August 30 – September 5, 2007
Benefit for Assaulted Argia’s Cook Set Sept. 10
A fundraising event will be held at the State Theatre in Falls Church on Monday, Sept. 10, from 8 p.m. to midnight to benefit Elio Martinez, a chef at Argia’s Restaurant who was violently attacked. He has regained consciousness but remains in critical condition at the Inova Fairfax Hospital. An eight-year employee of Argia’s, located doors from the State Theatre, Martinez was assaulted by three to nine men with baseball bats in the Bailey’s Crossroads area on Aug. 13. Three men have been arrested by Fairfax Police in connection with the incident. A witness called police, and Martinez received 30 staples for multiple skull fractures. He was induced into a barbiturate coma for three weeks due to massive swelling in his brain. Now fully consciousness, he is responding to verbal stimuli but the full impact of his injuries are still unknown. Martinez, 26, came to the U.S. nine years ago from Guatemala. He has five brothers, two in Northern Virginia. His parents, in Guatemala, are unable to obtain visas to see their son. The State Theatre has donated the use of its facility for the Sept. 10 benefit. Among the performers will be Maple, Magnolia Blue, Steve and Claire and the Picnic Bears, Brother Shamus and Bobby Thomas and the Magic Voyagers. A silent auction will be held.
F.C. Schools Brings Policy in Compliance With State Law
The Falls Church School Board voted unanimously Monday to bring its day care policy into compliance with state law, something it had failed to do because of an oversight for over 25 years. The new eligibility language allows elementary school children who reside in the City of Falls Church or who are enrolled in a public or private school in the City to attend, provided their parents or guardians are working, studying, training or disabled. It also includes a provision to allow the Extended Day Care Advisory Board to consider allowing enrollment, on an individual basis, to non-City residents whose children attend school outside the City. New language for the middle school policy makes the program available to children in grades 5 to 7 who reside in the City or who are enrolled in a public or private school in the City. The F.C. School Board also appointed six people to a new Day Care Task Force, tasked with studying and reviewing the needs and options for the City’s programs going forward and to make recommendations to the School Board. Jane Scully, Lisa Richardson, Debbie Wright, John Lawrence, Kim Maller and Ron Peppe were named and have reportedly agreed to serve. Three more appointments still have to be made.
F.C. Schools Present Longevity Awards
At its “Back to School” celebration Monday, longevity milestone awards were given to teachers and staff in the Falls Church City School System. Making 30 years was Clara Loza in the George Mason High School food services program. At 25 years was Thomas Jefferson Elementary Principal Trudy Taylor. Hitting 20 years and going strong were Dorothy Clinton, Linda Johnsen, Heidi Lang, Alice Nelson, Bob Nissen, Kathy Poff, Dorothy Salvatierra and Donna Viscardi. At 15 years were Charmaine Barr, Mary Anne Graves, Diana Harrington, Eleanor Hawkesworth, Mary Klink, Gloria Londono and Maria Shields.
Sexual Battery Near Haycock Rd. Tuesday
A 29-year-old Falls Church area woman was the victim of a sexual battery Tuesday, Aug. 28. According to Fairfax Police, she was walking alone around 8:30 p.m. on a path near the 6800 block of Haycock Road when a man touched her inappropriately. She screamed and ran and was not injured. Another similar incident occurred Aug. 13 occurred around 9:30 p.m. at Turner Avenue and Haycock. In this case the 23-year-old woman was pushed to the ground. The suspect fled and the victim was not injured. In the first case, witnesses saw a man, possibly bare-chested or wearing a tan shirt, running from the area.
