Submission Deadline for FCA Exhibit ‘Vivid’ Sunday
Artists are invited to submit their boldest, brightest pieces for new Falls Church Arts exhibit, “Vivid,” no later than Sunday, October 27.
Artists may submit up to three works for consideration. For full entry details, visit greenscap.wufoo.com/forms/vivid.
“Vivid” will be on display in the FCA Gallery beginning November 23 through January 5. A Meet the Artists Reception will be held on November 23 from 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
MHS MUSIC Days Fundraiser Runs Through December 7
Need help with your annual fall yard clean up? Does your garage need to be cleaned out? Kids need babysitting? Dogs need walking? Have a holiday party that would be even better with musicians?
If so, hire Meridian High School band students to help get your job done through their annual MUSIC Days fundraiser, which matches students with jobs and helps them raise funds to travel to Atlanta, GA next spring for their annual trip.
The MUSIC Days fundraiser runs October 19 through December 7. If interested in hiring band students for a job, please email musicdaysgmhs@gmail.com.
Email what you need help with and you will be matched up with students who have the skills to get the job done. You may submit jobs as far in advance as you’d like.
Your contribution to the music department is an investment in young musicians and music programs in The Little City for years to come.
The Falls Church Publishes Report on Ties to Slavery
New research concludes that rectors and vestrymen of The Falls Church held about 750 people in bondage between the 1730s and 1860s.
On Monday The Falls Church published a report detailing the relationship between the parish and the institution of slavery. The report represents the first iteration of an extensive research project and begins to explain how The Falls Church benefited economically from the system of slavery and specifically identifies how the church’s clergy and lay leadership owned approximately 750 enslaved persons, if not more. The Falls Church is an Episcopal community founded over 250 years ago and is the namesake of the City of Falls Church.
The Falls Church’s Racial Justice Ministry published this report at the encouragement of the Reverend Burl Salmon, the church’s rector. The Racial Justice Ministry was founded in 2021 to pursue equality for all by identifying and eradicating racial barriers in the Church, community, and country.
The report is the first phase of the Ministry’s broader comprehensive review of The Falls Church’s relationship with race and racism now and in the past. The project is rooted in the Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community initiative, a project designed to bring about racial reconciliation, healing, and justice that begins with truth-telling.
“I am proud of the important role The Falls Church has played in the Falls Church community — and American history — for over 250 years, and this report begins to explain how the church’s history is complicated, as America’s history is, itself, complicated,” said Fr. Salmon. “The report is an important first step in acknowledging difficult truths about the long history of this parish and the broader community, and my prayer is that it will allow us to learn from those wrongs, seek spiritual penance, and make amends with communities from which we have benefitted egregiously.”
The Right Reverend E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, commended The Falls Church for its recent investigation into the Diocese’s past:
“We are deeply grateful for their diligent work in shedding light on the darker chapters of our history.
“This is a crucial step towards addressing our past injustices and working to build a more inclusive and equitable church.
“The Diocese of Virginia fully supports The Falls Church’s ongoing efforts and looks forward to partnering with them in this important work.”
The report includes a series of recommendations, and the congregation of The Falls Church is currently discerning how best to respond to the findings of this report, in keeping with the Episcopal Church’s commitment to racial justice and equality.
Read the full report online at thefallschurch.org/tiestoslavery.
Woman Rescued After Car Submerged in Pond Along I-66
At approximately 9:40 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, two Virginia State Police troopers rescued a 40-year-old woman, whose vehicle became submerged in a retention pond off of I-66, eastbound in Fairfax County.
Troopers A. King and B. Foret arrived at the scene at exit 60 (Route 123) to find a vehicle which had driven off of the roadway and into the pond. The vehicle had become submerged, and its owner, a 40-year old female driver, had become trapped inside.
The troopers jumped into the retention pond and were able to get the woman out of the vehicle through the sunroof.
Upon rescue, the woman was taken to an area hospital to be checked out. Both troopers were evaluated by EMS due to the cold temperatures.
The crash remains under investigation.
Volunteer Fairfax Presents VolunteerFest on November 1
On Friday, November 1, Volunteer Fairfax will present its annual VolunteerFest 2024, a community fair where attendees learn about a wide range of service activities they can take part in, aimed at addressing various community needs.
VolunteerFest 2024 will be held at The PARK at Tysons (8508 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA), from 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
The annual fall event seeks to mobilize volunteers to support local nonprofits and government agencies in accomplishing projects and securing donation needs. This year, the event will feature a community fair, where attendees can learn about local nonprofit organizations, enjoy music, food from a food truck, an art exhibit, and play games.
This year attendees will have the opportunity to learn about a wide range of service activities such as emergency preparedness, hunger relief, environmental conservation, animal welfare, veteran and elder support and more important causes that require community help.
The event is free with required registration at tinyurl.com/FCNP1024vf. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item to help jam the Pozez JCC trolley full of much-needed supplies for local food pantries. Additional details and event information can be found online at tinyurl.com/FCNP1024vx.
Halstead Square Food, Wine & Art Festival This Weekend
Halstead Square’s Food, Wine & Art Festival this week announced this year’s lineup of over 20 premier local wineries, culinary artisans, and an array of talented artists with live performances by The Dan Haas Trio and The Corsicans.
The event, to be held on October 26 alongside Halstead Square at the Dunn Loring Metro from 12:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m., is free to attend, however attendees are encouraged to purchase wine tickets online in advance at bit.ly/4gxgN95.
The festival celebrates the vibrant local food, wine, and art scene while also bringing the community together to support the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, a mission that resonates with many — rescuing and rehoming homeless pets.
Since 2001, LDCRF has saved over 45,000 animals from the brink of euthanasia, providing them with loving homes. This year, the festival aims to increase donations, awareness, and support for LDCRF, creating a brighter future for homeless pets.
Participating wineries include Endhardt Vineyards, Fleetwood Farm and Droumavalla Farm Wines, part of Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry, showcasing their robust flavors.
Food will be served from Lost Dog Café, Kuk’s Tribute Cuisine, One Sweet Day, Black Nerd Beverage, and more.
Attendees can fully immerse themselves in carefully curated activities such as customized wine tastings, creative workshops hosted by Fire & Bloom, and natural soap making with Hey Girl Hey Natural Body Care. Links to purchase tickets for these workshops in advance can be found in the event’s description at bit.ly/4gxgN95.
The festival will also feature a kids’ zone and special interactive stations, including the Pupstatic Party — a dedicated dog zone for four-legged friends — and Vino & Vinyl, where attendees can enjoy music on silent headsets while sipping their favorite wines.
LDCRF will have dogs of different ages available for adoption at the event. Individuals and families looking to find their fur-ever friend can benefit from the Foundation’s same-day adoptions.
12 Tips to Make Your Halloween a Treat
Halloween is a fun time for kids — a chance to dress up in their favorite costumes and collect sweets around the neighborhood. But it can also pose hazards to youngsters, so before setting out for the afternoon and evening, consider these helpful precautions for trick-or-treaters and parents alike.
“Halloween should be memorable for the costumes, the parties and the big sacks of candy, not because someone got hurt or sick,” says Jennifer Hunter, nurse practitioner at Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care. “We can keep our trick-or-treaters safe by taking a few extra precautions before they head out.”
Hunter shared her advice for parents and those handing out candy to help ensure a safe and fun Halloween 2024. Her advice for parents includes:
- Light them up. Give your trick-or-treaters flashlights or glowsticks so they can see and be seen in the dark. Consider adding reflective tape to costumes, shoes and trick-or-treat bags for extra visibility.
- Choose Smart Costumes. Make sure masks don’t impair breathing or vision. And check that clothing isn’t so baggy as to cause tripping. Falls and trips while trick-or-treating are a common source of injuries. Most injuries can be prevented by choosing the right costumes or adjusting before sending kids out.
- Set Expectations. Start by talking about the evening’s plan with your kids. Whether your older child will be venturing out with friends, or you will be supervising the festivities, discuss who they will be with, where they plan to trick-or-treat, whether they have a curfew, how often they should check in and what to do if they run into trouble.
- Talk Safety. Kids don’t always want to hear it, but your conversation should also touch on important safety considerations when out trick-or-treating. Remind youngsters not to go into a stranger’s home, not to approach pets, to stay with their group and to use crosswalks. And discuss what they should do if their evening gets disrupted or they need help. This could include designating a “safe house” of a known family friend where they can go to seek shelter or summon help. Some families find it helpful to decide on a code word that kids can use over the phone to discreetly tell their parents to come get them.
- Check the Haul. Kids are always excited to dive right into their candy haul, but it’s a good idea to have an adult go through it before anything is eaten. Make sure wrappers are still sealed and throw away any loose or opened candy that may have been tampered with. Some types of candy, such as hard, round style candies, may not be safe for younger children and should be set aside as well (or may be traded with an older sibling for a treat that is more age-appropriate).
- Consider Special Needs. Halloween can be particularly stressful for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. To ensure they enjoy the evening as well, it’s important to avoid or limit sensory triggers. That could include skipping homes with fog machines, strobe lights, loud sound effects or startling animatronics. It can also include choosing the right costume. Those with itchy tags, tight collars or constrictive masks should be avoided. Have your child try on a costume a few times before Halloween to make sure it’s comfortable.
- Watch Out for Allergens. Consider having your child take an antihistamine before going outside for trick or treating. If your child suffers from severe allergies, take an Epi-Pen with you. Food allergies or sensitivities can be hard for children to navigate during Halloween. Have an empathetic discussion with them beforehand about which candy is appropriate for them and plan ahead for how to handle candy they shouldn’t eat; they could trade with a friend or sibling.
Halloween safety also applies when handing out candy. Making your home feel safe and welcoming for trick-or-treaters is important. When kids arrive for trick-or-treating, keep Hunter’s tips in mind to make sure those who stop by are safe while having fun. - Provide Well-Lit Paths and Doors. Help trick-or-treaters find your home safely by keeping the path to it well-lit. Halloween-specific decorations that provide ample light to prevent trips and falls are readily available online and in stores. Turn on your porch light to signal that you’re giving out candy and to make sure everyone can see.
- Secure Pets. Pets can become anxious, overly excited, or even aggressive on Halloween. The constant ringing of the doorbell and all the strangers coming to the door can sometimes be a bit much. It’s important not only to protect pets but also trick-or-treaters. Consider putting pets in a quiet room or crate away from the door. If you know your pet is prone to becoming anxious or aggressive, consider boarding them for the evening to ensure Halloween is safe and stress-free for everyone.
- Offer Allergen-Free Treats. Nut allergies have become quite common and can cause extreme reactions in certain people. Also, many kids are allergic to ingredients such as chocolate or milk. Keep that in mind when deciding which candy to hand out, or consider giving out a non-food option, such as a small toy. A new trend we’re seeing: Some households will place a teal-colored pumpkin (real or fake) on their doorstep to indicate they are an “allergy-free” stop. Some neighborhood sites also share maps showing allergy-free homes.
- Be Mindful of Special Needs. Halloween can be stressful for kids with special needs. As you decorate your home, keep in mind that loud noises, strobe lights and certain decorations can be sensory triggers for kids with autism spectrum or other disorders. Likewise, children in wheelchairs or with other mobility issues may have trouble accessing your door, so you may wish to stay on your porch or hand out treats in the driveway instead.
- Practice Jack-O’-Lantern Safety Measures. Everyone loves a Jack-o’-lantern on the porch, and candles are a common tool to make them light up. But candles can also pose a fire hazard. Consider using glow sticks or battery-powered tea lights instead.
