for the week of July 1-7, 2010

city

JULY 2010Questions 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

1 Third Quarte

r Estim

ated Taxes Due

(Paid in Treasurer’s Offic

e)

C

oncerts in th

e Park, 7 p.m.

City Council In

duction, 8 p.m.

3 Farmers’

Market, 8 a.m.-n

oon

7 Architectural Adviso

ry Board, 7:45 p.m.

2 FIRSTfriday

4 Independence Day

C

ommunity Center, Library Closed

F

ireworks and M

usic, 7 p.m.

6 City Council Work Sessi

on, 7:30 p.m.

P

lanning Commission, 7:45 p.m.

5 Independence Day Observed

C

ity Hall, Community Center, C

ourts,

D

MV Select in City Hall, L

ibrary, Schools,

Senior C

enter, Sheriff

’s Offic

e Closed

Rain Date for F

ireworks and M

usic

Celebrate July 4th in The City of Falls Church

The City of Falls Church will pres-ent its annual July 4th Independence Day Celebration on Sunday, July 4, at George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike. Musical entertain-ment begins at 7 p.m. with a live performance by the Ken Smith Band. Fireworks will follow at 9:30 p.m. This is a free event.

Spectator seating will be available at George Mason High School’s Moore Cadillac Stadium and the Northern Virginia Graduate Center parking lot. Most of the spectator seating will be on the synthetic turf football field. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets for the field. Chairs will only be permitted on paved surfaces.

No alcohol, smoking, fireworks, or pets permitted on site. Food, drinks and ice cream will be available for sale. In the event of rain, the event will be held on Monday, July 5 at the same time and location.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

FY2012 CDBG/HOME Grants ApplicationsThe City of Falls Church expects to have available approxi-

mately $82,000 of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and approximately $47,500 of HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds, as of July 1, 2011 to assist City residents with low- and moderate- incomes. These funds may be used for housing development, rental assistance, social services, economic development, and public services.

The City will be soliciting proposals to be considered for funding. Proposals for funding must be submitted in City-provided format in order to be considered. Proposal packets will be available on Aug. 13, 2010 by calling 703-248-5005 (TTY 711) or at www.fallschurchva.gov.

FY2010 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)

The FY2010 CAPER, to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, details the City’s housing and community development activities and programs implemented in FY2010. A copy of the report will be available beginning Aug. 13 at the Mary Riley Styles Library and at the Housing and Human Services Division.

Comments may be submitted to Dana Lewis at 703-248-5170 (TTY 711), fax 703-248-5149, dlewis@fallschurchva.gov or in writing to:

Housing and Human Services Division

300 Park Avenue, Suite 100 West

Falls Church, VA 22046

A special City Council meeting is scheduled for tonight to induct four members to the City Council. In May, voters elected Johannah Barry, Ira Kaylin and Ron Peppe to their first terms, and re-elected David Snyder to another term on the City Council. Their terms run July 1, 2010-June 30, 2014.

Following the 8 p.m. induction in Council Chambers, 300 Park Ave., the seven City Council members will select a mayor and vice mayor.

The seven Council members are elected at-large for four-year terms, with alternating elections in May of even-numbered years for three or four members. The Council members elect the mayor and vice mayor for two-year terms.

Meet the City CouncilPrior to the induction ceremony, the public is invited to attend a

reception for the new City Council. The reception gets underway at 7 p.m. in the Training Center, located in the G-level of City Hall.

For more information, call 703-248-5014 (TTY 711).

Four City Council Members To be Inducted Tonight

FINAL CITY FOCUS PUBLICATION NOTICE

The City of Falls Church will no longer be producing the weekly City Focus due to budget reductions. This is the last regular printing of this page. To continue getting City news:

• Register to receive the semimonthly e-FOCUS newsletter by e-mailing newsletter@fallschurchva.gov with “e-FOCUS subscribe” as the subject, or sign up online at www.fallschurchva.gov

• Visit www.fallschurchva.gov to get the latest City news and program information

• Find us on Facebook; get the link at www.fallschurchva.gov

• Visit www.fccps.org to get Schools news

• Tune in to FCC-TV

City Government Office Hour Changes Begin Today

Due to budget cuts that reduced staff, the following Falls Church City government operating hours became effective on July 1:

• Falls Church Community Center: Monday-Thursday the Center will close at 10 p.m. instead of 10:30 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday the Center will close at 11 p.m. instead of midnight.

• The permit counter for building and grading permits and land use applications: open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Mary Riley Styles Public Library: closed on Sundays and the new operating hours of the Local History Room will be Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-9 p.m., and Saturdays, 1-5 p.m.

Independence Day Holiday ScheduleSunday, July 4 and Monday, July 5 CITY HALL CLOSED July 4 and 5 COMMUNITY CENTER COURTS DMV SELECT OFFICE IN CITY HALL LIBRARY SENIOR CENTER SHERIFF’S OFFICE

GEORGE LOCAL TRANSIT NO SERVICE July 4 or 5

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 WeekKathy Hamor Curves

School involvement: Donated bottled water to Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Field Day. Curves is an annual donor to the new Teacher Welcome Bags, supports Staff Appreciation Week and provides staff discounts throughout the year.

Why Kathy is a BIE partner: “At Curves, we provide a place where women find support and success in the lifelong journey to be healthy. We are happy to support a fun day of outdoor activities at field day and to provide a place where staff can get fit.”

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

Review of Recommended Social Studies Textbook

The Falls Church City Public Schools Studies Department is cur-rently reviewing textbooks. The following textbook has been recom-mended and the public is invited to review it and provide comments for the department’s consideration:

Psychology 6th ed., Worth Publishers, 2011.

The textbook will be on display until July 16th at the Falls Church City Public Schools Central Office, 800 W. Broad Street, in Suite 203. Office hours are from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Questions may be addressed to Dr. Gloria J. Guba, Assistant Superintendent at 703-248-5600.

Foundation FootnotesWilden After-School Program Receives Laptops, Digital Cameras from FCEF At the completion of the school year, 11 students from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School received laptop computers or digital cameras as an incentive for completing a special after-school program. The Imogene and Robert Wilden After-School Program was launched in 2006 to provide after-school enrichment for students who are English as a second language learners. The program includes technology-based learning activities, tutoring, homework and testing support. Thanks to generous gifts from major donors, the Falls Church Education Foundation provides the laptop computers and digital cameras for each student who successfully completes the program year.

The Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For information about the Falls Church Education Foundation, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at denglander@fcedf.org.

FCC-TV Spotlight: Today’s Air ForceTune in to Falls Church City Television (FCC-TV) to watch Today’s Air Force. This weekly news show features in-depth stories about the Air Force and its people, programs, technol-ogy, exercises, operations and more. You can watch Today’s Air Force on FCC-TV at the following times:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. • Saturdays at 6:30 a.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.

Rasnake, Riccards Join 2010-11 FCCPS School Board

As the Falls Church City School Board sits down today to organize for the 2010-11 school year, it welcomes two new leaders and two cur-rent members returning for new terms.

Gregory Rasnake and Pat Riccards took the oath of office last month in preparation for their first terms. They fill spots on the board vacated by former board chairman Ron Peppe, who ran a successful campaign for city council, and Kathryn Chandler who did not seek a third term.

Rosaura Aguerrebere and Susan Kearney return for second four-year terms fol-lowing their re-election in the spring.

Rasnake is a senior congressional liaison and deputy budget director at the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). Prior to joining the FAA in 2006, Rasnake was a managing partner of the law firm Davis Rasnake, PLLC. Rasnake has two daughters in Falls Church schools.

Pat Riccards is executive director of the American Institutes of Research and founder of Exemplar Strategic Communications. He holds a bachelors degree in Government and Rhetoric and Communication Studies from the University of Virginia.

During its annual organizational meeting, the School Board elects its chairman and vice-chairman, makes committee assignments and sets its yearly calendar. Other school board business is conducted as well.

Summer School DatesMount Daniel ElementaryJuly 6-9 (T-F) and July 12-29 (M-Th) 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.*Summer School Plus: August 2-5Thomas Jefferson ElementaryJuly 6-30 (M-F) 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.*Summer School Plus: August 23-27Mary Ellen Henderson Middle July 6-30 (M-F) 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.*Summer School Plus: August 23-27George Mason HighJuly 6-23 (M-F) 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.*Summer School Plus: July 26-August 6*Summer School Plus attendance is by special invitation only.

Gregory Rasnake Pat Riccards

GMHS Wins 2009-10 Wachovia Cup for Athletics

The accolades for an already record breaking 2009-10 academic and athletic school year continue to pour in to George Mason High School. For the second year in a row, the Mustangs are being awarded the coveted Wachovia Cup, the state’s top sports award for overall achievement in athletics in VHSL Group A.

George Mason ironically is sharing the title with Radford High School, the same school from which the Mustangs wrestled three of their record six state athletic and academic titles this year.

The Wachovia Cup winner is determined by a point system based on performance in state championship events. Both Mason and Radford ended the season with 397.5.

Mason completed the spring season winning VHSL champion-ships in boys and girls soccer and boys tennis, as well as a third place finish in girls outdoor track and reached the semifinals in girls tennis.

The Mustangs also won VHSL championships in girls cross coun-try and girls basketball, while earning points in boys cross country and sportsmanship.

In addition to Mason, Blacksburg and Frank W. Cox high schools won the Wachovia Cup for Groups AA and AAA respectively.

The winners will be recognized during VHSL day at a University of Virginia football game in the fall.

School Board Approves Committee Appointments

During its regular meeting on June 22nd, the Falls Church City School Board approved the following committee appointments for terms beginning July 1, 2010:

Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee• Rodica Benya

• Teresa Michals

Extended Day Care Advisory Board• Sharon Lusk

School Health Advisory Board• Surekha Cohen*

• Bill Holtz

• Geronima Cortese-Jimenez

Family Life Education Advisory Committee• Julie Griffin*

Special Education Advisory Committee• Sylvia Malm*

* - reappointment

For more information concerning the various FCCPS school board advisory committees and how you may become more involved, visit: www.fccps.org/board/committees.