F.C. Police Announce National Night Out August 6

Join the City of Falls Church Police Department for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6 from 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave. , Falls Church). National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Holy Trinity to Host Red Cross Blood Drive July 31

On July 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church) will be hosting a blood drive for the Red Cross.

Spaces are still availabe, so those eligible are encouraged to register at rcblood.org/3CuaTmy.

Call for Entries Issued for McLean Sculpture Exhibition

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) is seeking submissions for Sculpture NOW 2024, presented by Washington Sculptors Group (WSG) and MPA. The exhibit will run from Thursday, September 12 through Saturday, October 26.

Sculpture NOW 2024 is a non-thematic exhibition of new works (finished within the last two years). Three dimensional freestanding sculpture, wall-hung, ceiling-hung, isntallations, and multimedia and performance-based works are welcome. The exhibition is free for members of the WSG, with artists who are not members able to join by paying the annual dues of $45.

Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 4. Accepted works must be delivered September 6 — 7.

To apply, visit tinyurl.com/sculpturenow2024. For more information, email exhibits@washingtonsculptors.org.

“Pomodori” is People’s Choice at FCA All Member Show A-L

Dane Hamblin’s painting “Pomodori” has received the Falls Church Arts’ People’s Choice Award in the FCA all-member show (last names A-L). The prize is sponsored by Art and Frame of Falls Church (307 E. Annandale Rd., Falls Church).

Hamblin’s work, which is available for purchase at FCA for $1,050, is an oil painting on canvas. Hamblin says about his artwork, “Pomodori is Italian for tomatoes. I saw these tomatoes in a small grocery store in Rome Italy, and was drawn to their subtle variations in color and the green vines that connected them. This painting will always remind me of the wonderfully fresh and delicious food of Italy.”

The piece was chosen by the visitors to FCA as the People’s Choice award winner. The show runs through July 14 and can be viewed for free online at fallschurcharts.org or in the FCA gallery at 700-B West Broad St., Falls Church, Tuesday — Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Virginia Dream FC Wins DMV South Soccer Championship

Falls Church City’s semi-pro soccer team, Virginia Dream FC, are in the UPSL Postseason Championship Game for the second consecutive season. The team was the regular season champion for the UPSL DMV South, and after earning a 3-0 victory on June 30 they played in — and hosted — the Championship Match on July 6 at “The Cloud” at Meridian High School. They team has also secured a playoff spot in their other competition league, National Premier Soccer League, after narrowly falling short last year.

In only their second year of existence, The Little City’s Virginia Dream FC have quickly reached some of their lofty goals on and off the field. In addition to their on the field success, off the field they have provided internship and job shadowing opportunities for students of the Sports Medicine program at Meridian High School with both the team’s coaching staff and the team’s conditioning facility, Arlington Personal Fitness, Inc.

In fulfilling the team’s vision of blending fashion, art and music with soccer, for the second year in a row, the team’s kits’ designs have been featured on SoccerBible and received worldwide recognition. Something very rare at the semi-pro level of soccer.

For more information visit instagram.com/VirginiaDreamFC

Local Speech Pathologist Publishes Children’s Book

Local speech-language pathollogist, Michelyve Petit, NA, CCC-SLP, has published a new children’s book, “Bam the Tiny Brave Elephant.”

The story is about a small Indian elephant that is both curious and courageous. Petit says she was inspired to write this story while working with school-aged children in Montgomery County, where she says some students doubted their capabilities on the basis of being different “So, this book was birthed not only as a tool for educators to use for building phonological awareness skills, practicing early developing speech sounds, and identifying story elements — but with social emotional elements to remind kiddos that any one, no matter their difference can ‘save the day.’”

“Bam the Tiny Brave Elephant” is available on hardcover at tinyurl.com/fcbambook.

2024 Arlington Visuial Art Studio Tour Announced

The dates of the seventh Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour (AVAST) were announced earlier this week by event organizers.

AVAST offers participants an opportunity to connect with dozens of artists in their studio environments, over a two-day period.

This year’s tour will take place on September 21 and 22, when 59 artists will open their studios to the public.

To learn more AVAST, view a directory of this year’s participating artists, or look up tour details and related shows and events, visit arlingtonartstudiotour.org.