St. John’s School Remembers September 11
September 11 was commemorated in several different ways at St. John School in McLean. The theme of peace and reconciliation was emphasized in the classrooms in the weeks that preceded the day and the Prayer of St. Francis was read over the PA each morning with the Morning Offering. The students were reminded that respect, which is the school virtue for the month of September, brings peace when it is practiced faithfully.
On September 11 the school attended a Mass of peace and reconciliation. The school Safety Patrol led the entrance procession. Father David Collins, an alumnus of St. John School, spoke to the students in his homily about being peacemakers in their own lives. Father encouraged the students to handle conflicts as Christ would in a peaceful manner and not to bear grudges or seek revenge.
After Mass the school assembled at the flagpole and was joined by the firemen and emergency technicians of the McLean Fire Station who parked their trucks and emergency vehicles next to the flagpole. Father Edward Hathaway, pastor, led the students in a prayer service that again stressed love of neighbor and peace. The prayer service opened with the students singing the Star Spangled Banner followed by scripture readings. Father Edward Hathaway led the students in prayer that stressed forgiveness and peace. During the service, one of the firemen, Lieutenant John, told the students how much all the firemen appreciated their support and prayers. Principal Christine Wells thanked the firemen for all they do for the community every day by being ready to offer any sacrifice to help their fellow man. Eighth grader Kelly Adams played TAPS in honor of all the people who died in the attack and the student body recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Student Council officers presented a cake decorated with the American flag and a copy of the Firefighters Prayer to be hung in the station. As the firemen departed they sounded their sirens in thank you as the students chanted “USA!.”
New Band Director for Langley
Andrew R. Gekoskie is the newly appointed Director of Bands for Langley High School in McLean. With over 18 years experience as a conductor and educator, Gekoskie most recently held the position of Supervisor of Instrumental Music for the Angleton Independent School District, Angleton, Texas. Gekoskie began his tenure at AISD as Head Band Director. Within six months, Gekoskie restructured the entire Instrumental Music Program, as well as provided direction and insight to the future of the program. Gekoskie conducted the Angleton HS Wind Symphony and was Supervisor for the instrumental music program.
In 1997, Mr. Gekoskie was named the Cumberland Valley High School Director of Bands. In just two years, under Gekoskie’s direction, the CV High School’s Bands attained wide-spread recognition.
Prior to his tenure at Cumberland Valley, Gekoskie held the Director of Bands position at Northwestern Lehigh High School, South Williamsport High School and student taught at Williamsport Area High School with Mr. Paul Kellerman. While at Northwestern Lehigh, Gekoskie built the program by doubling its size while achieving numerous awards. One of the highlights of Gekoskie’s tenure at Northwestern was the Northwestern Lehigh High School Marching Band being named the 1996 Bands of America Grand National Class A Champions in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Gekoskie is the Founder and former Music Director of the Lehigh Valley Youth Wind Symphony and former Assistant Conductor of the Sparta Symphony Orchestra in New Jersey.
A graduate of Susquehanna University, Gekoskie holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. He has continued his studies in conducting at the Juilliard School of Music, the Hartt School of Music, Butler University and Duquesne University.
People Notes
Kit Robinson of Great Falls has had her work, “Endless Hawaiian Quilt,” chosen as a finalist in the category of Innovative Applique, Large, in the International Quilt Association’s annual judged show, Quilts: A World of Beauty. Winners of the competition will be named on Tuesday, Oct. 29, during the Winners Circle Celebration in Houston just before the premiere of International Quilt Festival, the largest annual quiltmaking show, sale, and quilting academy in the world.
The Rev. Jeffrey M. Wilson will be installed as the pastor for Youth and Family Ministries at McLean’s Lutheran Church of the Redeemer on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Theodore F. Schneider, Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod bishop, will preside. Wilson’s duties include youth education and activities for both children and young adults, as well as programs to support parents in raising independent people of faith.
Wilson joined senior pastor Rev. Dr. George Evans Jr. and the Redeemer Lutheran staff in June after serving his seminary internship at Redeemer in 2000-01. A graduate of the four-year program at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Wilson was ordained by Bishop Schneider on July 28 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.
Before entering the ministry, Wilson graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacagdoches, Texax, with a degree in business administration. He spent six years as a computer programmer and business analyst in Texas. Wilson and his wife, Vicki, have a 5-year-old daughter, Caroline.
The James Madison High School Wind Symphony has been accepted as one of only 16 high schools in America to participate in the 2003 National Concert Band Festival to be held March 20-23, 2003 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Richard Crain of Bands of America presented the Band with a formal invitation during a band parents meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in the JMHS cafeteria. Madison is the only Virginia Band selected to participate in this competition. The selection of the JMHS Wind Symphony was based on the strength of last year’s Wind Symphony performances and the strength of returning and rising Wind Symphony members. Madison’s nationwide reputation as a premiere music program also contributed to the selection.
On June 1, Potomac Conservancy member Daniel Berger helped plan and construct a rain garden at Linway Terrace Park in McLean as part of his Eagle Scout community sevice project. The new native plant garden captures rainwater run-off from a nearby parking lot, allowing it to be absorbed as groundwater, and the mulch and plants help to filter out fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants that would otherwise wash into the river. The Conservancy would like to thank Daniel, his parents, Thomas and Carolyn Berger, Great Falls Scout Troop #670, and all of the volunteers who helped make this project a reality.
Scott Charney of McLean, chief security strategist for Microsoft Corporation and a member of the class of 1980 at Syracuse University, was profiled in the Fall 2002 issue of the Syracuse College of Law’s biannual publication, Syndicus. According to the profile, Charney, a 1980 graduate of Syracuse College of Law, joined Microsoft as chief security strategist in the spring of 2002. He has wide-ranging experience in cybercrime and computer forensics, and will help Microsoft develop new strategies to enhance the security of its products, services, and infrastructure. Charney had experience with more traditional types of crimes when he was a student in an SU criminal law clinic and when he worked as a Bronx County assistant district attorney after graduation, where he eventually became deputy chief of the Investigations Bureau.
Frederic Blair Roehner has been named Outstanding Business Person of the Year by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. Roehner is the owner of United American Construction, a general contractor specializing in renovation and construction of commercial properties based out of Tysons Corner. United American’s accomplishments over the past few years include the interior construction of the new main terminal expansion at Dulles airport, the Base Exchange at Quantico Marine Base and the Wilson Building on Route 123 in McLean. Roehner is a past president of the McLean Rotary Club, a member of the Board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Inter-Faith Chapel Committee, and is a past Board Member of the Friends of the McLean Community Center.
Frank Kolencik has been named the Innovative Business Person of the Year by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. Kolencik’s bank, 1st Service Bank, is an active member of the McLean Chamber of Commerce. Kolencik is the co-chair of the Membership Committee, worked on the first annual golf tournament, and produces a quarterly newsletter. He has been in the mortgage lending arena for ten years. Kolencik is active in his church and in the Knights of Columbus.
Sherry Sylvester has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. In July of 2001, Sylvester decided to leave her position as a sales representative for a local promotional company to create and start her own Adbiz. Sylvester is a member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and the Reston Chamber of Commerce and is a Board Member for the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. She is also active in the Advertising Specialty Industry Association, Professional Products Association, National Association of Women Business Owners and serves on the Board of Directors of Sales and Marketing Executives. In her spare time she raises her two sons and has worked with the Race for the Cure fundraiser for breast cancer and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Bari Levingston is the President of Friends of McLean Central Park, which has been named Nonprofit of the Year by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. The community-based organization was established in 1998 to spearhead the revitilization of McLean Central Park. This year the organization has seen the completion of phase one, the construction of the 36-foot gazebo.
Scott Monett has been awarded the President’s Award by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. Monett has contributed his time and expertise in the Information Technology and Telecommunications sectors to the Chamber. He was Vice President of International Sales for CMP Express, Inc. prior to starting Monettech in 1992. He has given seminars and technology forums for Microsoft and other private and public institutions. He is a member of the Toast of Tysons Toastmasters Club.
Don Metcalf has been awarded the President’s Award by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. Metcalf is an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for Wachovia Bank in McLean. He is a Board Member of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and is currently co-chairman of the Program and Special Events Committee. This year, Metcalf organized the Chamber’s presence at McLean Day by setting up a booth, distributing information and coupons and running the 50/50 raffle. He is also an active member of Business Network International. He is also involved in the PTA, community pool and coaching his children’s sports teams.