Brief: Honoring Tony Blankley
At the Great Falls Memorial Day Ceremony last week, Del. Barbara Comstock (R-34) presented the family of Tony Blankley, a Great Falls resident and member of the Friends of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, who passed away in January 2012, the resolution honoring his legacy as a longtime Great Falls resident and a friend of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial.
Week in Great Falls June 5, 2013
Starshine Theater to Hold Audition Workshop
Starshine Theater!TM of Great Falls presents: "How to Audition for a Stage Show," for ages 6 through 18.
Brief: Great Falls Village Starbucks Hosts Live Radio Show
Princess Aliyah hosts “Leopards on the Prowl” on Wolf Spirit Radio every other Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Great Falls Village Starbucks.
Artist Karen Bateman Brings the Outdoors in at Katie’s
Virginia painter Karen Bateman is the featured guest artist at Katie’s Coffee House in Great Falls for the month of June in an exhibit entitled “Water Everywhere.” The artist creates oil paintings
Forestville Principal to Retire
Forestville Elementary Principal Matt Harris will retire on June 28. He has been with Forestville for more than nine years and with Fairfax County Public Schools for 32 years.
100 New Citizens Sworn In
Congressman Connolly, Chairman Bulova, Delegate Keam participate in naturalization ceremony in Fairfax.
The new citizens, accompanied by many family members, filled the Government Center's auditorium for the naturalization ceremony held by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Congressman Connolly, Chairman Bulova and Delegate Keam addressed the group, each describing in their words what it meant to be an American.
Local Student to Receive Statewide Award
A Floris fifth-grader honored for excellence in math.
A Floris Elementary School fifth-grader has been selected as the Virginia recipient of the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award by the National Association of Gifted Children.
Editorial: Remembering on Memorial Day
The sacrifices of those who died in war.
1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, 26, of the Kings Park West neighborhood of Fairfax, was killed by enemy fire on April 23, 2013 in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan. Hess was known as “RJ” and graduated from Robinson Secondary School in 2005, where he played football, lacrosse and was the captain of the swim team. He was a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot who deployed to Afghanistan on April 11, 2013. His family remembers his sense of humor and his natural leadership ability.
David Bettwy Receives 2013 Tibbetts Award
Great Falls Historical Society recognizes Bettwy’s contributions.
In 1960, David Bettwy, then a government engineer, moved to Great Falls to settle into a home off Springvale Road, with acres of dairy farms, horse pastures and rolling meadows surrounding his home. When the Great Falls Historical Society was formed in 1977, Dave was an early member and leader. Over the last decade, Dave applied his technology skills to creating a website that shares the vast research of local historians—oral histories, photos, stories, historic research, etc.—with the world, scoring visits from history buffs from far-away places such as Iran and Australia. The Library of Congress, recognizing the value of the site, proactively sought to establish a link. For Dave's tireless, passionate and enduring stewardship of the history of Great Falls and surrounding communities, creating, developing and maintaining the website, www.gfhs.org, the Great Falls Historical Society recently honored Dave with the 2013 Jean Tibbetts History Award, presented at its Tibbetts Award Banquet and Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at The Old Brogue Restaurant in Great Falls.
Joe Cassella 5K Raises $16,000
Annual run supports families of children suffering from cancer.
Frank Cassella remembers his brother Joe as a man who had very high character. Even throughout Joe’s 10-month battle with mesothelioma, which claimed his life in July 2009 at the age of 40, Frank remembers a brother who embraced support, not pity.
Women Mean Business
In the two months since the much-hyped and dreaded sequester took effect, the daily economic forecast has been almost as painful as the slow grinding of bureaucratic wheels. But here’s some good economic news, especially for aspiring female entrepreneurs: the numbers are in your favor.
Great Falls Resident to Paddle the Potomac
Aryan Golzar will go on 400-mile journey to raise money for scholarship.
Growing up in Great Falls, Aryan Golzar always loved the Potomac River. The same 400-mile-long-plus waterway that led to settlements from the Chesapeake Bay to West Virginia drove his imagination during his formative years, and now it’s become something even more.
Community Celebrates Great Falls Day
Celebration features live performances, history displays.
Members of Great Falls and the surrounding communities gathered at the Grange and the Forestville Schoolhouse Sunday, May 5, for Great Falls Day. In celebration of the two historic buildings, as well as other signature aspects of Great Falls, hundreds attended the event to enjoy a pleasant Sunday and learn more about history.
Haddad Celebrates 50 Years of Dance
Margaret Haddad Studio to present "Down Memory Lane."
After dancing and teaching ballet in four countries over the past five decades, Margaret Haddad’s Studio of Classical Ballet will look back on some of her favorite shows with "Down Memory Lane."