Local Skating Sisters Skate with Stars

Hannah Schlesinger, 10, and her sister Becky Schlesinger, 6, both of Falls Church, skated with U.S. Ladies National Champion Alissa Czisny, top men's figure skater Parker Pennington, and a cast of stars, in Skate for Life, a benefit for Muscular Dystrophy research. The event, held in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, June 27, raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

STUDENTS IN THE McLean High School drama program attended the FIRSTfriday flagship event at the Art and Frame of Falls Church last Friday to raise money to cover the cost of their upcoming trip to Scotland to participate in a Fringe Drama Festival there. They were on hand with their instructor, Denise Perrino (far left). (Photo: News-Press)

The Schlesinger sisters and their family raised over $1,700 for the event this year, and were featured in a solo cast that included Czisny, Pennington, four-time U.S. silver medalist ice dancers Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, six-time Canadian National Champion Jennifer Robinson, five-time national medalist Tonia Kwiatkowski and other nationally-ranked skaters.

The Skate for Life show paired figure skating with dance, as So You Think You Can Dance finalists Gev Manoukian and Sarah von Gillern performed on an island stage right next to the ice, often in tandem with the cast of skaters. For more information about the event, visit www.mdaskateforlife.org/index.php, where a video can also be purchased, with part of the proceeds to benefit the MDA. The event will also be available on demand at www.icenetwork.com.

New Art Exhibit to Open in Falls Church

To celebrate the opening of ArtSpace Falls Church, Falls Church Arts (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church) is mounting ArtSlam, an-all media exhibit that opens on Saturday, July 11. The exhibit represents the work of 35 artists and includes more than 80 paintings and photographs. ArtSpace Falls Church is a flexible art space that features a permanent gallery, 95-seat performance space and provides an artistic home for two local non-profit organizations, Falls Church Arts and Creative Cauldron.

The opening night reception will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. ArtSpace gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 30. For more information, visit www.fallschurcharts.org.

McLean Rotary Receives District Honors

The Rotary Club of McLean received one international award, two regional honors and four other commendations last month to cap a year of accomplishment under outgoing President Lois Wilson. The McLean club received an international award for extraordinary membership development and two district awards for outstanding joint community service projects.

ARTIST TARA CRONIN (left) arrived from Ireland in time to display her “Irish Pubs” works at the monthly FIRSTfriday in Falls Church last week. She is pictured here showing off one of her works with her cousin, Ciara Collins (right), co-owner of Falls Church’s popular Ireland’s Four Provinces restaurant. Ms. Cronin will remain in the Falls Church area through the summer. (Photo: News-Press)

Sister City Envoy Addresses City Council

At the City Council meeting on Monday, July 13 at City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), Albert Lokasola will present greetings to Falls Church from our Sister City, Kokolopori, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lokasola will give a brief report on the status of the project, and answer questions from City Council members. The meeting is to take place at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. For more information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Red, White & Bleu to Host Wine and Cheese Tasting

On Tuesday, July 14, Red, White & Bleu (127 S. Washington St., Falls Church) is hosting a South African wine tasting at 7:30 p.m. to benefit programs in Falls Church's Sister City, Kokolopori, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Admission costs $25. Participants will meet and converse with Albert Lokasola, visiting Falls Church from Kokolopori this month. RSVP to 703-534-4003 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Live Music Comes to Clare & Don's

On Saturday, July 11, Clare & Don's Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St., Falls Church) will host Jelly Roll Mortals from 7 – 10 p.m. on the patio. For more information, call 703-532-9283 or visit www.clareanddons.com.

Local Receives Doctorate from UVA

Kate Jackson of Falls Church celebrated her doctorate in sports medicine, her new job as a professor at the University of Toledo and her engagement with John David Pfile on Sunday, July 5.

Jackson received her masters in athletic training and sports medicine and PhD specializing in kinesiology from the University of Virginia. She was the UVA swim team's athletic trainer, served three years at Blue Ridge Prep and spent her final year running the lab and teaching on the UVA staff.

Jackson graduated from George Mason High School in 2000 and played basketball in Falls Church from the age of seven. As a junior, she was a part of Mason's first woman's basketball state championship and was state player of the year.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL STEPHEN KINNEAR, Executive Officer for the Army’s Freedom Team Salute program in Falls Church, congratulates William Ballhaus, DynCorps International’s President and CEO, for his Army Commendation presented on behalf of the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army. Ballhaus was presented a commendation along with 13 Army Veterans and nine Supporters. (Photo: Courtesy Lindsey Brothers)

F.C. Concerts in the Park Series Continues

Bring a blanket and picnic dinner to Concerts in the Park and sit back, relax and enjoy as the live entertainment from local musicians and artists continues at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). Thursday, July 9, will feature painter Fran Bell Simms and the Irish musical talents of Mad for the Road. Concerts are held every Thursday until Aug. 6 and are free to attend. For more information, call 703-248-5077.

McLean Community Center to Perform 'Oliver!'

The McLean Community Center (MCC) (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) will present "Oliver!" every weekend from Friday, July 10 – Sunday, July 26. Friday and Saturday show times are at 8 p.m., and Sundays are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $19 general admission, $17 for MCC residents, seniors and students and $13 for groups of 10 or more. For more information, call 703-790-0123 or visit www.mcleancenter.org.

McLean Central Park Hosts Sunday Concerts

Free Sunday Concerts in the McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., Falls Church) will be held each week at 3 p.m. Concerts began June 28 and end July 26. On Sunday, July 12, The Grandsons, an eclectic whirlpool of New Orleans rhythm and blues, rock, swing and country two steps, will perform.

La Cote D'or Celebrates Bastille Day

To celebrate Bastille Day, La Cote D'or Cafe (6876 Lee Hwy., Arlington) will have a cabaret night Saturday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $42.50 per person plus wine, tax and gratuity. The menu will include quenelle de brochet, petit salad de champignon, lamb chops tarragon and omelette norwegien.

There also will be dancing, with Roosevelt Smith at the piano. For reservations, call 703-538-3033 or visit www.lacotedorcafe.com for more information.

College Graduates and Awards

Kasha Marie Klinegores of Falls Church received her degree from Roanoke College at its 167th commencement ceremony held on May 2. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology and was also magna cum laude and elected to Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

Rachel Rochon of Falls Church was named to the dean's list at the University of New Haven for the spring 2009 semester.

Clair Young Sun Maher of Alexandria received honors admission to the University of Mary Washington for the fall semester of 2009. Maher is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School.

Maria Kanakis of Falls Church graduated from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester on May 17 with a bachelor of music degree in applied music.

Falls Church Rotary Deadline Nears

The Rotary Club of Falls Church will travel to Nationals Park (1500 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C.) to watch the Washington Nationals take on the Chicago Cubs Friday, July 19. Participants will sit in the upper infield gallery above the first base dugout.

Tickets will be sold for $25 per person, as a portion included will be donated to the Falls Church Rotary Foundation to fight polio. The deadline for buying tickets is July 10 or until sold out. To reserve tickets, contact Joe Scheibeler at 202-268-5089.

MEHMS Wins National Award for Newsletter

On Wednesday, July 1, the principal's secretary John Levock and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School (MEHMS) won the National School Public Relations Association Award of Excellence for their electronic school newsletter, MEHMS Husky Happenings.

Reverend Hermann Hosted By Falls Church CSE

The Reverend Steve Hermann came to the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (CSE) (2935 Gallows Rd., Falls Church) in Falls Church Sunday, June 14, to provide first hand proof that there is life after death. Reverend Hermann made contact with deceased loved ones to allow for the audience's grief and loneliness to fade and for spiritual healing to begin.