December 13 – 19, 2007
‘Predatory Towing’ Hits F.C.’s Broaddale Plaza
A new spate of involuntary tows of parked vehicles has hit the Broaddale Shopping Center in the 300 block of W. Broad St., according to Gary LaPorta, a member of Falls Church’s Towing Advisory Board. The shopping center includes the Original Pancake House, Hair Cuttery, Kinko’s, a Starbucks and other stores. There have been a number of citizen complaints of swift tows of parked vehicles whenever someone steps off the shopping center property, even for a couple of minutes. In some cases, the tows occurred within a few minutes that a citizen walked to the adjacent Mary Riley Styles Public Library to return a book, LaPorta said. He said complaints that towing companies have illegally required payment for recovery of vehicles in cash, only, and in amounts in excess of the maximum $100 charge are being investigated.
Moran: Unclaimed IRS Refunds in Region Top $1.2 Million
At a Falls Church press conference Monday, U.S. Rep. Jim Moran urged Washington Metro area citizens to visit an Internal Revenue Service website to see if there is an unclaimed refund from the IRS waiting for them. Over 1,400 regional taxpayers are owed over $1.2 million in unclaimed refunds, Moran said, with the average payment over $900. Names of all persons owed refunds are listed on Moran’s website, www.moran.house.gov. If one’s name appears there, they should go to the IRS.gov website and click on “Where’s My Refund?” There, they can check on the status of their refund and instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.
No Change in FCNP Rates Despite Newsprint Cost Hike
The Falls Church News-Press announced this week that despite a sharp industry-wide newsprint cost increase that will hike its weekly printing bill, no commensurate increase in advertising rates is planned at this time. AbitibiBowater, a newly-merged company that now controls over 40% of the newsprint supply in North Amerca, will raise its rates to customers, including Comprint, the Maryland-based printing company that has been the printer of the News-Press since its founding in 1991. The rate will jump by $20 per metric ton for three consecutive months beginning in January 2008. The News-Press has also incurred the cost of printing and distributing 6,000 additional copies this fall to extend its home deliveries into North Arlington. The successful expansion has grown the total circulation of the News-Press to 36,500.
‘Memphis Gold’ to Headline New Year’s Eve in F.C.
World-famous Memphis Gold has been secured by the Tinner Hill Foundation, with the support of Diener and Associates, CPAs, as the headlining musical group performing at the ninth annual Falls Church New Year’s Eve Watch Night on Dec. 31. A friendly wager over the quality of pound cake won by the Tinner Hill Foundation’s Nikki Graves Henderson over Memphis Gold’s wife resulted in the commitment to appear. Memphis Gold, whose real name is Chester Chandler, has performed with such blues legends as B. B. King, Martha Reeves, the Vandellas, and the Temptations.
