When I was a child, the Christmas threat of a lump of coal in a stocking “hung by the chimney with care” was real. Our little house was heated by a coal-fired furnace, and the coal delivery truck had a chute on it that connected to the coal bin in the basement. Dumping all those shiny little black chunks didn’t mean much to me at that tender age, and children today may not see coal up close unless they live in coal producing area. Coal had a negative connotation for children’s Christmas expectations decades ago; those emotions now have a critical environmental focus to them now, but that is an issue for another discussion.

Although Santa Claus may not distribute lumps of coal anymore to children who have been “bad,” a lump of coal is, figuratively, an appropriate way to highlight some community issues this year. Conversely, a candy cane (or a chocolate “kiss” if you don’t like peppermint) will highlight the plus side. Here are some candy canes and lumps of coal for 2023:

• A candy cane to the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), a multi-denominational volunteer non-profit organization that serves the Bailey’s Crossroads, Seven Corners, and Annandale communities through its food pantry, furniture program, and rental assistance to families in need of such services. ACCA also runs an outstanding Child Development Center, which provides affordable child care to families in the area. ACCA depends on generous supporters; find out more at info@accacares.org.
• A candy cane to the Mason District Police Station officers and volunteers who act as Gary Clause for children in the Culmore area and surrounding neighborhoods. The gift-wrapping extravaganza at the Mason Station certainly is a sight to see – Santa’s elves couldn’t be busier! A special donation of plush toy animals from PetSmart means that every child will receive a soft cuddly “pet” for Christmas.
• A lump of coal to drivers who fail to stop, or even slow down, at stop signs in all of our neighborhoods. That red and white sign means exactly what it says – STOP. That means a full stop, not a hesitation or quick roll through the intersection, hoping that no one is looking. I can stand on my front porch and count on one hand the vehicles that come to a complete stop, school buses included. Fully stopping at a STOP sign is a good New Years’ resolution.
• A candy cane to Wood Brothers and their partner developers who are constructing the new multifamily apartments on Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads. The oft-discussed but oft-delayed redevelopment will be a boon to the SE Quad section of Bailey’s Crossroads, bringing new residents and customers to the area. Let’s get it done!
• A lump of coal to the trolls, usually unidentified, who cannot resist making snarky comments about nearly everything posted on local social media sites, such as NextDoor. Those negative comments are not representative of our community as a whole, and often make me suspect that they are planted by someone or something more nefarious than just an innocent or interested bystander.
• Similarly, a lump of coal to anti-democracy forces who take delight in tearing down, or threatening, our unique American democratic society. Democracy is fragile, and we all have a responsibility to understand and defend our democratic ideals. They are hard-won, but easily lost.
• And finally, a candy cane to the readers of the Falls Church News-Press, and publisher Nick Benton. It is refreshing and comforting to have a local newspaper, with local articles, to cover the everyday happenings that make a community a community. Living so close to the white-hot center of global politics is exciting, but we all still live in a community whose identity is local, and most neighbors are people, not rock stars or political gurus. FCN-P reminds us that we all are connected in some way, and the everyday facets of life, living, and loving, are important.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! And thank you.

Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.