Before modern detection means, coal miners would use canaries in cages to determine whether the levels of toxic and explosive gasses were rising to the danger point. If the canary kept singing, then things were probably all right. If the canary stopped singing — or worse yet, fell over — […]

The preliminary budget released by the Trump Administration provides a good picture of how the Administration would cut federal programs, if allowed to do so by Congress and the public. While not final until enacted, this budget document deserves serious examination, especially given the Administration’s promises to reduce federal employment, […]

The few members of the public who were present in the City Council Chamber Monday night saw Metro Board Chairman and Washington D.C. City Council Member Jack Evans at his persuasive best as he outlined Metro’s financial and operational conditions. All Falls Church citizens should view this segment of the […]

During budget and tax season when we are most focused on those issues, it is appropriate to take stock not only of local factors that affect our City’s budget and tax rate, but also of the larger financial and governmental context in which we live. Several influences beyond our borders […]

The first day of deer hunting season was a school holiday in the coal mining region of Western Pennsylvania where I grew up. Our parents made sure my brothers and I went to the gun range in the basement of Greensburg’s City Hall for National Rifle Association training in how […]

About a year ago, on one of our bright, blue sky Saturday mornings, I saw my neighbor across the street playing with his children on his front lawn. “It’s good here,” I said. Without a pause, he responded, “Yes. It is.” Now, he and his wife are serving our country […]

Last Saturday in 17-degree weather, more than 100 citizens, staff, and elected officials from the City of Falls Church, Fairfax County, and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority joined the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation – and especially Ed and Nikki Henderson – to dedicate a park and learning center. This […]

Each July 4, citizens of Falls Church meet to revisit our founding documents and their historic context. Here, in brief, are this year’s background notes. From 1774 to 1789, a period of only 15 years, our country and state moved from allegiance to Great Britain to independence, won a war […]

Based on 20 years on the Falls Church City Council, there has never been an “easy” budget, and this year is no exception. There are several fundamental reasons why. We are a small, full-service city without the ability to grow geographically (and we begin with the smallest land area of […]

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) refers to “thinking regionally and acting locally” at the beginning of its draft regional transportation priorities plan. Based on that, a good description of how we can best provide for the kind of future we want for the City of Falls Church might […]