Old School: Starting Over

I have mixed feelings about the start of school. I liked it when I was a kid, but I really HATED it as a parent. I would love to say that I stood teary-eyed as my kid(s) boarded the school bus, but in...

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F.C. Bulletin: Aug. 26, 2026

1) Virginia Village: CBC Calls for Housing Project to Focus on Lowest Incomes; 2) Falls Church Arts: All-Media Exhibition 'Geometrix' Opens with Meet-the-Artists Reception, Aug. 29; Runs through Oct. ...

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Council Unanimously Votes to Hire Hendler-Voss as New City Manager, Beginning Sept. 14

At City Hall yesterday evening, Aug. 14, the F.C. City Council voted unanimously (7-0) to hire Seth Hendler-Voss – most recently, director of parks and recreation for Prince William County, Va. – as t...

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Old School: The Smarts Store

By Carol McEwen, As a kid, my favorite place on the planet was the library in my small Southern Indiana town. I especially liked to visit in the summertime when I could browse with no deadline other ...

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F.C. Bulletin: Aug. 20, 2026

1) City Announces Selection of Hendler-Voss as New City Manager, Upcoming Council Vote to Confirm; 2) Starting Tomorrow: Falls Church's First-Ever Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 21-30; 3) Creative Cauld...

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Before There’s a Problem, Start the School Year with a Simple Email

....I encourage parents to .... send their child’s teacher a brief introduction email. This is not an email requesting a conference or outlining a list of concerns. Instead, it is a short message that...

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Old School: Mobility

When I turned 15, I begged to learn to drive, since I could get a provisional license at 15 and a-half. My first teacher was my mother, who it turned out, didn’t have the nerves for it. I remember onl...

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The Post's Phony 'Odyssey' Coverage

Seriously, I'm embarrassed for The Washington Post. And disgusted by its obsequious, worshipful, non-critical hyping of Christopher Nolan's recent film "The Odyssey." Whether Nolan's movie is good or ...

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Old School: Dreamland

I didn’t need to go to sleep to visit dreamland during my childhood. All I had to do was take a trip to the movies. I had two choices: the stately Pantheon, with the grand appearance to match its name...

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Tears on The Last Day of Summer Camp: ‘A Purposeful Day’ in Action

I was so moved by my visit to Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Friday, July 31, for the last day of “Summer’s Best Week Camp,” held by local nonprofit human services organization ‘A Purposeful Day’ (...

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West Falls: ‘The Reserve’ to Occupy City’s Tallest Building; What’s Unique about Their Senior Living Model?

Within the West Falls development, the tallest building in the Little City – at 15 stories – is slated to open by the spring of 2027. Custom designed as a luxury senior living community by Denver-base...

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Dr. Rachel: Avoiding the Hedonic Treadmill

....In contemporary psychology, however, this way of being can lead to what's termed the Hedonic Treadmill. If you haven't heard the term, it’s essentially what Bette Midler perceives Goldie Hawn doin...

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Old School: On the Job

Did you long for extra money like I did as a kid?.... Like most things in 1950’s America, job choices were gender-linked....The first choice was lawn-mowing in the summertime and snow shoveling in the...

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What Explains the Rise of Cover Bands in Falls Church?

By Annabel Taylor,  Sporting a head of long, tousled hair and a flannel shirt, a grungy figure shreds his guitar to the ‘90s alternative-rock hit “Come As You Are” on the stage of The State Theatre i...

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F.C. Bulletin: July 29, 2026

1) Real Estate: W. Annandale Rd. Mixed-Use Project Abandoned, Developer Lists Lot for Sale 2) The Latest on the Falls Church Grocery Wars 3) Arlington's South Block to Open New Eastern Market Location...

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F.C. 'Civic Jam' Spotlights Community Groups to Celebrate Nation’s 250th

On a beautiful summer Friday evening, July 24, the City of Falls Church put on its first-ever “Civic Jam,” spotlighting local civic groups, in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. At Cherry Hil...

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Old School: Bell of the Ball

....The bells I remember the most fondly, however, are in Arlington. The Netherlands Carillon, a gift to America in gratitude for our participation in the Second World War, was literally music to my e...

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Sports Editorial: FIFA's Soccer Rules Need Fixing

....The July 19 final match pitting the national teams of Spain and Argentina, however, sadly ended in chaos.... Glaring flaws in world soccer’s archaic rules contributed to mounting frustrations for ...

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F.C. City Police Investigate Suspicious Death

Monday, July 20, 2026 – The City of Falls Church Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit is investigating the suspicious death of an individual whose body was found by Police Officers the morn...

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Some Summer Movie Must-Sees

Looking to explore some classic summer-themed movies? Here are five that have stood the test of time. Spanning the 80s through the 2010s, these films range from coming-of-age quests, to rom-coms, to t...

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Old School: The Big Picture

....one of our milder shenanigans involved trips to the drive-in movies. We’d cruise across the bridge at the edge of town, passing the state line into Illinois, and be ready for anything. We had seve...

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Weekend Buzz: July 16, 2026

Cool summer activities around town this weekend are a welcome relief from the scorching heat. Everywhere you look there's a summer film or music series. Some exciting new plays have opened. A new exhi...

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F.C. Bulletin: July 13, 2026

1) Falls Church Climate Network to Accept Donations; Expands Board 2) NoVa Transportation Authority Adopts $776 Million Regional Funding Program; F.C. City to Receive $30 Million 3) Real Estate: F.C. ...

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Old School: Mud Slinging

My all-time favorite pastime as a kid was making mud pies, those delectable treats fed to imaginary friends at tea parties in my sandbox. I liked the whole routine. First I had to scrounge through ash...

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Six Choice Summer Reads

Those looking to seek shelter from the DMV’s persistent heat and humidity don’t have to wallow aimlessly. There’s an abundance of summer-themed novels waiting to be discovered, perhaps under the shade...

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Falls Church Antiques Center Expands as Stylish Patina Moves to Park Ave.

The Falls Church Antiques Center is coming back strong! After closing sadly in April, 2025 following over 40 years in business, then joyfully re-opening six months later, the Falls Church Antiques Cen...

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Old School: Let’s Eat!

As you can tell from past columns, I had an idyllic childhood, filled with fun, friends and little work. But I always wished for one of those big family cookouts on holidays like the Fourth of July. I...

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Virginia Village: City Announces RFPs for Key Affordable Housing Initiative

The City of Falls Church has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Virginia Village Affordable Housing Opportunity. The RFP’s purpose is to solicit a future owner/ ground lessee/ developer for ...

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Dr. Rachel: Handling Burnout

“What does burnout feel like to you?”.... here’s what can help.... if you're feeling burned out, it’s not because you "lack resilience" or have some personal failing....

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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 Pr...

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