via News Release: Former F.C. Police chief Mary Gavin has been named the Grand Marshal for the 42nd Annual City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade. Gavin will preside over the City’s festivities on Monday, May 27, 2024. The Recreation and Parks Advisory Board selected the former Chief of Police based on her remarkable career in public safety, particularly the 16 years of dedicated service with the City of Falls Church Police Department before her retirement in 2023. “I was abundantly blessed to serve as a police officer for The Little City,” said Gavin, who first joined the City of Fall ..read more

Lippman’s Scathing Letter To VHSL Elicits Reply The executive director of the Virginia High School League this week confirmed in writing that both the legal counsel and executive committee of the VHSL are being appraised of a complaint submitted by Former Falls Church Vice Mayor Hal Lippman concerning a highly discriminatory “mission statement” of the Liberty Christian Academy whose girls basketball team recently won the VHSL Class 3 girls basketball championship. The Liberty team edged the team from Falls Church’s Meridian High School in the final moments of the championship game in Richmond ..read more

CITY COUNCIL members, staff, and community members planted a pinwheel garden at Cherry Hill Park. (Courtesy Photo) April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the City of Falls Church is working to raise awareness about the safety and well-being of children. A blue pinwheel garden was planted at the entrance of Cherry Hill Park on April 11, which is still there, followed by a proclamation at the City Council meeting. The pinwheel, according to a City statement, “is the symbol of child abuse prevention and reflects childhood hope, health, and happiness.” Pinwheel gardens are planted by ..read more

Jen Ware and Tom O’Neill as Laura and Jim in “The Glass Menagerie.” (Photo: Heather Regan.) I first encountered “The Glass Menagerie” through a school production during high school. The members of the production team at Fall Church’s NOVA Nightsky Theater were similarly exposed first to this Tennessee Williams play in high school, either by reading or by performing the work. Indeed, producing director Jaclyn Robertson notes the exclusively secondary-school experience many people have with this play is one of the reasons for producing it now: “We chose this piece because we always love includin ..read more

Photo: Brian Reach In the bustling community of The Little City, newly minted Mayor Letty Hardi is breaking the mold of traditional office hours by taking her meetings to the great outdoors. As part of her commitment to promoting both physical activity and community engagement, Mayor Hardi has introduced walking office hours, offering residents a unique opportunity to connect with their local government while exploring the City’s many scenic trails. The Mayor’s Fitness Challenge, an annual event that pits Falls Church against neighboring Fairfax City and the Town of Vienna in a friendly compet ..read more

Judge Blocks Anti-LGBTQ+ Law in OH On Tuesday an Ohio judge blocked the state’s ban on gender-affirming care from taking effect, after the ACLU of Ohio sued the state on behalf of two Trans minors and their families. House Bill 68, the “Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) and Saving Women’s Sports Act,” both violates Ohio’s equal protection clause and a rule preventing laws from covering more than one subject. The bill would prevent LGBTQ+ children from accessing gender-affirming care including hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), certain mental health services ..read more

Krista Grimmett (Emmaline), Karen Lange (Frances), and Pauline Lamb (Tatiana). (Photo: Creative Cauldron) Karen Lange (Frances), Audrey Baker (Mindy), Lenny Mendez (Phoenix), Krista Grimmett (Emmaline), and Pauline Lamb (Tatiana). (Photo: Creative Cauldron) Audrey Baker (Mindy), Pauline Lamb (Tatiana), Karen Lange (Frances), and Krista Grimmett (Emmaline). (Photo: Creative Cauldron) Pauline Lamb (Tatiana), Audrey Baker (Mindy), Karen Lange (Frances), and Krista Grimmett (Emmaline). (Photo: Creative Cauldron) “Chicks in Heaven” is one of Creative Cauldron’s “bold new voices” premieres, feat ..read more

Fairview Marriott Refinancing The Falls Church Marriott in Fairview Park locked in a refinancing deal last week. The owner, Lakewood Hotel Group, refinanced the property for $40 million. Bridge Investment Group provided the loan which was brokered by Gould and Berkadia. The $11 million renovation of the 16-story hotel with 395 rooms was done in 2022 and is said to have increased the hotel’s performance. Local RAMMY Nominee! Congratulations to Ellie Bird for being named a finalist in the 2024 RAMMYs. The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) recognizes the region’s restaurant an ..read more

By Erika Toman Team We Show Speed emerged victorious over the valiant Little City Legends. (Photo: Amanda Alderson) This past weekend, the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League celebrated the official start of the season as families, friends, and baseball enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the much-anticipated Little League Opening Day Parade. Led by a procession of young baseball players decked out in their uniforms, the parade showcased the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defines our community. Opening Day marked the beginning of a season filled with exciting games, unforgettable mo ..read more

The Fight to End Child Marriage Editor, Between 2000 and 2018, over 300,000 minors were married in the United States. In most of these cases, young girls were married to adult men. Every child deserves the chance to grow up in safety, without the threat of forced marriage, domestic violence, or other harm. That’s why, in 2016, the Tahirih Justice Center — a national nonprofit based in Falls Church — championed a reform to end child marriage in our own back yard. Ultimately, legislators fell short of ending child marriage altogether but made Virginia the first state to limit marriage to legal a ..read more