To have an item listed, mail to the Gazette-Packet, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. If you have any questions, call Elizabeth Orr at 703-917-6449.
Jean Palmer was awarded the Alexandria Professional Women’s Network 2004 Woman of the Year Award. Palmer is one of the founders of the Alexandria Professional Women’s Network and runs her own training company, “Training for Success and Excellence.”
Alexandria Business and Professional Women, working to achieve equity for women in the professional workplace, meets on the second Tuesday of the month from September to May at 7 p.m., at the Eisenhower Ave. Holiday Inn. For more information, call 703-765-1965.
Employment Club. The Laurie Mitchell Employment Center hosts "The Job Club" every Monday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The group is for those with mental illness and others who need support in their job search. The center is located at 8794 S. Sacramento Drive, Alexandria.
Mia Gemma, a new designer jewelry and women’s accessory boutique, held a grand opening on Sept. 29 at 2007 Mount Vernon Ave. in the Del Ray neighborhood. Store hours will be from 12-6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Mia Gemma specializes in custom jewelry designs and distinctive hats, handbags and scarves from select continental and American designers. For more information, call 703-535-699.
Shannon Steene has been named executive director of Good Shepherd Housing. He previously served as the organization's deputy director, and has 10 years of nonprofit experience.
Gary C. McDonald has been named the chair of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation Board of Directors. Alexandria-based MATHCOUNTS works to increase student interest in mathematics by making mathematics a competitive sport; 6,000 schools participate in MATHCOUNTS competitions annually. McDonald, who holds a doctorate in mathematical statistics from Purdue University, is a visiting professor in the mathematics and statistics department of Oakland University, Rochester, Minn. He has been a member of the MATHCOUNTS board for 12 years.
Peggy Parnell Drane and Albert C. Gray, both of Alexandria, are also members of the 16-person board.
Dog Soldiers, an Alexandria-based company, has announced the availability of a new American Indian action figure, depicting a soldier of the Chahik-si-chakihs (Pawnee) people. The 12-inch figure is dressed in trade-blanket breechcloth, buckskin leggings, copper armbands and moccasins. For more information, visit www.dogsoldiersfigures.com or call 703-619-9646.
Ten Thousand Villages celebrates its 10th anniversary with a community block party from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., starting with an opening address from Mayor Euille, Saturday, Oct. 23. Activities include live music, dancing, mendhi, refreshments and craft shopping. Ten Thousand Villages is located at 824 King St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-684-1435.
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America National Capital Chapter will hold its first "Heat the Country" program Saturday, Oct. 23. ACCA-NCC will provide free heating service to repair or replace faulty furnaces for the elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners. The kickoff event will be held at 8 a.m., at R.E. Michael Company, 6000 Farrington Ave., Alexandria.
Mary Peters attended the American Society of Travel Agents annual meeting in Hong Kong. Peters has been in the travel industry for more than 40 years and is the owner of Friendly Travel American Express in the Belle View Shopping Center. To contact Friendly Travel, call 703-768-6020
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 2004 Business Awards Dinner will be held 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 29, at the Alexandria Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites. Cost is $75 per person, $140 per couple. Business attire. To register, call 703-549-7000 ext. 207 or visit www.alexchamber.com. Holiday Inn is located at 625 First St., Alexandria.
Nationwide Credit Corporation of Alexandria is taking part in the American Collector Association International 2004 Charity Challenge Campaign. They plan to raise money through a yard sale to benefit Good Shepherd Housing and Family services. The yard sale will be held at 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 16, in the parking lot at 5503 Cherokee Ave. For more information, call 703-813-1453.
Community Research Associates of Alexandria was one of three Northern Virginia companies to earn a grant from the Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration to conduct disaster response exercises at the nation's largest seaports. The grant was in the amount of $571,119.
October Business Mixer. 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28, at Paul Springs Retirement Community, 7116 Fort Hunt Road. Prizes awarded for best costumes; no cost. Refreshments, door prizes, networking. Organized by the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce; call 703-360-6925 for more information.
Thomas J. Curcio, Esq. announces the opening of his new law firm, The Law Office of Thomas J. Curcio, P.C. Curcio, who has been practicing law for more than 20 years, will continue to focus on personal injury cases. The firm is located at 2829 Duke St., Alexandria.
Smile Reflection Dental raised $20,724 for the Crown Council's Smiles for Life Campaign. Reflection Dental, which has offices in with offices in Alexandria, Great Falls and Annandale, donated all of the proceeds from their teeth whitening services from March through June to the campaign. Half the proceeds will benefit Clemyjontri Park, a new park customized for disabled children. The other half will be donated to Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation.
Lou Korbus of Mount Vernon company Village Turf has been named a recipient of a 2004 Lawn & Landscape magazine Environmental Science Leadership Award. The awards recognize lawn and landscape professionals who have demonstrated a sincere regard for protecting and enhancing the environment. The recipients of this year's Leadership Awards will be profiled in a Leadership Awards supplement in the November 2004 issue of Lawn & Landscape magazine and will be honored individually at a reception on Nov. 5 in Charlotte, N.C.
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services to people who are blind or visually impaired, has announced the appointment of Alexandria resident Jeanne M. Dubow as director of development. She is responsible for directing the organization's development efforts with individual, corporate and foundation supporters, including the organization's Lamplighter major gift program, direct mail campaign, planned giving program, and fund-raising events.
Dubow brings more than a decade of fund-raising experience to CLB. Most recently, she served as the manager of Individual Giving at the Alzheimer's Association in Fairfax.
Networking luncheon. Hosted by the Alexandria Professional Women's network. Wendy Roan will speak on marketing and branding. 11:30-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Holiday Inn, 2460 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria Fee: $16 for members; $17 for guests with reservations. Walk ins $20. Reservations: 703-287-0890. For information, call Sylvia Leach at 703-768-8110.
Greater DC Cares and AOL marked Make a Difference Day, scheduled for Oct. 23, one day early by beautifying the grounds at United Community Ministries (UCM), 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria Friday, Oct. 22. Volunteers will be planting, cleaning, painting and decorating the agency’s front window.
Women in Community Service hosted its Legacy Awards Gala last week, celebrating 40 years as a group responding to the needs of low-income women and youth. The group honored Sargent Shriver, founder of Job Corps and civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height, as well as four National Volunteer Award Winners. Visit www.wics.org.
Federal Mortgage group Freddie Mac participated in a Rebuilding Together Alexandria project earlier this month. The group sponsored repairs on an elderly man's home, and the Freddie Mac volunteer team of 18 painted rooms and trim of the house and replaced the kitchen flooring. For more
information on Rebuilding Together Alexandria, formerly Christmas in April, visit www.rebuildingtogetheralex.org or call 703-836-1021.
Lizabeth Weaver Williams has joined Gadsby's Tavern Museum as the new assistant director. Williams, an Alexandria resident, most recently served as associate director of business operations at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House. At Gadsby's she will supervise the day-to-day operations of the museum and visitor services. For more information, on the museum, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703-838-4242.
The Wesley Housing Development Corporation welcomes their new board members. New members include Erik Hoffman, Richard Mason, David Rosenmarkle, George Kostel as Vice Chair and Jeffrey Greenspan as Treasurer. New Advisory Board members include Janet Vail, Roger Waller and Milton Welsh.
Rosario Salon recently closed for two days to host Schwartzkopf International's Ambassador Training. The event featured 11 hair designers from the U.S. and Canada. The hairdressers learned 5 new hair designs from the Essential Looks Collection presented by Schwartzkopf's Guest Artist Kathy Simon. Rosario Salon is located at 1322 Prince St., Alexandria.
The American Geological Institute (AGI), Alexandria, proudly announces the winners of two distinguished AGI awards; the William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to AGI goes to Russell G. Slayback, and the AGI Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Understanding of Geoscience recipient is Warren D. Allmon. The William B. Heroy Jr. Award is given in recognition of exceptional and beneficial long-term service to AGI. This year’s recipient is Russell G. Slayback, president and chairman of the Board of Directors of Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
The AGI Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Understanding of Geoscience is given in recognition for contributions that lead to greater public appreciation and understanding of the role geosciences play in society. This year, Warren D. Allmon, director of the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) and the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, N.Y. has been awarded for his ambitious renovation and expansion of PRI that has led to a five-fold increase in the staff and operating budget.