World Food Crisis Is Focus of Marshall High's Model UN Training Conference
Marshall High School’s 10th annual My First Model United Nations (Model UN) training conference will provide high school and middle school students with the opportunity to debate solutions to the world food crisis. The conference is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. Marshall High School is a Fairfax County public school.
Commentary: Combatting Human Trafficking in Our Own Communities
“You’re pretty. You could make some money.” That was the headline of a recent Washingtonian Magazine article about young girls in our region who are lured through social media into the terrifying world of human trafficking.
Week in McLean
On Monday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m., the Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a public meeting to present changes to the McLean Central Park Master Plan, made in response to comments from the June 2013 public meeting and afterward. The event will be held at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean.
Supporting SHARE
HBC Community Charity Champions hosted a fundraiser for SHARE last week at Pulcinella Italian Host in McLean. Share, Inc. Food Bank Director Therese Dyer-Caplan said, "Share is so grateful for the community support. We are delighted to be chosen as a recipient of the HBC Community Charity Champions fundraiser on Sept. 10. It was the best turn out ever and raised a record $1,610 for Share, Inc. Thanks to HBC Realty Group-Keller Williams, Pulcinellas, all the other sponsors of the event and the more than 60 Share supporters who came out to enjoy delicious Italian food and have a good time."
‘One Laptop Per Student’ at Churchill Road
Churchill Road Elementary School is piloting its “One Laptop per Student” initiative. Chrissy Frantz’s sixth graders were excited to be assigned a full-time laptop when they arrived in the classroom on their first day of school. One of their first tasks was to complete their log-in procedures.
Getting Used to School Cafeteria
The first week of school was especially exciting for Churchill Road’s 100 new kindergarten students. One of the first-time experiences was eating lunch in the school cafeteria. The students learned how to make healthy food choices, pay for their meals through their lunch accounts, and compost and recycle procedures.
Launching Rockets at Churchill Road
On Friday, Sept. 13, Churchill Road sixth graders conducted a scientific experiment using the rockets they built in science class. The cardboard rockets were fueled with a mixture of Alka-Seltzer and water in their boosters (film canisters). Science teachers Chrissy Frantz and David Ericson assisted the groups of students with the rocket “fuel.” After the launch, the students measured the height each rocket traveled; then looked at the correlation between rocket weight and launch height. The students discovered that the lighter rockets gained the most height. The top rocket went more than 14 feet.
Week in Great Falls
The new season of the Great Falls Historical Society begins Sept. 18 with a re-enactment of Confederate guerilla fighter John S. Mosby. Great Falls resident and Civil War enthusiast Rick Turner will speak in the first person about Mosby's legendary military career and Mosby's role in shepherding the Confederate Cavalry through Great Falls en route to Gettysburg 150 years ago. Turner will also discuss Mosby's life before and after the war, and the political and economic issues of the war.
Spring Hill RECenter Set For Renovation
New fitness center, basketball court, renovated facilities part of $7.1 million project.
The Spring Hill RECenter in McLean will be renovated and expanded by 36,000 square feet over the next year and a half. The project, which was funded through the 2012 Park Bond, will commence with a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday, Sept. 21.
Planning Area’s Future Transit
Transportation officials discuss transportation funding, projects.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance hosted their annual "What You Need to Know About Transportation" seminar Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Gannett building in McLean.
Troop 673 Promotes Two New Eagle Scouts
Troop 673 of Great Falls recently promoted two new Eagle Scouts. Ryan Scott Anger, son of Scott and Mary Anger of Great Falls, joined Troop 673 in 2006. Since joining the troop, Ryan has served as quartermaster and patrol leader twice. Ryan has attended summer camp five of the past six years and has participated in the Sea Base High Adventure trip.
Great Falls Teen Represents Virginia in Miss Junior Teen Competition
Skye Jannery-Barney of Great Falls represented the state of Virginia in the National Miss Junior Teen America 2013 competition this summer in Orlando, Fla. She is the current Miss Junior Teen Virginia 2013. Skye is an eighth grader in the Academic Advanced Program (AAP) at Kilmer Middle School. Skye won the overall National Academic Achievement Award at the Miss Junior Teen America pageant competition.
Letter: Supporting Comstock
To the Editor: Recently Kathleen Murphy, who is running against our current delegate, Barbara Comstock, called me to ask for my support. She said her friend, former Delegate Margi Vanderhye, told her I was open minded, liked to support the best candidate regardless of party and that she should talk with me.
Great Falls Writer’s Group Exceeding Expectations
Local writers share experiences, dilemmas, resources.
The first meeting of the Great Falls Writer’s Group was held in August and group facilitator, local author Kristin Clark Taylor, reported via e-mail that, “because folks in the community are so thirsty to not only write, but to share their feelings about the writing process itself, we had to move the meeting to the large conference room—we had more than 30 attendees!” Taylor feels that it is “vital and extremely important” to hear a personal introduction from each person in order to maintain “an intimate, comfortable collective feel no matter how large our group becomes ... turns out we have doctors, lawyers, housewives, former and current NSA-types, teachers, retired teachers, published authors, men and women, young and old, and most important, everybody just wants to write!” Participant Nancy Hannan of Great Falls agrees that the group is “diversified … and willing to share,” and she looks forward to connecting with the group: “I write and find the energy from like-minded people a great asset. It helps the writing flow.” Great Falls resident Raymond Rollins says that the writer’s group is, “very much what I was hoping for,” and that like Hannan, Rollins is “energized by discovering how many similar souls there are in this community.”
Great Falls Nails and Spa Re-opens
Salon has new name, second floor with spa facilities.
Great Falls Nails and Spa officially re-opened under their new name with a party Saturday, Sept. 14. Formerly known as Glamour Nails and Spa, the owners decided to change the name to reflect their commitment to the community.
Friends and Neighbors Award Scholarships
Four local women receive total of $7,500 in scholarship money.
The Great Falls Friends and Neighbors awarded $7,500 in scholarships to four local students at their annual meeting Friday, Sept. 13.
Donner Finds Inspiration
Great Falls resident releases Bible study for Gospel of Luke.
For almost 20 years, Great Falls resident Leesa Donner has been studying the Bible. During her career as a broadcast journalist and while raising her two sons, the Bible has always been a source of inspiration.
South Lakes Football Overcomes Fourth-Quarter Deficit
Denny scores two touchdowns in win against W-L.
Seahawks score game-winner in final two minutes.
First Responder Tells 9/11 Story
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Zoldus speaks at annual remembrance.
The Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial hosted their annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 11. More than 40 people gathered at the memorial to reflect on the 12th anniversary of the attacks, and to pay tribute to the six Great Falls residents who died that day.
Great Falls Native Celebrates 100th Birthday
Evelyn Woods, who was raised on Seneca Road, celebrated her 100th birthday Aug. 28. Woods celebrated with her sisters, her great-grand niece and childhood friend Beanie Lambert.