Annual Cornhole Tournament Benefits Homestretch

On September 20, Baker Construction and John Moriarty & Associates hosted their 5th Annual Charity Cornhole Tournament benefitting Homestretch, a Falls Church-based nonprofit organization dedicated to address and reverse the root causes of homelessness. The successful event raised $115,000 for the charity. For more information, including a list of sponsors, visit homestretchva.org/news.

F.C. VFW Wins All-American Status for 3rd Year in a Row

Every year, a select group of VFW Posts are presented with All-American Post status. Only the top 25 divisional VFW Posts of the over 6100 posts in the United States and abroad, receive this distinction. The All American award recognizes leading VFW posts and is based on their participation in VFW Programs, Community involvement, educational programs, and membership growth and retention.

Post 9274 regularly hosts open houses for the community to visit and learn about their work. For more information on the Post, how to become a member, or opportunities to support local veterans, visit vfwpost9274.org or email chaplain@vfwpost9274.org.

Virginia Dream FC Persists at Top of Conference.

Despite a 1-1 tie against Arlington SA this past weekend, Virginia Dream FC is still top of the table in the DMV South Conference and second in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) Northeast Power Rankings, behind the NY Renegades.

Virginia Dream FC’s last home game of the regular season is this Saturday, October 12 at 8:00 p.m. against Alexandria United at “The Cloud,” aka the stadium at Meridian High School (121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church). The team’s last match of the season is away at Villarreal CF VA. A victory in the last two games of the season guarantees a post-season playoff spot.

For the team’s first qualifying game in the prestigious U.S. Open Cup, Virginia Dream FC will host the Alexandria Reds Pro at “The Cloud,” October 27 at 8:00 p.m.

A victory against the Reds would advance the Dream to the next round of qualifying matches on November 17.

Tickets for the home game are $10 at the door and, as always, children under 12 and all FCCPS students get in for free.

For more information, visit instagram.com/VirginiaDreamFC

Virginia First Lady Visits F.C. Nonprofit Comunidad

On October 1 the First Lady of Virginia, Suzanne Youngkin, visited local Falls Church nonprofit organization Comunidad, to hear from Seven Corners community members and read to children in Comunidad programming. Her visit coincided with Hispanic Heritage Month, as the Founder and Executive Director of Comunidad is a Latina woman and the majority of the community members involved in programming are part of the Hispanic community in Seven Corners.

Youngkin spent the majority of her time learning about Strong Readers Strong Leaders (SRSL), a phonics-based reading program that strengthens the literacy and leadership skills of elementary school-aged students, using diagnostic prescriptive programming. It is the only place-based, technology-free program of its kind in Fairfax County. During the 2023-2024 school year, 94 percent of students in SRSL increased their spelling skills and 93 percent of students increased their reading ability.

After reading aloud to the children in SRSL, Youngkin spent time hearing from community members of Seven Corners who shared their experiences with Comunidad. “Because of the reading program, I read books I would have never read,” said one child. “Comunidad has helped me be a better parent,” shared a mother.

Comunidad is a local nonprofit that seeks to see individuals and communities thrive by equipping and engaging locally rooted community leaders. Comunidad offers programs from ages five through adulthood. Learn more at comunidadva.org or follow Comunidad on social media at @comunidadva.

FCCAN Seeks Community Power Grid Experts

The Falls Church Climate Action Network (FCCAN) is seeking experts on community power grids and/or microgrids, to assist with a sustainability class module on resiliency at Meridian High School. FCCAN and Meridian faculty are coordinating to provide a guest speaker on the topic. If this is your field, or you know an expert — such as faculty at a nearby engineering school, officials with a local, state or federal transit or energy department, or an executive with an electric/energy company — FCCAN asks that you email them at fallschurchclimate@gmail.com.

Shepherd’s Center Seeks Additional Volunteer Drivers

Have some extra time to drive a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment? As a volunteer driver for the Shepherd’s Center, you can pick the days, times, and places most convenient for you to help out your neighbors in need. There is no minimum driving requirement. In addition to helping out seniors with their medical and dental transportation, volunteer drivers enjoy the benefit of meeting wonderful folks with interesting backgrounds and stories to tell.

The Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church (SCMAFC) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization with a mission to provide free transportation to seniors for medical and dental appointments, and trips to grocery stores and pharmacies. To sign up or learn more, visit scmafc.org/volunteer, email contact@scmafc.org, or call 703-506-2199 (extension 2) and leave a message.

Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Fdn. Mobilizes in Wake of Helene

Over the past week, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation (LDCRF) has been responding to several urgent pleas for help from overburdened shelters in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia dealing with the horrendous aftermath of Hurricane Helene. LDCRF was asked by the BISSELL Pet Foundation to help with intake from two shelters in Yancey County and Mitchell County in North Carolina. On Wednesday, LDCRF staff and volunteers raced down to Richmond, VA along with several other VA-based rescue organizations to meet a late-night transport provided by the Shelter Dog Transport Alliance and arranged by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. Together, members from all the organizations unloaded the 53 dogs and 108 cats.

The dedicated LDCRF staff and volunteers welcomed 12 dogs and 6 cats to the Rescue Care Center in Falls Church, VA, arriving after midnight. After rapid medical assessments, the pets were all placed in their kennels with a good meal and warm bed for the night. Over the next week, these dogs and cats will spend time adjusting to their new surroundings and receiving all the love and care they deserve. Once LDCRF determines the medical care required for each pet, they will be scheduled for spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and anything else needed. Many of the dogs and cats will have upper respiratory infections triggered by the stress of the journey. Treating their symptoms quickly and effectively is urgent and lifesaving.

The North Carolina pets join the other 21 cats LDCRF received from an overcrowded shelter in Johnson City, Tennessee and the 14 dogs and cats rescued from rural VA shelters, all in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. In total, LDCRF has rescued 53 animals in a matter of a few days. Taking in pets from these overburdened shelters provides them with more space and capacity to continue to directly address displaced animals impacted by the storm.

LDCRF believes most of the pets will be ready for adoption in the next couple weeks. The rescue hosts multiple weekly adoption events across the DMV. All adoptable pets are listed on the LDCRF website with a bio and information about them. The website also explains the adoption process and how to take steps to helping one of these dogs and cats find their forever home. LDCRF expressed gratitude for the community support, adding that the ability to say “yes” in the aftermath of natural disasters and pet crises is only made possible by their partners. The greatest needs at this time are funds for medical care and foster homes for pets recovering and awaiting their forever home.

To learn more about Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, or to make a donation, visit
lostdogrescue.org/donate-now.

Jenny Newberry wins Juror’s Choice at FCA Show Opening

“Reflection of Friends,” a multi-media piece by artist Jenny Newberry, received the Juror’s Choice Award at the opening reception of “The Beauty of Diversity,” on October 5 at Falls Church Arts. For the exhibit, which remains on display through November 17 in the FCA gallery, artists explored the beauty and strength that diversity, whether of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, experiences, abilities, or opinions, brings to our lives.

Anthony Nsofor, show juror, said that “‘The Beauty of Diversity’ celebrates the spirit behind Jenny Newberry’s work, the audacity to think differently on how one presents familiar tropes to us. Reflection of Friends captures so much of what the theme of this show is about — connectedness, diversity, diverse use of media, repurposing of materials, a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar. I congratulate the artist. Her work is in tandem with the audacity and bravery reflected in all the works presented by all the artists in this show.”

Ms. Newberry’s multi-panel piece represents her five lifelong friends from Korean, Irish, French, Bolivian, and Eritrean backgrounds. Her artist’s statement describes having “known each of these amazing women for at least 30 years while growing up in Falls Church. Reflection of Friends is meant to be a testament to the beauty of diversity and the enduring strength of friendship, all while championing sustainability through its use of recycled materials.” The mixed-media piece brings together several recyclable materials, including resin, plastics, beads, and textiles.

For gallery hours, or to view or purchase artworks online, visit fallschurcharts.org.