F.C. Bulletin: June 29, 2026
1) F.C. City Releases 'Pride in Our Community,' Episode 6 in 'Reflections at 250' Docuseries
2) F.C. City Announces Special Events Around Independence Day
3) Why the Fourth of July is Special for Providence District Supervisor Palchik
4) NPSL Victory, End of Spring UPSL Season for Virginia Dream FC
5) Notices & Announcements
F.C. City Releases 'Pride in Our Community,' Episode 6 in 'Reflections at 250' Docuseries
In its June 26 Focus on Falls Church newsletter, the Little City released episode 6 of its Reflections at 250 docuseries, "Pride in Our Community," to commemorate Pride. "This Pride Month, celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and the many identities, experiences, and perspectives that make up the beautiful tapestry of queerness. There is no single way to be queer. Every person's story is different, and that diversity is one of the community's greatest strengths," the City said. "While no single video can capture the full breadth of LGBTQ+ experiences, 'Pride in Our Community' highlights a few voices and stories that reflect the resilience, authenticity, and sense of belonging that continue to shape Falls Church."
The roughly 10-minute video, inter-splices compelling personal testimonials from members of the local LGBTQ+ community, including Lawrence Webb, former School Board and City Council Member, Ethan Siegrist, aka Evita Peroxide, drag artist and entertainer, Dmitri Lake, a trans male barber at the Neighborhood Barbershop, Nicholas Benton, founder of the Falls Church News-Press, and Margaret Ngin and Annette Gumm, founders of Dark, Unbound bookstore.
"This Pride Month we celebrate the LGBTQ+ individuals whose contributions shaped Falls Church," the video's narration begins. "Their stories reflect a broader history of courage, advocacy, and the ongoing pursuit of equality and acceptance."
"Much of my journey began in theater. I really enjoyed just kind of getting into makeup and hair and all these fabulous things that come with putting and bringing a character to life," said Ethan Siegrist aka Evita Peroxide. Then, "around 2020 is when I decided to dabble into the realm or artistry of drag. It was a way for me to – as Ethan – express the more creative and colorful side that I didn't really get to do in my day-to-day life. Whatever it was that Ethan couldn't do, she could do."
Soon Siegrist wanted to resist some of the vicious narratives in society against drag artists by "....bringing age-appropriate, PG," drag family performances to the City of Falls Church. It was "of utmost importance for me," Siegrist says. Frighteningly, however, bomb threats and doxxing from protesters accelerated. So Siegrist decided to "retire" the character Evita. At least throughout the ordeal, "The Falls Church City community rallied together and brought much support to my story times for my safety and for my audience members' safety."
Despite the threatening and reactionary push-back Siegrist received, however, he holds out hope for better understanding in the City of Falls Church. "There is opportunity for allies and more queer community members in the City Falls Church to come together and share their stories and perspectives," Siegrist says. "But it is my hope that someday, somehow we will overcome everything that's going on politically and come to an agreement peacefully, that we can express ourselves, share our opinions, and be in a mutually respected space. My number one thing I said at many of my shows was to 'always be kind and be you.’ When you dim your own light, you are not only dimming yourself, but also you're taking an opportunity away from yourself and the community to be heard and seen."
Trans male barber Dmitri Lake (he/they) describes their journey of self-awareness and the City's serving as an accepting and welcoming environment compared to more conservative places they've lived. "I've always understood myself to be different and I didn't know what kind of different for a long time. It's a process. Like, it's such a process. By the time I was 17, I realized I was not sis. I was the first trans student a lot of my teachers had had and a lot of the other students had ever known," Lake says.
"Living and working in this area of Falls Church and Northern Virginia has shaped my experience as an LGBTQ person, in that moving here from a more conservative area felt like I had the space and ability to accept my own identity," Lake continues. "So coming here and people being like, ‘Oh yeah, I'm bi, or maybe even I have two moms or whatever, it was much more available as a thing that one could be.... There's also a ton of LGBTQ-owned businesses and arts and culture and events and businesses that, even if they aren't LGBTQ-owned, they're like actual allies who hire us and host our events. I felt very safe coming to work here and being open about who I am."
For Lake, the decision to cut hair emerged from his own experience as a trans person at the barber. "I started cutting hair because I would go get a haircut and it was not the haircut that I wanted. There's a specific thing that happens when you're trans and you're getting a haircut. They either get it or they don't. It's a way to communicate to other people, to each other, about our identities, and it's a form of self-expression that you never take off."
Lake also finds great satisfaction in reassuring trans kids and their parents. "I really admire the strength and bravery of parents and families of LGBTQ kids and trans kids specifically who are really being heavily targeted right now in terms of hateful rhetoric that they don't deserve because they're just kids," they say. "I usually get an expression of relief and gratitude from their parents and that means a lot to me as a parent. So, I'm really happy to contribute back to my own community in that way."
African-American former F.C. City School Board and City Council member, Lawrence Webb, describes first running for office in the City. "I didn't go out of my way to say, 'I'm Lawrence Webb and oh, by the way, I'm gay and I'm running to be your City Councilman.' It was something that, if someone asked, I'm more than happy to tell them. But, it initially took a little getting comfortable with because growing up in rural Virginia – and at the time I knew I was gay – but it was something that particularly being Black and gay was not something that really was talked about a lot. Being the first openly gay African-American is something that I embrace because it has opened the door for other African-Americans who may be interested in running for public office. That being gay does not stop you from being able to serve in your community."
"Falls Church continues to make every effort to be a welcoming place to everyone," Webb continues. "Taking on being welcoming during the month of June and doing all the Pride events, the presentation of the proclamation, and those type of things. It's still very important that folks living in your community know you're supportive and to be who you are while you're in the community.... I do think the younger generation is in the halls of legislatures, city councils, and Congress and can actually be a true part of the conversation."
Founder of the Falls Church News-Press, Nicholas Benton, describes how much the City's attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community have evolved since he moved in 1985 to Falls Church and started his print newspaper in 1990. "At the beginning, I mean, as much as I was a gay activist in my early days – and it was part of my legacy, part of my history – I didn't flaunt that when I came to Falls Church to start a newspaper," Benton recounts.
Benton credits local students for helping him come out to the local community more unabashedly. "It's interesting that some of these issues of gay rights came up very early on. The student newspaper [The Lasso] decided to run an ad for this group called Smyal, Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, and it created a huge dust up in this community. In those days, the dominant forces in Falls Church were these two very conservative churches. They were totally stunned when I took the editorial position in my newspaper in support of the students' decision to run that ad. And so I said to myself, you know, if I'm going to be authentic in support of these social issues, I have to be authentic in terms of myself as well. And I've never looked back…."
"I can't tell you how much the attitudes in Falls Church, the Little City of Falls Church have changed in the years since I founded this paper in 1991," Benton says. "I think this community has done a wonderful job. The leadership in Falls Church has done a terrific job in creating an environment that supports and reinforces diversity in all its forms in this community. It's really extraordinary."
But the City still has a ways to go, Benton believes. "I think Falls Church still needs to do more. I think we need to create openly gay places," he says. "I think it's important the community writ large gets behind proposals to actually create safe spaces. We're living in a time when the pushback the other way is really getting fierce, and it's not going to go away anytime really soon. And that's a point at which we need to stand up really strongly and assert what we stand for…. "
Finally, Margaret Ngin and Annette Gumm, founders of "queer, feminist bookstore," Dark, Unbound, (possibly opening "very soon" at 112 W. Broad St.) describe Falls Church City as a welcoming environment where they've chosen to create a "safe space" for members of the LGBTQ+ community. "We were looking at diversity as in who's represented in the stories we're sharing at the Dark, Unbound. So, female voices, non-binary voices, other queer voices – gender minorities, not just in the stories but also the authors of those books," says Ngin. "All of these things are really important because it helps us realize that other people don't see the world the same way we see the world. So when you can step into a story or a perspective of someone else's view of the world, it just makes us better people"
Co-founder Anette Gumm elaborates on the question of "what makes a safe space?" "....To me, it's a place where you could be unapologetically yourself and not feel judged and not feel hate….. What I think is really important about the store is building a community where we create that space for everyone," they say. "No matter who you are and what you're doing, you know? I'm a queer, bisexual, polyamorous, older, disabled woman and I want to, you know, just be accepted for who I am."
Reflections at 250 is a monthly video series highlighting the people, places, and stories that shape the City of Falls Church—past, present, and future. Created in recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the series features personal reflections from community leaders, residents, and local voices who share what Falls Church means to them and how its history continues to influence our City today. Each episode offers a unique perspective on our community’s identity, values, and evolving story, celebrating the moments and memories that make Falls Church a place worth honoring.
Episode 1: Impact of Local Democracy
Episode 2: A Legacy of Civil Rights That Endures
Episode 3: Women In Preservation
Episode 4: Confronting Enslavement at The Falls Church
Episode 5: Vietnamese Resilience
Episode 6: Pride In Our Community
Visit fallschurchva.gov/CFC250 to watch the latest episode and celebrate the people, perspectives, and experiences that help make our community more vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming for all.
For our recent story on Episode 4, Confronting Slavery at The Falls Church see below:
Christopher Jones
City Announces Special Events Around Independence Day
Following is based on press releases by the City of Falls Church:
Monday, June 29, 2026 – City of Falls Church Government offices will follow the operating schedule below for the Independence Day Holiday Weekend.
City Hall
- Closed: Friday, July 3
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
- Closed: Friday, July 3
- Closed: Saturday, July 4
- Open: Sunday, July 5
City of Falls Church Community Center – Kenneth R. Burnett Building
- Open: Friday, July 3
- 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Open Limited Hours: Saturday, July 4
- 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Open: Sunday, July 5
- Normal Hours: 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Special Weekend Events
Civic Jam
Live Music, Local Bites, and Backyard Games at ‘Civic Jam’
Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Friday, July 3, 6:00-10:00 p.m.
Commemorate the country's 250th anniversary of the United States of America at Civic Jam!
Celebrate our diverse community, civic engagement, and classic summer fun. Engage with Civic Groups, Community Organizations, and Non-profits that make a difference in the Little City while jamming out to live, local music that reflects the City of Falls Church's community and experiences. Make history in your City, be there!
Note: There will be no fireworks at this event, and this event is rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and bug spray.
As part of the country's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the City of Falls Church will celebrate our diverse community and civic engagement at Civic Jam! This new event takes place on Friday, July 3, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave.). The event will continue rain or shine and will not include fireworks, sparklers, and other flammables banned in the City.
Sip on local brews, enjoy eats and treats, and jam out to live local music throughout the evening. Compete in the Civic Cup Competition, an all-ages team challenge featuring relays and races as well as interactive activities hosted by local nonprofits and community groups for a chance to bring home the gold, the Civic Cup!
Event Schedule
Find the full timeline of activities and competitions below.
6:00 p.m.~ Festivities & Competitions Begin
- Community booths, food vendors, beer garden, photo booth, cotton candy, and yard games open.
- All-age inflatable games open (mechanical bull, axe throwing, bounce house).
- Civic Cup Competition team check-in begins.
Main Stage Lineup
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. ~ Music Group: Villains and Saints
Band Information: All Veteran Rock Band (from the City of Falls Church)
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ~ Music Group: Historically Close Friends
Group Information: High Energy Pop (from Washington, D.C.)
9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ~ Music Group: Ocho De Bastos
Group Information: Latin Pop Rock Party Band (from the DMV)
6:15 to 8:45 p.m. ~ Scheduled Civic Cup Games
Join the fun with relays and sack races! Bonus points awarded for team spirit and costumes!
Games Timeline:
- 6:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. : Watermelon Roll (2 team members)
- 6:55 p.m. – 7:25 p.m. : Water Balloon Toss (2 team members)
- 7:35 p.m. – 8:05 p.m. : Sack Race (1 team member)
- 8:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. : Three-Legged Race (2 team members)
7:00 to 7:30 p.m. ~ Civic Spotlight: Civic Trivia
Hosted by the League of Women Voters' Falls Church. Takes place next to the Cherry Hill Park Picnic Shelter.
8:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. ~ The 2026 Civic Cup Competition Trophy Ceremony!
9:00 p.m. ~ Glow Jam
Grab a free light-up VA250 giveaway and glowsticks, then jam out to live, local music!
9:45 p.m. ~ Beer Garden Last Call
10 p.m. ~ Festivities End
Special 250th Anniversary Celebration at The Falls Church on July 4
- Saturday, July 4
- Noon at The Falls Church (115 E. Fairfax)
For more than 30 years, the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) has hosted a July 4 community reading of America’s founding documents. This year’s program will be a special 250th Anniversary Celebration.
Attendees receive a booklet and hear brief introductions before each passage. Anyone who wishes may read a paragraph from the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Bill of Rights, the Reconstruction and Voting Rights Amendments, and selected historic speeches. New readings will also debut for the 250th anniversary.
Fireworks Are Prohibited Within City Limits
The possession, use, or display of any fireworks is not allowed inside the City of Falls Church. Only displays approved and permitted in advance by the City Fire Official are allowed.
Why the Fourth of July is Special for Providence District Supervisor Palchik
Following is from Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik's June 25 newsletter:
Every year the Fourth of July comes around with cookouts, parades, and the thunder of fireworks after dark. This year it carries some extra significance with it being 250 years since the birth of our nation.
I have a soft spot for this particular holiday — I share a birthday with America, so I’ve spent most of my life celebrating alongside the country. As someone whose family came here from Argentina at a young age, I’ve never taken its meaning for granted. A day honoring the place we call home, a country constantly striving to improve, one that still believes that people from different places and backgrounds can build something together.
Two and a half centuries in, these are the ideals that I’ll think about when the sky lights up over Providence District.
Wherever you’re celebrating — Oakton, Merrifield, Tysons, Fairfax, Falls Church — I hope you feel what I feel every Fourth: lucky to be here, and proud of the community we’re building together.
Happy 250th and Happy (early) Fourth!
About Supervisor Palchik
Supervisor Dalia A. Palchik has represented the Providence District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2020. A native of Argentina and longtime Fairfax County resident, she is a proud graduate of Fairfax County Public Schools.
She serves as Chair of the Environmental Committee, Vice Chair of the Budget Policy Committee, and Vice Chair of the Older Adults Committee. Supervisor Palchik also represents the county on several regional and local bodies, including the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team, the Fairfax Food Council, the COG Food and Agriculture Regional Member Policy Committee, and the COG Climate, Energy and Environmental Policy Committee.
Dalia attended Mantua Elementary School, Frost Middle School, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and French from Tufts University and later completed a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Johns Hopkins University. Before joining the Board of Supervisors, Dalia served as the Providence District representative on the Fairfax County School Board. Her professional experience includes roles as a world language teacher, medical interpreter, and micro-finance and communications specialist. Outside of public service, Dalia enjoys exploring Fairfax County’s trails and spending time in the community with her husband, Jeffrey, and their daughter, Sivan.
NPSL Victory, End of Spring UPSL Season for Virginia Dream FC
Virginia Dream FC traveled to Richmond on Wednesday, June 20 to take on Grove FC in NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference play. With a 4-0-1 record in the conference and solidly in second place with a match in hand, The Dream put on a dominant performance and earned a 3-1 victory over the hosts.
Winger Diarra Zoumana, the UPSL Golden Boot Winner who is also in the running for the NPSL Golden Boot title, added another goal to his tally placing him third in the conference. Liam Emson and Christian Rodriguez netted a goal apiece to bring Virginia Dream’s NPSL record to 5-0-1.
As you know, the Dream recently finished as UPSL Virginia North Regular Season Champions (5-1-2) and earned home field advantage for the playoff semifinals.
After winning the regular season UPSL Championship title (Virginia North conference), Virginia Dream FC, however, had a tough penalty kick loss in the post season tournament semi-final match at home at Meridian's 'The Cloud.' It was an exciting match which saw The Dream take the lead twice only to have Los Toros tie the game and extend the match to penalty kicks. In the end, Los Toros were victorious with a 5-4 PK advantage.
For updates and more information, visit: https://www.instagram.com/virginiadreamfc
Virginia Dream FC is a Falls Church-based semi-professional soccer club founded in 2022 with a mission to remove financial barriers by covering all player costs. Competing at a high level across national leagues, the club blends elite competition with community impact, creativity, and culture. Virginia Dream FC has gained national recognition through its U.S. Open Cup performances and growing digital audience.
Notices & Announcements
League of Women Voters of Falls Church Hosting a Book Club
Hello FCC parents and caregivers! The League of Women Voters of Falls Church is hosting a book club on Thursday, July 30, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. to discuss How to Raise a Citizen by Lindsey Cormack. Everyone is welcome; you do not need to be an LWV member to attend.
Lindsey spoke at our annual meeting and shared the important message about how civic education should start at home. Given the decline in focus on civics in our schools, Lindsey states that it is up to parents (and aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) to help children understand how government works, engage thoughtfully with political issues, and develop the habits of informed citizenship.
Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Sign up below to join us for a fun and informative evening!
Sign Up to Attend on July 30: Book Club
Entertainment at the Mosaic
Movies in the Park
Mark your calendars! ~ Mosaic District, Strawberry Park, 2911 District Ave., Fairfax, Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. July 18 through Aug. 20.
'Movies in Strawberry Park' returns to Mosaic District for another summer filled with blockbuster hits and family favorites. Film lovers can watch on the larger-than-life outdoor screen.
All movies start a 7:00 p.m. and are shown rain or shine unless otherwise noted. Be sure to bring a blanket or chair.
Mosaic Summer Music Series
Mosaic District, Strawberry Park, 2911 District Ave., Fairfax, Saturday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., from June 20 to August 15 (skipping July 4th weekend)
Compiled by Christopher Jones
Member discussion