<sh>Call for Paint-Out Entries
<bt>Friends of Riverbend are seeking "plein-air" (outdoor) landscape painters to participate in a paint-out Saturday, June 3 at Riverbend Park in Great Falls. There will be a Best in Show award of $1,000, a Peoples' Choice award of $500 and an Artists' Choice award of $500. Twenty participants will be invited to paint, and all of the paintings will be auctioned. There will also be an all-you-can-eat barbecue costing $19.95 for tickets bought before June 1 and $22.95 thereafter. A portion of the proceeds will help fund activities at the park. For more information or to buy tickets to the barbecue, call 703-759-9018. Also, for information, visit the Friends of Riverbend online at www.forb.org. Admission to the park is free. Sponsors are Jan and Dan Laytham of Long and Foster's Great Falls office.
<sh>Dr. Gridlock to Speak at MCA Membership Meeting
<bt>Washington Post traffic columnist Ron Shaffer, a.k.a. "Dr. Gridlock," will speak at the McLean Citizen's Association membership meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the McLean Community Center. Mr. Shaffer will take questions from the audience about their traffic concerns. The public is invited. For more information, please contact Susan Turner at 703-356-9657.
<sh>Local Artist Offers Free Workshop
<bt>Yiyan Huff, a local artist and member of Great Falls Studios will be giving a hands-on workshop at the Great Falls Library on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. This workshop is sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Library. It is free of charge, but seating is limited. Registration is required. Please register at the information desk at the library, or call 703-757-8560 and then press 4.
<sh>Burglar Caught in McLean Area
<bt>On Friday, Feb. 3 around 1:45 p.m., police responded to a residential burglary alarm in the 1300 block of Mayflower Drive. As officers arrived in the area, a man was seen fleeing the area on foot, according to police reports. After a foot pursuit that ended near Dolley Madison Boulevard and Statendam Court, the man was apprehended with evidence that connected him with the burglary. Further investigation by officers connected the suspect to another burglary that occurred that same afternoon, in the 1000 block of Forest Wood Drive, said police.
James Scantlin, 40, of the 400 block of Davis Avenue in Leesburg, Virginia was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with two counts of attempted burglary and possession of burglarious tools.
<sh>Contract Awarded for Turner Farm Park
<bt>On Thursday, Feb. 9, Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois announced that Technology WorX, L.L.C. has been awarded the contract to design the Observatory Park at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the $189,542 contract at its Feb. 6 board meeting. The Observatory Park at Turner Farm Park has been envisioned as an educational and scientific astronomy complex featuring a celestial observatory, radio telescope observatory, sundial garden, museum-education-administration building, and roll-top observatory. The contract also includes the design for traditional park amenities such as a picnic shelter, parking, landscaping, a croquet court, and a running track in areas adjacent to the Observatory Park. Also at Turner Farm Park, the planned cross-country equestrian course was recently awarded funding from the Park Authority's Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Program. The Park Authority's $9,000 grant is matched by funds from Brogue Charities, Inc. The equestrian cross-country course will consist of up to 20 jump stations of varying types, sizes and complexity. This feature is designed as a novice level course for beginning horses and riders.