12 File for 4 F.C. Planning Commission Slots

A record 12 City of Falls Church residents have filed to fill four seats on the seven-member F.C. Planning Commission, including three incumbents, according to the City Clerk’s office.

The deadline for filing was Tuesday. The current Planning Commission’s controversial rejection of a site plan for the City Center South Apartments affordable housing project is credited with a late surge of applicants. The Planning Commission threw the 174-unit affordable housing project into jeopardy by its vote against the site plan last week, effectively overriding repeated votes to approve the plan by the City’s elected City Council. Incumbents Christine Sanders, Ruth Rodgers and Maureen Budetti have filed to be re-appointed to new four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2009, and incumbent Suzanne Fauber chose not to re-apply. New applicants include Charles Langalis, Michael Kearney, Phil Duncan, Russell Wodiska, Greg Rasnake, Thomas Devlin, Stuart Rubin, Robert Meeks and Nigel Yates. The City Council, after a review and interviews with the candidates, will make its appointments later this month.

Opera Soloist Highlights GMHS Winter Concert

Opera tenor soloist Russell Penny will be a featured performer at the annual Winter Concert at the George Mason High School (GMHS) auditorium tonight (Thursday, Dec. 11) at 7:30 p.m. in Falls Church. Penny, who has appeared with over 85 orchestras, opera companies and in concert societies in 11 countries, will perform “Come to Me, Bent to Me” from Brigadoon, the musical recently performed at GMHS, the aria, “Nessum Dorma” from the Puccini opera “Turandot,” and a holiday selection. All of his selections will be performed with the GMHS Wind Ensemble. Also, Kaatrin Netherton has composed and will perform an original work, “Ariana’s Theme.” The GMHS Jazz Ensemble, Flute Quartet, Concert and Contract Band, Brass Quintet and Clarinet Quartet will also perform. The Wind Ensemble will also perform works from the soundtrack of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” while scenes from the film are shown. Mary Jo Webster is the band director and Reilly O’Hara will do the narration.

Crime Rate Up 10.7% in Fairfax County

According to a Third Quarter 2008 report from the Fairfax County Police, reported crimes increased 10.7 percent during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. While violent crimes, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, declined 10.1 percent, property crimes, including burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft, increased 12 percent for the same period.

Another Large Retailer Exiting Falls Church

According to a report from Falls Church City Councilman Lawrence Webb Monday, the National Wholesale Liquidators discount department store located in the Eden Center is closing down. The store moved in earlier this decade when the Ames Department store left. The departure of the retailer follows on news that the popular clothing discount store, Syms, will also not renew the lease at the nearby site where it has been located for decades, according to reports due to a sharp increase in the rent.

Former U.S. Rep. Payne Endorses Brian Moran

As the three-way battle heats up to win the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia, State Del. Brian Moran won a major endorsement from Former U.S. Congressman L. F. Payne, who represented the 5th District of Virginia and had been chairman of Mark Warner’s successful 2001 gubernatorial campaign. Moran will face off against State Sen. Creigh Deeds and former Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe in a June 2009 primary in advance of the November 2009 general election. Payne announced his endorsement of Moran in a Charlottesville event yesterday.

News-Press Holiday Party Monday, Dec. 15

The 19th Annual Holiday Party hosted by the Falls Church News-Press will be held Monday, Dec. 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the fellowship hall of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, 222 N. Washington St. The catered event will feature live music by three ensembles of George Mason High School Performing Arts Department students, and will be filled with plenty of warm holiday spirit.