Police say the woman was walking with her son through the 200 block of South Washington Street when the suspect, identified by police as Douglas Burkel, moved towards the child as the child neared Burkel and his possessions. A bystander at the scene intervened and prevented Burkel from getting closer to the child. When police arrived on the scene, they reported a strong smell of alcohol and other displays of intoxication from Burkel. He denied attempting to grab the child but did state the he did not want kids near his possessions, police say.

Burkel was arrested and charged with attempted abduction and drunk in public. He is currently being held without bond.

“Falls Church City’s schools are considered by many as the best in the D.C. area and state of Virginia, and deservedly so. While our accomplishments are many, there is more important work to be done:

“We must find innovative ways to make sure that EVERY child has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential no matter what level of learning and ability they bring with them to school;

“Our staff must be fairly compensated for the outstanding work they do and the excellent results they achieve;

“Our facilities must be upgraded, expanded, and modernized to accommodate the number of students we educate and the modern teaching methods required, especially George Mason; and

“We must work collaboratively and civilly with our colleagues on City Council to establish a predictable funding mechanism that recognizes the investment required to maintain a world class school system for the benefit of the entire Falls Church community.

“These will be my priorities for the next two years if re-elected.”

“Shortly after my husband and I bought our first house in Falls Church in 1995, we walked from our cozy cape to the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade. We were so happy to discover that we had moved into a real community. What luck!

“Since then Falls Church has grown, our house has grown, our family has grown. What has stayed the same? We live in a real community. We know our neighbors. We treasure our parks and library. Through block parties, community organizations and youth sports, we enjoy friendships with people of all ages. These people are the heart of Falls Church.

“Since 2005 I have worked in the Falls Church City Public Schools as Community Outreach Coordinator. As the liaison between the school and business communities, I’ve been able to work with many business owners and non-profit volunteers dedicated to Falls Church. These people are the heart of Falls Church.

“I also have the privilege of taking lots of pictures in the schools. My photos tell the stories of all the amazing things that are happening in our classrooms because of FCCPS teachers and staff. These people are the heart of Falls Church.

“I’m running for City Council because I love living and working here. Over the years I’ve seen dedicated city leaders make tough decisions as members of School Board and City Council. Through ups and downs, they have led Falls Church to a wonderful time, with the best interests of the city in mind. I would be honored to be part of City Council and to continue this admirable work.

“I am a native Virginian, born in Norfolk. I grew up in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Villanova University in 1985. During a year of service at St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I met by husband, Michael Connelly. We’ve lived in Northern Virginia for 20 years, most of those years in Falls Church. We have three children – Brian (16), Andrew (14), Julie (12), all students in Falls Church City Public Schools. I’m currently on the Boards of Directors of Village Preservation & Improvement Society; Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and Falls Church Education Foundation. I also serve on the Falls Church Alliance for Youth; CATCH and FCCPS Support Employee Advisory Committee. Other volunteer work over the years in Falls Church includes Elementary PTA; Falls Church Kiwanis Little League; Girl Scout leader.

“I am so optimistic about the future of the Falls Church. We are headed in the right direction. We are in a great location. We’ve got so many smart, engaged citizens.”

“I’m running for City of Falls Church Council in the November 2013 Elections. I am running because I am passionate about preserving, enhancing and celebrating what’s special about the City of Falls Church.

“I am convinced it is the people that make our City special. I want to be of service to all whom live here; those who have children in our top-notch schools and those folks like me who don’t have children in the schools but take pride in our school’s achievements. I want to make sure that if you want to stay in our City you can do so. This was the decision Elisabeth and I made after my retirement from full-time employment last year.

“My life’s work has been to ensure environmental stewardship while advancing development – both kinds of green can exist comfortably. I have worked over the past decade in clean energy technologies. I have also served the City of Falls Church as the Vice-Chair of our Economic Development Authority, City Council (2006-2010) and currently am on the Board of Zoning Appeals. In the coming months, let’s talk about how, together, we can: preserve and enhance our world-class school system; achieve environmentally-sustainable economic development; have fair and reasonable taxes; and celebrate our quality of life. I look forward to having this conversation with you between now and this November.”

The following is a statement issued by Webb this week about his candidacy:

“After much thought and deliberation with friends and family, I have decided to run for a seat on the Falls Church City School Board. My ten plus years of professional educational experience and my understanding of the city’s political process makes me a strong candidate.

“As a higher education administrator I know firsthand how important it is to have a strong educational system. As an Assistant Dean of Admissions I review applications from students at George Mason High School and it reaffirms to me that they are some of the brightest students in our region. For eight years I served the Commonwealth as a member of the Department of Correctional Education School Board with the last two years as its Chairman. During my tenure of the board we saw all seven juvenile schools attain state accreditation. We also saw an increase in the number of adults receiving GEDs and career and technical degrees, which studies show leads to a reduction in repeat offenders.

“As a member of City Council for four years I worked with and voted in support of fully funding the budgets that were presented to the Council. I have been a champion and supporter of a revenue sharing agreement between the city and the schools. A revenue sharing agreement would take the politics out of funding our schools and let the school administration concentrate on maintaining and improving upon the success that we see in our schools. I also feel that I can put my understanding of the budgeting process and relationship with the city staff to good use when the time comes to negotiate and advocate for our schools.

“We are in need of a new high school and if elected that would be one of my top priorities. I will work with all stake holders on a facilities plan that will make sure that we build a school that will fit all of the needs of our students. Then work hard to get it built. Dealing with our facilities issues is key to a successful future of our school system.”

Mild Weather in Store, Food Drive Launched Again

A 12-page special insert in this week’s edition of the News-Press, functioning as an official guide to Monday’s 38th Annual Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival, spells out the full range of activities that are expected to draw over 10,000 non-residents to the City for that day. The entire day will center around the solemn annual Memorial Day remembrance service scheduled for 11 a.m. in front of the Community Center.

The weather forecast is for one of the milder Memorial Days in memory, with high temperatures in the low 70s, and a remote chance of some rain showers.

Among the special features of the day are the array of exhibits, food and craft vendors and community groups who will have their booths set up around City Hall, the early risers’ Don Beyer Volvo 5K Fun Run, the musical entertainment on the portable stage set up in the intersection of Park and Maple, and the parade, itself, set to kick off at 2 p.m. from the northwest end of Park Avenue.

The also marks the launch of the annual News-Press and Diener and Associates CPAs food drive that extends through July 4. Everybody is urged to fill a grocery bag with non-perishable food items and bring them to the News-Press booth in the City Hall parking lot during the day. The food will be delivered to the Food for Others based in Merrifield which provides free meals at 14 locations throughout Northern Virginia every day. Following Monday, the drive will continue with drop boxes located at a half dozen locations around Falls Church, including the offices of the News-Press at 200 Little Falls St., Suite 508, Diener and Associates, 123 Rowell Court, the Community Center, 223 Little Falls, Art and Frame of Falls Church, 105 Park Avenue, the Unity Club, 124 W. Broad St. and Don Beyer Volvo, 1050 W. Broad St.

Also the News-Press booth Monday will be the site for the annual “Wacky Hat Contest,” as fun-loving folks are encouraged to design and show up with their best “wacky hat” to be photographed for the News-Press, with the winners taking away gift certificates to a local restaurant.

A major presence at this year’s festival is expected from candidates seeking election to public office this November. With a June 11 filing deadline looming, candidates for the Falls Church City Council and School Board will be viewing the festival as a bonanza opportunity to solicit petition signatures of City residents to qualify for the ballot. It will be a great chance to see who’s made any late decisions to jump into the fray.

Woven in between the dance and band troupes in the parade will be an abundance of elected officials, local Little League baseball players, bagpipers, cheerful volunteers from local civic associations, and those adorable Kena Lodge Shriner putt-putt cars with drivers often bigger than their cars working their flawless figure-eights and other routines. Look for Falls Church City Treasurer Cathy Kaye to be flaunting her massive red Galaxy 500 convertible. The parade grand marshals, this year the City’s legendary two crossing guards, Audrey Luthman and Janet Haines, and king and queen chosen by students at George Mason High School, Cal Hannan and Kelly Ready, will greet everybody at the front end of the parade. Special feature stories on the marshals and Mason royalty are in the guide to the festival in the center of this issue.

Crowds are expected to line the length of Park Avenue from where the parade kicks off at its corner with N. West Street, to past the intersection of Little Falls in front of City Hall, where the judges will be stationed to select winners in a number of categories for the parade participants and Falls Church’s own Gary Reals, long of Channel 9 news reporting fame, will be back this year with microphone in hand to introduce the crowd to the various parade entries as they pass.

The Falls Church Memorial Day Program from the News-Press is below:
 

Editor,

Other than their excellent burgers, I have no connection to the Dogwood Tavern. However, I did want to come to its defense in the matter of Mr. Scardino’s unpleasant and expensive experience in predatory towing.

Mr. Scardino wrote in a Letter to the Editor that he was towed from the lot shared by the Dogwood, Town & Country Realtors and other merchants. He called upon the Dogwood to resolve the “dispute” with Town & Country Realtors over the towing situation. The lot is jointly maintained but Town & Country Realtors effectively owns three assigned parking spots. For whatever reason, Town & Country has authorized towing 24-hours a day, from these (three) spots in the midst of a sea of parking. The Dogwood Tavern has no control over Town & Country Realtors’ towing policy. The dispute seems to be The Dogwood asking Town & Country to limit its “authorization to tow” to business hours as other merchants in the area have done.

The proper place to direct outrage at towing policies is with the merchant/landlord who controls the spaces. It is not the towing company, it is not the city, it is not the neighboring merchants who determined the conditions under which you will be towed.

I want to say that these three parking spots are owned and paid for by Town & Country Realtors. They have the right to authorize towing on their property. However, if someone came to my door with a petition asking Town & Country to change its towing policy, I would sign it.

Jan Hertzsch

Falls Church

Merrifield’s Mosaic Sharply Contrasted to Falls Church

Editor,

It is with great exasperation that I write to you. I went to the new Mosaic development at Merrifield for Mother’s day and had a wonderful time. It is a well thought out, modern, urban planning success. People were happy, walking the streets, frequenting new and interesting restaurants and shops while children played in the nicely landscaped areas. Thoughtful development with a cohesive plan brings a fresh outlook and pleasant interaction. Sadly, what I find in Falls Church is a disjointed hodge podge of one two many pizza places, fast food joints, outdated shopping experiences, few interesting destinations, (except for the fabulous farmer’s market), and one two many purple tulips on buildings. These groovy gigantic flowers are someway somehow supposed to represent good design? I am sorry but building with Christmas green and red colors coupled with a huge purple and black tulip doesn’t do it!

Please Falls Church get your act together, hire some talented professional urban planners, and get a big picture plan or we will become a bigger disconnected hot mess.

Adriane Hart

Falls Church

 Peak Oil Columnist Should Say ‘Never Mind’

Editor,

Given Tom Whipple’s countless “Peak Oil Crisis” columns, I’ve long wondered how he’d eventually deal with the boom in North American oil production. For someone who’s been predicting (forever, it seems) that catastrophe was just around the corner, it certainly took him long enough to recognize that boom. Didn’t his readers deserve something better than his half-hearted claim in last week’s column, “Supply Shock”, that maybe in a few years we’ll be worrying about shortages again? (Was that a claim, by the way, or a wish, Mr. Whipple?)

It would have been much more candid for Mr. Whipple to borrow a line from the late Gilda Radner’s Saturday Night Live character, Emily Litella, and simply announce, after all his years of forecasting a peak oil crisis, “Never mind.”

Sam Kazman

Falls Church

Federal Debt Also Creating a ‘Slavery’ for Young

Editor,

It’s great to see Nicholas Benton express his almost weekly concern for our nation’s young Americans’ “crushing debt slavery beginning with the obligations of student loans”. I’m still looking forward to the article where he continues this thought to its logical extension to the crushing debt slavery ending with the ever growing federal debt that our nation is creating for them.

Jeff Walyus

Arlington

Sexual Assaults in Military Same Rate As Campuses

Editor,

Regarding Maureen Dowd’s column on sexual assault in the military, I believe this is a cultural issue, not only a military issue. The Centers for Disease Control studies show that sexual assault occurs on our college campuses by nearly the same percentage. It’s going to take the village (i.e., nation) as a whole to tackle this issue.

Barb Nash

Arlington

Letters to the Editor may be submitted to letters@fcnp.com or via our online form here. Letters should be limited to 350 words and may be edited for content, clarity and length. To view the FCNP’s letter and submission policy, please click here.

Even though the weather seems more like April, the calendar says it’s the end of May. Local swimming pools are preparing to open, often with volunteer members who are sprucing up the grounds and preparing for another busy summer. College graduations already have occurred, and high school graduations are just around the corner. For Mason District families, Woodson, Falls Church, and Annandale graduate on June 13, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology graduates on June 15, and J.E.B. Stuart rounds out the schedule with a June 18th ceremony. Congratulations to all our graduating seniors!

You can dispose of unused or expired medications at a Fairfax County Police Station from Monday, May 27, through Saturday, June 1. Sponsored by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County, Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout provides a free, safe, and convenient way to get rid of old medications and prevent accidental poisonings, drug abuse, and protect the environment at the same time. Old pills or liquids should not be flushed; just drop them off in their containers (remove or redact any personal information on the label first) in a secure receptacle at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, or five other Fairfax County police stations (Fair Oaks and McLean stations are under construction and are not drop-off sites). Pills and liquid medications only are accepted during this cleanout; no pressurized canisters or needles, please.

Cleaning out closets to get ready for summer? A constituent provided the following information, which may be of interest. John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Annandale is collecting clothing, shoes and sports supplies for the Kisima Academy, a school and orphanage in western Kenya. A group from the church will deliver collected items to the academy in late June. Needed items include gently used girls dresses and skirts (longer length), boy’s shorts, women’s dresses up to size 12, men’s button downs and polo-type shirts. Also needed are kid’s shoes in all sizes, women’s flat styles, and men’s casual dress and sport shoes. Heavy duty soccer balls, volleyballs, jump ropes, playing cards, jacks’ sets, and art supplies complete the list. If you have large size rolling luggage you don’t need anymore, the church can use your rolling bag to take some of the donated items on the plane. To learn more about Kisima Academy, log on to http://www.kisimaacademy.blogspot.com/. For more information about donating your gently used items, contact Henry Edwards at 703/409-1172.

Cal Hannan and Kelly Ready were named this year’s Mr. and Ms. Mason, and will be the King and Queen of the Memorial Day Parade. (Photo: News-Press)

Hoisting friends up above your head to the tune of an ’80s pop song and playing a game of ping-pong that isn’t as it seems might not be typical pageant-winning talents, but they were just right for Mr. and Ms. Mason. The annual pageant at George Mason High School is about entertaining above all else, and with their fun and comical talents, seniors Cal Hannan and Kelly Ready won the Mr. and Ms. Mason titles this year. With the honors come special roles in the Memorial Day parade: King and Queen. Cal and Kelly talked to the News-Press about the pageant and their time at Mason, and looked ahead to the Memorial Day parade and their post-graduation plans.

How did you win your Mr. and Ms. Mason titles?

Cal: My talent was lifting people to background music from Men at Work, everyone’s favorite Australian pop band.

Kelly: He literally picked people up. It was pretty awesome. No one had ever done that talent before.

Cal: That was the goal.

Kelly: I did Matrix ping-pong. It was really dark on the stage, except for a spotlight on the ping-pong table. Me and my step-brother [Tim Donis], he was in the contest as well, had these huge sweatpants and we had people with their arms in the legs of the sweatpants, so they were moving our legs and we were moving our arms while playing ping-pong with each other. The ping-pong ball was attached to the end of a rod, so the movement was really exaggerated across the stage.

What do you think the Mr. and Ms. Mason titles convey?

Cal: It’s sort of a popularity contest, but I think the idea is to see who can be a good entertainer on stage, have a good stage presence, and do the most unexpected and absurd things.

Kelly: It’s about being goofy, having a good time, and trying to make the audience laugh. It’s fun to see everyone outside of their normal school personality do something crazy and unexpected.

How do you feel about being the King and Queen of the Memorial Day Parade, and did you know that honor came with winning Mr. and Ms. Mason?

Kelly: I had no idea. It’s pretty exciting because I’ve seen the parade for several years, ever since I was a little kid.

Cal: I didn’t think I would win at all going in, or even up until the announcements. Being in the parade was probably the last thing on my mind.

Kelly: Everyone was pretty unprepared for the show.

Cal: I was the most unprepared and I won.

Kelly: I practiced the day of.

Cal: I changed my act after I practiced the day of.

What are your parade plans?

Kelly: Throwing out lots of candy.

Cal: Trying to stay cool.

What are your favorite parts of the Memorial Day Parade and Festival?

Cal: I like the fun run. I normally do that. I’ll probably still get to do that this year. I live right in the middle of it, so I can’t really get away from it, and it’s cool to see the people walking around all day.

Kelly: I like the fun run, too. Having everyone out in the streets running and having the roads blocked off is really nice. The spirit is generally exciting, and everyone’s in a good mood. It’s a good place to be.

Why should Falls Church come out to the parade and festival?

Kelly: It’s a Falls Church tradition. It’s definitely the best day of the year in Falls Church. I think it’s Falls Church at its best. You have all the vendors, and the music, and the fun run. There’s just so much going on that there’s no reason not to be there.

Cal: It’s nice to see everybody out and walking on the street, and seeing all your friends and everybody concentrated in the same area.

What activities are you involved in at Mason?

Cal: I played four years of basketball, a year of track, and a year of football – sort of, I got hurt. Then I’m also in a couple bands at school.

Kelly: I run cross country and play lacrosse, and I’ve done that for all five years – eighth grade through 12th grade. I’m also involved in some clubs, like Mustang Ambassadors [a welcoming program that offers guidance from upperclassmen to incoming eighth-grade students] and I’m the vice president of NHS [National Honor Society].

Cal: We’re also both IB [International Baccalaureate] students.

What have been your favorite classes at Mason?

Cal: I think IB music is probably my favorite. I have a love-hate relationship with it, but I think overall it’s been really rewarding and I’ll look back on it more fondly than negatively even though it has been very stressful at times. It’s a two-year course for the IB diploma, and the first year is music theory and the second year is composition. I think it’s an opportunity that not a lot of kids, at least in the U.S., have in music to look at theory and composition.

Kelly: I have a lot of favorite classes, but I really enjoy anthropology with Mr. [Jamie] Scharff. It’s really interesting. I’ve never really explored that field before, but he shows us some interesting films about different cultures. In general, I’ve enjoyed history a lot but that’s kind of one of my passions.

What are your plans after graduation?

Cal: I’m going to UVa.

Kelly: I’m going to Northwestern University.

What will you study?

Cal: Probably something science-related – I think physics and music, or transferring to the engineering school.

Kelly: I’m undecided, but I’m thinking maybe international relations or something with language. I’m not sure yet.

What are your favorite Mason memories?

Kelly: We did a Harlem Shake dance [based on the viral video phenomenon] in the Senior Courtyard earlier this year that was fun. We did our own version of it with trash cans, motorcycle helmets, and crazy outfits, and that was really fun.

Cal: All the JV shows have been stand-outs. I played in the pit orchestra for “Xanadu” this year, which was different for me. It turned out to be a lot of fun being in a parody ’80s rock group. And Mr. Mason was a lot of fun – not because I won, but because I liked seeing everyone’s act and seeing people not take themselves as seriously.

What advice would you give to next year’s aspiring Mr. and Ms. Mason?

Kelly: Just have fun with it. There’s really no need to stress about it. If you can get some friends to be involved in your act and come up with something funny and entertaining, that’s the best way to go.

Cal: I read the interview from last year [in the News-Press, with 2012 Mr. and Ms. Mason Matt Abel and Claire Constance] and both Matt and Claire said their advice was to not prepare and to not think about it, and just do it. That worked for me. I’d say prepare even less than I did.

Kelly: Don’t even practice once.

Cal: Negative-prepare. Don’t even think about it until the night of.

Kelly: Minutes before.

Cal: Maybe, if that.

What message would you like to send, as King and Queen, to your subjects?

Cal: Just integrate it.

Kelly: Live in the present.

When asked how they feel about being the grand marshals, Haines says, “We’d rather be working.” Luthman nods along, adding, “bunch of old ladies sitting up in a convertible,” between laughs.

The rewards of their work come not in honorary titles, but in hugs from the children they keep safe and thanks from the parents who appreciate their work. They’ve also enjoyed watching the children they’ve looked out for grow over their long careers as crossing guards – Haines with 46 years on the job and Luthman with 42.

“When you’ve been working so long, you’ll see them taking the bottle in the carriage, up until they’re married and they bring their kids back,” Luthman said. “That makes you feel like you’ve really accomplished something.”

Janet Haines

Haines is in charge of the crossing at St. James School, helping a handful of students cross Spring and Broad streets. The task is made easier by the pedestrian lights installed at the busy Falls Church thoroughfare, she says, and the fact that her children are well behaved. She sees relatively few children these days; most are carpooled to and from school, but she expects a few regular walkers and walks from corner to corner with them to make sure they wait for the light and cross safely.

Luthman is posted at George Mason High School, and then makes her way to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School to help the younger students. Standing squarely in the three-way intersection of S. Oak Street and Parker Avenue, she controls the movement of cars, buses, and students with turns and waves of her hand. The task can be challenging when school first starts and students and parents alike are getting used to a new routine, she says.

“You’ve got to train them,” Luthman said. “And I’ve got them trained.”

Luthman and Haines enjoy the work, but both joke about their inauspicious starts as crossing guards. Haines was looking for part-time work when she heard that the crossing guard at St. James was leaving her post. Haines was hired, and told that she could stay on if the old uniform fit. Audrey Luthman’s sister, who was working at City Hall, asked Audrey if she could temporarily serve as a crossing guard. Luthman quips that she’s still subbing all these years later.

Audrey Luthman

Throughout their long service as crossing guards, they’ve helped countless students safely go to and from school. They’re tasked with keeping children safe and maintaining order on hectic roadways, even if the rain is pouring down, the sun is scorching, or there’s snow on the ground. But both agree that as long as they’re well enough to do it, they’ll continue to serve the City as crossing guards.

“We enjoy every minute of what we’re doing,” Luthman said. “We see some scary things, and then other times we see some happy things,” Haines added. “It all works out for the best.”