<sh>Dale To Address MCA
<bt>The McLean Citizens Association will hold a general membership meeting on Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the McLean Community Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue. In addition to the routine business, Dr. Jack Dale, superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, will be a guest speaker. Dale will discuss the budget, the school schedule, and other issues, and he will also answer citizen questions.
<sh>Foundation Reaches Out to Community
<bt>The McLean Citizens Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for its winter 2007 funding cycle. The Foundation has been providing grants for over 25 years to non-profit organizations that actively serve the citizens of McLean in the areas of civic endeavors, the arts, environment, education and social services. The McLean Citizens Foundation has awarded grants totaling nearly $1 million to community organizations. Non-profit organizations interested in applying for MCF grants can obtain applications on the www.mcleancitizensfoundation.org. The grant proposal deadline is Feb. 1. Recent McLean Citizens Foundation grants include the McLean Volunteer Fire Department, Clemyjontri Park and SHARE, Inc. The McLean Citizens Foundation matched the fund-raising efforts of the McLean Volunteer Fire Department up to $50,000 to replace a 10-year-old heavy-duty squad truck in the 2004-5 grant year. This specialized equipment will soon be used for automobile accidents, hazardous materials spills and technical rescues. The McLean Citizens Foundation approved a $50,000 grant to the Fairfax County Park Foundation to help build the playground at Clemyjontri Park, where children with and without disabilities can play side by side. The Foundation funded the purchase of a used truck for SHARE, Inc. to deliver food, furnishings and clothing throughout the community. Since the original truck grant, the McLean Citizens Foundation funded SHARE to have the truck re-painted after it was vandalized. For more information on grant proposals, visit www.mcleancitizensfoundation.org or contact Diane D'Arcy or Martin Smith, chairs of the McLean Citizens Foundation Grants Committee, at diane.darcy@verizon.net, or martinfsmith@cox.net. Grant applications must follow the requirements on the Web site and be postmarked no later than midnight Feb. 1. Send proposals to: Grants Committee, McLean Citizens Foundation, P.O. Box 75, McLean, VA 22101.
<sh>McLean Little League Registration
<bt>Registration for the 2007 McLean Little League softball and baseball season will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McLean Little League Field, located at 1836 Westmoreland Street. For more information, contact Mia DeWitt via e-mail at miadewitt@mcleanll.com. Registration is required even if the child played previously. For information on registration and the documentation required visit www.mcleanll.com.
<sh>Internet Safety Strategies for Parents
<bt>On Tuesday, Jan. 30, the Safe Community Coalition will present "Just Point and Click: Internet Safety Strategies for Parents," from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at McLean Presbyterian Church. Jennifer Krell, Fairfax County Public Schools technology specialist, will discuss Internet safety strategies for parents, and will share information on ways in which youths use the Internet via instant messaging, chatrooms, weblogs, webcams, cell phones, MySpace, Facebook, and more. Find out how to help protect them with Internet filtering and monitoring software. This program is for adults only. Krell worked for 11 years as a middle school science teacher and, for the last seven years, helping teachers integrate technology into their instruction. There is no fee for this event. Advance registration is not required, but is appreciated. Register at www.safecommunitycoalition.net/upevents.html.
<sh>Church of the Brethren's Grate Patrol
<bt>On Saturday, Jan. 20, members and friends of the Dranesville Church of the Brethren will once again ride with the Grate Patrol, and hand out food and water to the homeless in Washington D.C. The group has been participating in this activity on the third Saturday of every other month for many years. Participants take bag lunches, hot soup and clothing to the city. The group will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Dranesville Church of the Brethren, located at 11500 Leesburg Pike in Herndon, to assemble the bag lunches. They will leave from there at 5 p.m. for the Grate Patrol, and should be back at the church by 9 p.m. Volunteers are needed to make soup, assemble bag lunches, donate warm clothing and distribute these items. For more information, contact Kim Bailey-Middleton at the church office at 703-430-7872, or by e-mail at dcoboffice@aol.com.
<sh>Correction
<bt>In the article "Breaking Boundaries," in the Jan. 10-16 issue of the McLean Connection, the location of Mosby Woods Elementary School was incorrectly identified. The school is located in Fairfax. In addition, it was stated that initial proposed boundary changes to alleviate overcrowding at the Haycock Elementary School Gifted and Talented (GT) center called for GT students from Chesterbrook Elementary School, Franklin Sherman Elementary School and Kent Gardens Elementary School to be moved from the Haycock GT center to the Churchill Road Elementary School GT center. Chesterbrook Elementary School was never a part of the proposal. The plan orginially included Franklin Sherman and Kent Gardens GT students, and now just includes Kent Gardens GT students.