Cox Charities Awards Nearly $50k to N.Va Nonprofits

This month local telecommunications provider Cox Communications announced that seven local nonprofits had each been awarded $5,000 in Cox Charities grants, funded and selected entirely by Cox employees.

The seven organizations to receive grants from Cox include BetterALife, a food pantry in Purcellville; Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters (BRAWS), a nonprofit supporting women in Vienna; Computer CORE, an Alexandria organization providing no-cost computer training and equipment; Empowerhouse, a Fredericksburg-based organization supporting survivors of domestic violence and their children; Food for Neighbors, a hunger-fighting organization based in Herndon; Hopecam, a Reston-based organization helping kids with cancer overcome social isolation and stay engaged through technology; and Kids R First, another Reston-based organization that provides children from families with limited means with a full year’s worth of custom school supplies.

Cox also awarded $10,000 to area nonprofits through Cox Conserves, the company’s sustainability initiative. Fairfax County Park Authority’s Wonder Wagon received $5,000 to support their mission in connecting communities to nature where they live. The mobile nature center promotes environmental and nature-based educational programs to underserved areas of the County.

An additional $5,000 was awarded to local nonprofits on behalf of the winners of the inaugural Fairfax County Park Authority “Outstanding Employees” program to recognize dedicated employees who make the parks a safe, educational and entertaining destination for residents of Fairfax County. The five winners were recognized at the Lake Accotink Park Celebration Day in August, and each received a $1,000 donation made in their name to the local nonprofit of their choice.

“Scenes in the City” Plein Air Festival Is This Saturday

Fitting the bill for those looking for a family-friendly event to welcome fall this weekend is the “Scenes of the City” Plein Air Festival, sponsored by Falls Church Arts, on Saturday, September 28, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church), across from the Farmers Market.
Artists hit the streets of historic Falls Church to paint outdoors beginning on September 13 and had fifteen days to complete their entries. On Saturday, all participants will display their paintings for judging beginning at 8:00 a.m. A Quick Draw competition, open to all levels and all ages, will take place from 8:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Awards for the festival and the Quick Draw competition will be announced at 12:00 p.m., by juror Tricia Ratliff.

The Plein Air Festival also includes a People’s Choice Award, which is determined by the highest number of votes cast for a painting by the public on the closing day of the festival. Visitors may attend the festival, vote for the People’s Choice Award, and browse or buy the art on display. Paintings purchased on September 28 may be taken home at the conclusion of the event.

In 2023, awards topped $6,000 and were made possible thanks to a number of local sponsors.
This community-building and family-friendly event is free and is open to the public. To learn more, visit fallschurcharts.org.

MGNV Presents Free Soil Health Webinar on Friday

Did you know that soil acidity — the pH of your soil — can affect the availability of soil nutrients to your plants? Did you know the basic elements needed for the health of the human body are the same ones that your vegetable plants need, too?

This Friday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m., Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV) will host a free webinar discussing soil health. The webinar will be presented by Kirsten Conrad, agriculture natural resources extension agent for Arlington County and the City of Alexandria, who will offer some easy lessons on how to achieve optimal conditions to maintain soil fertility for healthy plants. Conrad will also explain the soil nutrient analysis services available to residents through the Virginia Cooperative Extension that can help.

MGNV holds free webinars every Friday. Register at mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes for a link to participate.

Mid Autumn Moon Festival Celebrates Vietnamese Culture

The parking lot and sidewalks of Eden Center came alive on September 14 as the Vietnamese-American community gathered for their annual Mid Autumn Moon Festival celebration.

For over four decades, the bustling shopping center has been the go-to spot for those looking to experience Vietnamese culture and cuisine, recognized as the largest Vietnamese commercial center and largest Asian mall on the east coast of North America.

This year’s Moon Festival offered a perfect blend of cherished traditions and fun; modern twists kept both young and old entertained. The star of the show was, of course, Mooncakes! Kim Phung Bakery, a local favorite that’s been dishing out these treats at the Eden Center for 31 years, went all out, whipping up over 500 mooncakes in a mind-boggling 35 flavors — from the classic lotus to an adventurous roast hen shark fin.

The festival wasn’t just about eating delicious food. Visitors were treated to a cultural feast of the senses, with kids and adults alike getting swept up in the magic of traditional folk tales and mesmerizing cultural dance performances. For those looking for a bit of friendly competition, the mooncake eating contest added a dash of modern fun to the mix.

“We’re all about bringing our culture to life in ways that speak to everyone,” said Minh Pham, the festival’s organizer. “ It’s like building a bridge between the old and the new, helping our Vietnamese American community stay connected across generations.”

The Eden Center was a sea of vibrant colors as families strolled around, many with children dressed in traditional Vietnamese outfits, taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Vietnamese heritage.
Pham and his team went the extra mile this year in securing the aesthetic, bringing in over 2,000 red paper lanterns — straight from Vietnam. The lanterns, handed out to attendees throughout the day, weren’t just decorations, they were little pieces of home.

So, if you missed out this year, mark your calendars for next September. Whether you’re a Vietnamese American, a culture enthusiast, or just someone who loves a good festival, Eden Center’s Moon Festival is an experience you won’t want to miss. For more information and to stay informed about upcoming events, find the Eden Center on social media or visit edencenter.com.

Four Upcoming Little City Concert Shows Announced

Little City Concerts, a local nonprofit that provides musical performances paired with social justice themes and charitable fundraising, has announced several upcoming shows for the coming months.

On October 19, the one-act immersive chamber opera by Ashi Day, “Waking the Witch,” will come to F.C., featuring Ming Sang Kim and Balance Campaign; on November 23, the District5 woodwind quintet will perform “To Hell and Back: A Winter’s Journey;” on January 11, 2025, pianist Sophia Subbayya Vastek will perform “In Our Softening;” and on April 5, 2025, LCC Commission recipient and drummer and composer, Keith Butler, Jr., performs his new work with his quartet, Seysew.

All concerts are held at The Falls Church Episcopal (166 E. Broad St., Falls Church). Admission is $25 (free for students and youth). For more information, visit littlecityconcerts.org.

National Public Lands Day Celebrated on Saturday

On Sept. 28, Virginia’s state parks will celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. 

Held every year on the fourth Saturday in September, NPLD highlights the vital impact of public lands and brings together hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country, fostering community and teamwork. 

In Virginia, the state park system offers 43 parks, totaling roughly 80,000 acres, for public benefit. Each park relies heavily on volunteers for everything from trail maintenance to interpretive programs. In 2023 alone, volunteers across the state donated 218,147 hours of service, equivalent to 104 full-time employees. 

For NPLD, Virginia State Parks is hosting more than 30 volunteer opportunities, including invasive species removal, beach and trail cleanups and habitat restoration. Parks will also offer a range of environmental education activities, such as guided hikes, bird surveys and tree identification programs.

For a complete list of NPLD events, please visit virginiastateparks.gov/public-lands-day.

“We’re proud to celebrate National Public Lands Day, a special opportunity for individuals, families and communities to come together in appreciation of the natural beauty and rich history our parks offer,” said Virginia State Parks Director Dr. Melissa Baker. “This day of service honors the vital role public lands play in our lives, from preserving wildlife habitats to offering spaces for recreation. We invite everyone to experience the outdoors and help protect these treasured landscapes for future generations.”

Volunteers should dress for the weather and the project and bring water, insect repellent and sunscreen. Standard parking fees, such as trailhead parking, will be waived at most state parks for NPLD. The parking fee at Grayson Highlands and the admission fees for Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum will not be waived.

Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks activities and amenities, or to reserve one of their more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the reservation center at 800-933-PARK or visit virginiastateparks.gov.

VADOC Announces Lowest Recidivism Rate in Decades

Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) director Chad Dotson announced today that, for the 11th straight year, Virginia has achieved one of the lowest recidivism rates for re-incarceration in the nation.
Data from the VADOC shows that the Commonwealth’s 19 percent three-year re-incarceration rate for State Responsible (SR) inmates among the FY2019 cohort is the second-lowest in the United States, tied with Minnesota.

The 19 percent recidivism rate is Virginia’s lowest in more than 20 years and improves upon the 20.6 percent rate from FY2018. This marks the 11th consecutive year that Virginia has had the lowest or second-lowest rate of recidivism in the nation.

Virginia measures its three-year re-incarceration rate by waiting at least four years to allow all court information to be received and logged. The recidivism rate is compared to 33 other states that have made their comparable recidivism rates publicly available.

South Carolina had the lowest comparable recidivism rate (18.5 percent) for FY2020. When comparing the 2019 cohort alone, Virginia’s recidivism rate is the lowest in the nation for that year, as of December 4, 2023. However, South Carolina has already released its FY2020 cohort rate, which is lower than Virginia’s FY2019 rate.

“I am pleased to see that Virginia’s recidivism rate has dropped yet again,” said secretary of public safety and homeland security Terrance “Terry” Cole. “This shows that so many returning Virginians are making the most of their opportunities to succeed, and that our public safety agencies are working hard to keep Virginia safe and improve lives in the process.”

“These numbers showcase that the Virginia Department of Corrections is a leader in the corrections field,” said director Dotson. “Our dedicated employees work around the clock to provide long-term public safety for the entire Commonwealth, and focus on proven, effective programming and re-entry services for the inmates and probationers in our custody and under our supervision.”

Full reports may be found on the Virginia Department of Corrections website at vadoc.virginia.gov.