First Night Leesburg - December 31, 2005

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

First Night Leesburg
December 31, 2005
Photographed and reported by Norm Styer - AI2C of Clarkes Gap, Virginia
The Best Public Service Event Of The Year

Fifteen members of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group and Loudoun Amateur Radio Emergency Service,
along with several friends and family members, assembled in Leesburg on New Year's Eve
for the annual emergency exercise for First Night Leesburg.

First Night Leesburg is conducted by the First Night Leesburg 2005/2006 Committee and is presented in cooperation
with Bluemont Concert Series, a non-profit organization. First Night ® is a registered trademark of First Night Inc., P.O. Box 203, Leesburg, Virginia 20178.

The LARG and Loudoun Amateur Radio Emrgency Service volunteer their communications services to the Committee.

Tom Dawson, WB3AKD of Round Hill, our Loudoun ARES Emergency Coordinator, organized this operation.

On January 6, 2006, Tom Dawson send us all a thank you message. "Well, I've finally emptied the last of the First Night Leesburg gear from the truck so its time to send thanks to all who supported this event. The weather, while cool, was pretty favorable and the performances were well attended, although there was less of a teeming mass of humanity in the streets than in previous years."

"As a result, things were a little quieter, and as we were well staffed, nobody had to much work to do and some of us switched around to different venues. We still provided out usual yoemans service with schlepping buttons and programs, relaying utilities issues and volunteer coordination messages. First Night Leesburg looks to us for seamless support and we have been pretty consistent in delivering same."

"Special thanks to those that set up the repeater on the town garage, the installation on Denny's (KF4TJI) truck was outstanding and the repeater functioned flawlessly the whole night. Coverage was quite solid in all the venues. Some of us got some exercise in setting up our HT's and/or troubleshooting on the fly but that is the benefit of this kind of operation."

"Thanks to Jacob - KF4VLQ for another efficient net control operation in the "Meat Locker" (our station shared quarters with the food storage and the temperature was kept rather low)."

"Thanks also to those who helped tear down."

"Tom Dawson - WB3AKD
ARES EC Loudoun County, VA
(540) 454-0520 (Cell) - (877) 790-3115 (Pager)
[email protected]"

*Roster of Volunteer Amateur Radio Operators*
AI2C - Norm Styer of Clarkes Gap K4CJB - Buddy Brewer of Round Hill KB3EMT - Grant Russell of Round Hill KD4DEI - Elena Frisbie of Sterling KE5APC - Jeff Slusher of Leesburg KF4TJI - Denny Boehler of Leesburg KF4TJJ - Carol Boehler of Leesburg KF4VLQ - Jacob Dawson of Round Hill	KI4CTR - Mark Schutt of Sterling KI4FWB - Curt Reber of Lovettsville KI4IEO - Chuck Graham of Leesburg N4OPN - Pam Bozzi W3EMH - Bill Frisbie of Sterling WB3AKD - Tom Dawson of Round Hill WF1L - Bill McCourt of Reston
. We assembled on top the Leesburg parking garage at 1630 hours to install the 440-repeater This year, we used Denny and Carol's fixed-mobile 30-foot push-up antenna system.
	Look Mom, No Guys !
Denny - KF4TJJI and Carol - KF4TJJ The 12-volt portable repeater came right up on frequency
The Net Control Station with Jacob Dawson - KF4VLQ, Tom Dawson - WB3AKD and Bill McCourt - WF1L
The Operational Brief by Tom Dawson - WB3AKD Jacob Dawson - KF4VLQ L-R: Denny Boehler - KF4TJJI, Carol Boehler - KF4TJJ, Pam Bozzi - N4OPM, Patty and Jeff Slusher - KE5APC, Kurt Reber - KI4FWB, Bill - W3EMH and Elena Frisbie - KD4DEI, Chuck Graham - KI4IEO, Grant Russell - KB3EMT, Bill McCourt - WF1L
*The Shows and Operation* The Loudoun Border Guard Sounds The Call To Assemble It was warm in the high-40s and many families with children began looking for the School Annex Shows
*Rebecca Kite of Kite Marimba* welcomed everyone to the Loudoun County Government Center Lobby**
The Belmont Ridge Guitar Ensemble An auditioned group of twelve 8th graders in advanced guitar study at Belmont Ridge Middle School They packed the little room of the of the board of supervisor's meeting room
	Chinese Story Time Award winning storyteller and author Linda Fang
Bill McCourt - WF1L of Reston Early on Bill and Norm Styer - AI2C shared duty at the County Government Center but Norm took off around town to take a few pictures
	Mark Schutt of Sterling Mark relieved Bill around 2100 hours at the Government Center and Norm took off again to take more photographs
. Mark Slattery and Rob Sokol of Slattery Jones shared the lobby with Kite Marimba These guys played some cool oldies !!!
McLaughlin the Magician Filled the board room
. Yarawi of the Andes This show was the real thing - Hope you didn't miss it !!!
*The Old School Board Annex*	Animal Ambassadors A lot of exotic creatures that made the crowd at the annex a real zoo
Carol - KF4TJJ and Denny - KF4TJI Boehler of Leesburg Held the fort at the annex!
	Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer - Grammy Award Winners - Family folk and funny kids songs and stories
Waterford Weavers Cath Dodds and Pat Kalita demonstrated various forms of of traditional hand spinning
. The Celtic Rhythm School of Leesburg They did a great job and kept a long hallway packed
	Emily Mae Styer Bradford really liked the kids shows
*Leesburg Government Center*
	Andrew McKnight Popular singer and songwriter had a nice show in the Town Council Chambers
*John Mark Power* With music and songs of appalachian, celtic and original tradition was in the downstairs assembly area
. Old Dominion Barbershop of Purcellville They also filled the downstairs assembly area of the town government center
*The Tally Ho Theater*
	*The Marks Family* Was one of four shows appearing at the Tally Ho
*Leesburg Methodist Church*
	*Rector Sisters* Gospel-singing tradition in Loudoun County
The Blues Works Judy Luis-Watson and Paul Watson Blues from stringbands to New Orleans swamp boogies
	Pam Bozzi - N4OPN provided support at the Methodist Church
*St James Episcopal Church*
Sam Morgan & Tabby Finch Very talented musicians performed spirited music and song	.
	Sam Morgan
Tabby Finch	.
.	James Stewart Gospel Famed gospel family from Aldie James Stewart virtuoso piano player, his wife and renowned singer Neville Stewart and saxophonist Ed Thomson This was a very special treat !!!
Master Singers of Virginia - One of Loudoun County's finest performing groups They filled the Sanctuary at the St James Episcopal Church
*Old Loudoun Courthouse*
	Arcadians Super Jazz Music form the Golden Age of Swing - Blue and Dixieland with vocal by Diva Lynch
The Ole' Laurel Brigade As we depart, the streets are empty again
	The Cigar Indian on West Market stands watch while Old Glory flies As Tom Dawson reports above, this was a good operation and except for the automatic timer turning off the lights in the County Government Center and then the override switch over heats the first floor, not much else exciting happen and we all had time to take in many great shows. Many thanks to all who helped in this very special public service event. Happy New Year to All !!!!

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