The McLean Ear Hears . . .

An Arty Party. A who's who of McLean's arts community gathered Friday evening to celebrate the 10th birthday of the Duval Studio  in the McLean Commuity Center.

The DuVal family sponsored the party to honor their mother,  Susan Bontecou DuVal, an accomplished painter and catalyst for the arts. The Duval family owns one of McLean's best and most historic addresses: Salona, on Chain Bridge Road just east of downtown.

The McLean Project for the Arts organized the party to honor DuVal who was an active member of McLean Project for the Arts from its inception in 1963.

The guests included:  Karen and Dan DuVal, the owners of Salona. She is the MPA chair. Susan DuVal was Dan DuVal's mother. He was joined by his brother Clive and sister Susan.

Also attending, MPA board members: Jane Stauss, also Dranesville school board member. Bill DuBose, MPA vice-chair, former president of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and a financial planner. Former State Delegate Margi Vanderhye. Julie Lea Lansaw, an artist. Ed Shahin, well-known Rotarian and advocate for senior citizens.Ellen Rosenblum and Bari Levingston.

McLean historian Carole Herrick.

Members of the McLean Community Center board, MPA's landlord and its arts partner: David M. Sanders, Lee Dicenso, former a member of the MPA board, Jay Howell and Robin Walker.

The DuVal studio is a working artists studio, therefore at the party, the tables cloths were canvas. Yes, the same that is used as a painting surface. The free-flowing food was displayed on artists palettes.

Snow Stories Con'd.  George Sachs, executive director of the McLean Community Center, had one of the most exciting stories from the evening Wednesday, Jan 26, the night of Total Traffic Breakdown in a snowstorm.

Three hours after he left his community center office he had travelled maybe a half a mile to Great Falls Road. He gave up and returned to the community center. There he found his colleague Sabrina Anwah, who was waiting for her daughter, who had the family car.

They decided to wait outside. The power went off. They were stranded. The doors open electronically.

Finally, after several cell phones call, one of their nearby neighbors took them in for the evening. Anwah was reunited with her daughter the following morning.

The Police Chief in McLean. The Ear met Fairfax County police chief David M. Rohrer Thursday. He told The Ear  he started his career here in McLean in the early 1980's. His first beat --- Old Dominion Road. Then still largely farmland.

Blackout at Spring Hill. For more than a month, the four lights on the eastern side of the parking lot at the Spring Hill Recreation Center* have been out.

It's scary and dark. Lots of moms and their children and single ladies use the newly renovated recreation center. We'll be glad when the Parks Authority finally restores  the lights.

Full Disclosure: The McLean Ear is a member of the Spring Hill Recreation Center and uses the parking lot.