F.C. Bulletin: Feb. 24, 2026
1) Multimedia Show 'Joy!' Opens at F.C. Arts Feb. 28.
2) CBC Launches 13th F.C. City Youth Reps Program
3) F.C. Native Hanrahan Inducted into Nat'l Wrestling Hall of Fame
4) Sup. Palchik to Hold 'Community Conversation on Housing' Feb. 24
5) Tysons Pimmit Library Book Sale, March 5-8
Multimedia Show 'Joy!' Opens at F.C. Arts Feb. 28
Celebration of Color and Media: A Multimedia Show Displaying Over 50 Joyful Works
Don’t miss this effervescent multimedia exploration of all things joyful. The works of 51 artists will be on display when “Joy!,” a celebration of color and media, opens Feb. 28.
A free-to-the-public reception will be held at the Falls Church Arts gallery Feb. 28, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The event will provide visitors the opportunity to meet participating artists, and hear the announcement of the Juror's Choice Award winner. “Joy!” will be on display through April 12.
Each artist represents the ever-evolving nature of joy in their work through their expansive variety of mediums. Pieces on view capture the essence of joy via a diverse range of scale, style, and approach through numerous mediums such as acrylic, oil, markers and ink, batik on fabric, watercolor, mixed media, digital photography, thread, micron on drawing paper, polymer clay, acrylic on wood, cloth, beads, and clay.
The juror, Jennifer Kahn Barlow, a renowned artist and critic based in Alexandria, writes, “Joy is a feeling of great happiness — a source of delight. In a season that feels cold, dark, and icy, and at a time when the news can feel especially heavy, being immersed in so much joy and creativity felt like a true gift. It was, quite simply, chicken soup for the soul.”
Barlow specifically notes, “The range of mediums — from traditional paint to thread, linocut, textiles, batik, and polymer clay — along with the unique approaches used to convey this emotion, was both inspiring and engaging.” The juror noted that “brilliant values, vibrant palettes, and joyful subject matter stood out, as did the personal and distinctive interpretations of what joy means to each artist.”
The Falls Church Arts gallery is at 700-B West Broad St. (Route 7), Falls Church. Admission is free, and the gallery is open with winter hours: Tuesdays–Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Visitors to the show can cast their ballot for the People’s Choice Award until March 27; the winner will be announced on March 28.
All of the artworks are for sale and can be viewed in-person or online at https://www.fallschurcharts.org. Pieces can be purchased at the gallery or on the website. For more information, visit https://www.fallschurcharts.org or email info@fallschurcharts.org.
Participants:
- Bruce Abrams
- Eilie Astara
- Roxanne Azmoudeh
- Haley Bannister
- Carolyn Berkowitz
- Diana Bozza
- Noreen Brunini
- Precious Burger
- Irene Chambers
- Kathleen Conklin
- Deborah Conn
- Elizabeth Cotter
- Tyler Cruse
- Berchel Douglas
- Patti Durbin
- Christy Gavitt
- Donna Grone
- Anjori Halder
- Adi Rose Henderson
- James Hengst
- Martin Hindel
- Miguel Hobbs
- Erik Kamenski
- Malia Kishore
- Julie Krachman
- Sandra Lewin
- Xianling Liu
- Didier Maleuvre
- Russ Mardon
- Chase McClough
- McKaid McConnel
- Jessica Mickey
- Jon Milstein
- Donna Moss
- Nancy Newman
- Barbara Osborne-Harris
- Amanda Rayborn
- Todd Schvaneveldt
- James Seith
- Michele Sheedy
- Gloria Solomon
- Abby Spatz
- Bettie Sperty
- Suzanne Updike
- John Valenti
- Jeff Vincent
- Rebecca Visger
- Bob Wentworth
- Jessica Willis
- Amy Woodhouse
- Hana Yang
Citizens for a Better City (CBC) Launches Application Process for 13th Year of F.C. City Youth Reps on City Boards, Commissions and Civic Groups
In 2014, the Youth Representatives Initiative was started by CBC in an effort to involve the City's youth in local government, support our Boards and Commissions and promote civic leadership development.
Applications will be available beginning Monday, March 2 online at https://www.fallschurchcbc.net and https://www.youthrepsinitiative.net/ or they can be picked up at the Meridian High School Guidance Department.
Any high school-aged student interested in serving on a City Board or Commission or on a participating Civic Group Board may apply. The deadline for application submissions to CBC is Friday, April 10. Interviews will be scheduled for Thursday, April 16, Friday, April 17, Saturday, April 18, and Monday, April 21.
Forty-one Falls Church City High School students are currently serving on these City Boards, Commissions, and Civic Groups: the Architectural Advisory Board, the Arts & Humanities Council, the Advisory Committee for Recreation & Parks, Bike Falls Church, the Electoral Board, the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Commission, the Housing Commission, the Human Services Advisory Committee, the Library Board of Trustees, the League of Women Voters, the Urban Forestry Commission, the Citizens Advisory Council on Transportation, the Environmental Sustainability Council, the Economic Development Authority, the Falls Church Education Foundation, the Village Preservation & Improvement Society, Creative Cauldron, Meridian PTSA, the Friends of Cherry Hill Foundation, the Social Justice Committee of Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, and Welcoming Falls Church.
CBC is pleased to report the program is growing in popularity as more students apply every year – especially younger siblings of those currently serving.
CBC’s ultimate goal is to engender the spirit of community activism in our youth and through their interest and commitment to inspire the participation of their parents. It’s working!
For more info contact Sally Ekfelt at Ekfelt@gmail.com or by phone at (571) 205-1950.
Falls Church Native John Hanrahan Inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Falls Church native John Hanrahan has been selected for induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Georgia Chapter, Class of 2026.
A graduate of Falls Church High School, Hanrahan was a Virginia State Champion and High School National Finalist multiple times. He remains the most successful NCAA place-winner ever to emerge from the Northern Virginia region.
Hanrahan went on to compete at Penn State University, where he became a two-time NCAA All-American, two-time conference champion, four-time NCAA qualifier, and amassed 113 career victories — setting a program benchmark at the time.
He later returned to international competition, capturing a UWW Veteran World Championship in Freestyle Wrestling and earning five USA Wrestling Masters National titles.
Beyond competition, Hanrahan built a distinguished coaching and performance career. He was named six-time GISA Wrestling Coach of the Year and currently operates Private Training Lab in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he trains athletes and professionals in strength and performance development.
He was recently honored center mat prior to the Georgia State High School Wrestling Championships in recognition of his Hall of Fame selection.
“The discipline I learned in Falls Church shaped everything that followed,” Hanrahan said. “Wrestling built the foundation for my life.”
The formal induction banquet will be held May 2, 2026, in Gainesville, Georgia.
Hanrahan is also the author of Wrestling with Angels, a memoir detailing his journey through elite athletics, personal trials, and redemption.
Sup. Palchik to Hold 'Community Conversation on Housing' Feb. 24
Providence, F.C., Supervisor Dalia Palchik is "excited to host the first of many Community Conversations." This new program "allows neighbors to collectively engage with some of the most pressing policy challenges our region faces — with the first series focusing on housing."
The event is on Tuesday, February 24, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the Jim Scott Community Center (3001 Vaden Dr. Fairfax, Va.) RSVP on Eventbrite.
Tysons Library Book Sale, March 5-8
The Tysons-Pimmit Quarterly Used Book/Media Sales will offer 15,000+ books in categories such as: Cooking, History, Biographies, STEM, Culture, Fiction/Mystery/Sci-Fi, Self-help, Business, Hobbies, Religion, Classics, and more. They'll also have books for children of all ages, as well as puzzles, games, DVDs, CDs, and audio books.
Proceeds benefit the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library and related activities.
Donations of books and media are appreciated; volunteers are welcome and needed. Sale is 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Compiled by Christopher Jones
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