Distilleries across the county are fighting a looming tax raise they say threatens their existence — and one Falls Church distillery is joining the fray.

Michael Paluzzi owns Falls Church Distillers and is currently petitioning Congressmembers to pass a bill that would freeze current tax rates in place before they expire at the end of the year.

If the tax rates expire, distilleries across the nation could see a spike in liquor production costs, possibly causing some local distilleries to nix plans for expansion or even close.

In an attempt to prevent that, Paluzzi gathered with more than 160 other distillery owners for a conference in D.C. last month to discuss dilemmas in the industry, set up congressional visits with senators and find a way to stop the federal tax increase.

Legislation and Numbers

The conference was held in conjunction with the American Craft Spirits Association, a non-profit organization consisting of distillery owners and stakeholders, along with the Distilled Spirits Council.

The association is one of the interest groups spearheading legislation to keep the current Federal Excise Tax.

Currently, the Federal Excise Tax rate for liquor is $2.70 per gallon. But, it will rise to $13.50 on Dec. 31 if no one acts.

It may be too late to get the law passed as an individual piece of legislation before the deadline, the association’s CEO Margie Lehrman told Tysons Reporter.

To work around this problem, the group hopes to instead piggy-back it onto other legislation set to be voted on, as a rider bill. She said because of support from over 272 cosponsors, the group is fairly confident this idea will work.

Impact on Local Business

“It is not a Republican bill. It’s not a Democrat bill. The entire alcohol industry is united,” Lehrman said.

Lehrman said she is fairly optimistic about the legislation passing as a “tax vehicle,” since the legislation has traction from over 70 senators around the country. However, Paluzzi worries that legislators will misunderstand the impact of the taxes on small companies.

Paluzzi said that legislators don’t want to be seen giving tax breaks to large distillery companies like Jack Daniels. “This [tax break] means nothing to them and everything to us,” Paluzzi said.

With the tax breaks from the federal government, Paluzzi was able to reinvest in his own business by hiring two new team members. “Any tax relief I was given was more than made up for in the local economy.”

As of 2010, there were fewer than 50 craft spirit producers in the U.S., Lehrman said. Now in 2019, there are over 2,000 — many of them still young companies.

Paluzzi said that it takes three to five years for distilleries to start making even a small profit because of high startup costs.

“This tax relief, for many, was a type of lifeline,”  Lehrman said.

Cultural Importance 

Both Lehrman and Paluzzi spoke to the cultural and historical value of distilleries.

Since the founding of Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street) in 2017, Paluzzi and his son, Lorenzo, make various types of craft vodka, whiskey, gin, rum and brandy.

Rooted in their love for liquor, they are also proud of the history behind the distillery. Not only is it the only privately owned distillery in Fairfax County, but it was also the first to open in the area since prohibition ended in 1933.

Lehrman told Tysons Reporter that craft distilleries are becoming increasingly popular among millennials.

“If we wanna think about a product that’s made in America, there is nothing more demonstrative of innovation,” Lehrman said.

Next Steps

Currently, the bill is in the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Though no-one can say for certainty what the outcome will be, Paluzzi said he and other distillers will continue to network with other distillers and politicians while spreading awareness for this issue.

Paluzzi said that liquor has a “historical disadvantage” when it comes to the federal tax rate, and he wants to see “permanence and parity” with that of wine and beer.

“Virginia is the birthplace of distilleries,” Paluzzi said.

Image courtesy Michael E. Paluzzi

In Fairfax County — one of the wealthiest areas in the country — about 56,000 people experience food insecurity.

Several organizations around the Tysons area are trying to improve the county’s 4.9% “Food Insecurity Rate,” according to 2017 data compiled by Feeding America, a hunger-relief organization.

Across Northern Virginia, up to 90,000 people go hungry every day, according to Food for Others.

Food for Others obtains food through food rescue operations and food drives and provides emergency food assistance via the warehouse (2938 Prosperity Avenue) in Merrifield, food distribution at 16 sites and supplements to 16 other organizations.

The warehouse is open from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. People who go to the neighborhood sites are asked to bring their own grocery bags and tell the volunteers how many people are in the household.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, people can go to these Falls Church sites:

• Corner of Ellison and Irving streets off West Street at 5:45 p.m.
• 2802 Hollywood Road — parking lot of Wexford Manor Apartments south of Savannah Street — at 6:15 p.m.

Several other organizations in the Tysons area offer emergency assistance to people experiencing food insecurity.

Share of McLean

Share, Inc. is a nonprofit run by volunteers that provides emergency assistance to people in McLean and nearby areas. Share’s food and used clothing room is located in space donated by the McLean Baptist Church at 1367 Chain Bridge Road.

In addition to the year-round food pantry, Share offers family emergency financial assistance, recycled furniture, back-to-school supplies and refurbished laptop computers.

The Committee for Helping Others (CHO)

CHO is a Vienna-based nonprofit that has an emergency food pantry in facilities provided by the Vienna Presbyterian Church at Vienna Court Condos, 133 Park Street NE.

Staffed by volunteers, CHO serves people in the Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield areas. People interested in picking up food must make an appointment by calling 703-679-8966 or email [email protected].

Falls Church Community Service Council

The council offers several programs from clothing to financial to food assistance. The food pantry at the Knox Presbyterian Church (7416 Arlington Blvd) provides non-perishable and fresh food from donations and local food drives. The council also buys extra food when it has adequate funding.

“Church volunteers bag and deliver a week’s supply of food to clients,” according to its website. Volunteers also deliver meals three days per week to people at home who can’t make meals for themselves.

For students, Fairfax County Public Schools has several programs to keep kids fed during the summer and during the school year.

Photo via Falls Church Community Service Council/Facebook

A new restaurant serving up Italian cuisine will open next week in Falls Church.

Thompson Italian (124 N. Washington Street) comes to the area on Wednesday, Aug. 14, after owners and married couple Gabe and Katherine Thompson wanted to reestablish roots in the area. The owners previously owned four eateries in Manhattan, according to a press release.

“I grew up just a few miles away in Arlington, so when we had the chance to move from Manhattan back to this area with our kids, it was a true homecoming,” Katherine said.

The couple plans for the eatery to be a family-friendly environment and will offer a variety of seasonal dining options along with a kids menu.

The specials for the restaurant’s opening include ricotta gnocchi with lamb ragu, roasted garlic bread, “Summer Berry Pavlova” and mascarpone cheesecake. It will also serve wine — glasses range from $9 to $14 and bottles are around $40.

The restaurant will be open for dinner from 5-10 p.m every day except for Tuesdays. They plan to add a lunch and brunch menu within the coming months, the press release said.

“The Thompsons — who wrote the bestseller ‘Downtown Italian’ — are excited to serve casual Italian food that stirs the imagination in a family-friendly setting that they’re deeply connected to,” the press release said.

Photos courtesy of Thompson Italian

Work is underway on the new George Mason High School ahead of construction on a mixed-use project in Falls Church.

The City of Falls Church’s Planning Commission greenlighted the first of two phases for constructing the new high school on Monday, Aug. 5.

While preconstruction has already started, the approval of the first phase will now let the developers obtain building permits.

The second phase, which involves a trapezoid area in front of the school, parking and stormwater management, is expected to go before the Planning Commission later this summer or fall.

The new high school’s location will be right next to the current school, which will get converted into an approved mixed-use development known as Little City Commons.

The 1.3 million-square-foot development will occupy nearly 10 acres at the current George Mason High School location at 7124 Leesburg Pike. The development of Little City Commons will defray costs for the new school.

The school will serve grades 6-12 and have consolidated athletic fields and a “good neighbor zone,” according to city staff.

“As far as the Planning Commission is concerned, this is a momentous day,” Russell Wodiska, the chair of the Planning Commission, said at the meeting. “It’s a really exciting thing.”

Work on Little City Commons is slated to start in 2021 after work on the George Mason High School is finished.

Images via City of Falls Church

(Updated at 4 p.m. 8/6/19) Colleagues are commemorating the woman who died from a hit and run in Falls Church as a loving mother, wife and passionate U.S. State Department employee.

Police said Betty Ana Bernstein-Zabza, a 60-year-old Falls Church resident, died as a result of injuries from the crash, which happened shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Shreve Road and Hickory Street — less than a mile away from her home.

“Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit have preliminarily determined that [Bernstein-Zabza] was walking with a juvenile northbound on a pedestrian pathway adjacent to Shreve Road,” police said. “They entered a crosswalk that connected the pathway to a sidewalk when they were hit by a stolen 2013 Nissan Titan pickup truck.”

A State Department spokesperson told Tysons Reporter that Bernstein-Zabza was a senior advisor in the Bureau of Counterterrorism.

“Ms. Bernstein joined the Department of State on Oct. 1, 1993 and served at overseas posts in Warsaw, Bern and Berlin, as well as several domestic posts,” the spokesperson said.

Jane Zimmerman told Tysons Reporter that she will remember her former work colleague as a loving mother and wife. “Her son was her everything. She cherished every moment with him and was so grateful for her husband as a wonderful father and loving family man,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman also said that Bernstein-Zabza especially loved working on global women’s issues and supporting and mentoring her colleagues at the State Department.

“Her experience from Pakistan to Poland and Germany made her take women’s issues and human rights close to her heart,” Zimmerman said, adding that she was a wise, compassionate and joyful person who “could always make us laugh, especially at ourselves.”

Known for her efforts to empower women, Bernstein-Zabza spoke at several events advocating for providing more tools for women to succeed.

"If women do better countries do better" – Betty Bernstein-Zabza @GenderAtState at today's seminar @CTR_SAIS #DiversifiedInnovation #DKinUSA pic.twitter.com/rVrQpdfEKy

— HelenaMølgaardHansen (@HelenaMoelgaard) June 13, 2017

Betty Bernstein-Zabza: State Dept looking esp at adolescent girls to give them tools and access to help gain foothold #DiversifiedInnovation

— Daniel S. Hamilton (@DanSHamilton) June 13, 2017

Another former work colleague, Marci Hodge, told Tysons Reporter that Bernstein-Zabza “worked so hard for women and girls particular in this world and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her leadership on these issues.”

Hodge said that Bernstein-Zabza hired her and helped get her started on her “dream job” at the State Department. “I would not be here without her.”

Shakyra McMillon, who was supervised by Zabza in the Office of Global Women’s Issues at the State Department, said that Zabza was “a great leader and you made sure the women and girls priorities were known.”

She said that Bernstein-Zabza was “an inspiring, goal-driven, intelligent, and thoughtful woman,” adding, “Not only were you a great colleague but a wonderful mother!”

Maryum Saifee, who worked with Bernstein-Zabza in the Office of Global Women’s Issues, said that her former colleague “was part of this special crew of rockstar colleagues that represented the very best in public service.”

“She helped bring me into that office by creating a special tour of duty that year — which was bureaucratically not easy, but she fought for me,” Saifee said. “And because of her, I was given a platform to fight for issues I care deeply about and grow professionally as a diplomat.”

Several people also shared memories of Bernstein-Zabza on social media, describing her as a beloved work colleague.

https://twitter.com/michaelduffin/status/1158360597471252481?s=20

Tragic news about a friend and fellow #StateDept employee from #FallsChurch Betty Bernstein-Zabza. We worked together years ago on the Pakistan desk. — "Woman walking on pathway killed by driver in stolen pickup" https://t.co/CaYaebx17c

— Donald Camp 康 普 டானல்ட் ேகம்ப் (@donacamp) August 4, 2019

Police arrested the vehicle’s driver — 46-year-old South Riding resident David Alan Francis — and charged him with one count of felony hit and run. Detectives believe Francis may have been involved in additional criminal events yesterday in both Fairfax County and adjoining jurisdictions.

Since 2009, Francis has faced 30 charges including many traffic-related ones like driving under a revoked or suspended license, operating an insured vehicle, speeding and improper driving, according to court records.

A bouquet of flowers left at Shreve Road and Hickory Street where Betty Bernstein-Zabza was struck and killed Saturday 📷: @VernonAndOn https://t.co/bcipnfLoYp pic.twitter.com/3Wg8BcPi4c

— Catherine Douglas Moran (@c_douglasmoran) August 6, 2019

Photo via Facebook

Warehouse Fire in Tysons — A fire broke out in a warehouse in the 8400 block of Tyco Road in Tysons Sunday (Aug. 4) evening, which firefighters “quickly extinguished.” No injuries have been reported. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

Behind the Scenes of Cirque du Soleil — Pawel Walczewski shared what it’s like being one of the aerial artists who plays Waz in Cirque du Soleil’s “VOLTA.” The show is currently in Tysons until Sept. 29 [DC Metro Theater Arts]

Woman Struck, Killed by Car in Falls Church — “Fairfax County police arrested a man who allegedly struck and killed a Falls Church woman who was walking with a child in the West Falls Church area Saturday afternoon.” [Tysons Reporter]

Visions for Vienna — The Washington Business Journal dove into the town’s “crippling clash between supporters of Vienna’s small-town history and businesses with an eye on the future.” [Washington Business Journal]

Out With the Old, In With the New (Lightbulbs) — Back in July, the Board of Supervisors voted to “require LEDs instead of less-efficient high-pressure sodium streetlights in new developments. This relatively simple change marks a significant step forward in the county’s pursuit of policies that benefit the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” [Fort Hunt Herald]

Falls Church Holding Flash Flood Forum — “The City of Falls Church announced Tuesday that it has organized a public forum for Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Council Chambers of City Hall for a “July 8 Flood, Impact, Recovery and Response” forum. Citizens are invited to attend as City staff and elected officials review the impact of the flash flood last month.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Falls Church Expands Senior Tax Program — “Measures to better enable older Falls Church residents to “age in place” rather than move out of their homes that were approved by the F.C. City Council last month will benefit all City taxpayers, F.C. Treasurer Jody Acosta [said].” [Falls Church News-Press]

Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter 

(Updated at 4 p.m. 8/6/19) A driver has been arrested after police say he struck and killed a woman who was walking with a child in the West Falls Church area Saturday afternoon.

The victim was identified by police Sunday (Aug. 4) as 60-year-old Betty Ana Bernstein-Zabza of Falls Church. Police said Bernstein-Zabza died as a result of injuries from the crash, which happened shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Shreve Road and Hickory Street.

“Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit have preliminarily determined that [Bernstein-Zabza] was walking with a juvenile northbound on a pedestrian pathway adjacent to Shreve Road,” police said. “They entered a crosswalk that connected the pathway to a sidewalk when they were hit by a stolen 2013 Nissan Titan pickup truck.”

While police said that couldn’t unable to provide any information about the identity of the child, WUSA9 reported that the child was Zabza’s son.

The crash scene was near the busy W&OD Trail.

Police arrested the vehicle’s driver — 46-year-old South Riding resident David Alan Francis.

“Detectives believe [Francis] lost control of the truck causing it to exit the roadway and hit Bernstein-Zabza and the juvenile,” police said.

More from FCPD:

Bernstein-Zabza was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The juvenile was treated for minor injuries. Francis ran from the scene but was arrested a short time later. He was not injured.

Both speed and drugs appear to be factors. Francis was charged with one count of felony hit and run. He was taken to the Adult Detention Center where he is being held without bond. Additional charges are anticipated.

Detectives believe Francis may have been involved in additional criminal events yesterday in both Fairfax County and adjoining jurisdictions.

Since 2009, Francis has faced 30 charges including many traffic-related ones like driving under a revoked or suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle, speeding and improper driving, according to court records.

An FCPD spokesperson told Tysons Reporter that police preliminarily believe that within the hour prior to the fatal pedestrian crash, Francis was involved in the following incidents:

• hit and run crash with injury at Route 50/Pleasant Valley Rd around 2:15 p.m.
• hit and run property damage crash in the 7600 block of Virginia Lane
• subsequent hit and run property damage crash in the 7600 block of Virginia Lane
• Falls Church City incident
• subsequent Falls Church City incident
• fatal pedestrian crash dispatched at 2:47 p.m.

Police ask that anyone with information contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477).

Image via Google Maps, photo via FCPD

For the entire month of August, Falls Church Distillers will celebrate the now-closed Mad Fox Brewing Company.

Michael Paluzzi, a co-founder of Falls Church Distillers, told Tysons Reporter that he wanted to honor Bill Madden, the owner of Mad Fox Brewing Company, who Paluzzi called “a legend in D.C. for brewing.”

Even though Falls Church Distillers is focused on spirits instead of beer, Paluzzi said, “We’re all artisans. We’re all in the craft industry.”

The distillery will have Mad Fox beers on tap, including Defender APA, Broad Street IPA, pilsners, Big Chimney Porter and a Barleywine-style beer, Paluzzi said.

The celebration lasts “until either the end of August or the beer runs out in distribution,” according to the Facebook event. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are endless draft ticket days for $30 from 4-8:30 p.m.

Paluzzi said that he talked to Madden about the planned celebration, and “he was very supportive of the idea.”

Paluzzi said that he and Madden go back about 15 years. Last year, Falls Church Distillers and Mad Fox Brewing Company collaborated on turning beer into a coffee liquor.

“I think Falls Church loved Mad Fox and Bill and what they were doing,” Paluzzi said. “If I can extend that to those people by providing access to the beer, that is our honor.”

Photo via Falls Church Distillers LLC/Facebook

(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) A park in the City of Falls Church needs a name.

Located in the 100 block of W. Broad Street, the park is right by downtown shops and restaurants.

Now, city staff recommends that the park gets named “Mr. Brown’s Park” to honor Brown’s Hardware (100 W. Broad Street) — the city’s oldest business, spanning three generations of Browns back to 1883.

Staff teamed up with Council member Letty Hardi, EDA member Erik Pelton and Recreation and Parks Board member Bill Brew to survey locals, which yielded 130 submissions and “overwhelming community support to reference Brown’s Hardware,” according to city documents.

“This park was first created in the 1960s and was significantly renovated this year using funds provided by the Economic Development Authority (EDA),” according to city documents. “The park is currently being used for events such as live music, yoga lessons, and children’s entertainers.”

The city’s Planning Commission is set to review the proposed name — and any other suggestions — at its meeting next Monday (Aug. 5). The City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and make a decision on Sept. 9.

House Fire in Falls Church — On Sunday (July 28), firefighters “quickly extinguished” a fire in the garage of home in the 6700 block of Osborn Street in the Falls Church area. There are no reported firefighter or civilian injuries. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

Town of Vienna Readying for Clean-Up Day — “The next Vienna Town Clean-Up Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to help town-government staff pick up trash, remove invasive plants and give the town a general polish.” [Inside NoVa]

Micro Units Coming to Falls Church Development — “The massive new mixed-use development planned for the City of Falls Church’s west end, recently dubbed the “Little City Commons,” will feature a living space favored by big cities throughout the country when it introduces micro units upon completion in 2022.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Upcoming Bicycle Donation, Festival in McLean — “The annual Old Firehouse Teen Center Block Party will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the teen center, 1440 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. Admission is free. As part of the festivities, Bands for Bikes will be collecting donations of bicycles and funds for the ‘Wheels to Africa’ initiative.” [Inside NoVa]

Falls Church’s “Founding Father” Dies — “Lou Olom, a venerable founding father of the City of Falls Church and especially its world-renowned school system, has died at age 102… Two years ago, on July 10, 2017, the Falls Church community celebrated Olom’s 100th birthday with a formal proclamation declaring his birthday as “Lou Olom Day.” [Falls Church News-Press]