Langley Choir Tours Europe
Vocal groups win one silver, three gold medals at 2012 Young Prague Festival.
On March 29, 113 Langley choral students and chaperones along with their director, Dr. Mac Lambert, and Langley High School administrator Sonya Williams gathered in the Langley High School auditorium with suitcases and passports in hand.
Rotary Reaches 100 Members
Great Falls Rotary Club welcomes 100th member, 10 months after founding.
The Great Falls Rotary Club celebrated reaching its 100th member Thursday, April 12, achieving the milestone in record time. They reached 100 members in 10 months, growth that has attracted the attention of Rotary International.
Gardeners Donate Produce to Share
Gardening program aims to provide fresh food for food bank clients.
As the weather warms, local gardeners are heading back to their plots. Share, a local nonprofit, will be using some of what they produce to provide fresh food to their clients. Open since 1969, Share operates a weekly food bank out of the McLean Baptist Church, as well as clothing, furniture and other family assistance.
McLean High Hosts ‘Smash’ Viewing
Students discuss realities of careers in show business.
Executives from the television show "Smash" visited McLean High School Monday afternoon, showing theater students clips from the show and hosting a discussions about the realities of life in show business. Alan Paul, associate director at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, D.C. spoke to students about what they could expect if they hoped to work onstage or onscreen for a living.
Friends of Mill Plan for Future
More programs, Route 7 expansion discussed at Friends off Colvin Run Mill meeting.
While Colvin Run Mill’s claim to fame is its glimpse into life as it was 200 years ago, in the past, the Friends of Colvin Run Mill are just as concerned with its future.
County Aims to Prevent Substance Use and Abuse
Alcohol use down, painkiller and inhalant use on the rise.
Twenty-one questions in the 2010 Fairfax County Youth Survey dealt with substance abuse. The survey asked about lifetime use of alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes, as well as use in the past month of 13 different substances.
Great Falls Goes Egg Hunting
Optmist Club hosts annual Children’s Spring Festival and egg hunt.
The Great Falls Village Green was littered with 7,000 brightly colored eggs Sunday afternoon. Most of the eggs were filled with candy, but 900 of them contained $10,000 worth of gemstones donated by Jorge Adeler of Adeler Jewelers.
Possible Future for Historic Buildings?
Community members come up with conceptual plan for Grange, schoolhouse.
Having historic properties such as the Grange and the Forestville Schoolhouse in Great Falls has become a bit of a mixed blessing for the community. On one hand, the properties represent living history, both are in the National Register of Historic Places, and are relics of a different age.
Longfellow’s Science Bowl Stars
Four eighth graders headed to second straight nationals.
For four members of the Longfellow Middle School Science Bowl team, this year is another chance to compete in the National Science Bowl Finals. After winning the state competition for the second straight year, the four members of the team are studying up and are eager for their return trip to nationals.
Langley Presents ‘The Crucible’
Tale of Salem Witch Trials will be performed black box style.
When it came time to present their Spring show, Arthur Miller’s "The Crucible," the Langley Theatre Department decided to think a little inside the box. A black box theater, that is.
Future of Silver Line Discussed
Panel discusses labor agreements, Loudoun County’s decision.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce hosted a panel discussion in Reston Wednesday, March 28 about the future of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line. The discussion featured Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Scott York and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President Jack Potter.
Alcorn Named Citizen of the Year
Planning Commissioner recognized by Federation of Citizens Associations.
The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations named their Citizen of the Year Sunday, March 25, recognizing county Planning Commissioner Walter Alcorn for more than a decade of service on the commission.
First Responders Recognized
34th Annual Valor Awards presented to police officers, firefighters.
The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce recognized 108 of the county’s first responders Wednesday, March 21 at the 24th annual Valor Awards. Members of the Fairfax County Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Rescue Department, as well as from the Towns of Herndon and Vienna, were given awards.
Springtime in McLean
Garage Sale, McLean Day headline Spring events.
This Spring, McLean will host one of its signature events, as well as a new location for its annual Spring Garage Sale. The sale, which will take place Saturday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will feature dozens of residents peddling their wares.
County Takes Aim at Bullying
Survey helps county create bullying outreach, cyberbullying prevention.
Monitoring aggressive behavior is a primary concern of Fairfax County when conducting the annual Youth Survey. While fewer than 5 percent of students report gang activity or carrying a weapon, a majority of students have experienced bullying from one side or the other.
Risky Behavior by the Numbers
Youth Survey highlights risks, assets for students.
Periodically, Fairfax County conducts a youth survey which polls thousands of students to get a glimpse into issues of substance abuse, antisocial behaviors as well as factors such as mental health and civic engagements.
Old Brogue Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
Crowds line up early for annual celebration.
On Saturday morning, the electronic clock that hangs on the wall of The Old Brogue in Great Falls read "0 Days, 0 Hours, 0 Minutes and 0 seconds" for the first time in 366 days. The clock spends most of the year counting down to St. Patrick’s Day, and it hadn’t read zero for long before people started showing up.
McLean Presents ‘A View From the Bridge’
McLean Theatre Company puts on Arthur Miller’s tale of 1950s immigrants.
When McLean High School’s McLean Theatre Company decided to present Arthur Miller’s "A View From the Bridge," the wide open spaces of the regular auditorium just wouldn’t do. For the performances, they decided to use the more intimate confines of the school’s black box theater. The result is a play, a tale of poor Italian immigrants living in the shadow of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, that happens within a few feet of the audience at all times.
Girl Scouts Tour the World
Annual Thinking Day Celebration features troops presenting different cultures.
The Old Firehouse Teen Center hosted more than 150 Girl Scouts Sunday, March 18 for their annual Thinking Day Celebration. The event, which also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, featured displays from 11 troops examining the culture and history of a specific country.
Langley Seniors Make Their Case
School hosts 20th annual Case Day.
Langley High School’s senior class spent Monday, March 19 going over two Supreme Court Cases with a fine-tooth comb, as part of the school’s annual Case Day. The event, now in its 20th year, allows the class to break down an upcoming case that will be heard by the Supreme Court, with students serving as counsel, justices, presenters and many other roles.
Colvin Run Hosts Lego League Expo
Eight Junior First Lego League teams present food safety projects.
Junior First Lego League Teams from around the county gathered at Colvin Run Elementary School Saturday, March 17 for a day to show what could be the future of food safety. Eight teams, including two from Colvin Run and one from Great Falls Elementary School, participated.
Great Falls Fire Station Welcomes Community
Grand opening held at new Great Falls Fire Station.
Ten years ago, five-year-old Harris LaTeef heard about Great Falls’ need for a new fire station, so he tried to do what he could to raise money for a new station: he opened a lemonade stand. While LaTeef’s stand raised $307.41 in a little more than four hours, it wasn’t enough. But on Saturday, March 10, LaTeef, now a freshman at Langley High School, was able to attend the grand opening of the new fire station he tried so hard to raise money for.
McLean Hosts Annual Boar’s Head Feast
The McLean Choral Department presented its annual Boar’s Head Feast Saturday, March 10, featuring a three-course Medieval-style dinner and performances by a variety of choral groups.
McLean Rotary Club Presents Youth Awards
Three local seniors recognized for ‘service above self.’
The McLean Rotary Club handed out its annual Youth Service Awards Tuesday, March 6 to three local seniors who have gone above and beyond in their community service efforts.
Langley Gears Up For Case Day
20th annual Case Day will debate Miller v. Alabama, Jackson v. Hobbs.
Langley High School seniors are currently putting the finishing touches on their 20th annual Case Day, which will take place Monday, March 19. This year’s cases will be Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs.
RCA Questions Toll And Revenue Forecasts
Study worries about ‘optimum bias’ in projections.
The Reston Citizens Association released a report last month calling into question the toll and revenue forecasts done by CDMSmith, then known as Wilbur Smith and Associates. The forecasts were done to estimate costs and other planning measures for Phase Two of Dulles Metrorail.
Colvin Run Jumps for the Heart
Students participate in events to raise money for American Heart Association.
Students at Colvin Run Elementary School got a little extra time in the gym Monday, March 5 and they were able to raise funds for the American Heart Association while they did it. The school hosted a Jump for the Heart event, where children could jump in many different ways to learn the importance of physical activities.
Fairfax DOT Presents Walker Road Update
Plan calls for crosswalk, new sidewalks, street parking.
The Great Falls Citizens Association’s Transportation Committee and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation presented a vision for the future of Walker Road just south of Georgetown Pike.
Creating Bowls to Fill at McLean High
McLean High School prepares for upcoming Empty Bowls event.
On May 31, the community will be invited to McLean High School to select a clay bowl, fill it with the ice cream of their choice and donate money to help feed hungry people. But on Thursday, March 1, the bowls were just one-pound lumps of clay, waiting for dozens of students and faculty to turn them into bowls.
County Plans For Future of Senior Center
Early stages of Lewinsville Senior Center redevelopment begin.
Fairfax County held a public meeting about the proposed redevelopment of the Lewinsville Senior Center in McLean. The building was built in 1964, and Paula Sampson, director of Housing and Community Development, said this is a project the county has been looking at for years.
County Plans For Future of Senior Center
Early stages of Lewinsville Senior Center redevelopment begin.
Fairfax County held a public meeting about the proposed redevelopment of the Lewinsville Senior Center in McLean. The building was built in 1964, and Paula Sampson, director of Housing and Community Development, said this is a project the county has been looking at for years.
McLean Chamber Welcomes New Board
Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce hosts winter gala.
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce welcomed their 2012 Board of Directors at their Winter Gala at the Gannett Headquarters building Friday, March 2. The 11-member board, as well as Chairman Merritt Green, First Vice-Chairman John Brough and Second Vice-Chairman Marcus Simon were sworn in by James S. Cheng, Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce and Trade.
Riverbend Kicks Off Master Planning Process
Master Plan will serve to update plan created in 1975.
The Fairfax County Park Authority kicked off the master planning process for Riverbend Park during a public meeting Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Grange. The 411-acre park, which includes more than two miles of land along the Potomac River, has been guided by a master plan that was created in 1975.
MPA Begins 50th Anniversary Celebration
Organization hosts "pop-up" party in downtown McLean.
Fifty years ago, the McLean Project for the Arts began as a way for local artists to get together, meet the local community and sell a few paintings while they are at it. The organization has undergone many changes since then, establishing a gallery at the McLean Community Center and putting on several signature events per year, but it remains the same at its core.
Langley Leads Recycling Efforts
School will serve as pilot program for athletic field recycling.
Langley High School will serve as a pilot program for Fairfax County when it comes to recycling on the athletic fields during sporting events. The Langley Eco School club is spearheading the initiative, collecting grant money to purchase the recycling cans to be placed next to the regular trash cans.
Great Dogs of Great Falls Offers Variety of Services for Pets
When it came time to choose a second career, Linda Waitkus wasn’t sure what to do. After 30 years of retail experience, including managing the Bloomingdale’s at Tysons Corner, she looked in several directions. But it wasn’t until she went to a meeting of a local women’s club that she got an idea.
MCC, Park Authority Debate New Sign
Community Center board, Park Authority have mixed feelings about MCC sign.
The McLean Community Center has been working on changing and updating the sign at McLean Central Park, at the corner of Dolley Madison Boulevard and Old Dominion Drive for the past few years. But their plan for a new sign, on property owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority, might not be in keeping with the Park Authority's future plans for the park.
Group Finds Homes for Abandoned or Displaced Pets
Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation hosts weekly adoption events.
Since 2001, volunteers from the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation have gathered every weekend all over the area with one objective: to find homes for dogs and cats in need of rescue. The foundation holds 10 events per weekend, including two at the Petsmart in Tysons Corner.
Brightview Specifications Presented to GFCA
Land Use and Zoning committee hears information on proposed assisted living facility.
The Great Falls Citizens Association’s Land Use and Zoning committee began hearing information on architectural specifications for the proposed Brightview assisted living facility. The facility, which was approved as a special exception by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last year, will be located off Colvin Run Mill where Thelma’s was previously located.
Making Their Mark at McLean Project for the Arts
Artist Renee Sandell hosts weekly gatherings during current exhibit.
Artist Renee Sandell is all about making her mark. In fact, she believes most of life is about people making their marks. That’s one of the reasons she has invited the community to participate in her exhibit, "Marking and Mapping: Finding Time, Space and Place," currently on display at the McLean Project for the Arts at the McLean Community Center.
Wolf Recalls Human Rights Crusades
Book tells his experiences with human rights violations around the world.
As a public servant for more than 30 years, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) has had his share of experiences. But it was a trip to Ethiopia in 1984 that he calls a "life changing experience," because it opened his eyes to human rights violations around the globe.
Langley Comes Up Big for Marshes
Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) recognized Langley community for supporting student through cancer battle.
When Langley High School volleyball player Maureen Marsh began experiencing knee pain her freshman year, doctors told her it was just growing pains. But the pain persisted, and trainers eventually found a small lump on her knee. A bone biopsy on Oct. 15, 2009 confirmed something else: a rare form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma.
Fashion Walks on the Wild Side at Langley High
Langley High School hosts annual fashion show.
The Langley High School auditorium was transformed into a scene from "The Jungle Book" Saturday night, as they hosted their annual fashion show, "Walk Into the Wild." Students, faculty and families strode on the runway showing the latest in jungle-themed fashions.
Forum Examines Teen Dating Violence
Program addresses role of students, parents, bystanders.
Teenagers are often given statistics and lectures about what constitutes dating abuse, but the Feb. 9 program "What’s Love Got to do With it: Healthy Relationships and Dating" at McLean High School addressed the problem from a number of different angles.
Students Conduct Kitchen Experiments
Village Green Day School hosts annual science fair.
Students at the Village Green Day School presented their annual Science Fair Friday, Feb. 10. The pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students spent the last few weeks experimenting and discovering what science their kitchens offer.
Great Falls Seniors Group Seeks Input
Group looks for feedback from seniors with needs, interested volunteers.
The Great Falls Citizens Association’s Seniors Group is seeking input from the community’s senior population, as well as those who might be interested in volunteering to provide services to seniors. The group, which hosted a town hall meeting last year, hopes to work with community organizations such as the Great Falls Ecumenical Council, Share, Inc and other nonprofits.
Extra Space Breaks Ground in Downtown McLean
Personal storage facility will be in office-like building, will contribute to downtown revitalization.
Fairfax County officials joined with members of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, the McLean Planning Committee and the McLean Revitalization Corporation to break ground on a new personal storage facility Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Great Falls Plans for Future of Resources
Grange, Forestville Schoolhouse, Riverbend Park to be discussed at meetings this month.
As Great Falls prepares for its future, two meetings this month will help the community decide what the next generation holds for several major landmarks.
Planning For Aging in McLean
Community hosts follow up to October forum.
The McLean Community Center hosted a follow up meeting Monday, Jan. 30 to Supervisor John Foust’s (D-Dranesville) forum last October that addressed how the community can be supportive of its aging population. The Oct. 15 forum presented several speakers who spoke on their experience dealing with senior care, as well as various models of assisted living communities.
SCC to Host Dating Violence Forum
Event will examine teen dating violence from multiple angles.
The McLean-based Safe Community Coalition, which primarily serves the students in the Langley and McLean High School pyramids, will host a forum which will examine the issue of teen dating violence from a number of angles. The event, titled "What’s Love Got to do With it?: Healthy Relationships and Dating," will take place at McLean High School Feb. 9.