Grange Receives Funds for ADA Compliance
Board of Supervisors approves funds for new restroom, internal and external lift.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved more than $500,000 in funding to make the Grange in Great Falls compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The Grange is owned and operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Country Fair, Spooktacular Return
Annual festivals highlight fall fun in Great Falls.
Fall brings several annual traditions to Great Falls, events that help local residents to celebrate the season in style. On Saturday, Oct. 5, St. Francis Episcopal Church will host their annual country fair.
Author Explores Consequences of Mental Illness
B.W. DeCaro released first novel, “Grown Men Don’t Cry.”
When it came to writing his first novel, Great Falls resident B.W. DeCaro knew he wanted to delve into some serious topics. With his first novel, “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” he’s done exactly that, creating a story in which two men must deal with mental illness in themselves and the ones they love.
Full Disclosure? Forms Plagued By Lack of Information, Absence of Oversight
Fairfax County goes so far as to redact disclosure documents.
Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is in hot water for taking gifts without disclosing them, and legislators are talking about increasing disclosure requirements for family members. But here in Northern Virginia, personal financial disclosure forms are often incomplete and inconsistent.
Navy Yard Shootings Hit Close to Home
Four Fairfax County victims killed in Washington Navy Yard rampage.
“Marty was a kind and caring man. He had such a sweet spirit and was in every way a man that lived his life to honor Christ.” —Pastor Steve Holley of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield
Local Business Leaders Spotlight Opportunities for UK Companies
Fairfax County EDA organizes Sept. 26 seminar in London.
Fairfax County’s Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) officials announced Tuesday, Sept. 17, that local executives will speak at a London seminar to spotlight opportunities for British companies interested in homeland security business opportunities in the United States.
Full Disclosure?
Forms plagued by a lack of information, absence of oversight; redacted documents.
Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is in hot water for taking gifts without disclosing them, and legislators are talking about increasing disclosure requirements for family members. But here in Northern Virginia, personal financial disclosure forms are often incomplete and inconsistent. Some elected officials choose to disclose a great deal of information while others disclose very little. Fairfax County officials have decided to redact information that's supposed to be part of the public record. And nobody is reviewing the forms to make sure they are accurate.
Commentary: Combatting Human Trafficking in Our Own Communities
“You’re pretty. You could make some money.” That was the headline of a recent Washingtonian Magazine article about young girls in our region who are lured through social media into the terrifying world of human trafficking.
Week in Great Falls
The new season of the Great Falls Historical Society begins Sept. 18 with a re-enactment of Confederate guerilla fighter John S. Mosby. Great Falls resident and Civil War enthusiast Rick Turner will speak in the first person about Mosby's legendary military career and Mosby's role in shepherding the Confederate Cavalry through Great Falls en route to Gettysburg 150 years ago. Turner will also discuss Mosby's life before and after the war, and the political and economic issues of the war.
Troop 673 Promotes Two New Eagle Scouts
Troop 673 of Great Falls recently promoted two new Eagle Scouts. Ryan Scott Anger, son of Scott and Mary Anger of Great Falls, joined Troop 673 in 2006. Since joining the troop, Ryan has served as quartermaster and patrol leader twice. Ryan has attended summer camp five of the past six years and has participated in the Sea Base High Adventure trip.
Great Falls Teen Represents Virginia in Miss Junior Teen Competition
Skye Jannery-Barney of Great Falls represented the state of Virginia in the National Miss Junior Teen America 2013 competition this summer in Orlando, Fla. She is the current Miss Junior Teen Virginia 2013. Skye is an eighth grader in the Academic Advanced Program (AAP) at Kilmer Middle School. Skye won the overall National Academic Achievement Award at the Miss Junior Teen America pageant competition.
Great Falls Writer’s Group Exceeding Expectations
Local writers share experiences, dilemmas, resources.
The first meeting of the Great Falls Writer’s Group was held in August and group facilitator, local author Kristin Clark Taylor, reported via e-mail that, “because folks in the community are so thirsty to not only write, but to share their feelings about the writing process itself, we had to move the meeting to the large conference room—we had more than 30 attendees!” Taylor feels that it is “vital and extremely important” to hear a personal introduction from each person in order to maintain “an intimate, comfortable collective feel no matter how large our group becomes ... turns out we have doctors, lawyers, housewives, former and current NSA-types, teachers, retired teachers, published authors, men and women, young and old, and most important, everybody just wants to write!” Participant Nancy Hannan of Great Falls agrees that the group is “diversified … and willing to share,” and she looks forward to connecting with the group: “I write and find the energy from like-minded people a great asset. It helps the writing flow.” Great Falls resident Raymond Rollins says that the writer’s group is, “very much what I was hoping for,” and that like Hannan, Rollins is “energized by discovering how many similar souls there are in this community.”
Great Falls Nails and Spa Re-opens
Salon has new name, second floor with spa facilities.
Great Falls Nails and Spa officially re-opened under their new name with a party Saturday, Sept. 14. Formerly known as Glamour Nails and Spa, the owners decided to change the name to reflect their commitment to the community.
Friends and Neighbors Award Scholarships
Four local women receive total of $7,500 in scholarship money.
The Great Falls Friends and Neighbors awarded $7,500 in scholarships to four local students at their annual meeting Friday, Sept. 13.
Donner Finds Inspiration
Great Falls resident releases Bible study for Gospel of Luke.
For almost 20 years, Great Falls resident Leesa Donner has been studying the Bible. During her career as a broadcast journalist and while raising her two sons, the Bible has always been a source of inspiration.