Judge Stays Elements of F.C./Fairfax Water Dispute
Judge R. Terrence Ney of the Fairfax Circuit Court last Friday granted a stay until February of three of the four counts in the suit brought by the Fairfax Water Authority against the City of Falls Church and its water system, pending a possible reconsideration by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors of its decision to require as condition of a voluntary proffer by a developer, the Halstead Company, Halstead’s use of Fairfax water.
The count pertaining to the appropriateness of the City of Falls Church taking a reasonable return on investment from its water system will proceed to trial on Sept. 14.
Culmore Stabbing Victim Stabbing Dies, Homicide Charged
The 68-year-old victim of an Aug. 25 stabbing in her home at 3409 Glen Carlyn Drive in the Culmore section of greater Falls Church was pronounced dead on Aug. 28, and her alleged assailant, Jose Argueta, 42, no fixed address, was served with a warrant for homicide on Aug. 29. Argueta was detained by others following the fatal stabbing incident, and arrested by Fairfax Police who transported him to the Fairfax Detention Center. The homicide victim was identified as Maria del Carmen Mejia. A child with her during the stabbing incident has been released from the hospital.
Bjerke Sworn in as New F.C. General Registrar
David B. Bjerke was officially sworn in as the City of Falls Church’s general registrar in a City Hall ceremony Aug. 31. Bjerke, succeeding Deborah A. Taylor’s 24 years of service in the post, was sworn in by Arlington County Court Clerk Paul Ferguson. Bjerke previously served as director of polling place and voting equipment operations for Fairfax County’s 239 polling locations and 2,000 pieces of voting equipment.
GEORGE Bus Fares Drop to $1 on Sept. 8
Fares to ride the City of Falls Church’s GEORGE bus will drop to an even $1 as of Sept. 8, down from $1.35. Meanwhile, the City is still seeking citizens to serve on its GEORGE Bus Task Force to review and recommend changes to the City Council.
F.C.’s Chef Tennille Hangs in on “Hell’s Kitchen”
Again on this week’s episode, Falls Church chef Tennille Middleton survived to fight another day on Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” reality TV show, receiving uncommon praise from Chef Gordon Ramsey. Middleton is the main chef at the Sweetwater Tavern on Gallows Road in Falls Church.
F.C. City Schools, T.J. Elementary Hailed
Students of the City of Falls Church School System who took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scored above state and national averages, the F.C. School Board reported this week. The system’s composite score for SAT was 1,712, above the Virginia average of 1,521 and the national average of 1,509. For the ACT, Falls Church’s composite score was 25.5, above the state average of 21.9 and national average of 21.1. Also, the City’s Thomas Jefferson Elementary was named one of 124 “Title 1 Distinguished Schools” by the Virginia Board of Education for “raising the academic achievement of economically-disadvantaged students.
Correction: Eakin Properties Information
Eakin Properties, named in an article in last week’s News-Press as the owner of property upon which the Syms Department Store formerly sat, is not a “national commercial real estate firm,” and not based in Nashville, as erroneously reported in the article.
