SANTA TO MAKE McLEAN ROUNDS ON ANTIQUE FIRE ENGINE: Beginning Dec. 2, McLean residents are able to see Santa Claus touring neighborhoods atop a different kind of sleigh – an antique Pirsch fire engine driven by McLean Volunteer Fire Department member Mike Paris.
Through Dec. 23, residents will be able to check out his location in Real (Santa) Time on the department’s Santa Tracker at mcleanvfd.org/santa-fire-engine. The department will update the Website weekly and postpone Santa Runs if the weather is rainy or too cold.
Fire department officials ask local residents not to call or visit the fire station to see Santa, as his sleigh will be whisking around McLean’s neighborhoods starting just after 5 p.m. each evening.
Department leaders thanked Sunbelt Rentals on Spring Hill Road for donating the generator that powers Santa’s lights and carols, as well as Freedom Bank of Virginia for donating the candy canes Santa’s elves will be handing out along the way.
GREAT FALLS LIBRARY FRIENDS GROUP ESTABLISHES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FUTURE LIBRARIANS: The Friends of the Great Falls Library has established three $5,000 scholarships for graduates seeking master’s of library science or related degrees.
The program, which will award one scholarship each year from 2024 through 2026, is administered by the Fairfax Library Foundation.
Friends of the Great Falls Library always has tried to use proceeds from its used-book sales for higher-impact purposes, such as purchasing 100 chairs and new tables for the library’s meeting room, wood bookcases for the hallway and furniture for the kids’ area.
The scholarship program’s goal is to help Fairfax County recruit and retain talented people for its library staff, group leaders said.
The friends is open to new volunteers who would like to get involved with handling the organization’s donated materials and planning its biannual fund-raising book sales. The organization runs a popular booth at the Fourth of July parade, holds jigsaw-puzzle sales and finds other ways to remind Great Falls that the library is community asset.
To learn more about the scholarships, visit fairfaxlibraryfoundation.org. To contact Friends of the Great Falls Library, e-mail friendsofthegreatfallslibrary@gmail.com.
BEAU SOIR ENSEMBLE COMING TO ALDEN THEATRE: The chamber-music series of the Alden Theatre of the McLean Community Center will present the Beau Soir Ensemble on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
“This McLean-based trio returns by popular demand,” center officials said. “This special concert will feature a flute, viola and piano trio.”
Tickets are $5 for McLean residents, $7-$10 for others. For information, see the Website at www.mcleancenter.org.
BARTER PLAYERS TO PRESENT ‘FROSTY’ AT ALDEN THEATRE: The Barter Players will present “Frosty” on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. at the Alden Theatre of the McLean Community Center.
In the show, a young orphan named Billy discovers magic in a stolen hat, and when he places the hat on a snowman’s head, the snowman comes to life.
“Can Frosty help Bill find his real family in time for Christmas? Join them on a thrilling quest through New York City as they discover that the real magic of the season is love.”
Tickets are $10 for McLean residents, $12-$15 for others.
For information, see the Website at www.mcleancenter.org.
