F.C. Concert Band Rocks Temple Rodef Shalom

The City of Falls Church Concert Band will present a “No Strings Attached” wind band musical experience by 20th century American composers.

The Virginia Municipal League Achievement Award was recently presented to F.C.’s Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester (left) and City Manager Wyatt Shields for Falls Church’s efforts to expand its neighborhood tree-planting effort. (Photo: Courtesy Barbara Gordon)

Celebrate the birthday of Aaron Copland with music by the noted composer, as well as the music of Bernstein, Milhaud, Gershwin, Berlin, Elfman and others.

The concert will be held at Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland St., Falls Church) on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. for $10 per seat. To purchase tickets, visit concert09.eventbrite.com.

McLean Girl Scout Gathers ‘Treats for Troops’

McLean girl scout Lisa Cofrancesco of Troop 6170 is working to collect donations for Treats for Troops. Up until Wednesday, Nov. 25, Cofrancesco will be collecting extra Halloween candy, non-perishable treats and beanie babies in order to assemble care packages for U.S. marines in honor of Veterans Day.

She is asking those interested to drop off items including, but not limited to, beanie babies, candy, cookies, trail mix, ramen dry soup packages, beef jerky, gum, sunflower seeds, dry hot chocolate packets and more. Donations can be dropped off at Longfellow Middle School (2000 Westmoreland St., Falls Church), where Cofrancesco is an eighth grader, or the Bach to Rock Music School (1440 Emerson Ave., McLean).

Open Auditions Being Held In F.C. for ‘Christmas Cabin’

Falls Church-based Creative Cauldron is holding open auditions for actors of all ages for its next show, “The Christmas Cabin of Carnaween,” Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at ArtSpace-Falls Church (410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church).

This Irish folktale set in the time of the great famine, tells the story of a tinker’s child who always wishes for a cabin of her own. For more information, call 571-239-5288.

FCA Kicks Off Holiday Market Saturday

MAYOR ROBIN GARDNER (back row, right) visited with the Den 1 Webelo Scouts of Falls Church Pack 681 to teach the Scouts about the responsibility of being a community leader on Nov. 1. After discussing the duties of her office, Gardner answered several questions from the boys. “Part of the Scouts’ requirement to earn their Citizen Activity Badge is to meet and ask questions of a community leader,” said Den Leader David Taylor. “It was a great opportunity for the boys to learn and understand what it takes to be committed to their community.” (Photo: Courtesy David Taylor)

For more information, visit www.fallschurcharts.org.

Seminar Teaches the Science of Everyday

The National Science Foundation has invited Marvin Zelkowitz, professor emeritus and research professor at the University of Maryland, to share his knowledge on how science works in daily practice.

Using computers as a sample domain, Zelkowitz will show how looking to the scientific method can differentiate between “good” and “bad” science and at what levels of validation various experiments are produced. His goal is to ensure the public’s understanding about what scientists do in reality and when they venture into the realm of pseudoscience.

The seminar will be held at the National Science Foundation, Room 110 (4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington) on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call 301-587-3827 or visit www.ncas.org.

Marshall H.S. Grad Joins BASIS Group

Recent George C. Marshall High School graduate Lucas Rooney is celebrating after becoming the first freshman in history invited to join Bond and Securities Investing by Students (BASIS), a group of Virginia Tech (V.T.) students who run a $4 million, fixed-income securities fund on behalf of the V.T. foundation.

Rooney was an International Bachelorate diploma recipient as part of the Statesmen Class of 2009.

Rock Spring Garden Club Holds Monthly Meeting

The Rock Spring Garden Club welcomes any interested gardeners to its monthly meeting on “Holiday Design Ideas” by Muriel and Harlin Turner, two flower show school instructors. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Little Falls Presbyterian Church (6025 Little Falls Rd., Arlington).

For more information, call 703-532-1107 or visit www.rockspringgardenclub.com.

OPEN KITCHEN OWNERS John Karles and Hue-Chan Karles (center) are joined by Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner and Chamber Chairman Ralph Perrino along with other City leaders, local business leaders and their crew to celebrate the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of the business at 7115 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church on Oct. 31. (Photo: Courtesy Sally Cole)

Nova Toastmasters Club Holds Open House

The Nova Toastmasters Club will host an open house to show those interested how they can improve their communication skills. The club’s “Table Topics,” also known as extemporaneous speaking, will demonstrate how individuals can master speaking off the cuff. The presentational meeting will show individuals from all industries, ages and backgrounds how Toastmasters can enhance their workplace, home life and social situations.

Refreshments will be provided, as well as an opportunity to converse with current members. The meeting will be held at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Falls Church High School, Room 181 (7521 Jaguar Trl., Falls Church).

For more information, visit nova.freetoasthost.com.

McLean Readies Itself for Antique Exhibition

The McLean Antique Show and Sale will be held from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15 with a $7 dual-day admission. Show proceeds benefit the Alden Theatre’s James C. Macdonald Arts Scholarship Fund. It will be held at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) to offer quality antiques to an excited market.

Free verbal appraisals will be available as well as lunch and dinner fare by Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant. Paul Nulton, a glass restoration specialist, will be on site to repair damaged goods.

For more information and a $1 discount coupon, visit www.mcleancenter.org/special-events.

FEHBP Begins with Guide to Health Plans

The Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) presents “Open Season for Health,” with Flexible Spending Accounts and Dental & Vision Insurance information beginning this week and running through Dec. 14. Open Season allows government employees to enroll, change or cancel coverage.

The Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave., Falls Church) will make available a reference copy and two circulating copies of Consumer Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The library will also provide limited online access to the guide.

For more information, call the library at 703-248-5035 or visit the official Office of Personnel Management Web site at www.opm.gov/insure/openseason.

VPIS Awards Recognize Excellence in Design

Falls Church’s Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) has once again sponsored the local tradition of Awards for Excellence in Design for 2009.

New or renovated residential and commercial buildings, gardens and landscaping projects finished within the past five years in the City of Falls Church were eligible for consideration.

Awards will be presented at the VPIS annual meeting on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Falls Church Community Center (300 Park Ave., Falls Church).

Additionally, a member discussion session will surround the Neighborhood Tree Program & Tree Planting operation by coordinator Seth Heminway on Saturday, Nov. 14. For more information, visit www.vpis.org.

Boy Scouts Collect Falls Church’s Canned Goods

Orchestrated by the National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America will be holding its 23rd Annual Food Collection Drive, “Scouting for Food.”

Teams of Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs and Venture Crew and Ships will pick up collection bags on the front porches of Falls Church residents on Saturday, Nov. 14, which are then provided to the Capital Area Food Bank.

The groups ask that participants either use the designated bags homeowners received wrapped around door knobs last week or to perceivably mark their donations placed in any other receptacles by 9 a.m.

For drop-off locations, call 202-755-7470.

Firefighters Invite Locals to Vienna Craft Show

The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Fall Bazaar is celebrating local creative minds. The event will feature craftspeople from throughout Nova selling their wares, specialty cuisine vendors, crafts tables, bake sale items, a decoration launch  and children’s activities.

The day of creation will take place at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (400 Center St., Vienna) on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-938-2678.