August 4 - 10, 2022
Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • V o l . X X X II N o . 25
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
Park Ave. ‘Great Street’ Plans Shared In Tour
Park Avenue’s Bright Future
$10 Million in Fed Grants To Pay For Big Makeover by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Somebody was counting noses Monday when 83 citizens (count ‘em) assembled in front of the newly expanded and renovated Mary Riley Styles Public Library to partake in a walking tour hosted by City Hall of the plans to convert Park Avenue between the library (at N. Virginia Ave.) and three blocks away to N. Washington St. at the State Theatre into a “Great Street.” There are so many new and lovely amenities tied to this project that it took over an hour to cover the three blocks, which will enjoy the benefits of a $10 million federal grant that will pay for it all. Actual construction of the many changes won’t be completed until 2030, but given how time flies in the Little City, it may not seem that long in fact.
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DURING THE TOUR, Mayor David Tarter opened the walk with brief remarks, while the City’s Al Astorga spoke about what will be going into the makeover of ‘Great Street,’ which will include 39 new canopy trees, safer pedestrian crossings, upgraded bike markings, brick paver sidewalks and many more. Construction of ‘Great Street’ is planned to be finished by 2030. (News-Press photo).
Who is ‘Chap’ Petersen? F.C.’s New State Senator For Now by Kylee Toland
Falls Church News-Press
In the often confusing wake of the redistricting of state and federal election boundaries every decade, many folks lose track of who their representatives are. The situation is like that for the City of Falls Church and environs, where the state senator now representing the City is a new person, relatively unknown to City
residents. That would be incumbent State Sen. Chap Petersen. In the case of Petersen, who has represented areas of Fairfax County to the west of the City for two decades, he is now the City’s state senator and will be depending on how the next November 2023 election goes. To become familiar with his new Senate District 37 constituents here,
he’s been going around the City knocking on doors to introduce himself and showing up at public events, such as the Memorial Day parade, farmers markets and the upcoming Falls Festival next month. He won’t face re-election until November 2023. For over 15 years to date, John Chapman “Chap” Petersen has been a Virginia State Senator, representing
central and western Fairfax in the Virginia State Senate. The NewsPress spoke with Petersen about his career in politics and law, his goals and his views on current issues happening in the state of Virginia. Born and raised in Fairfax City, Petersen’s first taste in politics was serving as his senior class president
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Inside This Week Best Of Falls Church Final Voting Wraps up This Week Don’t forget to cast your vote now at BESTOFFC.COM. Voting ends Tuesday. Winners will be featured in a special BEST OF FALLS CHURCH edition of the NewsPress on August 18! See Pages 16 & 17
Press Pass: Cathy DiToro Press Pass is back with DC’s very own Cathy DiToro, the lead singer of So Fetch and the Legwarmers. DiToro talks about her experience as a musician and what performing means to her. See Page 26
Index Comment...................................... 5,7,8 Editorial................................................ 6 Crime Report........................................8 News Briefs........................................11 Business News..................................18 News & Notes.............................22,23 Calendar......................................24,25 Critter Corner..................................... 30 Back in the Day..................................30