Governor Comes to Town, Dranesville Supervisor Hosts McLean's A-List

Governor Comes to McLean. The governor visits McLean again tonight. The McLean Hilton to be exact. He's coming for the reason he usually comes to McLean -- money.

He's appearing at a fundraiser for fellow Republican and former Gov. George Allen, who is running the U.S. Senate against Democrat and former Gov. Tim Kaine.

The Washington Post reported that McDonnell was in town last week for a fundraiser for his lieutenant governor, Bill Bolling, who is running for governor in 2013.                   

Quite a Party. A who's who of McLean showed up at the annual Christmas Party hosted by Dranesville Supervisor John Foust last week.

Foust, always the gracious host, welcomed all his guests at the door then thanked them for his successful re-election bid in November.

No speeches. Just neighbors gatherings around munchies to meet, greet and chat about all sorts of things.

The guests included: Irv and Jane Auerbach, two of McLean's best known residents. Ron Bleecker, chair of the Dranesville District Democratic Committee. Pamela Danner, unsuccessful Democratic candidate for delegate. Bill DuBose, vice-chair of the McLean Project for the Arts. Darren Ewing, second vice president of the McLean Citizens Association. Victor Kimm, one of McLean's best known volunteers.

Stu Mendelsohn, an attorney and a former Dranesville supervisor. Lt. Jeff Powell, assistant commander of the McLean Police District. Ed Saperstein, chair of the Education Committee of the McLean Citizens Association.

Capt. Steve Thompson, commander of the McLean Police District and Foust's neighbor in the Government Center on Balls Hill Road. Marcia S. Twomey, president, Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce. Clark Tyler, McLean resident, who chaired the task force that developed the plan for a new city at Tysons Corner. Glenn Yarborough, commander of the McLean American Legion Post.

McLean Community Center Board members: Kevin Dent, Jay Howell, Chad Quinn and Robin Walker were also spotted in the crowd.

Neighbors in the news. The Sun-Gazette profiled three generations of the Hinkle family. They founded McLean Hardware. Then became dentists. Good story about good neighbors.

Cases for Wine. Our neighbors Steve Case and wife Jean are now vineyard owners, reports The Washington Post. They "quietly purchased Sweely Estate, just off Route 29 in Madison, in July. Final regulatory approval for the license transfers was granted late last month," the Post reported.

From the man who helped put America Online and himself on the Forbes list of the 400 richest folks in the U.S., he and his wife now plan on improving the Virginia wine industry.

Read a two-hour interview that the Post conducted "at the winery on a recent warm, sunny December morning," where "Jean Case described an ambitious, if not yet entirely mapped out, plan to help the Virginia wine industry expand to new markets."

If you have news, or better yet, gossip, tell, tell. We are all ears. Please email: TheMcLeanEar@gmail.com