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.
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.
Focus on Food Crisis
Marshall HS sponsors My First Model UN Training Conference.
Next week 250 middle and high school students will gather at Marshall High School for the 10th annual My First Model United Nations Training Conference. The conference will run all day on Oct. 19, and will feature morning training sessions, afternoon model United Nations conference sessions, and lunch. For students who hold any interest in international relations, it is not to be missed, according to Marshall High School senior Samuel Carpenter. Carpenter is a member of Marshall’s Model UN Team, and is helping to organize the event.
Real Estate in McLean and Great Falls: Strong for First Three Quarters 2013
In almost every market segment of McLean and Great Falls the number of residential transactions are up in the first three quarters of 2013 compared to the same time period in 2012. The total number of sales increased 6 percent, which is very strong given that it represents only the first three quarters of the year.
Decorating for Fall
Local designers offer suggestions for bringing the harvest into your home.
The colors of autumn are all around as pumpkins and squash fill produce stands and leaves change from green to orange, red and yellow before falling from their branches. Local designers and tastemakers are unveiling home accents that bring the warm hues of the season into the home. Whether using pillows, throws or flowers, adding the colors and textures of fall requires less effort than one might expect. “Emerald green, orange and turquoise are three of the biggest color trends we’re seeing,” said Marcus Browning of European Country Living in Old Town Alexandria. “Throws and pillows are a given, but you can also tie in traditional and modern accessories with rugs, stained glass lamps with modern or intricate designs.” Small trays provide a canvas for highlighting color and adding functionality to a room, says Marika Meyer of Marika Meyer Interiors in Bethesda, Md. “Color and pattern are in right now,” she said. “I just purchased the C. Wonder (http://www.cwonder.com) navy and white chevron tray for my home. It adds a punch of color and freshness to a room. Preppy is back in a big way, too, offering lots of patterns.”
Week in Great Falls
Great Falls Memory Café Meets on Oct. 17
The Great Falls Memory Cafe will meet Thursday, Oct. 17, from 2-4 p.m. at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church in Vienna. The memory cafe is a casual social meeting venue for those with progressive memory or cognitive impairment and their caregivers. Call Carol Blackwell 571-236-6933 for more details.
Claims vs. Facts
To the Editor: At a recent elementary school’s Back to School Night, a friend was handed materials from supporters of Barbara Comstock, the Delegate for the 34th Virginia House District. I expect that a candidate would paint him or herself in the most favorable light, and that campaign materials should be read with a certain degree of skepticism. However, a little research in the public record shows a tremendous discrepancy between the way Ms. Comstock portrays herself and the reality of how she has voted. *Claim: Comstock claims to support education and takes credit for helping to restore $120 million in cuts to Virginia schools. Fact: in 2010, Comstock voted in favor of a House Budget Bill (HB30) that cut education by $620 million.