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Falls Church residents can explore 70 local women’s history displays at Cherry Hill Park on Saturday, May 9, as the city also prepares for stricter student cellphone rules, searches for its next city manager and hosts several community events.

Women’s History Walk Takes Over Cherry Hill Park

The Falls Church Women’s History Walk will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave. The self-guided event features 70 “Her Story” stations highlighting women whose contributions to the community span from the 1600s to the present.

Docents stationed around the park will offer assistance and invite visitors to participate in a women’s history scavenger hunt.

A noon ceremony on the front porch of Cherry Hill Farmhouse will recognize this year’s grand marshals: Marty Behr, Sharon Schoeller, Sandy Tarpinian and Melissa Teates. A separate recognition for the Young Women of Action is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Displays will feature Young Women of Action from local middle and high schools, along with the DAR, Creative Cauldron, VPIS, League of Women Voters, AAUW, Victorian Society, Girl Scouts and MRS Library.

Cherry Hill Farmhouse will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, and Judge Riley may make a surprise appearance.

The Falls Church Garden Club’s annual plant sale will take place nearby in the Falls Church Community Center gym, 223 Little Falls St. Plants, pots, tools, gifts and décor will be available.

The one-day history event is presented by the Falls Church Women’s History Group. The walk was founded by the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

Virginia Law Forces a Stricter School Cellphone Policy

Falls Church City Public Schools is preparing to prohibit student cellphone use throughout the entire school day under a new Virginia law signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger on April 5.

The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, takes effect July 1. It requires public schools to bar student cellphone use from bell to bell, including lunch and breaks between classes. Students may still possess phones, and school divisions cannot suspend or expel them solely for cellphone violations.

The change is especially significant at Meridian High School, where students have been allowed to use phones during lunch, free periods and other non-instructional times. The School Board is considering implementation details, including how to respond to repeated violations and when devices might be confiscated.

Superintendent Terry Dade said in August 2025 that enforcement needed to be consistent across campuses. Addressing concerns about emergencies, Dade said he defers to law-enforcement experts, who have warned that cellphone activity during a crisis can interfere with official communication or reveal where people are sheltering.

School Board Chair Kathleen Tysse said in October 2025 that the board had previously chosen a more moderate approach after consulting students, employees and parents. Staff members largely supported allowing high school students limited access during parts of the day, she said.

Tysse also noted that phones can help older students manage calendars, grades, activities and social plans as they prepare for college or employment. At the same time, she acknowledged concerns about screen addiction and fractured attention.

Meridian Principal Peter Laub similarly argued in November 2024 that older students should learn to regulate their use of electronic devices. Some students ages 14 to 18 balance school with jobs, service organizations and other responsibilities, he said.

School Board member Jerrod Anderson announced May 4 that the division had finalized a new cellphone policy in response to the state law. He also said the schools had begun work on an artificial-intelligence policy and developed a budget for the 2026-27 school year.

Anderson warned that although projected revenue had improved since December, the City Council appeared likely to depart from its revenue-sharing agreement with the schools. He said that could prevent the division from pursuing proposed student-learning enhancements and more efficient contract management.

Firm Selected for City Manager Search

Falls Church has selected Raftelis to help recruit a successor to City Manager Wyatt Shields, who plans to retire in September after 23 years of city service.

The consulting firm will assist the City Council with a national search and gather feedback from residents and city employees about the qualities they want in the next manager. The public feedback period closes at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, May 21.

Mayor Letty Hardi said the council intends to conduct a thorough, transparent search for a leader who can work effectively with elected officials, employees and community members.

Under Falls Church’s council-manager system, the City Council appoints the city manager, who serves as the government’s executive officer and administers the city in accordance with council goals. Officials hope to fill the position by Labor Day.

The city and Raftelis plan to provide public updates throughout the recruitment process.

Homestretch Celebrates Families’ Paths Out of Homelessness

Homestretch held its 21st annual Benefit Breakfast on May 7 at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, drawing hundreds of partners, supporters and donors.

Graduates spoke about their paths toward stable housing and self-sufficiency, while attendees contributed to programs providing housing, education and job training to parents with children who have experienced homelessness. Homestretch also premiered a video featuring stories from participating families.

Executive Director Barfonce Baldwin said the event celebrated both the resilience of graduates and the community’s commitment to helping families move from crisis to stability.

Founded in 1990, Homestretch places families in neighborhood housing while they complete a rigorous two-year program focused on finances, health, practical skills and career development. Families ultimately graduate into permanent housing they can afford through their own income. The organization reports that 95% remain housed and employed years after leaving the program.

Local Baking Instructor Earns National Attention

Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education instructor Nicola “Nikki” Hofstetter-Phelps was recently featured in a national story about the growing use of whole and locally sourced grains.

During a workshop at the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning in Northern Virginia, Hofstetter-Phelps discussed baking with ancient and local grains. Drawing on pastry traditions from her native Germany, she teaches students about specialty grains, baking methods, flavors and nutritional benefits.

FCPS ACE administrator Paul Steiner described Hofstetter-Phelps as an example of the professional expertise that adult-education instructors bring to their classes.

She teaches several baking and culinary courses, including workshops centered on European traditions and hands-on instruction for adults at varying skill levels.

FCPS ACE offers courses in culinary arts, technology, languages, business, health and wellness, professional development and skilled trades, among other subjects.

More Events Around Falls Church

WETA’s “Signature Dish” will feature La Tingeria, 626 S. Washington St., at 9 p.m. Monday, May 11. The Falls Church restaurant serves Mexican street food with a halal menu and will present host Seth Tillman with its tostada tinga chicken.

West Falls is holding a trivia tournament from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday through June 11 at Commons Park.

A Barre3 pop-up series will also take place at Commons Park from 9 to 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month, beginning May 9.