On April 1, 10-year old Jennifer Riebling of Vienna won the Children’s Idol Category of MTC’s Broadway Idol Competition in Silver Spring, MD. The First-place prize is a “Recording Career Package: two hours of recording time at Omega Studios in Rockville with an engineer and a CD, professional headshots, one hour audition preparation consulting and resume editing.
Jennifer Riebling is in 4th grade at Louise Archer Elementary School and is the daughter Peter and Robyn Riebling.
Ayr Hill Garden Club has celebrated 77 years in Vienna. Ayr Hill provides the gardens at the Patrick Henry Library. the WO&D Trail by Whole Foods, Centennial Garden at the town Caboose, the Children's Discovery Garden on Dominion Road and, Salisbury Springs at Lawyers and Windover Roads. For information call 703-738-1894.
Appletree School was awarded the latest "Beauty Spot" award from Vienna's Community Enhancement Commission. The school, located at 712 Tapawingo Road, S.W., received the award for its well-maintained grounds and continued upkeep. Suggestions for Beauty Spot awards can be sent to the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department, 120 Cherry St., S.E., Vienna, VA 22180.
Patrick Henry Library received the 2006 Historic Vienna Inc. Heritage Preservation Award for its contributions to educating the public about the town's heritage. These include participation in History Day 2004 and 2005, and the ongoing exhibit of photos from Vienna's past in the library meeting room.
Nancy Christmus, Carol Cuddihy and Waller McNew, volunteers at Patrick Henry Library, were among 44 library volunteers countywide honored recently by the Library Board of Trustees. Cuddihy has volunteered more than 1,000 hours and McNew more than 3,000 hours, and Christmus received an Exceptional Service Award.
The Vienna-based Committee for Helping Others will receive a Human Rights Award from the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission at its annual banquet on May 18. The organization was nominated for the award by Mayor Jane Seeman for its charitable work in providing emergency services, food, clothing, furniture and transportation for the needy in the Vienna area.
Vienna Youth Soccer Quest Red U10 girls team continued its winning streak to become undefeated champion in the Virginia Beach Spring Classic. Allen Blosser is the coach, and the team members are Carlyn Baldwin, Isabella Blosser, Jazmine Carter, Cristen Corry, Nora Howe, Elena Karakozoff, Kelly Mills, Mary Ellen Potter, Ashley Sienicki and Elizabeth Stewart.
Master Police Officer (MPO) Thomas Harrington, who serves as the school resource officer (SRO) at Marshall High School, has been named the 2006 Distinguished School Resource Officer by Fairfax County Public Schools.
Harrington, who has been the SRO at Marshall for 10 years, is one of the longest-serving members in the SRO program. He was praised by nominator George Moskowitz, second lieutenant with the Fairfax County Police Department, for establishing a strong rapport with students as well as an atmosphere of trust and respect with the educators he works with at Marshall. Moskowitz also praises Harrington for his involvement in school activities, including ninth-grade coffees with the principal, Freshman Retreat, Sophomore Lock-In, Ethics Day, all-night graduation parties, PTA meetings, athletic events and school dances.
Harrington serves as an instructor for the police department’s Basic School Resource Officer School, where new SROs are trained, and also helps create and update course content. He is a regular participant in the Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles’ drivers’ license ceremony. Harrington is also a certified instructor for the Sexual Assault Free and Empowerment (SAFE) program and volunteers his time two or more nights per week to teach self-defense and threat recognition skills to female citizens.