Great Falls Historical Society Kicks Off Fall Season
The new season of the Great Falls Historical Society begins Sept. 18 with a re-enactment of Confederate guerilla fighter John S. Mosby.
Great Falls resident and Civil War enthusiast Rick Turner will speak in the first person about Mosby's legendary military career and Mosby's role in shepherding the Confederate Cavalry through Great Falls en route to Gettysburg 150 years ago. Turner will also discuss Mosby's life before and after the war, and the political and economic issues of the war.
Turner will be dressed in an exact replica of Mosby's Confederate dress uniform and will have authentic examples of the different Confederate uniforms, weapons and flag. Alongside Turner will be his wife Debbie, who will portray Mosby's wife Pauline, also dressed in the style of the day.
A popular public speaker, Turner is currently commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. His great-great-grandfathers, several great-great uncles and great-great-cousins served in the Confederate Army.
The free event is Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.
For more information, go to the Great Falls Historical website at www.gfhs.org.
Great Falls Grange to Host Political Debates
Local political debates sponsored by Great Falls Citizens Association will held be at the Great Falls Grange on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The program commences at 7 p.m. with a summary and vote on the GFCA budget and a briefing on the $250 million school bond referendum, including provisions made for public schools attended by community students. The candidate presentations and debates start at 7:45 p.m.
The 34th District State Delegate contest is between two-term Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock and Democratic challenger Kathleen Murphy. Both are longtime McLean residents that previously worked for the federal government and U.S. Congressmen. Today, each is an officer and co-owner of a local consulting firm and strong supporters of job creation, education and transportation; albeit, they have sharp differences concerning financial priorities, defining certain U.S. Constitution rights, and Virginia obligations in connection with some federal legislation.
The agenda includes a shorter program for Fairfax County Sheriff candidates. Republican Bryan Wolfe will participate and answer questions whereas Democrat Stacey Kinkaid will have a substitute make a presentation on her behalf as she is participating in a concurrent League of Women’s Voters event.
The Great Falls community is encouraged to submit questions to be utilized during the delegate and sheriff programs. All proposed questions should be emailed to healthbp@verizon.net by Oct. 2 and will be reviewed by a non-partisan GFCA Debate Committee. After the debates, the audience and candidates can directly inter-mingle at the Grange for about 30 minutes.
Police Concerned about ‘Molly’/Ecstasy Use
Fairfax County Police Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCN) detectives have seen approximately 168 cases involving MDMA—also known as ecstasy or “Molly”—an average of eight per month between January 2012 and August 2013.
MDMA is a semi-synthetic, chemical compound that has been increasing in popularity across the nation, especially among high school and college-aged students. While it is most often seen in pill form, it also comes in powder and capsules.
This drug “Molly” can be a mixture of caffeine and speed and other stimulants; it’s known as a recreational psychoactive. Between January 2012 and August 2013, the OCN Unit seized some 16.67 pounds of MDMA and more than 3,000 pills.
Police remind residents that parents are still the strongest influencers in their children’s lives. They urge parents to help make their children, of all ages, safer by having a discussion about illegal drugs.
The Unified Prevention Coalition and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America suggest that parents “Make time to talk with children; explain the risks of these drugs. Learn the signs of drug use and how to intervene. Go to www.drugfree.org/. Educate family members on the harmful effects of drugs; make it clear you don’t approve of drug use. Be vigilant and don’t panic; help is available. Secure prescription drugs in the home. Get involved; learn more at http://unifiedpreventioncoalition.org/.”