Meridian’s Annual Community Kickoff Tailgate is Friday

Meridian High School is gearing up for an exciting evening with this year’s Community Kickoff Tailgate, which promises to be even bigger than last year’s record-breaking event. Hosted by the Mustang Athletic Boosters, the festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 20. 

The event will be held at the football stadium at Meridian, and surrounding patios and fields and will feature face painting, games, an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, and food trucks from La Mati, Foster’s Grille. Lazy Mike’s Ice Cream will be served in concessions. One ticket is needed for both the tailgate and game, which may be bought at mustangsports.org or at the door.  Elementary students get free admission with a paid adult.

This year’s event will also showcase around 20 exhibitors and community sponsors, making it a true celebration of local spirit. At 7:00 p.m., the Mustang’s Football team takes on the Culpeper County Blue Devils.

First FFN Collection of New School Year Is a Huge Success

More than 600 area Food For Neighbors (FFN) volunteers stepped up to tackle student hunger in Fairfax County last Saturday by collecting and sorting over 19,600 pounds of food and toiletries for public school children. In addition to donations from more than 1,490 households, FFN received food drives from the Fairfax Co. Health Department and Gold’s Gym. Among others, volunteers at the event sites included employees of bartaco, Salesforce, and Ventera as well as members of the Kiwanis Club of Tysons, National Charity League, Young Men’s Service League, and Girl Scout Troops #4425 and #5208.

“The Kiwanis Club of Tysons is thrilled to partner with FFN to tackle teen food insecurity in our Northern Virginia community,” said, Jen Wolff, past president of the club. “Kiwanis’ mission is to serve children, so this is a very meaningful and impactful volunteer opportunity for our members.”

FFN, soon entering its ninth year, helps schools establish in-house food pantries and mobilizes local communities to fill them with food and toiletries donated through the nonprofit’s Red Bag Program.

Despite Northern Virginia being among the most affluent areas in the state, more than one in three students in Fairfax County and more than one in four students in Arlington and Loudoun counties qualified for free or reduced-price school meals during the most recent school year. FFN works to ensure that food is readily accessible to students during the school day and to take home over weekends and holidays.

“We want all children to start out the school year fully ready to learn,” said Karen Joseph, FFN founder and executive director. “To reach their full potential, students need to concentrate on their classes, not on the growling in their stomachs.” Experts say food insecurity affects memory, mood, and motor skills.

“September is Hunger Action Month — a time when communities in towns big and small come together to help ensure that no one goes hungry,” continued Joseph. “And once again, Northern Virginia residents have generously given their time and donations to help students in neighborhood schools. We are deeply grateful for their help and for the profound impact they have on so many young lives.”

Throughout its service area in Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties, FFN has collected and sorted over 26,000 pounds of donations, bound for 47 partnering schools. To learn more about FFN and join their more than 3,000 Red Bag donors and 3,500 volunteers, visit foodforneighbors.org.

‘Dinner Party’ Named People’s Choice at FCA Show ‘Home’

Caroline Cherry’s painting “Dinner Party” has received the Falls Church Arts’ People’s Choice Award. The prize is sponsored by Foxcraft Design Group (110 Great Falls St., Falls Church).

Cherry’s work, which is available in the FCA gallery (700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church) for $1500, is an oil painting on canvas. Cherry said about her artwork, “As someone who is in their early twenties, home is a fluid concept for me. In college, I was surrounded by my peers and close to my family. However, after graduating I moved eight hours away and the concept of what ‘home’ meant continued to change. Home has become an abstract concept surrounded by my friends, roommate, and partner. Home has become the people I surround myself with, not just a place where I live.”

The painting was chosen by the visitors to FCA as the People’s Choice award winner. The theme for this exhibit is FCA’s “Home,” selected by the Instagram followers of the gallery. The show runs through September 29.  Admission is free.  For gallery hours, or to view or purchase artworks online, visit fallschurcharts.org.

The Return of Rescue Ale, a Charitable Collaboration in Support of Pet Adoption

For the fifth year in a row, Solace Brewing Company and Lost Dog Cafe Rescue Foundation (LDCRF) are partnering to present the 2024 edition of Rescue Ale in October, coinciding with National Adopt-a-Dog Month.  Beginning October 3, the charitable brew will feature rescue dog ambassador and “tripawd” survivor, Hope. 

Hope is a two year old LDCRF alumnus, living her best life on three legs. Being a “tri-paw’d” does not slow her down a bit — Hope has run several 5Ks, inspiring adults and kids along the courses to do their best.  This sweet and spunky pup will represent this year’s Rescue Ale 2024.

Rescue Ale will be sold at Solace Outpost, Solace Brewing Company, and all Lost Dog Cafe locations, with a portion of all sales donated to LDCRF in support of its mission to positively impact the lives of homeless pets awaiting their forever homes. An exciting series of events in support of LDCRF and its partners are planned for the month of October, including a release party, a virtual auction, and an adoption event.

A Rescue Ale Release Party will be held at Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church) on Saturday, October 12, from 5:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are not required to attend, but are available for $70 at tinyurl.com/FCNP0924ra and include exclusive perks, including passed appetizers, three drink tickets, a four-pack of Solace Rescue Ale, a Lost Dog Cafe gift card, and Solace swag.

For more information on LDCRF, visit lostdogrescue.org.

Fall Plans Announced For Falls Church Forward

After a well-attended circus-themed potluck party in late July, and several crosswalk and street art painting projects in August, Falls Church Forward is ramping up for a new campaign, “Leave the Leaves.”

“For the health and benefit of you and our community, consider a different routine with your leaves this fall,” the FCF initiative reads, “Rather than raking or blowing them to the curb for the city to vacuum up, try different ideas to leave them on your property.”

FCF says songbirds, bees, fireflies, and butterflies depend on the biodiversity provided by falling autumn leaves.  Leaving your leaves this fall, they say, will support the health of your lawn, save tax dollars on city leaf pickup, and protect and support biodiversity.  

FCF notes that the city’s FY2024 budget included $250,000 for new leaf vacuums, and another $195,000 for pickup and storage — and that they already have two years of excess leaf mulch stored in the public works depot.

That transitioning to “Leave the Leaves” doesn’t mean abandoning caring for your yard.  Instead, FCF says, it just “involves a few thoughtful adjustments to traditional practices.”

First, instead of bagging them, use the mulching feature of your mower to shred them into smaller pieces.  This serves as a natural fertilizer that can remain on the lawn.  FCF says research shows “grass lawns can handle up to 4,000 lbs of leaf mulch per acre without any undesirable effects.”  They say a light layer of leaves — about one inch — won’t hurt next year’s grass (blades should still be visible; pictures are available on the FCF website).

Excess leaves — whole or chopped up — may also be spread over garden beds, around bushes, or under trees to protect the soil, suppress weeds, and eventually improve soil health as they decompose.  Leaves also make an excellent, nutrient-rich addition to compost piles.

FCF will hold a virtual Q&A event on October 20 at 2:00 p.m., with expert landscapers and gardeners available to discuss the initiative.  They are looking for volunteers to help deliver fliers, and have created “Leave the Leaves” yard signs, which are available for community members to put in their yard.  To sign up for the event, volunteer, or get a yard sign, complete their “Leave the Leaves” survey in the “Get Involved” section at fallschurchforward.org/leaves.