9-2-20205

Labor Day

Kicks Off Election Season

VOTE FOR US!

As usual, Labor Day marked the unofficial kick-off of the fall electoral season with two seminal events in the City of Falls Church, the annual Falls Church Democratic Committee’s ice cream social in Cherry Hill Park and a Democratic state delegate Marcus Simon’s fundraiser now held in a spacious backyard at a home in downtown Falls Church.

Both events were unusually well attended, with over 60 showing up for the ice cream and over 100 for Simon’s event. Both were keynoted by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer Jr., who again quipped that Falls Church is the “center of the known universe,” clarifying in his second appearance that while the Little City is not the center of the U.S., from the broader perspective of the universe as a whole, it is indeed the center.

Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi was also present to speak both times, along with a bevy

Virginia’s U.S. Senator Mark Warner spoke in the strongest words possible against Trump administration actions against the intelligence community and Congress in a telephone press briefing with Virginia journalists yesterday.

He singled out the way in which informal Trump advisor, 911 denier and bizarre con -

spiracy theorist Laura Loomer has dictated some of the more egregious moves against the intelligence community, including by influencing firings of top veteran federal intelligence professionals the loss of security clearances of 37 intelligence operatives recently, and this week’s action to force the cancellation of a routine meeting Warner had scheduled with federal intelligence professionals in Virginia.

Tuesday night, Warner issued a scathing repudiation of Loomer’s role in that cancellation action (see below).

“It is outrageous,” Warner said in the press briefing yesterday. “Who approved Loomer’s role in all this? Does she now have greater authority than (Office of National Intelligence Director) Tulsi Gabbard or (Defense Secretary) Pete Hegseth? Do people now have to pass a Laura Loomer litmus

test to meet with people? This is a Brave New World and not a good one.”

Warner also assailed the Trump administration’s “unfriendly” policies toward veterans, noting that of the 300,000 federal workers that Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted for layoffs, an estimated one third of them are

Falls Church on Labor Day with two big events: the F.C. Dem

Park

Marcus Simon’s annual event, electeds gathered, as shown here, led by

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

by Nicholas F. Benton Falls Church News-Press

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Paragon Offers the Best of Summer

Those who missed a summer blockbuster have a second chance in September. Paragon Theater has launched their Best of Summer special where two movies will play for a week, Friday to Thursday. And if you missed the $8 tickets, they are returning this month as well. Today you can catch “Lilo & Stitch” and “Minecraft The Movie.” Next up, Paragon presents “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” and “How to Train Your Dragon” tomorrow through September 11. Visit Paragon Theater at https://www.paragontheaters.com/best_of_summer to view the full month of special showings.

Ribbon Cuttings for Two New Businesses

The Falls Church Chamber welcomes two new businesses to The Little City next week, GrillMarx and Entangled LLC, and invites you to the ribbon cuttings. GrillMarx Steakhouse and Raw Bar opened at 510 S. Washington Street in what is known as the Target building and the community will celebrate on Monday, September 8, 5:00 p.m. This is the fourth location of the family-owned restaurant and the first in Virginia. Others are in Olney, College Park and Columbia, Maryland. Entangled, LLC, located at 103 Rowell Court, is a new business for Kelly Schnapp. Her shop specializes in eco-conscious yarns and is the only store to offer Expression Fiber Arts for in-person purchase. Entangled will host classes and workshops for knitters and crocheters and serve as a community hub for mindful creativity. The soft opening is Saturday, September 6, and the chamber will host the official ribbon cutting on Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Live Music in Commons Park

Kick off the weekend in West Falls. The West Falls Community Association hosts free live music in The Commons every Friday in September, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Bring a blanket, a bite from any of the local restaurants, and enjoy the music. This Friday, Jeff Herbert performs the music of artists of the ‘70s and ‘80s and New Wave icons. More information is available at https://www.westfallsva.com/news-events/.

Chamber Breakfast with Arlington Chamber

This month, the Falls Church Chamber will hold its breakfast with the Arlington Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 8:00 – 9:30 at the Crystal City Sports Bar. The annual Speed Networking Mixer is a great opportunity to promote your business in an organized format with our neighbors. The deadline for registration is September 10 and more information is available on the chamber website. Bring plenty of business cards. (https://business.fallschurchchamber.org/events/details/chamber-event-jointbreakfast-networking-event-78924?calendarMonth=2025-09-01)

Fava Pot: A Contender for the Capital Food Fight

Once again, Falls Church is sending a chef to DC Central Kitchen’s biggest annual fundraiser, the Capital Food Fight. Dina Daniel of Fava Pot will participate onstage with Suresh Sundas of Daru and Tapori; Matt Price, aka “Mr. Make It Happen” of Fraiche; and Julie Cortes of Kayu where they prepare dishes based on secret ingredients. Spike Mendelsohn returns as celebrity host at The Anthem on Thursday, November 6. The all-star judging panel includes Chopped vet and cookbook author Amanda Freitag; James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi; Top Chef contestant and Elmina chef Eric Adjepong; and TV personality Rocco DiSpirito. Tickets are on sale now and all proceeds support D.C. Central Kitchen’s local fight against poverty and hunger.

Local Business Makes Fortune’s List

One hundred companies were ranked in both the 2025 Fortune Best Small Workplaces and Fortune Best Medium Workplaces lists including seventeen companies headquartered in Virginia. BreakPoint Labs in Falls Church was ranked 15 among small businesses. Honorees were selected based on their ability to offer a positive employee experience regardless of job, role, work status, or other demographic identifiers. BreakPoint is a cybersecurity service provider, and their profile boasts 100 percent of employees say it’s a great place to work.

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

Election Season Gets Underway with 2 Labor Day Events in F.C.

of folks on the ballot this fall who either spoke or were introduced, not the least of which was Democratic congressional candidate James Walkinshaw, who is on the ballot in a special election being held in his 11th District just west of Falls Church, with early voting now going on and election day being next Tuesday, Sept. 9. Walkinshaw, currently a Fairfax County Supervisor, is running to fill the unexpired term of his popular former boss, the late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, who died in May, against Republican challenger Stewart Whitson, a Trump devotee.

The regional campaign coordinator for Spanberger for Governor attended the first event. Spanberger is on the ballot this November pitted against GOP pro-Trump rival and current Virginia lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears. The statewide candidates for lieutenant governor, Democrat Ghazala Hashmi and Republican John

Reid, and for attorney general, Democrat Jay Jones and Republican Jason Miyares, are also on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election day, with early voting beginning Sept. 19.

Falls Church City Council and School Board elections are now hitting full steam, too, with the same election day and early voting launch, and hopefuls abounded yesterday.

But the first big event to which all candidates have been invited occurs this Friday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700 W. Broad when the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) will host a social event aimed at an opportunity for all the candidates to interact informally with whomever shows up and give very brief remarks.

There are six candidates vying for four seats on the seven member Falls Church City Council. They include three incumbents – Marybeth Connelly, Laura Downs and David Snyder – and three firsttime candidates, Arthur Akin, Brian Pendleton and James

Thompson.

There are five candidates competing for four seats on the Falls Church School Board, including incumbents Lori Silverman, Anne Sherwood and Kathleen Tysee and first-time candidates MaryKate Hughes and Sharon Mergler.

In addition to the meet-andgreet this Friday, the CBC will co-host, with the local PTAs, a public forum for School Board candidates on October 16 and another forum, co-hosted with Falls Church Forward, for City Council candidates on October 22.

In his comments at the Simon event Monday, Beyer asserted that Virginia “will never be a state that capitulates to Donald Trump.”

In introducing Walkinshaw, he honored the legacy of the late Rep. Connolly, for whom Walkinshaw served as chief of staff for years. Beyer said, “As Nancy Scott, wife of the late State Del. Jim Scott, who hosted Labor Day events for many years, noted from her husband’s funeral, it was said ‘everyone

was deeply sad and deeply joyful at the same time’ for the significant contributions made in a wonderful life. Nancy Scott attended the event. The next day, Beyer formally endorsed Walkinshaw, saying, “Fairfax was lucky to have a leader in my friend Gerry Connolly in Congress, and now, we need someone ready to carry the mantle in Congress. I’m proud to tell you: That person is James Walkinshaw.”

On Monday, Walkinshaw noted the pro-Trump loyalties of his Republican opponent and that his election next Tuesday will be “a key opportunity to elect a Democrat in a special election since Trump took office in January.” Charniele Herring, the Democratic majority leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, said this fall represents an opportunity for her party’s hair-thin majority in Richmond to grow significantly.

Other electeds from neighboring districts to Falls Church introduced included Vivian Watts, Rip Sullivan, Karl Frisch, Jimmy Bierman, Parisa

Dehghani-Tafti, Paul Krizak and Paul Fergeson and former electeds Dick Saslaw and Kate Hanley.

In his remarks, Del. Simon said that “no one person can save us,” but in the spirit of Labor Day, “solidarity will get us through.” He said about this fall’s elections, “We in Virginia will send a message to the world that the Republicans’ days are numbered.” SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2025 | PAGE 3

veterans. He added that new Veterans Administration facilities in Chesapeake and Spotsylvania are only a third staffed because of the fear of impending cutbacks.

He also spoke about the threat of a federal government shutdown if a budget cannot be agreed on by the end of this month, and the ways in which the Trump administration is “poking Congress in the eye” with its actions now, suggesting that “some in the White House want a shutdown” in order to be able to “ignore Congress altogether, Republican and Democrats.”

“It is going to be a bumpy September,” he said. “It won’t be a roll-over here.”

Warner blasted the Loomer-influenced moves last week to fire Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, ostensibly for producing a preliminary estimate that found the U.S. airstrikes in Iran, far from “obliterating” the Iranian nuclear program, had set it back only for a matter of months, and for the firing of two leading members of the at the National Intelligence Council for a report that undercut Trump’s policy on Venezuela, as well as anyone who reported on Russian election interference designed to help elect Trump. They included revoking the security clearances of 37 current and former U.S. officials.

Vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence

Committee, Sen. Warner issued the following statement on the Loomer role in shutting down his meeting:

“Weeks ago, I arranged an on-site meeting this coming Friday at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s headquarters in Springfield, Va., to connect with the nonpartisan career intelligence professionals who serve our country every day. These are Virginians – my constituents – and I have held more than a dozen similar private listening sessions with NGA and other intelligence agencies in Virginia under both Democratic and Republican presidents, including during President Trump’s first term. Engagements such as these are a core part of my responsibility to provide oversight and support to our intelligence community and hear from Americans who live in Virginia, and they have never been questioned or politicized, until now.

“Over the weekend, conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer discovered the unpublicized, classified visit and launched a campaign of baseless attacks against both me and NGA Director Vice Admiral Trey Whitworth for hosting what has always been considered a routine oversight meeting. In response to Loomer’s criticism, political appointees canceled the visit, just the latest example of an administration seemingly desperate to please Loomer, a figure with a long history of extreme and outlandish fringe views, including

9/11 denialism, anti-Muslim harassment campaigns, and associations with white supremacists.

“This nakedly political decision undermines the dedicated, nonpartisan staff at NGA and threatens the principle of civilian oversight that protects our national security. Members of Congress routinely conduct meetings and on-site engagements with federal employees in their states and districts; blocking and setting arbitrary conditions on these sessions sets a dangerous precedent, calling into question whether oversight is now allowed only

when it pleases the far-right fringe. This should concern Republicans as well as Democrats: if routine oversight can be obstructed for political reasons, no member of Congress is immune.

“Let me be clear: I will never be deterred from carrying out my constitutional responsibilities. The business of government and the security of our nation will not be dictated by extremist attentionseekers. I will continue to hold the government accountable and meet with the career intelligence professionals who keep our country safe.”

SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2025 | PAGE 5

Epstein, Trump & Male Chauvinist Hedonism

Nicholas

F. Benton

I have to admit that it was a bit of a cultural shock to see ultra-MAGA Rep. Margorie Taylor Greene at the podium speaking forcefully on behalf of something I also passionately believe in: namely, the need for all the records in the Jeffrey Epstein case to come out. It happened at an emotional press conference in D.C. Wednesday where a number of victims of Epstein and his collaborator Ghislaine Maxwell, among the hundreds of victims in total, spoke in public for the first time telling their personal stories and demanding justice on behalf of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

But it is indicative of the kind of non-partisan passionate concern that is exactly what needs to be amplified if we are to defeat what has evolved into a menacing evil that is increasingly gripping our democracy.

The lust that drove the highly criminal and inhuman behavior of so many of Epstein’s clients and friends to systematically rape and abuse underaged girls is the same generic lust that is turning our democracy into an indifferent and cruel dictatorship. Sadly, our president has spoken openly about his fixation under the grip of this menace. Anyone who can talk boastfully of grabbing the private parts of a women because he can get away with it, as Trump did in 2016 as most of the world heard on tape, is fully capable of rape, whether of an underaged girl or of a democracy.

As was made clear by some of the testimony in Wednesday’s historic press conference, however, it was not only powerful men who were responsible for what was permitted to happen. Law enforcement and even the media were culpable in allowing the Epstein criminal enterprise to go on. The ugly reality is that this is due to a culture of male supremacy and its counterpart, female inferiority, that we live in. Ultimately, this mentality is what is bringing down our entire culture and our experiment in a democracy that recognizes the fact that, as our Founding

Father Thomas Jefferson wrote in our Declaration of Independence, “All (persons) are created equal.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Even then, in 1776, most understood that “men” referred to all persons, even if the extension of that fundamental notion has taken centuries to be extended to all.

What best binds all humanity is this Enlightenment notion that coupled with the rise of science and reason inflamed the passions that led to the revolution to create the United States of America as a constitutional republic.

The alternatives that defined this revolution then can and must become the grounds of an overwhelming majority of Americans in these days, as exemplified by the overwhelming reaction to the Epstein affair now.

It should be asserted that what divides us today is not our political parties, but human identities defined by one of two different world views and behaviors. I have called them Promethean and Dionysian. The former is the identity that generations have been raised upon and lived their lives accordingly: lives of dignity, decency and virtue, up to this day. The latter is the enemy of democracy, grounded in a nihilistic anarchohedonistic identity that was allowed to run rampant in America in the 1970s.

Trump rose to a modicum of personal power in those 1970s, under the tutelage of his attorney and friend, the aide to the poisonous Sen. Joseph McCarthy, named Roy Cohn. Cohn was the seminal nihilist who operated by stripping away any and all moral suasion to achieve his objectives.

Promethean, as in life-giving, versus Dionysian, as in achieving personal pleasure by overcoming moral or decency boundaries, are our choices as a nation.

As a gay man, I’ve lived through and fought the effort to drive our movement into the grip of a hedonistic identity and culture that persists to this day. I’ve asserted that we are fundamentally Promethean, instead.

The same is true for all of us, while Epstein and Trump epitomize male chauvinist licence and hedonism.

By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor

In the current chaos of the Trump Administration’s attacks on democracy, people often ask me “what can I do?” My initial reaction is “turn it off.” The constant 24/7 news cycle has been increasing listeners’/viewers’ stress levels for years, made worse by a peculiar fascination for latching onto everything Trump –his hair, ankles, marriage, if he has a bullet scar on his ear, sycophantic cabinet members, almost equally sycophantic corporate and world leaders. It’s reality TV expanded to fill every hour and every reporter’s notebook (assuming some reporters still use old-fashioned notebooks rather than putting everything on their devices). Whether one relies on MSNBC, Fox, or some other network or social media, there is great relief when silenced. Not switched to another outlet. Silenced.

Some researchers have indicated that, after years of visual and aural bombardment from electronic devices, our brains have become accustomed to cacophony. One’s ability to concentrate on tasks can be affected (example: trying to write this column!) and, for those who have grown up with electronic

devices, the ability to communicate in person rather than via device often is lacking or less developed. The rise of Artificial Intelligence can exacerbate that effect. No wonder there are so many questions and concerns about the use of AI. Truth already is endangered; AI can make it worse.

Mr. Trump wants to make America great again, but his concept of America seems to include erasing many of the aspects that led to America’s greatness. Our history is filled with examples of great strides forward and ugly steps back. History cannot be written, or rewritten, to exclude things someone finds embarrassing or hard to explain. Slavery is horrible and inhumane, but it is part of our American experience that no laser surgery or pen can, or should, erase. Trump’s focus on the Smithsonian museums, undoubtedly the best museum system in the world, is wrong-headed and dangerous, to the nation and our democracy. The Smithsonian reflects our history, art, architecture, science, and so many other aspects of America and its role in the world. Its exhibits take a long time to put together because of the intense research needed to

City of Falls Church Crime Report

Week of Aug 18 - 25, 2025

Larceny from Vehicle, N Washington St, Aug 26, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., an unknown suspect stole the license plate off the victim’s motorcycle.

Fraud – False Pretenses, Wilson Blvd, Aug 27, 12:51 p.m., victim reported sending money to an unknown suspect after receiv-

ing a phone call from an individual claiming to be a law enforcement officer with active warrants for the victim’s arrest.

Theft of Motor Vehicle, W Broad St, Aug 27, 1:14 p.m., victim reported their U-Haul truck, a white 2024 Ford Transit Cargo Van 2022, was stolen.

Larceny from Vehicle, W Broad St, Aug 28, 5:39 p.m., an unknown suspect stole a credit card reader from a business. The

educate and explain how and why something occurred. That same kind of research has uncovered history, such as the 1921 Tulsa massacre, that was buried intentionally by government and society in decades past.

For many people here and abroad, the concept of America was what they saw in the movies…heroes on horseback, bad guys with guns, women in beautiful costumes, elegant movie sets and fancy cars, streets paved with gold, etc. People went to the movies to escape the worries of the day and enjoy a couple of hours in a darkened theater, courtesy of the Hollywood studios. It was the job of the writers and directors to spin up stories that would sell stars and tickets. Reality didn’t matter but, for many moviegoers, what they saw on the screen framed their understanding of the America dream.

I like old movies, the craft, the camera angles and the costumes. The stories – comedy, drama, romance, westerns – are fun to watch and contemplate what was going on when they were made, but they should not be considered historically accurate, by the president or anyone else. When I’m looking for respite from the news cycles, an old movie is just the ticket, but I know the news cycles still will be there when “The End” appears on the screen. So will the stress, despite turning it off for a few hours.

suspect is described as a white male in his late twenties, between 5`7” and 5`9” in height, weighing roughly 150 to 170 pounds, with a goatee, wearing a green Nike t-shirt, black pants, white shoes, a hat, multiple necklaces, and a black watch. Public Intoxication/Other Jurisdiction Warrant Service, S Washington St, Aug 30, 11:58 p.m., a male, 35, of Fairfax County, was arrested for public intoxication and served with an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.

Simple Assault, W Broad St, Aug 31, 3:25 p.m., a male, 35, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for simple assault.

6 | SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2025

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Get the Vote Out

For Walkinshaw

The special election in the 11th U.S. congressional district adjacent to the City of Falls Church that culminates with its final election day next Tuesday is being watched around the world because it will signal how people are thinking about the brazen regime of Donald Trump.

Democrat James Walkinshaw is fighting Republican Stewart Whitson to fill the seat vacated in May by the passing of Walkinshaw’s former boss, the late U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly. We have enthusiastically endorsed Walkinshaw, first in a special primary election and again now.

It is important not only that Walkinshaw win, but that he win big. His district, a bit of which abuts Falls Church directly, but mostly is west of it, has been turned “blue” by virtue of the outstanding job that Connolly did for 16 years. Prior to that, it was “purple” at best. In Whitson, the GOP is running its strongest candidate for the slot since the moderate Tom Davis held the seat for 13 years ending in 2008. Whitson is a former FBI agent who is the senior director of federal affairs at the D.C. Foundation for Government Accountability who says he is running “to fix the economy, protect our families and end waste, fraud and abuse.” But much more importantly than all that, he’s loyal (as all Republicans must be) to Donald Trump.

Walkinshaw is a solid, mainstream Democrat whose policies echo what Connolly represented for his district, including in his current role as a Fairfax County Supervisor. He spent hours in Falls Church on Labor Day Monday talking to constituents at Del. Marcus Simon’s event. Simon’s district overlaps a lot of the 11th, so Walkinshaw was talking with potential voters. But the message was delivered there for Falls Church residents: if you know anyone who lives in the 11th District, email or call them, and get them out to vote next Tuesday.

Readers of the News-Press will not be surprised that this newspaper also endorses the three Democrats at the top of the ticket in the November 4 general election, Abigail Spanburger for governor, Ghazala Hashmi for lieutenant governor and Jay Jones for attorney general, as well as Simon for delegate. All 100 of the state delegate seats will be on this fall’s ballots around the state. Next to New Jersey, Virginia’s elections this fall are the only major ones in the U.S. and will be a critical bellwether that the world will be paying a lot of attention to in advance of next year’s crucial national mid-term races of 2026.

Early voting for all this fall’s races begins Sept. 19. On the ballot in Falls Church will also be candidates for City Council and School Board. We plan to make our endorsements for those races before the early voting begins, in two weeks. We expect that Falls Church’s long tradition of having the highest voter turnout rate in the state will hold again this time.

OLD FALLS CHURCH: SCHOOL DAYS Part IV

by Ted White

As a schoolkid I had two basic ways of getting around Falls Church: By foot and on bicycle.

I walked everywhere, usually accompanying my mother, when I was a pre-schooler. The center of Falls Church – the movie theater, the five-and-dime store, the drugstore (with a soda fountain) and the hardware store (still then a general store) and the bank – the intersection of Broad and Washington Streets, was about one mile from my house. So was our church (the Falls Church Presbyterian Church), where both my mother and grandmother were Sunday School teachers (in addition to being school teachers).

And Madison Elementary school was only a few blocks up North Washington from that central intersection, and easily reached via East Columbia Street. I walked to them all. I was intimately familiar with the routes I walked daily. World War II was still ongoing when I started first grade at Madison, and I visually scoured the roadsides for paper and other items then being collected for government conservation drives.

I was midway through first grade when my family gave me a bicycle. But I didn’t know how to ride it. I was friends with a boy a couple years older than I, who lived a half block away. He was athletic and we worked out a method for us both getting to school on my bike: He peddled and I was a passenger, riding the bar between the handlebars and the seat. On the steeper hills, we both dismounted and walked, pushing my bike. By the end of the year my friend had grown tired of this and taught me how to ride

my bike on my own. He was a good friend.

After that, I bicycled everywhere within a radius of a mile or two. I usually headed to the drugstore (Ware’s) for a hot dog and a Coke, and browsed the comic book rack. But the fiveand-dime (Robertson’s) also had a comics rack and sold hot dogs and Cokes. I couldn’t go wrong.

In 1951 RKO Pictures released “The Thing From Another World.” By then I had become a dedicated reader of science fiction and I knew this movie was based on John W. Campbell’s story, “Who Goes There,” which I found in an anthology (in the Falls Church public library) and read before going to the State Theater to see the movie.

The movie was a blend of science fiction and horror, dealing with an alien creature whose spaceship crashed in the arctic and left the alien frozen in a block of ice. When it is thawed, bad things happen. The genius of the director (Christian Nyby) was to show very little of the alien – just quick glimpses that suggested more than they showed – creating a remarkably scary movie. Especially for a 13 year old kid.

For that reason, I agreed to see the movie a second time, a day or two later, with a friend from school. He had heard about the movie and he wanted company. And after the movie – it was a weeknight and after dark – he told me he was scared to go home alone. Would I ride with him to his house? He lived in Greenway Downs – the opposite direction from the State than my home. Reluctantly, I agreed. The ride home, alone, at least two miles and maybe longer, was probably the longest and least pleasant bicycle ride of my young life.

Saturday,

Saturday,

Sunday,

Fall Arts Preview Pages 7-14

DMV Theatre Reviews

By Patricia Leslie

Dodie and Princess Diana, Shakespeare mixed with Malcolm X, musicals, comedy, drama, classics, mysteries and more are on stage this fall in Washington’s region where theatregoers have many choices to celebrate the world of live performances.

After all, Washington is consistently rated among the top five U.S. theater cities, and sometimes the world, with its more than 1,000 yearly shows.

Now, “that’s entertainment!”

Many of the venues listed offer discounts for groups, seniors, military and children, and many have free parking. Some offer rush tickets or early bird pricing. Most prices here include fees, if any. Check websites.

And, away we go!

“Damn Yankees” at Arena Stage is one of America’s best loved musicals, all about the love of baseball which returns to the stage “re-tooled” for the 21st century, about one man’s fateful (and hilarious) pact with the Devil, accompanied by Broadway’s sexiest femme fatale.

Who can forget “Whatever Lola Wants” and “Who’s Got the Pain?”

After the show opened in 1955 on Broadway, it won seven Tony Awards.

Sept. 9 – Nov. 9, Tuesday –Sunday nights, some weekday and all weekend matinees. Tickets start at $49. 1101 Sixth St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024, ph. 202-488-3300.

“The Turn of the Screw” at Creative Cauldron, Fall Church’s very own theatre, arrives just in time for Halloween. It’s the return of the successful 2015 world premiere of Cauldron’s musical adaptation of Henry James’s classic ghost story.

On a remote country estate, a governess cares for two children who convince her they are haunted by two dead employees. For ages 13 and up. Oct. 2 – Oct. 26, Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. Adult prices start at $40. 127 E Broad St, Falls Church 22046, ph. 703-436-9948.

“Spadura,” “The Jewish Dog,”

and “George – Don’t Do That!” for the Logan Festival of Solo Performance at 1st Stage offers three plays in tandem.

The baby industrial complex, aging, and the unique fertility obstacles facing Black women are the focus of “Spadura” while “The Jewish Dog” offers a view of the Holocaust through the eyes of a canine unusually fascinated by human affairs. (What?)

When Nuremberg Laws separate the dog from his Jewish owners, he is confiscated by the Nazis and employed by the SS as a military concentration camp dog. Featuring Adam Meir as the dog and adapted from the novel by Asher Kravitz.

“George!” features song, sketches, anecdotes and reminiscences to celebrate the life of beloved British comedian Joyce Grenfell.

Sept. 18 – Sept. 28, Thursday – Sunday nights with weekend matinees and some late afternoon shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at $20. 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, VA 22102, ph. 703-8541856.

“Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare’’ at Folger Theatre is by award-winning writer, journalist, and podcast host Al Letson who blends Shakespeare’s original text with verse and the story of civil rights leader Malcolm X to highlight and reflect on today’s challenges.

Sept. 23 – Oct. 26. No one under age 4 admitted. One Tuesday and all Wednesday – Sunday nights with weekend matinees. Tickets start at $20. The Tuesday, Sept 23 show is “pay what you will.” One ticket/ person. 201 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Enter the building at 3rd and East Capitol streets. Ph. 202-544-7077.

“Kiss of the Spider Woman” at GALA Hispanic Theatre presents a comedy and sensual story between two complete opposites who discover that love can happen anywhere, including an Argentine prison cell. Valentin, a political prisoner

A Mason Arts Venue

Darren Criss

Photo by Jason Bell

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Drama, Comedy, and Classics:

Continued from Page 7

committed to the Marxist cause, forges an unlikely relationship with queer, movie-loving Molina, who escapes his harsh reality by retelling film noir classics as glamorous leading ladies.

GALA says it’s “poignant, chilling, funny and sensual.” In Spanish with English surtitles.

Sept. 4 – Sept. 28 Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. Tickets start at $22. 3333 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010, ph. 202-234-7174.

white financier husband who commemorate the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed by facing their own complicated relationship and how their fate may already be written in the stars.

Sept. 4 – Sept. 28. Most Thursday –Saturday nights, weekend and some Thursday matinees. Prices start at $51. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, ph. 202-399-7993, x 501.

‘”Dream Hou$e” at NextStop Theatre Company asks whether death will bring a family together or pull it apart.

“Lost in Yonkers” at Little Theatre of Alexandria is a funny and heartwarming play by Neil Simon which won four Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1991. It was first staged in Winston-Salem, N.C. in 1990.

The drama of cruel and painful memories scar a family in 1942 after the death of a mother sends two young brothers to stay with their strict and mean grandmother for the longest ten months of their lives.

But it’s not all over since there is life ahead and laughter, tears, and insight.

Sept. 6 – Sept. 27, Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. Tickets are $29. 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria 22314, ph. 703-6830496.

Mosaic Theatre Company unveils “Dodi and Diana” about an Egyptian actress and her

Two Latina sisters appear on a reality show to sell their family home, hoping to capitalize on the gentrification in their “changing neighborhood.” Dream Hou$e is a comedy which asks: What is the cultural cost of progress in America? And is cashing in always selling out?

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available for certain performances early in the run of the show. Enter promotional code EBDH.

Sept. 11 – Oct. 5, Thursday – Saturday nights and weekend matinees. Tickets start at $45. 269 Sunset Park Dr, Herndon, VA 20170, ph. 703-481-5930, ext. 1.

“Red Pitch” at the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, Olney Theatre Center stages the changes

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SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2025 | PAGE 9

Washington’s Fall Theater Season Brings Stories to Life

which face three boys who’ve grown up together playing soccer in their south London neighborhood.

Professional teams are arriving soon to sign up prospects, and on top of this stress are new apartments and franchise coffee shops going up in the ‘hood, pushing out longtime residents and local favorites.

Can their friendship survive these changes?

Three local soccer legends, Oguchi Onyewu, Bruce Murray and Hamisi Amani-Dove will serve as Olney’s “honorary producers” for this American premiere which won all five off-West End (London) awards for Best New Play. Rated PG. Sept. 17 – Oct.19, Wednesday – Saturday nights and weekend matinees. Tickets start at $47, and first-time patrons of Olney Theatre can reserve up to four free tickets to a preview performance of Red Pitch (Sept 17-19), using the code 1stTimeFree. 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832, ph. 301-924-3400.

“Mouse Trap” at Providence Players of Fairfax presents the famous mystery with a group of strangers snowed in Monkswell Manor, a remote country guest house.

News of a recent murder in London and a policeman’s arrival further heighten tensions since it’s revealed that the killer might be among them! As guests and owners share their secrets and alibis, suspicions grow, and there’s a second murder. Whodunnit?

Oct. 10 – Oct. 25, Thursday through Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. All seats, $21. The James Lee Community Center Theatre, 2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church 22042, ph. 703-425-6782.

“Merry Wives” at Shakespeare Theatre Company is the master’s farce with Falstaff, short on cash, falling into the melting pot of modern Harlem and two sharp-witted West African wives whose purses he pursues.

As their proud husbands’ suspicions grow, the wives cook up a scheme to shame the would-be homewrecker and prove that “wives

may be merry, and yet honest too.”

After all, the world is his oyster but he’d “better three hours too soon than a minute too late” when he sets aside the attractions of his good parts, his other charms vanish. (??)

Sept. 9 – Oct. 5, Tuesday –Sunday nights and weekend matinees. Tickets start at $35. Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004, ph. 202-547-1122.

“Play On” at Signature Theatre is a delightful musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night.

It’s set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits like “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Mood Indigo,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing” and “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good” with stunning dancing to boot!

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

On stage now through Oct. 5 Tuesday – Sunday nights and weekend matinees. Prices start at $47. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA 22206, ph. 703-820-9771.

“Becky Nurse of Salem” at Vienna Theatre Company is another good one for Halloween.

If you saw playwright Sarah Ruhl’s hilarious “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” in Washington a few years back, you’ll want to be sure and see “Becky Nurse,” a dark contemporary comedy about a modern-day descendant of Rebecca Nurse (c. 16211692) who was hanged in Salem, MA for witchcraft (and whose descendants number in the tens of thousands and include Vincent Price, Amy Grant, Mitt Romney, my children and maybe, yours, too).

On stage, Becky works at the

local witch museum and is dogged by bad luck, including looking for love in all the wrong places with a mix of misogyny, witchcraft and even Arthur Miller.

“Becky Nurse” is for all the women who are still called witches. (Would that be all of us?)

Oct. 17 – Nov. 2, Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. All seats, $16. Vienna Community Center: 120 Cherry S. SE, Vienna VA 22081, ph. 703255-6360.

GREG WATKINS, JALISA WILLIAMS AND CAST in “Play On” at Signature Theatre. (Photo: Daniel Rader)

Fall F.C. Area Arts Events

Harvey’s 3rd Annual Yacht Club Saturday, September 20, 2025 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Harvey’s, 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046

Join Harvey’s for its 3rd Annual Yacht Club celebration featuring all-you-can-eat oysters, a pig roast with sides, and beer and wine included. This 21+ only event brings together great food, drinks, and community for an afternoon party in the heart of Falls Church.

Little City Concerts: Nen Daiko Saturday, September 20, 2025 7:30 p.m.

The Falls Church Episcopal

Little City Concerts launches its third season with the exhilarating sounds of Nen Daiko, a Japanese taiko ensemble renowned for powerful drumming, movement, and striking visual performance.

Tickets are FREE for youth/students, $25 for general admission, with 50% of proceeds donated to Hamkae Center.

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ARENA STAGE BRINGS America’s favorite baseball musical Damn Yankees back to the stage, re-tooled for a new generation with wit, heart, and plenty of swing.

(Photo: Arena Stage)

By Falls Church News-Press

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘The Roses’ Boldly Reimagines Marriage as a Dark Comedy

By Lisa Sinrod

This is a peculiar movie. Combine excellent actors with a choppy, uneven script which is both funny and morose, and you have this update of the 1989 film “War of the Roses.”

The 1989 movie, based on a book by Warren Adler and directed by Danny Devito, plumbed the depths of marital discord with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas as the married couple. Both films (1989’s and 2025’s “The Roses”) are comedic satires in which a once thriving and joyful marriage disintegrates into embers of contempt and physical aggression between the spouses. I enjoyed “The Roses,” despite finding it at times to be tedious, because the dark humor appealed to me and the principal actors made the very best of the roles they had.

Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch play Ivy and Theo Rose, a British couple who move together from England to California soon after meeting each other. We watch the first ten years of their marriage, which are good years where they support each other’s careers,

raise children and make the time to keep the spark alive. The loving quips are endearing and the strength of their marriage is apparent. The actors themselves are both British, which adds to the authenticity of their portrayals. Mid-point, the film turns as their alliance careens dramatically downward in a vicious battle of wills between these two strong personalities. Career setbacks and other challenges result in the parties turning against each other and volatile fights erupt. Divorce is under consideration, sharp verbal barbs are exchanged and mutual friends are dragged along in the misery.

The downturn of the marriage is spiked with biting humor and background details of each of the Roses’ careers, one rising and one bottoming out. Theo is an architect and Ivy is a chef. The scenery at their Mendocino coastal home is lovely to look at. The film hits the right notes in conveying the blended history of these two talented people in a residential enclave meant to be their personal paradise.

Supporting actors include Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg, all of whom add margin-

ally to the funnier side of things. The emotional warfare of the spouses is fast-paced with elements of petty revenge and funny exaggerations. Personality quirks of the characters, including the supporting actors, are purposely on display. Themes of the movie in addition to domestic power struggles include personal identity, ego and ambition. Amidst all of the chaos is an emotional depth which some viewers may appreciate.

Colman and Cumberbatch have been good friends in real life for decades. They are both executive producers of this film. According to media reports, they rehearsed for the filming of “The Roses” by regularly shouting at each other. As volatile as Ivy and Theo’s battles toward the end of the movie are, they are tamer than the physical combat between the spouses in the 1989 movie. This may be representative of the times today as compared to when the version starring Turner and Douglas was made. Between the two, I prefer the 2025 iteration of the story. In interviews with the press, Director Jay Roach has described the new film as more of a “re-imagining”

than a remake of the original “War of the Roses” movie.

“The Roses,” rated R, is over the top in every way. Ivy and Theo live large and with passion when they are loving, working, playing and fighting. Colman and Cumberbatch inhabit their roles as though they’ve lived them their entire lives. If you’re looking for a diversion from the

day to day, this could be it. If a feel-good movie or light romantic comedy is what you need, you may want to look elsewhere. Reactions from other viewers when I watched the film at Falls Church’s own wonderful Paragon Theaters was mixed, although it was generally well received. On the letter scale, I give it a B-minus.

Area Fall Exhibitions Showcase Frida,

Guerrillas & More

By Patricia Leslie

Hollywood, guerrillas, recycled tires, cities and Mexico’s Frida Kahlo are some of the topics on display in Washington this fall in exceptional museum exhibitions.

Free entry is found at several of these venues, and for those charging admission, free times and discounts for seniors, students, military and children are usually available.

Curators everywhere know that, like the music of Rachmaninoff, the public can’t get enough of Frida as in Kahlo as in Richmond at the Virginia

Museum of Fine Arts. I can’t ever recall hearing so much talk about an exhibition at VMFA like that about “Frida: Beyond the Myth.”

To see the full review visit: fcnp.com/2025/09/03/dmv-artexhibitions/

FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Fall F.C. Area Arts Events

Continued from Page 10

An Evening with Darren Criss Saturday, September 27, 2025 8:30 p.m.

Center for the Arts, George Mason University

Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss headlines the 20th annual ARTS by George! with a special concert celebrating his wildly eclectic career. Known for Glee, StarKid Productions, and acclaimed Broadway runs, Criss will perform songs spanning his work as a songwriter and performer. Fresh off his 2025 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Maybe Happy Ending (directed by Michael Arden), Criss brings Broadway brilliance to Fairfax.

Tickets start at $55 at cfa.gmu.edu.

Falls Church Arts: Plein Air Festival

The visual arts in Falls Church are thriving. After a busy summer of exhibits and classes, Falls Church Arts presents the annual Plein Air Festival this September. Artists from across the East Coast—from New York to Florida—will descend on Falls Church to paint scenes of the city.

The public is invited to view the finished works and prize ceremony on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Farmers Market, where top honors will be awarded.

Amadeus Concerts: Schwarz & Stern

Sunday, September 28, 2025 4 p.m.

Great Falls Grange

Now in its 44th season, Amadeus Concerts opens with a thrilling program featuring awardwinning cellist Julian Schwarz and acclaimed percussionist Jeff Stern. The duo will perform dynamic new works by Caroline Shaw, Viet Cuong, and Andy Akiho—pieces that use everything from traditional drums to ceramic flowerpots as instruments.

Tickets: FREE for ages 18 and under and active-duty military; $25 for ages 19–29; $50 for ages 30 and up.

Fall 2025 Greek Festival

Friday, October 3 –Sunday, October 5, 2025

St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, Falls Church

Celebrate culture, music, and food at the Fall 2025 Greek Festival. Enjoy authentic Greek food, pastries, live Greek music, and traditional dancing all weekend long.

Friday, October 3: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday, October 4: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday, October 5: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Admission and parking are FREE, with all foods and pastries available for carry-out.

Festival volunteers are welcome— sign up at signup.com/go/PdqqiMO.

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THE VISUAL ARTS IN FALLS CHURCH have had a busy year starting with the World Art Day in April, a summer of exhibits and classes in various media at Falls Church Arts. The annual Plein Air Falls Church Festival will start this weekend - with many artists coming to Falls Church to paint in September. Artists registered so far are from around the DMV and east coast from New York to Florida. and The public gets to see them all on Saturday September 27, at the Farmers Market – where the top prizes will be awarded. (Photo: Falls Church Arts)

Fall F.C. Area Arts Events

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington: Annual Fall Cabaret

Saturday, October 11, 2025

2:00 p.m. (ASL), 5:00 p.m., & 8:00 p.m.

Keegan Theatre – 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s popular annual cabaret returns this fall, and this year it’s spicier than ever. Expect a night of risqué stories, saucy songs about dates gone wrong, and a joyful dose of bawdy positivity. From double entendres to delightfully naughty confessionals, the cabaret is designed to keep audiences laughing and blushing in equal measure.

Songs include classics such as “Whatever Lola Wants,” “Bring on the Men,” and “In Excess.”

Recommended for ages 16 and up.

ASL interpreted performance at 2:00 p.m.

Group tickets (10+) and ASL tickets available by calling 202-2931548.

The show runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Levine Music New Falls Church Campus –Next to Meridian High School

Why study at Levine Music?

Whether you’re young or old, playing your very first notes or returning for an encore, Levine offers a welcoming community and outstanding instruction.

Students can choose from private lessons in over 22 instruments and voice, group classes, ensembles, and summer camps. Levine also presents workshops, lectures, and concert series designed to inspire music lovers of all ages and stages of life.

With the opening of its brandnew Falls Church campus, Levine continues its mission of making high-quality music education accessible across the region.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Saturday, October 25, 2025 8 p.m. Center for the Arts, George Mason University

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of America’s foremost modern dance repertory companies, brings its signature blend of movement, music, and innovative choreography to the stage. Praised as “a perfect storm of movement, music and choreography” ( Los Angeles Times ), the company has performed in 19 countries and 44 states, showcasing works from the world’s leading choreographers.

Tickets start at $41 at cfa. gmu.edu.

From Broadway stars and international dance to local festivals, music schools, and cabaret nights, the fall season promises unforgettable experiences across Falls Church and the D.C. region.

LITTLE CITY CONCERTS LAUNCHES its third season on September 20 with a powerful performance by taiko ensemble Nen Daiko at The Falls Church Episcopal. (Photo: Courtesy)

AWARD-WINNING CELLIST Julian Schwarz and acclaimed percussionist Jeff Stern will launch Amadeus Concerts’ 44th Season on Sunday, September 28 at 4 p.m. at the Great Falls Grange. (Photo: Courtesy)

Signature Theatre Opens Education Studios, Launches Fall 2025 Programs

By Falls Church News-Press

Arlington, VA — Signature Theatre has announced the grand opening of its brandnew Education Studios, a renovated facility designed to broaden the theater’s educational reach and deepen its training opportunities for artists of all ages.

Located at 2784 South Arlington Mill Drive in Shirlington, just down the street from Signature’s mainstage, the new facility includes two state-of-the-art classrooms, two private coaching rooms, and expanded office space for the education department. The studios will serve as a hub for year-round classes, workshops, and community engagement.

“Education has been central to Signature Theatre’s mission for over 30 years, and Signature Education is now reaching nearly 10,000 people a year,” said Education Director David Zobell. “The new Education Studios will allow us to expand our programming even further, providing space for every interested artist and audience member.”

Signature’s Managing Director Maggie Boland emphasized the community impact. “This expansion demonstrates Signature’s commitment to education and learning as cornerstones of our mission. We are excited to see how this additional facility will amplify Signature’s ability to impact students and community members of all ages in Arlington, the greater DC area, and beyond.”

The project received major support from Amazon and The Village at Shirlington. “The Signature Theatre Education Studios represent an exciting investment in the next generation of artists and storytellers,” said Patrick Phillippi, Amazon’s Head of Community Engagement for the Mid-Atlantic. Deidre Johnson, Senior Vice President of Asset Management for Federal Realty, which manages The Village at

Shirlington, added, “Arts education is vitally important to learning and to healthy communities, and we are proud to support Signature in this mission.”

Fall 2025 Education Programming

Coinciding with the studio’s opening, Signature will launch a new slate of fall classes:

• Musical Theater Fundamentals (Sept. 16–Dec. 2, Ages 11–14): A crash course in acting, singing, and dancing. Tuition $300.

• Signature Conservatory (Sept. 10–Nov. 19, Ages 14–18): Advanced training for high school actors preparing for auditions. Tuition $333.

• Ace the Musical Theater Audition (Sept. 29–Nov. 10, Ages 18+): A six-week program for professional and pre-professional actors. Tuition $400.

• Musical Theater Dance Class (Oct. 23–Dec. 4, Ages 18+): A fun and energetic class taught by choreographer Nikki Mirza. Tuition $150 for six sessions or $25 per class. Financial aid is available for all programs. Registration and pricing details can be found at SigTheatre.org.

About Signature Theatre

Founded in 1989, Signature Theatre is a Tony Award®-winning regional theater known for its bold productions, inventive adaptations, and definitive stagings of Stephen Sondheim’s works. Signature opens its doors to more than 100,000 people annually from the Washington, DC region and beyond and reaches more than 10,000 students every year through through educational programs, including its acclaimed Signature in the Schools initiative. To date, Signature has earned 148 Helen Hayes Awards and produced 61 world premieres. Tickets, registration, and additional information are available at SigTheatre. org or by calling the box office at 703820-9771.

Our Man In Arlington

Bill Fogarty

Reflections of a Novice Columnist: I have been writing this column for about six months now, and I think it is a good time to reflect upon my experiences. What new things have I learned about Arlington in this short time frame? What are the challenges of writing a weekly column? And some of you may be wondering, who is this guy writing this column?

I refer to myself as a novice columnist because I have no prior experience in the journalism field. I have lived in Arlington for 43 years which, all things considered, makes me an old-timer. I can remember walking on the North Scott Street bridge over I-66, on my way to the Metro, and wondering why there was no traffic on the highway (I-66 in Arlington had not yet been opened). At that time the Ballston Metro was the end of the line. While there have been many physical changes to Arlington’s landscape, one constant characteristic from 1982 to 2025 is that there are many opportunities available for engagement in the community. Or to put it another way, there is a lot to do in Arlington. In 1982 I was often playing tennis with my friends at various outdoor courts. In 2025 I am working out at the TJ Community Center and watching intense games of indoor pickleball. And while I thought I knew a lot about Arlington from my activities within the community over the years, I am learning that I have only scratched the surface. Based on what I have seen this year (and what I have learned with all my history research), I am coming to the conclusion that Arlington’s best asset has been, and continues to be, the people who live and work in Arlington. Perhaps a better way to frame that sentiment is to say that Arlingtonians care about their community.

This caring community is evidenced by all the organizations and associations that the citizens of Arlington have cre -

ated, joined, and sustained. I could do a column every week on remarkable groups and still have enough material for a few years at least. You could already make a fairly long list of organizations cited in my first 25 columns. The first column started with a reference to people volunteering to be on the Planning Commission, and my most recent column highlighted Encore Learning and Encore Stage & Studio. There are so many more groups to discover!

Another thing I am learning is that governance in Arlington is a huge challenge. I guess that is true in any community – whenever you get two or more people in a room, you often get two or more opinions about every topic under the sun. We certainly have our share of opinions in Arlington. Looking back to the early 20th century, I am finding that some opinions seem to come to the surface every decade. There is a long trend in Arlington’s history of residents wanting to change our form of government. In October I will be giving a talk on this historical trend, and I might use some of that material for future columns. Stay tuned!

As to the challenge of writing a weekly column, the difficulty comes in trying to find a range of topics. Someone recommended to me to “stay in your lane” – but I am not sure what lane I am in! Plus, it is challenging enough just to write 600 to 700 words every week – seven days goes by quickly! As I cast about for material for my column, I would ask, if you are so inclined, to let me know your suggestions for things to write about, or even about the format of my column. I want to include more voices, and I have some ideas, but it is always helpful to get feedback. You can send me an email at historybillfogs@gmail.com with any of your thoughts or suggestions.

And I want to be clear that I appreciate the opportunity to write a column which, among other things, gives me the chance to meet with, and talk to, so many amazing people. Thanks for reading!

Senator Saddam Salim Richmond Report

The Constitution’s framers understood the vital importance of a balance of power. They concluded the Bill of Rights with the 10th Amendment to ensure that the states would remain sovereign entities, not mere administrative subdivisions of the federal government. This is not some abstract legal theory. It is the bedrock of our liberty.

The recent deployment of United States military and federal law enforcement into Washington D.C. and other local jurisdictions, and the unilateral assumption of control over matters traditionally handled by local police, raises fundamental questions about this balance. The potential for federal agents, with different training and legal mandates, to operate within our borders without the consent or even the knowledge of our state leadership is a deeply unsettling prospect.

Virginia lawmakers, on both sides of the aisle, have a responsibility to our constituents to protect the sovereignty of the Commonwealth. This is not about partisanship, it’s about the very structure of our republic. We all have a duty to challenge government actions that overstep constitutional bounds. The Attorney General of Virginia, as the chief legal representative of the Commonwealth, has the ability to file lawsuits in federal court to challenge unconstitutional federal actions that harm the interests of our people, a key bulwark against federal overreach. Yet as President Trump invokes emergency powers without any justification, the response from the top legal officer of the Commonwealth has been deafening silence.

It seems our current Attorney General, Jason Miyares, is more concerned with auditioning for a different job than fighting for the people of Virginia. When the federal government oversteps its authority, our Attorney General should be the first to raise a legal challenge,

not the last. Virginians deserve a defender, not an appeaser. We should be angry. We should demand better. The silence from our Attorney General is not just a policy failure; it is a moral one. We are in a moment that the Constitution was designed to prevent, but the Constitution is a fortress – it is only as strong as the people who choose to defend it. We should be using every legal tool at our disposal to ensure that the federal government adheres to the constitutional limits on its power. We must also continue to scrutinize and, if necessary, litigate against any attempts to use federal funding as a coercive lever to force our commonwealth to adopt policies that are not in the best interest of our citizens.

Let’s be clear: this is not about political parties. It is about the fundamental integrity of our democratic institutions. When a state’s top legal officer hesitates to challenge an unconstitutional expansion of power, they are failing in their most basic duty. The people of Virginia have placed their trust in us to defend their rights and their way of life. That trust extends to a promise that we will not stand idly by while the federal government erodes the very principles that make our Commonwealth and our country great. Our streets, our laws, and our communities are our responsibility.

This is a time for leaders with courage, who understand that their primary allegiance is to the citizens of the Commonwealth and the Constitution, not to personal ambition or political convenience. The legacy of our state—the legacy of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison—is one of fierce independence and a refusal to cede power to a tyrant without a fight. Our current Attorney General has refused to step into the ring to fight for us, and Virginians should remember that in November.

News & Notes

Snyder Reveals Cancer Diagnosis, Successful Treatment

At Tuesday night’s Falls Church City Council work session, veteran Council member David Snyder, on the Council since 1994, revealed to his colleagues at the opening of the meeting that he’d received radiation treatment.

Asked by the News-Press to clarify his statement, the N-P invited him to submit a formal statement on his health condition. Snyder provided the following statement early yesterday:

“Earlier this summer, I received a diagnosis of oral cancer. Following two surgeries, the cancer was successfully removed. I am now in the process of completing my final days of radiation therapy, which is a precautionary measure my doctors describe as ‘clean up’ of any remaining microscopic cancer cells. I have continued to work and to represent the citizens of Falls Church throughout this period and look forward to a bright future, not only for myself, but for our City. – David Snyder.”

Snyder is seeking re-election to another four year term on the Council this fall.

F.C. Council Meeting Monday Will See New Portrait Unveilings

At this Monday’s Falls Church City Council meeting there will be a 75th City Anniversary unveiling of new locally-commissioned portraits of two exemplary former Council members that will be hung in Council chambers, Carol DeLong and Frederick Foote, Jr. They will mark the first ever of someone other than white male to be hung on the walls of the chambers.

Carol DeLong, whose portrait is by Deborah Conn, who lived in the City from 19302023, served on the City Council for 16 years (1974– 1990), as vice mayor (1976–1980) and mayor from 1980-1988. She was an advocate to purchase 81 apartments at Winter Hill to preserve them as low-income housing for elderly and disabled, she advocated for the establishment of Aurora House, a residential counseling center for adolescent girls, and City infrastructure developed during her tenure included a City Hall East Wing addition, Madison Park, and the W. Broad Street streetscape between West Street and Haycock Road. Frederick Foote, Jr, whose portrait is by Asia Anderson, served the community here from 1846 to 1899. As a cobbler and businessman, he owned a general store in the center of the community patronized by black and white customers, was elected town constable in 1875, and became the first black person on the Town Council serving four terms from 1880-1889.

Area Flag Football Team Holding Youth Tryouts

The Virginia Cyclones has announced tryouts for its 2026 Boys Travel Flag Football Teams. The competitive program is designed for athletes who want to take their game to the next level, develop advanced skills, and compete against top teams in the region.

8U Tryouts are Sept. 7 from 4 to 5:15 p.m., 10U Tryouts are Sept 6 and 7 from 4:45 to 6 p.m.; 12U Tryouts are Sept. 6 and 7 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. at Long Bridge Park Field No. 1 (475 Long Bridge Drive, Arlington)

Players are urged to arrive early to check in, warm up, and be ready to showcase their speed, agility, teamwork, and football IQ. They are asked to bring cleats, a mouthguard, and plenty of water. “Our coaching staff is committed to creating a positive, challenging, and fun environment while preparing players for high-level competition,” organizers say. Spots are limited.

F.C. Festival & Taste of F.C. Readied for Saturday, Sept. 13

The annual Falls Church Festival is approaching, bringing back a day of live music, activities and tastings from local restaurants. Over 90 vendors and civic organizations will join the day as the festival returns for its 49th year from 10-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. The event behind City Hall at 300 Park Avenue is rain or shine. Fifteen restaurants and breweries are participating in this year’s Taste of Falls Church sampling event run in conjunction with the festival. Attendees can try foods and beers in exchange for taste tickets, which are available to purchase for $3 at the festival or for pre-order starting on Monday, Sept. 8.

The festival will host a main stage as well as a children’s stage with performances for kids from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Arlington-based guitar duo Wicked Game will kick off the main stage performances at 10 a.m., followed by Flashback Band, The Coozies and Gotcha Covered.

The kids’ lineup includes Latin American music and a CityDance dance class, as well as puppet and magic shows.

“Run for Schools” Set for Friday, Sept. 12

The annual Run for the Schools 5k fun run hosted by the Falls Church Education Foundation is set for Friday, Sept. 12, with 900 participants expected at the fundraiser.

F.C. Schools Score Top Rankings in Excellence

The Virginia School Quality Profiles page now reflects these updated 2024-25 SOL Annual Pass Rate data, showcasing the Falls Church City Public Schools’ (FCCPS) continued leadership in academic excellence across the Commonwealth.

The rankings show: Reading: 92 percent – No. 1 in Virginia (fourth consecutive year leading the state), Math: 89 percent – No. 2 in Virginia; Science: 88 percent – No. 1 in Virginia (second year in a row at No. 1); History: 90 percent – No. 1 in Virginia (second year in a row at No. 1).

A REUNION OF THE Falls Church News-Press Fantasy Football League occurred at the Solace Outpost last weekend. The fantasy league is in its 25th year or so. (Photo: FCNP)

FALLS CHURCH CITY SCHOOLS’ new superintendent Terry Dade (far left) presided over the first School Board work session of the new school year last week. (Photo: FCNP)

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on September 11th, 2025, at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, located at 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following item:

- Variance application V1669-25 by Homer Perez and Grocery Outlet, Inc (Applicants), on behalf of April Lane Associates JVTinner Hill, LLC, (Owner), for variances:

1) Section 48-1265(1) to allow wall sign quantity of 4 instead of the maximum of 2 wall signs per business, and 2) Section 48-1265(a) to allow wall sign area of 17 square feet, 40 square feet, 40 square feet, and 59 square feet instead of the maximum 50 square feet, and 3) Section 48-1265(4) to allow permanent window signage of 13 instead of the maximum of one permanent window sign per ground floor business and 4) Section 48-1265(4)(a) to allow window sign area of a total of 54.9 square feet instead of the maximum 10 square feet and 5) Section 48-1269(b) to allow aggregate sign area of total amount of 215.4 square feet instead of the maximum 125 square feet and 6) Section 48-1269(b) to allow aggregate maximum number of permitted signs of 17 instead of the maximum of 4 signs at 455 S Maple / 500 S Washington, RPC#52-308-009 of the Falls church Real Property Records, zoned B-3, General Business District. Public comment and questions may be submitted to zoning@fallschurchva.gov until 4:30 pm on September 11th, 2025. Agenda and application materials will be available the week prior to the scheduled hearing at: http://www.fallschurchva. gov/BZA

Information on the above application is also available for review upon request to staff at zoning@fallschurchva.gov.

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

The following were given first reading at the August 11, 2025 City Council meeting. Public hearings, second readings, and possible City Council actions are scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.

(TO25-13) ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 40, “TAXATION,” ARTICLE VII, “TAX RELIEF FOR LOW INCOME ELDERLY OR PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED,” SECTIONS 40-133 AND 40-134 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF GROSS COMBINED INCOME AND THE EXEMPTION AND DEFERRAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR INCOME, ASSETS, AND PERCENT OF EXEMPTION AND/OR DEFERRAL

The proposed ordinance would set income standards that were presented to City Council in April during the FY2024 budget process, expand the definition of gross income, and correct a typographical error in the net financial worth section. The net effect of these changes would be to expand eligibility for this tax relief program.

(TO25-14) ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REENACT, AND RECODIFY CHAPTER 34, “SOLID WASTE” OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH

The proposed ordinance would establish a two-tier solid waste fee based on refuse cart size, document income-based relief for seniors and disabled individuals, authorize an organics cart option, and clarify the processes for billing, late payment penalties, and enforcement.

(TO25-15) ORDINANCE TO SET THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION FEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 34 “SOLID WASTE”, SECTION 34-3 “RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION” OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA AS OF JULY 1, 2025

The proposed ordinance would set a solid waste fee at either $292 per year for a 35-gallon refuse cart and $327 per year for a 65-gallon refuse cart, or $236 per year for a 35-gallon refuse cart and $336 per

year for a 65-gallon refuse cart.

(TO25-16) ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RATE OF TAX LEVY ON REAL ESTATE FOR TAX YEAR 2026 AS PREVIOUSLY SET IN ORDINANCE 2091 IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT FOR REVENUE GENERATED FROM A NEW SOLID WASTE FEE

The proposed ordinance would set the real estate tax rate at 1.185 per $100 of assessed value of real estate, which is a reduction of $.015 (or 1.5 cents) relative to the current Tax Year 2026 rate of $1.20 per $100 of assessed value. The proposed reduction is directly associated with and proportional to the anticipated increase in revenue from a new solid waste collection fee.

All public hearings will be held in the Council Chambers, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia. All persons desiring to present their views on the items will be heard. Comments may also be sent to cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. Remote participation information at www.fallschurchva.gov/publiccomment. For copies of legislation and other information, 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) or e-mail cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov.

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 (703248-5014, 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 and Humanities Council of Falls

Church

Aurora House Citizens’ Advisory Committee

Economic Development Authority

Board of Equalization

Historical Commission

Housing Commission

Public Utilities Commission

Towing Advisory Board Urban Forestry Commission

Regional Boards/Commissions

Coordinating Council for the Aging and Adults with Disabilities Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Virginia Career Works Northern Region ABC NOTICE

Falls Church Garden LLC trading as Stratford Garden, 300 W Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Restaurant License to sell - Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises. NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of 2 required newspaper legal notice. Objections should be registered at www. abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200 AUCTIONS

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By Ryan McCafferty

Fall sports have officially kicked off at Meridian High School, with football, field hockey, and both the girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams all beginning their seasons in the final week of August. Let’s take a look at how each of them fared.

Hopes were high that the Mustang football unit could be poised for a breakout season, and thus far, they’ve backed it up as the team beat crosstown rival Justice 55-0 on the road last Thursday. This week, PJ Anderson’s squad will host its home opener on Friday against Kettle Run, looking to improve to 2-0.

Field hockey has been one of Meridian’s most consistently competitive fall programs the past few years, and Anne Steenhoek made it a priority to test her squad for battle by scheduling a pair of 6A opponents in Annandale and Mount Vernon to begin the season. The girls lost 2-1 at Annandale last Monday before beating Mount Vernon 3-0 last Wednesday at home, and will now be off until hosting Liberty (Bealeton) today.

The girls’ volleyball team also started out 1-1, beating Skyline at home in four sets last Monday before losing to Kettle Run in three last Wednesday. This week, they’ll hit the road for the first time this season to take on Fauquier today.

The boys, unfortunately, were unable to find the win column as their season started with a difficult schedule of three straight contests on the road. They lost in three sets to Westfield last Tuesday and Centreville last Wednesday, before placing fifth in a tournament hosted by Alexandria City. This week, they’ll be at Chantilly today.

Finally, Meridian’s golf season has already been in full swing for a few weeks, and had a positive showing in a competition against Kettle Run last Monday. This week they’ll face Fauquier today, while the Mustangs will host a girls’ golf invitational in Gainesville a week from Monday on September 8th.

This Week Around Falls Church

Thurs, September 4th

Falls Church Fiber Artists

Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Location: Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Upper Level Conference Room Drop-in knit & crochet group.

Dine & Donate for MRSPL Foundation

Time: 11:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Location: The Falls, 370 W. Broad St. Portion of food sales benefits the library foundation.

Falls Church Arts: ‘Layers’ (Gallery Show)

Time: Gallery Hours

Location: Falls Church Arts Gallery Ongoing exhibition.

DC Shorts International Film Festival (Day 1)

Time: All Day

Location: Multiple venues, Washington, D.C. Film showcases and panels. Tickets: dcshorts.org

Tysons Library Book & Media Sale • Sept 4-7,

Time: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Location: Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church Books and media for all ages. Bag Sale on Sept. 7.

Send us your events to calendar@fcnp.com

Fri, September 5th

Shartel & Hume Band (Live Music)

Time: 8:30 p.m.

Location: JV’s Restaurant Classic & folk rock.

Live Music in Commons Park

Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Location: Commons at West Falls Free outdoor music featuring Jeff Herbert. Bring a blanket.

Plein Air Festival 2025 (Opening) Time: All Day

Location: Falls Church Arts Gallery Sept. 5–26, artists painting outdoors ‘Scenes in the City’.

Tysons Library Book & Media Sale

Time: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Location: Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library

Sat, September 6th

Falls Church Farmers Market

Time: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Location: City Hall Parking Lot, 300 Park Ave.

Lifelong Learning Panel

Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Location: Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Lower Level Conference Room

Corks, Canvas & Conversations: Artist Talk

Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Location: ARTfactory, Manassas Spotlighting the ‘Free to Be Me’ exhibition. Wine available for purchase.

Disciple of The Garden –Legacy of Chris Cornell / Know Your Enemy: The Ultimate Tribute to Rage Against The Machine

Time: Doors 7:00 p.m.; Show 8:00 p.m.

Location: The State Theatre, 220 N Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046 Tickets $12–$20.

Virginia Dream FC Soccer Match

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: The Cloud, Meridian High School Stadium

Virginia Dream FC vs Arlington SA Pro.

Tysons Library Book & Media Sale

Time: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Location: Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library

Sun, September 7th

Board Game Sunday (Adults)

Time: 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Location: Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Fall Storytime (Preschool, Ages 2–4)

Time: 10:30–11:00 a.m.

Location: Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Mon, September 8

Playtime with Early Literacy Center

Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Location: Mary Riley Styles Public Library

City Council Meeting

Time: 7:30–11:00 p.m.

Location: Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 Park Ave.

Tues, September 9

Falls Church Chamber Board of Directors (Virtual)

Time: 8:00–9:00 a.m.

Location: Online (Zoom) Email Chamber in advance for link.

Falls Church Arts: ‘Layers’ (Gallery Show)

Time: Gallery Hours

Location: Falls Church Arts Gallery Ongoing exhibition.

Weds, September 10

Mayor’s Agenda Meeting with Staff

Time: 8:30–9:00 a.m.

Location:

City Council Appointments Committee

Time: 8:00–9:30 p.m.

Location: Oak Room, City Hall, 300 Park Ave.

Send us your events to calendar@fcnp.com Visit us at fcnp.com

11TH SEPTEMBER 25TH SEPTEMBER 18TH

GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. presents its Annual Fall Cabaret on Saturday, October 11, 2025, with performances at 2:00 p.m. (ASL), 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m., featuring risqué stories, saucy songs, and a night of unapologetic fun. (Photo: Courtesy)

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO brings its acclaimed artistry to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 25 at 8 p.m . Aaron Choate, Cyrie Topete, and Dominick Brown in 'Sweet Gwen Suite' by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. ( Photo: Michelle Reid)

We often delay planning for the “what ifs” of aging, but preparing now means you can stay in the home you love and focus on what matters most: what’s next. Join one of our info sessions and learn how to plan for tomorrow— so you can enjoy more of what’s next, today.

• Wednesday, September 17, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Mary Riley Styles Library, 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

• Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (virtual)

• Tuesday, September 23, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (virtual)

• Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Dolley Madison Library, Meeting Room 2, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave, McLean, VA 22101