The McLean Ear: Governor Pays a Visit, Money for Kids, McLean Community Center

Republican $$$$. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell comes to town Thursday. Reason: Money, duh. He's headlining a fundraiser at the home of Fred Malek,  Republican fundraiser extraordinaire.

The guest of honor who hopes to take in thousands of dollars of McLean campaign contributions: Rep. Mike Pence, an Indiana congressmen running for governor in his home state of Indiana.

Malek's home on Crest Lane, truly one of McLean's gold-plated addresses is a favorite Republican money-gathering site. It's parties like this that make the 22101 zip code one of the top zip codes in the U.S. for political donations.

Meanwhile Across Town. The Longfellow Middle School Chamber Orchestra will hold a fund raising concert that is open to the public 7:30 p.m. Thursday at  at the McLean Racquetball and Health Club.

The orchestra is one of only three middle school music groups in the U.S. selected to play in the National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, March 21-24. The students are raising funds to cover their expenses to attend the upcoming competition. Want to help? Contact principal Carole Kihm at cakihm@fcps.edu

Maybe the kids should ask the Republicans at Fred Malek's house to help.

Joyce Returns to Greenberry's. Joyce Campos recently returned as a barista at Greenberry's, McLean's popular downtown coffee shop. She now teaches at Carlyn Springs Elementary School in Arlington. She has earned an MA from Columbia Teachers College in New York.

Why is she working at Greenberry's? Student loans, of course. She needed a great deal of money to put herself through school. So she works two jobs.

Generous Neighbors. Roberto M. and Gloria Maria Talastas Federigan gave a donation to the McLean Community Center this week. The amount was not disclosed.  The couple has lived in McLean for more than 39 years and they enjoy MCC programs.

Want to share news, or better still gossip, we're all Ears. Please e-mail TheMcLeanEar@gmail.com