for the week of May 27 - June 2, 2010

city

MAY/JUNE 2010 Questions or Comments?City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046703-248-5003 (TTY 711)The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news

29 Farmers’

Market, 8 a.m.-n

oon

30 Library closed

1 Economic Development Authority

, 6:30 p.m.

2 First day of new so

lid waste

c

ollection sc

hedule

G

eneral Distr

ict Court i

n Session

Recreation & Parks Adviso

ry Board, 7 p.m.

Architectural Adviso

ry Board, 7:45 p.m.

31 Memorial D

ay

C

ity Hall, Courts,

DMV Select in City Hall,

L

ibrary, Schools, S

enior Center,

Sheriff’

s Offic

e Closed

Community Center O

pen until 5 p.m.

No Yard Waste

, Bundled Brush or

Special Collections

Memorial Day Festiv

al and Parade,

9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The City’s 29th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival will take place this Monday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Falls Church City Hall grounds, located at 300 Park Ave. This free event is open to the public and will be held rain or shine!

Those who have given their lives serving in the armed forces will be honored at a fallen Veterans Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Community Center, 223 Little Falls St. Ann Mills-Griffiths, Executive Director of the National League of POW/MIA Families, will deliver the keynote address. In addition, Specialist Stephan L. Mace, a soldier born in Falls Church and killed in Iraq on Oct 3, 2009, will be recognized for his service.

The day also features a Don Beyer 3K Fun Run at 9 a.m. The Memorial Day Parade steps off at 2 p.m. under the direction of this year’s Grand Marshal, Edna Frady.

Celebrate Memorial Day in Falls Church City

29

2010

New Citywide Solid Waste Collection Begins Next Wednesday

Beginning June 2, Wednesday is Waste Day in the City. That means residents who receive City-provided curbside solid waste collection will have refuse, recycling, yard waste, bundled brush and special bulk items collected all on the same day - Wednesday.

Rolling carts for trash and recy-cling will be distributed in late sum-mer or early fall 2010. In the meantime, residents should use current recepta-cles. Place trash, recycling, bundled brush and yard bags at the curb by 7 a.m. on Wednesdays (or after 5 p.m. Tuesdays). Brush must be bundled with twine and yard waste must be in compostable paper Kraft bags with a 50 cent orange collection sticker (available at Brown’s Hardware, Giant Food Store, and City Hall in the Treasurer’s Office and permit coun-ter). The new rolling carts will be on display at the Memorial Day Parade and Festival.

For more information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov or call the Solid Waste Hotline at 703-248-5160 or e-mail recycling2@fallschurchva.gov.

City News Comes to You in Your E-Mail InboxThe e-FOCUS is the City’s online news-

letter that highlights the City’s financial, environmental, transportation, economic development, public safety, and housing issues. Check it out or subscribe online at www.fallschurchva.gov.

A resident since 1947, Ms. Frady saw the town of Falls Church become a City. Ms. Frady has been an active member of the Falls Church community, having partici-pated in the Woman’s Club of Falls Church, Village Preservation and Improvement Society, Citizens for a Better City, and the Falls Church Democratic Committee.

Throughout the day, festival-goers of all ages will enjoy amuse-ment rides, pony rides, arts and crafts, food, civic and business booths, public safety tips, stage entertainment, and more. Live musical entertainment will be provided by the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition, Big Tow, the City of Falls Church Concert Band, and Judo Chop.

For more information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-5178.

Grand Marshal Edna Frady

Provide Input for Pedestrian, Bicycle, Traffic Calming Project

The City will be holding a Pedestrian, Bicycle and Traffic Calming Strategic Implementation Plan meeting next Wednesday, June 2. This project will include the evaluation of every City street to find deficiencies in pedestrian and bicycle access and to develop a plan for improvement. The public is invited to learn about the project, provide comments, and walk/bike City streets to identify first-hand the type of improvements most needed (bring your walk-ing shoes and/or bicycle). The meeting will begin at the Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., at 7 p.m.

Opportunity for input will continue throughout the project, which is expected to take about one year. Citizens are invited to send comments and photos to Wendy Block Sanford, Principal Planner/Transportation Planner, at wblocksanford@fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-5041 (TTY 711).

Memorial Day Holiday Schedule CITY HALL CLOSED May 31COURTSDMV SELECT OFFICE IN CITY HALLSENIOR CENTERSHERIFF’S OFFICEMARY RILEY STYLES CLOSED May 30-31 PUBLIC LIBRARYCOMMUNITY CENTER OPEN May 31 until 5 p.m.GEORGE BUS NO SERVICE May 31YARD WASTE, BUNDLED BRUSH, NO PICKUP May 31 SPECIAL COLLECTIONS For information, call 703-248-5081 (TTY 711).

Scho

ols

School content published in The Schools Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, visit www.fccps.org - the official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news.

BIE Partner of the WeekHedi Ben-Abdallah & Marco Escudero Idylwood Grill and Wine Bar

School involvement: Hedi and Marco participated as judges for the Gourmet Cooking Iron Chef competition at George Mason High School. Hedi also visited the IB French class to speak French with students, tell them about life in Tunisia and teach them how to cook a Tunisian meal. Idylwood Grill has also provided complementary lunches for new FCCPS teachers and their mentors.

Why Hedi and Marco are BIE partners: “It was a treat to judge the Iron Chef competition and give the students tips on their product and presentation. Supporting the schools is important because every-one in the community needs to work together on behalf of the next generation.”

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

Calendar for May 28-June 4, 2010TestingNow – 28 PALS Post Test (MD/TJ)Now – 6/4 DRA/QRI Posttest (MD/TJ)Now – 6-4 SOL (TJ/MEH/GM)May27 5:30 p.m. FCCPS Retirement Ceremony (MEH) 7:00 p.m. Mason @ Bull Run District Final (G Soccer) 7:30 p.m. Family Life Education Advisory Committee (MEH)

28 11:30 a.m. School Board Luncheon (TJ)

29 12:00 p.m. Mason @ Region B Semifinals (B/G Tennis)

31 Memorial Day (Schools Closed/Day Care Closed)

June1 12:00 p.m. School Board Luncheon (MEH) 7:00 p.m. School Board Work Session (CO)

2 7:00 p.m. Award Ceremonies (GM) 7:00 p.m. Band Concert (TJ) 7:30 p.m. PTSA (GM)

3 7:00 p.m. Rising 5th Grade Parent Tour (MEH)

4 11:30 a.m. School Board Luncheon (MD)

For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary(MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle

(GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office

Foundation FootnotesSpring Appeal raises funds for immediate needs FCCPS families will soon receive a letter from FCEF President Dan Gardner asking for support for current needs in the school system. 75% of each donation will be directed to short-term, high priority needs and 25% will be invested in the Foundation’s Legacy Endowment Fund for future needs.

The Falls Church Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For more information, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at (703) 538-3381.

FCC-TV Spotlight: George Mason High School PlayTune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to see George Mason High School students perform William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, this play is sure to delight all audiences. You can catch the GMHS performance on FCC-TV at the following times:

• Thursday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m. • Friday, May 28 at 4:30 p.m.

• Saturday, May 29 at 4:00 p.m.

You can now see FCC-TV programming live at www.fcctv.net anywhere in the world! FCC-TV also airs in the greater Falls Church area on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2.

The final exam in the George Mason High School Gourmet Cooking class doesn’t involve essays, multiple choice or fill-in-the blank questions. Instead it is a team Iron Chef Competition.

Over the course of two days, four teams created sweet and savory dishes using the “secret” ingredi-ents of sour cream and car-rots. In the first competition, the groups created Italian Nachos-Restaurant Style, Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Blue Cheese Potato Cakes and Raspberry Sour Cream Tart. The second bake-off featured carrot dishes including Grilled Beef and Vegetables in a Lettuce Wrap, Roasted Carrot and Fennel Soup and Carrot Apple Muffins.

Judges included GMHS teachers Jon Pepper and Sarah Meservey, assistant principal Paige Whitlock, FCCPS food ser-vice supervisor Richard Kane and restaurant owners Hedi Ben-Abdallah and Marco Escudero of the Idylwood Grill.

The overall favorite dish was the raspberry sour cream tart created by freshmen Alex Gann and Paula O’Rourke, and sophomore Nicole Philbin.

(l to r) Paula O’Rourke, Nicole Philbin, and Alex Gann show off their GM Iron Chef Competition winning Raspberry Sour Cream Tart dessert.

GM Hosts Iron Chef Competition

When the 2009-2010 school year ends, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal Vincent Baxter will say so long to the Falls Church City Public Schools. Baxter shared his decision with the TJ faculty and staff Tuesday afternoon, and the school board formally accepted his resigna-tion at its regular meeting Tuesday night. Baxter’s last day with the FCCPS will be June 30th.

“I’ve had four wonderful years here in Falls Church City,” Baxter said. “My decision to leave is personal and stems from a desire to work a little closer to home so that I can be more involved with my own children’s lives as well as the lives of the students I serve in school.”

Baxter’s tenure with the FCCPS began in 2006 when he signed on as Assistant Principal of Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. Two years later, he succeeded retiring Principal Trudy Taylor at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

While Taylor was among those who helped spearhead exploration of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) for the division’s elementary schools, Baxter was charged with implementing

Leadership to Change at Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schoolit at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Under his leadership, the faculty and staff have been developing the first phase of implementation as they work toward formal recognition as an International Baccalaureate school.

In an effort to ensure a smooth transition at Thomas Jefferson, Superintendent Lois Berlin said that Assistant Principal Bob Palermo will be promoted to principal, and the school’s PYP coordinator, Mary Kay Howard, will assume additional responsibilities as the assistant principal. Berlin shared that message with the school’s faculty and staff Wednesday morning.

“At this critical time, it is important that there’s a con-tinuum,” Berlin said. “Mr. Palermo and Ms. Howard have been a part of the school culture for many years, they are well-respected by the faculty, staff, students and parents, and they are well-versed in PYP and its attributes. All of this will help ensure a smooth transition at TJ.”

Vincent Baxter