City Employee of the Year Works with Youth at Risk

By FALLS CHURCH CITY COMMUNICATIONS

March 31, 2010

Rachel Kindell, Senior Residential Counselor at Aurora House, has been named the 2009 City of Falls Church Employee of the Year. The Employee Review Board selected Kindell for her creative and diligent work serving at-risk, court-involved youth clients at Aurora House.

Through remarkable fundraising efforts of bake sales, car washes and networking with community programs and businesses, Kindell was able to obtain reduced or no-cost enrichment and recreational activities for the residents. When Aurora House was short-staffed, Kindell assumed full responsibility for the direct care, case management and therapeutic services of the residents — in addition to her regular duties.

The Employee Review Board also recognized Kindell for her contribution to the residents’ scholastic achievements. During the first academic quarter of 2009, all residents attained honor role or honorable status in their school work. Kindell’s efforts provided a new format for community service projects, fitness and exercise curricula, online tutorial services, and study packet to improve study skills.

Kindell’s willingness to go above and beyond her assigned duties as the Residential Supervisor has not only contributed to the division’s goals and objectives of serving at-risk youth, but further models the qualities of teamwork, adaptability and customer focus for City employees.

There will be a public reception in Kindell’s honor on Monday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Cherry Hill Farmhouse, followed by the presentation of her award at the beginning of the City Council meeting that evening.

Six other employees were nominated for this award for their outstanding contributions during 2009.

The citizen-based Employee Review Board selects an Employee of the Year each year from nominations submitted by City employees and citizens. The recipient is selected for his or her involvement in, and accomplishment of, outstanding work in advancing and improving public service in the City of Falls Church that produces outcomes, such as higher morale or acts beyond the call of duty, and goes above and beyond the nominee’s normal duties.

City Requests for Federal Money Exceed $62 Million

By FALLS CHURCH CITY COMMUNICATIONS

March 31, 2010

The City of Falls Church has applied for more than 30 federal government grants since FY2009 totaling more than $62 million to support a variety of City programs and services.  A recently updated chart has been added to the budget page of the City web site www.fallschurchva.gov which lists the amount of the grants and the City projects which would receive federal funding if the grants are approved.

Some, but not all, of the grants applied for are available as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, commonly referred to as the federal economic “stimulus.” To date more than $3.7 million of the City’s stimulus requests have been approved and will be used to fund public safety equipment, human services and community development projects, sidewalk improvements and traffic calming speed signs.  Some of the non-ARRA grant funded projects include affordable housing, storm water improvements (day lighting and water run off cisterns), hybrid vehicles, a pedestrian and traffic calming study and transit bus and bus facility improvements.

More than $32 million of the total grant requests made since FY2009 will not be funded.  The City, due to its small population size, does not receive federal funding directly so it must apply for these very competitive funds either at the national or state level.

A chart listing grants applied for is at www.fallschurchva.gov (see FY11 budget page).

For more information about the City’s grant applications, contact Assistant City Manager Cindy Mester at cmester@fallschurchva.gov.

CANDIDATE Q&A: Lindy Hockenberry

Hockenberry is a former Vice Mayor and currently serves on the Falls Church Planning Commission. She is a retired teacher from the Falls Church City Public Schools, where she taught for 40 years.

Background Information:

I am originally from Nassau, NY, and grew up on Route 20 between Albany and Pittsfield, MA. My degrees are from Spalding University in Louisville, KY, and George Mason University. I received both as a working mom with two children. I started teaching at TJ in 1969 and have been an active part of this community ever since. My children, Tim and Beth, both graduated from GMHS and I have six wonderful grandchildren ages nine to 17.

My campaign slogan is “Always there for our City and our kids” and that just about says it all about my involvement in our City of Falls Church. I taught middle school for 31 years and substituted since I retired in 2000. I’m a perpetual “cheerleader” at GMHS sporting events as well as at theatrical productions and concerts. Within the City, I attend almost everything going on. I loyally support local businesses. My eight years on City Council brought everything together for me. I am always working hard for our City and our citizens. Read more

George Mason Girls Lacrosse Defeats South Lakes

By JANE JOHANSEN
Falls Church Times Staff

March 30, 2010

Bringing their early season record to 3 wins and no losses, the George Mason High School Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team prevailed over South Lakes High School on Wednesday, March 24^th.

In their last game before spring break, the Mustangs led the AAA South Lakes Seahawks at the half with a score of 14 to 5, and were able to bring many from the bench in the second half, finishing with a score of 19 to 8.

With South Lakes taking 19 shots on goal, senior goalie Meghan Powell saw lots of action and made 9 saves.  Junior midfielder Abby Johansen led the Mustang scoring with 7 goals, followed by senior attack Taylor Bottock with 5, senior midfielder Gwen Edwards with 4, and a goal apiece by Grace Kuipers, Abby Perez, and Christina Perez.

Senior defender Chelsea Wilkes and Edwards each had 4 ground balls, followed by Johansen with 3.   Edwards and Wilkes also performed well at the center circle, effecting 5 draw controls each.  Finally, in the second half, George Mason was able to flex its defensive skills, with senior defender Katrina Snyder along with Abby Perez making interceptions.

Mason next plays after spring break at home on April 5^th against Eastern View at 7:15, and then on April 8^th at 7:15 p.m.  in a much anticipated game hosting last year’s Dulles District Champions, the Broad Run Spartans.

MULCH MATTERS: Shovel for Free, or Buy from Arlington?

By KATHLEEN NEBEKER
Falls Church Times Staff

March 30, 2010

Did you notice the sign on Broad Street advertising free “come get it yourself” City mulch?  Double-ground leaf mulch is the end product of autumn leaf collection and became available March 19.  The property yard has an ample supply of City leaf mulch ready and waiting to smother emergent weeds and enrich the soil.  However, for those who have come to rely on the free City mulch delivered each spring to their front yard, a new strategy is in order.  Free mulch deliveries from the Little City are a thing of the past.

Environmental Programs Specialist Kathy Allan says that 388 households received a leaf mulch delivery last year. In prior years, before the self-serve option became available, the City delivered mulch to about 700 households at a cost to the City of approximately $100 per five-cubic-yard load.  The $100 cost covered staff time, equipment costs, fuel, and leaf grinding.  Due to the City’s budget, the free mulch delivery service had to be cut.  And, the City no longer has delivery staff available, which is a key reason that the City’s mulch is not even offered for a fee.

As it stands, the City’s mulch is free to all takers, and the supply is expected to last into summer.  Contractors may be hired to haul the mulch, but they may not bring in any heavy equipment to do the job.   This means that contractors must load the mulch into pick-up trucks with shovels and pitchforks.  No loaders or dump trucks will be permitted. The recycling center is located at 217 Gordon Road (near the intersection of Route 7 and Shreve Road). It is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to dusk.

A look at how neighboring jurisdictions are dispersing their mulch indicates that the City of Falls Church has adopted a plan similar to Fairfax County.  In Arlington, residents may get mulch at two county locations, and mulch delivery is available for a fee that varies with the quantity. Here is the link to Arlington County mulch information.  Alexandria offers mulch delivery only to its residents for a small fee.

So, what’s the most cost-effective way for a Little Citian to get mulch this spring? That depends on the quantity of mulch desired.  For those households wanting a large quantity of mulch, and without the time or inclination to retrieve it from the recycling center, the City’s new mulch program may not make sense.  A good option is to order mulch from Arlington. Arlington will deliver five yards of mulch for $50 to the 22046 zip code.  I called to check what parts of the City were covered by Arlington’s mulch delivery and was told that they deliver to the entire zip code.   This seems like a good deal.  I doubt that a private contractor would accept only $50 to go to the City’s recycling yard, scoop up five yards of mulch without the use of heavy equipment, and deliver it.  Still, five cubic yards of mulch constitutes a rather large quantity, and many households use lesser amounts.  Arlington to the rescue again, offering two and a half cubic yards delivered for $40.

Now, some of you are loyal to the Little City and discerning about your mulch.  Kathy Allan says the current mulch is the best she’s seen in years.  Maybe you want that. If only a small amount of mulch is required, collecting it from the City yard yourself or hiring a contractor to retrieve it for you may work out just fine.   If you want more mulch and are a do-it-yourselfer but do not own a truck, Home Depot rents trucks on an hourly basis.

Green Home Builder ‘Waits and Waits’ for City Permits

March 29, 2010

In Wendy Koch’s latest USA Today column, she writes: “My green home project is woefully behind schedule. My husband and I naively expected to be living in the house by now. Instead, we haven’t even broken ground! I submitted our construction and grading plans in mid-January, followed by nearly daily phone calls or e-mails and regular in-person visits to the permitting office of Falls Church, Va. And yet, we wait.”

Read more

MAN ABOUT TOWN: Peak Oil and a ‘Peaked’ City

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Falls Church Times Columnist

March 29, 2010

For years now, Tom Whipple, husband of our State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, has written a weekly column in the News-Press on “Peak Oil,” the thesis being: “Wake up — the world’s running out of oil!”

Week after week, year after year, Mr. Whipple reminds us of this inconvenient fact, apparently oblivious that we would prefer not to hear it anymore. We would prefer not to believe it.

The Man About Town empathizes with Mr. Whipple, for I, too, have been jousting at windmills for six months now, with the reaction from friends, colleagues, and critics  generally being one of “Enough – you’ve made your point; now write about something more entertaining.”

My thesis is that Falls Church City is economically unsustainable. Just as the world’s supply of oil is finite and diminishing, the City’s supply of commercial property is finite and diminishing. Meanwhile, the City’s appetite for educational services increases, just as the world’s appetite for oil increases. Reducing oil consumption can only postpone, not solve, the energy crisis. Cutting the City budget and raising taxes can only postpone, not solve, the City’s fiscal crisis. Read more

TOMORROW – Candidate Q&A

The Falls Church Times recently posed questions to each of the eight candidates running for City Council in the May 2010 election.   Starting tomorrow, we will publish the candidates’ responses in serial, random order over a two-week period.

First up will be Lindy Hockenberry, followed by Ron Peppe, David Snyder, John Lawrence, Johannah Barry, Hal Lippman, Barry Buschow and Ira Kaylin.

We hope this Q&A series provides voters with insights into the views of each candidate and helps foster a valuable conversation about policy choices in the City of Falls Church.

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