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Great Falls

Newcomers &

Community Guide

Newcomers &

Community Guide2017-20182017-2018

Great Falls

Robin Mogle sets off to explore Great FallsNational Park with her children – Norah, 3,Rory, 5, and Sarah, 6. The park, located inGreat Falls, is popular enough on nice week-end afternoons that the wait to get to thepark entrance can be as long as an hour.

Robin Mogle sets off to explore Great FallsNational Park with her children – Norah, 3,Rory, 5, and Sarah, 6. The park, located inGreat Falls, is popular enough on nice week-end afternoons that the wait to get to thepark entrance can be as long as an hour.

2 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ Newcomers & Community Guide 2017-18 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Great Falls Connection ❖ Newcomers & Community Guide 2017-18 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

By Christina Tyler

Wenks

An offer tohouse-sit inGreat Fallsdetermined

our family’s future homeand sense of belonging.Throughout myhusband’s mobile military career, wedreamed of settling into the lifestyle ourGreat Falls friends had — living close towork, meaningful community involvement,good schools, and room for a garden.

Rolling hills leading to the Potomac andwinding roads canopied by hardwoodsmade Georgetown Pike seem a world awayfrom work on Capitol Hill. After a few daysof traversing I-395/I-495 from Alexandria’sOld Town, we pined for the greenery of ourgetaway off Riverbend Road. Fast-forward20 years and several addresses. We seizedan opportunity to return to Great Falls andcall it ours.

Home is more than where we hang ourhats. Home is where we hang our hearts.Home is where we feel welcomed and webelong.

As a journalist, I’ve witnessed and expe-rienced that newcomers begin to feel a partof a community when they become in-volved. Before we had keys to our house,our Holly Knoll neighborhood greeted uswith Supper Club, Book Club, holiday parkparties and more. Kevin and I found en-gaged citizens and civic opportunities fos-tering personal and community growth.

NEWCOMERS PARENTS to Northern Vir-ginia find ease giving time to their children’sschools where professional strengths arewelcomed. In addition to parent-teacherassociations and special events, parents maycontribute constructive time to a JuniorAchievement program or the Reston-basedGRACE Art program, which serves 40 localschools. Volunteers teach curated art les-sons about famous artists while studentsproduce projects that may also discreetlyreinforce math, science, or history. Some-times parents learn as much as the kids do.

The heart of our village is our library —

home to many local groups, such as theGreat Falls Historical Society, from whichwe’ve learned much about the area’s found-ing families, Civil War battles, and severalsmall communities that became ZIP code22066; art exhibits; and the Great FallsWriter’s Group (GFWG), which hosts au-thors’ events and organizes an annual writ-ing contest for sixth graders to encouragethe next generation of writers.

Soon after author Kristin Clark Taylorstarted GFWG several years ago, the GFWGwriting family started planning its first writ-

ing contest. Parent-volunteer work inschools proved valuable. The now annualcontest resulted in a partnership withFriends of the Great Falls Library andschools to inspire young readers and writ-ers.

Such alliances among community groupspair skills, goals, and provide networkingopportunities, resulting in vested fellow-ships and friendships. Involvement deepensone’s purpose and makes the town as awhole richer.

Locals jest that the boardroom for most

civic organizations is the Old Brogue Pubor its adjacent coffee shop, Katie’s. For years,restaurant owner Mike Kearney’s energyand activism generated business supportand fundraising efforts. Anyone listening toKearney rally folks to invest in our commu-nity knows his efforts aren’t business deci-sions. They’re personal because he liveshere.

Other local business owners share thesame passion. Pairing with the Great FallsOptimist Club, Jorge Adeler coordinates theannual Great Falls Children’s Spring Festi-val and Egg Hunt on the Village Green anddonates thousands of dollars of jewels hid-den in eggs. Adeler is one of many citizenswho strive to make this part of FairfaxCounty more than a Washington, D.C, sub-urb — but someplace special. He acceptschallenges of making historic propertiessuch as The Grange available and useful toall who live here. He’s one of our many vil-lage gems.

Celebrate Great Falls coordinates volun-teers and centralizes fundraising for morethan a dozen annual events, such as theFourth of July Parade and Fireworks Dis-play and the December’s Celebration ofLight. Director Erin Lobato moved to GreatFalls five years ago and embraced opportu-nities to get long-time residents and new-comers involved. Elementary school choirsand bands perform at the Celebration ofLight so young families watching the per-formance adopt the holiday tradition.

Our village strives to preserve its historyand keep its small-town feel among a chang-ing landscape and population. Local orga-nizations evolve with citizens’ needs, too.

A FEW YEARS AGO the Great FallsWoman’s Club and Newcomers of GreatFalls merged to become Great Falls Friendsand Neighbors, which supports culturaloutings, speakers, and philanthropy. Withthe robust group of artists, Great Falls Se-nior Center, the Great Falls Garden Club,weekly farmer’s market, and youth sports,our locale offers opportunities for everyoneto contribute.

When we share our histories, languages,and foods we share ourselves. When wevolunteer in our community we beautifyand personalize our collective home — andwe all benefit.

Each of us has a unique story about mak-ing Great Falls home. Its people make GreatFalls great.

Each of us has a unique story about making Great Falls home.Its people make Great Falls great.

Enriching Ourselves, Our Community, and Our Home

About the AuthorChristina Tyler Wenks is an adjunct professor of journalism at George Mason University who

scribes with the Great Falls Writer’s Group, digs into the Fairfax County Master Gardeners, andsupports the Great Falls Historical Society and other volunteer commitments that benefit cysticfibrosis patients, ocean health, satiate curiosity, feed minds, and inspire creativity.

Newcomers & Community Guide

Forestville Elemen-tary School bandmembers played

holiday musicduring the Celebra-tion of Light at the

Village Center inDecember 2016.

This volunteereffort is coordi-

nated by CelebrateGreat Falls.

Great Falls Connection Editor

Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or

[email protected]

Photo by Christina Tyler Wenks

Proud parentssnap photoswhile the 2016Great Falls LittleLeague All-StarSoftball Teamthrows candyand necklaces toparade onlook-ers during theFourth of Julyfestivities inGreat Falls.

Top 10 Places/Events in Great Falls(In no particular order)

Great Falls National Park: Trails lead visitors to vistas of historic Matildaville, old canalpassages, wildlife, and churning water rushing through falls.

Riverbend Park: Strolls along the Potomac feature native flora and fauna such as nativeplants, seasonal bluebells, and nesting owls.

Colvin Run Mill: As the last fully functioning grist mill the Washington, D.C., area, ColvinRun Mill is a snapshot of the region’s past. Visitors watch a blacksmith’s hammer strike red-hotiron, hear the roaring whir of stone wheels, and taste corn ground using old-world techniques.

Great Falls Children’s Spring Festival and Egg Hunt: Children race to collect eggscontaining candies and real gems. This community treasure is hosted by the Optimist Club andAdeler Jewelers.

Fourth Of July Parade and Fireworks: The parade route circles downtown. CelebrateGreat Falls fundraises and promotes the fireworks display at Turner Farm. Volunteers make itsuccessful.

Nike Field: History and sports enthusiasts converge on Route 7. Youth baseball andsoftball, soccer, and lacrosse rally fans and families. Great Falls Little League puts its money onteens and trains and pays them to umpire. This historic site once housed Nike anti-aircraftmissiles intended to defend the nation’s capital in the event of Soviet air attack.

The Village Green at the Great Falls Village Center: Residents bring picnic blanketsand chairs to enjoy movies, concerts, and celebrations.

Turner Farm: The Analemma Society’s hosts star-gazing events at the roll-top observatory.Fairfax County Park Authority continues master plan work for this site that includes horsebackriding and more.

The Great Falls Library: At the village’s center, civic groups host meetings and specialevents at the Great Falls Library, which features a September 11, 2001, memorial and garden.The Grange next door was built in 1929 and is a community meeting and event site. Virginia’slast unaltered grange hall and its neighboring Forestville Schoolhouse are sites on the NationalRegister of Historic Places.


teen


By Sharon Bulova

Chairman

Fairfax County Board of

Supervisors

Welcome toF a i r f a xCounty, one ofthe greatest

places in the nation to live,work, play and raise a family.Fairfax County is home to a thriv-ing business community, vibrantentertainment and shopping des-tinations, a world class university,beautiful parks and a diversepopulation of engaged residents.Whether you are a long time resi-dent or new to the county, I hopeyou’ll take some time to visit someof our most popular spots and en-joy what Fairfax County has to of-fer.

Tysons Corner Center, Fair OaksMall, Reston Town Center, FairfaxCorner, Springfield Town Centerand the Mosaic District are greatplaces to shop, eat and spend timewith friends. For cultural destina-tions, George Washington’s MountVernon Estate, Wolf Trap NationalPark for the Performing Arts and

the WorkhouseArts Center inLorton are someof my favorites.For fresh air andexercise, I rec-ommend our ex-tensive networkof trails, parksand RECenters.

While thereare a lot of fun things to do inFairfax County, our community isnotorious for our “work hard, playhard” ethic. Time Magazine hasdescribed us as the epicenter of theWashington region’s job boom andone of the great economic successstories of our time. Fairfax Countyis home to nine Fortune 500 com-pany headquarters, approximately9,000 tech businesses and over116 million square feet of officespace.

Fairfax County has one of thebest public school systems nation-wide with a graduation rate ofnearly 93 percent. Fairfax CountyPublic Schools is the third largestemployer in Virginia and the 10thlargest school system in the coun-try with more than 189,000 stu-

Welcome to Fairfax County: ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’dents. After high school gradua-tion, George Mason University andNorthern Virginia Community Col-lege are located just down the roadfor affordable higher educationopportunities in many differentsubject fields. Our business-friendly economy offers a widearray of impressive career oppor-tunities for both our older andyounger residents.

On the local government level,the Fairfax County Board of Su-pervisors is constantly hard atwork to ensure quality public ser-vices for our residents. Our 10-member Board of Supervisorsstrives to maintain positive com-munity engagement, while stra-tegically planning for the futurewith land use and infrastructuredecisions.

Some recent Fairfax County ac-complishments include updatingmany of our police policies, estab-lishing a Diversion First programfor people with mental illness whobecome involved with law enforce-ment, and successfully extendingMetrorail to Tysons and Reston.Phase 2 of Metro’s Silver Line iscurrently under construction and

will extend all the way to DullesAirport and into Loudoun County.

Fairfax County offers opportu-nity and quality services for resi-dents of all ages. People from allover the globe have made FairfaxCounty their home, enriching ourcommunity with their diverse cul-tures and entrepreneurship. InFairfax County, we believe wemust all do our part to set a posi-tive tone of acceptance, inclusive-ness and kindness.

As chairman of the Board of Su-pervisors, I am elected at-large byFairfax County residents. My officeis here to serve you. If you haveany questions or concerns, pleaseemail me [email protected] orgive my office a call at 703-324-2321. I hope you will sign up toreceive my monthly Bulova Bylinenewsletter that will keep you up-to-date on what is happening inyour new community. I also en-courage you to visitfairfaxcounty.gov and fxva.com tosee what Fairfax County has to of-fer you and your family every sea-son and every day. Welcome toyour new home.

Service forSeniors WhoWant to Serve

RSVP is the region’s largestvolunteer network for people55 and older, providing indi-vidualized support to seniorsseeking service opportunitiesin and around Fairfax County,Arlington County and the Cityof Alexandria.

RSVP offers opportunities forvolunteers including providingrides, support and meals toolder neighbors, assisting localveterans in need and helpingprepare communities for disas-ters. RSVP also recruits volun-teers for community eventsthroughout the year.

RSVP volunteers enjoy flex-ible schedules, free accidentand liability insurance whileserving, optional mileage andmeal reimbursement and areinvited to group projects andsocial gatherings with otherRSVP volunteers.

To sign up for an upcomingRSVP orientation email CarlyHubicki at [email protected] or callRSVP at 703-403- 5360. Tolearn more about

RSVP, visit www.rsvpnova.org.


National Historic Treasures Enjoy Local History Celebrate Local EcentsCome and see the amazing history of Great Falls

Listening to the legacy…

Marking annual traditions…

Re-enacting… Filling historic footsteps… Re-experiencing “how”…

Turner Farmhouse Resident Curator Program

Some Amazing National HistoricTreasures in Great Falls

• 1737 Four Stairs• 1750 The William Gunnel House• 1786 Potomac Canal Historic District• 1811 Colvin Run Mill• 1813 The Georgetown Pike• 1831 Cornwell Farm• 1852 The John Gunnel House• 1889 The Forestville Schoolhouse• 1929 The Great Falls Grange• 2012 Georgetown Pike

Welcome Neighbor!Dear Great Fall neighbor,

We warmly invite youTo join in appreciating local history,

Allowing the local journey of yesterday -Its successes, its struggles, its wisdom, its foibles -

To enlighten our path to tomorrow.

WEBSITE www.gfhs.org FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/GreatFallsHistoricalSociety EMAIL [email protected]: Norma Baker Membership Chairperson 703-759-3790 [email protected] or Glen Sjoblom President 703-434-2608 [email protected]

Great Falls Historical Society P.O. Box 56 Great Falls, VA 22066

Wednesday, 13 September, 7PM The Best Kept Secret in American History, The Women’s Suffrage Movement, by Patricia Wirth, Executive Director of Turning Point Memorial Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike

Wednesday, 11 October, 630 PM Oktoberfest Potluck Dinner - Program-Loudoun and Fairfax Counties Finally Agree on a Boarder Jim Lewis, Lover of History-Grange

Wednesday, 8 November, 7PMThe Restoration of the Best Little School House in Great Falls and the Experience With Our First Vineyard, in Great Falls, Joan Wehner and Son John Wehner, Grange and Olde School House

December Happy Holidays

Wednesday, 10 January, 7 PMExperienced Advice in Starting Your Family Geneology using the Internet, by Elaine McRey,Virginia Room Geneology LibrarianGreat Falls Library

February TBDTibbetts Award BanquetThe Olde Brogue Restaurant 760 Walker RoadGreat Falls

Wednesday, 14 March, 7 PM12,000 Years in Our Upper Potomac, by Karen Washburn, GFHS HistorianGreat Falls Library

Sunday, 8 April, 4 PMPrivate John S. Mosby, First Virginia Cavalry, Picketing Fairfax County before Becoming the Gray Ghost, by Greg WilsonTalking About His New BookGreat Falls Library

Sunday, 9 May, 7 PMMay 9, 7:00 : “Washington in Flames”, presented by Carole L. Herrick author and historian, the sacking of Washington during the War of 1812 and the escape of President and Mrs. Madison through our area-Great Falls Library.

Saturday, 9 JuneHistoric House Tour, TBD

Wednesday, 4 JulyIndependence Day Parade GF Village Centre

The TD Bank is a Sponsor of the Great Falls Historical Society.


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By Laurie Rowe

GFCA Communications Committee

The Great Falls Citizens Associa-tion (GFCA) is an all-volunteerassociation representingroughly 5,000 households in

Great Falls. Our board of directors and com-munity volunteers advocate with local gov-ernment on issues and solutions that im-prove our community while working hardto retain our semi-rural character. We regu-larly deal with a range of projects from traf-fic, zoning, county and school budgets,beautification, to ground and stormwaterissues, trails, parks and the environment.

As just one example, over the past year,GFCA worked very closely with SunTrustBank on plans for its new bank building intown. The bank sought a special exceptionfrom the county and our Supervisor, JohnFoust, looked to GFCA to evaluate it. Work-ing closely with his office, the bank and resi-dents, we achieved changes to the archi-tecture ensuring compatibility with theneighboring Village Centre, additional land-scaping, and accommodations to protectseveral large oak trees.

GFCA has worked diligently to achieve thecompletion of an interconnected trail sys-tem that will allow residents to walk andbike from their neighborhoods safely to

other parts of Great Falls. The trail connectsour neighborhoods with our schools, parks,and main commercial center in the Village.Next year the section of the trail alongGeorgetown Pike from Seneca Road toUtterback Store Road will be complete, andin the year to follow, we expect the trail toextend all the way to the Village.

Since 1968, when the GFCA was founded,we have had many other successes includ-ing:

❖ Raised funds to purchase and restorethe town’s century old school house

❖ Prevented the county from building aheavy equipment maintenance facility at theintersection of Georgetown Pike and Route7

❖ Held a petition drive that stopped thedowngrading of Riverbend Park and its pro-grams

❖ Prevented a two lane left turn off Route7 onto Georgetown Pike at Seneca Road

❖ Protected our well water by obtaininga commitment for cleanup of MTBE con-taminants at the old Exxon station

❖ Worked with Fairfax ReLeaf to offer

native tree and shrub seedlings to residents.The GFCA board and community volun-

teers are currently working on the follow-ing major projects:

❖ Addressing neighborhood and trafficissues with the widening of Route 7 toTysons

❖ Working with the county on the pos-sible transition of Grange management tothe community

❖ Ensuring that county playing fields aresafe for soccer and lacrosse players

❖ Looking for solutions to calm increas-ingly dangerous driving on GeorgetownPike and neighboring streets

❖ Identifying new improvements in theWalker Road/Georgetown Pike intersectionfor pedestrian and traffic safety

❖ Working with our Supervisor and theNational Park Service to address unaccept-able traffic backups onto local roads at theentrance to the park.

If working to improve our town, and“Keeping Great Falls Great” is of interest toyou, we encourage you to become involvedin GFCA and any of our other local organi-zations. Our website has all of the detailsat www.gfca.org. You will also find re-sources helpful to new residents, and a goodsource of information about current eventsin Great Falls.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

The Great Falls Citizens Associationwelcomes you to town.Helping Keep Great Falls Great

Photos courtesy of GFCA

The Great Falls Citizens Association participates in 2017 July 4 parade inGreat Falls.



Celebrate Great Falls Foundation is theumbrella organization behind a numberof long standing Great Falls traditions.Community events like the Summer

Concerts on the Green held every Sunday eveningduring the summer from 6-8 p.m. on the Great FallsVillage Centre Green (behind the Old Brogue) or theupcoming Halloween Spooktactular held on Oct. 31from 5-7 p.m. in the Village as a way to provide ouryoungest residents with an opportunity to trick-or-treat and visit a “not too scary” Haunted House (runby Boy Scout Troop 55).

We have a small army of volunteers who deliverthose iconic Blue Welcome Bags to all of our newneighbors along with a personal welcome and invi-tation to an upcoming New Neighbor Social.

As winter approaches, we look forward to the light-ing of our community Christmas Tree at the Celebra-tion of Lights. Local school choral groups serenade

us, local businesses provide hot cocoa and cookiesand children enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo aswe eagerly await the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Clauson the antique fire truck to light the tree! Local busi-nesses compete each year in our annual HolidayDecorating Contest to see who can light up the nightbetter than anyone.

In February, we enjoy an annual Winter Wine Tast-ing that will be held at the Great Falls Grange for thefirst time this year. We are always looking for newtraditions to keep our community vibrant and werethrilled to spearhead the return of the Great FallsFireworks in 2015 as part of our Fourth of July fes-tivities that have included parades and celebrationsthroughout the day for decades!

The key to making Great Falls your home is to getinvolved. We promise that if you do, you will get toknow your extended neighborhood quickly and likelymake some lifelong friends along the way. Our com-munity spirit makes us unique and all of this is 100percent volunteer driven!

Many residents are surprised to hear that we donot receive any state or county funding. All of ourevents are privately funded by our generous spon-sors and organized by our volunteers — neighborslike you who may have lived here for 30+ years orjust moved in not long ago. Come be a part of it!

For more information about our events and waysto volunteer contact Erin Lobato [email protected] or visit ourwebsite www.celebrategreatfalls.org.

The key to makingGreat Falls your homeis to get involved

CelebratingGreat FallsYear-Round

Photo by Maggie Giordano

The Great Falls Freedom Memorial hostsannual ceremonies to honor those who

have served and sacrificed.



By Supervisor John W. Foust

(D-Dranesville District)

We are fortunate to have manywonderful parks, historicalfeatures and communityevents in the Dranesville

District. The following are some of my fa-vorites.

Clemyjontri Park,6317 Georgetown Pike, McLean

Since opening in 2006, more than200,000 visitors have enjoyed this uniqueplayground where children of all abilitiescan play side-by-side. Equipment allowschildren who have physical, sensory or de-velopmental disabilities to have a parallelplayground experience of fun and explora-tion. The park also includes a carousel andpicnic pavilion.

Riverbend Park,8700 Potomac Hills, Great Falls

This park offers over 400 acres of forests,meadows and ponds. Trails include a 2.5mile portion of the Potomac Heritage Trailthat links national and regional parkland.Kayaking, canoeing and fishing are all avail-able on the Potomac River. The nature cen-ter and picnic shelter are available for rent.

Colvin Run Park,10017 Colvin Run, Great Falls

Colvin Run Mill offers visitors a chanceto step back in time. There are tours of therestored mill, which was built around 1811.A general store offers stone ground corn-meal, wheat flour, grits, “penny candy” andsnacks and drinks. Trails are available forquiet walks. Live music, craft demonstra-tions, ice cream making and seasonal ac-tivities are available from February throughDecember.

Turner Farm,925 Springvale Road, Great Falls

Originally the site of a dairy farm, the 52-acre park offers a mix of educational andrecreational facilities. In 2016, a new roll-top observatory opened in Observatory Parkat Turner Farm. The observatory offers thepublic a chance to see the night sky fromone of Fairfax County’s darkest spotsthrough permanently mounted telescopes.The Analemma Society partners with thePark Authority to provide astronomy pro-grams at the observatory. Equestrians canenjoy a cross country course and a largemulti-purpose arena with stadium jumpsand dressage makers. Small children canenjoy a tot lot.

Runnymede Park,196 Herndon Parkway, Herndon

The Town of Herndon is located in theDranesville District. The town owns andmaintains this 58-acre park. It is the sitefor many community nature-related eventssuch as the annual Nature Fest. Situatednear the Sugarland Run Stream, the parkattracts over 100 species of birds, deer, foxand other wildlife. Two park shelters are

Spring Hill Recreation Center,1239 Spring Hill Road, McLean

Visitors can take advantage of the indoorswimming pool, a two-story fitness centerand a gymnasium with an elevated runningtrack. The gym features a single high school-sized basketball court with two overlay bas-ketball courts and a volleyball overlay court.

MPAartfest, McLean Central Park,1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean

Every October, the McLean Project for theArts converts McLean Central Park into afree, one-day festival of the arts. Thousandsof area residents attend. Vendor tents dis-play the works of numerous juried artists,which are complemented by the exhibitionsof children’s’ and seniors’ artwork, an OpenStudio demonstration, and performances bylocal musicians.

Great Falls Freedom Memorial,9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls(behind the library)

Dedicated in 2004, the memorial plazaon the library grounds honors local mili-tary personnel, firefighters, police officers,the six Great Falls residents who died in theSept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and otherswho have made the ultimate sacrifice todefend our liberty and freedom. The ser-vice on 9/11 is very moving.

McLean Day, Lewinsville Park,1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean

Sponsored by the McLean CommunityCenter, McLean Day is held on the thirdSaturday in May. The festival features liveentertainment, carnival rides, exhibitionsand delicious foods for visitors of all ages.The event also includes booths where arti-sans, local businesses, civic organizations,nonprofit groups, and local officials show-case their wares.

Great Falls ParkThis National Park consists of 800 acres

along the banks of the Potomac River. Thepark is a wonderful place to hike, picnic andsimply view the majestic falls and rapids,often navigated by kayakers. Entrance is atthe intersection of Georgetown Pike and OldDominion Drive, Great Falls.

Dulles Station Community Park,13707 Sayward Blvd., Herndon

This recently completed 2.6-acre parkincludes playgrounds for preschoolers andelementary-age children, as well as a seat-ing area, fitness area, multi-use court, trailand a dog park with a shade pavilion.

Farmers MarketsIn addition to the Fairfax County Farm-

ers Markets held from May through Novem-ber in Herndon and McLean on Thursdayand Friday mornings, respectively, the GreatFalls Community Farmers Market is held onSaturday mornings year-round. The FamersMarkets are a great way to shop local. Visitfairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/or greatfallsfarmersmarket.org/

available for rental.

Scotts Run Nature Preserve,7400 Georgetown Pike, McLean

One of the few nature preserves in theCounty. The 336-acre preserve, formerlyknown as the Burling Tract, had at one timebeen slated for development. Scotts Runoffers wonderful hiking trails of varyingdifficulty, some of them leading to the bluffsof the Potomac River.

Wolf Trap National Park for thePerforming Arts,1635 Trap Road, Vienna

Known simply as Wolf Trap. The 117-acrepark is home to the beautiful Filene Center,The Barnes and the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. Each summer there are over 100performance across all genres. There arealso year-round recreational opportunities,including hiking trails, picnic areas, andsledding.

Supervisor John W. Foust on placeshe would like newcomers to see.The Best of Dranesville District

photo contributed

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts offers performances andmusical education year-round.

Riverbend Park offers over 400 acres of forest, meadows and ponds.

ClemyjontriPark: A uniqueplaygroundwhere childrenof all abilitiescan play side-by-side.

Photos courtesy of

Supervisor John Foust’s office



Great Falls Rotary is part of theoldest service organization inthe country, tracing its originsto the original founding of Ro-

tary in 1905. Today there are over 1.2 mil-lion members, 30,400 clubs in over 200countries all united with a simple mission– “Service Above Self.” Since the founding,the Great Falls club has worked on multiplelocal, national, and even internationalprojects. In addition, their Rotary Youth In-teract program has been a valuable asset tothe club and provides young men andwomen an opportunity to get involved withmultiple projects throughout the year aswell.

The Great Falls Rotary club meets weeklyfor breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at RiverBend Golf and Country Club in Great Falls.Each meeting features various guest speak-ers throughout the year. Their first guestspeaker six years ago at the inaugural meet-ing was Supreme Court Justice AntoninScalia. Since that time they have heard fromlocal artists, authors, activists, entrepre-

neurs, state and county officials, Congress-men and even Presidential candidates.

The recently elected president of theGreat Falls Rotary, Vishal Chawla, sums itup best: “Great Falls Rotary Club is now sixyears strong. We are a friendly group ofapproximately 55 members that is non-po-litical, non-religious and whose memberscome from a wide range of occupations.Like all Rotary Clubs, we aim to serve thecommunity (locally, nationally and interna-tionally) and to have some fun.”

The Great Falls Rotary always welcomesinquiries from like-minded people who wantto “give back” and be involved in commu-nity. If you would like to know more aboutwhat they do, attend one of their weeklybreakfast meetings or one of monthly happyhours. The friendships and camaraderiethat’s grown over the years through this clubis reflected in the many service projects theyundertake and the multiple causes they sup-port each and every year, as a team.Visit portal.clubrunner.ca/8198 for addi-tional information.

Great Falls Rotary onMission to ‘Give Back’

Great Falls Rotary Interact youth group raised $5,000 for Lynchburg’shabitat program

The currentpresident of

Great FallsRotary Vishal

Chawla andcurrent vice

president ButchSevila picturedwith the Club’s

float at theFourth of Julycelebration in

Great Falls.

Photos

contributed


Select Openings for 2017-2018

www.vgdsva.com703-759-4049

790 Walker Road, Great Falls, Virginia

• Mommy & Me• Preschool Ages 2 & Up• Montessori Preschool• Extended Day Programs• School Age Childcare K-6

Community Guide

Rory Mogle, 5Sarah Mogle, 6Norah Mogle, 3

Visitors come to Great Falls National Park for views of the iconic falls and MatherGorge.

There is plenty of space for picnicking,with tables and grills available on a first-come basis.

Shady open spaces and accessible pathsmake for comfortable, family-friendlyadventures into Great Falls National Park.


A RealFrench Bistroin the Heartof McLeanSince 1981

Call for Reservations

703-790-51646627 Old Dominion DriveMcLean, VA

McLean Square Mall

CocktailsMajor Credit Cards

www.cafetatti.com

New Patio Openfor Outdoor

Seating

We Have FreshSoft Shell Crabs

Retail • Office Space • Available for Lease • 703-759-2485 • [email protected]

Follow us on Facebook for event announcements!Facebook.com/GreatFallsVillageCentre

SHOP GREAT FALLS!Great Falls Village Centrewww.GreatFallsVillageCentre.com

The Great Falls Village Centre is located around the lovely village green in theheart of Great Falls, Virginia. We have been part of Great Falls, Virginia throughout itsextensive growth and development and have worked hand in hand with the residentsof Great Falls to enhance and build the sense of community that is prevalent today. Weoffer boutique shopping, delicious restaurants and quality services right in the center oftown.

There is always something fun going on at the Village Centre, from weekendevents like Cars & Coffee and the Farmers Market to Summer Concerts on the Green,4th of July Parade, annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Halloween Spook-tacular, art exhibi-tions and more! Visit our Website: www.GreatFallsVillageCentre.com or just stop by andsee why the Great Falls Village Centre is not only located in the center of town, but trulyis the “heart” of the community.

Professionals (AHCP), for over 20 years has providedhome health care and hospice for all of Northern Virginia.Founded in 1995, AHCP is a Community BasedOrganization (CBO) and is Joint Commission Accredited.AHCP specializes in Skilled Nurses (RN), Physical

Therapists (PT), Mental Health Nurses and Home Heath aides.They are providers of medicare/medicaid and all major insurances. The company provides a com-prehensive, patient-centric model inclusive of: Home Health, Telehealth, Mobile Health, GlobalHealth, and Wellness Programs. AHCP’s expert staff also serves as great resource concerninghealth care needs for you or your family.

Your most reliable choice for computer repair inGreat Falls Village Centre and surrounding northernVirginia. At GeekABC Computer Repair, fixes Windowsand Mac desktop and laptop computers, and providesnetwork support for homes and businesses. They under-stand that computers are a vital part of your life, and theyknow how everything can come to a standstill even if the

slightest problem occurs in your computer or network. GeekABC technicians are experienced inrepairing both PC and Mac computers, upgrading and replacing memory, addressing issues withoperating systems, hard drives, motherboards, power supplies, viruses, spyware, and malware, andconfiguring software, data backups, data recovery, network security, wireless networks, and morewith in-shop, on-site, and remote tech support. Services provided at a low price and no hiddenfees.

River Nails & Spa is a new kind of neighborhoodnail salon founded on the idea that getting a manicureand pedicure should be downright lovely. River is yournew luxury nail care destination that will redefine whata mani/pedi means to you. Sanitation and satisfaction isour priority. Collaborations with our favorite beautycompanies ensure our signature services and exclusiveproducts deliver results. Get River Nails & Spa treat you!

Visit the Great FallsVillage Centre!

Wal

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renc

e

Adeler Jewelers...............................703-759-4076AdGen Telecom..............................703-757-6757Allstate Insurance/Doug White.........703-759-7700Aquarian LLC .................................. 703-438-8838Artists on the Green.........................703-609-3092Arts of Great Falls ............................703-232-1575Capital Realty Services ................... 703-759-4900Dent Asset Management.................703-286-7555Dr. C. Ayers ..................................... 703-757-6445Executive Suites at Great Falls .........703-865-2500First Line Financial, Inc. ...................703-757-7393Geek ABC. ......................................703-828-1649Georgetown Learning Centers ........ 703-759-3624Great Falls Creamery. .....................703-272-7609Great Falls Cycle Studio..................703-585-5631Great Falls Family Dentistry..............703-759-4707H2O Pools ....................................... 703-250-5585Jinny Beyer Studio...........................703-759-0250Katie’s Coffee House.......................703-759-2759Lauren Liess Interiors........................571-926-7825Loebig Chiropractic........................703-757-5817New Paradigm Capital Mgmt..........703-757-4802Old Brogue Irish Pub........................703-759-3309Pilates Place, LLC............................703-405-3371Pio Pio Restaurant ........................... 703-865-7700Postmodern Foods...........................213-440-2257River Nail and Spa .......................... 703-746-8886Robert Mobley, AIA Architect...........703-759-1927School of Theatrical Dance.............703-759-5652Spectrum Property Management .... 703-307-2965The Great Falls Salon.......................703-759-4758Village Centre Mgmt Office ............ 703-759-2485Village Retreat/Massage Therapy....703-638-4852Wells Fargo Bank.............................703-757-1040Wild Ginger Restaurant ................... 703-759-5040

Newcomers

See Nonprofits, Page 18

Great FallsNonprofits: MakingCommunity WorkCelebrate Great Falls

Celebrate Great Falls hosts annualevents such as the Celebration of LightsChristmas tree lighting and a Fourth ofJuly Parade, and raises funds for thethree local elementary schools with acharity golf tournament. CelebrateGreat Falls is currently looking for vol-unteers to help with general tasks, eventplanning and marketing. 571-293-0474,www.celebrategreatfalls.org

Great Falls Rotary Club andFoundation

Now in its fifth year, the Great FallsRotary Club has volunteered at commu-nity parks, planned shoe drives andsupported the USO. Members comefrom a variety of different professions,and it is not necessary to live in GreatFalls to join. [email protected] orwww.rotarygreatfalls.org/.

Friends of Colvin Run MillFriends of Colvin Run Mill is dedi-

cated to assisting the Fairfax CountyPark Authority enhance the Colvin RunMill Historic Site and its educationalprograms. The restored Colvin Run Mill,a working example of 19th century wa-ter powered grist milling technology,serves as an educational focal point forvisitors, children and families. 703-759-2771 or http://friendsofcolvinrunmill.org/

Friends of the Great FallsLibrary

Friends of the Great Falls Library is agroup that raises money to expand com-munity events and programs forchildren and at the Great Falls Library,located at 9830 Georgetown Pike. 703-757-8560 or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/friends/gf/

Great Falls Area Ministries,formerly Great Falls Ecu-menical Council

The Great Falls Area Ministries hasmembers from eight churches in GreatFalls. The members share a commitmentto worship, fellowship and service. TheGFAM support various social and out-reach programs and sponsor jointworship on Good Friday and Easter.They meet on the first Thursday of eachmonth September through June in alter-nating member church buildings. EmailCarol Wesley Wright at:[email protected]

Great Falls Optimist ClubA group of individuals committed to

programs that educate youth and helpthem expand their horizons and avoidpitfalls as they mature. The Optimistsrun a “Just Say No” program and anoratorical contest and have sponsoredthe Adeler Jewelers Children’s Festival.They sponsor boys and girls softball andbaseball teams and Operation Smile.w w w . o p t i m i s t . o r g /ClubDetail.cfm?club=16080

Great Falls TrailblazersThe Trailblazers support develop-

ment and maintenance of multi-purposetrails in Great Falls. They have securedclose to $2 million in grants to constructthe Georgetown and Walker Road trails,sponsor annual stream clean-ups, andare looking for volunteers to help withtrail maintenance. They monitor devel



Voting early if you qualify is a goodchoice.

There are 19 valid reasons tovote absentee in Virginia, includ-

ing working and commuting to and fromhome for 11 or more hours between 6 a.m.and 7 p.m. on Election Day. Check the Vir-ginia Department of Elections list to see ifyou are eligible: elections.virginia.gov/cast-ing-a-ballot/absentee-voting/index.html

There are two ways to vote absentee, in-person and by mail. To do either, you shouldfirst check your voter registration status tomake sure it is up-to-date. Then you willneed to apply for an absentee ballot. Note:If you vote absentee in-person you will fillout the application when you arrive at thein-person absentee location (see locationsbelow). Voting absentee by mail? Read be-low for the process of applying for yourmail-in ballot.

You can now apply for an absentee ballotonline with the state’s new Citizen Portal.You will need your Social Security Numberand information on your Virginia Driver’sLicense to complete the application. Infor-mation is also provided on how to apply ifyou do not have a driver’s license.

Virginia Voter IDVirginia has voter identification require-

ments, plan to bring photo identificationwith you to vote, whether that is absenteeor on Election Day.

Among accepted ID: valid VirginiaDriver’s License or Identification Card;valid Virginia DMV issued Veteran’s IDcard; valid U.S. Passport; other govern-ment-issued photo identification cards is-sued by the U.S. Government, the Com-monwealth of Virginia, or a political sub-division of the Commonwealth; valid col-lege or university student photo identifi-cation card from an institution of highereducation located in Virginia; valid studentID issued by a public school or privateschool in Virginia displaying a photo; em-ployee identification card containing aphotograph of the voter and issued by an

employer of the voter in the ordinarycourse of the employer’s business.

Any registered voter who does not haveone of the required forms of identificationcan apply for a free Virginia Voter PhotoIdentification from any general registrar’soffice in the Commonwealth. Voters apply-ing for the Virginia Voter Photo ID completethe Virginia Voter Photo Identification CardApplication, have their picture taken, andsign the digital signature pad. Once theapplication is processed, the card will bemailed directly to the voter.

A voter who does not bring an acceptablephoto ID to the polls will be offered a pro-visional ballot.

Provisional Ballot Process forVoters Who Arrive Without ID

If you arrive at your polling place on Elec-tion Day without an acceptable form ofphoto identification, don’t panic or give up.You will be given the opportunity to vote aprovisional ballot. After completing the pro-visional ballot, the individual voting will begiven written instructions from the electionofficials on how to submit a copy of his/heridentification so that his/her vote can becounted.

A voter will have until noon on the Fri-day following the election to deliver a copyof the identification to the local electoralboard or to appear in person to apply for aVirginia Voter Photo ID Card. Voters maysubmit a copy of their ID via fax, email, in-person submission, or through USPS orcommercial delivery service. Please notethat the copy of the ID must be delivered tothe electoral board by noon on Friday, orthe provisional ballot cannot be counted.

Also by noon on Friday following the elec-tion, the voter may appear in-person in theoffice of the general registrar, in the local-ity in which the provisional ballot was cast,and apply for a Virginia Voter Photo ID Card.At the completion of the application pro-cess, the voter may request a TemporaryIdentification Document. This documentmay be provided to the electoral board tosuffice the identification requirement.

Every year is election year in Virginia;mechanics and details of voting requireattention to detail.

How To Vote School Bonds on BallotThere is a $315 million public school bonds referendum on the Nov. 7 general election

ballot. If approved by voters, the Fairfax County Public Schools’ current plans to use this bondmoney are to:

❖ Plan and/or construct two new elementary schools, one in Fairfax/Oakton area andanother in the Northwest county area.

❖ Relocate one modular building❖ Plan additions at three existing high schools to add capacity at Madison, Stuart and West

Potomac.❖ Plan and/or construct renovations of 10 elementary schools, three middle schools and two

high schools.See www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities-planning-future/2017-school-bond-referendum.

Special ElectionAug. 29, 2017 Special Election, School Board At-LargeAll county polling places will be open on Aug. 29 to fill a vacancy for member, School Board

At-Large for the remainder of the present term of office which expires Dec. 31, 2019.In-Person Absentee voting is underway until Aug. 26❖ Aug 26: Final Day In-Person Absentee Voting❖ Aug 29: Absentee Ballot Return Deadline, 7 p.m.Four candidates are on the ballot:Chris S. GrisafeSandra D. AllenKaren A. Keys-GamarraMichael H. OwensFor more on the school board race, see www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2017/jul/

31/low-turnout-high-stakes-special-election-school-bo/

GovernorRalph S. Northam (D)Edward W. “Ed” Gillespie (R)Clifford D. Hyra (L)

Lieutenant GovernorJustin E. Fairfax (D)Jill H. Vogel (R)

Attorney GeneralMark R. Herring (D)*John D. Adams (R)

House of Delegates (100) (2-yearterm)34th District

Kathleen Murphy (D) incumbentCheryl Buford (R)

35th DistrictMark Keam (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

36th DistrictKen Plum (D) incumbent, unopposed

37th DistrictDavid Bulova (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

38th DistrictKay Kory (D) incumbentPaul Haring (R)

39th DistrictVivian Watts (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

40th DistrictDonte Tanner (D)Tim Hugo (R) incumbent

41st DistrictEileen Filler-Corn (D) incumbent,

unopposed

42nd DistrictKathy Tran (D)Lolita Mancheno-Smoak (R)

43rd DistrictMark Sickles (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

44th DistrictPaul Krizek (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

45th DistrictMark Levine (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

46th DistrictCharniele Herring (D) incumbent,

unopposed

47th DistrictPatrick Hope (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

48th DistrictRip Sullivan (D) incumbent, unop-

posed

49th DistrictAlfonso Lopez (D) incumbentAdam Roosevelt (R)

53rd DistrictMarcus Simon (D) incumbentMike Case (I)

67th DistrictKarrie Delaney (D)Jim LeMunyon (R) incumbent

86th DistrictJennifer Boysko (D) incumbentLinda Schultz (R)

ON THE BALLOT in Fairfax County:

On Election Day Polls are open from 6a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 7.

To determine whether eligible andregistered to vote in this election, visit theVirginia Department of Elections websiteat elections.virginia.gov/ or call FairfaxElections office at 703-222-0776.

To vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 6 a.m.-7p.m. (General Election)

❖ Register/update address by: Monday,Oct. 16.

❖ Request absentee ballot by mail by: 5

p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.❖ Vote early (in-person absentee ballot

by appearing in person by 5 p.m. Satur-day, Nov. 4.

For more information on voting inFairfax County:

Voter Registration: 703-222-0776, TTY711

Absentee Fax: 703-324-3725Email: [email protected] Officer Info: 703-324-4735,

TTY 711

General Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7


SaturdayThat special time when neighbors gather...

Beholding the fruits of our local farmers’ labor…

Appreciating artisan creations… Greeting each other…

Enjoying community… Honoring local…

Great Falls Farmers MarketTreasuring Heritage, Home, Habitat

Great Falls Village Centre778 Walker Road

Saturdays9:00 AM to 1:00PM

www.GreatFallsFarmersMarket.org

www.Facebook/GreatFallsCommunityFarmersMarket

Local farmers • One-of-a-kind vendors • Community matters

Fruits, Vegetables, Grass-Fed, Pastured Meats, Wild-Caught Salmon & Other Fish, Mushrooms Spices,

Herbs, Curries, Zaatar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Empanadas, Quiches, Souffles, Pot Pies, Soups,

Vegan Fresh Prepared Organic Meals, Pastries, Breads, Pies, Cakes, Artisan Crafts, History


The 5 starrestaurant,L’Auberge ChezFrancois,located at 332SpringvaleRoad, givesresidents ataste of France.

The Old Brogue, locatedat 760 Walker Road C,is a common spot for

community members torelax and socialize with

great food and drinks.

Postcards fromGreat Falls

Photos by

Maggie Giordano/

The Connection



YEAR-ROUND FUNCars and Coffee. Every Saturday

morning, 6-9 a.m. Katie’s CoffeeHouse, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls.Come grab a coffee and enjoy themany cars on show. Antique, classicand new … they are all here. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org/cars-and- coffee/

September 2017SATURDAY-SUNDAY/SEPT. 2-324th Annual Middle Eastern Food

Festival. Holy TransfigurationMelkite Greek-Catholic Church, 8501Lewinsville Road, McLean. Saturday:11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday: noon – 6p.m. Smell the aromas from theoutdoor grills, partake of Shawarma,Chicken Kebabs, Falafel, Fattoush,Hummus, and Stuffed Grape Leaves,or any number of other deliciousmenu choices, including a RoastLamb Dinner served on Saturdayfrom 6-9 and all day on Sunday.Then relax with a cup of coffee andmouth-watering pastry. Once you’vesatisfied your appetite, join in theDebke dance (instructors will teachyou how), participate in a game ofbackgammon or chess, visit thevendors, or take a tour of the church.The Festival will be held rain orshine. Admission and parking arefree. Call 703-734-9566 or visitmiddleeasternfoodfestival.com/festival/

SEPT. 7-9Quarterly Book Sale. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.;

Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at theTysons Library, 7700 and 7704Leesburg Pike. Large selection ofbooks and media for all ages andinterests. [email protected] or703-338-3307.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 9Food for Others Tysons 5k and

Fun Run. 8a.m. Food For Others isan important part of NorthernVirginia’s safety net for those needingfood when an emergency strikes andfor the growing number of workingpoor who are unable to make endsmeet and need to supplement theirinadequate food supplies.Registration: $35 through Sept. 7 at8 p.m. $40 during packet pick up andon race day. Visitwww.foodforothers.org/5k/

Virginia Indian Festival. RiverbendPark, 8700 Potomac Hills St., GreatFalls. 10 a.m. The festival includeseight American Indian tribes fromVirginia including the Rappahannockdancers and drummers. Enjoy handson activities and live demonstrationsincluding American Indianstorytelling, shooting bow andarrows, throwing spears and makingstone tools. Also, assist in building adugout canoe and visit ourmarketplace of American Indiancrafts, pottery and jewelry. Tickets:$7-$9. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park/

Movies on the Green. Beauty and theBeast (Live action version). 7:30 p.m.Come join us on the Village Green,on these Saturday evenings, to enjoya free movie and popcorn courtesy ofour sponsors. Blankets, chairs andpicnics are all welcome for a family-friendly evening of movies under thestars! Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org/movies-on- the-green/

SEPT. 9-20Northern Virginia Senior

Olympics. Various venues aroundNorthern Virginia. Events includebadminton, volleyball, bocce,miniature golf, and many more. The

basic registration fee is $13. A fee of$1 is required for each event.Additional fees may apply. Visitnvso.us/.

SATURDAY/SEPT. 16McLean Fall Community Garage

Sale. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1420 BeverlyRoad, McLean, behind StaybridgeSuites Hotel. Admission is free. Thedeadline to apply is Wednesday,Sept. 13, or until sold out. Call 703-744-9365 or [email protected].

SATURDAY/SEPT. 23Fun Fall Bazaar and Market. 9

a.m.-3 p.m. at 10100 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Great Falls UMCAnnual sale Shops, bake sale, books,silent auction, children’s activities,Appraisal Roadshow, and BBQdinner. Call Lois 703-759-2843.

SUNDAY/SEPT. 24Teddy Bear 5K and 1K. 2-6 p.m. at

Pimmit Hills Park, 7230 IdylwoodRoad. All proceeds from this event goto Falls Church-McLean Children’sCenter. Visit potomac.enmotive.com/events.

SEPT. 29-OCT. 1Annual Used Book Sale. Friday 9

a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.,and Sunday noon-4 p.m. at theSpring Hill Recreation Center, 1239Spring Hill Road, McLean. Hosted bythe McLean Area Branch of the

American Association of UniversityWomen (AAUW) featuring theauction of a signed WashingtonNational Max Scherzer shirt and cap.Visit www.aauw.org/.

October 2017SATURDAY/OCT. 1McLean Project for the Arts

ArtFest. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. McLeanCentral Park, 1468 Dolley MadisonBlvd., McLean, VA 22102. The park istransformed into a lively landscape ofmini art galleries showcasing andoffering for sale the work ofacclaimed artists from the Mid-Atlantic region. Visitwww.mpaart.org

SATURDAY/OCT. 7Stuff the Truck Food Drive. 9 a.m.-4

p.m. at Safeway, 9881 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Benefit forCommittee for Helping Others (CHO)and Artemis House to provideemergency food aid to those in needin Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring andMerrifield. Artemis House is FairfaxCounty’s only 24-hour emergencyshelter for victims of domestic andsexual violence, stalking and humantrafficking. Sponsored by The Churchof Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsand the Great Falls Baha’is as part ofthe regional Day to Serve initiative.Visit www.daytoserve.org/.

Oktoberfest. 11a.m.-7 p.m. HistoricChurch Street.Enjoy a traditionalOktoberfest Festival with drinks,

food, entertainment, and games forfamilies. Visitwww.viennaoktoberfest.org/

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/ OCT. 21-22Claude Moore Colonial Farm 1771

Market Fair. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Inthe fall, warm yourself by the firesand enjoy the splendor of autumnwith crisp local apples, warm savorymeat pies and hearty breads. LetMarket Fair entertainers, tradesmen,and the militia amuse and educateyou. Visit 2017.1771.org/marketfair/

TUESDAY/OCT. 31Halloween Spooktacular. 5-7 p.m.

Trick or treat! Children up to age 12are encouraged to wear their favoriteHalloween costume, experience theHaunted House, and enjoy trick ortreating with local merchants in asafe environment right in the heart oftown. Pets, on leashes, are welcometo join in the Pet Parade (4-4:45pm)dressed up in a favorite costume.Visit www.celebrategreatfalls.org/spooktacular.

November 2017TUESDAY/NOV. 7Election Day. General Election and

Special Elections. Visitwww.elections.virginia.gov/voter-outreach/upcoming-elections.html

SATURDAY-SUNDAY/NOV. 18-19Alden Fall Production: “Peggy the

Pint-Sized Pirate.” Old Firehouse,1440 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.Peggy is a small pirate with bigdreams but has bigger piratesstanding in her way. When a seamonster captures her friends, canPeggy find a way to save them? Freeadmission. Young actors who areinterested in participating in theshow can find detailed informationunder Theatre, Classes for Childrenat mcleancenter.org/alden-theatre.

SUNDAY/DEC. 3McLean WinterFest Parade. 2-

5p.m.The parade route will run downOld Chain Bridge Road fromFleetwood Road and ending at ElmStreet. Visit: www.mcleanvfd.org/winter-fest- parade/

Home for the Holidays ChamberMusic at the Barns. 1635 TrapRoad Vienna, VA 22182. 3p.m. TheWSB promises a resoundingcelebration of the holiday season.$45. Visit www.wolftrap.org/

2018SATURDAY/FEB. 242018 Winter Wine Tasting. Great

Falls Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. 7-10 p.m. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org/winter-wine- tasting/

FRIDAYS-SUNDAYS/MARCH 9-24McLean Community Players

“Harvey.” 8p.m. Fridays andSaturdays, 2p.m. on Sundays. TheGrange Theatre, 9818 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. “Harvey,” the 1944Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy is awhimsical “forget-all- your-worries”flight of fancy, principally poweredby the endearing eccentricities ofElwood P. Dowd, a middle-agedbachelor who, in his own words,wrestled with reality all his life but“finally won out over it.” Tickets for“Harvey” at the Grange may bepurchased at the door, online, or byphone through Brown Paper Ticketsat 800-838- 3006. Visitwww.mcleanplayers.org.

SUNDAY/MAR. 25Annual Children’s Spring Festival.

Tickets on sale at 12:30 p.m. Join usfor this long-running annual favoriteat Great Falls Village Centre, 776Walker Road, Great Falls. This eventis sponsored by Adeler Jewelers andthe Great Falls Optimist Club. Visitwww.greatfallsvillagecentre.com.

APRIL 21-28Historic Garden Week. Visit

www.vagardenweek.org/

SATURDAY/MAY 19McLean Day. 11a.m-5p.m. Lewinsville

Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road,McLean. Admission: Free. Bring thefamily and enjoy McLean’s biggestannual event. This event drawsapproximately 11,000+ patronsthroughout the day. Vote for yourfavorite MCC candidate, enjoy liveentertainment, exhibitors, sponsors,food trucks, large and small carnivalrides, amusements, games, balloonanimals, a tennis clinic and more.Visit www.mcleancenter.org.

SATURDAY-MONDAY/MAY 26-28ViVa! Vienna! A family and community

oriented celebration of Memorial Dayand the greater Vienna Communityspirit. Visit vivavienna.org.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY/JUNE 8-10Celebrate Fairfax! Northern Virginia’s

largest annual three-day festival andcommunity-wide celebration at theFairfax County Government Center,12000 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax. Visit celebratefairfax.com/ orcall 703-324- 3247.

WEDNESDAY/JULY 44th of July Hometown

Celebration, Parade andFireworks. 5K, Parade andHometown Celebration at Great FallsVillage Centre, 776 Walker Road,Great Falls. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Visitwww.celebrategreatfalls.org/4th-of-july-celebration- parade/.

AUGUSTVietFest. The Plaza at Tysons Corner

1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.Saturday: 10a.m.-10p.m. Sunday:11am-8pm. Entrance to festival isfree. Events include Miss VietFestPageant, Mister VietFest andVietFest’s Got Talent. Visitwww.vietfest.com/

Skaters waltz on an imaginary iced pond; some slip andfall at Meadowlark Gardens’ Winter Walk of Lights.

Santa Clausrode on topof the McLeanVolunteer FireDepartment’sfire truck.


Newcomers

By Kathleen Murphy

Market Manager

We are very proud ofour community.Many familieshave been growing

their own vegetable gardens thissummer. Many have had successesbeyond their wildest dreams.However, some had hoped formore, while others are a bit dis-appointed. The food-to-table goalis to collapse the number of play-ers involved in the supply of yourfamily’s food from the garden tothe dinner plate – the simpler andmore direct, the better. Bringing atomato in from your backyard isabout as seamless as you can get!

We know you have many excel-lent choices for healthy food thissummer. Procuring beyond yourbackyard, there are farmers mar-kets just about every day of theweek throughout Fairfax Countyand surrounding areas. There areexcellent organic, grass-fed, pas-tured, whole plant supermarketsand grocery stores just a shortdrive away, and the local super-market has added organic produceto satisfy your family’s require-ments. Further, there are also de-livery services that provide all theingredients for a farmers-marketquality meal all boxed up and pro-portioned and delivered right toyour door.

Fruitful wishes from the Great FallsCommunity Farmers Market.

To Your Health!

My very first cantaloupe.

See Health, Page 19

My very firsthome-grown

watermelon –so far, aboutthe size of a

grapefruit, butstill growing.

Photos

contributed


Seven Corners PetSmart6100 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA

Labor Day WeekendSunday-Monday, Sept. 3-4, 12-3 p.m.

Join us for family fun!Dogs, cats, puppies & kittens for adoption

Reduced adoption fees for alumniBake Sale & Raffle ... and more!

More info at lostdogrescue.org

Adoptorama2017


opment to ensure compliance withthe trails designated in FairfaxCounty’s Comprehensive Plan trailsmap and actively work to completetrails on Georgetown Pike andWalker Road.greatfallstrailblazers.org/ [email protected]

Great Falls Friends andNeighbors Club

Are you a woman living in the Lan-gley High School District or TheEstates of Lowes Island? If so, weinvite you to check out Great FallsFriends and Neighbors Club (GFFN)at www.gffnva.org. The purpose ofGFFN is to establish and foster an at-mosphere in which new and currentresidents of the Langley High SchoolDistrict and the Estates of Lowes Is-land can develop new friendshipsand community contacts throughsocial, educational and cultural ac-tivities. In addition, the club providesservice, support and donations tophilanthropic and civic organizationsin and around the Great Falls com-munity. For more details about theclub email [email protected] or visit

www.gffnva.org.

Turner Farm StakeholdersFormed in 2014, Turner Farm Stake-

holders is a group of volunteers thatdeveloped from Save the Farm, a volun-teer organization founded in 1996 toraise money and community awarenessto preserve the Turner Farm in GreatFalls as a public park. Stakeholders sup-port The Turner Farm’s equestrianjumping and dressage arena, cross coun-try course, Observatory Park, July 4fireworks, barn and farmhouse, residentcurator program and itinerant indi-vidual pursuits like walking, jogging,observing nature and experiencing openspace. www.facebook.com/T u r n e r S t a k e h o l d e r s ,[email protected], BettyNalls Swartz: 703-759-2378 or BeverlyBradford Crawford: 703-406-2487

Save Marmota FarmSave Marmota Farm (SMF), formed

in July, 2015, is dedicated to preservingas a public park the 22.8 acre MarmotaFarm located at 9800 Georgetown Pikein Great Falls. Marmota Farm has about1,000 feet of road frontage onGeorgetown Pike (Route 193), which

was named Virginia’s first official“scenic byway” in 1974.

A $94 million park bond referen-dum that will go before FairfaxCounty voters on Nov. 8, 2016 couldprovide funding for acquiring part ofit. SMF is constructively workingwith the landowner’s agents and theFairfax County Park Authority to pre-serve this beautiful property as“natural open space for public ben-efit.”

Visit Save Marmota Farm onFacebook or email organizer AndrewRoesell [email protected]

Traveling Players En-semble

Traveling Players Ensemble is anot-for-profit professional theatrecompany based in Great Falls dedi-cated to bringing great theatre intothe great outdoors through a thrivingsummer camp and year-round actingclasses and workshops. Volunteeropportunities include working in theoffice, assisting with costume and setconstruction and helping with spe-cial events. 703-987-1712 orwww.travelingplayers.org/.

From Page 13

Great Falls Nonprofits: Making Community Work

What are some of the greatest things about living in Great Falls?Viewpoints

Leslie Byers, Educa-tional Administratorat GeorgetownUniversity, 22 yearsin Great Falls

“I love the naturalbeauty of Great Falls. Theopen space allowed ourkids to grow up with agreat open back yard andgreat schools as well.”

David Evans, Psy-chotherapist, Pri-vate Practice, 22years in Great Falls

“What I enjoy is the na-tional park, good schools,and the Brogue. It is sucha great community withgood neighbors.”

Christopher Davis,Retired Lawyer, 26years in Great Falls

“The high end vendorsand stores have the bestof everything. You don’thave to shop around. Youknow if they are goodenough for Great Falls,they are good enough forme.”

Linda Waitkus,Owner/ Manager ofGreat Dogs of GreatFalls, 13 years inGreat Falls

“I love the communityand the different annualevents such as Fourth ofJuly and the Halloweenparade. There are differ-ent reasons to get to-gether in Great Falls tocelebrate community.”

Jackie Collins, TherapeuticRiding Instructor and YogaTeacher, 20 years in GreatFalls

“The fact that it is so close toD.C. and yet it is still in the coun-try. I think being outside in thewoods and nature is beneficial toeverybody. It helps your state ofmind and your physical healthoutside of work. Also, there is abig dog and horse community,two of my loves, which allows meto meet a lot of people with simi-lar interests.”

Photos by

Maggie Giordano/

The Connection


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Newcomers

From Page 17

AND THEN THERE IS US …Great Falls’ own in-town commu-nity farmers market. We like tothink of ourselves as a “boutique”– we do not have everything a gro-cery store or larger farmers mar-ket would have, but everything wehave is unique and special – andcarefully curated with yourfamily’s best interest in mind. Westrive to create a place where“community” – a sense of our veryspecial “semi-rural village” - is feltand experienced.

This past May 13, the Saturdaybefore Mother’s Day, we gave our“farmers-market kids” a plant totake home and plant for Mother’sDay – either a watermelon, a can-taloupe, or an herb. It would take75 days for the fruit-bearing plantsto bear fruit. We haven’t heard anyreports back on successes. How-ever, I do have one success to re-port: I had three plants left overand I set them on the ground inthe sun and dumped two bags oforganic soil over the top of theirroots (i.e., I did not dig a hole – Iguess you would call this a raisedbed.) I did keep my eye out forsufficient water, sunlight and roomto spread out, but my expectationswere very modest. To my amaze-ment and delight, I have somebaby watermelons on the way –my very first crop ever! I am soexcited, I am beside myself! Welook forward to hearing aboutother successes…let us know ifyour plant grew.

Summer is the season whenfarmers market shoppers particu-larly desire fresh fruit. This sum-mer, most fruits and summer veg-etables were harvested late due tothe changeable spring weatherand the wet summer. Visitors came

sunlight, while eliminating weedsand pests that halt progress. It re-quires consistency and personalaccountability.

THE BOTANISTS DEFINITIONof a fruit is a seedbearing struc-ture formed after flowering. Ediblefruits propagate with the move-ments of humans and animals ina symbiotic relationship – as weare nourished by eating the fruit,we also disperse the seeds in dif-ferent places, ensuring the long-term survival of the fruit. Similarly,as we cultivate the fruits of thespirit by tending to, and seekingto correct our thoughts, words anddeeds to align with spirit – we par-ticipate in the spreading of spirit’sfruits within our community. Thissummer, it seems that many havelost their bearings. Let’s remem-ber the divine sweetness of spirit’sfruits and start a spiritual orchard!

To YourHealth!

Photo contributed

A young man feeling the music of The Difficult Run StringBand and dancing his heart out.

to the market craving sweet freshfruit. You could sense their memo-ries of past delightful fruit experi-ences and their longing to experi-ence that ultimate sweetness onceagain.

One lady was looking over themulti-colored baby carrots withher son. She turned around andher t-shirt read “The Fruit of theSpirit” – “Love Joy Peace PatienceKindness Goodness FaithfulnessGentleness Self-Control”(Galatians 5:22:23) (The T-shirtwas made by Cherished Girl). Itwas a long time since I had re-flected on the fruits of the spiritand what it takes to cultivate suchspiritual fruit. The blossoming ofspiritual virtue requires that we“garden” our thoughts, words anddeeds, correcting ourselves toalign with spiritual guidance. Thepractice of virtue is like checkingfor the right amount of water and

newcomers & community guideconnectionarchives.com/pdf/2017/082217 nc/great falls nc.pdf ·...

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