F.C. Little League Celebrating 75th Anniversary in 2023

As the first Little League in the state of Virginia, the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League is looking forward to celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2023. They are asking for the community’s help to create a special logo for the 75th anniversary and everyone is welcome to enter the Logo Contest.
Be creative and be innovative. One can design whatever they like – it just has to celebrate FCKLL’s 75 anniversary (1948 – 2023) and a love for baseball! The logo will be used on promotional materials, jerseys and merchandise throughout the 75th anniversary year. For full details and for logo submission instructions, please visit www.fckll.org or email erika@fckll.org with questions. Designs must be submitted by December 2nd to be included in the contest.

“Bits and Pieces” Opens at Falls Church Arts November 19th

Forty-one artists will demonstrate how disparate articles can be combined to create an innovative art work during Bits and Pieces, an all-media show at Falls Church Arts gallery from November 19 through January 8,2023. The show features 50 pieces that include collage, assemblage, upcycled art, fiber art, jewelry, and more. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 19 at 7:30 pm. The Juror’s Choice Award and honorable mentions will be announced during the event. Participating artists will be on hand to answer questions about their processes and inspiration.
A $150 Juror’s Choice Award and a $50 People’s Choice Award were made possible by a donation from DuBro Architects + Builders, 429 S. Maple Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046. The People’s Choice Award will be announced on December 24, based on votes from visitors to the gallery.
Artworks can viewed online at www.fallschurcharts.org. All pieces can be purchased at the gallery or on the website.

F.C. Watercolor Artist Named “Best New Artist”

Falls Church Arts member and watercolor instructor, Rajendra KC was named “Best New Artist” at the En Plein Air Texas Festival in San Angelo, Texas on October 29. Artists competed for a limited number of slots in the juried event that featured 35 acclaimed ‘en plein air” artists from 17 states.Painters were hosted at eighteen ranches in the area where locals gathered to watch the artists and tour the ranches.
Rajendra KC is an award-winning artist and popular Falls Church Arts instructor. Skilled in painting in various media and across a range of subject matter, he is adept at helping students improve their technique across multiple styles of painting. His students frequently register for additional sessions to continue to advance. Rajendra’s teaching style allows him to work with students of varying levels within the same class.

LD&C Rescue Prepares For National Adoption Week

Each year, more than 5 million pets enter animal shelters in need of loving homes. Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation (LDCRF) had been specifically selected as the Northern Virginia rescue group to partner with PetSmart Charities and BISSELL Pet Foundation to bring adoptable pets to three PetSmart locations in support of National Adoption Week (November 7-13).
On Thursday, November 10, BISSELL Pet Foundation organized and funded an airlift transport of up to 60 dogs and cats from Louisiana to Northern Virginia. These pets came from six different shelters faced with the crisis of overcrowding and the threat of euthanasia. Their rescue not only provided the animals with another chance, but also delivered hope to the hard-working staff and volunteers that work tirelessly to care for the animals in shelters in Louisiana. Leadership from PetSmart Charities were on the ground in Louisiana to provide hands-on support for various logistical and care needs.
Volunteers from LDCRF and PetSmart Charities were ready to greet the dogs and cats at the Chantilly Jet Center in Manassas, Virginia on Thursday afternoon. The pets were immediately offloaded from the plane and loaded into shuttles to the Rescue Care Center, located in Falls Church, VA. Upon arrival, all animals were assessed by a veterinarian, provided preventative care, and observed to determine adoption-readiness.
On Saturday, November 12, LDCRF brought the rescued pets from the Rescue Care Center to three local PetSmart stores for adoption events (Seven Corners, Fair Lakes, and Gaithersburg) as a part of National Adoption Week. LDCRF invited potential pet parents to meet adoptable pets in their area. Opportunities were given to spend time with animals in need of loving homes in a spacious area. Staff and volunteers from LDCRF and PetSmart Charities helped potential adopters learn about caring for a pet and the types of tools, products, and services they may need.

Encore Creativity Hosts Free Holiday Concerts in F.C.

Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, is pleased to announce its free holiday concert series that kicks off December 3rd and runs through December 17th, 2022. Encore’s local choral ensembles – Encore Chorales, Encore ROCKS and Sentimental Journey Singers – will perform crowd-pleasing holiday songs with live musical accompaniment in a variety of venues in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., New York City and its two newest locations in Wilmington, Del. and Santa Clarita, Calif.
These dynamic performances, led by celebrated conductors, promise to set the holiday spirit in motion. From seasonal classics, such as the Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah), Ose Shalom and Silent Night sung by Encore Chorales to choral medleys of the Beach Boys and Neil Diamond sung by Encore ROCKS, the concerts will appeal to music lovers of all ages. Sentimental Journey Singers, Encore’s choir for adults with early Alzheimer’s and other memory impairments and their care partners, will also perform, singing all-time favorites, such as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. In addition, after a two-year break due to the pandemic, Encore will return to the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for its popular annual holiday concert in Concert Hall on December 26th. The event, which is also free and open to the public, will feature more than 400 singers who will join together from Encore’s many local programs.

Mclean Art Society Offers Free Demo of Colored Pencil Artist

McLean Art Society is hosting a Zoomed colored pencil demonstration by a renowned artist, Lis Zadravec available to the public on Friday, Nov. 18 beginning at 11 am.
Lis Zadravec’s works are recognized worldwide and was selected amongst a great international group of artists to be named a Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and the Coloured Pencil Community of Australasia, Inc. She has been featured in many publications including Cover Artist in Color Magazine where she shares why she does what she does. “My narrative portraits often reflect my philosophy that who we become in life is a direct result of the adversity we battle,” as reflected in her images.

Keegan Theatre Announces 2022 Cast of “An Irish Carol”

The Keegan Theatre is pleased to announce the 2022 cast and team of Matthew J. Keenan’s AN IRISH CAROL, Keegan’s own holiday tradition returning for its 12th year, playing December 15-31, 2022.
A Irish Carol is an homage to Dickens’ classic – told as only the Irish can. This comic and touching play, set in a modern Dublin pub, follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self-protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve – challenged by a voice from the past, provoked by those in the present, and faced with the reality of a lonely future – David’s life may change forever.
The cast of An Irish Carol features returning favorites Kevin Adams, David Jourdan, Timothy H. Lynch, Mike Kozemchak, Mick Tinder, and Michael Replogle, with Taylor Witt, Jared H. Graham, and Sarah Chapin who join the cast for this year’s production.
An Irish Carol runs December 15-31, 2022 with evening performances Monday-Saturday at 8:00 pm and performances on Sunday, December 18 at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. On Friday, December 16, Keegan will host a Young Professionals Happy Hour before the performance. Discounted tickets include a pre-show drink, exclusive access to Keegan’s upstairs lounge, and a seat for that evening’s performance.

Updates to Transition Zones Proposed in F.C.

The City of Falls Church is considering zoning changes that would allow more housing options in the areas between commercial corridors and single-family homes.
Transition zones, which represent less than 3 percent of the city’s land, could undergo zoning updates to allow smaller residential developments. According to the city’s website, T-1 zoning is mostly on N. Washington Street and Park Avenue with existing uses such as Columbia Baptist Church, Christ-Crossman Methodist Church, Sunrise of Falls Church and single-family houses converted to commercial use and townhouses. T-2 zones include the Kaiser Permanente facility and a small office building on N. Washington Street and Park Avenue near Maple Avenue.
The consideration results from City Council requesting zoning tools to allow development of smaller projects on sites too small for larger developments. The proposed changes in transition zones would include allowing townhouses and multifamily housing options, allowing more neighborhood-serving retail, and allowing larger builders to encourage reinvestment.
The next step in the process is the Falls Church Planning Commission holding a public listening session at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA. A Planning Commission work session is tentatively planned for Dec. 7 and public hearing on Dec. 21. City Council consideration would be at an undetermined time in the first quarter of 2023.

Sheperd’s Center Seeks Additional Volunteer Drivers

Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church (SCMAFC), an all-volunteer organization, is seeking additional volunteers to support its mission of providing free transportation to seniors for medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies.
The total number of rides provided in 2022 is expected to exceed 2,500, but to fully respond to recent increases in the number of requests, there is a need for more volunteers to join the current team of 60 volunteer drivers. “Of the rides provided, roughly 75 percent are medically related, 25 percent grocery, and one percent for handy helper needs,” said Tom Callanen, Board Chair.
For volunteers there is no minimum commitment. Volunteers are free to choose how often and when they drive.
For detailed information or to apply, please visit the Center’s website https://scmafc.org/volunteer or call (703) 506-2199 and leave a message.