Temple Rodef Shalom to Host Two Upcoming Events

On Sunday November 19 from 8:30 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., as well as on Sunday, December 3 from 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., Shop Judy’s Place, a pop-up holiday store for kids in the community to do their holiday shopping, will be held at Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church).

On Sunday, November 19 and Sunday, December 3 from 8:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., Temple Rodef Shalom’s Chanukah Bazaar will be held at 2100 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church.

Free Fall Festival for Families Who Have Lost a Loved One

On November 19th, the non-profit Hope for Grieving Families will present its 9th Annual Hope Family Fun Festival. The day of fun activities is free for families who have lost a loved one and who live in the greater Washington DC and DMV area.

The yearly event features games and activities, prizes and giveaways, yummy treats, a gamer truck, music, a moon bounce, face painting, therapy and companion animals, and much more. Attendance is limited to the first 200 families. 

Sponsor a Wreath for Oakwood

On December 16th, the second annual Wreaths Across America event will take place at the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church.  Join other members of the community along with the hosts, the Falls Church Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for a ceremony followed by wreath layings honoring over 100 military veterans.  Consider sponsoring a wreath to specifically support the Oakwood Cemetery. Deadline for sponsoring is November 28th. wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0282P.

Britepaths Seeks Donations to Provide Meals to Families

Fairfax-based nonprofit Britepaths is seeking financial donations from the community to provide Thanksgiving and December holiday food assistance to 265 families with identified needs whose children attend Fairfax County Public Schools that Britepaths partners with in the Fairfax High School and Justice High School pyramids. Donations are welcome through December 31 and may be made through Britepaths’ website at: britepaths.org/holiday.

McLean Project for the Arts to Host Inaugural MPA Inspires

Art enthusiasts, collectors, and jazz lovers alike are invited to join McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) November 18 and 19 for MPA Inspires: A Weekend of Collecting and Connecting. This inaugural weekend-long celebration will take place at MPA Downtown, the organization’s hoped-for new supplemental space located in The Signet building at 6910 Fleetwood Road in McLean, VA. The Alumni Art Exhibition Showcase will feature work by more than 60 MPA alumni artists.

Welcoming Falls Church Literacy Center Call for Volunteers

Welcoming Falls Church reports that the Adult and Family Literacy Center has 59 students in the English language program, supported by dozens of adult and high school volunteers. Classes are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Oak Street Elementary, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. through December 14. Registration for the spring semester will be in January. Volunteers may contact WFCLiteracy@gmail.com to learn how to become involved.

Falls Church Nonprofit Culmore Clinic Adds Vision Suite

Thanks to a community-wide effort, Culmore Clinic has launched a Vision Suite on site, and will welcome their first patients starting November 16. At their Open House last month, they made it official with a ribbon cutting. Volunteer Ophthalmologist Dr. George Patterson did the honors. 

At the time Culmore Clinic did not have the equipment to provide eye care. The doctors responded by providing Culmore Clinic a “wish list” of equipment and materials, and said if Culmore Clinic could collect this equipment, they could provide vision care. This would be the first time in the nonprofit’s 16 year history that vision services would be offered on site.

I-66 EMP Contributes $5,000 Toward Power Pack Program

In a continued effort to fight hunger among school kids in Northern Virginia, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway, donated $5,000 to the Power Pack program run by Fairfax-based nonprofit partner Food for Others.

The donation will provide 7,500 nutritious meals plus milk, juice, and healthy snacks to approximately 1,250 food-insecure students throughout Fairfax County.

Launched on Sept. 15, Food for Others’ Power Pack program provides two breakfast items, two lunch items, two dinner items, two snacks, milk, and juice every week to students dealing with food insecurity. Currently the program serves some 3,900 students at 52 public schools around Fairfax County.

City to Unveil New 20 MPH Sign to Launch Safety Campaign

City of Falls Church officials will unveil a 20 mph sign tomorrow, November 16 at the 200 Block of Little Falls Street (outside the Community Center) to launch the “20 is Plenty” pedestrian safety and speed reduction campaign.

Speakers include City staff, police, members of City Council, and members of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation (CACT).

D.C. Rally Brings in 300,00 Attendees

Story by Debra Roth

An estimated 300,000 attended the Israel Solidarity/Bring the Hostages Home rally in the national mall in Washington D.C. Tuesday, including a contingent from Falls Church and the Temple Rodef Shalom. They joined groups from across the country and ones representing various countries, races, and religions.

The rally, facing the Capitol, sang with renowned performers, listened to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jefferies who came together on the stage with Republicans Mike Johnson, the House speaker, and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. They joined hands as Schumer chanted: “We stand with Israel.”

Other speakers included Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism and Israeli activist Natan Sharansky.

The rally was held at the highest security level but was peaceful. Said one guard: “We expected and were prepared for incidents but the crowd was wonderful.”

Among the crowd were clusters of people carrying the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag decorated with Stars of David, the Jewish symbol. There were participants across the age spectrum. 

Falls Church’s Del. Marcus Simon commented in a message to the F.C. contingent, “Wish I could be there — thanks for representing.”

“Intersection: Identity and Culture” Opens at F.C. Arts

For this exhibit, “Intersection: Identity and Culture,” artists were invited to share works expressing the intersection of their identity and their culture of origin or the culture in which they find themselves.  The all-media show at Falls Church Arts brings together thirty-eight artworks that explore this exhibit theme. The show opens on Saturday, November 18 with an open reception from 7:00 — 9:00 p.m. The Juror’s Award will be announced during the evening, and artists will be on hand to answer questions about their inspiration and process.

Participants employed a range of media, including watercolor, mixed media, acrylic on canvas collage, gel plate monoprint and woodblock prints, oil, clay, water and ink on paper, wood, and monotype, among others.

Participating artists include: Asia Anderson, Ken Beerbohm, Blanca Belisario, E. Bolotas, Alonzo Crawford, Vitalino Deleon, Fariba Doroudian, Erin Endean, Miki Nishida Goerdt, Kara Holman, Pamela Huffman, Farida Hughes, Maria Kinnane, Alison Kysia, Xixi Luo, Steve Mabley, Nicole Maloof, Sheldon McClendon, Cynthia Miller, Eileen O’Brien, Rebecca Perez, Michael Potashnik, William Rollins, Maryam Sakhaeifar, Andrea Salzman, Arleen Cannata Seed, Joan Slottow, Susanne Tabet, Maxwell Torgersen, and Bobbi Wolcott.

Salvation Army Kettles are Out for the 2023 Holiday Season

This year, Kettle supporters can have peace of mind knowing not only will their contributions directly impact those in their community who rely on services provided by The Salvation Army, but they can easily do so with Tap-To-Give. By simply tapping their card on one of three devices attached to Salvation Army kettles, donors can donate $5, $10, $20 or a combination and provide essential support to individuals and families facing hardship.

Kettles officially kicked off on November 10 at Toyota of Woodbridge. Community members who are looking to volunteer at Red kettles across the DMV can sign up for Red Kettle shifts at registertoring.com/ until December 23.

AHS Convenes County for Celebration of USA’s 250th

On November 6, the Arlington Historical Society (AHS) convened the first community meeting to plan Arlington’s celebration of the United States’s Semiquincentennial (or 250th Anniversary) in 2026. AHS has been designated by the Arlington County Board as the official coordinator of Arlington’s celebrations taking place from now until 2027.

In a standing room only conference room at the Bozman Government Center were representatives of Arlington’s civic life including service and neighborhood organizations, the arts and the performance arts, and veterans’ groups as well as officials from the National Park Service and Joint Base Fort Myer-Henderson Hall. All present asked questions, offered ideas, and committed to continued involvement.

Events will reflect all of Arlington, the people, diversity, and outsized role in the history of the United States, celebrating a revolution of ideas and who we are as a county, state, and country.

The next meeting is planned for early 2024 where it is expected that more groups will join the effort and they’ll divide into workgroups and committees.

Road Closures for Charity Race on Sunday, November 19

On Sunday, November 19, a number of road closures and parking restrictions will be in place for a charity race. From 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., the streets noted below will be closed and parking will not be permitted.

•N. Maple Ave between Great Falls St. and W. Columbia St. 

•N. Maple Ave between W. Columbia St and W. Jefferson

•W. Jefferson St between N. Maple Ave and Little Falls St.

•Little Falls St. between W. Columbia St and N. Four Mile Run Dr.

•Great Falls St between Pennsylvania Ave and Lincoln Ave.

•N. Oak St. between Fulton Ave and Lincoln Ave.

•N. Spring St between Fulton Ave and Lincoln Ave.

•N. West St between Park Ave and Lincoln Ave.

•Grove Ave between N. West St and Chestnut St.

The above streets and designated blocks will be closed for the duration of the race. The City of Falls Church Police Department appreciates the public’s cooperation with the road closures, helping to ensure the safety of the race participants and volunteers.

Roads will reopen at approximately 9:30 a.m.