October 18 – 24, 2007
Staph Infection Advisory Issued for F.C. City Schools
In light of news regarding staph infections and the dangerous MRSA strand in other schools systems, the George Mason High School athletic department has posted a special announcement on the web regarding protective protocols in the Falls Church City Public Schools. It can be accessed at www.fccps.org.
Seven Corners Pedestrian Bridge Groundbreaking Monday
Construction on a pedestrian bridge across Route 50, connecting the Seven Corners Shopping Center and the Willston Shopping Center, will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday morning. The $6 million project is being funded by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The project is due to be completed by the end of next year. It is designed to alleviate dangerous jay-walking across the rapidly-moving Route 50 corridor that has resulted in an unusually high number of accidents in recent years. Fences will be built on both sides to help lead pedestrians onto the bridge. Also, a transit center is being planned by Fairfax County to be constructed adjacent the bridge.
2 Major Fires on W. Broad St. Still Under Investigation
Two major fires in a two-day span on West Broad St. (Rt. 7) in Falls Church remain under investigation by the Arlington County Fire Marshall’s office, according to the City of Falls Church public information office. There were no reports of injuries in either fire. The first broke out early Saturday morning on the basement level of the The Spectrum, the large mixed-use development project currently under construction in the 400 block of West Broad. Damage was extensive in a small area, but is not expected to setback the timetable for the completion of the overall project, according to Jan Zachariasse of Waterford Development. March 2008 is still the expected “delivery date” to condos and retail spaces in the project. The second fire broke out just after the evening rush hour Monday at the CP Auto Repair shop in the 1100 block of West Broad Street, gutting the building.
F.C. Cigarette Tax Revenues Reported Past Peak
With another big hike, 75 cents a pack, in its cigarette tax put into effect last July 1, the City of Falls Church City Council asked for a “spot check” on the impact from the City’s Chief Financial Officer John Tuohy after the first quarter of the fiscal year, and he reported this Monday that July-September net revenues were down from the previous three years. He attributed the drop to “the national trend of decreased smoking.” Annual revenues peaked at $520,000 in the 2005-6 fiscal year, dropping to $464,000 last year. Packs sold in the July-September time frame dropped from 69,000 in 2004 to 58,000 this year.
F.C.’s New Parking Plan: City Decals Sufficient
In its latest restricting parking plan, City Hall is planning to permit a waiver of parking limits in residential areas of the City to anyone showing a City personal property tax decal on their car. This does not count either for areas adjacent businesses or in neighborhoods where a special permit is currently required. Also, 75% of residents in a given block or more must agree in advance to apply for a parking restriction in order for it to be considered.
