Donation Supports Box Turtles
Great Falls BSA Venturing Crew 364 presented a $250 check to the Fairfax County Park Authority on Dec. 11, providing a lifetime sponsorship of eastern box turtles at Riverbend Park. These turtles are used to educate children at the park and local Fairfax schools about wildlife and conservation. Their population in the wild has been declining in Northern Virginia. Presenting the check to Riverbend Park Naturalist Julie Gurnee is Natalie Gilbert, president of Venturing Crew 364. Joining in the presentation are: Camille Speer, the Crew's past president and adult advisors, Bill Canis and Gary Pan. Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America and provides opportunities for young men and women to participate in high adventure activities, serve their communities and become responsible and caring adults.
Great Falls Home Sales: December, 2013
In December 2013, 17 Great Falls homes sold between $2,000,000-$527,500.
Great Falls Home Sales: December, 2013
Virginia Supreme Court Opens Access to Audio Recordings of Oral Arguments
Policy change overturns blackout instituted in 2008.
Members of the Virginia Supreme Court have a New Year’s Resolution — become more transparent.
Week in Great Falls
In early December, the Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial Committee elected new officers: President - Andy Wilson; Vice President - Sandy Pidgeon; and Treasurer - Mike Kearney. The Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial was formed in 2002 with the mission to build a memorial site in Great Falls dedicated to the residents who have given their lives for our freedom. That Memorial was dedicated on Nov. 13, 2004 and is located beside the Great Falls Library. The Friends supports the mission with yearly ceremonial events on Memorial Day, 9-11 Remembrance, and Veterans Day plus educational programs.
Contemporary Art on Exhibit at Katie’s Coffee House
Shared Colors, a contemporary art exhibit showcasing fiber art and mixed media paintings, will be on display at Katie’s Coffee House in Great Falls through January 31. Cindy Grisdela, a contemporary quilt artist, and Jennifer Duncan, a mixed media painter, share studio space in Great Falls, where they have had many opportunities to enjoy one another’s work. Although creating in different media, they have marveled at the remarkable similarities in their use of color and design. This exhibit highlights the unique creative styles of each artist, while emphasizing the parallels in their work.
Supporting Special Operations Warriors
The girls from Great Falls visited Walter Reed last Wednesday. Girls in picture, from left, are: Saanvi Singireddy, Lizzie Holt, Oksana Vickers, and Maddie Holt. The four made wristbands and sold them at lunch and in the morning at their school, Forestville Elementary, last spring, where the Forestville children and teachers donated close to $400 for the wounded soldiers. The girls are all now in middle school (Vickers and Holts at Kilmer, Singireddy at Cooper.) The girls hope to continue their fundraising in support of Special Operations warriors this year and encourage others to do the same.
The Great Falls Farmers Market Moves Indoors
In January and February the market will operate Saturdays at the Historic Great Falls Grange,
We made a collective decision to run a winter Great Falls Community Farmers Market based on a survey of summer farmers market shoppers. Most wanted an all-year market and agreed to shop year-round in support of the vendors. Everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday market in which many vendors sold out completely before the end of the market, delighting our community with their unique offerings. However, the Farmers’ Almanac predictions for a very cold winter have been proving true. The market cancelled on Dec. 14 due to predictions of a head-on snowstorm. The Jan. 4 market faced a parking lot of ice and snow. We tried to arrange a drive-thru, but people preferred to walk. This past Saturday, rains were heavy – the first (unrelenting) downpour our market ever experienced – definitely dampening the market in all respects.
Real Estate
2013: Banner Year in McLean and Great Falls
The total number of home sales in McLean and Great Falls is up in 2013 over 2012. Further every market segment is up year over year except for that in the under $750,000 category. The reason I believe that this segment fell short in terms of number of sales is due to lack of supply. Current inventory level is less than one month for homes to purchase for under $750,000 in McLean/Great Falls, which includes condos. Economists and other experts that analyze the real estate market typically consider a balanced market to be a 6-month supply, thus the current lower price market in McLean and Great Falls is in a seller’s market cycle. This is in line with market conditions experienced throughout 2013.
Toy Trains Displayed At Colvin Run Mill
Families enjoy annual train display.
During the last weeks of December, the interior of Colvin Run Mill parks barn was filled with 250 feet of train track, nine trains and more than 500 miniature imitation trees for the 24th annual train display created by Jim and his wife Jo Anne Stapleton. “This is the only hobby I’ve ever had,” said Jim Stapleton, a resident of Purcellville in Loudoun County.
Week in Great Falls
Military Appreciation Monday to Honor Navy SEAL Foundation On Monday, Jan. 13, monthly Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be in support of The Navy SEAL Foundation. Make your reservation for either the 5:30 or 7:30 seating at the Old Brogue by calling 703-759-3309. Visit http://www.navysealfoundation.org to learn more about this organization and the help it provides to injured combat veterans and their families. If not familiar with the MAM events, simply come enjoy a dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls. The cosponsors, the Brogue and Bob Nelson of Keller Williams Realty each make a ten percent donation based on how much you spend on dinner.
Top Great Falls, McLean Sports Moments of 2013
Here is a look at the top Great Falls and McLean sports moments of 2013.
South County Boys' Basketball Edges Langley
Stallion coach Hess faces former school in Holiday classic
South County beat Langley during the Mount Vernon holiday tournament.
A Year in Review, Things to Look for in 2014
Supervisor John w. Foust (D-Dranesville) reflects on most important events in McLean and Great Falls in 2013 and 2014.
Supervisor John W. Foust (D-Dranesville): *TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PLAN HB2313 - A significant event affecting the community in 2013 was the passage of HB2313 with bi-partisan support. This bill was the first comprehensive transportation plan passed in Virginia in 27 years.
Colvin Run Elementary Students Donate Food for Those in Need
Boxes of non-perishable food that filled the trunks of eight large SUVs were donated on Monday, Dec. 16, by Colvin Run Elementary School families to a local Fairfax County elementary school.
Ground Water Cleanup Plan Presented in Great Falls
Potential contamination of local wells from a spill at former Exxon gas station discussed.
The Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) hosted two meetings on Dec. 17, to update Great Falls residents on the plan to clean up contamination from a spill of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) that had occurred at the Exxon gas station that was located at 9901 Georgetown Pike.