Community News & Notes | Falls Church News-Press Online

Community News & Notes

Wednesday, May 13 2009 07:54:43 PM

F.C. Civil War Day Offers Blast to Past

The City of Falls Church’s Annual Civil War Day will be held this Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park & Farmhouse (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). This living-history event depicting the Falls Church homefront during the Civil War will feature drilling and firing exercises, a Civil War medical tent, spy stories, readings from soldiers’ and civilians’ letters, children’s activities, a bus tour of local Civil War sites, live music and more. For more information, call 703-248-5171.

Pancake Breakfast to Benefit Youth Group

A Pancake Breakfast will be held this Sunday, May 17 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Christ Crossman United Methodist Church (384 N. Washington St., Falls Church). Anyone who's interested is invited to enjoy pancakes and all the trimmings to benefit the youth group's summer mission trip. For more information, call 703-532-4026.

AREA RESIDENT-TURNED-AUTHOR Duane Evans (left) published his first novel, “North from Calcutta,” this month. Evans, a former CIA officer, tells the fictional tale of espionage and terror in South Asia. A book signing will be held at Stifel & Capra in Falls Church on Thursday, June 11 from 6 – 9 p.m. Copies of his book can be purchased beforehand at www.duaneevans.com, or through local bookstores. Evans also appeared as a guest on Fox News’ “Strategy Room Online” this week. (Left Photo: Courtesy Duane Evans, Right Photo: News-Press)

New Dominion Chorale & Orchestra Hold Concert

The New Dominion Chorale and Orchestra will perform scenes from Franz Liszt’s rarely-performed “Christus” at 4 p.m. this Sunday, May 17 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center (3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria).
The concert will be conducted by the Chorale’s founder and artistic director, Thomas Beveridge, who has prepared a special edition of Liszt’s lush, melodic work featuring the 200-voice chorus, 50-piece orchestra and three soloists: Jennifer Jellings, soprano; Laura Zuiderveen, alto and Richard Novak, tenor. The concert will also include “Five Mystical Songs” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, featuring baritone Timothy LeFebvre.
Tickets, which can be purchased online by visiting www.newdominion.org, cost $25 for general admission, $20 fo
r seniors and $5 for students and children. For more information, call Beveridge at 202-244-7191 or New Dominion Chorale at 703-442-9404.

ODCS to Hold Mum Sale, Members Meeting

The Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society (ODCS) will hold its Annual Mum Plant Sale on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Green Spring Gardens Park (4603 Green Springs Rd., Alexandria). A wide variety of rooted, potted cuttings, including a complete range of Mum colors and classes will be available.
And on Sunday, May 17, ODCS will present a one-hour, hands-on program with a Q&A by Monty Cross, an expert in every aspect of Hosta horticulture, plus a drawing for free Hosta specimens. The meeting will be held at the Falls Church Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church) and will begin at 2:30 p.m. It is open to the public, with free admission and refreshments. For more information on either of these events, call Jim Dunne at 703-560-8776.

Cathedral Concert to Spotlight Military’s Finest

The Cool Springs Brass Quartet, with the St. Thomas More Cathedral Choir, will hold a free concert this Sunday, May 17 at 8 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More (3901 Cathedral Ln., Arlington). From Bach to Bernstein, this concert features America’s finest military bands and orchestras. Parking is also free and a reception will follow the musical presentation. For more information, call 703-524-2815.

VPIS to Honor Ed Strait at Members Meeting

On Sunday, May 17, the Falls Church Village Preservation & Improvement Society (VPIS) will hold its Spring Members Meeting at the F.C. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church) from 3 – 5 p.m. Patty Sheilds and Doug Fraser will present on “Green Renovation and Development — Doing it Right in the City.”
The Spirit of Falls Church Award will also be presented to civic activist Ed Strait, with a social to follow. All are welcome. For more information, visit www.vpis.org.

18th Century Spring Market Fair Comes to Claude Moore

DELEGATE BOB HULL (seated on left) joins Governor Tim Kaine (seated in center) in a ceremonial bill signing of Del. Hull’s bill to designate May 11 of each year in Virginia as Vietnam Human Rights Day. They are joined by prominent members of the Vietnamese-American community, including Dr. Quan Nguyen to Delegate Hull’s right and Monsignor Thang Pham of the Vietnamese Catholic Church in Richmond and Anh Hong Do, Chairman of The Vietnamese Community of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, to the right of Gov. Kaine. (Photo: Courtesy Del. Bob Hull)

This Saturday and Sunday, May 16 – 17, the Claude Moore Colonial Farm (6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean) will celebrate the coming of the season with its 18th Century Spring Market Fair, weather permitting. Both days this weekend, from 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., the Farm will present period music, quoits and other games, a children’s puppet theater, herbs and flower sales, seamstress stands and period food to include roast chicken, fresh asparagus, sugar cakes and fruit pies. Admission costs $5 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 3-12 and seniors. Visit www.1771.org for a 50 percent discount pass. For more information, call 703-442-7557.

St. Luke Catholic Presents Organ Recital

On Wednesday, May 20, the Saint Luke Catholic Church (7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean) will present its Organ Recital at 1 p.m., featuring Paul Skevington, director of music and liturgy at the church. This lunchtime program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 703-356-0670 or visit www.musicinmclean.org.

Conference Teaches Young Females ‘Girl Power’

The 10th Annual Girl Power Conference will be held this Saturday, May 16, at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Pkwy., Fairfax) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The conference theme is “Girl Power – Kickin’ It Up!” and workshops will focus on encouraging girls to build strong character and make healthy choices.
Keynote speakers for this year’s conference include Sarah Huffman, a member of the Washington Freedom women’s professional soccer team and the number one overall pick in the 2009 draft, and Lora Greene, an alumnus of the Girl Power program, who will share her experience and relate how the program has helped her transition into a young adult. For more information, call 703-934-8770.

Gov. Kaine to Serve as Honorary Guest at MPA

Today, Thursday, May 14, the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) will hold its Spring Benefit from 7 – 9 p.m., featuring honored guest Gov. Timothy Kaine. The Spring Benefit helps support MPA’s exhibitions and educational programs for the upcoming year. Patrons enjoy a spring evening in a historic home, the home of an art collector or some other inspiring setting. It is an evening of celebrating the arts with great conversation and creative cuisine. Tickets cost $175. For more information, call 703-790-1953.

WMAS to Perform Accordion Show in F.C.

Members of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) will perform a concert on Sunday, May 17 at 4 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church (3435 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Falls Church). The concert is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 703-534-6461.

PUMPED UP BY RECEIVING their gifts, representatives of the Falls Church Education Association, and Boy Scout troops 895 (center) and 695 (right) were on hand at Monday’s Falls Church City Council meeting to accept their share of the funds raised at the Friends of the W&OD Trail 5K Run along the trail that drew over 400 people in late March. Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner and event organizer Roger Neighborgall are on the far right. (Photo: News-Press)

Wine Tasting Benefit Supports Local Missionaries

The Cotta Guild LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League) of Our Savior Lutheran Church (825 S. Taylor St., Arlington) is sponsoring it’s 2nd Annual Wineology Wine Tasting Benefit this Saturday, May 16 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Community members are invited to study, taste and compare several wines. Hors d’oeuvres matched to the wines will be served as well. There will be door prizes and the first 120 tasting tickets sold will receive a commemorative wine glass.
Proceeds raised will be donated to the Arlington Food Assistance Center and the mission work of the LWML. Tickets cost $35 per person and $25 for the designated driver. For more information, call 703-892-4846.