Tinner Hill Heritage Hosts Juneteenth Storytime
On Monday, the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation hosted a Juneteenth “Hour of Power, Story-time” to celebrate the day — June 19, 1865 — when Union soldiers entered Texas and brought news of emancipation to enslaved people in the state, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and six months after the 13th amendment had already formally ended slavery. Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation works to raise awareness of contributions African-Americans and other cultures have made to Falls Church. Attendees of the storytime were invited to “wear [their] PJ’s, bring a blanket and your favorite stuffy and learn about Juneteenth.” The storytime, geared towards children ages 4 to 11, was attended by approximately 40 community members, primarily families with children.
RTEC Treecare Recognized for Fairfax’s Climate Goals
RTEC Treecare was recently recognized by the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) as a Green Business Partner.
As a Green Business Partner, RTEC Treecare has demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the vision of a thriving, resilient business community working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability efforts for a healthy and prosperous Fairfax County. OEEC recognizes RTEC Treecare, along with other Green Business Partners, as part of a growing network of companies and organizations helping to advance climate action and to create a carbon neutral economy.
RTEC Treecare has been a vital member of the Falls Church business community since 1996. Since its inception, RTEC Treecare has protected more than two million square feet of tree canopy in the DC metropolitan area. RTEC Treecare’s President and visionary, Andy Ross, first discovered the presence of the devastating invasive pest Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Falls Church in 2014. Since then, RTEC’s arborists and environmental specialists have saved more than 140 endangered ash trees in the area.
FCCPS Recognized as a Top Workplace by Washington Post
Falls Church City Public Schools is proud to announce its selection as one of The Washington Post’s prestigious Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C., area for 2023. This esteemed recognition is based on valuable employee feedback from an anonymous survey by Energage, LLC, a trusted research partner. The survey evaluated various aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection. Alongside government contractors, real estate firms, consulting groups, and tech companies, Falls Church City Public Schools stands out as an exceptional workplace.
The Washington Post hosted a grand awards ceremony on June 15 to honor the highest-ranking organizations. This accolade signifies Falls Church City Public Schools’ commitment to fostering a positive and empowering work environment for its employees.
For more information about The Washington Post’s Top Workplaces and to view the complete list of this year’s esteemed honorees, please visit topworkplaces.com/award/washington/2023.
Red Cross to Host Blood Drive at Holy Trinity Lutheran
The Red Cross will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, June 23, from 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Register at redcrossblood.org, enter zip code 22042 and refine search by the date (June 23). The church is located at 3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church.
Free Document Shredding Event Coming Soon
Free and open to the public, a document shredding event will be on Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m. — 12 p.m. Team members will be available to assist with heavy boxes. The limit is three boxes per vehicle. Monetary donations will be accepted to benefit Chesterbrook Residences Wishing Well program.
Giant Food Round up at Register to Benefit FCEF Fund
Giant Food is, once again, partnering with the Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) on a program to help support children facing food insecurity. Through July 27, everyone who shops at Giant Food will be invited to “Round Up at the Register” and donate the round up amount of their grocery purchase to FCEF. Shoppers can also donate online through Giant Delivers and Giant Pickup or by using FLEX points that are converted to grocery dollars. FCEF asks for help to spread the word to ensure that this program is a great success. The funds will be provided directly to FCEF for use to address food insecurity in the school community through the Family Assistance Fund. FCCPS is pleased to partner with Giant Food in the fight against childhood hunger.
Council Celebrates 2023 Steve Sprague Housing Awardee
At their June 12 meeting, the City Council joined the Housing Commission in recognizing Ron Brousseau for the Steve Sprague Housing Champion Award for 2023. The Housing Champion Award is given to those who demonstrate their commitment to advancing housing in the region, especially by creating affordable housing opportunities.
Ron was chosen for this award because of his longtime presence in the City of Falls Church community as a volunteer, affordable housing advocate and key actor in establishing housing programs and policies.
WMATA Launches New Reduced Fare Program
WMATA will begin offering reduced fares to assist low-income customers on Tuesday, June 20, through the new ‘Metro Lift’ program. Customers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia who qualify for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) are eligible to enroll.
Customers will receive a 50 percent discount for travel on Metrorail and Metrobus. The discount will be valid for one year after enrollment and available up to 48 hours after online enrollment, and immediately for those that enroll in person. It is free to enroll in Metro Lift.
“A Tribute” Named People’s Choice at All Member Show
Nafia Sayeed’s painting, “A Tribute,” has received the Falls Church Arts’ People’s Choice Award. The prize is sponsored by DuBro Architects + Builders, 429 S. Maple Avenue.
“A Tribute,” which is available at Falls Church Arts for $260, is a mixed media piece. Sayeed says, “It’s a tribute to the brave among us. A tribute to all the healthcare workers who risked their lives to save humanity. Their invaluable efforts and sacrifices will always be remembered as they stood at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19. They rightfully hold the crown of heroism.”
The piece was chosen by the visitors to Falls Church Arts as the People’s Choice award winner. The theme for this exhibit is All Member Show, Part 2 (L-Z) The show runs through June 25.
Virginia Dream FC Earns Home Debut Victory
The soccer team, Virginia Dream FC earned a victory in its inaugural home game. In a hard-fought game, Virginia Dream FC defeated FC Frederick, 1-0. With about 200 people in attendance and a great family atmosphere, the La Raza Taco Truck and Kona Ice Truck were kept busy all night long.
Virginia Dream FC played its first ever home game at Meridian High School stadium this past Saturday. In a tough gritty match in which the Dream played down a man for most of the game, they were able to earn a win and get three points. The lone goal was scored by Terell Williamson in the 41st minute. The defense then held strong for the remainder of the game and earned their goalkeeper Alejandro Sosa a clean sheet.
This Wednesday the Dream takes on cross-town rivals, Alexandria Reds, also at Meridian. Game time is 7 p.m. The Alexandria Reds were last season’s conference champions so this should be an exciting matchup.
Call for “Made in Virginia” Submissions
Virginia Living Magazine is celebrating the commodities made in the state by accepting nominations for Made in Virginia Awards. The nominations are open to any Virginia-based business whose products are manufactured in-state and will be available for retail purchase Nov. 1 — Dec. 31, 2023, at minimum. Categories include food, drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), style and beauty, and home and lifestyle. The winners will be featured in the December 2023 issue. The deadline for submissions is July 7 and winners will be notified in mid-July. Questions may be directed to Vayda Tarleton at VaydaTarleton@CapeFear.com.
Members Voted as the Best of Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia Magazine has announced the winners of the readers poll on the Best Food in Northern Virginia with a number from Falls Church. Café Kindred won the breakfast category, the Falls Church Farmers Market won the best farmers market, Thompson Italian won the Italian category, and Bakeshop was runner up in the bakery category.
Chamber Members Promote Falls Church on TV
Chamber members Joe Wetzel and Ken Trotter will appear on an upcoming TV segment on “The American Dream” hosted by Heather Devoto! This video features a behind the scenes look at filming the episode. The segment celebrates the essence of Falls Church through the art and home scene. It kicks off with a tour of Falls Church Arts by Joe Wetzel, the gallery’s president and co-Founder. Then viewers will have an exclusive tour of a contemporary home nestled on the shores of Lake Barcroft with Ken Trotter, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Their segment lasts about five minutes and may appear midway through the episode, with its initial debut scheduled on the Travel Channel, June 20 at 7:00 a.m. The episode also will be available to stream on June 20 on AmazonFireTv, AppleTV and Rokuplayer.
