Falls Church News Briefs: May 21 - 27, 2009 | Falls Church News-Press Online

Falls Church News Briefs: May 21 - 27, 2009

Wednesday, May 20 2009 18:14

F.C.'s Thackrey Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal Monday

Jesse Thackrey, a founder of the Falls Church City School System which is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year, will be the grand marshal of F.C.'s 28th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival this Monday, May 25.

Sunny weather is forecast for this year's fete, which traditionally draws over 10,000 new people to the City. It kicks off with the Don Beyer Volvo 3K Fun Run at the intersection of Great Falls and Little Falls at 9 a.m. Live music begins on the stage at Park Ave. and Little Falls at 9 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m. The Lions Club Eye Van will be positioned on Park from 9 a.m. to noon, the Veterans Ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Community Center at 11 a.m., and the parade will commence at 2 p.m. (see listing of parade entrants, elsewhere this edition). Amusement rides, pony rides, arts and craft booths, food vendors, civic and business booths will also be active throughout the day. A feature story on the 95-year-old Thackrey appears elsewhere in this edition, as well as a listing of festival vendors.

Shopping Bags in 22046 News-Press' for Monday Food Drive Launch

The 18th annual food drive co-sponsored by the Falls Church News-Press and Diener and Associates, CPAs, kicks off at the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival this Monday. All recipients in the 22046 zip code of home deliveries of the News-Press will receive plastic shopping bags with their newspaper to encourage families to come to the parade with a bag full of canned and other non-perishable foods that will be delivered to the Food for Others food bank in Merrifield. Everyone is urged to pitch in, and the drive will continue through July 4 with drop-boxes at the following locations: F.C. News-Press (450 W. Broad, Suite 321), Diener and Associates (128 Rowell Ct.), F.C. Community Center (223 Little Falls), Anthony's Pizza (320 W. Broad), Unity Club (220 W. Broad), Point of View (701 W. Broad) and F.C. Art and Frame (102 Park Ave.). "It goes without saying that this is one of the most important food drives we've had," said the News-Press' Nicholas Benton. "With the economy so down, there's not only a significantly greater need, but non-profits are also being starved for funding from traditional sources of help." Food for Others distributes meals to the needy at 14 locations throughout Northern Virginia every day.

Del. Scott: No $ to Complete Merrifield Road Work

Citing the economy and attendant state, federal and county budget cuts, State Del. Jim Scott said there is simply no funding currently to proceed with the massive road construction launched but now halted around the intersection of Lee Highway and Gallows Road. Scott made the statement to a joint luncheon of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and Merrifield Business Association Tuesday. He gave no indication of when work might resume on the project.

Man Dies in F.C. Motorcycle Crash

A 38-year-old man from Annandale died as a result of injuries he sustained in a motorcycle crash in the City of Falls Church Monday, May 18. Shortly before 3 p.m., Falls Church Police and Emergency Medical Services responded to the 400 block of S. Washington St. for a reported incident involving a motorcycle. Franklin Trent Garrett III apparently lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and fell off. He continued to slide down the four-lane undivided roadway and struck a stopped vehicle which was preparing to exit a parking lot onto S. Washington St. EMS transported the victim to the INOVA Fairfax Hospital Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:26 p.m. Several blocks of S. Washington St. were closed for approximately two hours.

Citizen Feedback Sought in F.C. Marketing Survey

The Falls Church Economic Development Authority is crafting a marketing plan to promote the City of Falls Church, and is seeking citizens who will complete a brief questionnaire, which should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Residents and non-residents alike are invited to participate by responding to the questionnaire at http://www.fallschurchva.gov.