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

 

.Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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.



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

Look Mom, No Guys !

Denny - KF4TJJI and Carol - KF4TJJ

The 12-volt portable repeater came right up on frequency

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

The Net Control Station with Jacob Dawson - KF4VLQ, Tom Dawson - WB3AKD and Bill McCourt - WF1L



 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

Rebecca Kite of Kite Marimba welcomed everyone to the Loudoun County Government Center Lobby


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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


 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

Mark Schutt of Sterling

Mark relieved Bill around 2100 hours at the Government Center and Norm took off again to take more photographs

 

.Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

.Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

Yarawi of the Andes
This show was the real thing - Hope you didn't miss it !!!



 

The Old School Board Annex

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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!

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

 

.Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

The Celtic Rhythm School of Leesburg
They did a great job and kept a long hallway packed



 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

Emily Mae Styer Bradford really liked the kids shows

Leesburg Government Center

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

.Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

Old Dominion Barbershop of Purcellville
They also filled the downstairs assembly area of the town government center



The Tally Ho Theater

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

The Marks Family

Was one of four shows appearing at the Tally Ho

Leesburg Methodist Church

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

Sam Morgan

Tabby Finch

.

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

.

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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 !!!

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

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

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

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 !!!!

NNNN