May 31 – June 6, 2007
Tinner Hill Festival Letter Writing Winners Announced
Ahead of this Saturday’s 14th annual Tinner Hill Festival and Global Market in Falls Church, winners of the festival’s E. B. Henderson ‘Dear Editor’ Contest have been announced. Students from George Mason High School won seven of the top 10 prizes from over 200 entrants, including the top three slots. They went to Sam Atkeson (first), Hannah Gann (second) and Kelley Frank (third). Among the judges were Jesse Thackrey, an early member of the Falls Church School Board and daughter Susan, also an educator. The awards will be presented at 3 p.m. during the festival on the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School grounds. The free festival runs from noon to 7 p.m. and includes live music by F.C.’s Danny Blew and the Blues Crew, the Power Glide Band, Santi Budiyi, Memphis Gold, Queen Sheena and SistahsNMotion.
F.C. ‘Continuing Episcopalians’ Claim Historic Name
With the step by defectors at The Falls Church to change their name to The Falls Church Anglican this spring, “continuing Episcopalians” of the church who did not vote to leave the Episcopal denomination last December have stepped in to claim the historic name of the church, and are now calling their on-going worship and outreach efforts The Falls Church Episcopal Church. Representatives of the church set up a booth at Monday’s Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival and distributed hundreds of colorful brochures emphasizing an open and welcoming posture and describing about their activities. The group, henceforth The Falls Church Episcopal, continues to gather Sundays at 11:15 a.m. in a fellowship hall at the nearby Falls Church Presbyterian. This Sunday’s service will feature a “Blessing of the Gifts” to thank the many churches and individuals who’ve provided prayer books, hymnals, chalices, processional crosses and other worship materials denied them when the defectors expelled them from the historic church site. Representatives of many supporting churches are expected to be in attendance. The service will be followed by a picnic in Frady Park at 12:30 p.m.
Gov. Kaine Honors Fallen Officers, Including 2 from Fairfax
In a special annual ceremony in Richmond yesterday, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine honored ten law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in the Virginia in the past year. The list included Fairfax County’s Detective Vicky Anne Own Armel and Master Police Officer Michael E. Garbarino. Both with the county police department, they were killed in May 2006 when a suspect opened fire on officers in the parking lot of the Sully District Station in Chantilly.
F.C.’s GEORGE Bus Line Free to All This Friday
This Friday, June 1, rides on Falls Church’s GEORGE bus line will be free to everyone. The service runs between the West and East Falls Church Metro stations. The move is aimed at encouraging citizens to use the bus line as gas costs rise over the summer. It is being done in conjunction with the monthly “First Friday” events in downtown F.C. and F.C. Mayor Robin Gardner will be joined by U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, who helped secure federal funding for the eco-friendly clean-diesel system, to kick off the free day early Friday morning.
F.C. Residents Get Break on Floodplain Insurance
Due to a concerted effort by City of Falls Church officials as “risk abatement” measures in the last year, City residents with properties located inside the “100-year floodplain” of Tripps Run will enjoy a 10% reduction in flood insurance rates. Such insurance is mandatory for homes located in the flood plain, which has grown as the buildup of impervious surfaces due to development has the effect of sending water faster and in greater volume through rivers and streams. A voluntary “community rating system” operated by the National Flood Insurance Program found F.C. to have gained in efforts to reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance ratings and promote awareness of flood insurance.
