Strait, Benton Awarded at Chamber Gala

ERNIE SANDERS ROLLS for funny money at the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce banquet last Saturday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Tyson's Corner as Susie Meuller and Lois Weik cheer him on.

Veteran City of Falls Church political leader Ed Strait and Falls Church News-Press owner-editor Nicholas F. Benton received special awards at the annual Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce banquet last Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel.

Strait received the coveted Carroll V. Shreve award for outstanding community service and, for an unprecedented second time, Benton received the Chamber's Pillar of the Community award. Benton first received the award in 1992.

Over 120 persons attended the gala "black tie optional" event, and over $10,000 was raised for the Chamber's work through a silent auction and "Monte Carlo Night" casino following the dinner.

Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross was among the 13 guests of the News-Press at the event. Other public officials included Falls Church Mayor Dan Gardner, City Council members Lindy Hockenberry and David Snyder, City Manager Dan McKeever, and Commissioner of the Revenue Tom Clinton, along with City Council candidates David Chavern and Lou Mauro.

Chamber president Dr. Steve Rogers presented the award to Strait, citing his years on the City Council and on-going activism as a leader of the Falls Church Citizens for a Better City, including as its president, and Democratic Committee and of many special electoral efforts to authorize bonds to fund school and community growth.

Gross, Hockenberry and Janine Benton shared the podium in presenting the award to Benton. They noted that Benton was the first person since the founding of the Pillar of the Community award in 1967 to receive it twice. His newspaper is celebrating its 14th birthday this month, and Benton has also been on the Chamber board, including serving two years as its president, since 1991. (The text of Hockenberry's remarks appears elsewhere in this edition).

A special recognition also went to Stacy Moot, who announced her plans to leave her post as executive director of the Chamber to launch a business venture. She served since September 2001 and helped the Chamber's recent "renaissance," Rogers said, who added that she will remain on the Chamber's board of directors.

Edna Frady was also recognized for the fact that it was her birthday.

Birthday Girl Edna Frady.	Tom Clinton, F.C.'s Commissioner of the Revenue.
	The FCNP Crew: Michael Cary, Drew Maier, Nicholas F. Benton, Peter Laub, and Jody Fellows
The Young Group: Katie Horton, Peter Young, Nancy Young and Bob Young.	Carrol V. Shreve Winner Ed Strait gets congratulated by chamber president Steve Rogers and chamber executive director Stacy Moot.
Pillar of the Community Award Winner Nicholas F. Benton flanked by attorney Janine Benton and Council member Lindy Hockenberry.	Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross.
Artist Eileen Levy, the News-Press' Blackwell Hawthorne, law student Roy Levy, Betsy Hawthorne, and Dr. Chaunchey Levy.