Another summer has nearly come and gone.

In just a few weeks, pools will close, backpacks will come out of the closet and parents everywhere will begin another year of carpools, homework and wondering how their children managed to grow up so quickly.

That’s middle age in America.

You spend your twenties building a life. Your forties are spent trying to keep up with it.

Where do we stand as a country? It depends on who you ask. Politically, we’re divided. Economically, people are cautiously optimistic but still feel the pinch every time they visit the grocery store or pay another insurance bill. Most families simply hope next year costs a little less and offers a little more.

Still, life moves on.

This summer many of us checked off a vacation, watched our children compete in sports, tackled projects around the house or simply enjoyed evenings together that become harder to find as kids grow older. Those aren’t headline-making accomplishments, but they’re often the ones that matter most.

Now another school year begins.

And with it comes one of the best seasons of the year in Virginia. Friday night football returns. College football Saturdays once again dominate the television. NFL Sundays remind every fan that this might finally be their team’s year. The humidity fades, mornings cool off and fall once again becomes the reward for surviving another hot Virginia summer.

Northern Virginia also continues to grow. The latest project surrounding Dulles International Airport promises more jobs, more business opportunities and perhaps another economic boost for the region. Or maybe it simply means more traffic and more airplane noise. Like so many large public investments, the answer is probably somewhere in between. Time will tell.

Then there’s baseball.

How many of you have actually been to Nationals Park this season?

That’s becoming a fair question.

The Nationals once again find themselves approaching the trade deadline with familiar decisions. Will they once again trade away expiring veterans for prospects? Will they finally signal that the rebuilding years are ending? Or is the plan simply to continue operating with one of the lowest on-field payrolls in Major League Baseball while charging some of the highest prices for tickets, parking and concessions?

Fans deserve an answer.

The frustrating part is that this team is actually fun to watch.

You don’t need advanced analytics to see it, although the numbers certainly back it up. Depending on which offensive metrics you prefer, the Nationals have developed one of baseball’s best offenses. Their young hitters compete every night, score runs and provide legitimate hope that the next winning core has finally arrived.

Unfortunately, they’ve also paired that offense with what sometimes feels like one of the worst bullpens ever assembled, on pace to shatter the blown saves record.

Too many quality starts have disappeared in the late innings. Too many comeback wins have become heartbreaking losses. Too many nights end with fans asking the same question: How can a team that scores this much continue to lose so many close games?

At some point, rebuilding has to become competing. That’s why this trade deadline feels different. Fans aren’t asking for reckless spending or blockbuster headlines. They’re asking for evidence that ownership is ready to build around a talented young core instead of endlessly planning for tomorrow.

Perhaps the Nationals have become the perfect metaphor for where many of us are today: patiently waiting, cautiously optimistic, still hoping, but with few answers and no clear end in sight.

That feeling extends well beyond baseball. We’re waiting for life to become a little more affordable. Waiting for the country to become a little less divided. Waiting for answers about the economy, our communities and what 2027 may bring. Like Nationals fans, many Americans remain optimistic, but they’re also wondering when patience will finally be rewarded.

The good news is that life has a way of reminding us what matters most.

Another school year is about to begin. Friday night lights are almost back. Family calendars will once again fill with practices, games and school events. Kids will make memories they’ll never forget, and parents will once again wonder where the time went.

The future remains uncertain—for America, for the economy and maybe even for the Nationals.

But hope has a funny way of returning. Just as Opening Day arrives every spring, every new school year offers a fresh beginning. And as another Virginia fall settles in, perhaps that’s enough reason to believe the best chapters are still ahead.

The post Hope Remains Through Season of  Uncertainty  first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

The TV series “Foyle’s War” is one of the most engaging the relevant programming in this era, even though the series originally appeared via PBS over two decades ago.

One of the most compelling aspects of the show was its historical accuracy owing to writer Anthony Horowitz’ deep research into the events of the days in which the series was set, namely, the onset of World War II in southern England.

Real world events like the black market, fuel rationing and German spies as the basis for plots provided a context for the story lines which led to its characterization as “exceptionally accurate.”

The series was ended by Horowitz based on a lack of authentic materials to continue even though it ran for 13 years, even taking in periods following the war. Its singular star Michael Kitchen appeared in a couple of the James Bond films (the ones starring Pierce Brosnan.) His Foyle’s War character is his signature role. He largely retired after the series run concluded.

What the series provided the public was an extraordinary look at what life was like in the opening days of the second World War when in the minds of many, a successful invasion of the British Isles by Hitler was almost a given.

It challenged the public with a great conundrum, whether to compromise their values in order to go with a perceived “winner,” or to stand strong with their loyalties to the British nation.

By all measures, it certainly did look as if the Naziis were likely to become the future for England, even though the consequences of that were horrible.

It was an environment that made disloyalties and secret alliances with the enemy of England far more common than they otherwise might have been.

The main character, Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, played masterfully by Kitchen, had the unenviable task of rooting out the enemy and its covert operations, including spy operations that were part of preparations for a Nazi invasion of the British Isles that was an imminent fear but never actually materialized.

The almost miraculous citizen-led evacuation of the British military from Dunkirk and related heroic actions on the part of the British people were instrumental in foiling Nazi invasion plans in the war’s early days.

The parallels from that era to today are clear. In the U.S., the temptation since the rise of Trump in 2016 has been to side with the enemies of the U.S. out of a sense of despair, if nothing else, that included the infamous January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capital.

Only very lately has the mood of the nation begun to change as the extreme duplicity of the enemy, centered in Trump, himself, has finally begun to sink in.

The danger has not yet passed, but there is now for the first time in a decade a light beginning to show at the end of the tunnel.  It could result in great danger arising in response to this fall’s midterm election, but at least we’re beginning to see a more robust reaction from elements of the national mainstream that could rise fo the occasion and block some of the more egregious efforts of the current administration to impose an anti-democratic mandate.

If the “Foyle’s War” series were able to play a role in this, itself, it could come as Americans seek a reasonable alternative to Trumpism, grounded as it must be in the rule of law and a revival of a sense of civility and civic values.

In the meantime, the drive to turn this fall’s midterm elections into a rout of the MAGA Republican agenda  needs to be escalated, and the temptation to back off the full exercise of its fury must be overcome.

This is a critical period for our nation and even as the countdown to the midterms continues, there needs to be no stone left unturned to restore pride in the nation’s core values. “Foyle’s War” as an historic study provides a strong starting point for this.

The post ‘Foyle’s War’ TV Series Sets Stage for Today first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

Watching a Donald Trump speech or news conference is like watching a train wreck. You know it’s going to be appalling but it’s hard to turn away. The lies, egotism, sarcasm, bluster and obfuscation from anyone other than the President of the United States normally would be considered rantings and ramblings of an erratic person. When the comments are from Donald Trump, reputedly the most powerful man in the world, journalists have no choice but to report every word. Trump’s appearance at the rescheduled White House Correspondents Association dinner was supposed to be the big draw, but his hour-long ramble from the head table was awkward and embarrassing.  Veering often from the teleprompter, his attempts to be humorous fell flat. More groans than applause was the order of the evening.

Presidential power is a given; presidential prowess is not. John F. Kennedy’s 1960 election ushered new energy into the White House. The young Massachusetts Senator had no executive experience, but he tapped business executives and able contemporaries for cabinet and advisor positions. Lyndon Johnson’s career focused on legislative accomplishments, although his time as vice president offered some limited experience at the executive level. Richard Nixon squandered his opportunities and resigned in disgrace, with cabinet officers and high-level advisors convicted for their roles in the Watergate scandal. Gerald Ford may have been the least prepared to assume the presidency, serving as unelected vice president for a mere nine months before Nixon resigned, but he, too, brought decades of legislative experience to the office. Jimmy Carter had no federal legislative experience but had been governor of Georgia, the first state executive to assume the presidency since Franklin Roosevelt more than four decades previously. Ronald Reagan was best known as a movie star before his ascension to the governorship of California and the presidency. He could play the role of president but also had practical executive experience. George H.W. Bush may have had the broadest experience in federal service – vice president, CIA Director, ambassador, and Congressman – and World War II combat pilot. Bill Clinton was a young man in a hurry, serving as Arkansas Attorney General and Governor before becoming president at the age of 47. George W. Bush became the second son of a president in history to assume that office, but he also had experience as a one-term governor of Texas. Barack Obama had limited legislative experience – less than one term in the U.S. Senate – and became the first American president of color, born in Hawaii, and again under 50 when he assumed office. Joe Biden had decades of legislative experience and eight years as vice president before becoming the oldest man elected to the presidency prior to Donald Trump.

All of these men grew into the presidency, even if a bit timidly or awkwardly at first. But halfway into his second term, Donald Trump has never learned how to be President. He hasn’t the empathy, the intellectual curiosity, the appreciation and respect for American history or government, or the understanding of what makes an efficient and effective democracy. Born into a wealthy family like Kennedy and the two Bushes, Trump never learned that the benefits of wealth should be shared; that giving back to society and community is a mandate for the most fortunate. Ford and Carter were valued post-presidency for their humanitarian and public policy perspectives. Conversely, it’s hard to imagine that Mr. Trump has any redeeming qualities in those areas.  

The Donald Trump regime will end, but his lies, egotism, sarcasm, etc., will continue to dominate news cycles. We don’t have to be drawn into that train wreck. It’s okay to turn off the noise and work to ensure that our own empathy, intellectual curiosity, and respect for the rule of law is heightened, secure, and passed along. Democracy is only as strong as its advocates, and that should be each one of us.   

The post A Penny for Your Thoughts 7-30-2026 first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

“100 Years Ago This Month”: The national news in July of 1926 reflects some issues that echo with today’s headlines: immigration and July 4th celebrations. The Independence Day activities included an event in Philadelphia, with President Coolidge warning against prioritizing material wealth over the “spiritual truths” that built the nation. Closer to home, State Senator Frank Ball, in a speech at Washington and Lee High School, stated that “… the glory written in the thought behind the Constitution forms a spiritual force that will make America eternal.” In immigration news, “Quota 5 Years Ahead” was the headline for an article about 1,000 immigrants stranded at the Canadian border, with a quota that required five years of waiting for some of those immigrants. 

For local news, I turned to the sports pages to find out what folks were doing for recreation. There were several men’s baseball leagues, generally organized around Arlington neighborhoods (e.g., the Ballston Eagles, the Cherrydale Cherries). What caught my eye was a sentence in an article about the Ballston team: “The Ku Klux Klan nine goes against the Eagles at 3 o’clock.” Yes, there was a KKK team, and its nickname really was “the Klansmen.” Obviously, those leagues were “whites only.” For the Black communities of Green Valley and Hall’s Hill, their teams played in a regional league of Black teams. The first Black baseball team in Arlington, named The Old Virginia Blues, started in 1910, and played their home games near the current Long Bridge Park. 

The newspapers printed summaries of criminal cases brought by Arlington’s Commonwealth Attorney, William Gloth. Two “bookmakers on horse races” were arrested in a pool room on Hume Avenue (near Potomac Yards). When taken to jail, they emptied their pockets and a “quantity of racing tickets” was discovered. In addition to gambling concerns, there were two other societal problems that caught my attention: the effects of Prohibition, and strict divorce laws. 

There were numerous arrests in the region related to the bootlegging of liquor. My favorite article recounted the arrest of an alleged “farmer” with 210 gallons of corn liquor hidden under a load of cabbage. The most disturbing article involved the burning of eighteen homes in Arlington, resulting in the death of one person. Three separate fires in a 12-hour stretch had been started in an area of East Arlington referred to as “Hell’s Bottom” (in the general location of the Air Force Memorial). There were many rumors that the fires were the result of a “bootleg war.” As far as I could discover, no arrests were ever made. 

 The most interesting criminal charge was the crime of bigamy. The headlines were straightforward: “Infidelity Alleged In Divorce Suit” and “Four Seek Marital Freedom.” In Arlington, William Stevens of the District was charged with bigamy based on his marriage in Clarendon to Thelma Berkely, also of the District. The arrest warrant was sworn out by her father, on the grounds that Stevens was already married, and that Stevens’ wife was still living with him. It gets worse, as the more recent bride, who had been listed on the marriage license as being 21 years-old, was actually 15 years-old. Sadly, I could not find any follow-up about this arrest, though it must be said that Mr. Stevens was lucky that Mr. Berkely did not take the law into his own hands. The criminal charge of bigamy was common in those days, as it was very difficult (and expensive) to get a divorce.  

While the problems with Prohibition went away quickly (Prohibition was repealed in 1933), the problems involving divorce have taken a long time to get resolved. A weak version of “no-fault” divorce was passed in Virginia in 1960, but it took sixty years to get rid of the limiting requirement to have a “corroborating” witness. This month another law took effect that abolished the requirement for six months of separation (which has been cited as a cause for increased domestic violence and financial instability). Perhaps these recent changes can be attributed to the record number of women in the 2026 Virginia General Assembly (56 women out of our 140 elected members – in 1960, there were only three women in the General Assembly).

The post Our Man In Arlington 7-30-2026 first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

Monday’s Falls Church City Council meeting was opened with a moving presentation by the manager Alex Kuczkowski of the Falls Church Little League team which had won for the first time in memory the championship of the District 4 region. The team showed up en masse and was applauded strongly by the audience in the Council chambers. The team’s road to the championship came through an arduous seven-week process that Coach Kuczkowski said won the support of legions of new supporters as the process unfolded. He hailed the sportsmanship of the team members and the sense of community that grew to encompass players, parents and fans alike. It was a new experience for Falls Church but one that enthused local citizens are intent will not be the last going forward.

So allow us to add our congratulations to the team as preparations are now underway for the fall season.

The spirit of that opening presentation Monday did not carry through the rest of the meeting however, as a citizen activist said he took as “personal and troubling” what were apparently some innocent clerical errors in reports on the shadow impacts of a prospective new development at the Virginia Village site on S. Maple. The remarks led City Manager Wyatt Shields to assure the community that while there were some mistakes, there was no ill intent in anything that was produced and errors were corrected.

 The activist subsequently spoke again to walk back his remarks, saying he did not question the intentions of anyone involved. Nonetheless, the meeting wound up taking over four hours while minutiae of the proposed zoning and special exception components of new legislation were painstakingly discussed and ultimately passed unanimously.

We can take heart in the fact that this was ultimately resolved with a 7-0 vote. It is a far cry from days a decade ago when far more contentious Council meetings were held that also took long hours but led to split votes. It is an encouraging sign that the Virginia Village project will actually come to pass, even if the process will take a long time and be fraught with delays.

It is gradually getting across that this is about adding affordable housing, not about a developer’s grab for big profits. As such, frequently reminding the public that this is, indeed, the purpose behind all this effort, that the eventual achievement of concrete results will occur.

The bottom line for us is the recognition that this City Council has evolved and is considerably more sophisticated than ones of the past. Only one member now seems intent on throwing monkey wrenches in the process and the frustration at an inability to get her way as in days of old is becoming evident to all.

The post Praise for Virginia Village Progress first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

Cherry Hill Park was the place to be last Friday night, July 24, as a band serenaded a community gathered to honor the nation’s 250th birthday in style.

Positioned near the park’s playground, the celebration dubbed Civic Jam offered plenty of room to spread a blanket and enjoy live music from the park’s stage. Nearby, a bouncy house kept the kids occupied and volunteers handed out scorecards for those daring enough to enter the Civic Cup Competition.

Dozens of community organizations turned out for the event with booths extending down a long path across the lawn.  The event also featured food trucks, a beer garden, a basketball toss game, axe throwing, and a mechanical bull. 

The sheer volume of community booths at Civic Jam offered an unmatched opportunity to learn more about the wonderful organizations that help make Falls Church such an amazing place to live. My first stop was at the City of Falls Church 250 Committee booth where a volunteer gamely applied a “250” temporary tattoo to my arm. As an aficionado of temporary tattoos, I can tell you this was one of the best.  

Nearby, the Victorian Society at Falls Church had an eye-catching display that included a cardboard cutout of the Statue of Liberty that rivaled the height of the volunteers at the booth. A display board detailed the history of the statue, which opened to the public in New York Harbor in 1886. The statue holds a torch in one hand, and a tablet inscribed with Roman numerals corresponding to July 4, 1776, in the other hand. The society participates in annual reenactments, such as a Civil War Thanksgiving held at Cherry Hill Farm, and they handed out a map detailing dozens of Victorian-style homes in Falls Church.

The Friends of Cherry Hill Foundation also turned out for the celebration. The organization does essential work running programs at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse, including the recent Mother’s Day Tea preceded by a costumed docent who explained what life was like in the mid-19th century. The foundation is actively looking for volunteers and members so please check them out online at: cherryhillfallschurch.org.

I stopped by the Falls Church Indivisible booth, a non-partisan organization that’s devoted to liberal democratic principles, including rule of law, civil discourse, fairness, and our constitution. They had a button-making machine on hand, so I selected a Statue of Liberty sketch with the words “With Liberty and Justice for all.” 

A miniature doll’s house was part of the display booth for the Falls Church Climate Action Network (FCCAN). The house’s solar panels, and other eco-friendly enhancements, were meant to represent the kinds of fossil-fuel alternatives offered to homeowners who want to switch to cleaner, all-electric devices. Through the City of Falls Church, residents can apply for a free home energy audit that will identify inefficiencies and ways to reduce operating costs while improving comfort and safety. The Residential Energy Audit Program is still accepting applications. Learn more at: fallschurchva.gov/EnergyAudit.

The volunteers at the League of Women Voters booth were kind enough to offer me an extra clue for the location of the Civic Stand at the Falls Church, which is part of the Scavenger Hunt taking place in the Little City through August 4. (Hint: the Civic Stand is on Washington St. near Fairfax Dr.) If you haven’t checked out the Scavenger Hunt yet, I highly recommend it.

Other participating organizations included the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, City of Falls Church Independent Media, Falls Church Arts, Falls Church Rotary Club, Homestretch, Learning Quest, Little City Concerts, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, the National Spiritualist Association, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Shepherd’s Center, the Tinner Hill Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9724, the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, and Welcoming Falls Church.     

All in all, Civic Jam was a wonderful way to honor our nation’s 250th birthday, as well as celebrate the great Little City we all call home.

The post F.C. Civic Jam Celebrates the Nation’s 250th Birthday first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

An uncommonly impactful member of the Falls Church City Council who was elected twice and who also lost twice, Samuel Albert Mabry, 84, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 4 this summer.

Mabry was one of the most controversial members of the City Council in the modern era, spearheading efforts at limiting growth in Falls Church during the period of its most significant economic progress.

His major effort was an unsuccessful bid to pass a referendum designed to limit the growth of mixed-use projects in the downtown area of the City, an effort that failed to pass a general vote in 2006 and opened the City to serious development spearheaded by its West End and Founders Row mixed-use projects that came about as a result.

Mabry was first elected to the F.C. City Council in 1996. He ran again in 2000 and lost, but came back to win another four-year term in 2002, being elected vice mayor by his colleagues. He chose not to run in 2006 to focus on the failed referendum and also declined to run in 2008. In his last bid, he lost a City Council race in 2015.

Samuel Albert Mabry, 84, of Falls Church, Virginia, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 4, 2026. Known to everyone as Sam, he was born in Stockton, California, on March 27, 1942, to the late John Lawrence and Mary Catherine Mabry. 

Sam grew up in the San Joaquin Valley surrounded by his extended family, including many Portuguese aunts that regularly doted on him. He enjoyed spending time on the family farm and often reminisced about his experiences. He graduated from Manteca Union High School, received his Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University, and pursued a master’s degree at the University of the Pacific. 

In 1965, Sam and Sandra “Sandy” Starbuck Mabry moved across the country from California and settled in Arlington, Virginia, and Sam began work for his hometown Congressman, John J. McFall, Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. He remained with Congressman McFall for 13 years and rose to become his Chief of Staff. After McFall left office, Sam worked for the Speaker of the House, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, Jr. Following his years of Congressional service, Sam transitioned to the private sector as Vice President of Government Affairs at Hercules, Inc., where he remained for more than two decades before his retirement. Not yet done with public service, Sam was elected to the Falls Church City Council and served as the vice mayor of the city for a number of years. 

Because of the profound impact that Santa Clara and the Jesuits had on his life, Sam was determined to send his three children to Catholic liberal arts colleges. He then strongly encouraged them all to obtain graduate degrees and took great satisfaction in their accomplishments. He would proudly say that he had a teacher, a lawyer, and a dentist. 

In 1984, Sam and Sandy found their dream home in Falls Church City. From the moment they moved into the historic Birch House, Sam was painting, wallpapering, refinishing floors and working in his yard. He cultivated an award winning garden which was often the highlight on the Falls Church garden tour and was featured twice in the Virginia State Garden show. 

Above all, Sam was a devoted and loving grandfather to his five grandchildren. His grandkids were lucky to grow up with Sam in their lives. He rarely missed a band performance, sporting event, school assembly, or graduation, occasions upon which he happily served as the unofficial family photographer. Sam would also want us to mention the dogs in his life, Toby, Samantha, Kayla, Buttercup, Maggie, Holly and Daisy. They brought him joy and unconditional love. He relished when they excitedly jumped on him and covered him with kisses. 

Sam is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sandra; his daughter Catherine (Glen); daughter Susan (Adam); son Stephen (Megan) and grandchildren, Michael Savory, Christina Medick (Will), William Lawrence, Katherine Lawrence, and Emma Mabry. 

Services will be private. Memorial contributions may be sent to Washington Jesuit Academy, in memory of Sam Mabry. wjacademy.org/

The post Sam Mabry 86 Dies at; Key Anti-Growther first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

Up at the crack of dawn. Get the kids up, fed and out the door on time, making sure they know you love them. That’s a daily routine for hundreds of Falls Church residents for most of the year, and if that isn’t enough, with all that goes with it, to constitute a full-time job, then it should be.

But that’s where things just get started for so many of us, our lives defined by the hectic pace of politics in the nation’s capital.

And so it is for one of our relatively new Falls Church residents whose name is already a household name for hundreds of thousands of Americans who hear her reporting on NPR throughout the week, across the land and all the ships at sea.

Tamara Keith moved to the Little City of Falls Church in 2015 and she can’t get enough of it. She adores her new home and neighborhood, as she told the News-Press in an exclusive interview last week. If ever there was one, she is a true believer in everything Falls Church.

“We moved to Falls Church in 2015 and feel so lucky to live here. We love our neighbors and the greater little city community,” she wrote in a follow-up response to a question.

Her family’s two kids are rising eighth and third graders “and we are big believers in FCCPS (Falls Church City Public Schools),” she wrote to us this week. The family home is near Lincoln Park, which she calls “a very frustrating total disaster” currently due to renovations. But we are confident that that is a temporary assessment.

After the kids are off to school, she heads to NPR headquarters at 1111 North Capitol St. NE in Washington, unless, of course, she is on a special assignment, such as when she traveled to China this summer for the president’s latest summit there. She is heard on NPR many days each week reporting on national affairs, and viewers may also recognize her from her regular Monday appearances as a contributor on PBS’s Politics Monday segment.

If the question is raised, as would be the case for many News-Press readers, how she came to build such a distinguished career, the answer is a story of the better side of what has made America great.

She is one of those people who seemed to know from an early age exactly what she wanted to do.

That became apparent at an early age. Her parents, both educators who wanted out of the big city, chose to move from greater Los Angeles to rural Hanford in Kings County in California’s Central Valley when she was eight.

That’s where she grew up and the availability of opportunities there, while maybe more limited than in a metropolis, were nonetheless more accessible to the kind of driven young woman she was.

In the sixth grade, when asked to write an essay on what she wanted to become, she responded, “a volcanologist” (one who studies volcanoes). But that soon changed, and before long she was writing letters to NPR journalists and anchors, asking for advice on how to grow up to do what they did.

Having been a stringer for the Fresno Bee and the Hanford Sentinel, she later became NPR’s teen essayist, contributing essays about once a month for approximately three years on a wide range of topics affecting teenage life.

She attended U.C. Berkeley, majoring in philosophy. Philosophers, she noted, offered ways to reason and think critically that were not attached to particular contemporary issues, and she liked that.

Today, she leads Swing Shift, an NPR reporting project whose stories air across a variety of NPR news programs and are also published online. The project looks for ways people can better see one another through their shared humanity. At the same time, she continues to host the NPR Politics Podcast, a role she has held for the past 11 years.

Regardless of party, she noted the system “keeps failing people,” and neither party is speaking to this concern. A key is to treat audiences with respect, she said, and to help rebuild the broken connections between institutions and the people they serve.

“People are craving authenticity,” she stated. “They don’t want to be depressed. We need to find more creative ways to reach our audiences. We are all human beings, after all.”

Reflecting her people-oriented personality, she served as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association from 2022 to 2023. She is optimistic about the future of Swing Shift as well as her continued work on the NPR Politics Podcast. The goal of Swing Shift is to foster greater understanding that reaches beyond differences.

“All views are valid in their own place,” she said.

Even on those mornings when getting her kids ready for school may prove particularly challenging.

The post NPR’s Tamara Keith: Her Love for the Little City  first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.

By Adam Roy

“You lose, you smile, and you come back the next day. You win, you smile, and you come back the next day.” Ken Griffey Jr. said that. Over 22 years, he played 2,689 games, yet not one in the Fall Classic. While a World Series championship eluded him, as it does for many greats, he gave the fans so much more—a renewed joy for the game, a flawless swing, and, of course, a backwards-wearing baseball cap. 

His quote comes to mind while thinking about the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League’s historic state championship run. Those 12 all stars from Falls Church might not have brought home the championship nor found themselves on ESPN in August. They did, however, give the Falls Church community so much to celebrate and a summer to remember. 

Since June 1, FCKLL’s 12U Majors All Stars Team played ball, and played it well. There were good days and bad days. Wins and losses. Hours on the field. Hours in the cages. They learned to hit ‘em hard, rear back and deliver the payback pitch, and face each obstacle with a belief that if not them, then who. 

And all that positive energy and team camaraderie backed by hometown support propelled them to a District 4 championship, an accomplishment some thought impossible, and a shot at the state tournament. 

“The scoreboard may say our season is over, but it can never erase what this group accomplished,” said Assistant Coach Jon Labukas. “Years from now, people won’t remember every score. They’ll remember that this was the team that broke through. The team that made history. The team that proved Falls Church belongs on the biggest stage.”

Led by Coach Alex Kuczkowski and Assistant Coaches Chris Talbert, Jon Labukas and Brad Allan, the team opened state tournament pool play last Friday with an impressive 13-1 victory over Bedford Metro with multiple hits by James Labukas, Hunter Roy and Will Talbert. Strong pitching and eight combined strikeouts by Colin Dailey and Spencer Allan led to a 15-1 win the following day against Roanoke City. 

On Sunday, the team faced McIntire from Charlottesville, also 2-0 in pool play, for a chance to secure first place in the pool. Through four competitive innings, including two innings of no-hit, no-run pitching by Jay McKeown Jr., the team entered the bottom of the fifth inning leading 2-1. With one out and runners at first and second, Thomas Stewart smashed a double to left field putting FCKLL up 4-1. Pitcher Gavin Kuczkowski closed out the game quickly in relief, sending Virginia’s oldest little league into the state quarterfinals for the first time in history. 

Facing Virginia Beach in the win-or-go-home quarterfinal, pitcher Will Talbert went the distance, allowing only two runs over six innings to help secure an 11-2 victory on Monday morning. Backed by error-free outfielding by Andrew Quinn and William Southworth and gritty catching by Timmy Verasin, who caught innings across all five games played, the Falls Church All Stars earned the right to face Lower Loudoun Little League in the state semi-final that evening. 

Lower Loudoun took the lead early, scoring one run in the first, then another three in the third. Falls Church kept fighting but tough pitching and strong defense from Loudoun kept Falls Church off the scoreboard. Loudoun would add another four runs in the top of the sixth, leaving the FCKLL All Stars with one more chance to create a miracle. Evan Iweagwu’s single, then an RBI double by Jay McKeown Jr. erased the zero from the scoreboard, giving the Falls Church faithful in attendance a much-needed burst of joy, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t FCKLL’s day. 

Final score: Lower Loudoun 8, Falls Church 1. While their historic run was silenced, the support from the Falls Church community only got louder as FCKLL’s all stars received a standing ovation from their fans. As the boys approached, the realization that they had just played their last little league game filled the air. 

No more finding out each spring which friends were on their team, no more night games at Westgate, no more curly W jerseys and hats. But they also realized something else. They have more baseball games to play, more pitches to hit, and most importantly, more memories to make. Which put that smile right back on their faces.  

Congratulations to the 2026 Falls Church Kiwanis Little League Majors All-Star Team!

Inspired? Sign your ball player up now for fall ball. Register online now at www.fckll.org.  

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Former Falls Church Mayor Harold “Hal” Lister Miller, who also served on the Falls Church City Council and as the city’s Commissioner of the Revenue, died peacefully on July 15, 2026, at Spring Arbor of Fredericksburg. He was 96. Miller was elected to the Falls Church City Council in 1971. In 1974, his fellow council members unanimously elected him mayor, and he served three terms through 1980.

Miller moved to Falls Church with his wife, Ruth, in 1964, where they raised their six children. After working as an assistant manager at a lumber yard, Hal and Ruth started a lumber brokerage that they operated from their home for 30 years. Working from home gave Miller the freedom to serve Falls Church in several capacities.

As his first official act as mayor, Miller helped establish the first section of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Bike Trail. He cut the ribbon on Sept. 7, 1974, when the first mile-and-a-half bike ride through Falls Church took place.

Miller said his aim as mayor was to “reflect the attitudes of the people, and lead the City along paths reflecting their aspirations.”

He also joined with the Falls Church Community Services Council to persuade the owners of Winter Hill housing to set aside 80 one-bedroom units as federally funded housing for seniors.

Miller participated in the city’s annual Memorial Day celebration by climbing into a dunk tank and allowing residents to “Dunk the Mayor.” His family also regularly participated in the celebration’s 3K race.

In 1975, Miller became a member of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ board. He became its chairman in 1977. That year, he received the Civil Defense Award from the Society of American Military Engineers for emergency disaster planning in the Washington area.

In 1980, Miller ran for Congress in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. He lost to Frank Wolf in the Republican primary, but the two later became friends.

Miller returned to elected office in 1989 as Falls Church Commissioner of the Revenue. He served three terms totaling 12 years. During his tenure, Miller modernized the office’s computer system, helping improve the city’s finances and strengthen citizen accountability.

His office also established a process integrating the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Taxation, allowing tax refunds to be issued more promptly. Miller took pride in the fact that the office treated taxpayers “as customers with courtesy.”

Outside city government, Miller was active at St. James Catholic Church. In 1971, he helped start and lead the Community of God’s Love Prayer Group, now known as the Community on FYRE. He also served as a Eucharistic Minister. During the 1980s, Miller served on a search committee that found the property for Aurora House, a home for at-risk teenage girls in Falls Church.

Born Jan. 5, 1930, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Miller graduated from Spartanburg High School before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1949. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and served until 1952, including 14 months during the Korean War. One of the “Frozen Chosin,” he survived the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. His military honors included the Presidential Unit Citation with One Bronze Service Star, Marine Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars and United Nations Service Medal.

Miller met Ruth Marye Wall in October 1954, and they married June 11, 1955, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria. After living in Fairfax County, they moved to Falls Church in 1964. Following his retirement in 2001, the couple relocated to Winchester, where they were active at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and Miller remained involved with local veterans.

Known as Grandpa and Pop Pop, Miller attended his grandchildren’s sporting events, graduations, birthday parties and other family gatherings. His family said his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the legacy of which he was most proud.

Miller is survived by his children, Maureen (Alex) Gallagher-McLeod, Sharon (Tom) Brown, Kellie (Charles) Alpaugh, Melissa (Nick) George, Patricia “Trish” (Mari) Brebenel and James (Kathy) Miller; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Marye Miller; his parents; his brothers, James Fred Miller Jr. and Thomas Pinckney Miller; his sister, Marianna Miller; and his granddaughter, Mary Miller.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church, 5911 Fairview Woods Drive, Fairfax Station. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment with military honors will take place at Fairfax Memorial Park.

The family thanked Spring Arbor of Fredericksburg and Mary Washington Hospice Care for their care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to DementiaMatters, P.O. Box C, White Post, VA 22663.

The post F.C. Mourns Former Mayor Hal Miller first appeared on Falls Church News-Press Online.