A Penny For Your Thoughts

It is Celebrate Fairfax! Week in Fairfax County, and the celebration kicked off Monday with recognition of the 2004 Lords and Ladies Fairfax. The tradition of honoring outstanding Fairfax citizens as Lords and Ladies began in 1984, and each year since, members of the Board of Supervisors have selected two people from their district for recognition of their community service or other special accomplishments. Twenty Lords and Ladies were honored at the Board meeting on Monday morning, followed by a special dinner that evening hosted by Mike’s American Grill in Springfield. Each Lord and Lady received an engraved crystal vase as a memento of their selection.

Mason District’s Lord and Lady Fairfax for 2004 are Elizabeth Clements and Don Di Spirito. Liz Clements is a longtime, tireless advocate for libraries as a place of life-long learning. She got her start as a library volunteer with the Friends of George Mason Regional Library, and now represents Mason District on the Fairfax County Library Board. Liz also teaches English to adults at the Willston Multicultural Center near Seven Corners, helping immigrant families develop skills for success in Fairfax County.

Don Di Spirito has volunteered his time, energy, and talents to the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) for more than 20 years. As chairman of ACCA’s furniture assistance program, Don coordinates, gathers, stores, and distributes free more than 2400 furniture items for nearly 400 needy families each year. He main-tains a computer tracking system for clients, a fleet of three donated trucks, and three donated warehouse facilities. His wife, Mary Lee, also an ACCA volunteer, was Mason District’s Lady Fairfax in 2002.

You can enjoy the 23rd annual Celebrate Fairfax! from Friday evening, June 11, through Sunday, June 13. The fair, featuring hundreds of festival booths, carnival rides, and live entertainment on multiple stages, will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax. Many fairgoers park at Fair Oaks Mall and take the free shuttle bus to the fair. For more information, call 703/324-3247 or visit www.celebratefairfax.com.

Raider pride was apparent at J.E.B. Stuart High School’s 43rd Commencement on June 2. Although the skies threatened the outdoor ceremony on the football field, the setting sun appeared just as Stuart principal Mel Riddile declared the students officially graduated. Senior Class President Stephanie Lynch received the Raider Award, given annually to a graduating senior by vote of the senior class. Stephanie was an Interna-tional Baccalaureate Diploma candidate as well as a member of the National Honor Society and the Quill and Scroll National Journalism Honor Society. Charlotte Riggs, also a member of both Honor Societies, received the Faculty Award from Dr. Riddile. Stuart graduates will attend more than 70 colleges and universities next fall, from Amherst to Utah State. Congratulations to all!