Community News & Notes

PHRA Invasive Plant Removal Workday Coming Soon

Concerned Poplar Heights Recreation Association members and the Board will be conducting another invasive plant removal workday on Saturday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. Please consider donating some time to help them continue their work in removing invasive plants in PHRA’s wooded areas.

Envision

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7 Bus Rapid Transit to Hold Meeting May 16

Please join the Transit Research Center for a community open house. Enjoy local baked goods and join the conversation to better understand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and what that could mean for this community. Engage with project team staff and provide feedback on draft concepts developed to improve transit service in Falls Church. The meeting will be on Tuesday, May 16 from 6:30 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. at Mary Riley Styles Public Library in the lower level conference room.

Bike Everywhere Weekend to Raise Awareness

“Bike & Walk Everywhere Weekend” on the weekend of May 19 — 21 will build on Bike to Work Day in Falls Church City, with the same spirit of raising awareness and excitement around trying biking or walking for transportation. Bike Falls Church has lined up exciting destinations — public spots like Bike to School Friday and Bike to the Market Saturday, places of worship, and many local businesses. There are a few more days to add other destinations, if one knows an organization that might want to participate.

Bike Falls Church will share the map of destinations, social media hashtag and other info with participants closer to the weekend. This is a Bike Falls Church piloted event that they hope the City will take on in future years, making it an official part of realizing the goals of Mobility for All Modes in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the Bike Master Plan. They hope locals take the chance to get on a bike to visit a local business or other destination.

Cauldron Announces Final Season at Pearson Square

The 2023-24 Season will mark Creative Cauldron’s final season at its current home in Pearson Square, before mov ing to a new black box theater in the

Broad and Washington proj ect. Commenting on the season line up, Founding Artistic Director Laura Connors Hull said: “It is a season filled with the stories of dreamers and doers. It has exciting ‘Bold New Works’ and regional premieres, but also some revivals from the musical theater canon, shows with appeal for every generation, and of course, there will be music!”

Save the Date for FCCPS Celebration of Excellence

On Monday, May 15th, the FCCPS Celebration of Excellence will be held at Meridian High School on the third floor learning stairs. The event will recognize employees nominated for and winners of local, regional and national awards. The reception begins at 4:15 p.m. and the program begins at 4:45 p.m.

Civil War Show and Sale Coming Soon

A Civil War Books, Relics and Memorabilia Show and Sale will be held on Saturday, May 20th from 10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m. at the Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge (8421 Arlington Blvd). Admission is $5.00 per person. Vendors are welcome. Additional information may be obtained by sending an email to dhakenson@verizon.net and/or mayo5304@cox.net.

F.C. Arts Presents “Excellence in Arts” Scholarship

With a stated mission to “ensure the arts are an essential part of the cultural environment,” Falls Church Arts has since inception focused on the visual arts, bringing exhibition opportunities and the chance to learn, share, and grow.

Their Excellence in Art Scholarship is a new offering meant to recognize and encourage those who display an early dedication to making art. In

2023, they are offering $1,000 scholarships to as many as three students.

A student is eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship if the student meets all of the following criteria: Exhibits excellence and creativity in the visual arts fields of drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, or sculpture; is in the final academic year of their secondary education at a Northern Virginia high school and plans to attend an accredited post-secondary institution and further their artistic pursuits there. Special consideration will be given to applicants whose art work and activities have benefited other students, their school or members of the community.

For additional information, contact: Maureen Budetti (mrbudetti@gmail.com) 202288-9291 or Marty Behr (behrmarty29@gmail.com) 703975-0762.

Memorial Day Parade and Festival Schedule

The Recreation and Parks Department is gearing up for their 41st Annual City of Falls Church Memorial Day event. This community tradition will include a Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by the Falls Church Veteran’s Council, a 3K Fun Run, civic, merchant, crafter, food vendors, live music, kids entertainment, and a parade.

On Monday, May 29, starting at 9:00 a.m. the Beyer Auto Group 3K Fun Run will begin at Great Falls Street at Little Falls Street Rollerblades. Bicycles are not permitted.

The festival will be held from 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. Children’s rides and amusements will be present, as well as vendor booths with food and crafts for sale.

From 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., there will be music on the main stage, with the Coozies performing at 9:15 a.m. and the City of Falls Church Concert Band performing at 12:30 p.m.

From 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., tours of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse will be provided. At 11:00 a.m., the Memorial

Day ceremony will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial outside the Community Center. The Keynote Speaker will be State Senator Chap Petersen.

Finally at 2:00 p.m., the parade will be led by Grand Marshal Rebecca Tax.

Registration is Open for Summer Classes

The Summer 2023 Brochure (on http://www.fallschurchva. gov) is full of exciting programs for all ages.

Children can choose from various classes such as Floor Hockey, Cheer, Chess Club, Chemistry Creations and more.

Adults can find fun activities like Line Dancing, Tai Chi and Qi Gong, Barre, and more.

Senior citizens can join one of their many clubs or activities, such as chair volleyball.

Additional pickleball classes have been added.

Registration is already open for City residents. Registration opens Monday, May 8, for nonCity residents. Summer Camp registration is also open.

New USGS Rain Gauges in Place

The City of Falls Church and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently installed and will maintain new rainfall and stream flow gauges within the City.

These gauges are part of the USGS National Water Dashboard, which displays all of the USGS gauges in the country. The gauges are available for public use and allow community members to monitor near real-time conditions for rainfall and stream gauge height, with the gauges updating rainfall amounts in inches every five minutes.

In addition, the “WaterAlert” tool allows users to set threshold conditions for the gauges and receive alerts.

AAUW Book Sale & VPIS Bazaar Coming Soon

Come to the AAUW Used Book Sale/VPIS Attic Treasures Bazaar May 19 — 20 at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street, just off Route 7 in the city of Falls Church — 10 a.m. — 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. Saturday. There is something for every reader and bargain hunter with hundreds of books alongside furniture, jewelry, and must-have household items.

The book sale benefits scholarship programs and grants for local women, and the Attic Treasures Bazaar supports cultural events and green initiatives in the City of Falls Church. For more information visit http://fallschurcharea-va.aauw. net/booksale and http://VPIS.org.

Falls Church Garden Club Presents Plant Sale

On Saturday, May 13th from 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m., the Falls Church Garden Club will host its plant sale at the Falls Church

Community Center. Learn everything about gardening, plants, pots, tools, gifts and decor.

FCGC is a non-profit organization. To find out more, visit www.fallschurchgardenclub.org for more information.

Inova Bloodmobile Returns to Falls Church

The Inova Bloodmobile returns to the City on Monday, May 29. It will be set up outside the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street) from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. during the City’s 41st Annual Memorial Day Parade.

One can visit the donor portal at inovabloodsaves.org/ donor/schedules/drive_schedule/32944 or call 866-256-6372 (TTY 711), sponsor code 0053, to schedule an appointment.