1989

Despite the sagging newspaper industry there are still a few investigative reporters among us, doing their best to root out corruption and misdeeds. One of them is Tom Avril, staff writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer and now a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist in the category of national reporting. Tom and two of his colleagues received the distinction, according to the Pulitzer board, “for their exhaustive reports on how political interests have eroded the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency and placed the nation’s environment in greater jeopardy.” The lengthy four-part series called “Smoke and Mirrors: The Subversion of the EPA,” ran in the paper in December of 2008.

Dawn Green Maclaren hasn’t been shy about the desire to add to her family, which includes husband Gregg and daughter Emma. Finally this spring her dreams are being realized, with the adoption of 2 1/2-year-old Ethan Yunhui, a little boy from China. Dawn writes, “Emma and I will be spending a few days in Hong Kong for some mommy-daughter time before meeting Gregg in Beijing, where we finally get to meet our son and finalize the adoption. We are required to stay in Beijing for two weeks, and then we head to Guangzhou for five days as a requirement to meet with the American consulate. Then we travel back to Hong Kong on our way home. All in all the trip will be three and a half weeks. We’ll have the opportunity to see amazing sites, but most importantly we get to bring home our little guy. Emma, who turns 8 while we’re in Guangzhou, is so excited to finally have her little brother and we’re equally excited to have him in our arms.” You can view photos and an account of their trip at www.myadoptionwebsite.com/ethan. Dawn also says she’s been fortunate to reconnect, through Facebook, with old friends such as Dave Gluck, Jen Lois, Sarah Nilsen Ashook, Bridget Hust, and Catherine Baggia Duwan. And she stays in touch with Jill Greenfield O’Brien, who lives in New Jersey and has four children.

Mary Beth Basile Chopas reports that Maria Kay Chopas and Sophia Angela Chopas were born on April 9 at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. The girls are named after their great-grandmothers and grandmothers. Mary Beth has been teaching at UNC School of Law for the past two years so she says that both girls are definitely big Tar Heel fans!

Fiona Bayly, who lives in N.Y.C., has embarked on an old but new job adventure. She’s returned to a former employer, the Wildlife Conservation Society. Earlier she was based at the Bronx Zoo, but recently started working at the New York Aquarium.

One final note: This column went to press before our 20th reunion, and I promise a full report in the next magazine.

5912 Aberdeen Road, Bethesda, MD 20817; javellino@mac.com