<sh>MCC Board Meets Dec. 13
<bt>The Governing Board of the McLean Community Center will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue. This will be a combined November-December meeting. Members of the public who wish to speak during the "Citizen Comment" portion of the meeting are asked to call 703-790-0123 TTY: 703-827-8255, to be placed on the agenda.
The McLean Community Center , an agency of Fairfax County Government, is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all programs, services and activities.
To request special accommodations, call the Center seven working days in advance of the event.
<sh>Police To Discuss Burglaries
<bt>An educational presentation on burglaries will be held on Monday, Dec. 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the McLean District Police Station, located at 1437 Balls Hill Road. The presentation will be given by Lt. Dan Courtney, supervisor of the McLean Criminal Investigation Section. Courtney will go over burglary trends, and what specific trends have been seen in 2006. He will also cover serial burglars and burglars who are coming from other states to break into homes. In addition, Courtney will read statements from arrested burglars that explain why they picked a particular home, and how they were able to gain access. For more information, contact the McLean District Station at 703-556-7750.
<sh>Share Needs Volunteers
<bt>Share, Inc., a local, all-volunteer, non-profit organization, that serves the needs of families in McLean, Great Falls, and Pimmit Hills who have fallen on difficult financial times, needs help with its upcoming annual "Christmas Store" event. Share meets a variety of needs throughout the year, and on average serves more than 3,000 individuals annually. Clients that are served by Share are referred by local churches, schools, police, service organizations, and by word of mouth from neighbor to neighbor. Share’s primary referral source is the Fairfax County Department of Health and Human Services and the Northern Virginia Family Services.
On Friday, Dec. 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m., Share volunteers will set up the organization's annual "Christmas Store" in McLean Baptist Church (Social Hall), 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Share currently needs donations of new, or like-new, items for all ages — infants through grandparents — for the Christmas Store. Good gift items include: dolls, toys, books, games, bikes, socks and underwear (new only), coats, outerwear, hats, mittens/gloves, and Christmas items such as decorations and wrapping paper. Donations of gift certificates from such stores as Target, Old Navy, Giant Foods, Safeway, Sears, or the mall, will allow clients to purchase important items for daily living. If a certificate is donated, specify the amount. Donations and gift cards may be dropped off at McLean Baptist Church on Friday, Dec. 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m. On Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Share clients will come to the Christmas Store to pick up gift items for their families. Share also needs volunteers to help set up the Christmas Store on Dec. 8, and to help run the Store on Dec. 9. For more information, call the Share answering service line at 703-284-2179 and leave a message with a name and contact information.
<sh>Persian Event at Langley High
<bt>The Persian Cultural House, a non-profit organization focused on the promotion and expansion of Iranian language and culture – beyond political and religious borders – invites community members to come to its one-of-a-kind celebration of the traditional night of "Yalda." This cultural event featuring Persian music, dancing and snacks will be held on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Langley High School, located at 6520 Georgetown Pike in McLean. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $15 for children, students and seniors. For more information, visit www.houseofpersia.org .
"Yalda" is the last night of fall, or the winter solstice, and has been celebrated in Iranian culture for the last 4,000 years. It typically falls on Dec. 21 or 22, and is the longest night of the year. In Iran, this night is called Shab-e yalda (Yalda night), which refers to the rebirth of the sun. Ancient Iranians believed that in the end of this longest night – or the evil night – "Darkness" is defeated by "Light," a.k.a. the Sun, and days become longer. Yalda is celebrated on the eve of the first night of winter in the Iranian calendar. As the 13th century Iranian poet Sa'di said: "The true morning will not come until the Yalda night is gone." The festival was considered important in pre-Islamic Iran (Persia), and continues to be celebrated to this day. Persian Cultural House performers will re-tell this night's story through folkloric dances with Persian customs. The Persian Cultural House enjoys the support and assistance of Iranian-American artists, and friends of Iran. The center is working toward the preservation of Iranian cultural and artistic values, and is striving to have future generations be the guardians of Iran's culture and tradition around the world.
<sh>Tysons Tunnel Funds Study
<bt>Tysons Tunnel has signed a contract with tunnel and transportation infrastructure engineers to complete preliminary engineering plans for a tunnel under Tysons Corner as part of the Metrorail extension to Dulles Airport. This engineering work, to be completed in January, puts the engineering for the overhead rail and the Tysons tunnel on equal footing, for side-by-side competitive, fixed-price bidding.
Tysons Tunnel has also contracted with environmental experts to prepare a draft environmental assessment of the Tysons tunnel which will also be completed in January, ready for agency review and public hearings.
"Our tunnel engineering initiative will effectively address concerns raised by public officials and take the perceived risk out of the tunnel alternative which is overwhelmingly supported by the community, citizens groups, and businesses," said Scott Monett, president and founder of Tysons Tunnel, and president of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce.
Brenda Bohlke, president of Myers Bohlke Enterprise and a consultant with Metrorail, is overseeing the engineering and environmental work. Bohlke was a member of Gov. Timothy Kaine's American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) panel that independently reviewed the Tysons tunnel alternative last summer and recommended it as the preferred approach.
The engineering and environmental work will cost approximately $3.5 million which is being supported by contributions and underwriting of the McLean Chamber of Commerce, its members, and other Tysons Tunnel sponsors.
"This is a decision we will live with for generations, and we owe it to ourselves and our children to get it right," said Jerry Halpin, chairman of West*Group which has been helping Tysons Tunnel with its fund-raising efforts.
For more information, go to TysonsTunnel.org.
<sh>Puppies Need Homes
<bt>A couple of months ago, Great Falls resident Barbara Lossely-Young rescued "Purdy," a Dalmation-mix and her 13 adorable puppies. Lossely-Young is still seeking adoptive homes for three of the puppies and "Purdy," who is a sweet 1-year-old dog.
To adopt one of these puppies, contact Barb at 703-759-9865, or e-mail her at lossely@attglobal.net. They are ready to go now.