Falls Church News-Press December 17, 2009

The City of Falls Church’s 12th Annual Watch Night New Year’s Eve celebration, the first since adopting its “The Little City” brand, is evidence in itself that the show must — and will — go on despite recent city-wide bud-get shortfalls. That’s thanks to donation-based sponsorship and resident volunteerism time valued at $25,000 according to Greater F.C. Chamber Executive Director

Sally Cole. The City’s ubiquitous volunteer, Barbara Cram, is the event’s key point person.

“We’ve done everything we can this year to cut costs in order to be more efficient,” said Cole, citing a large reduction in promo-tional printing and paper waste.

Falls Church City Public Schools BIE coordinator, Marybeth Connelly, told the News-Press she hopes to also contain costs by creating a Google map this year accessible to anyone online detail-ing locations of the night’s attrac-

tions.From face-painting to a giant

Velcro wall and complimentary champagne toasts at participating restaurants, the always-free, fam-ily-oriented event has activities and entertainment for all ages, starting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 31. The 100 block of Broad Street at Washington will close to count down the hours till the dawn of 2010.

Restaurants including Ireland’s

While the Falls Church City Council backed away from giv-ing final approval to a measure changing the month for holding municipal elections from May to November Monday night, it did act with an eye to finalizing the shift early next month.

In what has become yet anoth-er highly-contentious issue in the governance of the City of Falls Church, four votes on the subject at Monday’s meeting revealed, again, a deep and emotionally-driven division on the Council.

With two Council mem-bers absent, Vice Mayor Hal Lippman being in Afghanistan and Councilman David Snyder also out of the country, Mayor Robin Gardner led series of slim major-ity votes, two to eschew a public referendum on the subject, and two to proceed toward making the shift to commence either in 2011 or in 2013.

With Lippman and Snyder expected to be back for the Council’s next meeting on January 11, however, the same 4-3 vote margin as last month’s to prelimi-narily OK the shift is expected to repeat.

Still, opponents to the shift apparently remain far from resigned to that outcome. The News-Press learned yesterday that former Falls Church Vice Mayor Sam Mabry invoked the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain all records pertaining to communications on the subject of

F.C. Plans Its New Year’s Eve Fête

Closure Threatened For Pimmit Hills High At a time when America faces dire job prospects and steady unemployment, Fairfax County’s looming fiscal crisis for the 2011 budget has its sights on one of the county’s few employment training-oriented alternative high schools. See page 5

F.C. Day Care Gets $1 Million in StimulusHigher Horizons Day Care Center, Inc., a private non-profit that is part of Fairfax County’s Office for Children network, received $1 million in federal stimulus funds for its mental health services, it was announced yesterday. See NewS BriefS, page 7

David Brooks: Obama’s Christian RealismIf you were graduating from Princeton in the first part of the

20th century, you probably heard the university president, John Hibben, deliver

one of his commencement addresses. See page 12

Cameron Still Knows His Stuff in ‘Avatar’James Cameron silences his doubters by delivering an extraordinary film. There’s still one man in Hollywood who knows how to spend $250 million wisely. See page 30

Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads

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•Fr e e

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Vo l. XiXno. 42

D e c e m b e r 1 7 - 2 3 , 2 0 0 9

InsIde ThIs Week

Editorial..................2Letters................2, 6Community. News. &.Notes..............10-11Comment........12-15Business. News. &.Notes...................16Sports.............18-20Calendar.........28-29Roger.Ebert....30-32

Restaurant.Spotlight.............................34Comics,. Sodoku. &.Crossword...........37Classified.Ads......38Business. &. Services.Directory..............39Critter.Corner.......40Business.Listing..41City.Focus......42-43

F.C. Council Moves Ahead to Shift Elections from May to November

Index

by Nicholas F. BentonFalls Church News-Press

CHECKIN’ IT TWICE!

JOLLY OL’ ST. NICK pays a visit to McLean Community Center’s annual holiday breakfast next Saturday, Dec. 19, to tally up the naughty and nice boys and girls, and enjoy some sausage, eggs and pancakes along the way. To check out more of the festivities McLean and other Falls Church area venues are offering this holiday season, see pages 26 - 27. (photo: CourteSy SaBriNa aNwah)

Final.Approval.Pushed.to.Early.January.Vote

Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 4

by Natalie BedellFalls Church News-Press

EDITORIALOur 20th Annual

Holiday PartyThe News-Press’ first stretch of its longevity into two decades is

being achieved with its 20th annual holiday party this coming Monday night, Dec. 21, to which, as always, all friends and supporters of the News-Press are welcome. With the paper still in its 19th year of weekly publication, the question always arises about the circumstances of this being the 20th holiday party.

The answer has been provided in this space before, but we love tell-ing it over and over. It’s a hallmark of the season, after all, such as when the elderly uncle who shows up every year for the holidays re-tells the same stories over-and-over from his youth.

The first News-Press holiday party was held December 1990 when the News-Press was a mere twinkle in the eye, so to speak, of its founder. It was held only two weeks after said founder woke up one morning, after having thought about the newspaper idea for a year or so, and announced to himself that it was time to commence in earnest.

A single young prospective collaborator agreed to join in the effort, and a tiny 150-square foot, one-room office in the 120 N. Virginia Ave. office building became the birthplace of the News-Press.

In the spirit of the season, and the improbable dream that was just being formed into reality, it was proper to have a holiday party, replete with a 12 inch-high fake plug-in tree and eggnog. A couple friends stopped in. But the glow of that seminal night shall never be forgotten, and is recalled every year by including it in the annual count of the number of parties hosted down through the years.

A year later, in December 1991, with the News-Press in only its 35th week of publication and facing an uncertain future, despite its penniless circumstances gathered sufficient resources to host the first commu-nity-wide holiday party at what was then the Women’s Club. Over 150 showed up, and every year since to the present, similar numbers have graced the annual News-Press holiday parties.

The rationale for the parties? They always reflect what the News-Press, itself, is. The News-Press is, at its core, a community bonding agent, as all good newspapers are. By often taking sides, editorially, it has spurred the community into active deliberation and concern for the best way forward.

While the survival of print newspapers is being severely tested, we believe their revival will come with the recognition that they represent a tactile connection to what makes humans what they are, inseparable from the contexts of community and collaboration in which they operate. While the Internet puts the individual in connection with bits of informa-tion on a computer screen, a newspaper is like a membership card to a human community as it negotiates itself locally and in the world.

The News-Press’ annual holiday parties celebrate its role in Falls Church, in the spirit of the holidays.

.

December 17 - 23, 2009

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Vol. XIX, No. 42December 17 - 23, 2009

Editor,In the most recent issue of

the Falls Church News-Press, as an explanation of his vote to change the Falls Church City elec-tions from May to November, Councilman Dan Sze was quot-ed as saying, “I haven’t heard anything to change my mind. I know it to be a fact that far more people vote in November than May. That’s the only fact. It is a

black-and-white non-issue to me.” Mayor Gardner has said similar things. This has been the main reason given by all those support-ing the change.

It may be a fact, but it is not a reason to change City elections from May to November. There are a variety of possible reasons why fewer people vote in May that would not support changing the dates and diluting the focus

on local issues. Just to cite a few: fewer contested elections; more confidence in those running; less knowledge of local issues; less confidence that a significant move-ment can be mounted to oppose or to support certain candidates or issues. Changing the elections from May to November will not change these factors and, if any-thing, will make it even harder to focus on important local issues.

I would just like to add, that if Councilman Sze is so concerned about increasing the number of people involved in voting, it seems that he should also be concerned about increasing the number of people involved in what is clearly a controversial issue by supporting a referendum on changing the date

of local elections. Margaret WhiteheadFalls Church

Editor,In the first sentence of her

Letter to the Editor about “The Little City” tag line from SmithGifford, Jane Singleton says that she hopes there are “a lot of concerned readers.” I am one. I agree with her assessment of the

Letters to the Editor

High Turnout May Be Fact, Not a Reason

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

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

More Letters on Page 6

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FCNP.com also includes photos, stories, ads and more not appearing in the print edition.

For information on online advertising, please contact Nick Gatz at 703-532-3267 or [email protected].

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Says Tag Line ‘Little City’ Is ‘Childlike’

December 17 - 23, 2009

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the election switch dating back to last summer.

Mabry returned a call to the News-Press last night from his vaca-tion home in Rehoboth Beach, and confirmed he’d FOIA’d City Hall, but only for records of communi-cations involving Mayor Gardner and Vice Mayor Lippman.

He said if there turns out to be anything “pertinent” in what he finds relevant to possible motives other than those stated in public by the two, he will “make sure it is made public.”

Mabry, who left the Council four years ago, was interviewed by the Washington Post for an article on the election issue that appeared this Monday despite having no public involvement in the matter short of a letter to the editor in the News-Press. He inti-mated to the News-Press last night

that there is on-going “talk” about the need to further “unravel the difference between state law and the City charter.”

Mayor Gardner, in comments to the News-Press yesterday, stressed that her votes to shift the election from May to November are aimed at increasing voter participation, citing the conclusive evidence that turnouts of the City’s registered voters are routinely far higher in November elections than in May.

“The City’s charter stipulates that it is the role of the City Council to do all it can to facili-tate the exercise of the rights of our citizens,” she said, “and that’s what we have voted to do.”

She added that it is the Council’s “obligation to rule on matters of policy,” and not to hand off such obligations to a public referendum and a “not inconsequential cost to taxpayers.”

One game of policy ping-pong

involved in the issue on Council has involved the year in which the transition will occur. When the mat-ter was first broached by first-year Councilman Lawrence Webb this fall, the impulse was to act before Dec. 31 to make the shift apply to the coming 2010 elections.

But to avoid the accusations of some that moving it to next year would extend the terms of Councilmen due for election next May, last week Mayor Gardner proposed making 2012 the year of the switch.

However, at this Monday’s meeting, the discussion changed to making the switch either in 2011 or 2013, being that odd-year elections would not involve fed-eral elections, but only Virginia legislative ones.

Therefore, when the votes were finally taken after 10 p.m. Monday, the shorthanded Council voted 3-2 to give a preliminary OK to shift-

ing the date in 2011, and another 3-2 vote to give a preliminary OK to shifting it in 2013.

Voting for the 2011 date were Gardner, Councilman Dan Sze and Councilman Dan Maller. Voting for the 2013 date were Maller, Sze and Webb.

This came after a proposed

resolution calling for further study and a public referendum offered by Webb failed by a 3-2 vote, with only Webb and Councilman Nader Baroukh voting yes, and a second resolution offered by Baroukh call-ing for an emergency referendum failed after the motion was made by Baroukh for lack of a second.

December 17 - 23, 2009

Have you or are you planning on volunteering this holiday season?’

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F.C. Election Date Change Triggering Strong EmotionsContinued from Page 1

At a time when American work-ers face dire job prospects and steady unemployment, Fairfax County’s looming fiscal crisis for the 2011 budget has its sights on one of the county’s few employment training-oriented alternative high schools in Falls Church’s Pimmit Hills.

Pimmit Hills Alternative High School, located on Lisle Avenue in Falls Church, serves a diverse array of adults and transfer students with its staff of 18, and a large number of volunteers from the Falls Church community.

Eighty percent of the school’s student body has limited English language proficiency, and speak 25 languages from 30 different coun-tries. Many students are employed full-time and have families, as well.

The school’s closing, which would occur at the end of the current

school year next summer, appeared on the Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) superintendent’s short list for recommended cuts this year as the school system faces a projected deficit of $176 million for 2011.

Pimmit Hills was slated to close last year, according to Mary Shaw, the FCPS communications director, but was spared due to the influx of federal stimulus funds late last year.

“Last year, funds from the American Reconstruction and Reinvestment Act saved enough from the projected $200 million deficit that we didn’t have to close Pimmit Hills,” Shaw said, adding that the school was selected for closing following “a county-wide employee survey conducted when we had a similar budget crisis last year.”

Other programs saved from elimination at the time were elemen-tary schools with foreign language immersion efforts in the school sys-

tem, full-day kindergarten and sum-mer school, among others, that now also make it to the extensive list of possible cuts recommended by FCPS superintendent, Jake Dale.

Pimmit Hills, however, was the only alternative high school slated for closure that made it to the list. The school’s closing would cut all 18 staff positions and save the county approximately $1 million, according to the FCPS.

The school’s closure presents a stark choice for Falls Church area residents who depended on the service. Without Pimmit Hills, the largely immigrant and adult com-munity would need to travel to one of the county’s two remaining alter-native high schools: Mountain View High School in Centreville and the Bryant Center along Route 1 in Alexandria.

“We first received word about the potential closing in November,” Pimmit Hill’s librarian Yvon Jensen

told the News-Press. “And then we heard about the superintendent’s rec-ommendation earlier in December after a Pimmit Hills representative attended an advisory meeting with Dr. Dale.”

Word spread to the faculty and staff at Pimmit Hills a week later, Jensen said, during a meeting called by the school’s principal, Beverly Wilson.

“We’re very concerned for our students,” Jensen added. “Some of them come to this country with no formal education, but with an inter-est in learning.”

She continued, “Here at Pimmit Hills, we have volunteer tutors that provide additional after school ser-vice to them, like the Association of American University Women, who

have 10 or 12 people working here alongside the students.”

The Falls Church location also put Pimmit Hills along major area bus routes, making the school acces-sible to students who did not have or could not afford cars.

Shaw said that as the closing is preliminary, the county has not accounted for any transportation concerns.

She cautioned, however, that the list “is only preliminary” and that no final decision would be reached until the superintendent’s presenta-tion of the FY2011 budget to the county’s Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7.

The Pimmit Hills High School administration was unavailable for comment before press time.

December 17 - 23, 2009

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Pimmit Hill School Threatened With Closure in Budget Crunchby Dean Edwards Falls Church News-Press

“brand” as “childlike.” If I didn’t know better, I would think it was the title of a children’s picture book, with its colorful tumble of loopy letters.

To what audience are we appeal-ing with this approach? People with children? Businesses geared to chil-dren and families? Seems as though we already have enough of both. People or businesses who want to get away from the fray of DC life and settle down in a quiet place to live or make a profit and pay the lower taxes of a “little” city? Hah!

The Falls Church I know and the Falls Church in this logo just don’t jibe. We are such a complex place. We have very little visible remains of our history but we struggle to maintain it. We want to keep a small town feel but here we are inside the Beltway, need I say more. We are full of highly credentialed, savvy people. We are trying and failing to stop our own overdevelopment. So, we are full of contradictions and complexity. Any new statement of our identity needs to take this seriously.

Unfortunately, “The Little City” is the little idea that can’t pull the train up the hill. Let’s not waste time pretending and claiming that it has been money well spent. Back to the drawing board. With a new creative team, please. The emperor is wearing far too...little. Rachel ClarkFalls Church

Editor,How much did our itty bitty

city with its projected $7 million-

and-counting shortfall spend on Gullible’s Travels to Lilliput?

Did these same little people put the post office in the flowery building where the trucks can’t get through the entrance but have to park on the street, blocking a lane of Route 7?

Remember who gets branded: dumb driven cattle. Vesta S. DownerFalls Church

Editor,In the article regarding the

state’s newly-imposed smoking ban, I find it interesting that Susan Anderson doesn’t mind the ban since “bars can be so confined inside and it’s nice to get some fresh air.” Yes, fresh cigarette air. Now that’s irony. Betsy StuartFalls Church

Editor,Three years ago this month, a

majority of parishioners of The Falls Church voted to “leave” the Diocese of Virginia and The Episcopal Church of the United States and to associate them-selves with the Anglican Diocese of Nigeria. However, rather than leaving the historic Falls Church property, the departing parishio-ners continue to occupy it. Those Episcopalians who did not choose to leave are not permitted by those who left to use the property for Episcopalian services and have been forced to find temporary wor-ship space elsewhere.

In early 2007, after several weeks of meeting in a parishioner’s

home, the wonderful people at Falls Church Presbyterian invited us to use their loft for our worship servic-es. We have been there ever since.

What could have been a tragedy for exiled Episcopalians has, in many respects, become a blessing.

The Falls Church (Episcopal) is still here, in the heart of Falls Church City! We meet weekly for worship, have an active youth group, a dedicated choir, Sunday school, Adult Education, and, per-haps most meaningful, an ambi-tious community outreach program which supports the neediest in our greater Falls Church area. Parish members collect and deliver food weekly through the Falls Church Community Service Council. We have provided food for the Falls Church Winter Shelter, renovated a house through Rebuilding Together, supported affordable housing, and organized walks for the homeless. We have packed boxes to send to our troops in Afghanistan, provided backpacks for homeless children, held a coat drive, adopted families at Shelter House in Falls Church for the holidays and more. We also have a free monthly “Parents Night Out” which is open to all families in the city, staffed by our 20-30’s group.

The legal dispute over rights to the real and personal property of The Falls Church is now before the Supreme Court of Virginia. Sadly, much on all sides has been spent on lawyers. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, Episcopalians are here in Falls Church.Robin FetschChair, The Falls Church(Episcopal) Outreach Committee

Editor,I would like to say thanks for

the overwhelming success of the first season of the Falls Church

Farmers Market Chef. What began as a simple idea born out of a passion for the community has turned into a program that serves many needs. The vision to help our community environ-mentally, physically, and fiscally could not have come to fruition without the energy and support of so many in our community. I would not have been able to do this endeavor without the support of key individuals, res-taurants, farmer’s market and vendors. My heartfelt thanks to the following:

Aimee Suyehiro of Argia’s who was willing to be the first and forge the way beautifully for the others.

Leland Atkinson of Sinplicity for bringing his lovely wife and girls to be part of the demon-stration of making awesome ice creams and desserts.

Debra Rubin, Kate Jensen and Maeve Curtin of Willow for incorporating their creativity to use wheatberries and butternut squash so well that Moutoux Orchards completely sold out of wheatberries!

Liam LaCivita of Liberty Tavern for the mouthwatering aroma of buffalo brisket paired with radishes and apples on a cold fall morning.

Chef Bernard who reminded us of the importance to stick with the conviction of local and seasonal food as the focal point of the program.

Falls Church Farmers Market vendors who were extremely sup-portive of the program include Dragonfly Farms, Atwaters Bakery, Sinplicity, Potomac Vegetable Farms, Tree and Leaf Farms, Cibola Farms, Blue Ridge Dairy, Howie’s Honey, Toigo Orchards, Mother Earth Organic Mushroom, North Gate Vineyards, Valentine’s Meats, Grace’s Pastries, and Moutoux Orchards.

Howard Herman who allowed me to bring the idea to him

and was supportive throughout its development. Howard has brought to Falls Church the most wonderful farmers market in the area and we are all privileged to have him as part of our com-munity.

And to John Nixon, never was a woman more blessed with a more supportive and awesome husband.

And finally to the Falls Church community for embrac-ing this idea and giving it a strong following. We look for-ward to bringing more chef dem-onstrations to the community in 2010!Kathleen NixonFalls Church

Editor,On behalf of the All Night

Graduation Celebration of 2010 there are many people to thank for a very successful 2009 First Annual Byrd Feeder that was held on Sunday, December 6th at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack.

We would like to thank Rebecca and David Tax (owners of Clare and Don’s Beach Shack) for their generous sponsorship of this event. They shared with us their great ideas, strong com-munity spirit and terrific staff to support our very worthy program which provides a safe and alcohol free celebration for our graduating seniors.

We would also like to thank Mr. Byrd, George Mason High School principal, for showing his grand sense of humor in lending his name to promote the “First Annual Byrd Feeder” and for being a gracious and welcoming host. His wholehearted support for the evening was a major key to its success.

And for our supportive com-munity family, in the high school, in the other Falls Church schools, and in the Falls Church commu-nity at large, thank you for coming out on a cold, wet evening to sup-port our cause. We thank you for showing up and making clear to us that this is truly the first of many “Byrd Feeder” events to come.

See you all next year!Melissa MorsePublicity Chair, All Night Grad Celebration

Says ‘Branding’ Is For Dumb,Driven Cattle

Continued from Page 2

December 17 - 23, 2009

‘Fresh Air’ Outside Now ‘Cigarette Air’

Episcopalians Are Still Active In Falls Church

Hails Success Of Farmer’s Market Chefs

Thanks for ‘Byrd Feeder’ Charity Event

[email protected]

Bulova ‘State of County’ Address Due Friday

With announcements of deep proposed budget cuts anticipated, Fairfax County Board Chair Sharon Bulova will make available her annual “State of the County” address via Fairfax Cable Television beginning this Friday, Dec. 18, the County’s Public Information Office said today. The full written text of her remarks will also be available on Bulova’s web site (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman) starting Friday. The telecasts on Channel 16 will be replayed on Fridays and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Falls Church Day Care Center Gets $1 Million in Stimulus Funds

Higher Horizons Day Care Center, Inc., a private non-profit that is part of Fairfax County’s Office for Children network, received $1 million in federal stimulus funds for its mental health services, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine announced yesterday. The center serves 224 low-income children and their families. The center is located on Summers Lane in the Bailey’s Crossroads area of greater Falls Church.

Santa Tours F.C. on Fire Truck Until Dec. 19

Santa’s visits through the neighborhoods of the City of Falls Church atop fire trucks manned by volunteers of the F.C. Volunteer Fire Department continues through Saturday, Dec. 19. The nightly tours began Tuesday, and tonight (Dec. 17) a tour of the neighbor-hood south of Broad St. between S. Oak and S. Washington will occur. On Friday, Dec. 18, the tour will cover areas north and south of Broad between Little Falls and Cherry, and Saturday, Dec. 19, neighborhoods of the City east of Cherry and Columbia Streets.

City of F.C. Best at Recycling in Virginia

According to the annual report of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Falls Church led the commonwealth in its rate of recycling participation, F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields reported Monday. The City’s rate in 2008 was 59 percent, signifi-cantly ahead of the second-place jurisdiction, the Town of Vienna, at 53 percent. The state average was 38 percent. Shields credited a network of over 100 “block captains” in the City, as the participation rate in those neighborhoods is at 90 percent. He noted the effort saves the City about $220,000 annually in its landfill use bill, cutting that bill by over 20 percent.

James H. M. Henderson Dies at Age 92

James H. M. Henderson, 92, son of Mary Ellen Henderson after whom Falls Church’s Middle School is named, died Dec. 3 at his home in Tuskegee, Alabama following a brief ill-ness. A long-time Falls Church resident, in 2007 he was presented a “Living Legend” award by Falls Church’s Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation for his role in preserving the history of the early black basketball efforts. A full obituary will appear in next week’s edition.

F.C.’s New Unmarked Mustang Snags Motorist

The newly-unveiled unmarked, sporty black Mustang acquired and put into service by the Falls Church Police Department was sighted by the News-Press in a parking lot off W. Broad St. yesterday morning, having pulled over a motorist for an alleged violation. The car is fully loaded with police equipment, including lights and siren, only less conspicuously. There is no signage on its exterior.

N-P Holiday Party Set Monday, Dec. 21

The Falls Church News-Press has extended an invitation to all friends and supporters to attend its 20th annual holiday party this Monday, Dec. 21, at the new ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple St., from 5:30-8 p.m. The free event will be catered by Ledo Pizza. Student musicians from George Mason High School will perform.

December 17 - 23, 2009

Four Provinces, Dogwood Tavern, Pho 88, Pilin Thai, Maneki Neko, Applebee’s, Argia’s, Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and Hunan Café will remain open for business, and many until midnight will offer a Watch Night walking menu of easy-to-carry items.

Cole added that years before, Watch Night was worth “twice the value of what was raised.” This year, however, she said the event is “worth three times what we’ve raised.”

That could be due in part to the 18 private and public spon-sors, including the City of Falls Church, the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, the F.C. Chamber of Commerce, the F.C. Economic Development Authority, Atlantic Realty, SmithGifford and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society of F.C., or

the scaling back on higher-priced musical acts. Remaining focused on local talent, up-and-coming George Mason High School students Sarah Rodock and Sam Waters have been recruited to sing solos and duets.

Both well-known in the George Mason performance arts scene, Waters won Watch Night’s Anthem Idol ringing in 2007 and snagged the opportunity to belt out the National Anthem at Washington Nationals Park that September. Rodock, on the other hand, just recorded her self-titled Christmas album, copies of which will be handed out at this year’s local-talent-laced event.

Joining her and Waters is Mustang alum and High Minded frontwoman Katy Potrykus, who will be accompanied by Charles Mann and Jake Savage perform-ing on the main stage set to be in front of CVS Pharmacy on West Broad Street.

Cram called the talent pouring

out of the City high school “illus-trious” in her on-air, “News-Press Live” interview Monday night.

“We have a lot of variety this year,” she said of the Eve’s musical spread, adding that Tinner Hill’s Nikki Henderson also booked The Pluckerland Band, which performed last year with legend-ary Charlie Sayers. Additional entertainers include three restau-rant DJs, The Big Band “Northern Lights” 18-piece orchestra at F.C. Presbyterian Church, Cowboy Hay’s Music and Humor, Hand Dance Professionals Riki and Billie, as well as, magicians at F.C. Anglican, swing dancing, a 66-foot dragon obstacle course and more to be announced.

The State Theatre has long been sold out of tickets for its widely-popular New Year’s Eve party hosted by 80s cover-band sensation, The Legwarmers.

Some see the hustle and bustle as an indicative sign that whether or not an economic turnaround is on the horizon, hope still floats in the City.

Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation President Ed Henderson said, “Though we’re in hard times, [Watch Night] is a tradition the City still supports and wants to

see it continue. A lot of jurisdic-tions have cancelled their Watch Nights, but we have not and the fact it’s still happening is a victory in itself during a time of politi-cally hard choices.”

Hoping to keep residents’ minds off economic woes and on the City’s new branding potential, Cram recently pitched “Big Night, Little City” as Watch Night 2010’s slogan to SmithGifford President Matt Smith, who loved the idea. Attendees will be able to find bal-loons, stickers and more celebrat-

ing the new name’s induction at the “Little City” booth outside the BB&T bank on West Broad Street.

“Lots of people who don’t live in Falls Church come to Watch Night because it is one of the few free New Year’s Eve events for the whole family, and many of those people haven’t heard of ‘The Little City’ yet,” said Connelly.

Come the “Big Night,” perhaps they will. Festivities kick off at 7 p.m., while the block of West Broad between Washington and Maple Streets will be closed at 6 p.m.

December 17 - 23, 2009

F.C. Watch Night Fun for EveryoneContinued from Page 1

INSTRUMENTAL WATCH NIGHT planners, (left to right) Sally Cole, Barbara Cram and Marybeth Connelly. (Photo: News-Press)

December 17 - 23, 2009

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Arlington Artists Host ‘All That Glitters’

The Arlington Artists Alliance will host “All That Glitters,” a holiday show and sale on Friday, Dec. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 19.

The show will feature oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, pastels and sculpture by Arlington artists. All are invited to come and browse works of art for unique and affordable gifts for the holi-days.

Guests can meet the artists at a reception on Friday, Dec. 18 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Fairlington Community Center (3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington). The show will resume on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-228-6588.

Encore Chorale Presents Holiday Concert

The Encore Chorale, made up of almost 200 senior adults, will present a family-friendly holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Kenmore Middle School auditorium (200 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington).

The program will feature

holiday favorites, including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Let it Snow,” in addi-tion to the Hallelujah Chorus with brass and timpani.

The Encore Chorale will be joined by the Columbia Flute Choir of Falls Church, trumpeters Paul Nelson and Michael Foster and percussionist Elizabeth Morgan. Admission is free. For more information, call 301-261-5747.

F.C. Lions Club Hosts Citrus Fruit Sale

The Falls Church Lions Club will host a citrus fruit sale on Friday, Dec. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 19. Naval oranges will be on sale for $31 a case, $17 a half case or $9 a bag.

There will also be pink seed-less grapefruit for $30 a case, $16 a half case or $9 a bag. A mixed case costs $32.

The fruit sale will start in the afternoon on Friday, Dec. 18 until dark and will continue at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 until all fruit is sold. The sale will take place at the Old Dale Lumber Site (217 Gordon Rd., Falls Church).

For more information, visit live.fallschurchlions.com.

Yosi & The Super Dads Rock MCC

On Saturday, Dec. 19, Yosi & The Super Dads will rock the McLean Community Center (MCC) with an interactive family concert featuring klezmer, rock, ska, jazz and classic Hanukkah tunes with a rockin’ twist.

The concert will kick off at 2 p.m. at MCC (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Tickets cost $10 for McLean residents and $14 for non-residents. For more informa-tion, call 703-790-0123.

Holistic Moms Create Familial Balance

The Holistic Moms Network of Arlington and Alexandria will hold a chapter meeting today from 7 – 9 p.m. The topic will be “Creating Balance in Family Life,” with presentations by life coaches Carolyn Semedo and Suzanne Couming Caldwell.

The meeting will take place at the Arlington United Methodist Church (716 Glebe Rd.,

Arlington). Moms, dads, caregiv-ers and children are all welcome. For more information, call 703-824-6167.

World Children’s Choir Performs for Holidays

The World’s Children Choir will host a holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 7 – 9 p.m. The musical program will include international carols, Hanukkah tunes and New Year songs from all over the world. An audience sing-a-long will conclude the con-cert.

The performance will be held at St. Peters Episcopal Church (4250 Glebe Rd., Arlington). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students 12 and up and $10 for children. For more information, call 703-883-0920 or visit www.wordchildrenschoir.org.

U.S. Marine Corps Visit Dogwood Tavern

On Friday, Dec. 18, members of the United States Marine Corps will make a visit to Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). The marines will be there from 5 – 9 p.m. to pick up the collected toys for the Toys for

Tots drive and meet with fami-lies and their children. For more information, call 703-237-8333.

Virginia Tech Honors Falls Church Professor

Sudip Bhattacharjee, a teacher at the Virginia Tech (V.T.) Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, has been named the Konrad W. Kubin Junior Faculty Fellow by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Bhattacharjee is an associate professor of accounting and infor-mation systems in the Pamplin College of Business at V.T.

Culpepper Garden Offers Free Health Screenings

The Culpepper Garden Senior Center will offer free health screenings for adults ages 55 and older on Monday, Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. – noon at the center (4435 N. Pershing Dr., Arlington). Services will include blood pres-sure and glucose monitoring.

Barbara Holland from The Medical Team, Inc. will admin-ister all tests on a first-come, first-served basis. Adults are asked to fast for two hours before taking the glucose test. For more infor-mation, call 703-228-4403.

December 17 - 23, 2009

CELEBRATING THEIR 20TH anniversary at a reception in their new offices on the 4th floor of the new Flower Building at 800 W. Broad in Falls Church, Sam Butz (left) and Jack Wilbern (center) of the Butz-Wilbern, Ltd. architectural firm welcomed Dr. Lois Berlin (right), superintendent of the Falls Church City Public Schools to the festivities. (Photo: News-Press)

AT MONDAY NIGHT’S FALLS CHURCH City Council meeting, Edna Frady (front, left) was honored when Dec. 14, 2009 was officially proclaimed “Edna Frady Day” in the City of Falls Church. Also pic-tured are Mayor Robin Gardner (front, right) and (back row, left to right) Councilmen Nader Baroukh, Dan Maller, Dan Sze and Lawrence Webb. (Photo: News-Press)

F.C. Residents Admitted to V.T. Graduate School

Falls Church residents Hafid B. Alaoui, Chase A. Chevalier, James A. Chilton, Amy L. Morton, Jonathan M. Morales, Cindy D. Musick, Fenye Bao, Jennifer G. Condra, Bonnie C. Culpepper, Changshu Jian, Elizabeth Leslie, William R. McVay, Sara L. Ruckman, Deepak Dobhal, Stephen A. Hawley, Sergio Ritacco and Paul Truong were all recent-ly admitted to the graduate school at Virginia Tech (V.T.) in Blacksburg, Va.

DICF Spices Up ‘The Nutcracker’

On Friday, Dec. 18, the Dream in Color Foundation (DICF) will present “Nutcracker Sweet & Spicy,” an ethnic twist on a holi-day classic.

The music, characters and dance styles will reflect the cul-tural diversity and sense of com-munity in the Washington, D.C. area.

Special guests will include Mini Shock Hip Hop Troupe and Silky Smooth Hand Dancers.

The two performances will kick off at 7 and 8:30 p.m. at the James Lee Community Center Theatre (2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church). Tickets cost $5. For more information, call 703-642-1711.

Senior Center Teaches Candle Arranging

Seniors are invited to learn how to make one-of-a-kind spar-kling candle arrangements in a candle workshop with Sherri Clarke.

Students will walk away with knowledge of how to enhance any

holiday table or stand with the perfect candle arrangement.

The workshop will be held today from 10 a.m. – noon at the Langston-Brown Senior Center (2121 Culpeper St., Arlington). Admission is free. To sign up, call 703-228-5321.

THHF Presents ‘Songs of the Season’

The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation (THHF) invites every-one to “Songs of the Season in the Little City,” a family-friendly musical event with singer Nadine Rae on Sunday, Dec. 20 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Pearson Square (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church).

The program will include favorite holiday songs, special sing-alongs and other interactive activities.

Homemade refreshments will be served. Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase unique last-minute gifts.

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. To purchase tickets, call 703-534-4627.

F.C. Rotary Club Holds Weekly Meeting

The Falls Church Rotary Club will hold its weekly meeting today at 6:30 p.m. at the Harvest Moon Restaurant (7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church).

The meeting will start with din-ner, followed by the annual club officer election.

Dinner costs $11. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 202-268-5089.

Correction: Both Anthony’s Restaurant and Curry’s Auto Service are sponsoring the Santamobile, which is a Falls Church fire truck.

December 17 - 23, 2009

THE FLOWER BUILDING on West Broad Street in the City of Falls Church, developed by Bob Young (second from left), was awarded a LEED Gold certification at this week’s F.C. City Council meeting. Pictured with Young are (left to right) Tom Mawson of the U.S. Green Building Council, Deb Cloutier and Councilman Dan Sze. (Photo: Courtesy BarBara Gordon)

MEMBERS OF GIRL SCOUT TROOP 4861 (left to right) Lindsay Gillespie, Jada Henry, Yana Rogers, Meredith Johnson, Danielle Hatziyanis, Kaia Jefferson, Anna Grace Ulses, Gabriella Stevens, Elizabeth Campbell and Vi Tran collected over 500 pairs of shoes for Art for Humanity, a non-profit organization that assists impoverished families in Honduras. (Photo: Courtesy ViCtoria KwasiBorsKi)

WASHINGTON – After nearly a year in office, the defining political image of President Obama has yet to emerge. Is he a hawk or dove, a liberal or a moderate?

His Nobel Peace prize speech exposed his ambivalence. He harkened back to the Roman Catholic theologians to defend

his “just war” in Afghanistan – but he also expressed his ideals for a better world.

Measuring Obama’s performance is truly in the eyes of the beholder. To those who were enthralled with Obama’s eloquence in the presidential cam-paign, reality is setting in. News flash: He doesn’t walk on water.

But then he has had to deal with more monumental

problems than most freshmen presidents – two wars and the biggest economic breakdown since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Like all chief executives, Obama has had to learn the difference between campaigning and governing. He is a gifted politician who understands the art of compromise and the need to play the game to achieve those goals.

A half a loaf is better than none for the president, who nonetheless has been trumped on key issues by the obstructionist “just say no” Republicans – and a smattering of so-called “moderates,” including the unctuous Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.

As a result of his need to collect Senate votes for a health care reform bill – if for no other reason than to show some “reform” this year – Obama has aban-

Who Is President Obama?

Continued on Page 40

If you were graduating from Princeton in the first part of the 20th century, you probably heard the university president, John Hibben, deliver one of his commencement addresses. Hibben’s running theme, which was common at that time, was that each person is part angel, part devil. Life is a struggle to push back against the evils of the world without succumbing to the passions of the beast lurking inside.

You might not have been paying attention during the speech, but as you got older a sim-ilar moral framework was floating around

the culture, and it probably got lodged in your mind.You, and others of your era, would have been

aware that there is evil in the world, and if you weren’t aware, the presence of Hitler and Stalin would have confirmed it. You would have known it is necessary to fight that evil.

At the same time, you would have had a lingering awareness of the sinfulness within yourself. As the Cold War strategist George F. Kennan would put it: “The fact of the matter is that there is a little bit of the totalitarian buried somewhere, way down deep, in each and every one of us.”

So as you act to combat evil, you wouldn’t want to get carried away by your own righteousness or be seduced by the belief that you are innocent. Even fighting evil can be corrupting.

As a matter of policy, you would have thought it wise to constrain your own power within institutions. America should fight the Soviet Union, but it should girdle its might within NATO. As Harry Truman said: “We all have to recognize, no matter how great our strength, that we must deny ourselves the license to do always as we please.”

And you would have championed the spread of democracy, knowing that democracy is the only system that fits humanity’s noble yet sinful nature. As the midcentury theologian Reinhold Niebuhr declared: “Man’s capacity for justice makes democra-cy possible; but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”

You would, in short, have been a cold war liberal.Cold war liberalism had a fine run in the middle

third of the 20th century, and it has lingered here and there since. Scoop Jackson kept the flame alive in the 1970s. Peter Beinart wrote a book called “The Good Fight,” giving the tendency modern content.

But after Vietnam, most liberals moved on. It became unfashionable to talk about evil. Some liberals came to believe in the inherent goodness of man and the limit-less possibilities of negotiation. Some blamed conflicts on weapons systems and pursued arms control. Some based their foreign-policy thinking on being against whatever George W. Bush was for. If Bush was an ideal-istic nation-builder, they became Nixonian realists.

Barack Obama never bought into these shifts. In the past few weeks, he has revived the Christian real-ism that undergirded cold war liberal thinking and tried to apply it to a different world.

Obama’s race probably played a role here. As a young thoughtful black man, he would have become familiar with prophetic Christianity and the human tendency toward corruption; familiar with the tragic sensibility of Lincoln’s second inaugural; familiar with the guarded pessimism of Niebuhr, who had such a pro-found influence on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In 2002, Obama spoke against the Iraq war, but from the vantage point of a cold war liberal. He said he was not against war per se, just this one, and he was booed by the crowd. In 2007, he spoke about the way Niebuhr formed his thinking: “I take away the compelling idea that there’s serious evil in the world and hardship and pain. And we should be humble and modest in our belief we can eliminate those things. But we shouldn’t use that as an excuse for cynicism and inaction.”

His speeches at West Point and Oslo this year are pitch-perfect explications of the liberal international-ist approach. Other Democrats talk tough in a secular way, but Obama’s speeches were thoroughly theo-logical. He talked about the “core struggle of human nature” between love and evil.

More than usual, he talked about the high ideals of the human rights activists and America’s history as a vehicle for democracy, prosperity and human rights. He talked about America’s “strategic interest in binding ourselves to certain rules of conduct.” Most of all, he talked about the paradox at the core of cold war liberal-ism, of the need to balance “two seemingly irreconcil-able truths” – that war is both folly and necessary.

He talked about the need to balance the moral obligation to champion freedom while not getting swept up in self-destructive fervor.

Obama has not always gotten this balance right. He misjudged the emotional moment when Iranians were marching in Tehran. But his doctrine is becom-ing clear. The Oslo speech was the most profound of his presidency, and maybe his life.

Obama’s Christian Realism

December 17 - 23, 2009

DavidBrooksNEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

HelenThomasHEaRST NEWSpapERS

When I first began writing for The Times, I was naive about many things. But my biggest misconception was this: I actually believed that influential people could be moved by evidence, that they would change their views if events completely refuted their beliefs.

And to be fair, it does happen now and then. I’ve been highly critical of Alan Greenspan over the years (since long before it was fashionable), but give the former Fed chairman credit: He has admitted that he was wrong about the ability of financial markets to police themselves.

But he’s a rare case. Just how rare was demonstrated by what happened last Friday in the House of Representatives, when – with the meltdown caused by a runaway financial system still fresh in our minds, and the mass unemployment that meltdown caused still very much

in evidence – every single Republican and 27 Democrats voted against a quite modest effort to rein in Wall Street excesses.

Let’s recall how we got into our current mess.America emerged from the Great Depression with a tightly regu-

lated banking system. The regulations worked: the nation was spared major financial crises for almost four decades after World War II. But as the memory of the Depression faded, bankers began to chafe at the restrictions they faced. And politicians, increasingly under the influence of free-market ideology, showed a growing willingness to give bankers what they wanted.

The first big wave of deregulation took place under Ronald Reagan – and quickly led to disaster, in the form of the savings-and-loan crisis of the 1980s. Taxpayers ended up paying more than 2 percent of GDP, the equivalent of around $300 billion today, to clean up the mess.

But the proponents of deregulation were undaunted, and in the decade leading up to the current crisis politicians in both parties bought into the notion that New Deal-era restrictions on bankers were nothing but pointless red tape. In a memorable 2003 incident, top bank regulators staged a photo-op in which they used garden shears and a chainsaw to cut up stacks of paper representing regulations.

And the bankers – liberated both by legislation that removed tradi-tional restrictions and by the hands-off attitude of regulators who didn’t believe in regulation – responded by dramatically loosening lending stan-dards. The result was a credit boom and a monstrous real estate bubble, followed by the worst economic slump since the Great Depression. Ironically, the effort to contain the crisis required government interven-tion on a much larger scale than would have been needed to prevent the crisis in the first place: government rescues of troubled institutions, large-scale lending by the Federal Reserve to the private sector, and so on.

Given this history, you might have expected the emergence of a nation-al consensus in favor of restoring more-effective financial regulation, so as to avoid a repeat performance. But you would have been wrong.

Talk to conservatives about the financial crisis and you enter an alternative, bizarro universe in which government bureaucrats, not greedy bankers, caused the meltdown. It’s a universe in which government-sponsored lending agencies triggered the crisis, even though private lenders actually made the vast majority of subprime loans. It’s a universe in which regulators coerced bankers into mak-ing loans to unqualified borrowers, even though only one of the top 25 subprime lenders was subject to the regulations in question.

Oh, and conservatives simply ignore the catastrophe in commercial real estate: in their universe the only bad loans were those made to poor people and members of minority groups, because bad loans to develop-ers of shopping malls and office towers don’t fit the narrative.

In part, the prevalence of this narrative reflects the principle enunciated by Upton Sinclair: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” As Democrats have pointed out, three days before the House vote on banking reform Republican leaders met with more than 100 financial-industry lobbyists to coordinate strategies. But it also reflects the extent to which the modern Republican Party is committed to a bankrupt ideology, one that won’t let it face up to the reality of what happened to the U.S. economy.

So it’s up to the Democrats – and more specifically, since the House has passed its bill, it’s up to “centrist” Democrats in the Senate. Are they willing to learn something from the disaster that has overtaken the U.S. economy, and get behind financial reform? Let’s hope so.

PaulKrugmanNEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE

Disaster & Denial

December 17 - 23, 2009

It is the greatest example of the Law of Unintended Consequences.

In a bit of unpoetic justice, Bob Gates helped cre-ate the mess in Afghanistan decades ago and now has to try to clean it up.

At the CIA in the ‘80s, Gates conspired with Charlie Wilson and the Saudis to help the insurgents in Afghanistan turn back the occupation of a super-power. Now he’s guiding the attempt of the occupy-ing superpower to turn back the insurgents, some of whom are the same ones he armed to defeat the

Soviet Union.Trying to do a good

thing that also seemed like a strategically bril-liant thing – help the Afghan Davids repel

the raw aggression of the Soviet Goliaths – we created the monsters that have come back to haunt us, and we learned how little control we have over history.

We trained a whole generation of jihadists and armed them. We paved the way for the Taliban take-over and the rise of Osama bin Laden. We created the Islamist power in the northwest frontier of Pakistan, swelled by millions of Afghan refugees. We enabled the conditions for bin Laden’s safe haven. We con-tributed to the instability of Pakistan.

On a rainy day in Kabul last week, I watched Gates climb into the cockpit of a Soviet-era helicop-ter that Americans use to teach Afghans how to fly. The defense secretary was in one of the same style Mi-17s that he once provided Stinger missiles to shoot down. The absurdity was not lost on Gates, an avid history reader who feels our foreign policy has too often been “an exercise in misread history.”

Gates promised that America would not repeat its disappearing act of 1989. Flying from Kabul to Iraq, I asked him if, like Paul Wolfowitz with the Iraqi Shiites, he was driven to war because of guilt at aban-doning people we had promised to stand by.

“I don’t feel guilt about it, but we made a strategic mistake,” he said. “And it wasn’t just the Afghans. At almost the same time, we basically cut off our relationship with the Pakistanis. And the mistrust that exists today is a reflection of that action on our part.”

I asked what he learned in the exhaustive White House review. He said Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top American commander in Afghanistan, convinced him that “it was less the size of the force footprint

than what the forces did on the ground.” The Soviets, he added, “invaded a country.” Well, so did we. But the Soviets, he said, killed a million Afghans and tried to impose “an alien culture.”

But Gates knows messy conflicts get messier. When we were in Kabul, a senior NATO commander conceded that civilians may have been killed during a joint military operation with Afghan forces.

There is a brief window of opportunity when a benign occupying power can accomplish some good before it is regarded with resentment and resistance.

I showed Gates an article in the newspaper Stars and Stripes reporting that U.S. trainers considered Afghan soldiers and police a long way from ready, and that some Afghans in a new unit in Baghlan prov-ince cower in ditches, steal U.S. fuel and weapons and are suspected of collaborating with the Taliban.

Capt. Jason Douthwaite, a logistics officer in Baghlan, told the military paper that he felt more like an investigating officer than a mentor: “It’s not, ‘Let me teach you your job.’ It’s more like, ‘How much did you steal from the American government today?’”

Given the warping effect of ego in Washington, I asked the defense secretary how he ensures that he doesn’t turn into Robert McNamara?

“I’ve never believed that I was the smartest guy in the room,” he said. “I want people around me to tell me if they think I’m headed in the wrong direction. And I read a lot.”

Gates laughs at being called an Eeyore, but he believes “too often there is a desire for certitude where it’s not possible.” Harking back to Cold Warriors who thought there could be a limited nucle-ar war, he demurred, “once things start, how you get control of it or keep control of it struck me as just inherently a problem.”

W. said invading Iraq could help break the cycle of supporting corrupt dictators. But watching the Karzais acting like a mob family going to the mat-tresses, how do we know we’re not simply creating and propping up another corrupt dictator?

“You have to be realistic about the fact that devel-opments of the kind we want to see take time,” Gates replied. “If we can re-empower the traditional local centers of authority, the tribal shuras and elders and things like that and put an overlay of human rights on that, isn’t that a step in the right direction?

“I’m leery of trying to change history in dramatic, short strokes. I think it’s very risky.”

Doubts About Certitude

The death announcement of the venerable Editor and Publisher mag-azine last week is the latest body blow to the institution of print newspa-pers. E&P was founded in the height of the Gilded Age in 1884 to assist in the information explosion that attended the Industrial Revolution as telegraph and telephone lines began sewing the planet into a dizzying network of human communications. Adopting its E&P name at the turn of the century, it refereed the fierce competition between Hearst and Pulitzer for the growth of their daily newspapers.

In that era, daily newspapers were the end product of the profoundly trans-formational role of quick and global access to information that was in its heyday when my grandmother was born (as in saying, not so long ago).

They multiplied in numbers in every major urban center, as fast as and faster than invention and commerce, itself. Five, sometimes six, dailies in the same city became the norm, flying up and down the avenues as the Empire State and Chrysler buildings of the world rose out of the ground to reshape the horizons of the entire globe.

As the Industrial Revolution opened up endless streams of new opportunities, a news-thirsty public devoured the latest bulletins that lent a hand to their entrepreneurial and creative ambitions.

But now, alas, the mighty E&P, the binding force behind the scenes of the rise of the great American institution, the newspaper, has coughed up its last ounce of phlegm and expired.

The litany of major newspapers that have gone down in the last few years, or are in the process, is already too well known to everyone pay-ing attention. But when did the decline begin? Were the seeds sewn in the post-World War II flight to suburbia, and the atomization of house-holds and individuals behind picket fences, dulling their minds seated in front of television’s babble?

Was it when Americans bought into the idea that they were no longer citizens and builders, but consumers, substituting a passion for living and creating with a passive satiation of appetites for the latest household appliance and big car? Did it start with the systematic shortening of the national attention span?

It wasn’t so much that newspapers were hurt by the rise of radio and television in the pocket book, except in an indirect way. Instead, it was what radio and television did to reinforce the passivity of the American public.

Genuine nightly news of the old Edward R. Murrow variety back then, presented by the national television networks without advertising, served to drive people to more complete accounts in their newspapers. But while nobody can argue against the benefits of some escapist entertainment, everything else on TV became modern versions of “bread and circuses.”

Newspapers were slowly sucked into the same paradigm, and at the same time were savagely gutted and looted by Wall Street speculators who discovered their short-term potential as publicly-traded profit centers.

But with the rise of the Internet has come a new paradigm, and its threat is not to newspapers per se, but to the evolved irrelevancy of newspaper content. The Internet, in the context of the opportunities and liabilities of the necessary global shift away from fossil fuel-dependent growth, has fueled a new popular thirst for information and knowledge, and away from drivel.

In this context, the inability to keep pace by dumbed-down daily newspaper behemoth relics of the industrial age is what has caused their demise.

But whereas this new revolution of the public’s interest and access to real, substantive information and knowledge will not only condemn the existing newspaper model, it will spur a renewed interest in good, retooled newspapers as the best, most flexible and adaptable carriers of fresh, relevant content.

Unlike the Internet, newspapers socialize information and bind together communities of interest. They don’t particularize, they social-ize, news. If the public has indeed rekindled its interest in news that matters because of the Internet, there will be an increasing, not a diminished, role for good newspapers, and maybe even a renaissance as they begin to get the blend between community-building discourse and relevant information right.

Nicholas Benton may be e-mailed at [email protected].

‘Editor & Publisher’Bites the Dust

NicholasF. BentonFalls church news-press

MaureenDowdnew YOrK TIMes news serVIce

A February 2008 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 16 percent of America’s 225 million adults are unaffiliated with any religion. According to the report, “When ‘childhood religion’ is compared against ‘current religion,’ the unaffiliated show a net increase of 8.8 percentage points, compared to a 7.5 point loss among Catholics, for example, or a 2.6 percent loss among Protestants.”

It is my belief that outrageously hypocritical behavior by conservative religious authorities is directly responsible for the surge in non-believers or those who shun organized religion. The ubiquitous scolds who dominate cable TV and Republican politics are too often conservatives of convenience, who believe they are exempt from practicing the strident rules that they preach.

For example, South Carolina’s First Lady, Jenny Sanford, filed for divorce last week after her husband, Gov. Mark Sanford (R), admitted an affair with a woman from Argentina. Until the scan-dal broke, Mark and Jenny posed as a beacon of Christian family values.

I can understand Jenny’s disgust with her husband, who left his four sons to cheat with his mistress on Father’s Day. But one can’t masquer-ade as a Bible-thumper when it comes to gay rights and other issues, and then say that the Bible is suddenly irrelevant when it comes to divorce.

Both Jenny and Mark profited from their charade, yet jilted Jenny wants to abandon biblical absolutism and utilize liberal divorce laws because her feel-ings are hurt. Sorry Jenny, but a mistress does not negate your marriage vows. Anyone can embrace the “sanctity of marriage” in good times. A true person of fundamentalist faith stays with the vows even when the relationship sours.

To highlight such hypocrisy, John Marcoa, a Sacramento Web-designer, has drafted a 2010 parody ballot measure that would ban divorce in California. Tellingly, the right wing organizations that fought to save marriage from gay couples have not lined up to support it.

From mega-churches to suburban strip mall ministries, fundamentalist youth rail against the secular culture, even as they ape it. They sport gaudy tattoos of Jesus, wear earrings in their noses and play imitation rock. On their fingers are silly chastity rings, when they really need chastity belts.

A recent New York Times magazine article points out that “More govern-ment money has been spent on the cause of sexual abstinence in Texas than any other state, but it still has the third-highest teen birth rate in the country and the highest percentage of teen mothers giving birth more than once.”

Former beauty queen Carrie Prejean is the perfect spokesperson for liberal bashing libertines. She moralized over same-sex marriage, but expected forgiveness and understanding when, thanks to tabloid pic-tures, America got to know her in the biblical sense.

Perhaps the most amusing part of studying conservatives is their absurd claim that America is a Christian nation, which is impossible, because no two people can define what it means to be Christian. A new Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life report entitled, “Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths,” concludes that people are now choos-ing to “blend Christianity with Eastern or New Age beliefs.”

Last month, Watergate felon Chuck Colson joined a batch of wing nuts to write “The Manhattan Declaration”. This supposedly conservative manifesto began by shamelessly co-opting historical liberal successes. The Declaration reads: “It was Christians who combated the evil of slavery…Christian women stood at the vanguard of the suffrage movement…The great civil rights crusades of the 1950s and 60s were led by Christians…

It is true that Christians played a role in these movements. However, it was non-believers teaming up with liberal Christians to overcome the oppo-sition of conservative Christians. The anti-gay signers of The Manhattan Declaration are the ideological heirs to those on the wrong side of history.

Social conservatives are a loud bunch, but their power is slipping. I think back to Middle school, when I attended a Houston Rockets basketball game with my father. During a time out the “Voice of God” announced that a gay rights measure had been crushed. The enthusiastic crowd burst out in to loud cheers, which was quite devastating to a 13-year old coming to terms with his sexual orientation.

On Monday, Houston voters elected openly gay Annise Parker as mayor. Unlike my youth, I watched a Houston crowd cheer for progress instead of prejudice. No doubt there were countless social conservatives across the city slamming beers, ogling women who weren’t their wives and betting on sports – while bemoaning the city’s fallen values.

This is the lifestyle of today’s conservatives of convenience. They are all creed and no deed.

Increasingly, male bass pulled from the Potomac River are being found with female reproductive organs. Scientists say that this strange anomaly happening right in our own backyard and around the country is associated with high levels of what are known as “endo-crine disrupting chemicals” or EDCs. These man-made chemicals are found in the products we use everyday, from laundry detergent and plastic bottles, and are showing up in our environment at disturbing levels.

Earlier this month, I teamed up with Senator John Kerry to introduce legislation that examines possible links between hormone disrupting chemicals that may be causing the intersex fish in the Potomac and are suspected to lead to human disorders such as autism, hyperactivity, and obesity, among others. Known as the Endocrine Disruption Prevention Act of 2009 (HR 4190) this legislation will fast track collection of the kind of data and research necessary to deter-mine the affect these chemicals may be having on human health.

Recent human epidemiologi-cal and laboratory animal studies demonstrate a strong link between hormone-related disorders and prenatal exposure to EDCs. These disorders, which include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity dis-order, asthma, juvenile and adult diabetes, juvenile cancer, auto-immune diseases, obesity, osteo-porosis, Parkinson’s disease, and

Alzheimer’s dementia, began to increase noticeably in the early 1970s, just as the first generation was exposed in the womb to post-World War II synthetic chemicals reached maturity.

There is significant evidence that the disturbing increase in the number of disorders of the human endocrine system is seriously undermining the nation’s health. Today, 1 in 3 children and 1 in 2 minority children will develop diabetes; 1 in 6 children is born with neurological damage; 1 in 100 children has an autism spectrum disorder - among boys the occur-rence is 1 in 58; and in 2007, an age-independent decline in testos-terone levels over the past 20 years was discovered in American men.

In 1996, Congress recognized the need to study endocrine dis-ruptors when it directed the Environmental Protection Agency to develop an endocrine disrup-tion screening program as part of the Food Quality Protection Act. Unfortunately, for various reasons-- many political--the program has been plagued by delays.

The inadequacy of the current federal effort was highlighted this October, when the EPA unveiled the first phase of tests to determine the presence of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Despite more than 13 year’s work, the tests address just a handful of pesticides and are of questionable value given recent scientific advances. Indeed, scien-tists’ knowledge and understanding

of EDCs and how to best detect them has increased profoundly in the last decade. In order to take effective action, a modernized 21st century testing paradigm is needed, not an outdated, limited system of chemical tests.

Under the Endocrine Disruption Prevention Act, science, not poli-tics and bureaucracy, will set the stage for regulatory action. The bill instructs the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to undertake a compre-hensive research and testing pro-gram to identify chemicals with endocrine disruption potential based on the best science available. An independent task force of lead-ing scientists will be commissioned to oversee the research program. The task force will use NIEHS findings to generate a list of chemi-cals of concern and evaluate their potential threat to human health. If a chemical warrants even a mini-mal level of concern, the task force can direct the appropriate govern-ment agency to address the issue in a report to Congress that must be completed in six months.

Major environmental and health groups agree that the approach out-lined in the Endocrine Disruption Prevention Act can help solve the puzzle of endocrine disruptors and hormone-based disorders in people. The fish in the Potomac appear to be serving as the proverbial “canary in the coal mine.” We can act now on this evidence before this damage spreads up the food chain, to us.

Convenient Conservatives

Anything But StrAightBy Wayne Besen

December 17 - 23, 2009

Congressman Moran’s News CommentaryVirginia’s 8th Congressional District Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives

By James P. Moran

December 17 - 23, 2009

Every so often, one learns of a really unique and worthy effort that helps address problems that are unimaginable in Fairfax County. Orphanages full of HIV-positive children whose parents succumbed to AIDS, some who have severe hearing problems because of perforated eardrums or viral infections. Incredible poverty, cultural challenges, and thousands of miles to travel – add to the difficulty in seeking solutions.

Fairfax County residents Tomi and Jeff Browne are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children in Kenya, through the HEARt of the Village Foundation, which Tomi founded, and Nyumbani, which has three programs: the Nyumbani Children’s Home in Nairobi, the Lea Toto medical outreach program in the slums of Nairobi, and the Nyumbani Village in Kitui, Kenya. Jeff and Tomi are former Mason District residents, now living in McLean. Tomi is an audiologist who maintained a practice here for many years. One of her former patients, Reverend Angelo D’Agostino, a Jesuit priest, found-ed the Nyumbani Children’s Home, Kenya’s first orphanage for HIV-positive children. He persuaded Tomi and her family to visit him in Kenya a few years before he died.

What Jeff and Tomi found astounded them. Nyumbani Children’s Home currently houses 107 children, from infant to age 22. Originally set up as a hospice, the facility quickly became a home as life expectancy increased once regular health care and anti-retroviral medications became available through USAID. The community outreach effort, Lea Toto, currently cares for nearly 4,000 HIV-positive chil-dren and their families, a number that will jump to 6,000 next year. Jeff noted that, in comparison, the entire United States has 3,500 children who are HIV-positive. The Nyumbani Village concept pairs children whose parents died of AIDS with grandparents whose children died of AIDS to live in a family atmosphere and maintain cultural traditions. In a country where an entire generation has been killed by AIDS, Nyumbani is rebuilding the structure of society, helping its residents become self-sufficient through education.

Remote learning is a hallmark of the effort. With the time difference, teachers here in this area could teach classes via computer in the evening, and their students would be learning in the morning in Kenya. Those opportunities can be arranged…

Tomi especially was intrigued by young Mungai, who lost his hearing at age nine because of infection. Mungai was a candidate for a cochlear implant, also called a “bionic ear,” which provides a means for the profoundly deaf to hear. Tomi’s expertise as an audiologist prompted her to arrange for Mungai to come to the U.S. for the implant, and for follow-up services. A cochlear implant must be adjusted periodically to ensure it is operating properly. From her experience with Mungai and the Nyumbani Children’s Home, Tomi realized just how much she wanted to continue this work. She started a founda-tion to provide hearing care to Kenyan children. She takes audiology students from James Madison University on trips to Kenya, and said they see more middle ear pathology in their two-week visits than they would see in a lifetime here at home.

I asked Jeff and Tomi what they need most. Funding and volunteers are high on their list. Significant corpo-rate support is sought, and volunteers with certain spe-cialties such as teachers and construction workers, but any help is appreciated. A machine to help test drug resistance levels exists, but it is expensive. It saves time, though, since getting immediate results on site is preferable to taking weeks to get test results back. A video otoscope would create a “Fantastic Voyage” opportunity for telemedicine, enabling skilled medical personnel to consult from their home practices. KLM and British Airways fly to Nairobi; donated airline tickets would help defray costs of the periodic trips to treat the children.

We all know the holidays bring a lot of appeals for help. If you, or your business, are looking for a new challenge, or a new outlet for philanthropy, large or small, log on to www.heartofthevillage.org, or www.nyumbani.org. Both are 501(c) (3) certified, and very deserving of help, now or any time of the year.

As I suggested in an ear-lier column, the new Governor and the General Assembly will face some of the most dif-ficult decisions of my years in the General Assembly. With Federal “stimulus” funds phas-ing out during the next two years unless Congress acts to expand it, all state legisla-tures with be facing enormous deficits in all program areas. Public education, higher edu-cation, transportation, human services and public safety will face large cuts.

I do not envy the job Governor-elect McDonnell and his cabinet will have.

It is gratifying, however, to learn that the Governor-elect has assembled several bi-par-tisan teams of legislators, busi-ness leaders, financial and pro-grammatic experts to advise him on how to deal with rev-enue deficits in all main pro-grams areas.

He has reached out to Democrats and independents, as well as leaders in his own party to review issues growing out Governor Kaines second bien-nial budget submission which will be presented to House and Senate committee on Friday, Dec. 18 in Richmond. (Senate Finance handles both revenues and expenditures, but the func-tions are split in the House.) Delegates Brink, Ebbin, Englin, Hugo,Watts, Sickles, Plum and I have been asked to participate in the bi-partisan panels advising on various subject areas.

Like his predecessors, Governor Kaine will present a balanced budget on Friday to the three committees. Governor McDonnell will therefore have to react quickly to a budget

he has not prepared and, as in past transitions, he will have to decide what changes he wishes to propose.

On January 13, the House and Senate will begin the bien-nial 60-day session filled with very difficult budget and reve-nue decisions. Since Public and Higher Education, Medicaid and Public Safety account for more than 70% of the state expenditures, very few pro-gram areas, if any, will escape without program reductions.

Pubic hearings will be held throughout the Commonwealth beginning in early January. In Northern Virginia the hearing will be held on January 8 at the Ernst Center at the Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus.

In addition. House and Senate members will have hearings and town meetings in their districts, along with the hearing at the Fairfax County Government Center beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9. Most of the Senators and Delegates are likely to attend the Jan. 9 event.

In addition, I will partici-pate in two local town meet-ings, both on January 23, the Saturday after the inaugural ceremony.

One hearing will be held in Fairfax County at Longfellow Middle School on Westmoreland St. in McLean, from 10 a.m. to noon, and one will be held at the Falls Church Community Center beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Delegate Scott represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He may be emailed at [email protected].

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls ChurchBy Supervisor Penny Gross

Delegate Jim Scott’s

Richmond Report

Drunkenness, 800 W Broad St., December 8, 12:49 a.m., police arrested a male, 38, of NO FIXED ADDRESS for DIP.

Fraud, Identity Theft, 300 blk. Pennsylvania Ave., between November 11 and December 9,

unknown person(s) used victim’s per-sonal information to obtain a line of credit. Incident to the case, a $912.00 transaction was completed in the victim’s name.

Destruction of Property, 100 blk. S Virginia Ave., between December 8

and December 9, unknown person(s) scratched the left side of a vehicle.

Larceny from Vehicle, 300 blk. James St., between December 3, 5:00 p.m. and December 6, 2:00 p.m., unknown person(s) entered an unse-cured vehicle and stole a Kenwood CD player and speakers.

Drug/Narcotic Violation, 400 blk. S Maple Ave., December 12, 1:11 a.m., police arrested a male juvenile for Possession of Marijuana, Drunk in Public and Vehicle Tampering.

Drunkenness, 6600 blk. Wilson Blvd., December 12, 11:35 p.m., police arrested a male, 33, of Falls Church, VA for DIP.

Counterfeiting, Rite Aid, 1003 W Broad St., December 12, 8:51 p.m., unknown person(s) entered the estab-lishment and passed a counterfeit $20.00 bill.

Drunkenness, 6700 blk. Wilson Blvd., December 13, 11:28 p.m., police arrested a male, 21, of Silver Spring, MD for DIP.

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News

The Falls Church City Council has appointed longtime Falls Church resident and busi-nessman Phil Duncan to the City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA). The EDA is a seven-member citizen panel authorized by Virginia statute to perform a variety of func-tions promoting economic development, including purchasing, leasing and selling property, providing tax-exempt financing, and advising Council on development issues and propos-als. Duncan, a 10-year member of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, is Founder and President of Civicatalyst Communications, which provides editorial, event-planning, and public relations services to educational and civic organizations. A major focus of its work is promoting the programs and resources of the Center on Congress at Indiana University, directed by former U.S. Rep. Lee H. Hamilton. Duncan has served with a variety of City focused organizations including the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Transportation, the City Center Task Force, the Business in Education Partnership, the Falls Church Education Foundation, the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League, and the George Mason High School Athletic Boosters Association. In 2001 he received the “Pillar of the Community” Award from the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the EDA, visit the City’s Web site at www.fallschurchva.gov.

The Young Group was recognized last night by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Falls Church City Council for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Gold Certification for the “Flower Building” located at 800 W. Broad St. The build-ing, which was designed by Butz-Wilbern the architectural firm now housed in the same building, is one of seven Gold LEED Certified Buildings in the Commonwealth of Virginia. LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification that provides verification that a building or community was designed and built with a focus on energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and steward-ship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. For more information about the building and/or available commercial space, contact The Young Group at 703-356-8800.

Lifematters has opened a new location at 609 Park Avenue in Falls Church. Lifematters provides a variety of personal care options including custodial care, personal hygiene, Alzheimer’s related needs, dressing and daily care activities, light housekeeping, errand running, mail preparation, companionship, medical reminders and one on one care during hospital stays. For more information, contact President Craig Goodman at 703-635-3729 or visit www.lifemattersusa.com.

Events

Dogwood Tavern’s U.S. Marine Corp Toys for Tots campaign will end the evening of Friday, December 18. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off in the vestibule at the front of the restaurant until 9 p.m. Members of the Marine Corps will be at the restaurant from 5 – 9 p.m. to meet families and children and pick up the boxes of collected toys. Dogwood Tavern is located at 132 W Broad St. Call 703-237-8333 for details.

The Falls Church News-Press is hosting its annual holiday party on Monday, December 21 at ArtSpace Falls Church, the new flexible art space in the City of Falls Church. The event will include refreshments by Ledo Pizza and live entertainment by George Mason High School students. ArtSpace Falls Church is located in the Pearson Square Building at 410 S. Maple Avenue. For more information, contact the Falls Church News-Press at 703-532-3267.

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance, Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and the Falls Church City Economic Development Office are sponsoring “Entrepreneur Express: Moving Your Business Forward” from 8 a.m. – noon on Thursday, Jan. 14. The workshop is designed to provide information on available business resources and deliver practical, hands-on training covering key elements of business prac-tice. This is the third year this workshop has been offered in Falls Church. Entrepreneur Express will take place at the Falls Church Community Center at 223 Little Falls St. The event is free, but seating is limited. Go to www.vastartup.org to register.

The Business News & Notes section is compiled by Sally Cole, Executive Director of Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be e-mailed at [email protected].

December 17 - 23, 2009

December 17 - 23, 2009

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Can you envision 10- and 12-story buildings on Falls Church’s east end? A team of Virginia Tech students from the Northern Vir-ginia campus in Alexandria can, and have.

In a visually stunning presenta-tion last Thursday before members of the public and the City of Falls Church’s Economic Development Authority (EDA), graduate stu-dents in the Virginia Tech Urban Design Studio Class unveiled their long-term, urban vision for the city’s “East End.”

The East End is comprised of the city’s eastern-most points, cen-tered around the Eden Center and the property formerly occupied by retail giant Syms.

Early last year, Falls Church’s Economic Development Office (EDO) Director Richard Goff coordinated with Virginia Tech Professor Shelley Mastran and consultant Jim Snyder to help the students with their project.

This project is not a first for the city. In 2004, a similar class of graduate students from Virginia Tech presented a redevelopment vision for the area surrounding the East Falls Church Metrorail sta-tion. Earlier, they linked the East Falls Church station to Route 7.

The current class of 27 students brought the focus from the East Falls Church station less than a mile away, up Sycamore Road to the city’s East End, adjacent to Fairfax County’s Seven Corners.

In its presentation, the group studied how the city could utilize the commercial and residential zones in the East End to capital-ize on the nearby Metro and pull in commuters traveling between

Tysons Corner and Arlington on Route 7.

Eight of the students at the EDA board meeting Thursday night presented a series of Powerpoint slides and diagrams detailing their ideas of the economic potential and possible landscapes of Falls Church’s East End by 2050.

“I can’t tell you how much work went into today’s presen-tation,” Mastran told the board, adding, “For a 65-acre site look-ing ahead 40 years, it might have been a whole lot easier to come to a consensus with a class of 10 stu-dents, but each of the 27 students brought his or her ideas to the overall vision.”

The students’ presentation, led by student designer Kate Young-bluth, pieced together the various neighborhoods in Falls Church’s East End and parts of adjoining Fairfax County to create “a con-tinuation of the sort of develop-ment you see in the Ballston-Court House corridor,” Youngbluth said. “The particular concern here was to stimulate the economy, and on the area’s heavy reliance on com-mercial and retail.”

The vision boosts the Floor-to-Area Ratio (FAR) of the area from around 0.39 to a range between 1.5 and 3.0, which would result in res-idential high-rises and multi-story office spaces rising upwards of 10 stories with wide avenues and street side boutiques.

The presenters also said that for their vision to succeed, Falls Church would need to implement “multi-modal forms of transpor-tation between East Falls Church and the East End,” said gradu-ate planner Jill Chen. She added that likely forms of transportation could include “light rail, a shuttle system between urban areas and

an extension of the city’s bus sys-tem like GEORGE.”

Members of the EDA were im-pressed with the student presenta-tion, with EDA Chair David Tarter stating the board “was very thank-ful for an excellent vision of what Falls Church could be in 40 years with smart planning.”

Tarter added that he was im-pressed with the students’ creation of a sky-walk, hi-rise entrance to Falls Church that would pull driv-ers’ attention to “The Little City.”

“I like the idea of attract-ing people’s attention to the city rather than letting them pass right through without batting an eye,” he said.

Some members of the audience and on the board raised concerns about the increase in traffic popu-lation around the new develop-ment, and questioned the process of getting developers to come to

Falls Church.“It’s a matter of attracting the

right kind of developers,” Snyder said. “Right now, the sort of build-ings you have there are really un-derperforming.”

According to the presentation, if the Virginia Tech plan were imple-mented, the East End, which cur-rently generates about $2.6 million in revenue annually, could produce upward of $15.1 million as an ur-ban, transit-connected corridor.

Regarding concerns over GEORGE and the success of a transit system, Snyder said that unlike the current, car-oriented construction, “you need to have the right density for a mass transit system to work,” adding, “Rather than go along with what you have right now, you have to attract the right kind of commuter through the door.”

Chen noted that among young

urban professionals “only about a third drive cars or live in com-munities where they need to drive one.”

Snyder said that “Falls Church educates young professionals very well, but they don’t come back to work. You need to capture that brain talent, instead of losing those folks to Arlington and Washington.”

In connecting the city to the Metro, Youngbluth said the city “could take advantage of the trans-portation in the area.”

“You’re geographically in the right place,” she said. “You just need the right density to pull in residents who want to enjoy cul-tural spots and nightlife here in Falls Church.”

Falls Church Council members Lawrence Webb and Nader Ba-roukh attended the presentation, and spoke favorably of it at Mon-day’s City Council meeting.

Virginia Tech Grads Envision F.C. ‘East End’ in 2050by Dean EdwardsFalls Church News-Press

TECH GRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVED praise and questions following their presentation of Falls Church’s “East End” to the Economic Development Authority Thursday. (Photo: News-Press)

December 17 - 23, 2009

As evident by its performance this past weekend in Fairfax, the Marshall High School wrestling team gave notice that it plans to be a force to be reckoned with in the local scene this season.

At the NOVA Classic on Fri-day and Saturday, the Statesmen finished seventh out of 32 teams with 114.5 points.

“It wasn’t really out of the blue, I would say,” said Marshall head coach Jason Planakis. “Every single year, we’ve been steadily improving, for this tournament, our points total and our placing has been going up. This year we did well with five placers and had a good turnout.”

The Statesmen were led by se-nior Andrew Embree, who took first in the 215-pound weight class. En route to victory, Embree pinned three of his opponents. According to Planakis, Embree is the first in-dividual NOVA Classic champion from Marshall since 1998.

Other highlights at the NOVA Classic for Marshall include: Mark Bergenholtz, third place (189 pounds); sophomore Matt Craw-ford, fifth place (285 pounds); freshman Connor Driscoll, sev-enth place (103 pounds) and ju-nior Daniel Picado, eighth place (145 pounds).

Planakis believes the squad could have placed even better at the NOVA Classic had things gone just right.

“In fact, I think we could have performed better if we would have had a few wrestlers get breaks that they didn’t,” he said. “I think we could have gotten in the top five if we had done a little better.“

Planakis wasn’t surprised by the teams solid performance last weekend. They had done well in scrimmages and a couple of dual meets leading up to the big early-season event.

“The guys who placed, espe-cially the upperweights, stepped up big and performed well,” said Planakis.

The upper weights look be the strength of the Statesmen, lead by Embree, Bergenholtz, Picado and Crawford.

While it’s the heavy weights leading the way, Embree sees some good depth on the squad.

“We have a good core group of little guys, and then our big guys are solid too,” Embree said. “If we can all work together, we’ll make each other better. I expect that to pay off during the season.”

Bergenholtz, a senior, agrees that there is some talent on this year’s team

“We lost some seniors, but a lot of people we had coming back looked promising.

Coming into the season – and now even more so after the solid showing at the NOVA Classic – the Marshall wrestling team has a clear goal in mind.

“Our goal since the beginning

of the season, looking at what we had returning and some of the guys we had come in, our goal has been to win the district title, and that will be a tough task,” said Plana-kis. “That’s our goal – district title,

It won’t be an easy one, but I think that we’ve got a shot at it.”

The Statesmen next participate in the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware Dec. 19-20.

Marshall Wrestling Remains Force to Be Reckoned With

by Robert FultonFalls Church News-Press

MARSHALL WRESTLING COACH JASON PLANAKIS is flanked by two of his senior wrestlers, Mark Bergenholtz (left) and Andrew Embree (right). (Photo: RobeRt Fulton/news-PRess)

Statesmen Finish 7th Out of 32, Team’s Best Performance in 12 Years Competing at NOVA Classic

FALLS CHURCH H.S.

Jaguars Take Narrow WinOver Mustangs Basketball

The Falls Church High School boys basketball team defeated George Mason High on the road 59-52 earlier this week to improve to 3-2.

Mike Medlef scored 13 points and teammate Nizar Alamin added 12 points en route to vic-tory.

Last week, the Jaguars squad lost to Thomas Jefferson 48-45, despite 19 points from Alamin.

The Falls Church boys return

to action this Friday when the team hosts Stuart at 7:45 p.m.

Lady Jaguars Fall to Thomas Jefferson, Face Stuart Friday

After suffering a 39-26 loss to Thomas Jefferson High last Friday, the Lady Jaguars bas-ketball team welcomes Stuart this Friday at 6 p.m. as part of a double-header.

Falls Church Wrestlers HeadTo Stuart After Loss to Williams

The Jaguar wrestling squad came up short against T.C.

Williams last week, but plans to get back on track this weekend at the Stuart Invitational.

Jaguar Swim & Dive Performs Strong Vs. Edison High

The boys and girls swim and dive teams each won against Edison High last week.

Ryan Davenport and Will Rogers each had strong perfor-mances in the 500, and Maggie Cullather stood out in the dive competition.

The team next competes against Wakefield High this Friday, Dec. 18.

GEORGE C. MARSHALL H.S.

Statesmen Hoops Break Even,Take on Fairfax Friday

The Marshall High boys bas-ketball team now stands at 2-2 after a loss to Centreville 79-62 on Dec. 15 despite 12 points from Brandon Norton and 10 points from Stanley Watts.

Last Friday, the squad defeated Stuart 75-61 behind 30 points from Daniel McClain, 22 from Watts and 18 from Will Simonton.

The team is next on the court at home on Friday against Fairfax at 7:30 p.m.

Lady Statesmen Stage StrongComeback With Two Wins

The Lady Statesmen bas-ketball team improved to 4-2 with a 54-36 win at home against Centreville.

Last week, the team hammered Stuart 68-23 behind 19 points from

Theresa Hackett. The team is at Fairfax on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Marshall Wrestlers Finish7th at NOVA Classic

At the NOVA Classic, the wrestling team finished seventh out of 32 teams, led by 215-pound champion Andrew Embree.

The team looks to continue its momentum this weekend at the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware.

Marshall Wrestlers Finish7th at NOVA Classic

The Marshall High boys and girls swim and dive teams lost to Thomas Jefferson High last Friday.

The girls team lost 222-93, and the boys fell 206-102.

However, the boys 200 medley relay broke a five-year-old school

Area High School Sports RoundupJaguars Break Records in the Pool;Marshall Girls Basketball Win 2


December 17 - 23, 2009

“Once in a Blue Moon.” “As rare as hen’s teeth.” “When pigs fly.”

These phrases used to describe how often the George Mason High School wrestling team would win a dual meet match-up.

This year, however, things are different, and going into the third week of the season, the Mustang’s dual meet record of 4-3 represents more dual meet victories than in the past three years combined.

“There are several reasons”, said Mason’s head coach, Bryan Harris, when asked about his team’s recent successes. “The main one is we are not forfeiting four or five weight classes this year.

“When we had to forfeit those weight classes, it put us into a big point deficit right from the start and that is pretty hard to overcome when you are trying to win a dual meet,” Harris explained.

Things have improved for Ma-son since junior heavyweights Mikey Larcamp and Tyrone Thompson decided to return to the team after taking a couple of years off, and freshman John Glover moved into the 103 slot.

With senior Sam Dittmar an-choring the 215 class, the arrange-ment puts the Mustangs wrestlers at four weight classes that have been unfilled for a long time.

“We’re pretty excited, obvious-ly,” continued Harris. “We have a pretty good group of returning wrestlers and with these and some other additions we feel confident we can give anyone a battle.”

The returning wrestlers for the Mustangs include state qualifier senior Manuel Veiga-Diaz (189), senior Teddy Rueckert (160), se-nior Natan Lailari (145), sopho-more Danny Seidita (112), sopho-more Alborz Alaeddini (135) and junior Jackson Thomas (125).

The rest of the lineup consists of sophomore Ben Tourkin (130), sophomore Ze’ev Lailari (140),

senior Vance Romero (152) and senior Alex Casteuble (171) – all new to the Varsity ranks.

The Mason wrestlers began the season with victories over Falls Church (42-24) and Potomac (34-28) on Dec. 2, but ran into a little difficulty, losing to Heritage of Loudoun County (50-6) in a match on Dec. 5.

This past weekend, they split four matches, beating Stonewall Jackson (Quicksburg – a 6-36 thriller decided on tie-breaker points) and Monticello (42-28), before losing to Warren County (50-12) and Broadway (42-18).

In addition to the team’s suc-cesses, there are several wrestlers who have amassed outstanding re-cords so far.

Both Veiga-Diaz and Seidita are 6-1, and Glover is 5-2. Alaed-dini is 4-3, and first-year wrestlers Lailari and Tourkin are a respect-able 3-3.

Early season results can some-times be misleading, but Coach Harris thinks that his squad has the makings of being one of the best in quite a few years.

“The 2004 team which placed third in the state is obviously the best we have ever had here at Ma-son but this team has the potential to come close to that level of suc-cess if we get a few breaks,” said Harris.

He added, “A few things have to fall our way and the entire team has to maintain a very high level of intensity throughout the entire year.

“That’s a hard thing to do if you are a first-year wrestler, so while we have the potential to do well it would be unfair to our new guys to burden them with unrealistic ex-pectations. Let’s just say we will go out each time with an intensity and potential we haven’t been able to generate in some time.”

George Mason’s next matches are this Saturday, Dec. 19 when the Mustangs travel to local rival, McLean High. Wrestling starts at 10 a.m.

by John PitasSpecial to the News-Press

Mason Wrestlers Aim for Big Year

RETURNING CHAMPION MANUEL VEIGA-DIAZ (left), a Mustangs senior, is part of the school’s breakout performance so far this year, according to Head Coach Bryan Harris. (Photo: John Pitas)

record.The teams take on Langley

High this Friday.

GeorGe Mason H.s.

Mustangs Basketball LosesNarrowly to F.C. 59-52

The Mason High boys bas-ketball team fell to Falls Church 59-52 last week.

Senior Jordan Cheney scored 12 points in the losing effort, and grabbed eight rebounds. Senior Ben Stewart added eight points to the board.

The team is next at Freedom High at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Undefeated Lady MustangsHost Potomac Falls Monday

The Lady Mustangs basket-ball team returns to action on Monday, Dec. 21 when they host Potomac Falls at 7 p.m.

Despite Double Losses, MasonBoys Swim Team Sets Records

Both the boys and girls swim teams fell to Briar Woods on Saturday.

The boys lost 158-121, and the girls 154-128.

Team records were set by Sam Butler in the 100 free and Will Doty in the both the 100 butterfly and the 200 free.

The team next faces Dominion High on Friday.

J.e.B. sTUarT H.s.

Narrow Loss to G.C. MarshallPuts Stuart at 1-2 for Season

The boys basketball team fell to 1-2 after a 75-61 loss to Marshall last week, despite 35 points from Antonio Harris.

The team is at Falls Church on Friday.

Lady Raiders Fall to Marshall,Face Falls Church Friday

The girls basketball team fell to Marshall 68-23, and is at Falls Church on Friday.

Stuart Swim & Dive Face DoubleLosses to Hayfield High

The Stuart boys and girls swim and dive team came up short against Hayfield High. The boys lost 169-145, the girls 161-150. The team gets back in the pool on Friday at Yorktown.

Stuart High Hosts HolidayClassic This Saturday

The Stuart wrestling team returns to the mat on Saturday,

Dec. 19 when they host the Raider Holiday Classic.

The competitions pit the Stuart varsity team against many of the Virginia’s best schools. The event begins at 9 a.m. and go for much of the day.

MCLean H.s.

At 2-2, McLean Looks to GameVs. Langley to Add Wins

The McLean High School boys basketball team fell to Yorktown High 68-46 last week despite 14 points from Jake Pierce.

The team returns to the court on Friday, Dec. 18 at Langley High.

McLean Girls Grab VictoryFrom Yorktown, 61-55

The McLean girls basketball team improved to 3-1 last week after a 61-55 win over Yorktown behind 15 points from Andie Romness. The team is at Langley High on Dec. 18.

Lady Highlanders Best South Lakes, Boys’ Clark Wins Dive

The Highlanders girls swim team defeated South Lakes 184-124. The boys fell 160-145, but Ian Clark won the diving event with a score of 241.55 The squad takes the pool again this Friday against Madison.


Roundup

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December 17 - 23, 2009

Calling AllParents & Coaches:send us your stuff!

We need scores & game summaries of local high school sport games e-mailed to us on a weekly basis. Photos are also welcome.

We’ve been reaching out to coaches. Now, let’s work together to give these student athletes the coverage they deserve!

e-mail: [email protected]

Meet theFantasy Press

The following is a transcript obtained from a press conference given by Mike Hume, the owner of the woebegone Bookoo Barbarians, members of the 14-team Falls Church News-Press Fantasy Football League. This transcript is rated ‘R’ due to unprovoked attacks by the fantasy press and the sheer horror of the Barbarians’ season.

Mike Hume, Owner, Bookoo Barbarians: Good morning and thank you all for coming. As some of you know, my fantasy football team is concluding its sea-son with the dubious honor by battling for the Toilet Bowl, the fantasy matchup assigned to the two worst teams in the Falls Church News-Press Fantasy Football League. I’m embarrassed for our players. I’m embarrassed for our fans. I’m embarrassed for the pets of our fans who may have inadvertently caught a glimpse of a Barbarians’ box score and thought, deep inside its pet brain, “Dear pet gods, what is this horror before mine eyes?” before cowering beneath its own-er’s couch.

I’d like to accept responsibility for this season and try to explain where I went wrong so other own-ers might avoid my mistakes. Questions? Yes, Chris Berman.

Berman: Yeah, I’ve got a ques-tion. What am I, and the entire cast of “NFL Countdown,” doing here?

Tom Jackson: Good question, Boom.

Hume: As this is a fantasy football press conference, we’ve credentialed a panel of intriguing names and journalists to make this as colorful as possible. Yes, in the back, near the phone booth.

Keanu Reeves: Is this the Matrix?

Hume: No, this is not the Matrix. It’s fantasy, which is why you and the other guy from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” are here rep-resenting the USA Today.

Reeves: Most righteous [wild air guitar movements].

Matt Forte: Is this season all my fault?

Hume: No, Matt, it’s mine. By selecting you and passing on Michael Turner I gave into the hype from preseason fantasy publications instead of going with my gut. That was mistake number one.

Second, even after I packaged

you in a deal for Adrian Peterson, I ignored the value found in select-ing players based on defensive matchups. Sure, Forte played the Lions twice this year, but the NFC North was brutal on RBs this year. The AFC South was where the real action was.

There’s no time like the pres-ent to change though. To shake things up for the Toilet Bowl, I’ve decided to institute a play-calling system similar to that of

the Washington Redskins, whereby a gentleman from a local church Yahtzee club will signal the plays directly to Barbarians’ QB

Matt Schaub while our former coordinator is cut out of the loop and placed onto a receding ice drift alongside Jim Zorn.

Gandhi: Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?

Hume: No, Gandhi, it’s not too harsh. The Barbarians show now mercy for failure. In that way, we are much like the Cobra Kai.

Sen. George Mitchell: We’re hearing reports that your sponsor’s product, Bookoo, is being investi-gated as a performance-enhancing substance. Care to comment?

Hume: The side of every Bookoo can contains a warning about con-suming more than two servings in a sitting. The can is three servings big. That’s true, and that could explain the performance spikes by certain players like Brandon Marshall and Roy Williams. I would have killed for some consistency this season, but I never knew what I was going to get from a player. I rolled the dice looking for big days instead of solid output. I think the latter is a better option for fantasy success. Yes, other dude from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” do you have a question?

Other dude from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”: What are your plans for the team from here out?

Hume: In the immediate future, we’re planning on combining with Matt Forte’s current owners for a voodoo doll giveaway prior to the Toilet Bowl. Aside from that, there’s not much you can do except learn our lessons and try again next year.

Mike Hume may be e-mailed at [email protected].

Picking Splinters By

Mike Hume

McLean businessman and phi-lanthropist Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals pro-fessional hockey team, told the annual meeting luncheon of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce last Saturday that the publication of his new book, “The Business of Happiness,” is imminent.

Leonsis said that following a near-death experience that he called a “reckoning” in a 1983 plane crash, he spent 25 years searching for “what makes people happy.”

A self-described “student of happiness,” Leonsis said there are five basic factors to happiness, which are spelled out in his upcom-ing book. Happy people, he noted, live longer, are more successful and have “better sex lives.”

He said that success does not lead to happiness, but it’s the oth-er way around.

The five components of hap-piness, he told the 150 attendees at the luncheon, are: 1. active par-ticipation in multiple communi-ties of interest, 2. high levels of personal expression (there are 75 million active blogs on the Inter-net, he noted), 3. personal empa-thy, the component that “keeps society going,” 4. moving out of the “I” into the “collective we,” and 5. “finding the higher calling in everything you do.”

Citing an example, Leon-sis said his goal as owner of the Washington Capitals, who are enjoying enormous success

so far this season, is not to win championships, but to maximize the experience of social bonding and community building of the team’s fan base, and that win-ning championships helps to op-

timize that.Both of Leonsis’ primary busi-

ness involvements are in Northern Virginia: AOL and the Capitals, who are headquartered in Arling-ton’s Ballston corridor.

by Nicholas F. BentonFalls Church News-Press

Leonsis Announces New Book At Arlington Chamber Meeting

WASHINGTON CAPITALS OWNER Ted Leonsis (right) stood with State Senator Mary Whipple at the recent annual Arlington Chamber of Commerce meeting. (Photo: News-Press)

McLean H.S. Orchestra Preps for Winter Concert

The award-winning McLean High School orchestra will pres-ent its winter concert on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium (1633 Davidson Rd., McLean). Everyone is invited to celebrate the holiday season with the orchestra as they perform classical favorites from Handel’s “Messiah,” Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and Glinka’s “Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla.”

Refreshments will be served. Admission is free. For more infor-mation, call 703-714-5700.

Stuart FBLA Sponsors International Night

Today, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) of J.E.B. Stuart High School will host the 2nd annual International Night.

Highlights will include food, music, performances and booths representing countries from all around the world. Families and community members are invited to come and immerse themselves in different cultures while sup-porting FBLA.

The event will be held from 6 – 9 p.m. in the Stuart cafeteria (3301 Peace Valley Lane, Falls Church). Tickets are $3. For more information, call 703-824-3900.

Marshall H.S. Choir Presents Winter Concert

George C. Marshall High School invites the community to raise the holiday spirit at the choir concert today from 7 – 8 p.m. in the Marshall auditorium (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). For more information, call 703-714-5400.

TJHSST Student Wins $10,000 Scholarship

Andrew Swoboda, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology (TJHSST), and his teammate were awarded fifth place and a $10,000 scholarship in the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology for their project, Optimization of Platinum Nanoparticles for Proton Exchange

Membrane Fuel Cells Using Pulse Electrochemical Deposition.

Longfellow Quiz Bowl Team Places First

The Quiz Bowl Team of Longfellow Middle School placed first in the country in the Winter Knowledge Master Open. This is Longfellow’s second consecu-tive national championship in the Knowledge Master Open.

The Longfellow team members include Nadege Aoki, Joe Downs, Ben Felstein, Jordan Goodson, Alex LeFloch, Jonathan Leidenheimer, Carrie Murton, Hannah Pho, Kate Salamido, Michael Sanders, Timothy Sheridan, Bobbie Sheng, Soobin Wang, Renee Wah, Hayley Wenk and Raymond Yang.

Area High Schools Receive Top Honors

Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology was named the top high school in the U.S. for the third consecutive year by the U.S. News and World Report. George C. Marshall High School was recognized as a silver medal recipient and a top International Baccalaureate school. McLean High School received an honorable mention.

G.M.H.S. Hosts IB Forum And Awards Ceremony

Parents of George Mason High School students are invited to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Forum on Monday, Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m. to hear from Mason alumni who have participated in the IB program.

George Mason High School graduates will answer questions about their experiences in the IB program and discuss how those experiences did or did not help them prepare for college or uni-versity life.

There will be an IB Awards Ceremony following the forum at 4 p.m. During the ceremony, all Mason IB graduates will be presented their IB certificates and diplomas.

Community members, family and friends are all invited to rec-ognize the hard work and dedica-tion of the IB graduates.

The IB Forum and Awards Ceremony will take place in the Mason auditorium (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). For more information, call 703-248-5500.

Marshall H.S. Hosts Bone Marrow Drive

Jordan Culbreath, a former Marshall High School student-athlete, was recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia. In an effort to support Culbreath, Marshall High School will be hosting a bone marrow donor drive on Friday, Dec. 18 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the school (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). The cost for one member to join the official donation outfit, Be The Match Registry, is $100. There is no charge to participate. For more information, call 703-714-5409.

December 17 - 23, 2009

A SUPERB PERFORMANCE OF George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring pianist Danielle Agress (right) highlighted the annual Winter Concert presented by the George Mason High School Performing Arts Department last Thursday. Shown to the left on the bass is Matt Abel. Tonight, the GMHS Choral Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. (Photo: News-Press)

The frenzy surrounding the holidays often overshad-ows the growing number of homeless individuals in Falls Church alone who, instead of worrying about what gifts to buy and whether to serve ham or turkey for dinner, are won-dering where they’ll sleep for the night and when their next meal will be. That, of course, goes for the cats and dogs too.

Ellen Cassidy, volunteer coordinator of the Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter, has been volunteering for three years now to ease those wor-ries.

“After dinner, I come out here and talk to [the residents]. We play cards. Last year, we played Uno and had a good ol’ time,” she said.

Cassidy volunteers not only to make a difference, but also

because she recognizes that the residents aren’t much different from her. “It makes me feel good to help others because we could always be a paycheck away from being in the same situation. I don’t have a lot of money to give, but I have time. So, I give my time and hope-fully can make a difference in their lives.”

However, Cassidy isn’t the only one spending the holidays

volunteering. There are other local volunteers who take time out of the holiday season to offer friendship, food, clothing and shelter.

Anthony Lee, a residential service worker at the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter expresses a sentiment similar to Cassidy’s. “I accepted this job because it was an opportu-nity to help. There were many times when I needed help and people were there to help me. So, if I can return the favor, why not?”

“I’m taking people off of the streets, out of the cold, giving them a place to live and helping them re-establish themselves. A lot of the time people come here, I try to make it pleasant for them because the environment from which they came might be a hostile environment. I joke with them, talk with them, make them feel good,” said Lee.

Cassidy, too, has developed close bonds with the residents. “They’re like friends,” she said. “I’ve seen them on the street, and they say ‘hi’ to you.”

Cassidy added that the resi-dents want to be seen as regu-lar, everyday people. “They like to be treated like you and I, a normal person, not a home-less person.”

Friends Chairman Ronald Brousseau said volunteers help by interacting with the resi-dents and making them feel like they’re part of the larger community. “They want to be talked to.

“They really have a com-munity among themselves and they’d like to be part of the big-ger community. And you feel it when you’re here,” Brousseau added.

The Friends shelter is a grassroots shelter that has been housing 50 – 60 homeless indi-viduals every year since 1996. The long-lived success of the Friends shelter is due in large part to the surrounding com-munity and individual volun-teers.

“We have over 200 volun-teers every year, not counting the people who donate,” said

Brousseau. “We have a lot of support from the faith com-munities in the City of Falls Church and we have a lot of support from individuals.”

All the meals brought to the Friends shelter are made by community members. This particular Thursday evening, Falls Church resident Kathleen McCleary and her daughters Gracie and Emma Benninghoff delivered a hot homemade meal of red beans and rice, salad, corn bread and fresh-baked cookies.

McCleary stressed that the number of homeless people in affluent neighborhoods like Falls Church is growing. “If you want to make a difference, look out the front door and go from there,” said McCleary. McCleary enjoys giving resi-dents of the Falls Church Winter Shelter “awareness that they’re part of the community too.”

The Friends shelter opens its doors at 6 p.m. every night to 10 men and two women during the winter from Dec. 1 – March 31.

“It’s a critical time of the year for those who are out on the streets,” said Brousseau.

He explained there’s a greater need for beds in the winter, while in the warmer weather, homeless individuals “might be in tents, might be out in the streets, might be everywhere.”

New and familiar faces come to the Friends shelter each night.

“Since we’ve opened on Dec. 1, we’ve had 18 differ-ent residents here and we’ve been open for 10 nights,” said Brousseau.

Although residents have the right to reserve their beds, some leave in the morn-ing and don’t come back. Brousseau explained that the Friends shelter does not have the capacity to provide full-time day services because the shelter is essentially a public works facility.

The fact that the Falls Church Shelter is only open during the night, however, isn’t

a cause of alarm according to Brousseau. “To me, it’s fine because we’ve made a partner-ship with two groups here,” he said.

The First Christian Church in Seven Corners has day facil-ities twice a week, where lunch is served, case managers are available and a nurse is pres-ent.

The Lamb Center in Fairfax Circle also has day facilities, where residents can pick up their mail and do their laun-dry.

Novella Kimp, who works at the Fannie Mae offices in Washington, D.C., often comes to the Bailey’s Shelter to lend a helping hand. Kimp, like the other volunteers, gains satisfaction in knowing she can make a difference. “My motto is: When I stand in front of God, I don’t want to come up with an excuse of why I didn’t help somebody,” she said.

These generous acts don’t go unnoticed. Residents Sarah Lowey, Toccara Puller and Winfred McCullers of the Bailey’s shelter expressed grat-itude for the volunteers.

The trying economic times have taken their toll on Lowey, who has been at the Bailey’s shelter for three months now. “My bank fore-closed on my condo, so I didn’t have a place to stay. A friend brought me here, and they were happy enough to find me a bed.

“It was financial difficulties. I was removed from my job and had to go on social secu-rity, and it just wasn’t enough money,” Lowey added.

Puller said, “The time for finding jobs is not right.” She has been at the Bailey’s shelter for three days.

However, the volunteers at the Bailey’s shelter help alle-viate stress of financial woes. Lowey thanked the volunteers for the “good meals.”

“They hook the lasagna up,” said Puller, who also pointed out the little things the volunteers do, like going out and picking up prescriptions.

“They’re doing a good job, a magnificent job,” McCullers added.

Volunteers aren’t just lend-ing a helping hand to humans. They’re also reaching out to homeless pets. According to Lisa Kirschner of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, the volunteers scrub the ken-nels in the morning and make sure the animals are fed and the dogs go on their mornings walks.

“In the afternoon, [the vol-unteers] are stationed in either our cat room, dog room or small animal room and they’re showing the animals,” said Kirschner.

The volunteers play a criti-cal role in finding these ani-mals a loving home by helping the public along in the adop-tion process.

Since 1944, the League has been committed to pro-viding a safe place for home-less animals, including dogs, cats and other small animals like bunny rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, rats and birds.

Although the League does not show animals during the holidays, volunteers still come in to help clean the kennels and feed the dogs in the morn-ing.

“We’re lucky enough to have a backyard that’s fenced in, so we can let the dogs out in small groups or by them-selves, whichever they pre-fer,” said Executive Director Kay Speerstra. “So, they get to run and get some fresh air.”

In addition to having beds and blankets, the animals also get extra special treats on Christmas. “We give them Christmas-themed toys,” said Speerstra. “If they play well with soft toys, they get those.” Larger dogs, however, get stur-dier toys made out of rubber or rope.

Although animals can’t necessarily use their words like the residents at the Bailey’s shelter, they do have their own unique ways of showing their appreciation — wagging tails and perked-up ears. And sometimes it’s enough just for volunteers to know that they’re providing these animals with a safe, lov-ing environment, just as the volunteers at the Friends shel-ter and Bailey’s shelter are offering residents refuge from hostile environments.

December 17 - 23, 2009 December 17 - 23, 2009 Page 23

Santa’s Quiet HelpersFrom homeless shelter volunteers to animal adoption assis-tants, the News-Press gets the inside scoop on the people giving strangers, and strays, a happier holiday.

— By Sarah Carter

Getting Involved:How to Help this Holiday

Looking for ways to volunteer your time or effort this holiday? Look no further — the News-Press holiday volunteer guide has got you covered. From cooking to sleeping over, there are more ways than one to give those less fortunate a healthy and happy holiday.

Prepare a Hot Meal

• The Friends of Falls Church Homeless Shelter is always looking for home-cooked meals that serve up to 14 people. All meals should consist of a main protein, vegetables or salad, bread and dessert. Deliver the meal sometime between 5:45 – 6:15 p.m. to the Friends shelter (217 Gordon St., Falls Church). Call 571-218-5411 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

• The Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter is looking for meals that can feed up to 50 people. Meals can be prepared and served at the Bailey’s Shelter (3525 Moncure Ave., Falls Church). For more information, call Development Specialist Thornell Hancock at 703-820-7621, ext. 218 or visit www.voaches.org.

Bag a Lunch

• The Friends shelter needs helping hands to pack lunches for residents. Volunteers should pack approximately 12 lunch bags, each with a sandwich, packaged drink and fruit or other healthy snack. Bagged lunches are welcome any night of the week between 5:45 – 6:15 p.m. at the Friends shelter (217 Gordon St., Falls Church). The lunches

will be handed out to the residents before they leave in the morning. To coordinate, call 571-218-5411 or e-mail [email protected].

Make a Donation

• The Bailey’s shelter (3525 Moncure Ave., Falls Church) is looking for donations of toiletries and winter clothing, such as long johns, hats and gloves.

• The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr., Arlington) could use for dogs: Kuranda dog beds, hard-rubber and/or rope toys, Nylabones (new), Kongs (all sizes), peanut butter and Pupperoni dog treats; for cats: cat toys, canned cat food, Carefresh or Yesterday News litter and KMR for kittens; and for small animals: wooden chew items (new), natural woven rabbit toys, bird toys & accessories, Timber hide-away houses, spray millet for birds and Carefresh litter. For vol-unteer information, call 703-931-9241 or visit www.awla.org.

• The Friends shelter (217 Gordon St., Falls Church) welcomes donations of staples including fruit, bread, cereal, frozen food items and disposable eating utensils — including paper plates, cups and towels, in addition to plastic spoons and forks.

Stay the Night

• The Friends shelter is looking for volunteers ages 18 and up to sign up for either evening or overnight shifts in January, February and March. Volunteers will help serve evening meals and interact with the residents. To volunteer, call 571-218-5411 or e-mail [email protected].

— S.C.

BAILEY’S CROSSROADS COMMUNITY SHELTER’S Thornell Hancock (second from left), a development specialist, posed with residents (left to right) Toccara Puller, Sarah Lowey and Winfred McCullers. Puller, Lowey and McCullers all expressed gratitude for the Bailey’s shelter volunteers. (Photo: News-Press)

FRIENDS OF FALLS CHURCH HOMELESS SHELTER volunteer Ellen Cassidy (right) and program coordinator Lance Flowers (left) from New Hope Housing, Inc. were all smiles as they prepared for a night at the Friend’s shelter. Cassidy has volunteered at the shelter for three years now. (Photo: News-Press)

December 17 - 23, 2009

Reality TinkeringAs Likely As Not: Sculpture

by Alex Bay, and R.L. Croft, at McLean Project for the Arts (1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean). The exhibit runs through Jan. 9. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on Saturday, from 1 – 5 p.m. The gallery will be closed from Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 – New Years Day, Jan. 1. For more information, call 703-790-1953 or visit www.mpaart.org

Alex Bay, of the Virginia Piedmont region, and R.L. Croft of Manassas are two Virginia sculp-tors sharing the main gallery space at McLean Project for the Arts.

While Bay shows a clear prefer-ence for time worn, and weathered textural materials, Croft prefers to work with smooth and shiny, yet often distressed aluminum. In fact, Croft’s pieces are more textural than one might give them credit for at first blush. Taking dispa-rate bits from junk yard hunting, Croft then assembles them into faux artifacts. Most notably, four of his pieces seem to be either large-scale shrapnel torn and flung off from urban bombing sites, or other stuff hit by flying debris. “Fragment, vendor” looks like

part of a hot dog vendor’s cart, “Fragment, rollup” looks like part of a warehouse tambour garage door. “Platform, Madrid” seems the most poignant of all. The piece is Croft’s response to the March 11, 2004 terrorist train bombings in Madrid, Spain. Aside from the ripped away electrical conduit, Croft has a small collection of nail polish bottles in disarray. It’s a clear statement about both the fragility of life, and how cata-strophic events reorient our val-ues. Selecting a fashionable nail color seems absurdly trivial in the wake of mass destruction, and the loss of life.

Alex Bay has a similar, yet far less dramatic way of depicting the fragility of life. Bay’s sculptures often rely on old weathered wood, and rusted metal bits to express the passage of time, and ultimately the passage of life.

Bay’s assemblage piece titled “Revels Ended” has story boxes containing fragments relating to stories told about various people late in life, or how they died, or so on. A black man reminisces about segregated baseball in his youth, and how his Negro ball club once played a white team, trouncing them 13 to 3. Another tells of a woman accountant once wanted

by the FBI for embezzlement of a lawyer. Yet another tells of a WWII bomber crash, that lead to the discovery of leukemia in one of the survivors, and his death weeks later. In effect, dying of both leukemia and the plane crash. All of these story boxes hung on the wall are wired to a small cart in front of the wall. Bay is telling us that we are all isolated, and yet exist in a communal network.

This notion is writ large in Bay’s major work here. “Night Life” is a mammoth collection of cubbyholes, each containing some miniature sculpture, or twine-wound weathered paper. At 22-by-4 feet it’s a bit overwhelming, in a good way. Lateral motion provided by a hand crank at one end sets all the sculptural mod-els in motion. This is Bay at his mesmerizing and highly playful best. Virtually all of the mini-sculptures are worthy of being executed at much larger scale. The awesome genius of Bay’s vision invokes a sense of childhood play in its viewers. It seems to be some dusty 3-D ideation shelf from a tinkerer’s workshop circa 1950. It might be described as tinkering gone wonderfully mad.

Not to imply that Croft’s work lacks a sense of play about it. In fact, “Pilgrim (One step for-ward, two steps back)” is about as playful as you can get. Here Croft has crafted a three-tiered wooden assemblage for rolling wooden balls and watching them bang around repeatedly, and loud-ly drop from level to level. It’s a childhood play toy for adults, and the inner child in all of us seems unable to resist dropping a few balls through it.

The Atrium Gallery houses the Work of 2002 MICA grad Melissa Dickenson. These paintings on handmade paper are then mounted on laser cut acrylic panels. They’re cut out in a fashion reminiscent of old silhouette works. The paint-ings also remind one of allegori-cal children’s book illustrations of assorted animals, and their anthro-pomorphic interactions.

Artist OpportunityArtist Studio Space is avail-

able at Art And Frame, 111 Park Ave., Falls Church City. Roughly 200 square feet of space, with 24/7 access for $650 a month. See Tom at Art and Frame, (703) 534-4202.

The Northern Virginia Art Beat is compiled by Kevin Mellema. See www.fcnp.com for photos and more. To e-mail submissions, send them to [email protected]. CROFT’S “PLATFORM, MADRID.”

December 17 - 23, 2009 Page 25

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Squeeze your eyes shut tight, feel that pinch of pixie dust and take off in flight to the magical place where fairies are born from children’s laughter and no little boy must ever grow up. That joy-ful spirit of everlasting youth was certainly present among the cast of Peter Pan, a delightful musical that literally soared to new heights at George C. Marshall High School.

Adapted from J.M. Barrie’s famous children’s story Peter and Wendy, this 1954 musical opened on Broadway starring Mary Martin and featuring music from famed composer Jule Styne. The musical does not stray far from Barrie’s traditional tale, telling of the magical evening when the young Darling children awaken to a remarkable boy named Peter Pan, whose thrilling adventures in Neverland excite kids of all ages.

Staying true to an archaic script is a challenge, but Marshall repli-cated the most difficult elements with great success. Whether it was complex choreography by Kat Porcell and Michael Burin, using flywires to take the cast into the air, or utilizing the unedited origi-nal wording, Marshall certainly put on an authentic production.

The joie de vivre of Ellen Chapin’s enthusiastic Peter Pan was infectious; she mastered the part with every scrunched-up facial expression and sprightly gesture. Chapin’s harmonious vocal pres-ence was a highlight of Marshall’s production, showcased most vivid-ly in songs such as “I Gotta Crow” and “Neverland.” The subtlety in Scott Anderson’s portrayal of leg-endary scoundrel Captain Hook caused bursts of laughter to shine through in villainous lines.

Throughout the whirlwind journey, down-to-earth Wendy, played by Meara O’Malley, chose

to grow up and mature. O’Malley displayed a great range of expres-sion and poise onstage, evolving from a bubbly, girlish presence to a more stern and matronly ado-lescent. Ever the faithful com-panion, Hook’s right-hand man Smee (Keith Boylan) used many memorable comic antics. Other unforgettable characters include Tiger Lilly (Allie Rosenbluth), Mr. Darling (Robin Crigler) and Slightly (Orla Conway).

The ensemble dynamic at Marshall had high energy and excitement, though sometimes the stage seemed too crowded and chaotic, which distracted from action-packed moments.

Deserving great accolades is Marshall’s props and effects crew. The use of flying effects is extreme-ly difficult, but the almost flaw-less flights added to the magic of the show. Large props, like a huge crocodile that slithered into scenes, also added to the thrilling feel. The

commendable set featured many large and moveable pieces and cleverly incorporated a trap door. Lighting kept pace with the show, especially on a vibrant cyclorama, overshadowing somewhat inconsis-tent microphone sound quality.

When one truly believes, it is possible to be whisked off to Neverland. Taking an entire audi-

ence might seem an unattainable feat, but Marshall’s lively produc-tion flew high enough to prove that “Peter Pan is the sun, the moon, and the stars!”

• Julia Katz is a student at McLean High School and a member of the Cappies Critics and Awards pro-gram.

Actors Fly & Audiences Marvel at Marshall’s Production of ‘Peter Pan’by Julia KatzSpecial to the News-Press

ACTORS AND TECHNICAL INNOVATION SOARED at Mar-shall High’s recent production of “Peter Pan.” (Photo: News-Press)

December 17 - 23 2009

Don’t let holiday “to-do” lists snowball into a stress fest. Take a break between

the tangle of tinsel and decompress at several holiday events around Falls Church.

A few sips of cocoa and a cou-ple of merry laughs with the big man in red will surely boost weary spirits.

Fuel Up With SantaAnytime an individual plans for

the holidays, whether it be travel-ing the world or selflessly helping others, a healthy meal is in order.

Stocked with a sack of sur-prises, St. Nick will join fellow se-niors fueling up during a holiday celebration brunch on Monday, Dec. 21 at Langston-Brown Se-nior Center (2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington).

There will be eggs, sausage, pancakes waffles, all sorts of breakfast stuffs for a well-rounded

meal, said program coordinator Wanda Richardson. Afterwards, Santa will dole out sweet treats.

Breakfast, ‘tis the reason to mingle, exchange jolly jokes, en-tertain with stories and lead into rounds of Christmas caroling. Festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. and costs $5. For registration, call 703-228-5210.

But who would Santa be without endearing the hearts of children? The McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) will be giving youngsters the op-portunity to sit on Santa’s lap be-fore sitting down to a meal.

“The ‘Frosty Frollies’ tiny-tot dance program will then perform a tap and jazz movement to ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘Rudolph,’” said community center staff mem-ber Ann Macafee.

This communal breakfast will be held Saturday, Dec. 19 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Preregistration is required. For more information, call 703-790-0123.

For families who would rath-er stick close to Falls Church,

a brunch banquet at James Lee Community Center (2855 Annan-dale Rd., Falls Church) will fit the bill.

From 9:30 a.m. – noon on Sat-urday, Dec. 19, Kriss Kringle will bring his famous sack stuffed with edible goodies for good boys and girls.

The community center will de-liver a healthy breakfast of eggs, turkey bacon, pancakes, orange juice and more

“We do this every year. We usually have tons of kids who come out from the community,” said Cassie Lebrown, assistant di-rector of the senior center.

Admission is free. For more in-formation, call 703-534-3387.

The Teen AngleEnsure this year will be a nos-

talgic one by participating in a few juvenile jive events.

Individuals learn information in two main ways, by seeing and by doing. The award-winning group Yosi and the Superdads will be

performing a “Rockin’ Hanukkah Concert” for youngsters, encour-aging all to “do” a sing-along.

It will be a Hanukkah infused show, “interactive and humor-ous, filled with clever rock, ska and jazz music,” said Cathy Herr, director of youth programs at the McLean Community Center.

“They play really professional, good music, even though it’s for kids.”

The McLean Community Cen-ter (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) will be hosting this lively celebra-tion of the Jewish festival on Sat-urday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14. For more information, call 703-790-0123 or visit www.aldentheatre.org.

Falls Church adolescents who want to make the most of their winter break from school can trav-el a little farther from home during an exciting trio of field trips.

The staff of James Lee Teen Center have arranged for chil-dren ages 13 – 17 to bus to Reston Town Center Ice Rink and shred its icy surface on Monday, Dec. 28 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for $10.

Next, participants will plop down slopes while snow-tubing at Whitetail Resort in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Dec. 29 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. for $24.

Finally, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, teens will join in mid-day ar-cade fun at Dave & Busters in Bethesda, Md for $25 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Each outing requires a signed parental permission slip, registra-tion and, with the Whitetail trip, a wavier form. Transportation is provided from the James Lee Teen Center (2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church).

Field-trippers should be on the premises at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

“We’re planning on having loads of fun,” said one member of the teen center staff.

Call the center at 703-534-3387 to pre-register.

A Gay Ole TimeHome to a variety of interests

and lifestyle, the Falls Church area reflects a diversity of entertain-ment.

For those ready to party with a gay twist, strut to a holiday ho-down at Tabu Tuesdays with the

famous couple Mrs. Clause and Mrs. Clause. Sit on Santa’s lap, grab candy from the male and fe-male go-go dancers, carry on with live music or taste a hot toddy.

The party will commence at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22 and end at 2 a.m. at Majestic Dance Club (2922 Annandale Rd., Falls Church). For more information, visit www.mymajesticclub.com.

Or waltz over and see how drag queen bingo, epic karaoke renditions, margaritas stronger than Schwarzenegger, fried pickle spears (not chips!) and pink fla-mingos all add up to a winter bash at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restau-rant (555 S. 23rd St., Arlington).

“The owners create an annual dinner plate special on Christmas night at 6 p.m.” said Operations Manager Ray Martin.

Freddie’s also throws a New Year’s Eve Bash that, once past the door with a cover charge, includes a complimentary hor d’ourves buffet and midnight champagne toast, DJ, karaoke and cameo per-formances.

“We stay open an hour or two after last-call and serve a breakfast buffet for a little noshing before you drive home,” Martin said.

For more information, call 703-685-0555.

Arts ImpartWinter landscapes are often the

inspiration for wonderland sound-scapes and this year is no excep-tion.

The McLean Symphony Festi-val Singers is organizing two cho-ral concerts for the music lover. Because last year was so popular, there will be two shows this year, said a symphony volunteer.

The first show closes the year with their rendition of Tchai-kovsky’s “Nutcracker ‘Sweets’” The singers will be accompanied by Carlos Ibay’s piano improvisa-tions.

The second performance show-cases Rachmaninoff’s Piano Con-certo No. 2 played by pianist Elena Ulyanova.

Both performances will in-clude a repertoire of “The 12 Days of Christmas,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and “Festive Sounds of Hanukkah” by the Fes-tival Singers.

In addition, an audience sing-

Falls Church Breaks Out the Mistletoe

by Mary PortnerFalls Church News-Press

Gabriel arevelo looks shocked as he meets santa for the first time. although arvelo wished for nothing in particular, the Tysons santa clause understood his simple wanting of a happy life. see the spotlights below to discover where else santa will be visiting before his big night. (Photo: News-Press)

The News-Press Digs Up Area Events for Those Needing Some Holiday Mirth


along will help enliven the theatre hall.

The first auditory journey will commence on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. and the second at 7:30 p.m. at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Seating is $25 for general admis-sion, $20 for seniors, $15 for stu-dents and free for children under 12. For more information, call 703-991-7197.

Slightly less formal, but equal-ly as stimulating is Creative Arts Ministry’s “Gloria! Ring the Bells Christmas Program.”

The show will explore the jubi-lant delights of Christmas through music, dance and drama.

The chorale event will be held Dec. 17 - 18 at 8 p.m. at the McLean Bible Church’s Tysons location (8925 Leesburg Pike, McLean). The required tickets are free and can be found online at www.mbctysons.org. For more information, call 703-770-2981.

Afternoon DelightsSlow down during one of the

most hectic times of year for some afternoon felicity.

Simple Pleasure for the Sol-stice is a relaxed event for fami-lies. Themed “Simple Pleasures are Life’s Treasures,” the after-noon in the great outdoors will feature games, stories, crafts, re-freshments, entertainment by “The Jazzy Juggler” and a performance by instrumentalist and naturalist Rich Bailey.

Park sponsors will also present

“5 Simple Ways to Identify Ani-mals and Plants in Northern Vir-ginia.”

The lazy day event will be held Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Potomac Overlook Regional Park (2845 Marcey Rd., Arlington). Advanced registration is required. For more information, call 703-528-5406.

For something more “indoor-sy,” treat the palate to a soothing mug of holiday tea in the deco-rated Cherry Hill Farmhouse & Barn. Enjoy sandwiches, sweets, warm scones and a variety of bot-tomless teas. The afternoon will be “hosted by a costumed docent tell-ing of Christmas practices in mid-19th century Virginia,” said Diane Morse of Friends of Cherry Hill, the group which organizes tours and events at the historic farm.

“Then there will be and a full tea with a tour of the house.”

The cost is $25 per person and includes tax and gratuity. All proceeds benefit the historic property. The soirée is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. at Cherry Hill (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). For more information, call 703-248-5171.

The CountdownNew Year’s Eve signals the

close of one year and hope for the next. Check out a few events around town that will usher in the future.

Falls Church will celebrate its 12th Annual Watch Night this year. This is a community event

that includes free magic acts, cari-caturists, a Velcro wall, numer-ous live music acts, karaoke, face painting, a scavenger hunt, dance lessons, inflatable obstacle cours-es, food and more.

For more details on the big night, see elsewhere in this News-Press edition.

What’s a better way to greet the New Year than finding a new rela-tionship? Search for that partner at

the Singles’ New Year’s Eve Party hosted by the Singles’ Ministry of McLean Bible Church.

The evening will celebrate the future with people who shares like values, interests and goals.

“This is on a grander scale than in the past. The Single’s groups who raised funds, Focus, Fuel and Soul Purpose, are really excited about it,” said Terri Marone, the administrative assistant for Sin-gle’s night.

The bash takes place Thursday, Dec. 31 from 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. at Marriott Fairview Park (3111 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church). For inquiries, call 703-770-8677 or visit www.mbcty-sons.org.

Join sword swallower Dan Meyer as he brings new meaning to “sending steel down the hatch” at Rock Student Ministries’ New Year’s Aid 2010 lock-in.

Attendees can win prizes, en-gage in silly ice-breakers, play games, run relays, share resolu-tions, watch a guy eat a weapon or nosh on munchies all night long. Attendees must have $35 and be inside McLean Bible Church (8925 Leesburg Pike, McLean) on Thursday, Dec. 31 by 10 p.m.

“Proceeds from the event will go to aid orphans in Uganda, the Dominican Republic and the Phil-ippines,” said organizer Annie Seifert. Doors will reopen Friday, Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. For more informa-tion, call 703-770-3851 or visit www.newyearsaid.org.

Older locals ready to make

noise for the emerging New Year should meet at the Langston-Brown New Year’s celebration.

Party-goers will dance to live entertainment by one-man band Carl Pink in a setting adorned in decoration.

“There will be lunch, music and dancing. It’ll be a combination of all sorts of things,” said center coordinator Wanda Richardson.

The party will be held Monday, Dec. 28 from 10:30 a.m. – noon. The cost is $6. The event takes place at Langston-Brown Senior Center (2121 N. Culpeper St., Ar-lington). To register, call 703-228-5210.

Finally, families wishing for a quieter celebration should close the decade with a New Year’s Eve Stroll & Campfire. Soak in nature’s beau-ty, far removed from Time Square, while exploring Gulf Branch’s 37-acre park. Finish a short hike by rustling up the forest with edible noisemakers and casting resolutions into a “wishing” bonfire.

“This is the third year we’re do-ing it. It’s a nice way for families to do a New Years activity with their kids,” said park naturalist Marty Pross.

Warm clothing and flashlights are recommended.

The event runs from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31 at the Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 Military Rd., Arlington). A $5 reg-istration is required and all chil-dren must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 703-228-3403.

The all-volunTeer sTaff of “WaTCh nIGhT,” falls Church’s new Year’s eve celebration, readies the 1948 commemorative falls Church star to be lowered during the 2010 countdown. for more information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov or call 703-248-5001. (Photo: Courtesy BarBara Cram)

YosI and The superdads will be leading teens and youngsters in a hannukah sing-along held at Mclean’s Community Center. (Photo: Courtesy of yosi and the suPerdads)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18

‘The Peace of Christmas’ Concert. The World Children’s Choir will be performing its holiday concert. This musical escapade consists of international carols, including Hanukkah and New Year songs from around the world. An audience sing-along will conclude the concert. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (4250 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington). $20 for adults, $15 for seniors & students, $10 for children under 13. 7 – 9 p.m. 703-883-0920.

‘We Are Science, Scuzbuckets and The Lodge.’ Join Washington Improv Theatre for a trio of experiences encapsulated in one night. “We Are Science” remixes English linguists into unexpected connotations. “Scuzbuckets” transports onlookers to a 1986 alien abduction. “The Lodge” initiates audiences into a secret

society of bumming money, drinking, crude behavior and imprisonment. The Source Theatre (1835 14 St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10. 11 p.m. 202-204-7770.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.’ The McLean Community Players will be presenting the classic Frank Capra American �ilm performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). $15 for adults, $13 for seniors & children. Shows Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. 703-790-9223.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19

‘Rockin’ Hanukkah Concert.’ The award-winning group Yosi and the Super Dads will be performing for youngsters, encouraging all to sing-along. Ages 3+. McLean Community Center

(1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). $14. 2 p.m. 703-790-0123.

Encore Chorale Holiday Concert. Nearly 200 senior singers will gather to perform “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Let it Snow” and the “Halleluja Chorus.” Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington). Free. 4 p.m. 301-261-5747.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

Nutcracker Tea. BalletNova Center for Dance is organizing tea time while listening to classical music followed-up by a brief performance of dances from “The Nutcracker.” The Sugar Plum Fairy will be posing with youngsters for pictures. Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel (801 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington). $55 for adults, $35 for children. 2 – 4 p.m. 703-778-3008.

Page 28 December 17 - 23, 2009

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17

Model Investment Meeti ng. Join members of the Model Investment Club of Nova to learn more about establishing a bankroll following a step-by-step model. New visitors welcome. Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Free. 7 p.m. 703-790-8088.

Choir Concert. The George C. Marshall High School choir invites locals to its winter choral concert. Marshall auditorium (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). 7 – 8 p.m. 703-714-5400.

Energy Therapy. Matrix Energeti cs, Reiki and Healing Touch volunteers are off ering the gift of deep relaxati on in the form of Energy Therapy sessions. The Caring Center (100 N. Washington St., Falls Church). Free. 7:30 – 9 p.m. 703-534-1321.

Holiday Choral Recital. The George Mason High School chorus will be performing classical favorites for its winter concert. The event is open to the public. George Mason H.S. (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). Free. 7:30 p.m. 703-248-5500 or www.fccps.k12.va.us/gm.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18

Marines at Dogwood. Members of the United States Marine Corps will come to collect the Toys for Tots donati on box and have a meet-and-greet with families. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 5 – 9 p.m. 703-237-8333.


Breakfast with Santa. Dine with Santa, make craft s, face paint, take pictures and watch a performance by Joy of Dance. McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). $10 for McLean residents, $15 for non-residents, free for children 2 and under. 9:30 – 11 a.m. 703-790-0123.

Drop-in Craft . Join Megan Hicks for an “Origami Swami Gift s” craft project. All ages welcome. Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church). Free. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 703-248-5030.

Model Train Display. Watch as G-gaude trains wind their way through a miniature western town. Colvin Run Barn (10017 Colvin

Run Rd., Great Falls). Free. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The display will also be available for viewing Sunday. 703-759-2771.

Country Christmas. Join the costumed members of the 49th Virginia Infantry singing carols around a campfi re, visiti ng Santa, peeking at anti que toys under a country Victorian Christmas tree, making craft s and roasti ng marshmallows. Colvin Run Mill (10017 Colvin Run Rd., Great Falls). $6. 3 – 6 p.m. 703-759-2771.

Charity Wine Tasti ng. Discover the basics of wine tasti ng while fi nancially supporti ng environmental educati on programs. Hidden Oaks Nature Center (7701 Royce St., Annandale). $30. Registrati on required. 7 – 9 p.m. 703-941-1065.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

‘Only 5 Days unti l Christmas!’ Crochet. Sip cocoa and knit a few last-minute gift s with a group of fellow craft ers. Bring a current project, a long-term favorite or a “wanna be” design. Walter Reed Recreati on Center (2906 S. 16th St.,

Arlington). Free. 1 p.m. 703-228-0948.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21

FCNP Holiday Party. The Falls Church News-Press invites readers to its annual holiday party that will include refreshments, live entertainment and sti mulati ng company. ArtSpace Falls Church (400 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church). Free. 5:30 – 8 p.m. 703-342-0347.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

Orchestra Concert. The McLean High School orchestra invites the community to its season concert. McLean H.S. (1633 Davidson Rd., McLean). Free. 7:30 p.m. 703-714-5700.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23

Holiday Party. Older adults who love to dance are invited to a get-together with American foods and the folksy jazz music of Fred Brooks. Walter Reed Senior Center (2909 S. 16th St., Arlington). Free. 10 – 11:15 a.m. 703-228-0955.

Community EventsSend community event submissions to the News-Press by e-mail at [email protected]; fax 703-532-3396; or by regular mail to 450 West Broad Street #321, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.

&Theater Fine Arts


live_music&nightlife

C�� S��Be sure to include time, location, cost of admission, contact person and any other pertinent information. Event listings will be edited for content and space limitations. Please include any photos or artwork with submissions. Deadline is Monday at noon for the current week’s edition.

Email: [email protected]

Fax: 703-342-0347; Attn: FCNP Calendar

Mail: 450 West Broad Street, #321, Falls Church, VA 22046

P�� A��...Monday, Dec. 28 – New Year’s Ball. Join locals in making noise for the emerging 2010

calendar at a New Year’s celebrati on. Party-goers will dance to live entertainment by Carl Pink, a one man band, in a setti ng adorned in decorati on. Langston-Brown Senior Center (2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington). Registrati on required. 10:30 a.m. 703-339-5321.

Thursday, Dec. 31 – Falls Church City’s ‘Watch Night.’ Ring in a brand new year and decade here in the City of Falls Church, with its 12th annual New Year’s Eve bash. The city’s main thoroughfare, Broad Street, will be alive with music, acti viti es and plenty more to keep families and party-goers awake and entertained ti ll the curtain drops on ‘09. Downtown Falls Church (near 100 block of East Broad). 7 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. 703-248-5077.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17

7 B��. The State Theater (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $13 in advance, $15 day of. 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

S�� A�� W��. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $5. 7:30 p.m. 703-534-0095.

W��. With Meg Hutchinson, Antje Duvekot, Natalia Zukerman, Anne Heaton. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 7:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

E�� M�K��. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $18. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340.

W�� D��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18

S�� F��. With Rhododendron Road. Bangkok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls Church). $7. 7 p.m. 703-534-0095.

T�� G�� A��. With The Constellati ons. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $25. 8 p.m. 202-265-0930.

C�� R�� V��. The

State Theater (220 N. Washington St., Falls Church). $10. 8 p.m. 703-237-0300.

B�� K��’� H�� T�� H�� S��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $20. 8 p.m. 703-255-1566.

S�� A��! With Cloak/Dagger, Domino Team, Solar Powered Sun Destroyer. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $10 in advance, $12 day of. 9 p.m. 202-667-4490.

L�� T�� H��. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $12. 9 p.m. Also shows Saturday & Sun-day. 703-522-8340.

C�� E��. With DJ Dredd. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Wash-ington, D.C.). $7. 9:30 p.m. 202-667-4490.

T�� C�� E��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.


R�� H�� S��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

W�� G��. With N2N. Bang-kok Blues (926 W. Broad St., Falls

Church). $10. 7 p.m. 703-534-0095.

J�� L�� B��. With Justi n Jones & The Driving Rain, American Aquarium. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $15. 8 p.m. 202-265-0930.

T�� D.R.A.M.A. K��. With Dreaming of Eden, Redshift . Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $10. 9:30 p.m. 703-255-1566.

O�� M�� N��. Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna). Free. 9:30 p.m. 703-207-0030.

R�� R��: 80� A��-P�� D�� N�� DJ ��’�. Rock-N-Shop. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Wash-ington, D.C.). $6. 9:30 p.m. 202-667-4490.

M�� A��. Dogwood Tavern (132 W. Broad St., Falls Church). Free. 10 p.m. 703-237-8333.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

M� F�� H�� T�� F�� N�� B��. With The Downtown Ficti on, Steve Maokler. 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $15. 7 p.m. 202-265-0930.

S��. With Rustbuckit, Dykstra. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Wash-ington, D.C.). $12. 8 p.m. 202-667-4490.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21

O�� M��. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $2. 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

T�� N�� B�� C��. Monday Movie Night. The State Theater (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). $3. 7:30 p.m. 703-237-0300.

K�� G��. With NRIS, Hot Coff ee, Mississippi. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340.

F�� R��. With Sinta. Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.). $8. 9 p.m. 202-667-4490.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

T�� W��’� S�� C��%!. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). $15. 8 p.m. Also shows Wednesday. 703-255-1566.

T�� C�� C��. Iota Club and Café (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). $10. 8:30 p.m. 703-522-8340.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23

B�� P�� T�� B�� H�� B��-�� B��. Madam’s Organ (2461 18th St NW, Washington, D.C.). $4. 9 p.m. 202-667-5370.

As we head into the holiday homestretch, the time left for parties, shopping and other festive activities are drawing to a close. Fortunately, the News-Press has plenty of

ideas for you to fill up those last remaining days. In addition to the holiday entertain-ment guide on pages 26-27, we also have a special feature on those who represent the true spirit of the season: volunteers. You can find their stories and a list of ways for you get involved on pages 22-23. A couple other ways to give include Dogwood Tavern’s Toys for Tots campaign, which wraps up this Friday night at 9 p.m., and, of course, the previously mentioned BGR The Burger Joint and their partnership with DC Central Kitchen, which donates one burger to the homeless with every burger sold through the month of December.

Watching “Avatar,” I felt sort of the same as when I saw “Star Wars” in 1977. That was another movie I walked into with uncertain expectations. James Cameron’s film has been the subject of relent-lessly dubious advance buzz, just as his “Titanic” was. Once again, he has silenced the doubters by simply delivering an extraordinary film. There is still at least one man in Hollywood who knows how to spend $250 million, or was it $300 million, wisely.

“Avatar” is not simply a sensa-tional entertainment, although it is that. It’s a technical breakthrough. It has a flat-out Green and anti-war message. It is predestined to launch a cult. It contains such visual detail-

ing that it would reward repeated viewings. It invents a new lan-guage, Na’vi, as “The Lord of the Rings” did, although mercifully I doubt this one can be spoken by humans, even teenage humans. It creates new movie stars. It is an Event, one of those films you feel you must see to keep up with the

conversation.The story, set in the year 2154,

involves a mission by U.S. Armed Forces to an Earth-sized moon in orbit around a massive star. This new world, Pandora, is a rich source of a mineral Earth desperately needs. Pandora repre-sents not even a remote threat to Earth, but we nevertheless send in the military to attack and conquer them. Gung-ho Marines employ machine guns and pilot armored hover ships on bombing runs. You are free to find this an allego-ry about contemporary politics. Cameron obviously does.

Pandora harbors a planetary forest inhabited peacefully by the Na’vi, a blue-skinned, golden-eyed race of slender giants, each one per-haps 12 feet tall. The atmosphere is not breathable by humans, and the landscape makes us pygmies. To venture out of our landing craft, we use avatars -- Na’vi look-alikes grown organically and mind-con-trolled by humans who remain wired up in a trance-like state on the ship. While acting as avatars, they see, fear, taste and feel like Na’vi, and have all the same physi-cal adeptness.

This last quality is liberat-ing for the hero, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who is a paraplegic. He’s been recruited because he’s a genetic match for a dead identical twin, who an expensive avatar was created for. In avatar state he can walk again, and as his payment for this duty he will be given a very expensive operation to restore movement to his legs. In theory he’s in no danger because if his avatar in destroyed, his human form remains untouched. In theory.

On Pandora, Jake begins as a good soldier and then goes native after his life is saved by the lithe and brave Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). He finds it is indeed true, as the aggres-

Roger Ebert’s Movie Review

‘Avatar’

Jake Sully ......Sam WorthingtonNeytiri .................... Zoe SaldanaGrace Augustine Sigourney WeaverCol. Miles Quaritch Stephen LangTrudy Chacon Michelle RodriguezParker Selfridge Giovanni RibisiNorm Spellman Joel David MooreMo’at .................. CCH PounderEytukan ..................... Wes StudiTsu’tey ..................... Laz Alonso

20th Century Fox presents film written and directed by James Cameron.

Running time: 163 minutes.

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for intense epic battle sequences and war-fare, sensuality, language and some smoking).

BY ROGER EBERTUNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE


Kids don’t get enough art these days. For Ten Simple Ways to get more art in kids’ lives, visit AmericansForTheArts.org.

A m e r i c A n s F o r T h e A r T s . o r g

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COLUMBIA PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH RELATIVITY MEDIA A CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT/BANTER FILMS PRODUCTION“DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?” SAM ELLIOTT MARY STEENBURGEN ELISABETH MOSS MICHAEL KELLY WILFORD BRIMLEY

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BY THEODORE SHAPIRO EXECUTIVEPRODUCERS ANTHONY KATAGAS RYAN KAVANAUGH PRODUCED

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DIRECTED BY MARC LAWRENCE

Opening in Theaters

Broken emBraces (Romantic drama, R, 128 minutes). Almodovar’s pas-

sionate new film. A blind man (Lluis Homar), once a director, now a writer, learns the producer of his final film has died. He still hates this man. Flashbacks reveal the history of their relationship, and the woman (Penelope Cruz) between them. In the present, the dead man’s son

enlists him in a project to gain vengeance on his father, and old secrets are discovered. A voluptu-ary of a film, drunk on primary colors, caressing Penelope Cruz, using the devices of a Hitchcock to distract us with surfaces while the sinister uncoils beneath. Rating: Four stars.

cloud nine (Drama, not rated, 97 minutes). A sudden and unexpected romance

between a 67-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man consumes them with passion, but threatens the woman’s 30-year marriage, which is peaceful and conventional. The sex and nudity of the lovers is treated as if they were 20-year-olds, as it should be. The ending may be a little heavy for the tone of the film. In German, with English subtitles. Winner of the section Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2008. Rating: Three stars.

did You Hear aBout tHe morgans? (Comedy, PG-13, 107 minutes). Feuding

couple from Manhattan (Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker) are forced to flee town under the Witness Protection Program, find themselves Fish Out of Water in Strange New World, meet Colorful Characters, survive Slapstick Adventures, end up Together at the End. The only part of that formula that still works is The End. With supporting roles for Sam Elliott and Wilford Brimley, sporting the two most famous mustaches in the movies. Rating: One and a half stars.

mammotH (Drama, PG-13, 125 minutes). A story of rich and poor, east and west;

unfortunately too sentimental. While a Filipino nanny cares for the child of rich Manhattanites, her own children miss her at home in the Philippines. And the husband of the U.S. couple (Gael Garcia Bernal) encounters a Thai bar girl, also supporting her fam-ily, while his wife (Michelle Williams) is a surgeon concerned about a poor boy who is her patient. Symbolism a little too obvious, in an otherwise good film with evocative characters. Rating: Three stars.

sive Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) briefed them, that nearly every species of life here wants him for lunch. (Avatars are not made of Na’vi flesh, but try explaining that to a charging 30-ton rhino with a snout like a bullet head shark.)

The Na’vi survive on this plan-et by knowing it well, living in harmony with nature, and being wise about the creatures they share with. In this and countless other ways they resemble Native Americans. Like them, they tame another species to carry them around – not horses, but graceful, flying dragon-like creatures. The scene involving Jake capturing and taming one of these great beasts is one of the film’s greatest sequences.

Like “Star Wars” and “LOTR,” “Avatar” employs a new genera-tion of special effects. Cameron said it would, and many doubted him. It does. Pandora is largely CGI. The Na’vi are embodied through motion-capture tech-niques, convincingly. They look like specific, persuasive individu-als, yet sidestep the eerie Uncanny Valley effect. And Cameron and his artists succeed at the diffi-cult challenge of making Neytiri a green-skinned giantess with gold-en eyes and a long, supple tail, and yet – I’ll be damned – sexy.

At 163 minutes, the film doesn’t feel too long. It contains so much. The human stories. The Na’vi stories, for the Na’vi are also developed as individuals. The complexity of the planet, which harbors a global secret. The ulti-

mate warfare, with Jake joining the resistance against his former comrades. Small graceful details like a floating creature that looks like a cross between a blowing dandelion seed and a drifting jel-lyfish, and embodies goodness. Or astonishing floating cloud-islands.

I’ve complained that many recent films abandon storytelling in their third acts and go for wall-to-wall action. Cameron essential-ly does that here, but has invested well in establishing his characters so that it MATTERS what they do in battle and how they do it. There are issues at stake greater than simply which side wins.

Cameron promised he’d unveil the next generation of 3-D in “Avatar.” I’m a notorious skep-tic about this process, a needless distraction from the perfect real-ism of movies in 2-D. Cameron’s iteration is the best I’ve seen – and more important, one of the most carefully employed. The film never uses 3-D simply because it has it, and doesn’t promiscu-ously violate the fourth wall. He also seems quite aware of 3-D’s weakness for dimming the picture, and even with a film set largely in interiors and a rain forest, there’s sufficient light. I saw the film in 3-D on a good screen and was impressed. It might be awesome in true IMAX. Good luck in getting a ticket before February.

It takes a hell of a lot of nerve for a man to stand up at the Oscarcast and proclaim himself King of the World. James Cameron just got re-elected.

december 17 - 23, 2009 Page 31

Mini Movie Reviews

A SCENE from James Cameron’s “Avatar.” (Photo: © 20th Century Fox)


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NEW ON VIDEO & DVD

BROKEN EMBRACES (Romantic drama, R, 128 min-utes). Almodovar’s passionate

new film. A blind man (Lluis Homar), once a director, now a writer, learns

the producer of his final film has died. He still hates this man. Flashbacks reveal the history of their relationship, and the woman (Penelope Cruz) between them. In the present, the dead man’s son enlists him in a proj-ect to gain vengeance on his father, and old secrets are discovered. A voluptuary of a film, drunk on primary colors, caressing Penelope Cruz, using the devices of a Hitchcock to distract us with surfaces while the sinister uncoils beneath. Rating: Four stars.

CLOUD NINE (Drama, not rated, 97 minutes). A sudden and unexpected romance

between a 67-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man consumes them with passion, but threatens the woman’s 30-year marriage, which is peaceful and conventional. The sex and nudity of the lovers is treated as if they were 20-year-olds, as it should be. The ending may be a little heavy for the tone of the film. In German, with English subtitles. Winner of the section Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2008. Rating: Three stars.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? (Comedy, PG-13, 107 minutes). Feuding

couple from Manhattan (Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker) are forced to flee town under the Witness Protection Program, find themselves Fish Out of Water in Strange New World, meet Colorful Characters, sur-vive Slapstick Adventures, end up Together at the End. The only part of that formula that still works is The End. With supporting roles for Sam

Elliott and Wilford Brimley, sporting the two most famous mustaches in the movies. Rating: One and a half stars.

THE YOUNG VICTORIA (Historical drama, PG, 100 minutes). Emily Blunt makes

Victoria as irresistible a young woman as Dame Judi Dench made her an older one in “Mrs. Brown” (1997). Shows her at the center of

a mighty struggle that also involved her adolescent emotions. She’s almost equally warm toward the good Albert (Rupert Friend) and handsome Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), the sort of cad most moth-ers, but not hers, would warn her about. A charmer. Rating: Three stars.

(C) 2009 The Ebert Co.


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HAPPY HOLIDAYS

As the Virginia Beach-based band, The Influence, prepares to ring in the new year, they stand on the precipice of a bold step in their career together — rebooting.

After more than four years and two full-length albums together, the band has made a daring decision to double back and attempt a second debut, in the process redoing several previous tracks in an entirely different style.

“To the public that hasn’t heard The Influence, we’re trying to make this our debut album, a label-ready album,” drummer Collin Cogan says, illustrating the first of two main reasons. “We talked to a producer, Ted Comerford, and he always told us he felt our other recordings didn’t really show what we sound like. He took a lot of songs from our first records and really showed us how they could be better songs.”

The second reason relates to a prolonged and drastic evolution of the band’s sound. When Cogan and bassist Tully joined up with guitarists Will Clarke and John Zontini and vocalist Matthew Stephenson, the band sported a pair of acoustic guitars and a singer-songwrit-er writing style. Throughout their early career they garnered comparisons to Dave Matthews and other acoustic jam bands. While Matthews and his cohorts in that genre often enjoyed plenty of success, that wasn’t really the path The Influence wanted to follow.

“Those comparisons were just kind of sur-prising to us. I look back now and it probably shouldn’t have come as any shock. That’s what we sounded like,” Cogan says. “I think we kind

of had a backlash where we were writing some heavier songs.”

To compensate, the band added electric guitars to their second LP release, Pig Radio, a transition that Cogan now recalls as their “awkward phase.” But now the group is putting its growing pains behind them and focusing on the future — a future in which they embrace a more complete rock-and-roll outlook.

“It was a gradual transition. The core of both albums were acoustic, but there were a lot of overdubs on Pig Radio with electric guitars that really became more than overdubs, became foundations. We realized we have more possi-bilities with electric guitars as well. We sort of sounded like Days of the New, but Days of the New only went so far. So we decided we’re not

an acoustic rock band, we’re a rock band. And that’s allowed us to move on with no boundar-ies,” Cogan says. “About a year ago we figured out what kind of band we are. On the new album, we’re trying to show that the evolution makes sense.”

Instilling that organizing principle is pro-ducer Comerford, functioning as what Cogan calls a “sixth set of ears” and controlling the detrimental tendencies the band sometimes falls into.

“We’re chaotic by nature and sometimes we let things get out of hand,” Cogan says. “But on the album, I think that’s why we hadn’t cap-tured everything in the right way yet.”

Cogan and his mates are hoping to nail it this time with the born-again sound of their new LP, slated for an early 2010 release. While they wait for the finished mixes, fans in the D.C. area can catch the quintet at IOTA Club and Café Jan. 2. They’ll likely strut some of their new songs on stage (look out for “Falling Out,” a Cogan fave) but also give a glimpse of remodeled “oldies” like “Windows,” a track that now bares a forboding feeling (think A Perfect Circle) to match its dark lyrical matter.

“We’re still trying to find a way to describe ourselves, but now we have a swagger about our-selves and when we go on stage we really know what we’re trying to accomplish,” Cogan says.

• For more on The Influence, visit www.theinfluence.com.

These tracks scooped up News-Press staffers’ interest this week:

Nicholas Benton— In the Ghetto by Elvis Presley

Jody Fellows— The Way You Move by Outkast

Natalie Bedell— Running On Sunshine by Jesus Jackson

Dean Edwards— Know Better Live Stronger by Thao Nguyen

Dec17

Winter BloomJammin’ Java

7:30 p.m.227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna

703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com

Erin McKeown

Iota Club & Café9 p.m.

2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington

703-522-8340 • iotaclubandcafe.com

18Lalah

HathawayBirchmere7:30 p.m.

3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria

703-549-7500 • birchmere.com

19The Legwarmers

State Theatre9 p.m.

220 N. Washington St., Falls Church

703-237-0300 • thestatetheatre.com

BY MIKE HUMEFALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS


17Thursday

18FridayTHE INFLUENCE (PHOTO: COURTESY DAVE COGAN)

19Saturday

December 17 - 23, 2009

Admittedly new to the Vietnamese soup scene (advanced warning to you “pho-natics” ready to tear these findings to shreds), it can still be said with confidence that Pho Sate in Falls Church has raised the bar when it comes to the endless possibilities the now-trendy broth has to offer.

The restaurant is one of the highest-rated pho spots in Falls Church according to Yelp.com readers and, coming from someone who found their hairdresser/magician thanks to Yelp.com reviews, it was assumed soup recommendations had to be trusted.

And the reviewers have it.Pho Sate has 17 different types of pho, not to mention, 36 other beef noodle, wonton, rice and egg

noodle soups. And then there’s the tapioca pearls on the rocks, but more on that later.For starters, the Cha Gìo Gà ($3 for 4), or chicken rolls, are everything they’re talked up to be. Don’t

let their small size decide their potential — the crispy, fried miniature egg rolls are stuffed with chicken and onions, and come served with both sweet and spicy sauces. Though the simple-sounding ingredients may not set the stage for riveting anticipation, there’s a reason this four-count serving disappears too soon.

Lucky for diners, the soup tends to arrive soon after the appetizers are served. Sticking with a basic, the Tái Nam ($6.25 small, $6.95 regular) is an eyeround steak-and-flank beef noodle soup ideal for those new to the pho frontier. Diners have their usual plate of add-ins, including mint leaves, sliced jalapeños, lime wedges and crunchy bean sprouts. A lazy susan provides the rest — hot, soy and hoisin sauces were among those labeled. However, with the best thing about pho being experimentation meets garnishes, there’s no right or wrong way to go (pending pho-natic backlash).

Now, to those 36 other soups, the Bún Thái Han San ($8.50) is one of Pho Sate’s beef vermicelli noodle soups. Listen up seafood lovers, these noodles are served topped with shrimp, squid, shrimp balls and white cabbage, all afloat in a “Thai-flavored soup,” which seemed to have a red chili-paste base. Though this one only comes in a regular-sized option, half of the Tái Nam and Bún Thái Han San left Pho Sate in their respectable to-go containers.

The take-home route being mindful, of course, of the fact patrons should always save room for the cliché. That would be Ché ($3.25), which is served three different ways at Pho Sate. Essentially, each of these dessert-style cold drinks come in a layered variation of gelatin, tapioca pearls and/or fruits, jammed under ice and all topped with coconut milk. A sucker for anything edible and resembling a rainbow, this was a no-brainer regardless of its obvious ability to disappoint. That’s a risk one must take, especially when there’s tapioca involved. Stirred with a long spoon and eaten like a thick milkshake, Ché is oddly one of things that once someone partakes in it for the first time, it’s easy to crave about halfway through your workday as some shameless indulgence similar to a candy bar. Then again, Ché’s a little more colorful.

One color that could stand to be taken down a notch, however, was the inescapable lime-green-painted walls inside Pho Sate, reiterated with the ... lime green shirts worn by its servers. Interior and fashion design qualms aside, Pho Sate’s green-shirted service was attentive at the start. Luckily, when the waiter seemed to go MIA, there was a helpful hostess who managed to step in, realizing that not all patrons eat pho and jet. Of course, not now that Ché exists.

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Last week I wrote that Jeff Shulman had asked me to coach him in preparation for the World Series of Poker November Nine final table.

To recap: I advised Jeff to play super-tight poker at the begin-ning of the final table, come in before the flop by raising about five times the big blind, and play low-risk poker because with $20 million in chips and blinds at $125,000/$250,000, there was ample time for him to sit back and let other players bust out of the tournament.

I built an advisory team com-prised of Diego Cordovez, a WSOP bracelet winner in No Limit Hold’em, Barry Shulman, Jeff’s father and winner of this year’s WSOPE Main Event, Cy Young award-winning pitcher Orel Hershisher to sharpen Jeff’s mental edge, and a few others to allow us to simulate final table action.

We played for dozens of hours. We reviewed every single hand that had been played by the other members of the November Nine. We watched every Main Event episode on ESPN, rewound and reviewed every bluff and every super-strong hand while looking for physical tells and discernable betting patterns.

All this so Jeff Shulman would have a great feel for his opponents once final table play began.

We set up chipstacks at a poker table in accordance with the seat order of the final players, includ-ing a picture of each player in front of his respective stack. We played countless hours of seven-handed, six-handed, five-handed, four-handed, and three-handed poker, with each of us assuming the identity of one of Jeff’s com-petitors.

Whenever Jeff entered a pot, action paused while we dissected his tactics in detail. Was he play-ing tight enough? Was he moving his chips well? Were there alterna-tive plays that better suited the particular situation?

I even pulled a new tactic out of my bag of tricks. I advised Jeff to make big pre-flop raises in order to keep the other players out of the pot with their small pairs

and suited connectors. I wanted to deter other players from bluffing Jeff pre-flop. The plan was cor-rectly based on the fact that it’s next to impossible to bluff a guy like Jeff who’s playing super-tight poker and raising big whenever he does enter a pot.

We wanted to keep Jeff in the game for as long as possible by winning small uncontested pots and keep him away from major catastrophes.

By the time Jeff sat down at the Main Event final table, with ESPN cameras rolling and thousands of spectators observing in the Rio’s Penn and Teller Theatre, he was remarkably calm and confident.

Jeff stuck to the game plan. He pushed all-in only once in the first ten hours of play, with A-K against Joe Cada’s A-J. When his hand held up, it appeared that the rest of the field was in real trouble.

Only 50 minutes later, how-

ever, Cada moved all-in with pocket threes and was called by Jeff with pocket jacks in a pot worth over $22 million. Win this one and Jeff would have $30 million at the start of four-handed play!

It didn’t happen. Cada hit a miracle three on the flop and Jeff was left crippled with about $7 million chips and five players remaining. Then, Shulman lost a race with 7-7 against A-9 and was out in fifth place.

Would I have changed a single tactic regarding how I coached Jeff Shulman? No way.

If not for an unlikely three to hit on the flop for Cada, Jeff may very well have won the 2009 WSOP Main Event. Well played, Jeff!

Learn more about Phil at www.PhilHellmuth.com and www.PokerBrat.com.

© 2009 Card Shark Media. All rights reserved.

SAN ANTONIO – At first glance, wine seems like a no-brainer holiday gift. You go to the store, ask a salesperson for a recommendation and buy a bottle. But there are some things you should know before giving wine as a gift.

“The first question is ‘What do (they) like to drink?’ ” says Marc Brenton Smith, sommelier at Il Sogno Osteria restaurant here.

“I ask what their wine collection is like,” says Heidi Holcomb, beer and wine manager at Central Market supermar-ket here. “If you’re not too sure, pick out something you would

definitely like having. You can never go wrong that way.”

“We can start broadly – do you know if they like reds or white?” says Michael Michalik, wine spe-cialist at Whole Foods Market. “If they don’t know, I just make sure it’s a fantastic bottle of wine.”

“We like to ask if the customer buying the gift is familiar at all with the person’s drinking habits,”

says Lori Hartman, manager of Twin Liquors Fine Wine & Spirits. “It gives us a foot up in finding something comparable to what they enjoy.”

When pressed, several experts gave their personal favorites, starting with Hartman, who says while some people like to look for prestigious names, “and we can accommodate that, we also like to look at new fun wines in that $8-$15 range that drink more expensive than they are.”

In the less than $10 range, Hartman recommends Los Cardos Malbec at $8.99, rated at 90 points by Wine Spectator. “It pairs wonderfully with food that’s fried, grilled or seared. But it’s also so good and balanced on its own. Cabernet drinkers and merlot drinkers can enjoy this.”

For the person who likes a lighter style wine, Hartman sug-gests the Carmel Road Pinot Noir from California at $18.99. “It’s packed with blackberries and strawberries, and it’s very luscious and smooth on the palate,” pairing particularly well with turkey and other white meats. “This is a great value in pinot noir because pinots can be from $7 up to $25. It’s good to find value and quality at less than $20, and that’s what we find with Carmel Road.”

For those wanting a drier wine, Hartman recommends Food & Wine magazine’s winemaker of the year’s Charles Smith’s Kung Fu Girl Riesling. “It will satisfy palates that require a little more fruit, but don’t want overly sweet. It would be a great chilled aperitif to welcome guests into your home.” The wine, from Washington State, sells for $11.99.

For Michalik, wine specialist at Whole Foods Market, “Without a doubt ... Masi Amarone. It’s an Italian red that costs $66.99,” he says. As far as recommendations at the store, he’s “pretty partial to Masi. It also has a Ripasso. It’s called Campofiorin Ripasso.” That choice sells for $18.99.

Holcomb suggests doing something eclectic, “something not as well known. Something from a boutique winery in California is always fun because it’s hard to get hold of ... South American wines because they’re not as well known per se.”

Specifically, Holcomb suggests Tannat or Bonardo, both from South America. She also says to consider “really cool Austrian white wines” like Gruner Veltliner or Riesling.

Fernando de Luna, wine educator at Republic National Distributing in Schertz, Texas, was harder to pin down, but he does have two “ultimate desert island wines.”

The first would be “great German Estate Rieslings – the top end is both dry and fruity.

“One of the great fascinations of wine is that there are literally thousands and thousands of choices,“ he continues. ”With that being said, I do love great Mosel – that’s the river or region they come from. European wines are by region.”

The Gift of Wine:Let the Cup Runneth Over


TheWineLineBy Jennifer RodriguezSAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Lessons with Jeff Shulman - Part 2

ACROSS1. “Yeah ... whatever!”5. Limit8. Low-volume sound14. George Herman Ruth, Jr.’s nick-name15. “What ____ the odds?”16. Nissan model17. Five-dollar bills, slangily18. ____ se19. X-ray follow-up20. “Animal House” fraternity23. Pres. elected in ‘4824. “Children of the Tenements” author Jacob25. Bausch’s partner27. Secretary of Energy under Obama31. State Farm competitor35. Lewis Carroll’s “slithy” thing36. Liverpool lav37. “Sophie’s Choice” author38. Abbr. in a help wanted ad39. 2005 Pussycat Dolls hit41. Suffix with ranch42. Vermont skiing mecca, for short44. Fort Worth sch.45. What a myrmecologist studies46. Riverboat hazard47. 2003 Ana Menendez novel49. Weather service agcy.51. Slangy denials52. Opposite of post-55. “I’m the One That I Want” come-dienne

60. Private line?62. Noted convert to Islam in 196463. Part of a parka64. Not on time for65. Wild scene66. Switzerland’s longest river67. Number of colleges in the Big Ten68. “District 9” characters, for short69. Fr. holy women

DOwn1. Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love ____ Name”2. Physical feature of the extinct Smilodon3. “That’s my understanding”4. Holidayish5. Skipper: Abbr.6. It may be gray7. Where the Guinea pig was first domesticated8. Like a manly man9. Final proposals10. NFL blockers: Abbr.11. Wisc. neighbor12. Thurman and Pemmaraju13. Tirade21. Enzyme suffix22. Gulager of “The Virginian”26. Jazz singer Andy27. They support plants28. Sweet’____29. Bamboozle30. Too ____ handle

32. McGruff the Crime Dog wears one33. Popular Hawaiian vacation spot34. Win by ____37. Feng ____39. Mineral in marble40. 205, in old Rome43. Tandoor-baked bread45. Christie and others47. Choreographer Lubovich48. Opposite of SSW50. “The West Wing” creator Sorkin52. Gomer of TV53. Sincere54. 90 degrees from sur56. Intent look57. Oodles58. They run through South America59. Keats feats61. A few: Abbr.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 23

24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37

38 39 40 41

42 43 44 45

46 47 48

49 50 51

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

60 61 62 63

64 65 66

67 68 69

Across

1. "Yeah ... whatever!"

5. Limit

8. Low-volume sound

14. George Herman Ruth, Jr.'s nickname

15. "What ____ the odds?"

16. Nissan model

17. Five-dollar bills, slangily

18. ____ se

19. X-ray follow-up

20. "Animal House" fraternity

23. Pres. elected in '48

24. "Children of the Tenements" author Jacob

25. Bausch's partner

27. Secretary of Energy under Obama

31. State Farm competitor

35. Lewis Carroll's "slithy" thing

36. Liverpool lav

© 2009 David Levinson Wilk

crossword / By David Levinson Wilk

C R A S H B O O M C L A PR E N E E R U D I H O B OU S T E N E T O N A N E WN O L A B A D N E W SC L E S O D O T H E M O BH E R E T I C M A Y E G O

B E T R U E W H O O PS U R R O U N D S O U N D

B A C O N M A I T R EA N S E B B T A R D I E RM E D U S A B A B Y T C U

S T R E E T S O H O SP E R U T A T I E N A C TO N O R A T O N D E C A LP L O P B A N G B L A R E

THE QUIGMANS BuDDy Hickerson

Last Thursday’s Solution

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

Complete the gridso each row, column and 3-by-3 box(in bold borders)contains everydigit, 1 to 9.For strategies onhow to solveSudoku, visitwww.sudoku.org.uk

© 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

12/20/09

Level: 1 2 3 4


NICK KNACK

© 2009 n.F. Benton

Yard Sales

INDOOR SALE: SATURDAY 12/19, 10-3; Sunday 12/20, 12-3. 2848 Annandale Rd., #125, Falls Church, 22042. 703-534-3854. Stocking stuffers, Household items.

For Sale

FIREWOOD - SEASONED OAK. $195/Cord. Free Delivery. Call: 703-623-0101

For Rent

CHRISTIAN MALE SEEKS tenant to rent room. Available now; utilities included. Nonsmoking, no alcohol. Spacious Master BDR, large closet, $550; $250 deposit. References. 703-655-2043

Services

CHILD CARE Experienced childcare provider provides quality care for your infant in F.C. home. (703) 241-0605.

DOG SITTING in my home. Reason-able rates. Excellent references Call 703-577-1734

HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE Avail-able 7 days a week. Week, biweekly, monthly or one time. Good references in Falls Church City. 10 years experience. For further information call me at 703-901-0596. Senior discount, Ask: Susy.

HOUSECLEANING: RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, & Affordable. Years of Local experience. References. Also available for limited elderly assistance. Call Dorothy 703-379-2096.

LOCAL FALLS CHURCH brick & stone mason Installing brink, stone; steps, walkways, patios, retaining walls; Fireplace/chimney repairs. Jeff Cadle: 703-698-1390.

MARIA’S HOUSE CLEANING Com-mercial or Residential. Move in or move out. House, apartment, offices. Reference &, experience. 703-395-5971 or 703-231-4135

Public Notice

Request For Proposals (RFP)RFP No. 1207-10-SWC

Solid Waste Collection ServicesCity Of Falls Church, Virginia

Sealed proposals will be accepted by the City of Falls Church at the Purchasing Office, 300 Park Ave., Room 300E, Falls Church, VA 22046 for the provision of Solid Waste Collection Services for the City.

Due date for the receipt of proposals: Janu-ary 5, 2010 by 11:00 AM.

All proposals must meet the requirements in the RFP which may be downloaded from the City of Falls Church’s website: http://www.fallschurchva.gov; Purchasing and Procurement link. In addition, a copy of the RFP may be accessed via eVA, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s electronic procurement portal for registered suppliers: http://eva.virginia.gov.

For more information regarding this RFP contact: Faye Smith, Purchasing Manager; (703) 248-5007; [email protected]. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call 703 248-5007, (TTY 711).


Deadlines:Every Tuesday

2 [email protected]

The News-Press Classifieds

Remember, New Classified

Deadlines:Every Tuesday, 2

p.m.!

E-mail:

[email protected]

WHAT A CHILD LEARNSABOUT VIOLENCE

A CHILD LEARNS FOR LIFE.Teach carefully. We can show you how.

Call 877-ACT-WISE for a free brochure or visit www.actagainstviolence.org.

NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR I.D. ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAS.Act Against Violence - Magazine & Newspaper (2 1/1 6 x 2) B&W APARD2-N-05130-D “What a Child Learns” Line Work

Film at Horan Imaging 212-689-8585 Reference #: 127093

CLNTS 1 WV B/W DOLEV127093 *127093*1/15/0222:03

We are pleged to the letter andspirit of Virginia’s policy forachieving equal housing oppor-tunity throughout theCommonwealth. We encourageand support advertising andmarketing programs in whichthere are no barriers to obtain-ing housing because of race,color, religion, national origin,sex, elderliness, familial statusor handicap.All real estate advertised hereinis subject to Virginia’s fairhousing law which makes itillegal to advertise “any prefer-ence, limitation, or discrimina-tion because of race, color, reli-gion, national origin, sex,elderliness, familial status orhandicap or intention to makeany such preference, limitation,or discrimination.”This newspaper will not know-ingly accept advertising for realestate that violates the fairhousing law. Our readers areherby informed that alldwellings advertised in thisnewspaper are available on anequal opportunity basis. Formore information or to file ahousing complaint call theVirginia Fair Housing Office at(804) 367-8530. Toll free call(888) 551-3247. For the hear-ing impaired call (804) 367-9753. Email:[email protected] site:www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

News-Press Classifieds$20 for up to 20 words

50¢ each additional wordAdd a box - $10

Deadline: 2 p.m. Tuesdays (two days before publication)

Fill out our Classified Ad form online at www.fcnp.com

Phone: 703-532-3267 • Fax: 703-342-0352 E-Mail: [email protected]

Mail: 450 W. Broad St. #321, Falls Church, VA 22046Please include payment (check or money order) with your ad or call us to arrange payment by credit card.For public & legal notices, please e-mail [email protected] Falls Church News-Press accepts no financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements. Advertising which has minor discrepancies such as misspelling or small type transposition, but which do not affect the ability of the reader to respond to the ad will be considered substantially correct and full payment is required. The Falls Church News-Press is not responsible if the original copy is not typewritten or legible and clear. The Falls Church News-Press is not responsible for copy changes made by telephone.

IfÊyouÊoweÊoverÊ$15,000ÊinÊbackÊtaxesÊCALLÊNOW

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Professional services

Ad Already In the Paper?

Get your ad on-line too!

Call today and ask about FCNP

On-Line Advertising.703-532-3267

www.FCNP.com

Benton Potter & Murdock, PC

Government contract law, health law, civil litigation,

and all areas of business law.In the City of Falls Church:

703-992-9255In D.C.: 202-416-1660

www.bpmlawyers.com

400 S. Maple Avenue, Suite 210, Falls Church, VA 22046

703-532-3267 to advertise!

RE/MAX Allegiance5100 Leesburg Pike, Suite 200

Alexandria, VA 22302mobile. 703-868-5999office. 703-824-4800

[email protected]

See all of the Falls Church listings as soon as they hit

the market!

www.FallsChurchListingMap.com

other services

Make a Joyful Splash!

Eileen Levywith

Create unique art masterpieces using acrylics, water-based oils, pencils and an innovative

variety of tools and brushes.

Held at 111 Park Avenue Falls Church on Tuesday Evenings

from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pmCost: $90 On-going monthly enrollment

Enroll on-line at www.creativecauldron.org

Or call 571-239-5288

lawn & Garden

Seven BrothersLandscaping Service

703-241-4990

Spring Cleanup, mulching, mowing, edging, trimming.

Tree Service & Snow Removal Residential & Commercial

NOW ADD COLOR

CALL mARiLyN 703-532-3267

REMODELING & ADDITION, CERAMIC, TILE, FINISHED CARPENTRY, CROWN MOLD-ING, CHAIRS, DECK RAILS, STAIR, WINDOWS, DOORS, CONCRETE, SIDEWALKS,

DRIVEWAYS, BRICK INSTALLED & REPAIRED

Phone # 703-848-8322Cell Number 703-901-2431


Business & Service Directory

Put YourBusiness & Service

Directory Ad ONLINE!

Just$125 for 3 months $200 for 6 months

$325 for 1 year

www.fcnp.com

w/ 3 mo. , 6 mo. or 1 year print ad

JOSEPH HOME IMPROVEMENTDrywall • Paint Exterior / Interior,

Bath & Kitchen Remodeling,Basements, Handyman,Moving, Clean Garage,

All kinds of haulingJoseph Cell 703-507-5005

Tel 703-507-8300Licensed Work

WWW.fCNp.COm 703-532-3267

cleaninG services

5 Rooms deep cleaned only $110•Stretching•Mold Experts •Upholstery• 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage

We Clean the White House!

Mike’s Carpet Cleaning

Call Mike 703-978-2270

home imProvement

JEFF L. CADLELocal brick n’ stone mason installing patios,

walkways, steps, chimneys, etc. Specializing in repairs. Local references.

Free Estimates. 703-698-1390

Licensed Insured

on-site computer repair

703-496-7807

Same Day, Evening & WeekendAppointments Available!

Service From

$29.99 Call for details.

“MILLENNIUM, USA PAINTING”Licensed & Insured

Interior • Exterior • Commercial Residential • Industrial

Power Washing • CarpentryWall Paper Removal & InstallationDrywall Finishing • Tile Ceramic

Deck • Fences • Housekeeping Services

703-409-8563 • 703-869-0941

Great ReferencesGreat Prices

Quality Service

[email protected] Piedmont St #3 Arlington VA, 22203

www.millennium-usa-painting.com

20% DiscountNew Customers

www.a-cleaningserviceinc.com

A - Cleaning Service since 1985

703-892-8648

Insured, Bonded and Licenced Independently owned

Commercial & Residential

HENRY HASSAN, MSFM, EATAX ACCOUNTANT – IRS ENROLLED AGENT

YASMEEN HASSAN JONESPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT

SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTINGPAYROLL SERVICES

INDIVIDUAL AND BUSINESSTAX PREPARATION

BUSINESS CONSULTING703-241-7771

www.hassansacctg.com6404-N SEVEN CORNERS PLACE FALLS CHURCH VA 22044

home imProvement

MOTTERN MASONRY DESIGN

Specializing in custom firplaces, patios, walkways, walls, driveways.

Small and large repairs. Free Estimates.

Licensed and insured.Local Company.

All work guaranteed.703-496-7491

www.motternmasonry.com

Kitchen &Bathrooms, Finished Basements,Additions. All your carpentry needs we handle everything for you. No need to search for a plumber, electrican or painter. We do it all.

703- 499-7095Licensed & Insured Contractor

MBASSADOROMEMPROVEMENTS, NC.

N.G. PAINTINGResidential & Commercial Interior & Exterior Painting

Plastering & Drywall Repairs Wall Paper RemovalPower Wash Clean

Fully LicensedCell: (202) 352-1429

Office: (703) 312-0032

brick - fieldstoneflagstone - concrete

One of the Oldest Masonry Companies in NOVAOwned & Operated by The Cadle Family since the 1950s

MasonrySpecialist, LLC

703-443-2308

For All of Your Masonry Needs Custom Design, Installation, Repairs & Restoration

EP Henry & Belgard PaversPatios, Walkways, Driveways Retaining & Decorative Walls

See our web site for ideas, pictures & coupons:

All Work Guaranteed - Licensed & Fully InsuredClass A License #VA2705087240A

www.masonryspecialist.com

Family OphthalmologyExams, Glasses Prescription

Medicare providerJohn Karickhoff, M.D.

Board Certified313 Park AveFalls Church

(703) 536-2400

Gabriel Lawn Service

703-691-2351Free Estimates

L e a f r e m o v a l • Tr e e S e r v i c e

All repairs, plumbing, drywall, doors, windows, rotted,wood, siding, gutters,

lighting + more FREE estimates, insured

Call Doug (703)556-4276

Handyman Service

www.novahandyman.com

Leaf Removal, Gutter Cleaning,

Mowing, & MulchingFree Estimates

703-627-7723

Sweet Garden Lawn Care

Providing food for you and your guests up to 50 (home or office). Chef Sam preprares Persian, Afghani, Mediterranean, and American foods for your party.

For your function please call(703) 580-7511 cell (703)-477-1780 [email protected]

SAM'S CATERING

food & dininG

doned a government insurance plan and given on up a proposal to permit Americans who reach the age of 55 to buy into Medicare.

The liberals in his party were the losers – along with the mil-lions of people with no insur-ance. Dr. Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and for-mer governor of Vermont, said Wednesday that the bill pending in the Senate has been so diluted that it’s not worth passing. The only winners were the insurance companies that poured millions of dollars into the campaign to mold the legislation more to their liking. “This is the insurance companies’ dream,” Dean said on ABC-TV.

Obama’s policy toward Afghanistan is another disappoint-ment for the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. His decision to send 30,000 more American troops – bringing the total in Afghanistan to about 100,000 – showed that Obama was gambling on the side of the generals.

The war supporters include the ranks of all GOP lawmakers, who seem to care more about the cost of universal health care than the multi-billions spent for war.

It’s an Afghan war that has yet to be explained. Is it a geopolitical power play involving rivalry with China and Russia? Or is it to “defeat, destroy and demean” al Qaida? Or is it to nation-build in Central Asia?

The administration’s standard public rationale has been that the U.S. cannot afford to have al Qaida regroup in Afghanistan, a scenario that could evolve if Afghanistan is a failed state.

Here’s a question that needs to be addressed: Are we going to run around the globe and prop up other failed states just to keep al Qaida out?

Will we send troops to Somalia or Sudan to prop up weak central governments that seem unable to impose law and order in their own territories?

We are begging the reluctant Pakistani and Afghan governments to fight their internal opponents – the Taliban and the motley nihilist al Qaida network. Is it their cause or ours? Do they really want our

help or not?I sometimes think that Obama’s

policies are morphing faithfully into those of his predecessor, for-mer President George W. Bush.

The president has yet to take his gloves off against the greedy Wall Streeters and oligarchs in Congress who led the country down the garden path right into the Great Recession and its tragic landscape of job loss, home fore-closures, poverty and hunger.

I say to the president: The time has come for you to get tough. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Falls Church News-PressVol IX, No. 41 • December 23, 1999

‘Planning Commission Gives Final OK for Rees Tract Town Houses’

“The Falls Church Planning Commission gave final approval Monday night to the site plan of DB&A General Contractors for the development of 36 town house units on the Rees property behind the Red Lobster restaurant in the 500 block of W. Broad Street. “I am delighted and we’re anxious to get started,” Carl Bernstein told the News-Press yesterday. He said he hopes development can begin this winter, but that the bulk of the work will be...”

Falls Church News-PressVol lV, No. 40 • December 22, 1994

‘EDA OKs Innovative City Financing Role’

“If the Falls Church City Council follows the advice of the Economic Development Authority here, the City will enter the world of creative financing for the first time to help its business development. Were the Council can do this, increases in future tax revenues from the sites would be lever-aged for a sale of bonds to help finance the development of an office building in the 400 block of West Broad. The “tax invest-ment financing” plan, cooked up by...”

It is now the time for all g o o d cows to go to the aid of their pasture.* * * * *

T h r o w it up. Pour it up It is now the time for all good cows to go to the aid

10 Years Ago

lazy

dog. The

q u i c k

sly fox

jumped

o v e r

the lazy

d o g .

Now is

the time

for all

g o o d

cows to

come to

the aid

of their

pasture.

Now is

the time

for all

g o o d

cows to

come to

the aid

of their

pasture.

15 Years Ago

Helen Thomas


BACK IN THE DAY10 & 15 Years ago in the news-Press


Visit Us Online @www.FCNP.com

“The Terrible Trio,” as their friends call them, stand guard at the top of the stairs. bailey inabnet watches one side (far right, top). She lives in Falls Church with Joseph inabnet. bailey is accompanied by her best friends, beluga o’Meara who watches the other side (far left) and lives in Manassas. Pearl Campbell safeguards the middle position (middle top). Pearl also lives in Falls Church and is owned by Amy Campbell. recently, Mike and Carla o’Meara, who live in Manassas with beluga, acquired a new addition to their canine family, little Frankie. in spite of the not-so-welcoming looks, they all get along wonder-fully and make sure to all take turns at the top of the stairwell.

n AccountingDiener & Associates, CPA.. . . . . . . . . 241-8807Eric C. Johnson, CPA, PC . . . . . . . . . 538-2394Mark Sullivan, CPA. . . . . . . . . . . 571-214-4511Hassans Accounting & Tax Services . 241-7771Hahn & Associates, PC, CPAs. . . . . . 533-3777

n AntiQuES&coLLEctiBLESFalls Church Antique Company . . . . . 241-7074Antique Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-9642

n AttornEySMark F. Werblood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9300Janine S. Benton, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . .992-9255

n AutomotivEBeyer Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5000 Integrity Tire & Auto Repair . . . . . . . . 639-0700

n BAnkingBurke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. . . . 519-1634BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-3505TD Bank/www.TDBank.com. . . . . . . . 237-2051Acacia Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506-8100

n BookBindingBCR Binders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-9181

n BuSinESSSErvicESJon Rizalvo, PAYCHEX . . . . 698-6910 x27045

n chiroprActorDr. Solano, solanospine.com . . . . . . 536-4366

n cAtEringSam’s Catering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 580-7511

n cLEAningSErvicESPressure Washing/Deck, Siding. . . . . 980-0225 A-Cleaning Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892-8648Affordable Carpet Resoration. . . . . . . 978-2270Maid Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823-1922Carpets, Ducts, Windows. . . . . . . . . . 823-1922

n computErSErvicESFast-teks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496-7807

n counSELingCarol S. Miller, LCSW . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-4980Josette Millman, APRN . . . . . . . . . . . 855-0396

n dEntiStSDr. William Dougherty . . . . . . . . . . . 532-3300Dr. Nimisha V. Patel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-1733

n EQuipmEntrEntAL/SALEVA Outdoor Power Equipment . . . . . . 207-2000Ace Tool & Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 532-5600

n EyEwEArPoint of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-6500

n FLoriStSFalls Church Florist, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 533-1333

n FrAmESArt & Frame of Falls Church . . . . . . . 534-4202

n giFtSStifel & Capra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-0770

n hEALth&FitnESSCurves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-0140Sacred Well Yoga and Healing . . . . . 989-8316

n homEcArEHuman Touch Home Health . . . . . . . . 531-0540

n homEimprovEmEntJoseph Home Improvement . . . . . . . . 507-5005Ram Home Improvement . . . . . . . . . . 641-5892Doug’s Handyman Services . . . . . . . 556-4276Ambassador Home Improvements . . 499-7095FC Heating & Air Service . . . . . . . . . . 534-0630N.G. Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312-0032Millennium, USA Painting . . . . . . . . . 409-8563The Vinyl Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793-3111

n inSurAncEState Farm Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-5105

n LAwn&gArdEnMorales Landscaping and Lawncare 502-3990Sweet Garden Lawn Care . . . . . . . . . 627-7723Gabriel Lawn Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 691-2351Seven Brothers Landscaping . . . . . . . 241-4990

n mASonryMottern Masonry Design . . . . . . . . . . 496-7491Masonry Specialist LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 443-2308Jeff L. Cadle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698-1390

n mASSAgEwww.healthybyintention.com. . . . . . . . 534-1321Sheraton Premiere Women’s Massage 403-9328

n mEdicALDr Gordon Theisz, Family Medicine. . 533-7555The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy. . . . 536-4042

n muSicAcademy of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938-8054World Childrens Choir . . . . . . . . . . . . 883-0920Columbia Institute - Fine Arts. . . . . . . 534-2508Foxes Music Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533-7393

n ophthALmoLogyJohn Karickhoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536-2400

n phArmAcyBroad Street Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . .533-9013

n rEALEStAtEMerelyn Kaye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .790-9090x218www.helpfulmortgage.us . . . . . . . . . . 237-0222Casey O’Neal - ReMax . . . . . . . . . . . 824-4196Rosemary Hayes Jones . . . . . . . . . . .790-1990Leslie Hutchison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .675-2188The Young Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356-8800Shaun Murphy, Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . 868-5999www.TheJeffersonatBallston.com . . . 741-7562Susan Fauber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395-8741

n tAiLorTailor Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534-8886

All numbers have a ‘703’ prefix unless otherwise indicated.


To see your business here, call us at 703-532-3267, fax 703-342-0352 or E-Mail us at [email protected]

Check out our NEW Online Business Directory at www.FCNP.com

Critter Corner

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Snap a pic of your critter and email it to:[email protected]

OR mail it toCritter Corner c/o

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Falls Church, Va 22046

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News•Photos•Online Polls•SportsE-Issuu • Twitter • and More

VISIT US ONLINE

www.fcnp.com

for the week of December 17-23, 2009

city

DECEMBER 2009

17 Environmental Services

C

ouncil, 7:30 p.m

.

H

istoric Archite

ctural

R

eview Board, 7:30 p.m.

19 Farmers’ M

arket, 8 a.m

.-noon

23 General Distric

t Court i

n Session

24 Christm

as Eve

C

ity Hall, C

ommunity Center, D

MV Select,

L

ibrary, Senior C

enter, Sheriff

’s Office,

Courts

Closed

Refuse & Recycling Collectio

n

for T

hursday & Friday

Collection Areas

21 Yard Waste, Bundled Brush

a

nd Special Collectio

ns

P

lanning Commission, 7:45 p.m.

First D

ay of Winter

22 Juvenile & Domestic Relatio

ns

C

ourt in Session

Questions or Comments?City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046703-248-5003 (TTY 711)The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news

Christmas and New Year’s Holiday Schedules CITY HALL CLOSED Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1DMV SELECT IN CITY HALL LIBRARYSENIOR CENTER

COURTS CLOSED Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1SHERIFF’S OFFICE

COMMUNITY CENTER CLOSED Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1 CLOSED at 5 p.m. Dec. 31

GEORGE BUS NO SERVICE Dec. 25 and Jan. 1

REFUSE, RECYCLING, NO PICKUPS Dec. 25 or Jan. 1& SPECIAL COLLECTIONS REFUSE & RECYCLING will be collected Thursdays Dec. 24 & 31 for the Thursday and Friday collection areas. For information about collections, call 703-248-5316 (TTY 711) or 703-248-5176 (TTY 711).

The Police Department reminds you to take extra precautions during the holiday season, as robbery and theft incidents increase this time of year.

• When shopping, store your purchases and valuables in the trunk of your vehicle, and not in the interior where passersby can see them. Keep all receipts with you.

• Carry your valuables wisely. Do not keep cash in your wallet (if you must, carry only a small amount). Instead, keep your cash in an inside pocket and only carry credit cards you intend to use.

• When carrying a purse, hold it close to you with the open-ing or flap facing your body. Never leave your purse in a shopping cart or basket.

• If you carry a backpack, carry your wallet on your person. If in a crowd, consider carrying the backpack on your front; pickpockets can easily access a backpack in a crowded area unobserved.

• Protect your credit card numbers and other personal information. Only provide credit card numbers over the phone if you initiated the call and know to whom you are providing this information.

• After the holidays, don’t put the boxes of high-dollar gift items out in the trash (i.e., TV, VCR, DVD, computers, etc.), advertising the new items that are inside your home. Break down the boxes and turn them inside out, or take them to the Recycling Center (217 Gordon Road).

• If you are traveling for the holidays, have a friend or neighbor collect your mail and newspapers or have your service suspended while you are away.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Report anything or any-one suspicious that you observe to the police.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season

2010 City Calendar InformationThe City will not be mailing a hardcopy 2010 Calendar due to budget cuts. A completelisting of City events, meetings, closures, and important dates will be available online atwww.fallschurchva.gov.

Take a Break for Fun

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard This Winter – Sign Up for Alert Falls Church

Get real-time updates and instructions on what to do and where to go during an emergency in Falls Church City, by registering for Falls Church Alert. You will receive alerts from the City via portable electronic devices and e-mail, only in the event of an emergency. Sign up for this free service at alert.fallschurchva.gov.

Sign Up for e-FOCUSThe e-FOCUS is the City’s online newsletter that

highlights the City’s financial, environmental, trans-portation, economic development, public safety, and housing issues. Check it out or subscribe online atwww.fallschurchva.gov.

The Falls Church Community Center is offering several exciting camps and activities for students while school is out. For more information, call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711).

• All American Sports Camps (ages 6-11)• Sciensational Workshops (ages 7-12)• Holiday Hijinx Theater Camp (ages 6-12)• Holiday Bake Out (ages 8-17) • Tiny Dancers - Santa Camp (ages 3-5)• Holiday BreakOut (ages 3-6)

Watch NightCome see the lowering of the

historic star as the New Year arrives in downtown Falls Church. Watch Night festivities get underway at 7 p.m. and will feature fun and free entertainment for the whole family! For more infor-mation, visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza for Middle Schoolers

The Community Center presents its annual New Year’s Eve Extravaganza exclusively for middle school stu-dents from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. The evening will feature Mr. DJ spinning hit tunes, the “Wild One” obstacle course, a “defender dome”, “bouncy boxing,” a movie, lots of food, door prizes and the big countdown to midnight! Register online at www.fallschurchva.gov or call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711).

Ring in the New Year in the City


Scho

ols

School content published in The Schools Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, contact the Falls Church City Public Schools Communications Office. Phone: (703) 248-5699 Fax: (703) 248-5613.

BIE Partner of the WeekDavid and Rebecca Tax Clare and Don’s Beach Shack

School involvement: Hosted the first “Byrd Feeder,” a fundraiser for the All Night Grad Party. Also contributes to new teacher events, and supports numerous other school pro-grams.

Why Rebecca and David are BIEpartners: “Being a Falls Church business means there are many opportunities to become involved in the community. We support the schools whenever we can, and are delighted to be the first business in Falls Church to host GMHS principal, Mr. Byrd.”

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at [email protected].

Calendar forDecember 17, 2009 - January 4, 2010December17 7:30 p.m. GMHS Chorus Winter Concert (GM)18 5:00 p.m. Mason @ McLean High School (Wrestling)

7:30 p.m. Mason @ Freedom High (B Basketball)7:30 p.m. Dominion @ Mason (Swimming)

19 10:00 a.m. Mason @ McLean (Wrestling)21 4:00 p.m. Class of 2009: IB Awards Ceremony (GM)

6:00 p.m. EIP/HEP Tutoring (GM)7:30 p.m. Potomac Falls @ Mason (G Basketball)

22 8:15 a.m. Special Education Parent Meeting (GM)6:30 p.m. School Board Work Session (City Hall)8:00 p.m. School Board Regular Meeting (City Hall)

23 Early Dismissal – All Schools24-25 Winter Break (Schools Closed / Day Care Closed)28-31 Winter Break (Schools Closed / Day Care Open)January1 New Year’s Day (Schools Closed / Day Care Closed)4 Schools ReopenFor more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary

(MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle

(GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office

Foundation FootnotesNeed a Year-End Gift Idea?Looking for a tax deduction? The Falls Church Education Foundation is now accepting year-end gifts. Past year-end contributions have included cash, long-term appreciated stock and donations from an IRA. For more information about short or long-term donations and tax implications, contact the foundation office at (703) 538-3381 or email Donna Englander at [email protected].

The Falls Church Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Visit www.fcedf.org for more information.

FCC-TV Spotlight: George Mason High School Winter ConcertTune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to see the George Mason High School Winter Concert.The program features performances from the Jazz, Percussion, Concert and Symphonic bands of George Mason High School. You can catch the GMHS Winter Concert on FCC-TV at the following times:

• Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:00 p.m. • Saturdays at 4:00 p.m.

You can now see FCC-TV programming live at www.fcctv.net anywherein the world! FCC-TV also airs in the greater Falls Church area on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2.

www.fccps.org - The official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news

The George Mason High School Chorus performs tonight, Thursday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. The program will feature Haydn’s “Laetatus Sum” and Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter,” along with an assortment of holiday favorites and spirituals.

In addition to the GMHS Chorus and Chamber Singers, the Women’s and Men’s Ensembles will also perform.

It’s an evening that will leave you full of the holiday spirit. Best of all, admission is free!

GMHS Choral Concert – Tonight at 7:30!

George Mason English teacher Paige Whitlock has been selected as the new assistant principal for George Mason High School.

Whitlock, now in her fourth year at GM, will continue to teach two IB English 12 classes and one English 10 course in addition to her new duties.

George Mason English Department head Karin Tooze called Whitlock, “extremely organized and an inspira-tion to both students and teachers.”

Whitlock NamedNew GM Asst. Principal

Paige Whitlock

Falls Church City public school teacher Linda Johnson will soon be able to share her first-hand Chinese culture experi-ences with staff and students at George Mason High School. Johnson was among 400 U.S. educators who participated in the 2009 Chinese Bridge Delegation: Taking the Next Step — a one-week education-al visit designed to strengthen and expand Chinese language programs in U.S. schools.

Johnson, the foreign language curriculum resource teacher at Mason, traveled to the city of WuXi in Jiangsu province along with other educators from the mid-Atlantic region, where they visited classes in elementary, middle and high school and participated in discussions with teachers and administrators in those schools.

The trip was sponsored by Hanban /Confucius Institute Headquarters in part-nership with the College Board.

Mason Educator Explores Chinese Culture

American visitors with Chinese hosts at Jiangsu Taihu High School.

Inclusive Chain at Mt. Daniel A paper chain stretch-es nearly the entire main hallway of Mount Daniel School in cel-ebration of National Inclusive Schools’ week. Every Mount Daniel student, teach-er and employee con-tributed a personalized link to the chain. The annual celebration is to recognize the inclusive practices of schools that welcome children of all learning abilities.


December 17 - 23, 2009

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Falls Church News-Press December 17, 2009

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Transcript of Falls Church News-Press December 17, 2009