Notwithstanding one School Board slot technically still up for grabs, all incumbents won Tuesday’s re-election in the City of Falls Church’s City Council and School Board elections Tuesday in a strong show of support for the City’s achievements in recent years, including its 17 cent reduction in the real estate tax rate while building a new $120 million state of the art high school.
In the fourth-place spot on the School Board, incumbent Kathleen Tysse holds a 56 vote lead over newcomer Sharon Mergler with about 150 provisional ballots still to be processed by Voter Registrar David Bjerke’s office. The resolution of those ballots should be done before this weekend, Bjerke told the News-Press
Two big parties overlapped at the Little City’s Clare and Don’s Beach Shack after the
BIG ELECTION SWEEP
by Del. Marcus B. Simon
RICHMOND, Va. — It’s been a remarkable week in Virginia politics even by our standards. Between the Special Session on redistricting and Tuesday’s historic election results, the Commonwealth has made it clear that both our maps and our political direction are about to change.
On the redistricting front, the General Assembly returned to
Richmond for a special session to consider a constitutional amendment that would allow us to redraw Virginia’s Congressional districts midcycle.
In 2020, voters approved the so-called “independent” Virginia Redistricting Commission, an experiment that produced gridlock and ultimately forced the Supreme Court of Virginia to step in and draw the maps itself. Democrats, who current -
ly hold narrow majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, made the case that this amendment is about leveling the playing field. With Republican-controlled states like Texas, North Carolina, and Florida aggressively redrawing lines to protect their incumbents, Virginia’s leadership argued that sitting on our hands would amount to unilateral disarmament.
The House passed the mea -
sure 51-42, and the Senate followed suit 21-16, both along party lines.
Critics called the Special Session an overreach, claiming the legislature had gone beyond its original scope. But supporters note that Virginia’s Constitution clearly allows the General Assembly to initiate amendments, and that doing so through the normal legislative
NIGHT’S VICTORY PARTY following the closing of the polls, incumbent Falls Church City Council members Marybeth Connelly and Laura Downs referred to the tally board as supporters cheered. (Photo: Falls Church News-Press)
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Falls Church Business News & Notes
Live Local Challenge
The Greater Falls Church Chamber encourages the community to patronize local businesses and discover how much The Little City has to offer. During the month of November, the chamber challenges residents and businesses to keep 20 percent more of their spending in Falls Church. When you consider all the professional services, retail, restaurants, and entertainment that we have, it’s convenient to take care of needs, purchases, and entertainment within 2.2 miles. When you live local, you build community, strengthen the local economy, and support the business of friends and neighbors. Show how you Live Local by sharing your shout outs, not sales, on #LiveLocalFC and your favorite social media.
Business Leader Survey Results
The results of the 2025 Business Leader Survey with the Northern Virginia Chamber (NVC) and regional chambers have been released by Pinkston. Among the 120 business leaders, the majority remain optimistic about their own company’s performance and just over half expect to maintain their staffing levels while 25 percent expect to hire. The greatest challenges are all external: the government shutdown, federal agency layoffs, inflation and tariffs. And the policy priorities regionally and statewide are infrastructure and affordable housing. Click on the link to review the insights on the region’s economy, workforce, and business climate.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors addressed the economic impacts of the recent federal worker layoffs under the Trump administration by approving $150,000 in grant funding. This comes from the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works) in support of the new initiative known as Talent Up Northern Virginia. The program gives job seekers tools and support services to transition to fields currently in high demand.
Washington Sinfonietta Season Opens!
Saturday, November 15, 7:30 p.m. – Falls Church Episcopal – The Washington Sinfonietta performs Music of the Bach Family. Steven Siverman is featured on harpsichord. A reception follows. Tickets are available online in advance as well as at the event and youth 18 and under are admitted free. Tickets are available online in advance (https://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/6714847 )
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.
Incumbents Dominate in Local F.C. Council, School Board Races
polls closed Tuesday night. The local Democratic Committee and two of the incumbents on the Council held their events side-by-side, with big winner Del. Marcus Simon hosting one and Council members Marybeth Connelly and Laura Downs the other.
Connelly and Downs were joined by fellow incumbent Dave Snyder and newcomer Arthur Agin in the Council race winning column, and in the School Board race, it was incumbents Lori Silverman, Anne Sherwood and Kathleen Tysse joining first-time candidate MaryKate (MK) Hughes in the winner’s circle.
Just two days earlier, the State Theater next door to the popular restaurant, the Democratic slate in the statewide election rallied supporters, all winners, led by Virginia gubernatorial candidate and now governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, showing up with all the state party’s elites. Spanberger wound up win -
ning in Falls Church by an incredible margin of 84.39 percent to 15.39 percent for Republican Winsome EarleSears (Spanberger won with 57 percent statewide), with 81.9 percent for lieutenant governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi and 77.6 percent for attorney general candidate Jay Jones. As all three won handily statewide, the Democrats picked up a whopping 13 additional seats in the State Legislature to add to the 51 they already have for what will be a 64-36 majority come January.
The landslide will spur the Democrats to push ahead with plans to redistrict the state’s congressional districts (see State Del. Marcus Simon’s article. elsewhere this issue).
Nationally, Virginia’s joined an historic blow-out for the Democrats, winning everything not tied down handily. New Jersey, New York City and California were scenes of historic romps.
Falls Church’s representative in the U.S. Congress,
favorite son Don Beyer Jr., who was at the State Theater bash Sunday, issued a statement Wednesday saying, “It is hard to overstate the magnitude of Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s victory yesterday. She won by the largest margin of any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia since the parties realigned during integration, with broad support that overcame differences of age, race, gender, and political affiliation. She flipped rural counties that haven’t supported Democratic candidates in years, and her success helped deliver the biggest Democratic wins in the House of Delegates in nearly four decades. She also shattered Virginia’s glass ceiling at long last, and I cannot wait to address my friend as ‘Madam Governor.’”
Among the significant factors in the Democrats’ victories was a return of the Hispanic vote. In Prince William County, according to the CASA Hispanic advocacy organization, the vote for Spanberger was a 16 percentage
point increase over what Trump got last November, and the biggest differences were in the most predominantly Hispanic areas.
In Falls Church’s City Council race, with a total of 66 percent of active registered voters casting ballots, Downs had the highest vote total of 5,147, followed by Connelly with 4,404, Snyder with 4,161 and Agin with 3,304. Trailing were James Thompson with 2,060 and Brian Pendleton with 1,631. There were 194 write-in votes.
All the candidates endorsed by the News-Press won.
For Falls Church School Board, Hughes had the highest vote total with 4,498, followed by Sherwood with 3,925, Silverman with 3,820 and Tysse with 3,475. Those winners were trailed by Sharon Mergler with 3,419 votes, so far.
According to Voter Registrar Bjerke, there are about 150 “provisional ballots” still to be counted, mostly from people registering to vote on
Election Day. With the difference between Tysse and Margler being only 56 votes, that outcome still hangs in the balance. Bjerke says the provisional ballots should all be processed by Friday.
As the top Council vote getter, Downs, first elected to the Council in a special election only one year ago, said in a statement to the News-Press , “I am humbled to have been elected by such a large number of Falls Church City residents and extend my heartfelt thanks to my supporters and campaign volunteers. I feel my message of taking a moderate approach, seeking compromise and building consensus on the Council, and making decisions based on both data and community input, resonated with our community.” As top vote getter for the School Board, Hughes told the News-Press , “Falls Church City – thank you for electing me to our School Board. I am honored and grateful. I am excited to
Continued on Page 14
Redistricting Plans Push Ahead After Huge Dem Wins Statewide
process with two votes and a public referendum is as democratic as it gets.
Still, the courts may have something to say about timing and procedure. Lawsuits are already being drafted, and that could mean months of litigation before we know whether the proposal even gets a second vote next session.
Abigail Spanberger made history Tuesday night as the first woman ever elected Governor of Virginia, defeating Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a decisive win. The Democratic ticket also swept the lieutenant governor and attorney general races, giving Democrats control of all three statewide offices for the first time since 2021.
And then there’s the House of Delegates. As of press time, Democrats appeared poised to expand their narrow 51–48 majority by at least thirteen seats, flip-
ping key suburban and exurban districts across Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads.
If the numbers hold through certification, that will give Democrats a comfortable working majority heading into the 2026 Session and the muscle to move big priorities like the redistricting amendment, reproductive healthcare, and gun violence prevention.
Tuesday’s election results underscore the continuing challenge the Republican Party faces connecting with the Commonwealth’s fastest-growing, most diverse communities.
For Democrats, these results are not just a morale boost, but a mandate. Voters endorsed a message of competence, pragmatism, and fairness. That gives us a real opportunity to govern boldly and responsibly.
For Republicans, the message is equally clear: Virginia isn’t interested in importing the chaos and culture wars we see domi-
nating national headlines. Voters want good schools, affordable housing, and fair maps, not more gerrymandering or gridlock.
The amendment we passed last week will have to clear one more vote next session and then go to the people for ratification. That’s the way our system is supposed to work — with transparency, checks, and plenty of public input.
If approved, the change could mean Virginia’s Congressional lines are redrawn before the 2026 midterm elections. Whether that produces more competitive districts or just a new round of political fights remains to be seen. But after this week, one thing is for sure. Virginians are paying attention.
And as someone who’s spent a few years in the political trenches I can tell you when voters engage this deeply about how their representatives are chosen, democracy’s doing just fine.
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Meridian High School Football Clinches Playoff Berth
By Ryan McCafferty
By the end of last week, fall sports season at Meridian High School had nearly wrapped up. Every team had
completed its regular season, and all but football had finished their playoff runs. Here’s how things stood.
The football team lost 43-33 on the road at Skyline last Friday, drop-
ping to 4-5. However, their scheduled matchup at Manassas Park was forfeited by the opponent, allowing the Mustangs to finish 5-5 and qualify for the Regional playoffs. They
await their postseason opponent. In cross country, the boys finished seventh and the girls eighth at Regionals. Neither team qualified for States, but William Anderson
(fourth overall for the boys) and Michelle Malheiro (17th for the girls) advanced as individual qualifiers to compete at Green Hill Park in Salem on Saturday.
Field Hockey Puts Up A Fight, But Falls 1-0 In State Quarterfinals
By Ryan McCafferty
The Meridian High School field hockey team won sixteen straight games, but it only took two losses to bring their outstanding season to an end.
The Mustangs faced the York Falcons in the opening round of the State playoffs, after losing to Western Albemarle in the Regional Finals last Thursday. For three quarters, Meridian hung around against an oppo -
nent that had them visibly outmatched – Baelyn Reinfurt was exceptional in net and the Mustang offense fought to earn itself some quality chances, including a few short corners.
But with 5:30 to go in the
final period, York scored what proved to be the game’s lone tally.
Meridian had scored in the final moments of regulation to force overtime twice this year, including during the Regional Semifinals against James Monroe, but there
would be no late rally this time.
“These girls fought so hard,” said head coach Anne Steenhoek. “If you’re going to lose, that’s the way you want it to happen. Couldn’t have asked for a better effort.”
Girls Volleyball Wins Quarterfinals, First Playoff Win In Six Years
By Ryan McCafferty
It’s been the breakout season of Milena Racic’s head coaching tenure for the Meridian High School girls’ volleyball team, and there was only one thing that was missing: a playoff win.
Getting over that hump has eluded the Mustangs for the past several years, ever since the 2019 season. But on Monday night against Brentsville, they earned their 16th win of 2025 – and it was the biggest one.
Meridian fell behind early in the first set against their Northwestern District rivals, and stayed chasing Brentsville for most of its duration, trailing 17-13 and then again 20-17. Then, the Mustangs rallied to win it 25-22, and they never looked back. The second and third sets were never in doubt, with Meridian jumping out to early leads and maintaining their advantage as they won 25-18 and 25-16, respectively.
“It’s a big deal for us to finally get past the quarterfinals,” said Racic postgame. “We’ve gotten a little better every year and this year we’ve been able to take that next step. We’re excited to keep moving forward.”
The Mustangs, who improve to 16-6, will remain at home as they host William Monroe on Thursday night. Another win would give them their most in a season since 2012.
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In dissecting the vote for Spanberger over Earle-Sears in Tuesday’s election, a demographic breakdown of exit polling posted on NBC News indicates for us how to move forward into the midterm elections of 2026 and beyond.
The results show that the kind of white male chauvinism that has dominated Virginia and American politics at least since the Civil War is now the last bastion of Trumpism. White males were effectively the only demographic that performed well for Earle-Sears in the election, offering her up to 57 percent of their votes. Dividing lines can also be found in terms of age and educational level. So, the younger, the better educated, the more non-white, the more female, the more the votes went to Spanberger.
This presents itself as a formula for the future. Older white males are the last bastions of hope for the Trump agenda in Virginia, and they are on their way out of the political process. They will not be reproduced among younger, non-white groups, or among women, so long as the policies of Democrats clearly speak to the needs and aspirations of these folks.
The enemy, including those who control the major media and the algorithms that are defining choice on the Internet, really knows no other game than “divide and conquer” to keep this cohort of younger, better educated, more diverse and more socially progressive voters fighting among themselves over wholly secondary, potentially inflammatory issues.
As a good example, the only real issue that Earle-Sears could run on had to do with high school bathrooms, an extension of what she hoped would be a divisive transgender rights issue. It was lame. But in the past, that worked much better for Republicans seeking to divide their opponents, such as the way that the issue of Constitutional amendments to codify that “marriage is between one man and one woman” worked for George W. Bush in the presidential election of 2004.
Going forward, we can imagine they will try the same thing using the word, “socialist,” given the results in the New York mayor’s race, or variations on that theme.
So, the easy answer is to not fall for it. The major unifying theme of this election has been another single word, Trump, and all that it stands for. His backers are losing right now in every effort to pin the blame for the government shutdown, for example, or for inflation.
To extend this week’s election result into the midterms next year, Democrats must not fall into their enemies’ divisive traps, and to keep the focus on Trump and how he’s ripping the country apart. The differences Trump forces will try to exploit between so-called moderates and so-called socialists are minimal compared to the threat to democracy and the rule of law that Trump represents.
Trump is going to continue his impulsive and reprehensible behavior. It is not going to get easier on that front. But Tuesday’s election lights the way forward.
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Will Appeasement Today Lead to Another World War?
Nicholas F. Benton
If history were about repeats, which it is not, not exactly, but still, today’s America would best be seen in light of what happened in 1930s Germany, when Hitler came to power and ultimately ignored his appeasers to invade Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 and launch World War 2.
It followed the disastrous Munich Conference of Sept. 1938, when famously British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain offered Hitler the Sudetenland portion of Czechoslovakia, without consulting with the Czechs, in exchange for “peace,” and came home to England to declare that he had achieved “peace in our time.”
Hitler had no intention of sticking to the terms of that agreement, and less than a year later, as his buildup for war continued, his regime triggered the so-called Gleiwitz Incident on the night of Aug. 31, 1939, when German SS troops, disguised as Polish stormed a radio station on the German-Polish border.
It was used as the pretext for the German blitzkrieg invasion of Poland the next day, marking the actual start of World War 2, as Britain and France had a formal treaty with Poland. A lot followed that, of course, including the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 which led to the formal declaration of war by the U.S. that Hitler used as a pretext to declare war on the U.S. four days later.
Four years later, by 1945, there were an estimated 70 to 85 million total fatalities, with civilian deaths numbering around 50 to 55 million and military deaths ranging from 21 to 25 million, including deaths from combat, massacres, genocide (like the Holocaust), starvation, and disease, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.
. A rare but fascinating short volume written in 1961 by British Elizabethan historian, essayist, poet and scholar A. L. Rowse, entitled “All Souls and Appeasement,” was based a lot on his diaries while a junior fellow at the All Souls college at Oxford in the 1930s.
All Souls gathered the best and
brightest of the English elites from newspaper owners to members of Parliament that engaged in many heated discussions and debates among themselves through the 1930s, and noted most by Rowse was the consistent and forceful arguments of the appeasers to Hitler, including Chamberlain, that dominated the college throughout the decade leading up the war.
Rowse was a member of the leftist Labor Party then, and the likes of the then-still-discredited Winston Churchill (his “Wilderness Years” due to his failed Gallipoli campaign in World War I, his switching parties in the 1920s and support for the abidated Edward VIII in the mid-1930s, and more) on the right were nonetheless strongly opposed to the British establishment appeasement policy toward Hitler. That appeasement policy was due to “the mistake of Versailles” (the treaty at the end of World War I that, in particular, punished Germany) about which many English elites, in the spirit of one Barrington-Ward, held “deepest convictions.” Their “conclusions drawn was that nothing that Hitler did, however immoral, was to be resisted,” Rowse wrote.
Rowse concluded that these appeasers’ “conventional British way of looking at things was simply not equal to the times, and it caught these men out badly…Not one of these men in high place in those years ever so much as read (Hitler’s) “Mein Kampf” or would listen to anyone who had. They really did not know what they were dealing with.”
Rowse added, “They would not listen to warnings, because they did not wish to hear…This, and the essential pettiness of the National Government, all flocking together to keep Labour out, was deeply corrupting both to them and the nation. It meant they failed to see what was true until it was too late, when it was simply a question of survival. What I had under observation, then, in all those years was a class in decadence.”
The U.S. elites of today, respecting Trump, are parroting the British appeasers of the 1930s. Bezos, Cook, Musk, Thiel and Zuckerberg of today, much less the entire leadership of the Republican Party, are repeating the error of appeasing evil. So will this now lead to World War 3?
COMMENT
A Penny for Your Thoughts
By Penny Gross Former Fairfax County Supervisor
The black-and-white photos of small boats exploding in international waters are grainy, but the color photos of ICE officers with their knees on the backs of protesters in Chicago and elsewhere are clear as day. Also clear were the films of excavator machines ripping down the historic East Wing of the White House on the orders of Donald Trump. It’s hard to tell whether the Trump Administration is governing or playing video games. The daily news reports look more and more like the video game ads that pop up on my computer screen.
Those images preceded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement that the National Guard has been ordered to create “quick reaction forces” to handle civil unrest in all 50 states and four territories. The goal is to train 500 troops in each jurisdiction, or 23,500 citizen-soldiers, equipped with tear gas, nightsticks, shields, and masks by January 1. Never mind that most protests against the overreach of the Trump Administration have been peaceful and are protected by the U.S. Constitution. That directive came after the Department of Homeland Security advertised for 10,000 new ICE and Border Patrol officers, offering expensive signing bonuses to sweeten the deal. According to some
reports, vetting of the applicants has fallen far short – many applicants are unable to meet simple educational and physical requirements, and some candidates have criminal records.
The White House press office insists that the Trump Administration is the most transparent in history. Hmm? Hasn’t the press covering the White House been restricted from accessing the press office and staff there? Pentagon reporters have been evicted from their offices and Pentagon staff were directed not to speak to the press or provide any information that wasn’t approved by Secretary Hegseth. Pentagon officials have been told that they cannot communicate with Members of Congress without prior authorization, and that restriction applies all the way up to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There are reports that various agencies are requiring non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s) from staff. Controlling what information is made available and who gets it is conniving and reeks of propaganda, not transparency. It appears that Trump’s executive branch is minimizing the legislative branch (and ignoring the judicial branch) as well as the American people in its grasp for supreme power.
The government shutdown that began on October 1 is on track to be
City of Falls Church Crime Report
Week of Oct 27 - Nov 2, 2025
Graffiti, Roosevelt Blvd, Oct 27, 2:45 p.m., onsite manager reported graffiti had been found inside and outside of a building.
Fraud, Marbury Ct, Oct 27, 3:34 p.m., an incident of fraud was reported.
Simple Assault, South Spring St, Oct 28, 8:22 a.m., victim reported that on Oct 24 he confronted a speeding driver, and a verbal altercation became physical. No injuries were reported.
Graffiti, W Broad St/Haycock Rd, Oct 29, 9:47 a.m., graffiti was observed on an electrical box.
Larceny from Vehicle, Wilson Blvd, Oct 29, 1:18 p.m., items of value were removed from an unsecured vehicle.
Shoplifting, Hillwood Ave, Oct 29, 7:09 p.m., two unknown suspects entered a
business and removed items of value without paying. Suspects described as a Hispanic male, 54” to 57”, 25 to 30 years old, and 165lbs to 175lbs. The subject was last seen wearing a black sweater, jeans, and tennis shoes. The second subject was a Hispanic male, 54” to 57”, 25 to 30 years old, and 165lbs to 175lbs. The subject was last seen wearing a white hooded sweater, jeans, and tennis shoes. The subjects were last seen walking away from the store heading northbound on Douglass Ave.
Shoplifting, Wilson Blvd, Oct 30, 3:49 p.m., unknown suspect entered a business and removed items of value without paying. Suspect described as a Hispanic male, early 20s, 140 pounds, approximately 55” in height, long brown hair, wearing jeans and an Ed Hardy t-shirt.
Shoplifting, Hillwood Ave, Oct 31, 3:36 p.m., two unknown suspects entered a business and removed items of value without paying. Suspects described as
the longest closure in history. Tens of thousands of government employees are not getting paid even though some, such as military personnel and air traffic controllers, are required to report to work. When an elderly Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient asked me if the President and Members of Congress are getting paid during the shutdown, I told her that, unfortunately, their salaries are protected by law. Somewhat agitated, she said “That’s not right. My food benefits are being cut off and they still are getting their big salaries.” She added that if Members of Congress had to depend on Social Security, Medicaid, and SNAP benefits, as she does, they would have settled the standoff weeks ago.
As ordinary Americans work to make ends meet and keep alive the American dream of democracy and progress, the Trump Administration is destroying America’s reputation around the world. Blowing up private vessels in international waters, deploying an entire aircraft carrier group to the Gulf of Mexico to intimidate Latin America, threatening Nigeria with military intervention, and reopening nuclear weapons testing, along with his multiple bizarre comments in his expensive Asian tour – all in just the past ten days or so – don’t make us safer or respected. They make America untrustworthy and a laughingstock as world leaders scratch their collective heads to figure out how to handle the dangerous buffoon in the White House and his video game tactics.
a skinny male, wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, and lighter colored pants; second suspect described as a larger build male wearing a black hoodie with a graphic and light, possibly blue colored pants.
Damage to Property, W Broad St, Nov 1, 11:30 p.m., a group of juveniles damaged a piece of property and left the premises. Damages approximately $1,000.
Titans of America, Part 5: Who Really Runs the Internet?
by Nick Gatz
We asked around town this week, and what we found was alarming. Most people had no idea what Amazon Web Services even is, let alone what it does. Some thought it was a delivery program. Others guessed it was something to do with Alexa. Almost no one realized that Amazon’s cloud computing arm, AWS, runs vast portions of the internet, the invisible machinery behind everything from entertainment and banking to education, healthcare, and even the federal government.
That ignorance might seem harmless, but it’s not. This is an educated community where people follow national news, understand policy, and stay plugged into the world around them. If people here don’t know who really controls the backbone of their digital lives, imagine the rest of the country. The fact that we don’t know what AWS is, or that its largest single client is the United States government, should set off alarms.
AWS isn’t a side business. It is Amazon’s core profit engine, generating tens of billions of dollars in quarterly revenue. It operates data centers across the globe and powers the online infrastructure for Netflix, Disney+, Zoom, NASA, and the Department of Defense. Your favorite shows, your work email, even your medical records might live on Amazon’s servers.
And here’s where it becomes even more troubling. Amazon receives massive tax breaks from federal, state, and local governments. It secures some of the largest government contracts in the technology sector. Then it turns around and lays off thousands of workers. You can’t have all three. Pick one, maybe even two, but not all three when you’re operating on taxpayer dollars. You can’t take public money, get preferential tax treatment, and then slash jobs and benefits for the very people whose taxes make it possible. That’s not capitalism. That’s manipulation of the system.
Most people don’t realize it, but the internet isn’t a free, open highway anymore. It’s an elaborate, privately owned system controlled by a handful of corporations: Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle. Each plays a separate but connected role. Amazon controls the infrastructure. Meta controls communication. Apple controls access. Microsoft connects the rest. Oracle manages vast amounts of institutional and government data. Together they set the rules for how the world connects, works, and communicates.
The illusion of freedom online is exactly that, an illusion. When one company decides to raise prices, change algorithms, or block certain data, the ripple effects reach every corner of society. These companies aren’t just influencing markets. They’re quietly shaping democracy, culture, and even national security.
We’ve been here before. A century ago, the oil barons built empires so vast that the economy itself revolved around them. They controlled not only the flow of energy but also the
flow of politics. It took years of public pressure and government action to break them up and restore competition. The digital world now sits at a similar crossroads. The question isn’t whether Amazon or its peers are successful businesses. It’s whether they’ve become too big, too essential, and too unaccountable to remain private.
The internet is no longer a luxury. It’s the foundation for nearly every aspect of modern life: commerce, education, healthcare, transportation, and civic participation. Try applying for a job, paying a bill, or accessing your bank account without it. The internet has become as essential as electricity or clean water. Yet it remains almost entirely under private control, subject to the profit motives of a few corporations rather than the oversight of the public they serve.
That’s why more experts are calling for the internet to be treated as a public utility. Doing so wouldn’t mean the government takes over every website or server. It would mean ensuring that access is fair, transparent, affordable, and accountable. It would mean broadband is treated as a right, not a privilege based on where you live. It would mean oversight to ensure that no single company can dominate the infrastructure of modern civilization.
Consider how much of daily life depends on these unseen systems. Your medical data might be stored in an Amazon cloud. Your child’s schoolwork might rely on Microsoft systems. Your city’s emergency response networks might run on Oracle databases. When one of these services goes down, as AWS did during a major outage in 2021, millions of people are instantly affected. When governments depend on them too, a technical failure becomes a national vulnerability.
This concentration of control should concern everyone. When powerful companies also enjoy tax breaks and billion-dollar government contracts while cutting workers and consolidating power, it’s not just an economic imbalance. It’s a political one. It raises a fundamental question: who’s really in charge?
At its core, this isn’t just about technology. It’s about democracy. When only a handful of private corporations control the means of communication, commerce, and data, they also control what gets seen, said, and shared. They control whose voices are amplified and whose are silenced. They control how we understand the world around us. The American Dream was built on open opportunity, not gated access controlled by a few executives in Seattle or Silicon Valley.
The internet has become the nervous system of modern civilization. We rely on it for everything, yet we’ve surrendered control of it to a small group of profit-driven companies. Maybe it’s time for internet reform, to redefine the web not as a commodity but as a public necessity.
If the last century was about breaking up the oil barons, this one may need to be about confronting the digital barons. The question isn’t whether the internet is powerful. It’s whether we still have the power to shape what it becomes.
Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation
Saturday, November 15, 2025 • 1:00 - 4:00 PM Who Came Before Us on This Land And Why It Matters
Understanding and Acknowledging the Indigenous People of Virginia
Free Workshop
Special Guest: Rose Powhatan
Falls Church Presbyterian • Memorial Hall
225 East Broad Street • Falls Church, VA 22046
Join us for a special Indigenous Peoples’ Month presentation and workshop with renowned artist, historian, and storyteller, Rose Powhatan. Learn about the original inhabitants of Falls Church and Fairfax County, what happened to them, their influence on us, and ways to honor their legacy.
MMEG International Arts & Crafts Market Monday, Nov. 10 –Wednesday, Nov. 12
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
World Bank HQ Lobby, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Get a head start on your holiday shopping, stock up on hostess gifts, and discover unique handicrafts, handmade jewelry, colorful housewares, Turkish towels, and more from artisans around the world. Enjoy homemade snacks at the Gourmet Table and browse vintage treasures from Attic Treasures. Proceeds benefit the Margaret McNamara Education Grants program supporting women 25+ from developing countries completing graduate education.
Fall Storytime (Preschool) 10:30 – 11 a.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Saturday, Nov. 8 Falls
8
Playtime with Early Literacy Center
11 a.m.–12 p.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Great Books Discussion Series 6 – 7:45 p.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Study Rooms 1 & 2 Board & Commission
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Mary Riley Styles Public Library closed for Veterans Day —
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Mayor’s Agenda Meeting with Staff — 8:30–9 a.m.
Justin Trawick’s Listening
Our Man In Arlington
Bill Fogarty
This is the time of year when many local organizations schedule their annual meetings, often comprised of a gathering that includes (i) food; (ii) fundraising; (iii) keynote speakers; (iv) presentations of awards; and (v) general camaraderie. In reading news accounts about some of these events, I am intrigued by the many awards presentations at these events. And I am beginning to notice a pattern of gratitude that celebrates the stories of people from both the past and present.
By way of example, let me share the stories of two people based on the one event I was able to attend in October, for the Arlington Historical Society (AHS). The past is represented by Cornelia B. Rose (also known as C.B. Rose, Jr.), and the present is represented by Stephen Hammond. Both of their stories are worthy of being acknowledged.
If you want to learn about the history of Arlington, perhaps the best starting place is a book written by C.B. Rose, Jr. in 1976. Her book, with the simple title of “Arlington County, Virginia: A History,” is an invaluable body of information that, in her own words, puts “the main events in the perspective of the times in which they occur.”
Rose came to Arlington County in 1934, and she was a research assistant to the County Manager for 15 years (a job that gave her ample opportunity to learn about the County in detail). Rose was a charter member of the Arlington Historical Society in 1956, and served as its president in 1960-61. In a 1976 Northern Virginia Sun article, in response to the publication of her book, she said “I always feel that people who know something about the community they live in … are much better citizens.”
Stephen Hammond, this year’s recipi-
ent of the Cornelia B. Rose Award, promotes the way that Arlington history and our national history are intertwined. Hammond is a 7th generation member of the Syphax family, whose history dates back to the early 1800s. The enslaved Charles Syphax and Maria Syphax were married in 1821 at the 1,100 acre Arlington plantation of George Washington Parke Custis, where Arlington National Cemetery is now located. Among a litany of accomplishments, Hammond has engaged in various National Park Service programs to highlight the lives of enslaved individuals at Arlington House. In 2024, Hammond created a special exhibit at Arlington House, entitled “One Family’s Service: Syphaxes in the Military.”
Hammond’s remarks at the AHS banquet were inspiring. He discussed his work as a docent at the Arlington House, where he has had the opportunity to engage with thousands of people over the years, sharing the stories of the Syphax family. Hammond noted that many of the visitors are children; he urged the audience at the banquet to engage with children about the importance of history. Hammond said that he asks three things of the children that he speaks with: to teach the adults something about what they have learned; to ask lots of questions; and to have fun.
I came away from this AHS event with a new appreciation of the value of award presentations, and how these presentations are a part of our own history lessons. This appreciation of past and present has been reinforced by the accounts of the annual events of other Arlington civic organizations, including the recent Arlington NAACP event. Many good things have happened in Arlington history, and many good deeds continue to take place. Meanwhile, I have a lot of work ahead for me, to see if I can keep track of all the annual events held by our community groups, and find out who else is being celebrated.
ELECTION DAY PICTURES IN F.C.
HAPPY WINNING candidates celebrated at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack after the polls closed Tuesday, (l. to r.) Council candidate Marybeth Connelly, School Board candidate Lori Silverman, Council candidate Laura Downs and City Treasurer candidate Jody Acosta. All won as incumbents. (Photo: News-Press)
FALLS CHURCH VOTER REGISTRAR David Bjerke (right) looked over results of the voting Wednesday morning with Rodrigo Alba. (Photo: News-Press)
F.C.’S STATE DELEGATE Marcus Simon (right) celebrated his victory, chatting with executive director of the Falls Church Education Foundation Susan Hladky. (Photo: News-Press)
FOOD AND ANIMATED conversations among supporters for the victory parties at Clare and Don’s Tuesday night. (Photo: News-Press)
OUTSIDE THE FALLS Church Community Center on election day, the action was brisk. Voting for two of the City’s three wards take place there. (Photo: News-Press)
INSIDE THE F.C. Community Center, the voting was taking place Tuesday. (Photo: News-Press)
Cauldron’s ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ Opens Friday
Join Peter Pan, Wendy, and their friends on a breathtaking journey to Neverland in a Creative Cauldron Learning Theater Production set to open this Friday, Nov. 7.
The show runs from Nov. 7 to 23, adapted from the classic J.M. Barrie story, with music by Matt Conner and lyrics by Stephen Gregory Smith.
Met Opera Live Performance Airs at Paragon Saturday
Falls Church’s new Paragon Theaters in downtown F.C. will host a live performance of the New York Metropolitan Opera’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme this Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.
Veterans Day Ceremony Set Next Tuesday in F.C.
The City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department will host the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov.11, at 11 a.m. outside the Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. Second graders from Mount Daniel Elementary School will sing the National Anthem, and the Falls Church Concert Band will play.
Veterans Day Falls Church government operating status for that day will find all city programs and services, including at City Hall, closed that day, including the Mary Riley Styles Public Library.
F.C. Announces New Arts & Humanities Awards
The City of Falls Church has announced the awardees of its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) Arts and Humanities Grant Program. This annual grant supports activities, programs, events, and strategies that encourage arts, history, and cultural education—and strengthen the vitality of these efforts in the City and the greater community.
For FY2026, the City awarded a total of $48,500 to seven organizations representing a wide range of disciplines, including visual arts, music, theater, literature, and history.
Awardees are Creative Cauldron – Bold New Voices Festival, Little City Concerts– Third Season, StudioEDU – Student Courses, CATCH Foundation – Watch Night Celebration, Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation – Juneteenth Celebration, Washington Sinfonietta – Holiday Concert, FY2026 Operational Grant Awards went to Creative Cauldron, Falls Church Arts, Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, and Washington Sinfonietta.
The Arts & Humanities Grant Program is administered by the City’s Recreation & Parks Department. Applications are reviewed by City staff and a volunteer Grant Review Committee composed of residents with professional experience in the arts and grantmaking.
F.C Based Semi-Pro Soccer Team Advances
On the night that Virginia Dream F.C. hosted a Falls Church Chamber of Commerce tailgate party, the Dream scored a dominant 6-1 victory over Guerilla F.C. (Washington, D.C.) in the third round of U.S. Open Cup qualifying games.
With the victory, the Dream will play in the fourth and last qualifying round on the weekend of Nov. 22.
Jimmy Filerman, the team captain, netted the first goal in the fifth minute of the match. The score at halftime was 5-0. By the final whistle Diarra Zoumana had a hat-trick. Williams Yami and Elijah Amo added one goal apiece.
N. Va. Figure Skater Sets New World Record
Northern Virginia U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin broke the world record for the free skate in winning Skate Canada with ease last Sunday, keeping his two-year unbeaten streak intact and underscoring his status as favorite to win Olympic gold at the Milan Winter Olympics next February.
The 20-year-old from Fairfax, a graduate of Marshall High School, landed six quads along with a triple axel during a sublime free skate, set to music from the French supernatural thriller “Les Bal des Folles,” to finish with a personal-best 333.81 points. That left the two-time and reigning world champion 76.6 points clear of second-place Aleksandr Selevko, an amazing margin in figure skating’s elite events.
Malinin’s free-skate score of 228.97 surpassed the previous record under the current scoring system of 224.92, set by Olympic champion Nathan Chen at the 2019 Grand Prix Final, when the American set the overall record with 335.30. Selevko, who is from Estonia, finished second with 257.21 points Sunday. Kao Miura of Japan took bronze with 253.69 points.
Malinin has not lost since November 2023, when he finished second at the Grand Prix de France. The three-time U.S. champion’s streak of perfection includes the past two world titles and championships at the past two Grand Prix Finals.
He will be favored to win the Grand Prix Final again in December in Nagoya, Japan.
Those events are all just building blocks for Malinin ahead of the Olympics, though, where he is the overwhelming favorite to follow Chen’s gold medal from four years ago with his own. Malinin just missed qualifying for the American team for the Beijing Games, in part because of his age at the time.
The son of Olympic skaters Roman Skorniakov and Tatiana Malinina, Malinin has gone on to become the dominant force in figure skating.. His ability to land quads with ease gives him a huge advantage, and he hasn’t even put the quad axel — a 4 1/2-revolution jump that only he has ever landed in competition — into his program yet.
Fairfax Co. Supervisor Chair Offers SNAP Info
Jeff McKay, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, issued a report this week spelling out how SNAP recipients will be helped with the shutdown of much of federal government benefits as of Nov. 1. He noted that the state has launched the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA), providing emergency food support to households already enrolled in SNAP as of Oct. 29.
VENA works, he reported, by adding existing EBT cards as of Nov. 3, with payments for November issued weekly instead of monthly. SNAP participants should check EBT card balances before shopping using the ConnectEBT app, online, or by phone.
He added that Fairfax County offers resources for residents experiencing food or financial challenges, including Basic Needs Assistance (CSP) and an Emergnecy Food Access Map. Full details on VENA, SNAP, and other resources can be found at: New Guidance Provided to Cover November SNAP Benefits; What You Need to Know | News Center.
N. Va. Holiday Craft Show At Dulles Expo Nov. 7-9
The Northern Virginia Christmas Market returns to the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, featuring more than 300 juried artisans from across the country offering fine arts, pottery, handcrafted jewelry, woodcrafts, photography, toys, ornaments, and much more. It’s the finest collection of affordable crafts in the region, including thousands of creatively-made gifts, fresh holiday decorating ideas and one-of-a-kind Christmas collectibles.
Huge Selection of Holiday Nutcrackers Set for Region
A remarkable selection of performances of the holiday season favorite, the Nutcracker Ballet, graces the region this year. Here is a list of performances:
Cincinnati Ballet, Nov. 26–30, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, starting at $60.95.
Virginia National Ballet, Nov. 28, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas, $40–$65, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, starting at $60.80, Dec. 19, 6 p.m. Capital One Hall, Tysons, starting at $77.30.
Academy of Russian Ballet, Nov. 29, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas, $50.
Fairfax Ballet, Nov. 29–30, 4 p.m., Fairfax High School, Fairfax, $32.50–$37.75. The Washington Ballet, Nov. 29–Dec. 28, Warner Theatre, Washington, DC, $49–$180. Ravel Dance Company, Nov. 29, 2 p.m., Capital One Hall, Tysons, starting at $78.65. Dec.12–14 The Leila Gordon Theatre, Reston, $25.
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet, Nov. 30, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Capital One Hall, Tysons, starting at $49.15.
Mia Saunders School of Ballet, Dec. 13–14, 3 p.m., Centreville High School, Clifton, $13.60.
Metropolitan School of the Arts, Dec. 13–14, noon and 5 p.m., Schlesinger Concert Hall, Alexandria, $37.
Manassas Ballet Theatre, Dec. 17–23, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas, $50–$91.
Loudoun Ballet Performing Arts Company, Dec. 19–21, Loudoun Valley High School, Purcellville, $37.75.
Fairfax Ballet and Fairfax Symphony, Dec. 20–21, 4 p.m., George Mason University Center for the Arts, Fairfax, $44–$95.
Virginia Ballet Company and School, Dec. 27–29, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Ernst Community Cultural Center, Wakefield, $37.75.
join this dedicated team and to partner closely with our phenomenal educators, students and families. Together, we will build on what already works and elevate transparency, collaboration, and candid communication.”
Snyder, who has served on the Council since 1994, told the News-Press , “The large turnout for the statewide elections demonstrates again our citizens’ commitment to defending democracy. Voters also made clear their expectations for City Council, including controlling dangerous driving, applying reasonable restraints on development, and addressing high housing costs.”
Silverman stated, “I am hon -
ored and excited to continue serving our community and building on the progress we’ve made over the past four years. Congratulations to MK Hughes, Anne Sherwood and Kathleen Tysse on their victories, and thank you to Sharon Margler for an excellent campaign. I remain committed and accessible to all.”
Falls Church City Democratic Committee chair Jeff Person added, “Tuesday was a moment of pride and purpose for Virginia Democrats. We not only made history by electing Abigail Spanberger as the Commonwealth’s first female governor — we reaffirmed that Virginia stands for progress, inclusion, and opportunity for all.”
Democrats also scored big victories in Georgia (with 60
percent winning statewide for the first time since 2006), Pennsylvania (Supreme Court, Superior and Commonwealth courts, and in purple Bucks County, in bellwether Erie, Lehigh and Northampton counties), in Mississippi (breaking the GOP supermajority in the state legis
lature), in Georgetown, South Carolina (flipping all three city council seats), in Orlando, Florida, and in Connecticut mayoral races, in Syracuse, New York (Democrats controlling the county legislature for the first time in half a century), in Charlotte, North Carolina (Democrats winning a city council seat for the first time since 1999), and with progressive Democratic wins in Detroit, Atlanta and Cambridge, Massachusetts, among others.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
The following was given first reading at the October 27, 2025 City Council meeting. A Planning Commission public hearing and possible recommendation for City Council action is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.
(TO25-17) ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF FALLS OF CHURCH, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CHAPTER 2, “ADMINISTRATION,” CHAPTER 6, “BUILDINGS,” CHAPTER 15, “FEES,” CHAPTER 38, “SUBDIVISION,” AND CHAPTER 48, “ZONING,” TO REFLECT JULY 1, 2025 VIRGINIA STATE CODE CHANGES REMOVING SITE PLAN APPROVAL AUTHORITY FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ASSIGNING IT TO THE DESIGNATED AGENT; AND TO AMEND THE MAXIMUM REVIEW TIME OF (1) SITE PLAN, SUBDIVISION PLAT, AND PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS SOLELY INVOLVING PARCELS OF COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE, AND (2) RESUBMITTED PLAT, SITE PLAN, AND PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
The proposed amendments to the Zoning Code would bring the City into compliance with recent changes to Virginia state law by removing site plan approval authority from the Planning Commission and assign it to the City’s Designated Agent. The proposed amendments would also amend the maximum review times for site plan, subdivision plats, and plan of development applications for solely commercial or residential uses, and for resubmitted plat, site plan, and plan of development applications.
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 jtrainor@fallschurchva. gov. Remote participation information at www. fallschurchva.gov/pc. For copies of legislation and other information, contact Jack Trainor jtrainor@fallschurchva.gov. 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 571-421-7943 or e-mail jtrainor@ fallschurchva.gov. PUBLIC NOTICE
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of the City of Falls Church, Virginia will hold a public hearing on November 13th, 2025, at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, located at 300 Park Avenue, for consideration of the following items:
- Variance application V1669-25 by Homer Perez and Grocery Outlet, Inc (Applicants), on behalf of April Lane Associates JV-Tinner Hill, LLC, (Owner), for variances: 1) Section 48-1265(1) to allow wall sign quantity of 5 instead of the maximum of 4 wall signs per business, and 2) Section 48-1269(b) to allow aggregate sign area of total amount of 192 square feet instead of the maximum 156 square feet and 3) Section 48-1269(b) to allow aggregate maximum number of permitted signs of 5 instead of the maximum of 4 signs at 500 S Washington, RPC#52-308-009 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned B-3, General Business District. (Continued from September 11, 2025.)
-Variance application V1670-25 by Laura Von Schrilz, (Applicant and Owner), for variances: 1) Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow a side yard setback of 10 feet instead of the 12 feet minimum, and 2) Section 48-238(5)(a) to allow lot coverage up to 27.16% instead of the 25% maximum allowed to construct a screened in porch at 714 Berry Street, RPC#53-124-019 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential District.
-Variance application
V1671-25 by David Hilde, (Applicant), on behalf of Michael Beyer (Owner), for variances: 1) Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow a side yard setback of 11 feet and 2 inches instead of the 15
feet minimum, and 2) Section 48-238(5) (a) to allow lot coverage up to 26.5% instead of the 25% maximum allowed to construct a screened in porch at 203 Buxton Road,, RPC#53-205-010 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential District.
-Variance application V1672-25 by Sarah Snouffer, (Applicant), on behalf of Jasyn Polowitz (Owner), for variances to: 1) Section 48-238(3)(a) to allow a side yard setback of 9 feet and 1 7/8 inches instead of the 15 feet minimum, and 2) Section for a front yard setback of 24 feet and 5 5/8 inches instead of 30 feet minimum allowed to construct a wraparound porch at 817 Ridge Place, RPC#53-210-090 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned R-1A, Low Density Residential District.
Public comment and questions may be submitted to zoning@fallschurchva.gov until 4:30 pm on November 13th, 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.
Invitation For Bids (IFB) IFB 1204-25-LPSDI
Lincoln Park Stormwater Drainage Improvements Project City of Falls Church
PASSWORD PROTECTED ELECTRON-
IC BIDS (SEALED) will be accepted by the City of Falls Church by electronic submission to the Purchasing Agent, James Wise, jwise@fallschurchva.gov (email) for the provision of Lincoln Park Stormwater Drainage Improvements Project. Due date for the electronic submission of Bids is Thursday, December 4, 2025 @ 11:00 A.M. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams on November 6, 2025 (see the IFB for details). A copy of the IFB which includes all details and requirements may be downloaded from the City of Falls Church’s procurement website: www.fallschurchva.gov/Bids. Notice of the IFB may also be accessed via eVA, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s electronic procurement portal for registered suppliers, www.eva.virginia.gov. For more information and/or questions regarding this IFB contact the City’s Purchasing Agent; (703) 248-5007; jwise@fallschurchva.gov. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703 248-5007 (TTY 711).
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
The following was given first reading at the October 27, 2025 City Council meeting. Public hearing, second reading, and possible City Council action is scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard.
(TO25-19) ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2090 REGARDING THE BUDGET OF EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026: GENERAL FUND AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS
The proposed ordinance would amend the FY2026 Budget for the City of Falls Church to appropriate FY2025 revenue surplus and underspending, revise revenues and expenditures related to the solid waste fee adopted in September 2025, and appropriate new revenues, grants and contributions. The proposed amendment would add expenditures of $2,012,666 to the General Fund and $133,197 to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fund.
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 Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation Board of Equalization
Historic Architectural Review Board
Historical Commission
Housing Commission
Human Services Advisory Council
Public Utilities Commission
Towing Advisory Board
Urban Forestry Commission Board of Zoning Appeals
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
SP West Falls Inc trading as Dok Khao
Thai Eatery West Falls, 180 W Falls Station Boulevard, Falls Church, Falls Church City, Virginia 22046-0000 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Restaurant License – Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed On and Off Premises license to sell alcoholic beverages. 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.
Sami’s Food Service LLC trading as Erbil Kabob, 3212 Old Pickett Rd., Fairfax 22031 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application - Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Consumed to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages 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.
Falls Church Bfi trading as BURGERFI, 168 W Falls Station Blvd, Unit A1-160, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Virginia 22046 is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority for a Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application – Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Consumed On and Off Premises license. 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.
HELP WANTED
Seeking a driver for old family member on a part-time basis (Mondays & Fridays only)weekly pay $400 must Have a valid state-issued driver’s license Must be professional, safe and patient. Email us: michaeljohn121m@gmail.com
AUCTIONS
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