Falls Church News & Notes

Break out the fire extinguisher and disable the smoke detector, 80 candles coming through! “Mother” Carol LeClair celebrated her 80th birthday on May 1, and her friends helped her ring in this latest and sure-to-be greatest year with a surprise party to celebrate Carol’s caring and giving nature that has included working at a food bank and sheltering those in need. Congratulations to Ms. LeClair from the entire staff of the News-Press.

George Mason High School sophomore Robert Fulwiler has been honored with one of 50 national Davis Scholarships. Referred to as the “high school equivalent” of the Fulbright, the scholarship affords Robert the privilege of attending one of 10 United World Colleges around the world during his junior and senior year of high school. The United World College program has endured for more than 40 years and incorporates more that 100 countries worldwide. Best wishes to Robert as he pursues this wonderful opportunity.

GMHS alumnus and current College of William and Mary student Ben Cox also recently celebrated some good news in the academic department, receiving the Steven K. Park Undergraduate Research Award. Sporting a rather robust GPA of 3.86 and received highest honors for his thesis co-authored with Professor David Coppit entitled “Software Plans for Seperation of Concerns.”

Washington and Lee University sophomore Elizabeth Lyell Twentyman, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Scott Twentyman of Falls Church has also sported some academic prowess, getting named to the honor roll for attaining a GPA higher than 3.75 on the 4.0 scale.

Congratulations are in order for Falls Church resident Bradley Stevenson of Lynchburg College. After being elected Mainstage Chair for the Student Activities Board, Bradley will attempt to provide some much needed social relief for his fellow Lynchburg scholars.

And a note of warning for pedestrians spotting a feisty feline prowling the FC streets, the Falls Church Animal Control Officer is seeking information concerning a black and white domestic shorthaired cat lurking in the Shadow Walk, W. Columbia St. and W. Jefferson St. area. The cat recently was involved in an incident in which a resident on Shadow walk suffered bite and scratch wounds and the Officer needs to capture and quarantine feline in order to determine whether or not the victim will require rabies inoculations. Anyone with information can contact the Officer at 703-248-5172 or the FC Police Department at 703-241-5053.

Fans of the theater should mark their calendar on May 14 as The Master and Margarita opens at the Rosslyn Spectrum (1611 N. Kent Street, Rosslyn) opens is month-long engagement. The production will be staged by the award winning Synetic Theater in conjunction with Classika Theatre. The play is an adaptation of the famous Soviet-Era novel by Mikhail Bulgakov that details the devil’s strange appearance in Moscow. The novel was first published by Bulgakov’s wife following the author’s death. Synetic’s Artistic Director Paata Tiskurishvilil will take the reigns of this epic tale. The show will feature thespians from the D.C. metro-area and closes on June 20th.

McLean Town Supervisor Joan Dubois and other community officials gathered to honor Waterford Development and its principals for its landscaping contributions to the town, including the donation last year of 10,000 Dutch tulips.

The Virginia State Bar Association has announced a “No Bills Night” a telethon style event when members of the Virginia bar association will anonymously answer calls. The lawyers will attempt to diagnose the callers’ legal problems and direct them on how to seek a successful resolution. As the title suggests, no fees will be incurred by the caller. The date for “No Bills Night” will be May 11, when lawyers will gather at the Falls Church offices of Reed Smith LLP. The phone number for free legal advice is 703-641-4200.

Grand Opening celebrations about in Northern Virginia beginning this weekend as First Horizon will kick off its three week grand opening series of events that will run until May 22. Grand Opening guests will have the chance to win several eye-opening prizes, including an Infiniti FX 35 SUV, from Passport Infiniti in Alexandria, or even $25,000 (for those who received information in the mail). The Falls Church event will be held May 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 133 S. Washington Street. For other locations and schedules contact McKie Toney at First Horizon (703) 394-2501.

AT THE ANNUAL DINNER of the White House Correspondents' Association in Washington, D.C., last Saturday night editors of two prominent newspapers in the D.C. area, both residents of Falls Church, shared a happy moment with members of their respective staffs who accompanied them to the event. Al Eisele, editor of The Hill (second from left) and Nicholas F. Benton, editor of the Falls Church News-Press (second from right) are flanked by News-Press Managing Editor Jody Fellows (left) and The Hill staff reporter Alexander Bolton (right). (News-Press photo)