Buschow Announces for F.C. City Council
Sally Ekfelt of the candidate search committee of the Citizens for a Better City (CBC) forwarded a statement Tuesday night of the candidacy of long-term City activist Barry Buschow as a candidate for the Falls Church City Council in the upcoming May election.
He will seek the endorsement of the CBC at its convention on Feb. 20, joining School Board chair Ron Peppe, who announced his candidacy last week. Buschow brings the field of candidates to five to date, including Peppe, Planning Commissioner John Lawrence and incumbents Vice Mayor Hal Lippman and David Snyder. Prospective candidates have until 60 days before the May 4 election to secure sufficient petition signatures of registered voters in Falls Church to qualify for the ballot. In the last year, Buschow was a strong advocate for the funding of the City’s GEORGE bus system as a regular rider, himself. He is the treasurer of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, serving on its board for 20 years, twice president of the F.C. Lion’s Club and is currently on the GEORGE Task Force.
Berlin: Longer Hours to Make Up for Closings
Falls Church School Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin told the News-Press Tuesday that with additional school closings this week, the Falls Church system has exhausted its designated make-up days (with the last ones being Feb. 15 and April 12, which have been added). The options now will be to either add class days on Saturdays, but more likely to extend the hours of certain class days this spring. “We count in hours, not days, anyway,” Berlin said, and the requirement is for 990 hours of instruction in a school year. She urged students who are stuck at home to get some exercise with their Wii’s.
Roof Collapses at Bailey’s Fire Station
The roof of the Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department partially collapsed early Tuesday morning with 18 firefighters asleep inside. Everyone got out safely. According to Fairfax County fire department spokesman Dan Schmidt, 16 men and 2 women were sleeping when the collapse occurred at about 3 a.m. over their fire engine bays. Three medic units, a ladder truck, a boat and a fire engine were damaged in the collapse. The building was constructed in 1974 and the roof was replaced 12 years ago. The firefighters have been relocated to the Annandale Volunteer Fire Station.
F.C. Black History Month Event Set Feb. 26
The Falls Church Tinner Hill Foundation announced its central Black History Month event will be its fifth annual benefit basketball game on Friday, Feb. 26, pitting Falls Church City notables against the Now York Magic Masters. The event will be at 7 p.m. and preceded by a “Girls Got Game” pre-game discussion. The events will be held at the F.C. Community Center. Also, every Saturday at 3 p.m. during the month, a walk through the past highlighting key African American historic sites will depart from the ArtsCenter Falls Church at 3 p.m.
2 Affordable Units Available in F.C. Next Week
Two affordable rental dwelling units at the newly-constructed Pearson Square Apartments, 400 S. Maple Ave., will be assigned via a random drawing on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Falls Church Community Center. The deadline for applying to participate in the drawing is at noon next Tuesday, Feb. 16 in the Housing and Human Services Office at the F.C. City Hall, 300 Park Avenue. Preference will be given to City of Falls Church residents. One two-bedroom unit for $1,309 a month and one one-bedroom unit at $1,155 per month will be assigned. Applicants must meet the following requirements: 1. U.S. citizenship or permanent legal status, 2. Total household liquid assets not exceeding $30,000, 3. A minimum credit score of 620, 4. Income between 50-80 percent of the area median income, i.e. $36,945-$57,512 for one person, $41,090-$65,728 for two persons, $46,215-$73,944 for three persons, and $51,350-$82,160 for four persons.
Valentine Events at F.C.’s Cherry Hill Farmhouse
This weekend, two Valentine’s Day-related events are scheduled to warm the hearts, at least, of storm-shocked Falls Church citizens. The first is a “Chocolate by Candlelight” blind tasting of chocolates. This first-time event for Falls Church begins at 8 p.m. and the fee is $10 per person. On Sunday, Feb. 14, there will be a Valentine Tea at 2 p.m. that will focus on “the search for love in the 19th century.” Sandwiches, sweets, warm scones and tea will be served for $24 per person. Both events are sponsored by the City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department.
Valentine’s Dance Benefit for Veterans Saturday
The second annual Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance benefiting the Auxiliary Emergency Fund and veterans will be held this Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Patriot Hall on the second level of the Dyer Gunnell Post 180 at 330 Center Street in Vienna. The event is semi-formal and tickets can be obtained by calling Janet Renner at 703-625-5736.
Webb, Warner Internet Push to S.W. Virginia
Virginia U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb joined U.S. Reps Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher Tuesday to announce two grants totaling more than $21.5 million to expand broadband Internet infrastructure in southside and southwest Virginia, focusing on currently unserved and underserved areas. They will also enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service, bridging the so-called “technological divide,” boosting economic growth and creating jobs. The grants will add 575 miles of new high-speed Internet infrastructure. “This is a huge boost for Southside Virginia, benefiting our children’s educational success in the short term and building our region’s long-term competitive advantage for the 21st century, said Rep. Perriello, who accompanied Webb and Warner at a press conference to announce the grants on Tuesday.
