News and Notes

The News-Press would like to welcome Alexandra Mira Schwartz into the Falls Church Community. Alexandra was born to Kathy Smith and David Schwartz, F.C. residents for seven years, at 9:17 a.m. on Nov. 22 at George Washington University Hospital at a weight of 6 lbs. 2 oz. She is the couple’s first child. Alexandra took her first trip home to Virginia Wednesday and both mother and daughter are doing splendidly — Alexandra especially enjoys the early morning hours in Falls Church. Congratulations to both parents and may they continue to keep their sanity during those early-morning calls to duty.

The town of McLean’s Revitalization Corporation received a check in the amount of $1 million Dec. 2 from Waterford Development LLC, a Reston based developer. Waterford President and CEO Jan A Zachariasse presented the check Friday night as a part of the developer’s pledge to continue its commitment to the communities in which it builds.

The Falls Church Lions Club has announced the cancellation of its December Fruit Sale due to the devastation of the Florida citrus crop by the vicious hurricane season. The short supply of good quality fruit has made the event impossible without sacrificing the quality of the fruit, according to Tom King, Coordinator of Fruit Sales for the Lions Club.

“For 33 years we have been an exclusive supplier of fresh-picked citrus in the D.C. area. Rather than selling warehoused or foreign fruit we have made the difficult decision to wait for the Florida sunshine to grow its magic again.”

The club says that they may be able to hold sales some time early in 2005. Stay tuned to the News-Press for more information. William and Mary freshman runner Christo Landry of Falls Church took first place in his first track event, the 5000m. Landry finished in a time of 14:26.28. The victory qualifies him for the IC4A indoor championships.

Congratulations to another member of the William and Mary student body. Justin M. McIntosh, a senior from Falls Church, has recently been elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society in a ceremony in Dec. 6.

Radford University alumni in the D.C. area are invited to a networking social Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Glory Days Grill Backroom (3059 Nutley St., Fairfax). RSVP by Dec. 10 to Emily Lane at 1-888-4RU-GRAD or e-mail eehale@radford.edu. We’re sure that everyone will be thrilled to learn that D.C. has been selected to host the 2005 World Bonsai Convention slated for May 28-31, 2005. This will be only the second time in the event’s 20+ year history that the World Bonsai Convention will be in the U.S.

TIBCO Software Inc., will receive a new employee at its Public Sector Headquarters in Falls Church when Richard L. Martin becomes vice president and general manager of TIBCO’s U.S. Public Sector practice. Martin will be responsible for driving TIBCO’s U.S. public sector industry go-to-market strategy and execution plans while leveraging the sales, business development/alliances, solutions consulting and professional services teams.

Don’t forget about the grand opening of Impulsive, the new high-end art gallery in the Broadway (502 W. Broad St., Falls Church). The festivities begin at 6 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. Dec. 10.

And it’s never too early to start planning for Watch Night, Falls Church’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. West Broad St. will again be filled on New Year’s Eve with the giant outdoor Karaoke Stage, Performance Tent, Moon Bounce and Rock Climbing Wall. The celebration is open to the public and begins at 8 p.m. and runs until midnight. The 100 Block of W. Broad St. is closed to traffic and 10 venues (mostly indoors) provide free entertainment. The variety of entertainment is set to appeal to all ages with swing bands, square and contra dancing, African drumming, bluegrass and children’s entertainers just to name a few of the highlights. For more information visit www.tinnerhill.org. Last but not least, congratulations to Falls Church's J.P. DiFranco for winning the junior slam dunk contest during a time out at last Saturday's Wizards game.