News and Notes

Fledgling Firefighters Come to Fruition

Congratulations to the firefighter recruits who will officially become professional firefighters tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 4. Members of the 112th Recruit School include Randall Allen, Stacey Bailey and Sarah Joliat of Fairfax, Brian Giller of Alexandria, Mark Velasco of Manassas and Kahre Leavitt, Steven Sprague and Beverly Studds of Falls Church. The ceremony will be held at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale.

Academic Accolades

Congrats to Irene Elizabeth Farrow, a junior International Studies and Spanish major at Hollins University has been named to the honor roll for the 2004 Fall semester. Farrow, of Falls Church is a graduate of George Mason High School.

Longwood Univeristy has also announced its lengthy list of President's and Dean's List. Congratulations to Katherine Ann Halladay (Arlington), Ashley Elizabeth Holmes (Arlington) and Adrianne Jeanette Johnson (Fairfax) who all made the President's List. Meanwhile Kelly Renee Gaines (Fairfax), Kelly Lee Strenge (Fairfax), Jennifer Alicia Costa (Falls Church), Annaliese Kathryn Weber (Falls Church), Ann Mannion Hall (Falls Church) and Emily Claire Thomas (Falls Church) all made the Dean's List.

Like their Longwood peers, Shanin Shaghaghi and Christopher MacDonald of Falls Church, both made the Dean's List at Lehigh University. Well done to both.

Reining in the Radio

Listeners of WPFW 89.3 FM were treated to a half-hour interview concerning the premier of Dave Eckert's new film titled "Reining in the Storm - One Building at a Time" during the station's "Earthbeat" radio show. The movie was recently shown to the film's funder, as well as the Virginia Department of Conservation and will be premiered at the State Theatre Feb. 16 before showings in the D.C. Environmental Film Festival (March 16) and the Takoma Theatre (March 19). For more information on the project, visit www.fallschurchenvironment.org/lidfilm.html.

Semper Fi Highlander

Best wishes to Arturo Senzano a senior in McLean High School who recently enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps. Arturo will enroll following his graduation this spring and was enlisted by Gysgt. Retan at a recruiting substation in Fairfax.

February Fruit

The Falls Church Lions Club will hold their February Florida Citrus Fruit Sale next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 11 - 12) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Gordon Rd., just a short distance from Don Beyer Volvo. All proceeds support the Falls Church Lions Charities community service programs and projects. For more information call Tom King at 703-533-0317.

Mustang Music

Joshua Small, a 1998 graduate of George Mason High School recently released his first CD. The CD can be purchased online at popfaction.com and you can read some reviews at www.spendidzine.com in their review section.

Vocal Chords for Your Valentine?

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and you can give that special someone a special something by way of a Singing Valentine from Feb. 11 - 14 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Brighten the day of a loved one with two appropriate songs performed by an authentic Barbershop Quartet from Washington's Singing Capital Chorus. The recipient will also get a Posey, a card and photo of the occasion, all for $40. Arrange with Jim Cullen at 301-434-7440 or cullenj@eng.umd.edu.

Hoop It Up

More than 25 participants took part in the Second Annual Free Throw Contest hosted by the Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department Jan. 21 at the Falls Church Community Center. Each participant had 30 chances with the top two finishers per each age group are posted in a box in this section. The Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department wants to pass along thanks to Shane Bowen, Adam Khan, Jon Freeman, Sonny Bowen, Kenneth Chaflague, Dimitris Venets, Graham Parvinkarimi, Joel Chandler, Jordan LaBella, Misael Benitez, Ezana Demisse and Britney Rorrer for participating along with the winners mentioned elsewhere. The Recreation Department would also like to thank Bill Nunley, Bill Ledder and Judah Chandler for volunteering to help with the event.

Banking on Clark

Acacia Federal Savings Bank recently announced that Scott Clark has joined their Commercial Banking Group as assistant vice president. Clark comes to Acacia from two years at Riggs Bank as a business banker. At Riggs he was responsible for initiating and closing a broad range of commercial loans including commercial real estate loans, equipment loans and asset-based lines of credit.