SUNDAY 5/2: Wizard of Oz Ballet at George Mason HS by Kintz-Mejia Academy

Take a trip down the yellow brick road with a story of tornados, witches and a little dog too in a wonderful performance by the Kintz-Mejia Academy of Ballet. Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion on the quest to make all their dreams come true. Gorgeous sets and costumes complete this grand jete onto the stage. Come experience the spectacle!

Saturday, May 1, at 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m.

George Mason High School Theater
7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church

All seats $25. Seating is assigned, so arrive early for best seats.

For more information, contact Carolanne O’Neil at coneil@westassoc1.com or 703-893-0404 ext 217.

SUNDAY 5/2: Choralis Youth Choir Concert

On Sunday, May 2, at 4 pm, the Choralis Cantus Youth Choirs present their spring concert at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 East Broad St.  The program will feature each of the youth ensembles and the Cantus Primo Select Youth Choir in a program that will be fun for the whole family.  A reception will follow the concert in the Fellowship Hall of the church.  Ticket prices for the concert are:  $10 adults, $5 for students 22 and under with ID; and free for ages 12 and under.

The Cantus Youth Choirs were formed in the 2009 season as the latest in Choralis’ musical outreach to young singers.  In addition to the Cantus program, Choralis offers a dozen singing scholarships each year to high school singers to participate as members of the adult chorus.  In June, Choralis will hold the 9th annual Choralis Summer Choral Festival for High School Singers–a week of study, singing, and fellowship.

Tickets and information for Choralis events are available at www.choralis.org or by calling 703-237-2499.

POLITICAL ANALYSIS: The Yard Signs May Tell a Story

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

April 30, 2010

This spring, as is the case in every even year, yard signs heralding the political season have bloomed amidst the azaleas of The Little City.  The cardboard flora long have appeared on many a resident’s lawn, but perhaps never before in such unusual variety as in 2010.

In the past, a property might host several signs, but all in favor of one candidate or ticket.  However, this April’s political pollination has seen numerous examples of lawns bearing signs that advocate multiple candidates, sometimes even candidates with conflicting views.

Signs for the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) slate now are often joined by those of the four independent candidates.  Perhaps the most frequent combination is CBC – Hockenberry.  This is not surprising since Ms. Hockenberry sought CBC nomination and has run on its ticket three times.  However, the signs of the other Council contenders also are occasionally seen beside the CBC’s.

Some lawns share signs of different independent candidates.  Within a block on Gundry Drive one can find a Hockenberry sign between the Kaylin-Barry duet on one side of the street and a Snyder sign with a Kaylin-Barry pair on the other.

Perhaps the most interesting signs in Ward One are on Timber Lane.  There someone has trimmed a CBC banner down to “Buschow” and placed it along side those of Kaylin-Barry.  Further down the street a resident has put up a home-made Buschow banner next to a Hockenberry sign.

Signs also have turned up where they would seem to be prohibited by law.  Last weekend four were seen on the grounds of the Winter Hill Apartments, a complex owned by the Falls Church Housing Corporation (FCHC) which receives a subsidy from the City.

According to its website, FCHC is a 501c3 tax exempt organization.  As such, it cannot be involved in political activity, such as endorsing, contributing to, working for, or otherwise supporting (or opposing) a candidate for public office.  One of the signs has since been removed but three others are still in evidence at the corners of Gundry and Annandale and  Gundry and Virginia.

Collectively, the campaign signs seem to reflect an unusually, perhaps uniquely divided electorate.  Voters this year may split their ballots many different ways and the results are likely to be very close.

This is the last time yard signs will appear in the spring.  The City Council voted in January to move  municipal elections to November, starting in 2011, but that fall’s political flora will be hard pressed to match the variety of the current display.

EDITORS’ NOTE:  Signs, like flowers, come and go.  All signs referenced in this story were on display Thursday  evening.

TUESDAY 5/4: Election Day for City Council and School Board

Election Day for Falls Church City Council and School Board is Tuesday, May 4, 2010 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The City has five polling places:

Ward One: Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
601 South Oak Street

Ward Two: Oakwood Apartments
501 Roosevelt Boulevard

Read more

FOOD: They’re All Back!
Farmers Market Vendors Begin Full Summer Season

By KATHLEEN NIXON
Falls Church Times Staff

April 30, 2010

It is that time again! Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming and just as dependable as springing our clocks forward, the summer season of the farmers market kicks off this Saturday. Farmers markets across the region will be switching to their summer schedule and summer vendors throughout May, but the Falls Church Farmers Markets is one of the few that opens this weekend with its full contingent of summer vendors. The market switched to its summer hours earlier in April to accommodate the market vendors who had extra items to offer customers, but this weekend we will see the entire City Hall parking lot filled with many familiar faces.

The Falls Church Farmers Market expanded to a year ‘round operation in 2006, and since then we have been able to enjoy a bounty of vendors who are willing to slug it out in the cold rain, wind and even snow to bring their products to the market. Some of the stalwarts are Toigo Orchards, Mother Earth Mushrooms, Sinplicity Catering, Chris’ Marketplace, Atwaters, Wisteria Gardens and DragonFly Farms.

Many new vendors try out their wares during winter to see if there is a market demand. This past winter two vendors really captured the hearts and minds of the community:

–  Stachowski Charcuterie from Arlington produces an assortment of meat products such as pate, sausage and kielbasa. Jimmy Stachowski and his son tend the market stall, adding in their own comments and cooking tidbits to all the offerings. Their lively discussion entices almost as much as their offerings.

– Union Street Soapworks from Millersville, Maryland, is owned by Nate Whatley, who has been making soap for 14 years. Nate mixes his soap over direct heat so that it can be used as soon as it cools. He also grows all the herbs used in his soaps.  There was quite a community campaign underway over the last few months to make sure that Union Street Soapworks would stay on at the market, given concern that two soap vendors might not be sustainable. But both vendors have a loyal following and have varied products, so the concern was dismissed.

A new addition is Clear Spring Creamery, which provides organic milk, yogurt and cheese. They have a small farm with 40 milk cows in Clear Spring, Maryland, near Hagerstown. Clear Spring Creamery is the first organic dairy to participate in the Falls Church Farmers Market.  It is exciting to again see a dairy at the farmers market. A few have tried in the past to rave reviews but were not able to keep up with the demand.

Many of the familiar faces will be back this Saturday, including Crepe Creations with their fabulous made-to-order crepes, and the return of the farms that provide such great produce throughout the season. We will also see the return of Howie’s Honey which was sorely missed over the winter.