Carmello’s of Historic Manassas, Va. recently earned Wine Spectator magazine’s 2017 Award of Excellence for the eighth consecutive year, noted for its vast Portuguese wine selections. For more information, call 703-368-5522 or go to www.carmellos.com.

Carmello’s offers more than 100 Portuguese wines from Portuguese regions, such as Alentejo, Douro, Doa, Estremadura and Vinho Verde, and presents one of the largest Portuguese wine lists in the United States.

“We’re always excited to be selected by Wine Spectator magazine; we have a passion for good wine, and we like to share that passion with our customers,” said Alice Pires, owner of Carmello’s and Monza of Historic Manassas, Va.

BASIS Independent McLean, third-grader, James Fishman won 2nd place in the 2017 WETA-TV Kids Writer’s Contest out of almost 400 entries for his illustrated story, Cats and Kitties, which is posted on www.weta.org. For more information about the school, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com or call 703.854.1253.

The WETA-TV Writer’s Contest was open to children in kindergarten through third grade who live in Washington, D.C., Maryland or Northern Virginia, with entries submitted by May 1, 2017.

A first, second and third place winner were announced at each grade level. First place winners will have their stories made into a hardcover book. Additionally, the area school that submitted the most entries received a free classroom library of books and a visit from a PBS Kids costume character.

BASIS.ed’s co-founder Dr. Michael Block will speak at a free, public information session on Wed., May 24 at BASIS Independent McLean at 6:15 p.m., located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Va. to discuss U.S. News & World Report’s Best High School Rankings that has listed five of the 10 schools as BASIS.ed – at first, second, third, fifth and seventh place. The public is invited to hear Dr. Block talk about the notable school curriculum that led to BASIS.ed’s reputable U.S. rankings. Cocktail reception begins at 6:15 p.m. with the session to follow at 6:45 p.m. To register, go to http://basisindependent.com/may24 or call 703.854.1253.