Falls Church News & Notes

The University of Mary Washington announced that it has admitted Elena Therese Bono to its honors program. Elena is the granddaughter of Lois Bono of Falls Church. Congratulations to Elena and Lois.

From across the Potomac, Elisabeth Collins, a 2004 graduate of George Mason High School, will attend American University when classes begin on August 30. Collins has been awarded the Dean’s Scholarship, awarded to freshman applicants of above average ability, accomplishments, and potential as demonstrated by high school grades, test scores and community involvement and service.

The Herb Block Foundation has announced that it will offer at least 50 community college scholarships annually. The scholarships will be made available to students attending Montgomery, Prince George’s, Northern Virginia community colleges and the University of D.C.’s two-year associate degree program, who reside in D.C., Prince George’s, Montgomery, Arlington and Fairfax Counties, or the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. For more information on this opportunity call 609-771-7878.

50 years after helping a group of Montgomery County families build Congregation Beth El, Rabbi Morris Gordon will celebrate his 90th birthday and will be called forth at services this Saturday. Rabbi Gordon’s service dates back to his days as a Chaplain on the peril-ridden Burma Road for which he earned the Bronze Star and Chinese Medal of Honor. Since coming to the D.C. area he has launched seven different synagogues during his tenure here. An avid dancer and tennis enthusiast, he has called members to the Torah more than 300 times in his six years leading Beth El, now it is his turn to be praised. Mazel Tov!

The Northern Virginia Toastmasters International Club is holding humorous and table topics competitions September 1, at Falls Church High School. This will be the first such competition for the Northern Va. Chapter of the Toastmasters. Competing in the speech contest will be Jaraby Alvarado, Mohammad Amjad Hossain, Gopi Sripathy, Sidney Meyn and Joel Hamacker. Jim Raney, Jay Train, Marcus Bermann and Linda Edberg will participate in the table topics. Joe Ligaya will conduct the competitions and Ismael Dieppa, Cris Birch, David Ye, Nikki Teepparasan, Moji and Siva Kumar will serve as judges. The winner will compete in the district competitions October 2.

Laurel Wittman of Falls Church will be participating in the Marine Corps Marathon as a Marathon Strides against MS team member for the National MS Society and will have raised more than $5,000 by the time of the race. For Wittman the cause is personal, as her fiancé Eddie lives every day with Multiple Sclerosis.

“Laurel as been incredible,” he says. “Sometimes I think she’s nuts for doing what she’s doing, but to see her be so dedicated to a cause on my behalf has been very moving for me.”

For more information on MS or the National MS Society visit www.msandyou.org. Good luck to Laurel in the marathon, though something tells us she doesn’t need too much more inspiration.

The Falls Church Education Foundation website is up and running. While it is not entirely finished, key pieces are in place such as the “donate today” page to facilitate on-line giving. Comments and suggestions for the site are welcome. You can visit the site at www.fcdef.org.

The Pimmit Hills Senior Center, Division of Senior Services, Department of Community Services and Recreation of Fairfax County Announces the formation of the Greater Tysons-Pimmit Seniors Community Club. When their powers combine, this new development will further assist seniors with engaging in, developing, and implementing programs and activities specifically mentioned by members of the new Seniors Club. The club is open to ages 55 and up. Sorry kids!

The club will be facilitated and supported by the Division of Senior Services, though the ultimate goal is to establish a core croup of the membership as the governing and planning body for the Seniors Club. Hours for the club will be Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the senior center at 7510 Lisle Ave. in Falls Church. The first meeting will be held Wednesday Oct. 6 at 6 p.m.

ARE YOU READY for some football? The FCNP office was abuzz with activity last Thursday night as the Falls Church News-Press Fantasy Football League held it’s 9th annual ‘fantasy’ draft. Featuring an unprecedented 16 teams headed by some of Falls Church’s finest fantasy football managers, the FCNPFFL drafted long into the night fueled by sustenance provided by Ledo Pizza Restaurant & Pub. (News-Press photo)