Week in Great Falls
Dr. Mark W. Cannon to Speak at the Great Falls Senior Center March Event
The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC) has announced Dr. Mark W. Cannon as a guest speaker for the March 4 event. He has lectured at more than 70 institutions in 18 countries.
More on ‘Wrong Direction’
To the Editor: I enjoyed both recent letters written to the Connection re "Development Taking Wrong Direction." I have lived in Great Falls since 1974, 40 years this coming November.
Petition Halts Senior Housing Development at Cornwell Farm
More than 700 people signed online petition to stop Clark Realty’s plans to build senior housing on historic property.
An outpouring of opposition from the Greats Falls community quickly halted a developer’s application to purchase and re-zone the historic Cornwell Farm Property on Monday, Feb. 3. Clark Realty had proposed building 39 senior living residences on 20 acres of land on and around the property. But in a matter of days, more than 700 community residents signed an online petition, titled “Oppose Zoning and Cluster Development of historic Cornwell Farm Property,” and the developer withdrew its application the following week.
Colvin Run ES Students Head Drive to ‘Stop Hunger Now’
Langley pyramid community came together to package 87,696 meals for the hungry.
The Langley pyramid community came together on Feb. 8 at Colvin Run Elementary School to “stop hunger now.” Students and families from throughout the Langley pyramid, with cooperation of Vienna-area students, packaged 87,696 meals during the 7-1/2 hour volunteer day. “Stop Hunger Now” representatives supervised the production and boarded the boxed meal-packs into the nonprofit’s trucks. “Stop Hunger Now” is an international humanitarian nonprofit engaged in global hunger relief programs and crisis response. This is the third year that Colvin Run ES headed the assembly-line packing project.
School Board Votes For Longer SLEEP
Money saved from annual bus route review will be earmarked for implementation of later start times.
According to SLEEP, a local group advocating for later high school start times in Fairfax County, 72 out of 92 counties in Virginia have a high school start time of 8 a.m. or later.
Langley High Community Comes Together in Wake of Tragedy
Residents, teachers and students join together in the days following the deaths of two Langley seniors.
Fairfax County came together to support Langley High students and their families following the deaths of two 17-year old Langley seniors on Feb. 3 and 4.
Representing Students on School Board
Harris LaTeef named student representative to Fairfax County School Board.
Harris LaTeef, a junior at Langley High School, has been elected by the countywide Student Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board, beginning July 1. LaTeef will participate in School Board meetings as a nonvoting member, filling the position currently held by Will Ashe, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. LaTeef will be the 44th student representative to the School Board.
An Inspired Production
‘Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins’ at 1st Stage.
With a masterful performance by Lee Mikeska Gardner, an eccentric woman is made thoroughly sympathetic, even noble in an exceptional production of "Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins" at 1st Stage in Tysons.
Saxon Stage Places Third in Regional One-Act Play Festival
Langley High School won its conference Jan. 25 and placed third in its first appearance in VHSL 6A North Region One Act Play Festival.
Langley High School theater students’ months of hard work paid off on Saturday, Feb. 8, when they placed third in the 2014 VHSL 6A North Region One Act Play Festival at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Langley won the Conference 6 championship on Jan. 25, securing the school’s first ever appearance in the regional competition, along with runner-up Washington-Lee High School from Arlington.
Art and Function
New MPA exhibit unlocks hidden beauty in everyday gadgets, contraptions, or refuse.
McLean Project for the Arts hosted a reception on Jan. 16, to celebrate the opening of its latest exhibition, “Contraptions: Reflections on the Almost Functional.” The exhibition also includes solo shows by artists, Melissa Burley, and Eric Celarier. “Contraptions: Reflections on the Almost Functional” exhibition presents a fresh look at some commonplace objects. But their usual functions have been altered or even eliminated, to allow for artistic interest or beauty.
It Takes a Village
The article in the Great Falls Connection [“Going Dark?” January 22-28, 2014] hit home with me. I remember the 1984 Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department Fourth of July Fireworks on the field behind the Great Falls Post Office -- the last fireworks held in the Great Falls town centre. The neighboring Hickory Vale farm was being developed with new homes, and it was no longer safe to shoot off the fireworks display there. The skies remained dark on the Fourth of July in Great Falls until 1996, when I was a member of the “Save the Farm” organization at the Turner farm.
An Unexpected Present
Not that I minded it in the least (in fact, I appreciated it in the most), but I received my first senior discount the other day. I was fast-fooding at my local Roy Rogers restaurant when the unexpected kindness occurred. Considering that I’m not at the age yet when such discounts are typically available, I certainly did not (do not) presume that my appearance somehow reflects an age which I am not. In truth, I don’t believe it does. So even though I didn’t ask for the age-related discount, I was offered/given it nonetheless. As the cashier tallied my bill, she then spoke the price and adjusted it downward 10 percent for my surprise "senior" discount. On hearing the lower price and the reason for it, I immediately responded: "Oh, you’re giving senior discounts to people over 40?" To which she replied, while looking me directly in the eye: "No. Over 30." Laughing at her quick-thinking quip, I thanked her again for the discount and commended her on her excellent answer/customer service.
Home Design: What the Pros Know
A look inside the homes of some of the area’s top builders.
Remodeling industry professionals spend their days helping clients create dream homes, adding quartzite counter tops and outdoor, stacked stone fireplaces, turning ideas and photos into functional, chic living spaces.
MATHCOUNTS Champions
The Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS competitions were held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke and at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria. This year, because of the exceptionally large number of students participating, the Regional competition had to be split between two venues.
Valentine’s Weekend
Romantic events happening in the Fairfax County area.
Enjoy your Valentine’s Day by heading off to one of these events this weekend.
Classified Advertising February 5, 2014
Read the latest here!
Editorial: Pet Photos, Stories for Pet Connection
The Pet Connection, a bi-annual themed edition, will publish Feb. 26. We invite you to send us stories about your pets, photos of you and/or your family with your cats, dogs, hamsters, snakes, lizards, frogs, rabbits, or whatever other creatures share your home or yard with you.
McLean, W-L Gymnastics Teams Qualify for Regionals
Highlanders win Conference 6 title, W-L runner-up.
W-L, McLean gymnastics finished 1-2 at regionals the last two years.
Editorial: For Nonpartisan Redistricting
Virginia is a purple state, gerrymandered to bleed red.
Consider that in statewide elections, Virginia voters have chosen Democrats in the last two presidential elections, for U.S. Senate, for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Almost none of these elections was by a wide margin, but it’s clear that Virginia is a purple state leaning blue.