Stargazing, Stories and Snacks at Riverbend Park
On Saturday, March 9, the moon will be approaching its “new” phase, which means bright moonlight won’t be present and the sky will be dark—the perfect conditions for an astronomy festival. As long as it’s not raining or snowing that night, people are invited to gather at Riverbend Park in Great Falls, for an evening of stargazing, stories, and snacks from 7-9 p.m. at Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St.,
Great Falls. Admission is $5 per person.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, will be the highlight of the night. Families will have the opportunity to study the gaseous giant and its Galilean moons through the park’s powerful Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Naturalists will point out constellations and share ancient stories associated with them around a warming fire. Children will enjoy making crafts and playing games, and hot chocolate and snacks will be available for purchase.
Reservations are only required for groups of 10 or more. For more information, call the park at 703-759-9018 or visit their website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/.
Mom & Pop Stores in Great Falls Revisited
The Great Falls Historical Society will present the history of Mom & Pop Stores in Great Falls at its monthly program on Wednesday, March 13 at the Great Falls Library Meeting Room at 7 p.m. Photos of small, family-owned, independent stores will be presented, and the store's role in the community will be discussed. An in-depth account of Thelma's Store will be presented by Doris Carpenter, friend of Thelma Feigherty who frequently helped her out in the store. Carol Wright will talk about Buck's Store.
Town Hall Meeting to Discuss County Budget
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust has scheduled three town hall meetings in March and April to give Dranesville residents an opportunity to learn about and discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2014) Budget for Fairfax County. County management and budget staff will be present to make a summary presentation of the budget and answer questions. The Great Falls session is scheduled for
Tuesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike.
For details about the FY2014 budget visit the county website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb. For more information on these public meetings contact Jane Edmondson in Supervisor Foust’s Dranesville District office at 703-356-0551, TTY 711 or email Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Nominations Open for Jean Tibbetts History Award
The Jean Tibbetts History Award honors outstanding contributors to the research, articulation, dissemination, and preservation of the history of life along the Potomac River corridor from McLean to west of Dranesville and south through Herndon. Candidates for the Jean Tibbetts History Award are selected from annual nominations to the society and the award carries a stipend of $200. The awardee’s name is placed on the Great Falls Historians plaque, displayed in the Great Falls Library. Nominations should include a brief resume of the nominee; a listing of significant achievements, such as leading publications, noteworthy accomplishments; and a summary of the significance of the nominee’s overall record of contributions. Deadline for submission for the 2013 award is March 21, 2013. Please mail nominations, with complete documentation, to GFHS History Award Committee, PO Box 56, Great Falls, VA 22066 or by email to: award@ghfs.org. Jean Tibbetts herself was a writer of Great Falls history, who recognized and displayed excellence in historical research. The Great Falls Historical Society is proud to commemorate her memory with this award and appreciates community support. Donations may be made to: Great Falls Historical Society, Attention: Treasurer, PO Box 56, Great Falls, VA 22066.
Celebrating Pike on Great Falls Day
Great Falls Day will celebrate the listing of Georgetown Pike on the National Register of Historic Places, which occurred lin August 2012, and is the only road in the nation that has been included on the list. The event will take place at the Historic Great Falls Grange Park on Sunday, May 5, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The Great Falls Historical Society invites local volunteers to participate in the preparation of the complete history of the families, houses, churches, shops, and events that have occurred along the road over the last 200 years. In fact, construction of the Georgetown Pike began in 1813 -- exactly 200 years ago -- and was completed in 1827. GFHS invites local families and businesses to become sponsors of this event. This is the first major event to be held at the Great Falls Grange Park, Grange Hall, and Old Schoolhouse in many years. Community participation and support is vital to delivering an exciting celebration of community history.