Falls Church News-Press 9-1-2022

September 1 - 7, 2022

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

Founded 1991 • V o l . X X X II N o . 29

The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia

City Warns Car Tax Bills Will Be Higher

Local Artists Showing Off

Seeing it Coming, Council Planned With a Tax Cut

by Nicholas F. Benton

Falls Church News-Press

Vehicle owners in the City of Falls Church will likely see an increase in the Personal Property Tax (also known as the “car tax”) when bills are delivered to mailboxes this week. In April, the F.C. City Council approved a 14 percent temporary decrease in the personal property tax rate to help with the expected increase. The rate for this year is $4.30 per $100 of assessed value (down from $5.00).

“This nationwide increase in new and used vehicle values is caused by a combination of factors,” City of Falls Church Chief Financial Officer Kiran Bawa said in a statement from the City. “There is a high demand for used vehicles, low inventory of used vehicles, and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic that creates a low inventory issue for new vehicles.”

The decrease in the rate will not cancel out the total increase

Continued on Page 3

THIS IS THE SPECIAL FALL Arts and Entertainment edition of the Falls Church News-Press. What you are looking at here are samples of what talented local artists have on display now at the Falls Church Arts gallery exhibition at 700 West Broad. (News-Press Photo)

Mayor Tarter Muses in Annual ‘State of City’ Interview

by Alex Russell

Falls Church News-Press

David Tarter, in his fourth term as mayor of the City of Falls Church, recently took time to speak with the News-Press and reflect on this past year in what has become an annual August tradition updating his views

on the “state of the city.” This time he touched on topics like City developments and infrastructure, education and community involvement.

The following is a Q&A with Mayor Tarter.

Q: This past year has displayed several instances of both conflict and togetherness. What is your assess-

ment of how the City as a whole responds to serious, often polarizing issues?

A: I think the rest of the country can learn a thing or two from Falls Church. In the past few years, our community has dealt with a number of serious, difficult issues, yet we have managed to do so in a thought-

ful, respectful manner. Almost uniformly, I have found our discourse to be civil and folks courteous and tolerant of differing opinions. Our citizens are involved, informed and understanding.

We in local government have

Continued on Page 4

Inside This Week Fall 2022: Arts and Entertainment

The Falls Church News Press proudly presents its Arts and Entertainment issue! Take a look at what the local area has in store this fall regarding plays, festivals, art shows and many more!

See Pages 9-14

& Entertaiment Arts

Falls Church Area High School Sports

The fall high school sports season has officially begun! Nick Porr reviews the highs and lows of the week for area sports teams, including field hockey, football, volleyball ,golf and cross country.

See Page 15

Index

News Briefs.........................................2 Comment........................................5,7,8 Editorial.................................................6 Crime Report.......................................8 News & Notes................................16,17 Calendar........................................18,19 Classifieds..........................................20 Business News...................................21 Crossword Puzzle..............................21 Critter Corner......................................22

PAGE 2 | SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022

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NEWS BRIEFS Classes Begin Without a Hitch on Five F.C. School Campuses As students and staff returned to school Monday, everyone was excited to be back in the classroom. Superintendent Peter Noonan, School Board Chair Laura Downs, and Vice Chair Tate Gould made Day 1 tours of all five schools. At Mount Daniel and Oak Street, teachers and staff greeted students as they arrived. While at Jessie Thackrey Preschool, the youngest learners of FCCPS explored their classrooms and made new friends.

Reproductive Rights Forum Set Next Thursday, Sept. 8 Arlington-based State Sen. Barbara Favola and Delegates Patrick Hope and Rip Sullivan will host an informational town hall on Thursday, Sept. 8 to discuss reproductive health care in Virginia. Also participating will be Dr. Aimee Danielson, an expert in maternal mental health, and Jamie Lockhart, the head of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.

New Tennis Business Opens On Sept. 10 in Falls Church

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Tennis String Theory is opening its new Falls Church retail storefront, 7115 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, marking the brick-and-mortar return for a local family with a 46+year retail history in Falls Church. Under the guidance of proprietor Jennifer “Ivy” Smith, daughter of the tennis store’s founder, the new shop will expand to 900 square feet of retail space.

Ivy has extensive knowledge of tennis and racquet sports, gained over the years as she worked with her father at the shop he originally established. As one of a few female racquet stringers on the East Coast, Ivy brings her experience and technical ability to what has traditionally been a maledominated field.

Tennis String Theory is much more than a retail outlet, as Ivy and her team provide extensive guidance to assist every player’s skill level, style and find the best gear to enhance their game. The store offers a wide selection of racquets, shoes, clothing, bags, racquet stringing and grip services. The retail space includes a hitting area. Tennis is

the store’s specialty, but pickleball, racquetball and squash gear is also available.

The new store’s grand reopening is happening Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a slate of exciting activities to be announced soon.

N. Va. Transportation Group To Meet New Metro CEO Tonight Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) will welcome new Metro GM/CEO Randy Clarke and review upcoming public outreach efforts for the NVTC-led Envision Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system planning effort at their monthly meeting tonight.

Commissioners will welcome newlyappointed Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. It will be Clarke’s first meeting with the full commission since joining Metro in late July. Clarke’s appearance comes a week before Metro shuts down the Yellow Line in Northern Virginia for major construction.

NVTC’s appointees to the Metro Board of Directors and members of the NVTC WMATA Committee will provide updates on the shutdown and available travel alternatives.

Then the NVTC staff will brief Commissioners on public outreach efforts this fall designed to gather feedback on the Envision Route 7 BRT system NVTC leads the project which, when completed, will provide high-quality, highcapacity transit service between Tysons and Mark Center in Alexandria, via Seven Corners, Falls Church and the East Falls Church Metrorail Station.

The project is currently undertaking a mobility study which will provide analysis of traffic operations and impacts as well as include extensive public outreach focused on the City of Fall Church segment of the corridor. Outreach will begin in mid-September and include digital communications, a public meeting on October 11 and at inperson events.

Tonight’s meeting will be held Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m. at NVTC’s offices: 2300 Wilson Boulevard, First Floor Conference Room, Arlington, Virginia, 22201. It will be livestreamed on NVTC’s YouTube channel.

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

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SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 3

Several Factors and Data Affect NADA Value Of One’s Vehicle

Continued from Page 1

in all vehicle values. The increase varies widely from year, make, model and type of vehicle. This year about 85 percent of vehicles owned by City residents increased in value, compared to 15 percent of vehicles increasing in value last year.

The tax is due October 5 and can be paid online at www. fallschurchva.gov. Payment can also be mailed or placed in the yellow drop box outside the City Hall main entrance; payment and the bill stub should be included. The mailing address is Treasurer, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046.

Questions about vehicle assessments can be directed to the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office (commissioner@fallschurchva.gov or 703248-5450, TTY 711). To register a vehicle or to give notice of a moved out vehicle, go to www.fallschurchva.gov/vehiclereg. For billing and online payment questions, contact the Treasurer’s Office (treasurer@ fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-

5046, TTY 711). Information about payment options can be found online at www.fallschurchva.gov/Payments.

In terms of the value of a used vehicle, the following is taken from the website for NADA: “NADA is the National Association of Automobile Dealers. The first NADA guides were issued in 1933 during the Great Depression at the request of the federal government. Over the years, the NADAguides (the yellow book) has become the premier resource for finding the value of vehicles in the used vehicle industry. Since 2015, the NADAguides have been licensed to J.D. Power.

The NADA value is the value of your used vehicle based on many different value factors.

The NADA guides have values for automobiles, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and even manufactured homes. The NADA used car guide provides multiple values for each vehicle. This depends on whether it is the auction value, actual cash value, retail value, trade-in value, private party value, or even the

used car or new car dealer price. The prices are compiled from actual purchase information and are regularly updated.

This provides some of the most important information when it comes to used car values, and is a useful research tool online for anyone looking to sell their vehicle at a fair price, offering several options as well. An individual owner, an automotive dealership, banks, and auctioneers: all rely on NADA to find out more about the automobile marketplace and get an estimated market price.

Several different factors and data affect the NADA value of your vehicle. In fact, all of the factors combine together to give an accurate picture of the genuine value of the vehicle.

Sentimental value is not one of these. There are four major factors that affect NADA value: 1 Location of vehicle, 2 Optional Accessories, 3.

Mileage, 4 Condition.

It’s pretty straightforward to know that mileage and condition affect the value (if you didn’t know, you can check a

vehicle’s history report by entering the VIN number on the guide by NADA site as well).

For example when it comes to average retail value in terms of mileage, it should be within the acceptable range for the model year. In addition to condition, it’s something car dealers also take into account all the time, but less so when it comes to vehicle location and optional accessories.

Optional accessories affect NADA value because they definitely add value to a vehicle. Of course, optional accessories like automatic transmission and air conditioning are very important selling points for a vehicle.

Generally, the more optional accessories or products the vehicle has then the higher the NADA value is.

Location affects pricing and cash offers as well. Not only is there a rural vs. urban divide when it comes to car prices, but there is also a regional disparity. This disparity can be caused by economic differences between areas. It can also be caused by supply and demand

issues. There can even be seasonal price differences. Not surprisingly, there is less demand for a convertible model car in December in a place like North Dakota than there is in another state like Florida. While location doesn’t play a huge part in vehicle values, it is something to be aware of.

NADA Guides (National Appraisal Guides) shares the vehicle valuation market with Kelley Blue Book (KBB), and many consumers often want to know which of these tools is better. They both are trusted guides for vehicle valuations with almost a century of experience, but there are some key differences, mostly in how they calculate the value. NADA relies more on hard data about sales and prices from sellers, retailers, trying to be more comprehensive, while the KBB focuses on auctions a bit more. More importantly for us, unlike the NADA Guide, KBB does not offer valuations for RVs and motorhomes, focusing just on used cars, new cars, SUVs, and trucks.”

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

F.C. Mayor Speaks on Education, Development and the Ongoing Pandemic

Continued from Page 1

sought to foster transparency and openness by having town halls, walking tours and community forums on issues of interest and importance.

Having a local newspaper like the News Press provide in-depth coverage of community issues is invaluable for informed discourse.

Q:. What can you say about the City’s resilience as a community and the many examples of the residents coming together to make a public celebration or fundraising or charity event a reality?

A: As terrible as the Covid crisis has been, it has brought out the best in many people and showed the strength and spirit of our community. We saw numerous acts of generosity, neighbor helping neighbor… shuttered businesses making masks for health care workers and local restaurants providing food to first responders.

Q: 2022 has seen many development plans move forward in the City, such as Founders Row and the Great Street plan. With new construction and the eventual influx of cars, how has the City been addressing residents’ worries regarding traffic congestion and safety?

A: We all know that traffic in Northern Virginia can be a mess, but the City is working hard to relieve congestion and promote safety. For new developments, the City requires traffic studies, and usually developer-funded traffic improvements as a part of each new proposal. With these improvements, most new projects maintain or even improve preexisting traffic throughput.

More broadly, sidewalks, traffic calming and pedestrian and bike safety continue to be major priorities throughout the City. To reduce the burden of expensive capital improvements, we continue to seek and obtain grant funding for these projects…streetscape improvements to South Washington Street are nearly complete and are a major boost to this commercial area. The upgrades include wider sidewalks, street trees and lights, crosswalks, utility undergrounding and new markers telling the City’s history. The cost was paid by state and federal grants.

Q: In terms of City infrastructure, what is your impression of how Falls Church has been addressing climate change, environmental sustainability and related policy?

A: Environmental sustainability is a top priority for this Council and we

continue to make important strides in combating climate change. Almost a decade ago, Falls Church became Virginia’s first EPA Green Power community and we have been building on that commitment ever since.

Recent successes include completion of Meridian High School, the City’s first Net-Zero ready facility.

Solar panels will be coming soon to it and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. The schools will also be adding new electric school buses to their fleet. Likewise, the police and City have begun their transition to clean energy with recent purchases of electric vehicles. We are also in the midst of preparing our Community Energy Plan, which will provide a City roadmap to implementing the goals of the Paris Accord. Even our urban planning is informed by climate change with the West Falls project, the City’s largest and densest one, located near the West Falls Church Metro Station.

Q: In the City, biking, electric vehicles and sustainable gardening are among some of the top areas of interest for residents; do you think the City has overall continued on the right path when it comes to being environmentally responsible?

A: I think so. Climate change is one of the defining issues of the

modern era. We have made major strides in just the past few years but we can’t let up. There is so much more yet to be done. I am particularly proud that our students and young people have been leading the charge for action.

Q: Although Covid-19 is still a consistent part of our lives, Northern Virginia in general has seen improvements in terms of people getting vaccinated as well as the amount of cases appearing to decrease.

However, with Governor Youngkin’s stance on masking and vaccinations, does the City have a rough plan for dealing with another possible surge?

A: The City will be ready in the event of another Covid surge. We continue to carefully monitor Covid infection rates, hospitalizations and other metrics, and to work with the Fairfax Health Department, our health partner, to ensure that we are ready to take action if need be.

Through much of Covid, I was chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and saw first-hand how the region came together and coordinated its efforts, adopted best practices and spoke with one voice.

New vaccine boosters should be available this fall offering broader protection and will hopefully reduce

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the chances of further outbreaks. I am confident that we can deal with any further surges, should they come.

Q: Mandates have been a tricky topic the past few years and have unfortunately been politicized across the country, but do you foresee any special challenges in getting City residents to comply with health mandates if those should be brought back?

A: I don’t anticipate that masking or social distancing mandates will return. If it were to become necessary, however, I am confident that

Continued on Page 7

F���� C����� S����� N��� � N���� Welcome to the 20222023 School Year This week may have been the first week of school, but the activity in and around all FCCPS campuses ramped up last week. Superintendent Peter Noonan welcomed all teachers and staff back and celebrated milestones at Convocation.

Meet the Teacher days were held at Oak Street, Mt Daniel and Jessie Thackrey. Staff and teachers welcomed students to the Secondary Campus during open houses and orientation.

Register Now for FCEF’s Run for the Schools

Support the Falls Church Education Foundation by participating in our two early fall events. The annual FCEF Run for the Schools 5K Run/Walk for all ages and abilities is Sunday, September 18th at 8 am. Enjoy running or walking the beautiful Falls Church City streets with your friends and

neighbors for a great cause!

Support Mustang Football The Meridian football team is selling restaurant discount cards that work in and around Falls Church City. The fundraising effort will go towards purchasing an end zone camera for teaching purposes and other necessary practice equipment.

The cards are $25 and work until 8/1/2023.

FCPS Sees Steady Growth in SOL Data

MONDAY, AUGUST 29 marked the first day of school for Falls Church City Public Schools.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has announced 2021-22 Standards of Learning (SOL) data for school divisions that shows Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has made steady progress towards a return to prepandemic levels.

FCPS annual pass rates for 2022 indicate that, while the road to recovery continues, FCPS students made promising gains in

reading, mathematics, and science over the course of the 2022 school year.

The data show that FCPS reading rates this year are nearly commensurate with pre-pandemic levels at 79 percent, while math rates are up by 13 percentage points to 74 percent. Science pass rates have improved by a third this school year.

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Back to School Night for FCCPS Meridian High School, Henderson Middle School, Mt Daniel Elementary School and Oak Street Elementary School will be hosting a virtual back to school night from September 6 to September 15.

Meridian’s virtual back to school

night will be on Tuesday, September 6th from 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. and Henderson’s will be on Thursday, September 8 from 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

Mt Daniel’s virtual back to school night will be on Tuesday, September 13 from 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. and Oak Street’s will on Thursday, September 15 from 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Commentary

SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 5

Why Student Debt Relief Isn’t Elitist Paul Krugman NEW YORK TIMES

Embarrassing admission: I have been watching the TV show “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” I’m not, in general, a fan of the superhero genre; but after “Orphan Black” I’ll watch anything starring Tatiana Maslany.

Anyway, one of the show’s plot points is that the title character is reluctant to reveal her superpowers. Why? Among other things, she’s worried (correctly, it turns out) that once people know what she can do she’ll have a hard time paying off her student loans.

I don’t think the writers were trying to make a political statement. They were just acknowledging the pervasiveness of student debt — and anxiety about student debt — in modern America. And that pervasiveness is why Republicans’ attacks on President Joe Biden’s debt-relief policy — which they generally portray as a giveaway either to privileged elites or to lazy spendthrifts — are likely to fall flat.

Let’s talk about the numbers.

The Biden administration says that its plan will provide relief to as many as 43 million Americans. That’s a lot of people, not a small, cosseted elite. In particular, data from the New York Fed say that more than 12 million Americans in their 30s — more than a quarter of that age group — still have unpaid student debt.

What this means is that even if you subscribe to the Trump diner theory of politics — according to which the only voters who matter are blue-collar guys wearing baseball caps — you should be aware that some of those guys probably took out loans to attend trade schools or community colleges, all too often getting nothing but debt in return. Even among those who didn’t take out student loans, many probably have children, siblings, cousins or friends who did. So the Biden plan will touch many people.

In short, student debt relief isn’t some kind of niche elite concern; it’s a broad, one might even say populist, issue. Initial polling on the Biden plan is somewhat mixed, with an Emerson College survey showing much stronger support than a CBS/YouGov survey. Even the latter survey, however, finds a majority of Americans approving of the plan; it even finds much less opposition among noncollege whites than you might have expected given that group’s general disapproval of all things Biden.

The other prong of the rightwing response involves invoking personal responsibility — in effect, portraying the recipients of debt relief as welfare queens.

Republican efforts on that front have, however, been extraordinarily tone-deaf.

Just on general political principles, telling tens of millions of Americans that they’re lazy and irresponsible — that they’re all, as Sen. Ted Cruz put it, like a “slacker barista” who wasted years “studying completely useless things” — seems … not smart. To be brutally honest, that sort of caricature may have worked for Republicans when the insults were directed at urban Black people. But it’s likely to backfire when we’re talking about a broad spectrum of Americans who were just trying to move up in the world.

Furthermore, many of the most prominent critics of debt relief are almost comically out of touch, hypocritical, or both.

Actually, scratch the “almost.”

For example, Sen. Marco Rubio has proudly declared that he paid off all his student debt — after being elected to the Senate and getting a book contract.

Why can’t everyone do that?

On the hypocrisy front, the White House is having a field day mocking Republican members of Congress whose businesses received debt forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program. It’s true that debt relief for employers who maintained their workforces in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic was built into that program; it’s also true that later research sug-

Continued on Page 7

Our Man in Arlington

By Charlie Clark

Happy one-year anniversary to our recycling staff’s campaign for composting!

But based on my nonscientific chats with fellow residents, many have yet to make use of the tan plastic counter-top caddies distributed

by Arlington County Solid Waste last September. Some consider them a confusing hassle that generates fruit flies and stale odors in what otherwise, I presume, are immaculate Arlington kitchens.

So after witnessing a specialists’ demonstration at the county fair last month, I asked Solid Waste Bureau Chief Erik Grabowsky to address such complaints. A fair number of Arlingtonians, I reminded him, think the small caddy itself is meant to be placed outside for pickup with the large green organic bins. And there is skepticism that the food scraps, after all that labor, actually end up somewhere useful.

Grabowsky, who does his own composting at his South Arlington home, acknowledged that the program “is underutilized,” perhaps 40-45 percent of homes, according to audits. The county “would like to see it reach the same” participation rate as general recycling, 85-90 percent.

When he spotted a neighbor putting her small caddy on the curb empty, as if to get rid of it, Grabowsky tactfully placed a composting brochure on her door. “We just have to do a consistently better job of educating the public.”

On odors, “when things get funk-

ier, I empty the bag and make sure the caddy is cleaned,” he said. “Residuals compound the effects of odor.” But if it gets stinky beyond your comfort level, empty the caddy into the larger green bin. “People have differing tolerance for odors.” To minimize invading insects, Grabowsky advises, clean the caddy with paper towels to reduce moisture.

He also recommends cleaning out refrigerators regularly. “The advantage of using the compost program is that you realize what you were wasting in food.” Instead of buying two avocadoes, for example, perhaps buy one. “With inflation, there is serious money [involved], and this is an opportunity to retool purchases.”

Grabowsky assures me all recycling is recycled and all compost is composted, whether it’s in the Freestate Farms Compost facility in Manassas, the recyclables transfer station in Merrifield (materials from there are trucked to an Elkridge, Md. facility), or the joint ArlingtonAlexandria facility on Eisenhower Ave. His office performs quarterly waste audits, polling the contractor refuse crews in a sampling of 100 homes. You’ll note that the same14-15 labeled trucks (they cover 10 routes daily) can be used for trash, paper and composting. But composting pickups might be delayed a day if there is excess heat or a truck breakdown.

The campaign began with a multi-page printed guide, cart-hanger reminders, website instructions, and a refrigerator sticker suggesting

what scraps are compostable. The bureau is considering a refresher cart-hanger this fall in its “trial and error” quest for zero waste.

“Maybe some people had a rough start when composting started,” Grabowsky said. “But we encourage them to give it another try.” *** The debate within Arlington schools over a proposal to cease grading homework is, as the new year starts, on hold.

Last year’s plan to relieve pressure on students by grading only at key “summative” points (say, end-of-unit tests)—prompted some resistance.

A group of Wakefield High School teachers expressed concern that their experience suggests that if they don’t grade the work along the way (formative assessments), students won’t take it seriously.

Sarah Putnam, APS executive director of curriculum and instruction, tells me the policy has been “paused,” revised only slightly for clarifications. Some teachers are moving toward viewing homework as practice, to “try something else on how to motivate students not because grades are important but because learning is important.”

There currently are time constraints on assigned homework that vary by grade level, she said. But the superintendent plans to “take this current school year for growth and expansion and try different paths,” she says. “We won’t make changes until we have critical mass that teachers are ready to move in that direction.”

PAGE 6 | SEPTEMBER 1 - 7. 2022

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Taking Pride in Our Diversity

It’s hard to shake old ways, and in this case, it comes to when the unofficial end to summer arrives and the “new year,” roughly coinciding with the start of the new school year, begins. Labor Day, which is this Monday, has long been considered where that line of demarcation came, But now everything regarding the schools, at least, is starting earlier. Classes at all five Falls Church City School campuses began this last Monday, not the Tuesday coming. And the whole shebang began even earlier for neighboring Fairfax County where schools got underway a week earlier on August 22. Arlington’s started the same as here.

So as we pay homage to the special late afternoon vibes of this coming Labor Day, thinking about all the things we did and didn’t get done or enjoy over a too fleeting summer, our batteries are hopefully fully charged to handle what life will bring our way between now and next June. Are you ready?

Despite the pandemic, which is no longer disrupting our lives the way it did for the last two years, whether or not it’s actually ended, the City of Falls Church has hummed along with very strong indicators of financial and economic strength, reflective of surging home values and a well-to-do population that has been able to keep up with rising costs so far.

But we are coming to a very real turning point, and it has to do with housing, the cost of living and the critical factors of fairness and equity.

The City’s fate may follow the effect of Arlington’s current struggles with revising its zoning codes to permit multi-family housing in its traditional single family home zones. There has been a huge push back from homeowners who are crying foul, fearful that the moves will undercut their property values. The News-Press’ terrific columnist, Charlie Clark, whose weekly column, Our Man in Arlington, has drawn thousands of our neighbors to our paper, has been writing about this, and promises to do a lot more leading up to a critical vote in November.

It has been pointed out that the concept of status has a lot to do with what citizens perceive as the factors impacting their homes. Folks want to live not only where their home values continue to rise, but where the consensus is that they’re in a classy neighborhood. Too often that translates into “Nimby” (“Not in My Back Yard”) sentiments, and we in Falls Church have a long history of that here, too. It’s really an unsavory proposition because it is usually a thinly-veiled opposition to greater equality of opportunity, etc., although the purveyors of the sentiment usually refuse to acknowledge that.

The challenge here, as in Arlington, will be to elevate a higher notion of status, one which takes pride in living within a diversity of surroundings, demographics and population mixes, and wears such pride as a badge of honor.

This will be the key feature of our coming year.

P������� 1. Keep the news clean and fair.

2. Play no favorites, never mix business and editorial policy.

3. Do not let the news columns reflect editorial comment.

4. Publish the news that is public property without fear or favor of friend or foe.

5. Accept no charity and ask no favors.

6. Give “value received” for every dollar you take in.

7. Make the paper show profit if you can, but above all keep it clean, fearless and fair.

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Narrow Intersections Save Lives

Editor, In last week’s Letters, Mr. Savov asked an important question: why is the City building so many narrow intersections? Curb extensions, as they are called, are best practice intersection design for dense areas like ours. Similar designs are increasingly common in neighboring jurisdictions, many of which are ahead of the City in modernizing their road designs. In just one year, Hoboken, NJ cut vehicle crashes by 27 percent and the number of pedestrians hit by cars by 35 percent. Their primary tool was making intersections narrower.

Narrow intersections are safer for everyone – they encourage drivers to slow down (whether turning or not), they make pedestrians more visible to drivers and vise versa, and they shorten crossing distances for pedestrians. As a driver, these intersections should feel more challenging to drive around. The great error of 1950s-1990s road engineering was thinking that safety meant making drivers feel comfortable.

Traffic engineers now know that when drivers feel comfortable, they text, reach for a coffee, and speed.

It’s just human nature. Modern road design doesn’t try to lecture us into driving better. It creates conditions that humans naturally respond to with safer behaviors, so that when accidents do happen, they aren’t tragedies. To learn more, the National Association of City Transportation Officials has an easy-to-read website on modern, data-backed street design.

In our City, changes like new lights, new crosswalks, narrower intersections, and lower speed limits are making a difference – the number of road injuries in the City dropped from 177 in 2017 to 147 in 2021. Nationwide, injuries dramatically increased in the same period.

But there is much more work to do.

We are lucky that no one has died on our City streets in nearly a decade, maybe more. But our rate of traffic injuries per capita puts us on course for one tragic fatality every 10 years.

Our rate of injures is 3 times bigger than Arlington’s and 6 times similaracreage Hoboken, NJ. The reported number of crashes where cars hit pedestrians and bicycle riders has not improved (16 in 2017 to 18 in 2021).

We need more narrow intersections and other modern complete street design. We need it faster, before our embarrassingly high injury rate turns into story that is doubly heartbreak-

ing because we could have prevented it.

Andrew Olesen Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Transportation

Regarding the article ‘Connolly to Seeks:’ Editor, Having watched Gerry Connolly “fight for the right” as my congressman now over many years on the Oversight and Reform Committee I can’t think of a better man or woman for the position as top Democrat. His strong, principled and energetic leadership is “just what the doctor ordered” at this critical juncture in history to protect our 246 year-old democracy, arguably facing internal threats to the Nation and Constitution as serious as any since the Civil War. Over more than two decades as a Marine officer, I took the same oath many times to support the Constitution that members of Congress take every two years on Congressional “Swearing-in Day.” The oath begins, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...”

I have no doubt that when my congressman again takes that oath in January, 2023, it will be in full cognizance that he is swearing a sacred oath to support and defend the Constitution, not the President. Unfortunately, it seems to me that today too many Republican members of Congress evidently did not pay close attention to this paramount distinction when they last repeated the oath. That’s fine, nothing in our Constitution says you have to pay attention to and honor oaths you take, but many Marines I fought alongside in Vietnam gave their lives defending our Country and Constitution against foreign enemies, not to support and defend a lawless man who happened to be President.

Based on past performance, I know Congressman Connolly as Chairman or Ranking Member (hopefully Chairman) of the Oversight and Reform Committee will fight tenaciously and effectively to call to account colleagues in Congress of either party who forget their oath to support and defend our Constitution against domestic as well as foreign enemies.

George Kralovec

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Editor’s Essay

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SEPTEMBER 1- 7, 2022 | PAGE 7

Legal Experts Now Agree Trump is Heading for the Slammer Nicholas F. Benton FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

One legal expert commented on national TV after the latest 36 page bombshell from the Justice Department came out very late Tuesday that, after this latest development, she “would not understand a world where Trump doesn’t get indicted.”

Indeed this is the consensus among legal experts now, a marked shift from the rather jaundiced postures before that no matter how clearly guilty, Trump would somehow avoid being subjected to the thorny hand of the law.

While Trump is on the hot seat in four different criminal

investigations now – for inciting violence in the January 6 riot, for trying to change the outcome of the election in Georgia with on-the-record ham handed coercion, for stealing government documents, many of them highly sensitive, and hiding them at Mar-a-Lago even after handing over some to the FBI, and for years-long tax frauds in New York – this latest escalation from the Justice Department signals that it is now veritably certain that he is heading for the slammer.

Almost all of those closest to him over the years will be quietly snickering when this happens, because there are none who’ve not been betrayed by him in one way or another. It is the nature of the true sociopath, and books about Trump as a classic case will be written for studies in criminal psychology, that they hold no one above a fully 100 percent self-serving approach to life. People like

Commentary

Why Student Debt Relief Isn’t Elitist Continued from Page 5

gests that only about a quarter of PPP funds supported jobs that would otherwise have disappeared. The rest was, in effect, a giveaway to business owners.

More generally, it’s hard to take lectures on personal responsibility seriously when they come from a movement full of people — from Donald Trump, famous for stiffing his contractors, on down — who have long refused to pay money they owe. It’s hard to beat the spectacle of Stephen Moore, whom Donald Trump tried to appoint to the Federal Reserve, calling people who don’t pay their debts “deadbeats”; after all, Moore’s nomination failed in part because it turned out that he had refused to pay his ex-wife $300,000 in child support and alimony.

Now, none of this means that

the Biden plan should be exempt from criticism, although the vehemence with which some centrists have attacked it remains puzzling. Above all, the plan offers some one-time relief, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem that led to all that student debt — which isn’t a proliferation of slacker baristas; it’s a society that demands educational credentials for many jobs without making education affordable.

The thing is, Biden tried to address this underlying problem; free community college was part of his original Build Back Better proposal. But he couldn’t get it through Congress. He is, however, offering some real help to millions of Americans — and Republicans clearly have no idea how to respond.

By Paul Krugman © 2022 The New York Times

Michael Cohen, his former personal hatchet man, are already laughing lustily out loud.

Some might be tempted to compare Trump in the end to tragic figures like Shakespeare’s King Lear or Pushkin’s Boris Godunov, but it would be wholly inappropriate. No one finds any merit, whatsoever, in figures like Hitler or Stalin, and it is in those ranks that Trump will be found. I’ll leave it to Dante to figure out what level of hell they are assigned to.

What we don’t know yet is how destructive Trump’s toying with the nation’s most closely guarded secrets has been. How many secrets, closely guarded U.S. intelligence operations, has he handed over to our strategic enemies by now? It didn’t start when he walked out of the White House with boxes of classified documents.

I have consistently argued since 2015 that Trump is a full-

blown Russian agent. He is not influenced by Moscow, he is Moscow’s man who sadly spent four years in the White House to the unmeasurable destruction of the U.S. interests.

It was only after the fraudulent, bullying effort to win a second term finally failed on January 6, 2021, despite the coup attempt on that date, that Putin had to resort to Plan B and to invade Ukraine to advance his Hitlerian agenda for Europe.

Had the effort to reinstate Trump for another term succeeded, Putin would have been able to walk into Ukraine like taking a walk in the park, and follow it up with similar moves against the Baltic states and Finland, to begin with.

It was the highly-motivated American electorate that crushed Trump’s bid for re-election by over seven million votes in 2020 that botched Putin’s plans and forced his unwise invasion of Ukraine that is now

beginning to fail.

Trump has had a mesmerizing influence on a large segment of the American population, hitting all the hot buttons to heighten paranoia, hate and division. If any one segment of our population has had the biggest influence in advancing this, it has been the so-called Christian evangelicals, frauds like Franklin Graham (his father would be so ashamed). Also, Fox News creeps like Tucker Carlson and deeply compromised politicians like Lindsey Graham have had major roles, none more than fellow spineless Republicans, especially those who’ve been in politics long enough to know better.

By contrast, kudos for heroism go to Lyn Cheney, Adam Kinsinger, Merrick Garland (doesn’t Mitch McConnell wish now he’d let him get on the Supreme Court?) and others, but mostly to the 81 million Americans who knew what buttons to push on election day 2020, and who will know again this coming November.

Mayor Tarter: F.C. Has ‘Best Quality of Life’ Continued from Page 4

our community will continue to behave as they have done in a prudent and responsible manner. The vast majority of our residents and businesses heeded the advice of our medical experts, took proper precautions and were considerate of others.

Q: Falls Church City Public Schools have gone through a lot in the past few years. However, in light of all the work put in by FCCPS, it seems like the school year will be off to an auspicious start. Would you say that this impression is correct?

A: The schools have had a challenging few years, yet I have been impressed with the thoughtful and considered approach they have taken to these tough issues. My wife is the health aide at one of our schools, and I have seen first-hand how hard our teachers and staff have worked to keep our kids safe and progressing with their studies. It looks like this year is off to a great start.

Q: Recently the School Board hired a new principal to lead Oak Street Elementary and, for exam-

ple, if Meridian’s graduation has shown anything, Falls Church is a place that knows how to bounce back during difficult times. I’d love to hear your input on this.

A: I agree. This community and particularly our schools and students are resourceful and resilient.

Our schools are the cornerstone of our community and it is good to see them back in full stride.

Q: Going back to the theme of the community coming together, what do you most look forward to when it comes to the upcoming Falls Church Festival?

A: Other than the great food — seeing the community come together. The Fall Festival, like Memorial Day, is a quintessential Falls Church event and one that I look forward to all year long. It is so nice to see so many families, friends, kids and local businesses gathered together. It’s one of those days that make Falls Church special.

Q: Do you think this “small town” sensibility is a special thing?

A: Absolutely. I am from Northern Virginia but didn’t find the place that I really felt at home until I landed in Falls Church. It’s wonderful to be a stone’s throw

from one of the great American cities with all of its opportunities and yet still be able to walk your kids to school. Falls Church has, hands down, the best quality of life of anywhere I have lived. The City has a small town feel and a great sense of community that is hard to come by in this day and age, especially in this area.

Q: To conclude, do you have any final thoughts or remarks?

A: Just this: I am optimistic about the future of Falls Church.

We have come through much together these past few years. New development has brought new vitality and business to our downtown and increased tax revenue that in turn has allowed us to lower our tax rate for the second year in a row. We continue to invest in ourselves and our future with City infrastructure like the renovated City Hall and Library and new pedestrian and traffic calming infrastructure. I see bright days ahead.

My colleagues on the City Council, Marybeth Connelly, Phil Duncan, Letty Hardi, Debbie Hiscott, Caroline Lian, Dave Snyder and I are honored to serve and be a part of this great community.

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A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Fairfax County is a relatively “wet” area – lots of creeks, runs, streams, springs and, of course, the Potomac River (which is part of Maryland under centuries-old laws) – but there are few lakes, and even fewer publicly owned lakes in our 400 square mile area. Lake Accotink Park, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last week, is just minutes from Mason District’s southwest boundary.

The 55-acre lake itself is much older; originally formed by damming Accotink Creek, it served as a reservoir in the early 1900s, and was rebuilt as a drinking water reservoir for Fort Belvoir during World War II. Some evidence of Civil War fortifications has been found by history buffs.

Following the war, the increase in local population growth created challenges for the reservoir, as it became polluted with run-off and sewage from overburdened treatment plants. Rather than disposing of the lake and surrounding acreage as surplus property, the federal government leased 242 acres of land to the Fairfax County Park Authority in 1960. Boating facilities and concessions were added, along with trails, picnic shelters, and a playground. In 1962, the lake itself was added to the lease and, in 1965, the Park Authority was able to purchase the previously leased land area for $88,250 through the Federal Lands to Parks Program. In August 1965, Lake Accotink Park opened, officially, to the public.

The lake is surrounded by wetlands and forest, and provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoying nature across its now 449 acres. From May through October, the park offers bike, canoe, and paddle boat rentals, as well as tour boat rides around the lake. A miniature golf course, historic carousel, and playgrounds provide family fun, and free summertime concerts are held on Friday evenings. Lake Accotink Park plays an international role, too, as the site of the annual CROP walk each October, that raises money to fight hunger at home and abroad. This year’s Fairfax County CROP walk will be held on Saturday, October 15, starting at

8 a.m. The mist rising off the lake, the trees changing colors, the sun rising feebly through the leaves, and the crunch of the forest duff underfoot on park trails make it a magical, if sometimes, chilly, walk/hike for a good cause.

All is not rosy for Lake Accotink, however.

Stormwater runoff from a large watershed adds sediment, trash, and other pollutants to urban and suburban lakes, and Lake Accotink is no different. Periodic maintenance and dredging provide temporary relief, but is very expensive, and finding a repository for the dredge soils is a challenge. A previous dredging pumped dredge soils to an industrial quarry in Mason District, but that site is full and not available for future use. Allowing the lake to fill in with sediment, resulting in a much smaller, shallower lake, was soundly rejected by the community and the Board of Supervisors, and plans are underway for a multi-million-dollar renovation, using Stormwater Local Assistance Funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It will be a lengthy and expensive process, but well worth the environmental and community benefits for now and future generations. Access to Lake Accotink Park is free; some activities require a fee. The park is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, Virginia 22152.

Monday, September 5, is Labor Day, the nation’s recognition of the social and economic achievements

by American workers and the labor movement. Many of today’s workers enjoy benefits first advocated by the union movement decades ago: health care, the 40-hour work week, retirement plans, workplace safety standards, and paid time off. Both of my grandfathers were hard-working union members who raised their families on union wages and retired with adequately funded pensions. I reflect on their shared experiences, and what they meant to me growing up, every Labor Day.  Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@ fairfaxcounty.gov.

C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h

C RI ME R EPORT Week of August 22 — 28, 2022 Destruction of Property, N Lee St, between 10 PM, August 21 and 11:51 AM, August 22, unknownsuspect(s) broke the driver side window of a Toyota Corolla. Nothing was taken.

Larceny from Building, Wilson Blvd, August 22, 2 PM, unknkown suspect entered an establishment andtook items of value without paying. Suspect described as: Hispanic male , early 20s, wearing glasses, a pink shirt, black pants, and black shoes Commercial Burglary, S Washington St, August 23, 12:07

AM, two unknown suspect(s) cut the bolt on a back gate and stole two motorcycles. Suspects described as a black male, wearing a black hat and white tshirt; the second suspect is described as a male. They left on the motorcycles heading north on S. Washington Street or towards Hillwood Avenue. Investigation continues.

Counterfeiting-Forgery, Park Ave, August 23, 1:48 PM, checks which had been placed in a USPS mailbox at 300 Park Ave on July 28 between 4 and 5 PM, were intercepted by unknown suspect(s) and altered. Investigation continues.

Larceny from Building, N Washington St, August 23, 5:30 PM,

unknown suspect(s) removed items of value from an unattended purse.

Motor Vehicle Theft, Wilson Blvd, August 24, 6:30 PM, unknown suspect(s) stole a 2019 white Ford Transit Van which had been left running with the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked.

Larceny from Vehicle, Wilson Blvd, between 1 and 1:35 PM, August 27, unknown suspect(s) removed items of value from an unattended vehicle.

Driving Under the Influence, Hillwood Ave, August 28, 1:38 AM, a white male, 35, of Falls Church, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the influence.

Drunk in Public, Hillwood Ave, August 28, 11:34 PM, a black male, 35, of Washington, DC, was arrested for Drunk in Public.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Senator Dick Saslaw’s

Richmond Report We are now nine months into his term and Governor Youngkin continues his disparagement of the Commonwealth in an attempt to position himself for an even higher office. I would submit it’s time to move forward, lead, and unite Virginians.

There’s no doubt in my mind our world was turned upside down as we navigated the unchartered waters of a worldwide pandemic that claimed more than 1 million American lives, shuttered our schools and businesses, and changed how and where we work. On the plus side, the pandemic also brought scientific advancements to combat the virus if not to minimize its stranglehold on our lives and economic wellbeing.

Looking at Virginia’s economy, there is a good news story.

Year to date, we have seen 16 percent growth in FY 2022 revenue in the Commonwealth. The unemployment rate is at 2.7 percent -- well below the national average. Since January, more than 100,000 jobs have been created and people are securing higher wages due to increased demand for their talent. Our coveted Triple-A bond rating still holds.

Addressing the joint money committees on August 15, Governor Youngkin made several references to previous administrations often at the expense of our well managed Commonwealth. This is a page right out of the national Republican playbook intended to divide rather than unite this country. It fits with the governor’s aspirations as well as the “back to the future” governing he is practicing.

Further, he neglected to mention a previous president who suggested drinking Clorox as a cure for Covid while sending “relief checks” to most Americans regardless of need.

Also missing were the facts that federal money has supplemented local government spending, gas prices have fallen sharply, and public schools still need our attention To be fair, somewhere in the fine print of that speech we learned that unplanned revenues plus unspent appropriations equal a $3.2 billion cash surplus.

By law, a General Fund cash surplus is fully committed or

assigned on the balance sheet.

Disagreeing with the law doesn’t mean it is nullified. This deduction comes with experience and historical insight.

There are several contributing factors driving the surplus.

Our region is home to several industries that were able to quickly pivot to “work from home” and excel. We have experienced wage growth and change in the job mix. At the same time, realizing capital gains from a bullish stock market, Virginians find themselves more liquid and able to spend more on consumer goods, fueling economic growth.

Additionally, corporate profitability is strong.

It is important to reiterate that existing law and previous policies legislated by the General Assembly dictate the basis for the budget. Those principals require us to be judicious with our spending while we pay as we go. Going forward, expect to see $1 billion earmarked for tax rebates. The Rainy Day Fund (Revitalization Fund) will see hundreds of millions of dollars added. We are also committed to allocating more than $500 million for VRS, the widening of I-64, covering capital project overruns, and economic development investments such as the Amazon HQ2 project in Arlington included in the signed budget. I haven’t heard anyone complain about these future expenditures.

While slipping slightly, Virginia was cited as #5 in the country as a good place to live, work and raise a family by Wallet Hub. 52 factors were considered including housing costs, income growth, education rate and quality of hospitals. Additional metrics were evaluated that included law-enforcement employees per capita, the number of bike trails, job opportunities, food insecurity, and general tax friendliness, among many others. No doubt about it, we have work to do to bring the Commonwealth back to its elite status. That will require crossing the aisle, assessing what worked in the past, and looking forward to the future.

Our kids have started their academic years and are physically back in their classrooms albeit with staffing challenges.

Continued on Page 22

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SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 9

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Here’s My Van Morrison Story

BY NICHOLAS BENTON

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

This is my Van Morrison story, one that I’ve repeated to friends numerous times over the years but is still worth a retelling. It comes now as Van the Man nears an appearance at Northern Virginia’s Wolf Trap on September 7 and after he was nominated this year for an Oscar for the best song, and moreover for the central role of his music, in the Oscar-nominated film, “Belfast.”

I met Van to interview him when I was a stringer for the Berkeley Barb in 1972, during the year he spent in the San Francisco Bay Area that resulted in his great album, “St. Dominic’s Preview.”

On that album, his lengthy song, “Almost Independence Day,” comes about as close as one could to emoting a real summer night in that period in the Bay Area.

Like most of his stuff, and maybe including himself as he officially is pushing 80, it just doesn’t grow old.

But this story is about 50 years ago.

I could write so much about this, my favorite living musician, composer and performer, whom I became enthralled with the first time I heard his one-ofa-kind voice (described by critic Greil Marcus, who said, “No white man sings like Van Morrison,” and wrote in his book that, “As a physical fact, Morrison may have the richest and most expressive voice pop music has produced since Elvis Presley and musical style in 1972.”

I’ve seen him perform literally dozens of times over the years, including multiple times at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1971 and 1972. Facts, dates and places of his over 40 studio albums and much more can be had from Wikipedia.

Meeting and interviewing him in 1972 was something quite special, as well as what led into it and what then happened after. For now, I will just say that despite his reputation for being grumpy, at best, on the stage, my late friend Jim and I found him very affable and pleasant when we sat down with him in a break amid a rehearsal at a small club in San Anselmo, a Marin County suburb of San Francisco. When we walked in it was to a rehearsal of the opening bars of his classic, “‘Caravan,” that closes with two pronounced downbeats. I have always since associated those opening bars with the musty smell I first encountered of that little club.

The wider context was the fact that, as I told Van that day, a friend and I happened upon a concert he was giving in Buffalo, New York, six months before.

My friend Bobby and I were cross-country hitchhiking west from Springfield, Massachusetts on a snowy November day. The guy who stopped to pick us up turned out to be a modestly wellknown musician himself, the lead singer

VAN MORRISON will perform at Wolf Trap, Sept. 7th. (P���� C�������: W��� T���) of Georgie Porgie of Georgie Porgie and the Cry Babies (I learned much later that his name was George Leonard. He and the group, composed of his sisters, became inducted into the Rhode Island Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. See Wikipedia!).

Riding in the back seat of Georgie’s classic 1954 Ford, and he in a huge fur coat, we traveled across Upper State New York in a constant snowstorm, sharing a little weed along the way. Coming into Buffalo, New York, despite the fact he would be late to his own concert downtown, in a wonderfully generous gesture, he offered to drop us at the University of Buffalo where we hoped to find a place to crash (sleep) that night.

Georgie insisted, saying the Cry Babies would cover for him until he got to his show. It was around 9:30 p.m.

We looked on the bulletin board in the student union, and lo, we saw that Van Morrison was giving a concert that very night in the school gym. We asked directions and I can still see and hear the crunching of the snow as we hurried across the way to the gym, where I could hear Van’s music playing.

Alas, we got into the gym just as the concert was ending, but lucky for us, he did an encore.

Fast forward now to my interview with Van. I told him this story and he was very interested. I did my story about the interview and called his agent who said Van saw it in the Barb and loved it.

Well, it was a year after that when Van’s new album, “St. Dominic’s Preview,” was released. In his song, a wonderfully characteristic stream of consciousness piece named for the title of the album, Van inexplicably includes the following line: “It’s a long way to Buffalo and a long way to Belfast city, too!”

Buffalo? No explanation for why that reference was there, but I like the idea that it was a form of “shout out.” Van would not remember after all this time, I’m sure, so I will go on thinking that.

Besides, there is another line late in that same song where he makes reference to having “a pen and notebook ready.” which could be another reference to the interview where I had, in fact, those things.

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Signature Theatre’s ‘The Color Purple’ Presents a Vibrant Show

by Kylee Toland

Falls Church News-Press

As Signature Theatre hosts its final shows in their reopening season, “The Color Purple” was a substantial finale to a successful 2021/22 season.

Based on the 1982 Pulitzer Prizewinning novel by Alice Walker, “The Color Purple” was adapted into a 2005 Broadway musical, 20 years after the Academy Award-nominated film starring Whoopi Goldberg was released. Signature Theatre’s performance of the beloved and criticized story of a young African-American woman facing numerous hardships and trying to overcome them in the early 20th century is bound to have one in tears with sadness and joy.

The musical focuses on Celie — played by Nova Y. Payton — a young Black woman living with her sister Nettie — played by Kaiyla Gross —in the southern United States with their abusive father. The two sisters enjoy playing and singing together, beginning the play with an upbeat song called “Huckleberry Pie.” The chemistry between Payton and Gross is outstanding enough to make the audience believe these two are actually siblings.

Celie is the older sister at 14 years old and has already given birth to two children, later revealing her and Nettie’s father is also the father of her babies. Compared to her headstrong sister, Celie is quiet and submissive; often the victim of their father’s vicious character. After being separated from Nettie and facing the abuse of her new husband “Mister,” Celie talks and sings to God as to why her life is often one obstacle after another.

“Mister” is played by Torrey Linder, who performs the character as a mean, spiteful man who dislikes Celie for the sole reason that he wasn’t able to marry her sister instead. He treats Celie just as brutally as her father did. Linder’s vocals for songs such as “Big Dog” and “Mister’s Song” highlights Linder’s ability to play an abusive man who, by the end of the play, tries to make right with those he has done wrong.

Throughout many of the musical numbers, the main cast is often backed up vocally by a trio of women — played by Gabrielle Rice, Jalisa Williams and Nia SavoyDock. These women do a fantastic job of boosting the songs that once start off small and end up loud and powerful. Songs featured such as

“Mysterious Ways” and “Push Da Button” are amplified due to their clean and entertaining vocals.

Celie then meets Mister’s son Harpo — played by Solomon Parker III — and his fiance Sofia, who is headstrong just like Nettie and tries to help Celie fight back against her abusive husband. Although each cast member played their role in an unique and significant way, Sofia’s actress Frenchie Davis stole the show. Her fierceness and humorous play on the character had the audience laughing and applauding throughout the show. Her featured song “Hell No!” was a prominent tune due to its lyrics relating to issues all women have to face, even in today’s world.

One thing that stands out in the play is the relationship between Celie and Shug Avery, played fantastically by Danielle J. Summons. Shug Avery is one of Mister’s past lovers and someone whom Celie idolizes emotionally and romantically the moment Shug comes to stay with them.

In the novel, Celie and Shug’s relationship is both platonic and sexual, with Shug helping Celie realize sex isn’t supposed to feel agonizing but rather pleasurable. In the play,

SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 11

THE CAST OF “THE COLOR PURPLE.”

(Photo Courtesy: Christopher Mueller)

Celie and Shug share a kiss toward the end of Act One, with Celie feeling reciprocated love while singing the heartwarming “What About Love?” between her and Shug.

Signature Theatre’s stage is smaller than most, but it benefitted this showing of the play. The vocals of all the performers were clear and loud, making each song powerful and emotional. The back walls surrounding the stage had “blinds” that would turn in and out and reveal a character or setting not shown on the stage at the present moment.

This was magnificent to see during the song “African Homeland” where Celie is reading a letter from Nettie about her missionary work in Africa; the blinds in the back of the stage showed a red sky with some cast members in African garments, painting the visual of what Nettie is telling Celie.

Another mouth-dropping, eye-

widening visual Signature Theatre’s performance perfected was the imprint of a tree with branches on one side-wall on the stage. It is something one notic-es right away when scanning the stage. At first, one may believe it is there to imply that most scenes will be taking place outside; how-ever, at the end of the show when Celie is singing the tearinducing “I’m Here,” the branches begin to bloom with purple flowers, some-thing the audience might not catch until hearing the gasps of others first noticing it. This visual, paired with the incredible cast and music, makes Signature Theatre’s adapta-tion of “The Color Purple” one that will stick with audiences for a long time.

“The Color Purple” will be showing at Signature Theatre until October 9th. For inquiries about ticket purchasing for the show, visit sigtheatre.org.

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PAGE 12 | SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Local Arts Scene: What To Look for This Fall

VIENNA OKTOBERFEST allows attendees to endulge in PROVIDENCE PLAYERS are gearing up for their �irst show CAPITAL ONE HALL is featuring its second season of authentic food and beverages. (P����: P���� J����) in October called “November”. (P����: D���� W��������) “Broadway in Tysons.” (P����: C������� M����) Signature Theatre: Signature Theatre in Arlington is starting their 2022-23 season with performances of “The Color Purple” and “No Place to Go;” the former running until October 9th and the latter until October 16th. In November and December, productions of “Into the Woods” and “Which Way to the Stage” will begin, allowing audiences to enjoy comedic and fantastical performances. Visit sigtheatre.org for more information.

Keegan Theatre: The regional premiere of “The Outsider” is coming to Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C. until September 24th. From October 22 to November 20, TonyWinning Composer and Lyricist William Finn presents “Elegies: A Song Cycle,” while the end of December features Keegan’s Holiday Tradition

“An Irish Carol” by Matthew J. Keenan. Visit keegantheatre.com for more information.

Capital One Hall: Capital One Hall is bringing back their Broadway in Tysons for a second season. Shows such as “Tootsie,” “Hairspray,” “Anastasia” and “Get On Your Feet” will be featured from November into April, with single tickets for each show going on sale in midSeptember. On September 23rd, Capital One Hall is featuring an “all-new theatrical experience” called “Wheel of Fortune LIVE!” which allows guests to audition to go on stage and “feel like they stepped into the game show itself.” Visit capitalonehall.com for more information.

Creative Cauldron: Every weekend through September, Creative Cauldron in Falls

Church is hosting “the best musical and musical theater talent in the DMV” with their cabaret series. From October to December, performances of “Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” “The Princess and The Goblin” and “The Christmas Angel” will be shown, as well as holiday cabaret series occurring the month of December. Visit www.creativecauldron.org for more information

Providence Players:

The Falls Church-based theater company Providence Players announced the first show of their fall season “November,” which opens in October. Board member and marketing lead for Providence Players David Whitehead calls “November” a humorous take on the day in the life of an “incumbent president of the United States.” Written by David Mamet in 2008, the show “makes fun of

- Visitors Welcome - Open Hours 10am - 6pm Monday-Saturday - Open Sunday Hours Too 12noon - 4pm

the present situation” in politics, with a “great production” and “really good cast” backing up the performance. Visit providenceplayers.org for more information.

Synetic Theater: Synetic Theater in Arlington kicks off their 2022–23 season with a show based on an Georgian epic poem “Host and Guest” from September 12 — October 2.

Starting in October, “Dracula” will be showing from October 13 — November 6, and throughout the month of December, the 19th century folk tale “Snow Maiden” will be performed at Synetic until the 23rd. Visit synetictheater.org for more information.

George Mason University Center of the Arts: George Mason

University Center of the Arts features a variety of performances, including shows, concerts and dances. “Grand Piano Celebration,” Mason School of Theater’s “Head Over Heels” and “Nrityagram Dance Ensemble” are just a few of the many productions the university is hosting this fall season.

Visit cfa.calendar.gmu.edu for more information.

Little Theatre of Alexandria: The Little Theatre of Alexandria 2022 — 23 season begins in December with the production of Ken and Jack Ludwig’s “Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol.” Visit thelittletheatre.com for more information.

Reston Multicultural Festival: The Reston Multicultural is a celebration of the “diversity and community spirit that is found

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SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 13

Theatres and Festivals Gear Up for the Fall in Reston.” The festival features a stage that will be active throughout the day with performances

by National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Heritage fellows and about a dozen arts and crafts vendors who range from South America, Asia, Europe and various other cultures represented at the festival. Local and county community organizations will be on the site as well, having hands-on activities people can participate in while learning about different cultures. Visit the restoncommunitycenter.com for more information.

DC Jazzfest at the Wharf: From Saturday, September 3 — Sunday, September 4, the 18th annual DC Jazzfest will be hosted at the Wharf. Mambo Legends Orchestra, Heidi Martin and Christian McBride & Inside Straight are just a few of the many talents performing at the festival.

Visit www.dcjazzfest.org for more information.

Falls Church Fall Festival: The 46th annual Falls Church Festival returns to the Little City, with events such as The Taste of Falls Church, a beer garden, live music, children’s entertainment and booths from local crafters, businesses and civic organizations. Admission is free to the public, but food, beer and amusement rides require the purchase of one or more tickets. Visit www.fallschurchva.gov for more information.

Art on the Avenue: A regional multicultural arts and music festival, the Art on the

Avenue festival held in the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria will be on October 1. Attendees will be “greeted” by more than 300 artists, musicians and food vendors, along with kids activities. Visit www.artontheavenue.org for more information.

Clarendon Day: Clarendon Day returns on Saturday, September 24 in Arlington.

Known as Arlington’s “best loved and most diverse” street festival, the event includes several music stages, a large kid’s area, arts and crafts vendors, business and nonprofit exhibitors from Clarendon and the region. Foods and beverages from local and regional restaurants will also be displayed. Visit www.clarendon.org for more information.

Civil War Show: The Annual Civil War Show will be held on Saturday, September 24 — Sunday, September 25 at the Arlington Fairfax Elks Lodge. The event features 20 tables of Civil War photographs, along with the 37th Annual D.C.Antique Photo & Postcard Show.

Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2022: Jazz is back in Rosslyn this milestone year. Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, the festival is bringing a diverse lineup of four fantastic acts to the stage: Cimafunk, Mwenso & The Shakes, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, and Groove Orchestra. Visit www.rosslynva.org for more information.

Farm Day: On October 8, Falls Church’s annual Farm Day returns this year to Cherry Hill Park. Enjoy a day of old fashioned fun and activities for the whole family, including a petting farm, pony rides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making (bring your own long pants and a sleeved shirt), live music, tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and barn, blacksmith demonstrations, and more.

Visit www.fallschurchva.gov for more information.

Vienna Oktoberfest: On October 1, the Vienna Oktoberfest takes place on the Town Green and historic Church Street in the heart of Vienna. The festival features live entertainment on three stages: Main Stage, Kid’s Stage and Acoustic Stage; a primary and secondary beer garden, access to beer and wine at all food locations, multinational food vendors and more. Visit viennaoktoberfest.org for more information.

UCP Fall Art & Craft Fair:

City of Fairfax Fall Festival:

The United Christian Parish in Reston will hold its Sixth Annual Fall Art and Craft Fair on Saturday, October 29. This juried fair will showcase a wide variety of handmade items from area artists and crafters just in time for one’s holiday and gift giving needs. Glass art, wood products, hand weaving, fabric crafts, gourds, pottery, jewelry, gnomes, paintings and more will be available. Visit www.fxva.com for more information.

The 46th Annual City of Fairfax Fall Festival on October 8 will feature more than 400 arts, crafts, information, food and gourmet food vendors, children’s activities and three stages of music and entertainment for all ages. Located in Old Town Fairfax, Special Events Assistant Manager for the City of Fairfax Deanna Payne said an exciting

MPAartfest: The Mclean Project of the Arts Arts Festival focuses on the visual arts in the DMV area accompanied by “creative music” performed at the festival. Hosted in Mclean on Sunday, October 6, the music curator for the festival Ken Avis said the event tends to try to feature “creative original artists” and “local area musicians.” MPAartfest has various jazz, international and blues bands throughout the day. Visit mpaart. org for more information.

new element being featured in this year’s festival is Flippenout Productions, which are “highly skilled, professional athletes who deliver daring and bold acrobatic routines with a giant wall and a trampoline.” Visit www.fairfaxva.gov for more information.

Mosaic Fall Festival: The Mosaic Fall Festival from Saturday, September 24 — Sunday, September 25 at the Mosaic District in Fairfax will highlight live entertainment and musical performances, FRESHFARM Farmers Market with 50+ vendors and URBN market, a “unique market” of 90 handmade and vintage vendors. Beer and wine gardens will also be present at the festival. Visit mosaicdistrict.com for more information.

PAINTING CLASS at Falls Church Arts Gallery.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Walk on the ‘Wild Side’ at Falls Church Arts Gallery

BY MARK DREISONSTOK

Falls Church Arts Gallery is currently holding an art show themed “Wild.” This is fitting, as a wide and wild variety of art media are used, including photography, porcelain, silk screen, oil as well as acrylic painting, and even a long T-shirt with dye. As for subjects, these range from works suggesting everything from the “wild kingdom” of nature to wild, fast-paced motorcycles and amusement park rides.

Let us take a walk on the “wild side,” so to speak, and begin with two paintings in the Cubist style. In Greg Skrtic’s Cubist acrylic painting “Annelise’s Garden,” a girl is surrounded by light, playful patterns, vibrant colors, and nature. The Cubist structure forms a stainedglass-like look. The card beside the picture notes poignantly that when the artist’s “daughter passed, our family created a memorial garden.

This is how I dream of her in her garden—bleeding hearts and Japanese maples with an arabesque design that encircles the sun-lit stained-glass window that frames her like a halo.

On her right wrist is a rose bracelet while on her left forearm a golden serpent ascends.”

An equally striking Cubist work, this one in monochrome, is John Ballou’s oil painting “Two Musicians on a Rodeo Bull,” in which square vignettes of instruments such as the tambourine in the upper left hand corner, bongo drums at the middle top, and a saxophone are being held. Two characters can be seen with their facial expressions being engrossed by the rhythm of the wild instruments. Sheet music can imply the structure of music, but the painting somehow reminded us of a literary work of the early twentieth-century when Cubism and jazz improvisation were in vogue: Hermann Hesse’s “Steppenwolf,” and its description of “the sublime intoxication of performing in the orchestra” as jazz musicians “played faster and wilder.” Yet there is a Wild West presence here as well, with the saxophone man seen to be wearing a cowboy boot and spur. Sharp black-and-white contrasts represent the excitement of the music while there is a shadow behind the woman which appears to belong to her but is actually a dark bull shadow, give the painting a wild feel as they are perhaps taking part of an entertaining evening.

Now we are still in the wild season of summer! Noreene Janus’ acrylic painting “Where’s My Beach

Towel” depicts a colorful beach towel with contrasting primary colors which draws the viewer in with the use of multiple horizontal lines.

There is a combination of abstraction and realism between the background and foreground. As the exhibit card beside the painting states with clever punchline: “Frantic masses of shapes and colors presented horizontally with two bands across the top. The color of the horizontal bands suggests sand and sea. The jumbles of abstract shapes suggest the midsummer beach crowds. Wait, there’s no room for my towel.”

Also “wild” with a self-styled “supersaturated summer vacation” feel, Carrie Spence’s “Summer Girls” is a mixed-media work in which a bee-like insect can be seen watching the television with a theme of buzzing both from the bee and the television screen. Artist Carrie Spence pays tribute to various paintings by Van Gogh with Starry Nightlike spiraling sky swirls the room itself looking as if it could be a very loose take on Van Gogh’s “Bedroom in Arles” set in the future with simplistic furniture pieces and a window.

Sci-fi touches with saturated colors and clear outlines give this work an additional edge.

Before leaving the summer season behind, we must admire John Valenti’s “Wild Whirl,” a color photograph of an amusement park or fair captured in action. Striking neon green and yellow colors jump out at the viewer. A calmer carnival mood is captured in photography in Naomi Lipsky’s “At the Fair,” as the artist’s daughter queues up for a “a ride at the county fair.”

There are various artworks of wildlife, such as Frey Christensen’s “Tyger, Tyger.” Owing its title and unusual spelling to William Blake’s famous poem beginning “Tyger, tyger burning bright,” the work depicts a forest scene of multitudinous animals including “Malayan Tapir, Javan Rhinoceros, Orangutan, Sumatran Tiger, Slow Loris, Sumatran Elephant, Bali Myna, Sun Bear, and Proboscis Monkey.”

Marker on watercolor paper is the medium. At first, the animals are not immediately apparent, but as the viewer looks deeper into the painting, more details begin to surface.

Here there may be a message involving corporate social responsibility, for the cards speaks of: “Slash-andburn practices behind the common additive destroy irreplaceable habitat and carry a high death toll, roasting all creatures unable to escape. How much more will be lost to the fire?”

A more placid view of nature

is seen in the oil painting “Swan Lake,” executed in careful detail by Iryna Smitchkova. Here two swans, black and white, have arched necks, suggesting almost a yin-yang pattern. Looking closely at the canvas, an intricately patterned texture can be seen which is not apparent from afar. According to the painter: “In nature, swans are known for their devotion to one another. So when I started to create the image of two beautiful birds, I wanted to convey how wonderful the feeling of love and fidelity is.”

Two canvases cover the bright lights of Broadway, New York City’s theatre district. Bob Gilbert’s “Phantom and West Side” depicts a Broadway in downtown Manhattan with colorful posters of different Broadway large advertisements of the Broadway musicals “South Pacific,” “West Side Story,” “Hair,” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Not only is the painting visually filled with city crowds heading into the theatres but is also suggestive of city sounds. Viewing the painting, one the can almost hear the busy traffic mixed with music as enthusiastic theatre goers rendezvous to enter theatres. Yet the true wildness here is the wildly improbable: the four musicals referenced appeared in vastly different decades and would unlikely be playing all together at the same time.

Another Manhattan-themed painting is the same artist’s “Theater District,” in which taxis can be seen with spattered in rain.

Digital photography makes its appearance with James Hengst’s “Driftwood Tree.” The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow speaks of “drift-wood fire without that burned” in his poem “The Fire of Drift-wood” and is matched by Sara Teasdale in her poem “Driftwood” which imagines “driftwood burning.” Yet the theme of this painting in the Falls Church show is not how all things perish with time but rather a timeless view of “Treasure Beach, on Jamaica’s south coast,” where one finds “sandy beaches” uncorrupted by “megaresorts.” Instead, according to the exhibition card, the pictured “tree grows wild from the soil between two of the beaches, its branches twisted by the wind and tides into beautiful shapes resembling driftwood.”

Wild flashcard views of more of the exhibition would include the ancient symbols of griffin and sphynx (Veronica Barker-Barzel’s “Griffin and Pregnant Sphinx” relief), Shaun van Steyn’s film photography “Wild Buffalo,” and Casey Wait’s “Get in Line,” an acrylic on cradled board

FALLS CHURCH ART’S wild show on display through Oct. 2nd.

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depicting a large white cat.

To enjoy a close-up look at these and other works too numerous to present here, take a “walk on the wild side” in visiting Falls

Church Arts’ “Wild,” an exhibition of pictures for sale which continues through October 2. For further information, please visit www.

FallsChurchArts.org

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

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Falls Church Area High Schools Fall Sports Seasons Get Underway

SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 15

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Falls Church High School: Coming off an 0-3 season, Falls Church Field Hockey continued their struggles falling to Wakefield 0-3 and Centreville 0-5. They will have two chances to find their first win of the season this week at home against Lake Braddock and visiting the Herndon Hornets.

Golf lost 182-170 in a match against Thomas Jefferson Science and Tech, moving to 2-1 on the season. They continued against Thomas Edison this monday, falling to the Eagles 166-144.

Volleyball will open their season Thursday night against King Abdullah Academy (0-1).

Varsity football downed local rivals Meridian 35-0 behind outstanding performances from CB/ WR DJ Kennard and quarterback Caleb West. They will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since October 2019 when they visit Chantilly High School on Thursday.

The boys and girls cross country teams will open Tuesday in a meet at Mason District Park.

Justice High School: Field hockey suffered a close defeat at home; 2-1 to Meridian.

They began this week with a loss to West Potomac 3-0, falling to an 0-3 record to start the season. The Wolves have a chance to break the losing streak with a game Thursday against Yorktown.

Golf won a match against Annandale last week with a dominant 220-183 final score. They continue their season Tuesday at Jefferson District Park.

Volleyball will play their first game of the season against Lake Braddock Tuesday. Justice (who went 25-7 last season) should have an easy match against a Bruins team that went winless in 12 games last year.

Justice football fell 14-20 to Thomas Edison in a close game.

The Wolves will look to get themselves on track with a game at Mt. Vernon (0-1), who fell 49-24 to West Springfield this past Friday.

Justice cross country will open at Mason District Park alongside Falls Church.

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A TOUGH LOSS for the Mustangs on Friday against Falls Church High School. The �inal score was 35-0 with outstanding performances

by Falls Church High School CB/WR DJ Kennard. (P����: M���� P�����)

I BUMPED INTO TONY, a recent transplant from Chicago, outside the CVS on West Broad St. Tony has been living in the Little City with his family since November, when he moved here for his job as a lawyer for Amazon. Loving the small town vibe for Falls Church his parting quote to me was, “Smile first. You’ll usually get a smile back.” (P����: J. M������ W�����)

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Marshall High School: Marshall girl’s Field hockey opened their season with a pair of wins this past week, defeating Alexandria City 2-1 and West Springfield 1-0. Their season will continue with a match at home against the Robinson Rams.

Coed golf continued with the Statesmen falling 157-169 in a match against Wakefield. They play two matches this week, away at Herndon Tuesday and home against Langley Thursday.

Marshall volleyball has opened their season with a dominant pair of wins against James Madison and Westfield where the team avoided dropping a single set. They play a fellow undefeated team in Hendon (2-0) Wednesday before attending an invitational over the weekend.

Football fell 28-7 to WashingtonLiberty on the road Thursday night.

Their single touchdown came courtesy of a connection between quarterback Jeff Ryder and wide receiver Christos Proctor. They will continue their three game road trip against Westfield (0-1) Friday.

Both boys and girls cross country open their seasons with a meet

THE MERIDIAN FIELD HOCKEY TEAM beat Justice High School 2-1 in overtime. (P����: M������ A��������)

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Meridian High School: Meridian Field Hockey opened the season with some dramatics.

The Mustangs beat Justice High School 2-1 in overtime. Meridian knocked in the game winner in the first 4 minutes of overtime. They will take on Heritage September 7th.

Meridian Golf has an away match Tuesday September 6th vs William Monroe that will be played at Green Hills Golf Course.

Volleyball has started the season slow with a record of 1-4.

They were able to secure a win against Lewis high school taking 3 sets to 1. Their season continues as they will travel to Oakton to take on the Cougars September 8th.

Varsity football lost to local rivals Falls Church 35-0. Meridian will look to bounce back tonight as they host Kettle Run. Kettle Run comes into the game 1-0 after a 27-14 win vs Heritage.

The Girls and Boys Cross Country teams will open their season with a meet on September 14th. The schools participating in the meet are Skyline, Sherando, William Monroe and Meridian.

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Community News & Notes Falls Church Farmers Market Now Open to December The Falls Church Farmers Market, organized each Saturday in the City Hall Parking Lot at 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, is open 8 a.m. — 12 p.m. weekly, now — December.

For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/FM. Some of the local vendors and businesses that operate at the Farmers Market are: Atwater’s Bakery (baked goods); Black Rock Orchard (apples, apple cider); Borek-G (Turkish pastries, naan — also known as flatbread); Catoctin Coffee (coffee and roasted coffee beans); Chris’ Marketplace (crab cakes, soup, baked goods); Cold Country Salmon (salmon, halibut); Dimitri Olive Oil (olives, olive oil, vinegars); Disturbingly Delicious Foods (sauces and condiments); Endless Summer Harvest (hydroponically grown greens); Foggy Mountain Pasta (pasta and

sauces); Fresh Crunch (pickled foods); Gina’s All Natural Jams (jams and jellies); Grace’s Pastries (baked goods); Grateful Gardeners (flowers); Greenheart Juice Shop (cold-pressed juice and nut milks); Hog Haven Farm (pork breakfast sandwiches); Honey Brook Farms (beef, chicken, eggs); J&W Valley View Farm (fruits and vegetables); Kare’s Crepes (crepes); Lydia’s Fields (vegetables, figs); Mama’s Donut Bites (donuts); Marcos’ Produce (fruits and vegetables); and Metro Microgreens (microgreens), among others.

Sully Historic Site Seeks Volunteers Sully Historic Site, located at 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, is looking for volunteers. Volunteers will be able to hone their public speaking and organizational skills while learning local history in a

PROJECT LEAP is partnering up with The DC Center for the LGBT Community to offer free job coaching. The coaching sessions are 1-on-1 and are set up to help transgender and gender non-conforming job seekers. Some of the services provided are resume reviews, job search assistance and more. (Photo Courtesy: Grimaldi-Francesca Sanchez )

friendly environment, bolstered by fellow history enthusiasts. No formal experience is necessary; training will be provided. Volunteers at Sully Historic Site will be responsible for the following: leading tours of the house and outbuildings; teaching school groups; helping with scout classes; participating in hands-on programs; working behind the scenes; and conducting research. Sully also maintains a garden and forested trails — those interested in gardening can apply to be a volunteer gardener or help maintain the trails. Tours are offered Thursdays — Sundays, allowing for a flexible schedule. For more details or to apply, visit the Fairfax County Volunteering website at volunteer. fairfaxcounty.gov/custom/1380/volunteer_home or call at 703-4371794.

Project Leap Job Coaching In-Person at DC Center The DC Center for the LGBT Community offers free job coaching, provided in partnership with Project Leap. These coaching sessions are one-on-one and are especially set up to help transgender and gender non-conforming job seekers; some of the services that will be provided are resume review, job search assistance and professional wardrobing help. Job coaching at the DC Center takes place every third Tuesday of the month, from 6 — 8 p.m. The DC Center for the LGBT Community is located at 2000 14th St NW, Suite 105, Washington, DC. For more information, visit thedccenter.org/events/ project-leap-job-coaching-2.

Friends of Falls Church Shelter to Reopen This November

THE SULLY HISTORIC SITE is looking for volunteers who will be able to hone their public speaking and organizational skills while learning local history. (Photo Courtesy: Cindy Fortuno)

Looking ahead to fall and winter, the Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter is planning to once again open its doors from November 15, 2022 — March 31, 2023. Falls Church Presbyterian Church has a long history of providing dinner for the guests on Monday evenings and is again asking for volunteers — a signup opportunity will be available in the near future. Meanwhile, Falls Church Presbyterian suggests sharing this news with friends and neighbors. For

PHIL DUNCAN meets up with his son Tyler on duty at the Arlington County Police Department’s community block party, held Saturday at Kenmore Middle School. Tyler joined the ACPD in 2017 after earning criminology degrees in college (West Virginia U., ‘15) and graduate school (Florida State U., ‘17). He now holds the rank of corporal with ACPD. The son of Leslie and Phil Duncan, Tyler was in the Class of 2011 at George Mason HS. Phil has served on the Falls Church City Council for 10 years (Courtesy Photo: Phil Duncan)

more information, visit fallschurchpresby.org. For more information about the Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter, visit fcshelter.org or call 703-854-1400. Falls Church Presbyterian participates in several other ongoing community efforts.

One of these initiatives is spreading the word about the Falls Church Community Service Council (FCS).

To make a monetary donation to the FCS food pantry, visit fcswecare. org/donate.html.

To make an item donation, email fcswecare@aol.com or call 703237-2562 to schedule a donation.

The pantry needs for August are: no-salt and no-sugar-added items — plastic jars are preferred, no jumbo sizes — such as albacore (white) tuna; apple sauce (unsweetened): 24 oz; baked beans: 16 oz; bath & liq-

uid hand soaps; caffeinated coffee: instant and ground; canned chicken; canned fruit: 16 oz; canned veggies (no green beans): 16 oz; crackers and other nonperishable foods and hygiene items

Vaccination Requirement Dropped At State Theatre The State Theatre, a venue for live performances in Falls Church, is dropping its Covid-19 vaccination requirement.

The entertainment venue announced Monday proof of vaccination is no longer required. The venue had previously requested proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test result for its indoor shows. The requirement did not apply to its free outdoor shows.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

ENCORE CREATIVITY FOR OLDER AUDLTS is welcoming new and returning singers in the Fairfax County area to the fall season of its popular Encore Chorales. Registration is open now for the 15-week fall season which begins in September and culminates in holiday concerts that are open to the public. An online program is offered “We appreciate the hard work and patience from our staff and customers that has gone into this process over the past year,” the State Theatre said in a social media post. “We take this decision very seriously and remain committed to ensuring the State Theatre is a safe and comfortable venue to enjoy live music.”

Commissioners To Welcome New Metro GM/CEO Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission will welcome new Metro GM/CEO Randy Clarke and review upcoming public outreach efforts for the NVTCled Envision Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system planning effort at their monthly meeting Thursday

Commissioners will welcome newly-appointed Metro GM/CEO Randy Clarke at their September meeting. This will be Mr. Clarke’s first meeting with the full Commission since joining Metro in late July. After hearing from Mr. Clarke about his priorities for the transit agency, Commissioners will have an opportunity to ask questions. Mr. Clarke’s appearance comes a week before Metro shuts down the Yellow Line in Northern Virginia for major construction. NVTC’s appointees to the Metro Board of Directors and members of the NVTC WMATA Committee will provide updates on the shutdown and available travel alternatives.

Older Adult Choral Group Ushers in Fall Season

LO CA L Encore Creativity for Older Adults, America’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, welcomes new and returning singers in the Fairfax County area to the fall season of its popular Encore Chorales, local groups that sing a fun and eclectic mix of music in many styles and from many different eras.

Registration is open now for the 15-week fall season which begins in September 2022 and culminates in holiday concerts that are free and open to the public. All programs consist of 90-minute sessions held conveniently during the day each week and led by well-known professional conductors from the area. No auditions are necessary. Encore’s mission is to provide an accessible arts education and performance opportunities for older adults regardless of ability or experience.

For those who prefer to sing virtually, Encore is also offering its popular Encore University, a comprehensive online program of singing plus enrichment courses in music history, music theory, dance, art, movement classes and more.

SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 17

Virginia schools will now require applications and use family income to determine eligibility for free, reduced-price or paid meals.

More than 525,000 students qualified for free meals in Virginia when data was last collected in 2019. The new eligibility means approximately 64,500 more kids can access free meals.

Filling out a free form may help families qualify for additional benefits to include discounted exam fees and college applications, extracurricular and scholarship opportunities.

Families can reach out to their local school nutrition department with questions related to the free meal application form.

Early September Programs Offered for Garden Lovers On Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, join Green Spring Gardens for “Forest

Bathing Walk in the Gardens” to experience Green Spring Gardens with all your senses. Ana Ka’ahanui, co-founder of local nonprofit Capital Nature, will lead a slow, meditative walk around the gardens. Contemplative, but more active than meditation, this forest bathing walk will help reduce blood pressure, boost immunity and enhance mood and creativity. Bring something to sit on the ground, which may be damp, and a water bottle. This program runs from 10 a.m. until noon.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, explore another beautiful garden on a getaway to Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

The trip departs from Green Spring Gardens at 7 a.m. and returns at 7 p.m. The cost is $139 per adult, which includes motor coach, admission, guided tour and lunch.

For more information, call 703-642-5173.

Superintendent Encourages Applications for Free Meals Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow is encouraging Virginia families to submit free meal applications to local schools.

Virginia is expanding eligibility for free meals during the 20222023 school year through funding provided by the General Assembly in the state budget. Students with families at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals.

Emergency federal flexibility that allowed free meals for all students during the pandemic expired at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. Moving forward, many

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THE FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS bid farewell to news reporter Alex Russell (left, seated next to senior copy editor Ted White ) with a luncheon at Mark’s Pub. Alex has been working the Press for the past year and has contributed many articles featured in the paper. (P����: F���� C����� N��� P����)

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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR FCNP Featured Event National Newspaper Carrier Day SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

THE FALLS CHURCH CITY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE is hosting their Labor Day ice cream social at Cherry Hill Park at 1 p.m. on Monday. The event will help raise money for Virginia abortion rights organizations by selling tee shirts and featuring a prize drawing. (Photo courtesy: Falls Church Democrats)

LOCAL EVENTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 NALA FRIDAYS AT THE PARK. Did someone say live music and food trucks? We are moving our annual Fridays at the Fountain event to Long Bridge Park. This outdoor concert series features local bands and musicians and is free to attend. Long Bridge Park (311 6th St. S, Arlington). 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 A MUTT LOVE EVENT. If you want to see what sheer joy looks like, come to this volunteer event. The event lasts about 3 hours because the dogs need lots of walking. 12 p.m. — 3 p.m. Weber’s Pet Supermarket (11135 Lee Highway). For more information, call (540)-682-6724 MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL. Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church will host its 29th annual Middle Eastern Food Festival, September 3 and 4, on the church grounds -- 8501 Lewinsville Road, McLean, Virginia. The festival will feature authentic Middle Eastern food, pastries, music and dancing, as well as vendors, church tours, and activities for both children and adults. 11 a.m. — 10 p.m.

NATIONAL CINEMA DAY. Taking in a movie Saturday, Sept. 3, near Falls Church will cost only a fraction of what it usually does at theaters participating in “National Cinema

Day,” an effort to lure movie lovers back to the theater to see a film and revive flat box office sales. Participating theaters near Falls Church include: Regal Gallery, AMC Courthouse Plaza 8, Regal Ballston Quarter and more.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 NOVA CENTRAL FARMS MARKET. NOVA Central Farm Market is a year-round farmers market located on Beulah Road at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Vienna, Virginia. The market features fresh local pork, cheeses, dairy, baked goods, eggs, flowers, and ice cream. The market also has live music each week, kids club activities, special events and much more. 543 Beulah Road, Vienna. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DC JAZZ FEST AT THE WHARF. Enjoy live jazz music at the Wharf. 760 Maine Ave SW, Washington , DC. 2:00 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 LABOR DAY AT CLARE & DON'S BEACH SHACK. Tasty food, cold drinks, chill vibes, and free live music to cap off your summer. Half Pint Harry hits the stage 5-8pm. 130 North Washington St, Falls Church ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND ABORTION RIGHTS FUNDRAISER. We're so excited for the Fall campaigning to begin, and to kick off election season with our Labor Day ice cream social at Cherry Hill Park from 1-3pm. We're raising money for Virginia abortion rights organizations Blue Ridge Abortion Fund and our very own Falls Church Healthcare Center. Tee shirts will

be sold for $20 at the ice cream social (or you can reserve yours in advance by emailing fallschurchdems@gmail.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 BOLLYWOOD DANCE FITNESS. Join a fun Bollywood dance fitness class by instructor, Aparna Rao. An invitation to attend this virtual class will be sent to registered participants 1 day before the event start time. Virtual event hosted by Fairfax County Libraries. 6 p.m. — 7 p.m.

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER CARRIER DAY recognizes the dedicated newspaper carriers who deliver the news in the wee hours of the morning. A lot has changed since the first newspaper carrier. Not only have the routines changed, but their methods and the age of the people delivering them has changed, too. However, the newspaper carrier still exists in some form. Each and every newspaper carrier owes their start to an enterprising young immigrant in New York City over 180 years ago.

According to a captioned photo released by the Museum of the City of New York, The Sun‘s publisher Benjamin Day hired the first paperboy on September 4, 1833. Show your newspaper carrier a little extra appreciation. Enjoy the ease that we have in being able to wake up, get our coffee, and have a paper to read before getting out of our pajamas! If you were a newspaper carrier, take the day to reminisce a bit. Share stories from your delivery routes and the people you knew then.

PAINT PARTY. Come paint and party with us! In under 2 hours, our creative host will walk you step by step how to recreate the painting of the event while infusing laughs and music along the way. This class is beginner-friendly; so no experience necessary! All materials will be provided. Hops N Shine (3410 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria). 7 p.m. — 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 HISPANIC HERITAGE ZUMBA. Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated this September. In honor of this occasion, Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers are featuring Zumba classes.

Each Zumba class is designed to bring people together. Providence Rec Center (7525 Marc Dr, Falls Church). 6 p.m.

NALA BEACH CLUB: BARK AT THE BEACH. Time at the beach is a must for the dog days of summer. On September 7, visit the Beach Club with your furry friends. Gateway Green, Arlington. 5 p.m. — 7 p.m.

THE NOVA CENTRAL FARMS MARKET, located at the Church of the Holy Reedemer in Vienna from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. , features a variety of foods, drinks, live music and activites. (Photo Courtesy: Lynn Kriesten)

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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SEPTMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 19

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

NO PART OF NOTHIN'. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA) 7:30 p.m. (703) 237-0300

HALF PINT HARRY. Clare and Don's Beach Shack (130 North Washington St, Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-532-9283.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

IRELAND'S KARAN CASEY TRIO. Jammin Java (227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA) 8:00 p.m. (703) 255-1566

LUKE JOHNSON. Dogwood Tavern (132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA) 9:30 p.m. (703) 237-8333 SHAKEFARMERS. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 4 p.m. (703) 241-9504 2 D SOLE BAND. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8: 30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

KARAN CASEY has been referred to as a "trailblazing" Irish singer-songwriter. A leading advocate for gender balance in the Irish folk and traditional music scene, Casey will be making her first U.S. tour in three years from September 1 — September 8. She will be performing at Jammin' Java on Wednesday, September 7 at 8 p.m. (Photo: Cindy Bryam)

LIVE MUSIC

TWENTY ONE PILOTS. Capital One Arena (601 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.) 8 p.m. (202) 628-3200 TUNEMATICS. Clare and Don's Beach Shack (130 North Washington St, Falls Church). 5 p.m. 703-532-9283

STING. Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA) 7:00 p.m. (703) 255-1800

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

BROOK YODER. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 4 p.m. (703) 241-9504

HONKY TONK CASANOVAS. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 4 p.m. (703) 241-9504

ACOUSTIC AYRE DUO. Solace Outpost (444 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA ). 8 p.m. ​​(571) 378-1469

SHARTEL & HUME. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8:30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

WOLF BLUES JAM. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA). 8:30 p.m. (703) 241-9504

FRANKLIN MUSIC. Dogwood Tavern (132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA) 9:30 p.m. (703) 237-8333

CARIN LEON. The Anthem (901 Wharf St. SW, Washington, D.C.) 8 p.m. (202) 688-3590

RAHEEM DEVAUGHN. The Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) 7:30 p.m.

THEATER & ARTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 THE OUTSIDER. The Keegan Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team of the hilarious (and timely) political comedy THE OUTSIDER, by Paul Slade Smith, making its regional premiere as the first show in Keegan’s 26th season. Ned Newley doesn’t even want to be governor. He’s terrified of public speaking, and his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for… the worst candidate to ever run for office. THE OUTSIDER is a timely and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy. Directed by Ray Ficca, THE OUTSIDER will be performed at Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C. from August 27 to September 24.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 HAMILTON. From August 2nd through October 9th, Hamilton will be showing at the Kennedy Center on select dates. Hamilton is the story of America then, told by America now.

Featuring a score that blends hip hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre.

Ticket price range is $59.00-$399.00.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy Award, Dear Evan Hansen is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it. The Washington Post calls "Dear Evan Hansen" “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history.” Kennedy Center. Showing from August 30th — September 25th. Ticket

THE OUTSIDER is making its regional premiere as the first show in Keegan Theatre's 26th season. A "timely and hilarious" comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy, THE OUTSIDER focuses on the fictional Ned Newley and his dysfunctional candidacy for governor. (Photo Courtesy: Alexis Hartwick) price range $79.00 — $199.00. (202) 4168000.

NO PLACE TO GO. Bobby Smith stars in

this musical ode to the unemployed with an enterprising twist. A dedicated corporate “information refiner” has learned that his company is moving

to a cheaper, but very (very) remote, location and taking the jobs with it.

Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. 7:30 p.m. (703) 820-9771.

PAGE 20 | SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022

(TR22-36) RESOLUTION TO ADOPT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND FOUNDERS ROW HOLDINGS LLC All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. For copies of legislation, contact the City Clerk’s office at (703-248-5014) or cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov or visit www. fallschurchva.gov/councilmeetings. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

CELESTE HEATH, CITY CLERK Volunteers who live in the City of Falls Church are needed to serve on the boards and commissions listed below. Contact the City Clerk’s Office (703-248-5014, cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov, or www.fallschurchva.gov/BC) for an application form or more information.

Positions advertised for more than one month may be filled during each subsequent month.

Architectural Advisory Board Arts & Humanities Council of Falls Church Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee Board of Equalization Board of Zoning Appeals (Alternate) City Employee Review Board Economic Development Authority Historical Commission Housing Commission Human Services Advisory Council Library Board of Trustees Planning Commission Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Towing Advisory Board Regional Boards/Commissions Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Long Term Care Coordinating Council Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission Virginia Career Works Northern Region Ad Hoc Committee Sold Waste Management Plan Advisory Committee: This Committee will advise the City Council in the development of the City’s 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan.

AUCTIONS ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@vpa.net

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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opptunity 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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(TR22-35) RESOLUTION TO AMEND RESOLUTION 2018-37 TO CHANGE THE APPROVED VOLUNTARY CONCESSIONS, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AMENDED AND DATED FEBRUARY 22, 2021 (RESOLUTION 202107) TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF THEATER SEATS REQUIRED AND PROVIDE FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY UNTIL THE THEATER LEASE IS EXECUTED FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS “FOUNDERS ROW” ON APPLICATION BY MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL TRUST (FOUNDERS ROW HOLDING, LLC)

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The following, regarding “Founders Row” (110 Founders Ave.), was heard at the August 8, 2022 City Council meeting. A public hearing and final City Council action is scheduled for Monday, September 12, 2022 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

PERSONAL SEEKING SOMEONE

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

C L AS S I F I E DS

PA

PUBLIC NOTICE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

855-864-5500

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ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 141

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 21

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PUZZLE NO. 144

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19. More 35. Organ of uncommon hearing 21. Building wing 38. Lugged 22. Willing’s 39. Evidence partner Applications for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Coalition 40.

Sinister to Back 23. School official 41. Stack Black Businesses Grant are now live! Created to provide financial assistance to 24. Paces 42.

Fruity drinks for Black-owned businesses, the multi-year initiative 26. seeks to chart a path forward Sleds 43.

Small companies affected by the disproportionate impact 27. of Roadway the pandemic. This year’s grant mountain will feature a $5,000 prize, as well as mentorship andhazards resources to help applicants to 46. Pair 6, so be sure 28. Links grow and thrive. Applications for the 2022-2023 cohort close September 48. Hole piercer 29. Betwixt to submit ASAP! https://webackblackbusinesses.com/ 49. Santa’s gift 30. Agts.

Grant for Black Business Owners

Evans Consulting Acquires Fellow Falls Church Firm

Copyright © 2022, Penny Press

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Falls Church government contractor Evans Consulting has acquired business training and coaching firm Global Dynamics International Inc., also of Falls Church.

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Locals Land on Fortune Global 500

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

NOVA Recruiting Tools for Employers NOVA’s Career Services staff is hosting a two-part, Part Time Job and Internship Fair with a virtual component on September 7 and an in-person component at the Alexandria Campus on September 8. NOVA Career Services has a free online career services management system called Career Connection to which employers can register to recruit NOVA students and alumni. Information about it can be found at https:// www.nvcc.edu/career-services/career-connection.html. When employers register in Career Connection they will be able to post job openings as well as receive information with a registration link about the Part Time Job and Internship Fair.

Cognosante Wins Spot on $10B DHA Medical R&D Contract Cognosante has secured a spot on a potential 10-year, $10 billion multiple-award contract from the Defense Health Agency to provide knowledge translation services in support of military medical research and development programs. The company was selected as a prime contractor eligible to compete for task orders in the translational science support and services market segment of the OMNIBUS IV indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle. Cognosante will also vie for task orders as a subcontractor in the area of R&D support services. The company has been providing support services to the DHA Implementation Science Branch and other federal agencies including the Veterans Health Administration. The contract has a five-year base ordering period that will conclude on June 19, 2027, and a five-year option period that would extend work through June 19, 2032.

 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@ fallschcurchchamber.org.

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BACK IN THE DAY

25 � 10 Y���� A�� �� ��� N���-P���� Falls Church News-Press Vol. VII, No. 25 • September 44, 1997

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

C������ C�����

Falls Church News-Press Vol. XXII, No. 27 • August 30, 2012

Whittier, Marriot & State Theatre at Mercy of BZA for Parking Variances

F.C. School Board Rejects Mayor’s ‘Trust Me’ Technology Funding

Three vital new Falls Church development projects come before the City’s Board of Zoning Appeals next week needing relief from the City’s parking laws in order to push ahead with their plans.

The Falls Church School Board rejected a draft proposal from F.C. Mayor Nader Baroukh that he brought to Monday’s School Board work session wherein the Schools front the money for a $500,000 technology upgrade on the promise the City Council will “hold harmless” money for reimbursement .

I� M�������: L���� H������� Laura Ann Hartwick, 67, passed on August 18, 2022, surrounded by her family. Born July 1955, Laura was a compassionate, strong-willed, wild-spirit through and through. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend to many. She was fiercely political and passionate at standing up for just causes. She was a prolific artist- painter, florist, calligrapher, mosaicist, and graphic designer whose art has been displayed throughout Falls Church and the greater Washington area.

She met Michael Hubbard in 1983 and together they had four children. Laura was the devoted mother to Alek, Sophia, Anna,

Saslaw’s Richmond Report Continued from Page 8

the classroom. It is often cited as a major contributor to the tsunami of people leaving the teaching profession. As previously noted, in the new biennial budget we moved the needle considerably for teacher pay, invested heavily in modernizing facilities, and made adjustments for the learning gap that has resulted from the pandemic.

Despite various obstacles, many localities showed improvement on 2022 SOL results. Falls Church City Public Schools led the Commonwealth with a first or second place ranking for five key subjects. This is no small accomplishment, and we should be commending the teachers, students, and their families. Academic equity across zip codes remains a challenge but is not insurmountable. Let’s capitalize on the successes.

and Isaac and proud grandmother of Joseph Hartwick. Laura was a matriarch of the family and beautifully molded the lives around her the way she molded her art into masterpieces.

Laura was predeceased by her father, Robert Allen Hartwick and Mother, Anna Irene Hartwick. She is survived by her four children, Alek, Sophia, Anna, and Isaac, her grandson Joseph, her brothers David and Scott, her sister Kathy, her nieces, nephews, and grand-niece, and her common-law spouse, Michael Hubbard.

Memorial Service & Celebration of Life will be held Saturday Sept 3, 2022 1 p.m. at

Christ Crossman UMC: 384 N. Washington St., Falls Church.

Prepare for power outages today

THIS LITTLE MUTT was adopted in 2021 and has been hanging around Falls Church ever since. Sir Loki absolutely loves his family (not the bathtub), and spends most of his time hanging out with his human buddies. He always enjoys his trips to Northside Social and the park. Despite his hatred for drainage pipes, Loki is, without a doubt, a Falls Church puppy.

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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(844) 945-1631 *Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires 9/30/2022. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2022 BCI Acrylic Inc.

FCNP.COM | FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

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SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022 | PAGE 23

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR AN UPDATE OF THE 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY TARIFF, DESIGNATED RIDER TRG CASE NO. PUR-2022-00101 •Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion”) has filed an annual update of its 100 percent renewable energy tariff, designated Rider TRG. •Rider TRG is a voluntary tariff whereby participating customers can elect to purchase 100 percent of their energy and capacity needs from renewable energy resources.

•Dominion proposes to maintain the same rate for Rider TRG of $3.98 per megawatt hour that was previously approved by the State Corporation Commission.

•Further information about this case is available on the SCC website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case Information.

On July 1, 2022, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed an application (“Application”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) pursuant to §§ 56-577 A 5 and 56-234 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) for an annual update of its voluntary 100 percent renewable energy tariff, designated Rider TRG. The Company began offering Rider TRG in July 2020. According to Dominion, as of June 15, 2022, approximately 3,481 residential customers and 82 commercial customers were enrolled in Rider TRG. In Case No. PUR-2019-00094, the Commission approved the Company’s initial Rider TRG filing, whereby participating customers can voluntarily elect to purchase 100 percent of their energy and capacity needs sourced from a portfolio of renewable energy resources owned or contracted for by the Company (“TRG Portfolio”) that meet the definition of renewable energy in Code § 56-576. In that case, the Commission approved the following resources for inclusion in the TRG Portfolio: the Scott, Whitehouse, and Woodland solar facilities; the Essex, Williamston Speight, HXOap, Cork Oak, and Sunflower solar power purchase agreements; the Gaston and Roanoke Rapids hydro facilities; and the Altavista, Hopewell, and Southampton biomass units.

Customers electing to participate in Rider TRG pay a premium over standard service that is based on the prevailing market value of retail renewable energy, using the market value of renewable energy certificates (“RECs”) as a proxy for this premium (“Rider TRG Rate”). In Case No. PUR-2019-00094, the Commission approved a Rider TRG Rate of $3.98 per megawatt hour (“MWh”), which was the weighted average price of the RECs produced by all of the resources in the approved TRG Portfolio.

Dominion is not proposing any changes to the TRG Portfolio or Rider TRG Rate at this time. Dominion thus proposes to charge participating customers the previously-approved Rider TRG Rate of $3.98 per MWh. This represents a charge over standard service of 2.91% for participating customers.

The Company states that it calculates the current market value of the RECs in the TRG Portfolio to be $12.87 per MWh. Dominion, however, is not proposing to increase the previously-approved Rider TRG Rate in order to “ensure a successful start of the program and to facilitate new customer enrollment.” Instead, Dominion proposes for the Company to cover the difference between the $3.98 per MWh charged to customers and the full market value of the RECs of $12.87 per MWh (i.e. $8.89/REC), for the period July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

Dominion asserts that Rider TRG continues to be just, reasonable, and in the public interest and is designed to hold non-participating customers substantially harmless. Further, the Company states that Rider TRG continues to advance the policy objectives of Code § 56-577 A 5, furthers the Commonwealth Energy Policy stated in Code § 45.2-1706.1, and remains consistent with the goals of the Virginia Energy Plan to accelerate the development of renewable energy resources in Virginia to ensure a diverse fuel mix and promote long term economic health.

TAKE NOTICE that the Commission may approve a rate that is higher than proposed by the Company, up to $12.87 per month for Rider TRG. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for further details of the Company’s proposals.

The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health concern related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs, or other documents required to be served in this matter should be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”). Confidential and Extraordinarily Sensitive Information shall not be submitted electronically and should comply with 5 VAC 5-20-170, Confidential information, of the Rules of Practice. At this time, any person seeking to hand deliver and physically file or submit any pleading or other document shall contact the Clerk’s Office Document Control Center at (804) 371-9838 to arrange the delivery.

Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Rules of Practice, the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information.

An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Elaine S. Ryan, Esquire, McGuireWoods LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or eryan@mcguirewoods.com.

On or before September 28, 2022, any interested person may file comments on the Application by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments or by filing such comments with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00101.

On or before September 28, 2022, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation with the Clerk of the Commission at the address above or at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-2030, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00101.

On or before September 28, 2022, any interested person may file a written request for a hearing with the Clerk of the Commission at the address above or at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling, and the interested person simultaneously shall serve a copy of the hearing request on counsel to the Company. Requests for a hearing shall include: (i) a precise statement of the filing party’s interest in the proceeding; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; (iii) a statement of the legal basis for such action; and (iv) a precise statement why a hearing should be conducted in this matter. All requests for a hearing shall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00101.

Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Rules of Practice.

The Company’s Application, the public version of other documents filed in this case, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Comment, may be viewed at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

PAGE 24 | SEPTEMBER 1 - 7, 2022

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