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The City of Falls Church has appointed David So as its new director of finance, bringing in an experienced budget leader from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

The city announced the selection in an Oct. 29 news release. So officially joined the government Nov. 3.

At WMATA, So served as director of the Office of Management and Budget. His work included overhauling the agency’s budget book, improving budgeting and reporting processes, and encouraging innovation within his team.

He previously worked in the private sector with Berkeley Research Group, Nestlé and Samsung. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in business administration from the George Washington University School of Business.

So said he plans to take a collaborative approach to budgeting and strategic planning while helping ensure the city’s financial policies serve the community.

City Manager Wyatt Shields said So’s experience, leadership and strategic vision would support Falls Church’s fiscal strength and transparency.

Workshop to explore Northern Virginia’s Indigenous history

Artist, historian and educator Rose Powhatan will lead a Nov. 15 workshop examining the Indigenous people who lived in Falls Church and Fairfax County and why their history still matters.

Powhatan, a descendant of Virginia’s Pamunkey and Tauxenent, or Dogue, tribes, will discuss her family’s history and the region’s original inhabitants. The presentation will also cover what happened to those communities, their continuing influence and ways residents can honor their legacy.

The Social Justice Committee of Falls Church and Vicinity is sponsoring the free Native American Heritage Month program. It will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad St. Registration is requested.

The committee is part of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, which was founded in 1997 to preserve African American history and promote racial reconciliation in Northern Virginia.

Volunteers called to rescue trees from invasive plants

Fairfax PRISM, the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, has launched a “Week of Action” to protect local trees from invasive plants.

Volunteer events in Falls Church and elsewhere in Fairfax County are inviting residents to become “tree rescuers” by clearing invasive species from parks and trees. The nonprofit said the work offers participants an opportunity to spend time outside, meet others and help protect community green spaces.

A Nov. 9 event is scheduled at Lake Barcroft’s Beach 1, 6256 Lakeview Drive in Falls Church.

Another Nov. 9 effort will take place in Mastenbrook-Greenway Downs Park in the 6900 block of Custis Parkway. The Greenway Downs Citizens Association and Friends of Holmes Run are organizing that event, with RSVPs accepted at friendsofholmesrun@gmail.com.

An all-ages tree rescue is planned for Nov. 16 at Haycock Longfellow Park. Volunteers will meet at the end of the parking lot at 2100 Westmoreland St. in Falls Church. Wendy Cohen can be contacted at wncohen@gmail.com for information.

Additional event and registration details are available through Fairfax PRISM’s upcoming-events listings.