A used bookstore in the City of Falls Church plans to close at the end of the month, but comic book fans should plan on visiting the store before Monday.
“It’s a retirement closing” and “Thank you Falls Church for 40 years” signs currently hang on the store’s door.
After 40 years, Hole in the Wall Books plans to sell its comic books in a few days — less than two weeks before the store is packed up for good.
Owner Edie Nally told Tysons Reporter that her husband Michael ran the store for the first 20 years and she’s been in charge for the last 20 years.
After commuting a little more than 100 miles per day and getting stuck in I-66 traffic, Nally said she’s going to be “so glad to be out of that.”
But while Nally said that she feels “wonderful” about her upcoming retirement, several patrons who stopped by the store Thursday told Tysons Reporter that the closure will impact the Falls Church community.
Chris Messick said that the multi-generational store is part of the “citadel for nerd culture.”
“It’s a sanctuary for people to look for really cool, old books. They are not coming here just for a bargain,” Messick said.
Taylor Holland, a 48-year-old Arlingtonian who said he’s been coming to the store since he was 8, said that the closure is “costing Falls Church a piece of its soul.”
“Every community needs to have a place like this. It’s a repository of ideas,” Holland said. “It’s a forum where ideas can be exchanged. It’s the closest thing we have to a Roman forum or French salon circa the days of Versaille.”
Holland, who was unable to find a copy of “The Great Gatsby,” had a stack of at least two dozen paperbacks and comic books he had picked out for himself and his family.
“I buy a whole variety of things,” he said. “I have two kids ages 11 and 13.”
Shoppers can find a wide selection of books from mysteries to horror, from graphic novels to literature.
As for Nally’s favorite reads? “The very best books ever are Shakespeare and the Russians — Dostoevsky, Tolstoy,” Nally said. “What’s better than that?”
Signs outside the store say, “50% off. Going out of business sale discounts.” Nally said the half-off discount applies to “pretty much everything.”
Come Monday (Aug. 19), Nally said that a man will buy and haul away 191 long boxes containing “thousands and thousands of comics.” People looking for comic books should stop by the store this weekend, Nally suggested.
Hole in the Wall Books is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on the weekends. The store plans to close for good on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Whatever doesn’t get sold by the closing date, Nally said will end up on the Advanced Book Exchange, a Canadian e-commerce site better known as AbeBooks.com.
Nally said that people should come to store before it closes “because we’re giving a great deal.”
Work planned for four Metro stations next summer will impact riders in Vienna, Merrifield and Falls Church.
The Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church Metro stations on the Orange Line are slated to be affected next summer, along with four Green Line stations in Maryland. The work is a part of a multi-year project to reconstruct 20 station platforms.
Currently, Metro shut down Yellow and Blue lines south of Ronald Reagan National Airport this summer.
While that reconstruction plan was announced more than a year ago, more details on the Orange Line shutdown are set to get announced in September or October, WTOP reported.
“It is unclear how much of the work will be done with total shutdowns, and how much could involve single-tracking,” WTOP reported.
Until the plans are announced, let Tysons Reporter know in the comments if the Metro work next summer will impact you.
Big Chimneys Park in the City of Falls Church will soon welcome new improvements.
Currently, the aging downtown park has a grill, a grass-covered area, picnic tables and a playground at 210 Gibson Street.
The park is named after two big chimneys, which are believed to have been apart of the first permanent structure built on the land in the city, according to the Falls Church Historical Commission.
The 1.7-acre park is slated to undergo an update, which includes:
- replacing aging play equipment
- adding ADA access from Gundry Drive
- updating landscaping and signage
- creating a new trail
- improving stormwater management
City Manager Wyatt Shields told the City Council at Monday’s meeting that the project will “really enhance that park and make it more welcoming.”
The construction contract is being finalized with the contractors before work starts in October, Shields said.
Shields said that the council may need to revisit the $1.3 million funding for the park’s improvements in the future.
“We are struggling actually to keep that project within the budget,” Shields said. “I’m hoping it won’t be a problem.”
The project is slated to finish next spring.
Image 1 via Google Maps, image 2 via City of Falls Church
Fairfax County police arrested a Falls Church man after he allegedly wounded a man during a fight in a residential area by Haycock Elementary School.
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, in the 2200 block of Orchid Drive.
“Officers responded to the area for two men fighting,” according to the police report. “Officers found and arrested the suspect nearby.”
The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Police charged 50-year-old Spyros Pagonis with unlawful wounding.
In a separate incident, police arrested a Maryland man for grand larceny at a Home Depot (2815 Merrilee Drive) in Merrifield around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 11).
“Officers responded for a larceny at the Home Depot and found store security fighting with the suspect when they arrived,” police said.
Police said that the suspect “pulled away and ran from officers” while being arrested, but was caught after a short foot pursuit.
“It was learned that the suspect had committed grand larceny at another Home Depot just before coming to this location and had over $3,000 worth of stolen items with him,” police said.
Police charged 36-year-old Derik Henderson with grand larceny, assault and resisting arrest.
Photo via FCPD
The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.
We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Tuesday (Aug. 13)
- Stray Cats 40th Anniversary Tour — 8-11 p.m. at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Road) — The band will celebrate its 40-year anniversary with a performance. Tickets start at $35.
Wednesday (Aug. 14)
- Wednesday West Coast Swing Lessons and Dance — 8 p.m. at Latin Dancer Studio (1057 W. Broad Street, Suite 221) — This event invites newbies and seasoned dancers alike to join lessons and an open dance floor later in the evening. Tickets are $15 for a lesson or just $10 after 10 p.m. for the social dance.
Thursday (Aug. 15)
- Karaoke Thursday! — 8-11 p.m. at Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street) — This locally owned distillery opens their doors for patrons to come to sing and enjoy some spirits.
Friday (Aug. 16)
- The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and Lumen Jingos — 8 p.m. at the Jammin Java (227 E. Maple Avenue) — The bands take to the stage for an evening of live music. Both bands have been described as “psychedelic.” Tickets are $25.
- McLean Famers Market — 8 a.m. at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bride Road) — This event will feature fresh veggies and food from local vendors.
Saturday (Aug. 17)
- Family Bingo Party With Food for Others — noon-3 p.m. at Brandbox Lounge at Tysons Corner Center — Food for Others will host an event to raise awareness for their cause while attendees play games and win prizes.
Photo via The Slambovian Circus of Dreams/Facebook
The history room at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in the City of Falls Church will temporarily close beginning Sunday, Aug. 18.
The closure comes after the city’s decision to revamp the room, which officials said is not in a position to meet the growing demand, into a “larger, more prominent” space at the aging library (120 N. Virginia Avenue).
The renovation includes adding 3,174 square feet, along with new features that will ensure a quieter and more comfortable experience for visitors.
“The new room will also again have regular weekly hours to encourage drop-ins and generally increase access,” the website said.
While the renovations are taking place, the files and documentation will be placed in storage and won’t be available for public access until the renovation is completed in late 2020 or early 2021. However, people can still search for photos, death notices and obituaries online.
By 2033, the library’s website said it expects more than 35,000 people to take advantage of the sources available in the history room.
FYI: the @mrsplfc Local History Room is closing to the public on Aug. 18 in preparation for the Expansion & Renovation project. The Local History Digital Collection will still be online. Details: https://t.co/8IP1W8Gd9F pic.twitter.com/5fjJG22Zhi
— City of Falls Church (@FallsChurchGov) August 6, 2019
Image via City of Falls Church
The Falls Church City Council will hold public hearings tonight (Monday) on proposed housing and demographics guidelines as the city looks to offer more affordable housing.
The Comprehensive Plan’s chapters for both areas haven’t been updated since 2005, according to city staff.
The new demographics chapter would focus on three areas: trends, projections and how changes relate to community needs, especially for housing, economic development and public facilities.
“Demographics are a critical base of information for city planning; the city’s housing, transportation, economy, parks and recreation, and social framework rely on current and future population trends and need,” according to city documents.
Meanwhile, the revamped housing chapter would outline a vision for how the city can address diverse housing needs through nine focus points.
The city’s Planning Commission voted in favor of both updates at its meeting last Monday, Aug. 5.
The city council meeting is set to start at 7:30 p.m. at 300 Park Avenue.
McLean Firefighters Save Hawk — “Recently, Tower 401, McLean, A-Shift was called to assist [Fairfax County Animal Protection Police]. Hawk was entangled in netting. Lt. Roose and Tech Crabtree took MAPPO Lugo up in tower bucket to access hawk who was able to free hawk and transport to vet. Hawk is back in wild!” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]
Becoming a City — “While the end date for Tysons’ transformation plan may be 2050, cities are dynamic things.” Greater Greater Washington dives into the challenges Tysons will face as it continues to grow. [Greater Greater Washington]
McLean Crash Kills Driver — “A person is dead after a single-car crash that has closed a section of the GW Parkway on Sunday morning. The crash happened around 5:45 a.m. in McLean. The driver, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, died at the scene.” [Fox5]
Falls Church Book Store Closing — “Hole in the Wall Books, the cozy used book shop located within a faded blue house on Broad Street, will be closing up shop for good at the end of the month, concluding a 40-year run in the City of Falls Church that brought the right amount of reliability and eccentricity to make the store into an institution.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Filling Mad Fox’s Void — “The City of Falls Church’s economic development team confirmed [last week] that finding a replacement for the recently-closed Mad Fox Brewing Company is ‘an absolute strategic priority for the City’ and… another brewpub operation, a small chain, is showing a keen interest.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Unfinished McLean Mansion for Sale — “Greater Washington’s second most expensive house on the market isn’t even a house yet.” [Washington Business Journal]
Training for Mass Shooting Scenarios — ABC7’s Tim Barber has details on how Fairfax County’s police and fire train together for mass shooting scenarios. “The training starts with a radio call, with lights and sounds are added for effects.” [ABC7]
McLean Bank Teams Up With Another Bank — “Founders of VisionBank (In Organization) have agreed to join Old Dominion National Bank to help bolster the bank’s mission to provide a true community banking experience to growing numbers of businesses and individuals throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area.” [Cision]
An MS-13 gang member from Falls Church was sentenced today for his role and participation in a violent assault of a victim with multiple baseball bats.
Last October, Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, of Falls Church, conspired with other MS-13 gang members to lure the victim under false pretenses to James Lee Park in Falls Church, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Del-Cid and roughly a dozen other MS-13 members then “beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes.”
Del-Cid was sentenced to more than five and a half years in prison.
The FBI’s WFO’s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force for Northern Virginia, which is tasked with dismantling violent gangs in the D.C.-area, investigated the case.
More from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia:
An MS-13 gang member was sentenced today to more than five and a half years in prison for his leadership role and participation in a violent gang-related assault of a victim with multiple baseball bats.
“The hallmark of MS-13 is extreme violence,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The sole purpose of this brutal and senseless assault was to instill fear in communities here in Northern Virginia and dissuade cooperation with law enforcement. Our investigation and prosecution of this case should send a clear message that the violent acts of MS-13 in our community will be prosecuted at every opportunity.”
According to court documents, in October 2018, Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, of Falls Church, an admitted MS-13 gang member, conspired with several other members and associates of MS-13 to lure the victim to James Lee Park, in Falls Church, so that they could assault the victim. Del-Cid and other members and associates of MS-13 believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13, and disparaging the local Silvas clique of MS-13.
After luring the victim to the park under false pretenses, Del-Cid and approximately a dozen other members and associates of MS-13 beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple broken limbs and was hospitalized for several days.
“The FBI Washington Field Office remains aggressive in investigating and dismantling gang activity, to ultimately bring justice to the victims of the horrific violence of MS-13,” said Timothy Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office. “Our goal is take these violent offenders off the street, which should send a message to others that this violence will not be tolerated in our community.”
This matter was investigated by the FBI WFO’s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force – Northern Virginia which is composed of FBI Agents along with Task Force Officers from the Fairfax County Police, the Prince William County Police, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, the Alexandria City Police, Fairfax City Police, Vienna Police Department, Herndon Police Department, and the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, along with Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and ATF.
The mission of this task force is to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle the most egregious and violent gangs operating in the Capital Region to include members of MS-13, a transnational street gang, known for its acts of violence.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy II and Morris Parker prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-88.
Photo by Joe Gratz/Flickr
Falls Church city leaders and residents are working together on flood prevention to minimize damage from storms like the one that hit last month.
The City of Falls Church held a meeting to discuss the impact of the severe flash flooding on July 8 with residents Wednesday night (Aug. 7).
The meeting kicked off with a staff presentation to update the roughly 50 people who filled the council chambers.
While City Manager Wyatt Shields said that the city has started some utility improvements, like enlarging the stormwater channel and increasing stormwater detention, the city now needs to shift its focus from water quality to quantity.
The city’s annual budget has $1.6 million dedicated to stormwater projects, he said.
“This Is Not The First Time”
Mayor David Tartar kicked off the meeting by stressing a need for better flood prevention for possibly more severe flooding in the future.
“It seems like these once in a lifetime events are happening more often,” Tartar told the attendees, adding that the city wants to take a holistic approach to solving city-wide problems.
