F.C. Bulletin: April 2, 2026
1) City of Falls Church Modernizes Digital Presence with New Website Launch
2) F.C.'s Annual Egg Hunt Scheduled for Saturday, April 4
3) Public Feedback Requested on 27 NoVA Transportation Projects Under Consideration
4) Little City Concerts Presents Season Finale 'Sounds of Home at 250'
5) Falls Church Arts: 'Joy' Show Awardees; Artist Talk, April 12
6) Idylwood Studios Earth Day Pop-up, April 22
7) False Alarm on Last Remains of Snowcrete in Falls Church
City of Falls Church Modernizes Digital Presence with New Website Launch
Following is based on an April 1 press release from the City of Falls Church:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – Today, the City of Falls Church launched its updated municipal website at FallsChurchVA.gov. While the date may suggest otherwise, this modernization of the City’s digital front door is no April Fools’ joke. Twelve years in the making, the new platform is engineered to be faster and more intuitive, serving as the center of an ongoing effort to ensure a digital experience that's accessible to all members of the community as the work continues to evolve.
The redesigned platform centers on user needs with a responsive interface that functions across different devices. By using data prioritized to high-traffic resources — such as early voting, solid waste schedules, and community events — the City now provides a more streamlined experience that delivers information with fewer clicks. Additionally, a comprehensive overhaul of the website’s search tools improves both internal and external discovery, helping users locate accurate City services whether they begin on a major engine or use the website’s built-in search bar navigation.
The City’s ongoing digital Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility journey reaches a primary milestone with the launch of this modernized platform. Rather than a static update, the website serves as a foundation for continuous optimization over the next year and beyond to ensure inclusivity for all users. "This update is not a finish line," said Mary Catherine Chase, Director of Communications. "The City recognizes that community needs are always evolving, and we are dedicated to ensuring our digital services grow alongside them."
To maintain accountability, the City is implementing continuous auditing tools to resolve digital barriers in real-time. To support these improvements, the City has launched a direct feedback loop on the website. Users who encounter technical issues or broken links are encouraged to report them via the online form as the City continues to refine its digital offerings.
Visit the new FallsChurchVA.gov.
F.C.'s Annual Egg Hunt Scheduled for Saturday, April 4
Following is based on a City of Falls Church press release:
Monday, March 30, 2026 – The 2026 City of Falls Church Annual Egg Hunt presented by Renewal By Andersen is right around the corner. Hosted by the City's Recreation & Parks Department, the event will take place in Cherry Hill Park at 312 Park Avenue on Saturday, April 4.
Arrive Early! Along with a free egg hunt, families can enjoy free arts & crafts, games, face painting, music, and bubbles starting at 9:15 a.m.; the Egg Hunt starts promptly at 10 a.m. Egg hunters are separated by age: zero to three, four to six, and seven to eleven. Children should bring a bag or basket to collect sweets and goodies in. After the hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny will be in attendance for pictures and a magic show featuring Abracadabra Alex at 10:30 a.m.
Egg Hunt Sponsors
- Big Blue Swim School
- CommuniKids
- Growing Smiles of Nova
- LEAD Day School
- Levine Music
- Raising Cane's
- Renewal By Andersen
Parking
For the safety of Farmers Market and Egg Hunt attendees, no public parking will be available at City Hall or the Community Center parking lot from 8 a.m. until approximately 1:00 p.m. Egg Hunt attendees should arrive early and plan to walk or carpool.
- Where to Park
- Both the Kaiser Permanente Parking Garage (201 N. Washington St.) and the lower level of the George Mason Square Garage accessed via South Maple (103 W. Broad St.) will be open all day to the public and is your best bet for free public parking.
- Free parking is available on many side streets as well. Please check signs for time limits.
- Avoid parking in private parking lots. Visitors are reminded to NOT park in private parking lots with posted "No Parking – Towing Enforced" signs. The private lots are for the customers of businesses only. Many businesses enforce parking restrictions on weekends and holidays and may tow without notice.
- Accessible Parking will be available on Little Falls St.
In the event of inclement weather, the Egg Hunt will be held on Monday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. in Cherry Hill Park. More information can be found online at fallschurchva.gov/EggHunt.
Public Feedback Requested on 27 NoVA Transportation Projects Under Consideration
Following is based on a NVTA press release:
Vienna, Va., April 2, 2026 – The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is inviting Northern Virginia residents to provide input on 27 projects under funding consideration as part of the FY2026–2031 Six Year Program (SYP). Eight Northern Virginia jurisdictions submitted project applications requesting regional funding from NVTA.
The $1.265 billion funding request spans varying transportation modes including bus transit, rail, roadway enhancements, technology, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and intersection/interchange improvements.
Project materials, including the full project list, detailed project description forms, maps and technical analyses, are available online at:
https://thenovaauthority.org/funding/funding-projects/fy2026-2031-six-year-program.
The public is invited to provide feedback now through May 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. using any of the following options:
- Online: Feedback Form: https://form.jotform.com/260354007227045
- Phone: (703) 947-7606
- Mail: NVTA's Offices: 2600 Park Tower Dr. Suite 601, Vienna, Va. 22180
- Public Hearing: May 14, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. (virtual and in-person) at NVTA’s offices, 2600 Park Tower Dr., Vienna, Va. 22180 - Sixth Floor Boardroom. Register: https://form.jotform.com/260824784477066.
The Authority is expected to consider adoption of the FY2026-2031 Six Year Program during its July 9, 2026, Authority meeting.
For updates and additional details, visit the SYP webpage:
https://thenovaauthority.org/funding/funding-projects/fy2026-2031-six-year-program.
All procedures and timelines are subject to change.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is a regional transportation organization committed to planning, prioritizing and funding multimodal projects that reduce congestion and enhance connectivity. NVTA develops Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan and invests in projects that improve mobility and provide travel options. NVTA has invested nearly $5 billion toward advancing 380+ multimodal transportation projects across the region. Visit thenovaauthority.org to learn more.
Little City Concerts Presents Season Finale 'Sounds of Home at 250'
Little City Concerts of Falls Church City has announced its 2026 Season Finale, the 9th Street String Quartet's "Sounds of Home at 250," to match America's "spirit of 1776" anniversary. The concert will be at The Falls Church Episcopal on April 18 at 7:30 p.m.
"This event is part of the city and state's 250th celebrations, so we're really hoping to draw a crowd for it," Little City Concerts founder and composer Stephen Gorbos said. "It's with the Arlington-based 9th Street String Quartet performing a program of diverse American voices, and 50% of ticket sales will be donated to Second Story, a wonderful local org that does a lot to help at-risk youth."
What: 9th Street String Quartet performs:
Sound of Home at 250: Many Voices. Many Stories. One SharedHome.
For Arlington's 9th Street Quartet, their program Sounds of Home at 250 explores the idea of belonging through music, highlighting some of the diverse voices and histories that shape current American life.
The program features works by Jessie Montgomery, Kevin Puts, Steven Snowden, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Stephen Gorbos, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Reena Esmail — composers whose musical voices represent a broad spectrum of American experience.
Thinking of the spirit of 1776, with its sentiments of individual liberty and a more just society, this repertoire directly engages with the ever-evolving idea of what counts for an American voice. Rather than a purely celebratory program, Sounds of Home at 250 invites reflection on the complex circumstances that bring diverse cultures into dialogue — and sometimes into tension — within American society. In doing so, it echoes the foundational struggle to build a pluralistic democracy, reminding us during this important anniversary that the work of the American Revolution is an ongoing project.
The venue for the performance is extremely meaningful in this sense: The Falls Church Episcopal has been a community focal point since 1723. In the colonial era, it included prominent Virginians like George Washington and George Mason as Vestrymen, was a recruiting station for the local Fairfax Militia during the Revolutionary War, and was a site from which the Declaration of Independence was read to the local population during the summer of 1776. In our city, the church continues to be a beacon for belonging, welcoming its first gay rector in 2022, after a protracted legal battle over the space that split the congregation with the election of the first gay Episcopal bishop in 2004.
Thinking of the spirit of 1776, with its sentiments of individual liberty and a more just society, this repertoire directly engages with the ever evolving idea of what counts for an American voice. From Montgomery’s "Strum," which celebrates the vitality and resilience of folk idioms, to Tate’s "Pisachi," which draws on his own Chickasaw identity and Indigenous history, each piece offers a unique lens on what it means to find or define “home” in America. Works like Snowden’s "Appalachian Polaroids" and Frank’s "Leyendas" connect regional and ancestral memory to present-day identity, while Esmail’s "This Is It," Stephen Gorbos' new work "Migration," and Puts’s "Home" consider the emotional and philosophical dimensions of belonging.
The 9th Street Quartet has spent the past several years creating a musical home for young people in their 9th Street Chamber Music string quartet program. The inclusive and welcoming program, which fundraises to cover tuition expenses so that the ability for a student to pay is never an issue, brings youth in grades 8 to 12 together each week to rehearse, be coached, and eventually perform in quartets. This sense of creating a home has informed their programming choices for their Little City Concerts event, and their nonprofit partner.
The nonprofit partner for this event will be Second Story, a Fairfax County-based organization that serves youth experiencing homelessness or another crisis, and young mothers and their children. Second Story, who will receive 50% of ticket sales for this concert, transforms the lives of children, youth and their families by providing safe havens and opportunities for them to grow and thrive. Their programs provide support at critical turning points in their lives.
When: Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E. Broad St.
Price: $25 (advance ticket sales via our website); FREE for youth 18 & under/Students with a valid ID. 50% of ticket sales benefit Second Story.
More Info & Tickets: http://www.tinyurl.com/SoundsHome250.
Falls Church Arts: 'Joy' Show Awardees; Artist Talk, April 12
Falls Church Arts (FCA) has announced both the Juror's Choice and the People's Choice awards for their current exhibition "Joy" – where artists were invited to submit "fabulous works that bring them joy" – running at FCA's gallery at 700-B West Broad St. through April 12.
"Joy" Juror Jennifer Kahn Barlow announced Feb. 28 the Juror's Choice Award was earned by Jon Milstein's for his 2026 watercolor "Whoosh!"
The colorful work "exudes warmth and a wonderful sense of freedom," the Juror's Choice certificate reads. "The brilliant colors evoke a carefree summer day as a child excitedly rides his bike with adults strolling behind him in a relaxed, unhurried way. The monument and trees serve as strong visual anchors, while the diagonal path and movement of the bicycle create energy and momentum throughout the composition. The sky and trees are rendered in vibrant, warm, happy hues, while the shadows provide a calm, neutral resting place for the eye. I can almost feel the joy of this leisurely summer day – and find myself wishing I were there right now"
Wrote artist Milstein of the work, "A boy and his bike, riding through the park. I was him once myself and I know the joy of the freedom and the speed of whooshing between the trees."
For the People's Choice Award, exhibition attendees cast their votes by March 27 and selected Malia Kishore's acrylic on wood piece "Joyful Chaos."
Kishore wrote the accompanying gallery blurb for her creative assemblage: "A friend was going through a tough time but laughed when I bought a bunch of inexpensive wooden hearts. She didn't think I could make anything with them and I knew I could make her smile if I did. I created this piece of a joyful chaos of hydrangeas and lily of the valley using over 2000 wooden hearts and acrylic paint. Each heart was individually painted before being placed on the painted background. The hydrangea bush is one from my garden, and the lily of the valley is aspirational. The open window represents an open heart and mind."
Joy ~ Artist Talk
Artist Talk: 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, April 12
Location: Falls Church Arts Gallery
Admission: [Free / RSVP]
Join us for an Artist Talk featuring a panel of this show’s exhibiting artists. This panel discussion offers a behind-the-scenes look at the artwork on view, giving artists the opportunity to share their inspiration, creative process, and artistic vision. Hear artists in conversation with one another, discover connections between their works, and gain deeper insight into the themes of the exhibition. The event will conclude with a Q&A, inviting audience members to ask questions and engage directly with the artists.
Whether you’re an artist, collector, or art enthusiast, this talk is a great opportunity to connect more deeply with the art and the artists behind it. Light refreshments will be served.
Asia Anderson will moderate. Panel members are:
- Precious Burger
- Irene Chambers
- Tyler Cruse
- Berchel Douglas
- James Seith
- Hana Yang
Exhibition: Feb. 28 – April 12
Artists submitted fabulous works that bring them joy.
Juror: Jennifer Kahn Barlow
For an in-depth article on Falls Church Arts, see our recent story below:
Christopher Jones
Idylwood Studios Earth Day Pop-up, April 22
Following is based on a March 29 Idylwood Studios press release:
Idylwood Studios of Falls Church is pleased to announce its “Earth Day Pop Up Event,” a celebration of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, from 3 – 7:00 p.m. The event – free and open to the public – will be at 7617 Idylwood Road, Falls Church.
Idylwood Studios will host several artisans, vendors and community activists whose work focuses on reuse and recycling.
Berryfine Goods is an ethical estate service that addresses waste diversion and reuse and Jenny Newberry Art is the owner and artist whose art is made from what others leave behind.
Fillagreen is a zero-waste, refillable health and beauty shop in Manassas that offers sustainable home and personal care products to help customers reduce plastic waste.
Future Acres Farm will be present to discuss best practices for composting.
Luci’s Mobile Library is a Springfield-based nonprofit that fosters a love of reading by providing free, gently used books to children.
Mend a Hand teaches individuals to repair, revive and reimagine their treasures. By passing knowledge down, Mend a Hand ensures that more people know how to fix the things they love and already have rather than buying new.
Paloma Vintage Designs transforms vintage and reclaimed costume jewelry into bold modern accessories and décor. Every piece is sustainably handcrafted.
Rokatree empowers people to level up their living spaces with textile art.
Scout troops and community groups will attend to learn more about sustainability, so there will be great opportunities for engagement and connection. Hands on demonstrations will be offered.
For media inquiries contact: Pamela Huffman, pamelahuffmanart@gmail.com, 703-362-4078. Instagram: @idylwoodstudios.
For a recent Letter-to-the-Editor focusing on themes of reuse, repurposing, and repair in the City of Falls Church, see below:
Christopher Jones
False Alarm on Last Remains of Snowcrete in Falls Church
For a very brief time, Falls Church could brag about having the final sad vestiges of the recent Snowcrete that so traumatically Christo-wrapped the area in concrete-hard layers of ice, hail, snow, frozen rain, slush, wintery mix, and whatever else have you.
At precisely 10:57 a.m. yesterday April 1 on Facebook, the Capital Weather Gang posted the following photo from one Alex Post purporting to be capturing the fleeting image of the final remains of the horrifying Snowcrete:
The non-violent weather gang's Facebook post read as follows:
RIP SNOWCRETE. On March 31, CWG reader Alex Post, who has been monitoring piles of Snowcrete in several locations, said the final traces were melting away. "That would make 67 consecutive days" of Snowcrete on the ground, Post said. Pictured here is the last little pile he was monitoring in Falls Church on the morning of March 31 which he did not think "could possibly" survive the 80-degree weather predicted that day. Other towering piles of Snowcrete are also now gone, he said, near the Capitol, at RFK lot 6, at the Arlington Courthouse and Lakelands Park in Gaithersburg. In some of these places, crews removed the Snowcrete, and in some places mother nature did the work. Post noted piles lasted even longer during the Snowmageddon winter of 2010 (until April 9) and in 2014, when there were big March storms (until April 30). Props to him for monitoring this and sharing it with all of us!!! That said, we wonder – is anyone aware of any more Snowcrete piles that have survived into April?
So, yesterday, Falls Church appeared to hold the region's Snowcrete longevity record.
Sadly, however, the Capital Weather Gang returned to Facebook early this afternoon April 2 at 12:20 p.m. to post that a follower named John Dean (not clear whether of Watergate fame) had indeed seen a much larger pile of remaining Snowcrete at BWI Marshall Airport, of all places. Not only did Dean send in visual proof, but CWG heard from many other followers from around the region roundly contradicting the diminutive Falls Church claim.
Here's the CWG's post from early this afternoon:
SNOWCRETE lives! On Wednesday, we posted that many of the large piles of Snowcrete that endured through March were gone. But readers informed us that there are still some out there. We received reports of piles lingering in Alexandria, Germantown, Fairfax, College Park, and Burke. There is also a massive one still in the parking lot at Carter Barron in NW DC. Pictured here is the Snowcrete remaining outside the BWI Daily Lot. Thanks to Jonathan Dean, Director of Communications at BWI, for sharing.
Don't feel down, Falls Church. No one fully appreciated the Snowcrete anyway.
By Christopher Jones
Member discussion