Mixing Arts and Coffee
Celebrate Great Falls hosts latest coffee social at Artists’ Atelier.
The Artists’ Atelier in Great Falls hosted Celebrate Great Falls for one of their regular coffees Thursday, Oct. 10. The Atelier, located on Walker Road, is home to 16 members of Great Falls Studios who use the space as a studio.
GFCA Candidate’s Forum Postponed
Rescheduled for Nov. 1.
The Great Falls Citizens Association postponed its scheduled candidate’s forum Tuesday, Oct. 8, citing fears that outside groups were planning on disrupting the program.
Great Falls Man Dies in Silver Spring
Mark Edward Waugh dies, friend Rahul Gupta charged.
Great Falls resident Mark Edward Waugh, 23, was found dead in an apparent homicide in Silver Spring Sunday, Oct. 13. According to Montgomery County Police, they responded to an apartment at 1220 East-West Highway at approximately 3:25 a.m. Sunday morning.
Federal Shutdown Hurts Claude Moore Colonial Farm
Despite being privately funded and operated, farm closed for eight days because of shutdown.
On Monday, Sept. 30, volunteers and staff at Claude Moore Colonial Farm were preparing for their busiest month of the year, with thoughts of a looming federal government shutdown far from their minds. After all, in 1995 and 1996 the property was unaffected by similar shutdowns.
Walk to School Wednesdays at Spring Hill
More than 300 students participate in National Walk to School Day.
Many Spring Hill Elementary Students are used to walking to school every day, but on Wednesday Oct. 9, there was a rush hour of sorts on the paths and sidewalks as more than 300 students participated in National Walk to School Day.
Battleground Northern Virginia
What role will the region play in the election?
For many years, Northern Virginia has been written off by both parties as a Democratic stronghold — a place where Republicans simply try to cut their losses while they focus on the rest of the commonwealth. But this election cycle may be different. All three of the gubernatorial candidates are from Fairfax County. And recent statewide candidates have not been able to win without picking off selected jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. "As you look at Northern Virginia that's further from Washington, you see a more Republican area — Prince William, western Fairfax, Fauquier," said Stephen Farnsworth, professor at University of Mary Washington. "That's where the real action is in Northern Virginia politics." As Election Day draws closer and television becomes a virtual battlefield for attention, a real battle is brewing on the ground here in Northern Virginia. Candidates and their advisors are looking at the path to victory back in 2009 for Republican Bob McDonnell, who won Prince William County, Fairfax County and Fauquier County. Although this race is likely to be closer than 2009, the importance of Northern Virginia is looming larger than ever.
Spookfest Concert at Langley High
Halloween is coming one week early to Langley High School as the LHS Orchestra presents Spookfest on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Symphonic Orchestra players will join with members of the band to present film scores from “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Theater students will present chilling poetry by Edgar Allan Poe as the freshman orchestra performs “The Evil Eye” and “The Hideous Heart” and “Two Scenes from the Hallow.” The sophomore orchestra will present “Ghosts of Brandenburg” after sophomore pianists play the duet from “The Corpse Bride.” Finally, the Philharmonic orchestra will dazzle listeners with incantations and a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” This concert is free to the public and designed for children of all ages. Appropriate costumes are encouraged for performers and audience alike. Come out if you dare and enjoy the show.
Encouraging ‘Greatness’
Forestville principal takes holistic approach to learning.
On a typical morning, Forestville Elementary’s new principal, Todd Franklin, can be seen greeting children as they exit the bus. “Be great today,” he says, as they begin their morning. To Franklin, this is not just cheer but part of an overall philosophy.
Barbara Ellen Narins of Great Falls Dies
Barbara Ellen Narins, a Great Falls resident of 13 years and a nurse, lecturer, and wife and mother died Wednesday, Sept. 25. Born in Forest Hills, N.Y. to Anastasia and Robert Heidt on Dec. 24, 1939 she earned her degree as a registered nurse from Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital in 1960 and one year later married Dr. Robert Narins, then a medical student. Over their next 51 years together Barbara raised their two boys, Brigham and David and supported Robert's career in academic medicine, which carried them to Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Detroit and finally to Great Falls.
Letter: Campaign Based on Divisive Issues
As I look at the staged demonstrations that were organized before the now cancelled debate in Great Falls was clear that first, they were closely coordinated by Kathleen Murphy’s team; (one of the key organizers held Ms. Murphy’s kickoff), and second, that they were organized because Murphy does not want to debate all of the issues we have before our communities—she just wants to discuss her divisive social issues she’s based her whole campaign upon.
Letter: Disruptive and Disrespectful
Democratic candidate Kathleen Murphy and the gun control groups she is working with were so disrespectful to the Great Falls Citizens Association debate that instead of trusting our citizens to ask questions about this issue, they “demanded” that all of their questions be answered and organized a disruptive demonstration before and during the debate in order to bully and threaten GFCA and attendees if their questions weren’t answered. As a result the debate between Delegate Comstock and Murphy had to be rescheduled.
Letter: The Right Decision
It is unfortunate that the Great Falls Citizens Association was forced to postpone the scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 8 debate between incumbent Delegate Barbara Comstock and challenger Kathleen Murphy. But, it was the appropriate call in keeping with the civilized debate process the GFCA has always followed.
Letter: Trying to Hijack the Debate
The Great Falls Citizens Association’s planned debate on Oct. 8 with Delegate Barbara Comstock and Kathleen Murphy had to be cancelled this week when four gun control groups threatened to demonstrate “before and during” the debate and said they would “demand” answers to particular gun issues. This debate had been designed to answer questions that Great Falls citizens had submitted beforehand. The GFCA debate team made clear that there would have been a gun question, but that wasn’t good enough for these single issue groups who wanted to hijack our debate and make it all about their issue.
Honored by the National Kidney Foundation
Thomas P. McDonough, of Great Falls, received the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Martin Wagner Memorial Award at the recent meeting of the organization’s Board of Directors. Named for one of the NKF’s founders, this award is the highest honor the foundation bestows on lay volunteers.
Great Falls Man Dies in Silver Spring
Mark Edward Waugh dies, friend Rahul Gupta charged.
Great Falls resident Mark Edward Waugh, 23, was found dead in an apparent homicide in Silver Spring Sunday, Oct. 13. According to Montgomery County Police, they responded to an apartment at 1220 East-West Highway at approximately 3:25 a.m. Sunday morning.
Candidate’s Forum Postponed
Recheduled for Nov. 1
The Great Falls Citizens Association postponed its scheduled candidate’s forum Tuesday, Oct. 8, citing fears that outside groups were planning on disrupting the program.
Mixing Arts and Coffee
Celebrate Great Falls hosts latest coffee social at Artists’ Atelier.
The Artists’ Atelier in Great Falls hosted Celebrate Great Falls for one of their regular coffees Thursday, Oct. 10. The Atelier, located on Walker Road, is home to 16 members of Great Falls Studios who use the space as a studio.
Editorial: Get a Flu Shot, Register to Vote
Getting a flu shot has never been easier.
Classified Advertising October 9, 2013
Read the lastest ads here!
Influential Great Falls Artist Passes Away
Mother of "Renoir in a box" finder influenced local arts.
Long time Great Falls resident and artist, Marcia M. Fuqua, 85, died Sept. 9. Fuqua is remembered fondly in the home town as an artist and leader in the Great Falls arts community. In the last year, however, Fuqua has become more widely known as the mother of the woman who found the “Renoir in a box” and the controversy surrounding the ownership of the painting.