, OneVirginia2021 said it will be continuing to focus its attention on ensuring that the public’s voice continues to be heard, just as it was this past week.

We make college better. REGISTER TODAY! at www.nvcc.edu

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PAGE 28 | AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 LEGAL NOTICE Invitation For Bids (IFB) IFB 0913-21-WMI South Washington & South Maple Improvements Project City of Falls Church PASSWORD-PROTECTED ELECTRONIC BIDS (SEALED) will be accepted by the City of Falls Church via electronic submission to the Purchasing Agent, James Wise, jwise@fallschurchva.gov (email) for the S Washington & S Maple Improvements Project. Due date for the electronic submission of Bids is September 13, 2021 @ 11:00 AM. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on August 31, 2021 @ 1:30 PM (see IFB for details). The IFB including all details and requirements may be downloaded from the City’s procurement website: www.fallschurchva.gov/Bids. Notice of the IFB may also be accessed via eVA, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s electronic procurement portal for registered vendors/suppliers, www.eva.virginia.gov. For more information and/or questions regarding this IFB contact the Purchasing Agent; (703) 248-5007; jwise@fallschurchva.gov. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call (703) 248-5007 (TTY 711).

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Passport Me Inc, Trading as: Martini Restaurant, 6763 Wilson Blvd. Unit B3, Falls Church, VA 22044-3321. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for Wine & Beer On & Off Premises/Mixed Beverages. David Jabro, Owner, Authorized Signatory Passport Me Inc, the Operating Member of Martini Restaurant. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

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ACROSS 1. Holepunching tools 5. Pod vegetable 8. Wool eater 12. Send away 13. Coat sleeve 14. Cockeyed 15. Nails 16. Chat 17. Slender 18. Sleep 20. Homework 22. Relieves 24. Fee 28. Fodder 33. On a boat 34. Feather accompaniment

36. Per 37. Pier 39. Keepsake 41. Slip-up 43. Practical 47. Slanted font 52. Angler’s tool 53. Approves, shortly 55. Filled tortilla 56. Storm 57. Great success 58. Across 59. Otherwise 60. Product pitches 61. Concocted DOWN 1. Some vipers

2. At what time? 3. Advertising symbol 4. All right: hyph. 5. Costumed parade 6. Distinctive time 7. Walk leisurely 8. Blob 9. Nighttime hooters 10. Singing group 11. Sacred song 19. Final letter 21. Initial for Superman

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

PUZZLE NO. 96

n snake people flower g an d ceiling s call ___

ment form of ss down g device top

ACROSS 1. ____ Wednesday 4. Not this 8. Take off, as clothes 12. Service charge 13. Roomy 14. List of dishes 15. Roofing material 17. Breakfast flakes 18. Type of snake 19. Remorse 21. Bridge payment 24. Milky stone 26. Lacking moisture

27. Hunch 28. Zeroes in 30. Make ready to publish 31. Lodging house 32. Scored on serve 36. Brink 38. “The ____ Boat” 39. Finished dinner 42. Single 44. Unfold 45. Game tile with dots 47. To each his ____ 49. Yoked beasts

50. Salad-bar items 55. Ice arena 56. Female wool-givers 57. Noah’s transport 58. Wraps up 59. Printer’s term 60. Cheerful

DOWN 1. Fore’s opposite 2. Ocean 3. This lady 4. “____ the night before . . .”

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 94

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

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5. African animal, shortly 6. Citrus beverage 7. Land 8. Urban problem 9. Got word 10. Become a member of 11. Powdery 16. Roof of the mouth 20. Popular street name 21. Hitch 22. Unusual 23. Hawaiian necklace 25. Group of judges

29. Parlors 31. Spurned 33. Dirty Harry, e.g. 34. Abel’s mother 35. Cozy place 37. ____ Quixote 39. Revere 40. Poison 41. Change, as text 43. Sing like the Swiss 46. Signs 48. Sharp-witted 51. Admiration 52. Witch 53. Historical epoch 54. Heaven

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | PAGE 29

STRANGE BREW

JOHN DEERING

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 96

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

SPORTS QUIZ By Ryan A. Berenz 1. What Baseball Hall of Fame infielder, nicknamed “Old Shufflefoot,” won the American League MVP award in 1948 as a member of the Cleveland Indians? 2. What name did Muhammad Ali give to his strategy of tiring out an opponent by repeatedly absorbing or evading his punches? 3. Norm Chow, the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator from 2005-07, was head football coach for what college team from 2012-15? 4. Who was the last active NHL player to have played for the Quebec Nordiques? 5. What is the name of the official mascot of the NBA’s Orlando Magic? 6. What sports equipment and sportswear manufacturer was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1906? 7. The United States led the medal table with a record 83 gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. What nation came in a distant second with 20 gold medals at those Games?

Last Weeks answers! Last Week’s Answers 1. Jose Oquendo • 2. The New York Jets. 3. Arturs Irbe • 4. Scoonie Penn • 5. “Hard Knocks.” 6. The jammers • 7. “Centerfield.” (c) 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

LO CA L

PAGE 30 |AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

BACK IN THE DAY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C�� C��

25 � 10 Y�� A�� N��-P�� Falls Church News-Press Vol. VI, No. 22 • August 23, 1996

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXI, No. 27 • August 25,, 2011

School Board Votes to Reject Home Schooler

Area Braces for ‘Earth, Wind’ One-Two Punch: Irene Following Earthquake

In one of the most emotional meetings in recent School Board history, the Board voted 4 – 2 late last night to deny Marta Eckert-Mills, an eight grade alto saxophonist player who has been home schooled by her parents, the opportunity to continue to take music class at George Mason High School.

With a strengthening Hurricane Irene still tracking as of press time toward this region, due to arrive Saturday, Tuesday’s earthquake is being treated by area officials as a wake-up call to citizens to be prepared for the coming storm and any challenges it may present.

F.C. Schools Continued from Page 8

and at Henderson Middle and Meridian High, only in cases where a student is symptomatic. Students are encouraged to enter the middle and new high school from a mid-block entrance on Haycock Road, although a route that goes up Route 7 also can work. The “Roots, Resilience and Renewal” theme dominating the convocation Tuesday focused on Noonan’s remarks on “sustainability” obtained, he said, through the integrated pursuits of “social equity, environmental integrity and economic security.” The system’s “true north,” he said, is grounded in “being unified, creating change for the better, and being of service to the community,” “We are models of resilience for our students...We bend but do not break... Our goal is to be the best IB program in the world...We define who we are and do what we do best…We need to be there for each other.” The system has adopted the 17-point United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as “we are already doing all of them,” he said. Teacher remarks played on a video included the models of playwright Anton Chekov and “Joy Luck Club” author Amy Tan for senior English students under Angela Weston, experts in Mata Ortiz pottery for art students under Mark Robarge, and challenges to gender stereotypes among Latino leaders in the U.S. for middle school students under Miguel Gonzales. Noonan thanked the wider Falls Church City community

Den�st Chi-Yi Lin Dies at 54 Chi-Yi Lin, DDS, a pediatric dentist and long-time resident of Falls Church and Castleton, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 10, 2021 at the age of 54, following a brief struggle with cancer. Chi-Yi is survived by his husband, Jack Varga, MD of Castleton; his father, Yuan Shuh Lin; two brothers (Chi-Hung and Chi-Ming) and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews in Taiwan. He was predeceased by his mother, Pong Lai Chen. Chi-Yi was born in Taitung, Taiwan and lived much of his early life in Pingtong, Taiwan. He completed his initial dental education at Taiwan Medical University, receiving a DDS in 1991, and then came to New York City to train as a pediatric dentist at New York University. After meeting his future husband in 1996, he completed another DDS at New York University College of Dentistry in 1999 to obtain licensure in the United States. On Oct. 17, 2007, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. On Sept. 27, 2013, he married Jack, an ophthalmologist. He completed a graduate certificate in Health Information Technology from George Mason University in 2011. He was a faculty member at West Virginia University for 3 years and worked in pediatric dental practices in New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia. Chi-Yi was Board Certified in Pediatric Dentistry in both the United States and Taiwan. He was an active mem-

for its support of the system during the difficult last year, urging people to “listen to the silence” demonstrating support among the vast majority against the loud complaints of the few. The system’s longest tenured employee, Eduardo Molina, the head of custodial services, spoke

ber of the American, Virginia and Taiwan Dental Associations. He provided charity dental services through various programs, including Head Start, Special Olympics and “Give Kids a Smile”. Chi-Yi enjoyed travel, both across the US and globally, often dining at internationally renowned restaurants, including #1 Noma, Osteria Francescana and Cellar de Can Roca. He and Jack visited 37 states and 25 countries, including various themed vacations from 01-01-01 to 12-12-12 (Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney Feb 2, D-Day in Normandy June 6). He enjoyed vegetable gardening and planting trees at the Castleton house. A memorial celebration of life service will be held at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 Broad St, Falls Church on Aug. 28, 2021, with visitation from 1 – 3 p.m. and service from 3 – 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org). briefly about his 30-year career in the system. School Board chair Shannon Litton, Falls Church Education Foundation executive director Debbie Hiscott, and Falls Church Education Association president Farrell Kelly also delivered welcoming remarks.

SCHERZER is a 4-year old golden retriever, who loves swimming. Unlike his namesake, he won’t be traded. Just because you’re not famous doesn’t mean your pet can’t be! Send in your Critter Corner submissions to crittercorner@fcnp.com.

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B�� N�� N�� Bloomie’s, Bloomingdale’s Highly Curated Store Concept Opening Bloomie’s, Bloomingdale’s new highly curated store concept, is scheduled to open Thursday, August 26 at 2920 District Avenue in Mosaic. The new store will offer top designer fashion, interactive experiences, refreshing cocktails, exceptional service., and an in-store restaurant, the D.C.-based Cuban restaurant Colada Shop. Bloomie’s will be open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily, except Sunday when it will close at 7 p.m. and Tuesday when it will remain closed. For more information, visit www.bloomingdales.com/bloomies-mosaic-va.

Toy Nest Partners with Dina Rosa Photography to Offer School Portraits The Toy Nest has partnered with Dina Rosa Photography to offer school portraits and playful candid photos on Friday, August 27 from 3 – 5:30 p.m. Each session will include three edited digital images, plus the option to purchase prints and additional images. Dina Rosa is certified by the National Association of Professional Child Photographers and her work has been published and gallery featured. The Toy Nest is located at 98 N. Washington Street in Falls Church. For more information, including pricing, visit thetoynest.com/events-and-classes.

The Kensington Falls Church Hosting a Parkinson’s LIVE WELL Pop-Up Event The Kensington Falls Church is hosting a Parkinson’s LIVE WELL Educational Pop-Up event with The Parkinson’s Foundation of The National Capital Area. The PFNCA Outreach Vehicle will be at The Kensington Falls Church on Saturday, August 28 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The outreach vehicle includes a prize wheel, a lending library, and offers information about the wellness and educational programs that PFNCA offers for those facing Parkinson’s. The Kensington Falls Church is located at 700 W. Broad Street. For more information, visit https://thekensingtonfallschurch.com/events.

Restaurant and Sponsor Opportunities Available for the Falls Church Festival Restaurant and sponsor opportunities are still available with the Falls Church Festival scheduled for Saturday, September 11. Sponsors include presenting sponsor The Kensington Falls Church along with Goldfish Swim School, Ilya Shapiro for Falls Church City School Board, Island Fin Poke Co., and Rock Star Realty Group. Participating restaurants include Hot N Juicy Crawfish, Open Road Grill, Preservation Biscuit Company, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, Solace Outpost, and Thompson Italian while Audacious Aleworks, Falls Church Distillers, and Solace Outpost offer adult beverages. For more information contact Scarlett Williams at sawilliams@fallschurchva. gov.

Sponsorships and Registration Open for Falls Church Education Foundation Run Sponsorships are still available, and registration is open for the seventeenth annual Falls Church Education Foundation Run for the Schools, scheduled for Sunday, September 12 at 8 a.m. The race will be held in person with a virtual option as well. The course, a mix of hills and flat stretches with water stops, includes a one mile loop for runners and walkers. Strollers are welcome. For more information about this event or the FCEF’s Little City Golf Scramble scheduled for September 29, visit www.fcedf.org.

Ireland’s Four Provinces Officially becomes Guinness Perfect Pint Certified Ireland’s Four Provinces has officially become Guinness Perfect Pint Certified. Guinness is an Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James’s Gate, Dublin, Ireland, in 1759. Despite being notoriously difficult to pour, Guinness is one of the most successful alcohol brands worldwide, brewed in almost 50 countries, and available in more than 120. The acknowledgement comes with a plaque and the Guinness Gold Card, a credential indicating that Ireland’s Four Provinces is a Guinness Quality Steward. For more information about the independent Irish restaurant and pub located at 104 W. Broad Street in Falls Church, visit its Facebook page or www.4psva.com.  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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