<sh>Fatal Crash in Great Falls
<bt>On Friday, Dec. 22, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Fairfax County Police said a 1991 Toyota Celica was traveling in the east bound lanes in the 8900 block of Georgetown Pike when the driver lost control of the car. According to Police, the Toyota veered into the west bound lanes of Georgetown Pike and crossed into the path of a 2002 Dodge Durango. Police said the passenger of the Toyota — identified as Byron Norberto Ceron Hernandez, 20, of the 7900 block of 18th Avenue in Hyattsville, Md. — was determined dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota , an adult man from Maryland, was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The Durango driver, a 56-year-old Herndon-area man, and his 29-year-old passenger, also from Herndon, were not injured. Police said that weather appeared to be a factor. Charges are pending following the investigation.
<sh>GFCA January General Session Meeting
<bt>Residents are invited to attend the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) January general session meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Falls Grange, located at 9818 Georgetown Pike. The topic of the meeting will be "Clean Air, Clean Power, Clean Water." The Sewer vs. Septic issue will not be discussed at this meeting, and will instead be the focus of the February general session. For more information, please visit www.gfcitizens.org.
<sh>Newcomers To Mark 25th
<bt> Newcomers of Great Falls will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a luncheon on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Mediterranee Restaurant.
<sh>'Confronting the Controversies'
<bt>What are some of today's most controversial issues? What makes them difficult to talk about? Can the church help explain the different views people have about these controversial issues and the role faith plays in shaping opinions and beliefs? These questions and more will be explored at Great Falls UMC beginning Jan. 7.
The church is beginning a seven-week study called "Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues," and the public is invited to join in.
The series begins Jan. 7 with "The Separation of Church and State" followed each Sunday through Feb. 18 with "Creation and Evolution in the Public Schools"; "Homosexuality", "Euthanasia", "Prayer in the Public Schools", "Abortion", and "The Death Penalty." According to the Rev. Nancy Childress, pastor of Great Falls UMC, "These are issues that grab our attention and dominate headlines, and yet we don't often discuss them in church. We want to explore what God might be saying to us about these important issues, and we hope to do this in a setting of sensitivity and respect."
This event will include worship, sermons, and small-group studies that feature videos, Bible study, and discussion. The study, published by Abingdon Press, was developed by the Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood, Kansas. Childcare is provided. Great Falls UMC is located at 10100 Georgetown Pike. For more information, contact the church office at 703-759-3705 or greatfallsumc@verizon.net or Rev. Nancy Childress or pastor.greatfallsumc@verizon.net.
<sh>Gas Meter Explodes at Tysons Apartment Complex
<bt>On Saturday, Dec. 30, at 6:20 p.m., a car smashed into a gas meter in a Tysons Corner apartment development in the 8200 block of Peridot Drive, causing a fire and explosion that displaced several residents and sent one woman to Fairfax Hospital with minor injuries.
"It was a Mini Cooper that went out of control in the parking lot, jumped the curb and sheared off a gas meter next to the garden apartment," said Dan Schmidt, a spokesman for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
Gas escaped from the damaged meter and an explosion occurred between the first and second floor.
"Gas had collected between the joists, and somehow, somewhere, there was an iginition source that set off the natural gas and caused the explosion," said Schmidt.
He noted that the reason for the Mini Cooper's loss of control is still unclear.
"It just went out of control, but the police said that it appears to be accidental," said Schmidt.
According to Schmidt, there fire caused approximately $120,000 of damage to the 3-story garden apartment. The American Red Cross and the apartment complex's managment company provided a community center space for those residents who were displaced. Schmidt said that he was unsure of how many residents were affected by the fire.
"A lot of people weren't there that night because it was a Saturday night of a holiday weekend, so we did not get an actual count," said Schmidt. "There were a lot of onlookers since it was a Saturday night in Tysons Corner, but no one was seriously hurt."
Schmidt said he did not know if the adult female who was taken to Fairfax Hospital was a resident or the driver of the car.