FCPD Investigating Residential Burglary

By CITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

November 16, 2011

Falls Church City Police are investigating a residential burglary which occurred Monday evening, Nov. 14, when the residents were home.  Police are urging residents to keep the doors and windows of their homes and vehicles locked and to place valuables out of sight.

Between 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 15, unknown person(s) entered an unlocked sliding glass rear door of a home in the 1300 block of Robinson Place.  The house was occupied at the time and the residents did not hear or see anything because they were asleep.  The only item taken in this burglary was a laptop computer.  The computer was immediately exploited for banking information and that information was used to attempt to purchase expensive goods at a large department store in the metropolitan area. 

Falls Church Police note this incident is not typical because the suspects were sophisticated enough to duplicate bank cards without the original cards in possession in an attempt to make large purchases immediately without the owner’s knowledge.  Police remind everyone to take safety precautions every day: lock all doors and windows and secure valuables out of the line of sight in homes and vehicles.  For residential security ideas, Falls Church City residents may contact the Police Department to set an appointment with a certified crime prevention specialist for a free home security survey.  Interested City residents should contact Officer James Brooks at JBrooks@fallschurchva.gov or 703-241-5056.  Everyone is urged to call the police if you see anything or anyone suspicious.  Your eyes and your ears are the best defense in crime prevention.  To report an incident that has occurred call the Falls Church Police non-emergency number at 703-241-5053 or to report a burglary in progress or any other emergency, call 703-241-5050 or 911

Crime Report for November 8 – 14

By FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT

November 16, 2011

NOTE:  This report is not a definitive list of all criminal activity and is subject to change upon investigation.

Drug and Alcohol Violations, 300 blk E. Broad St, Nov. 9.  A 20 year old Falls Church man was arrested for Possession of Marijuana, Driving After Illegally Consuming Alcohol and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.  A 20 year old Arlington woman was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Possession of Marijuana, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.  Charges are pending against a 17 year-old juvenile of the City of Falls Church.

Prescription Fraud, 1150 W. Broad St (CVS), Nov 10.  A 32 year old Montgomery Village, MD man was arrested on three counts of Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain Drugs.

Driving Under the Influence, 1000 blk S. Washington St, Nov 11.  A 38 year old Washington, DC man was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Smoking Violations, 6795 #20 Wilson Blvd (Pho Bien), Nov 11.  A 46 year old Falls Church man was arrested for Smoking in a Non-Smoking Area.  The manager, a 32 year old Annandale man, was issued a citation for Permitting Smoking in a Non-Smoking Area.

Smoking Violations and Drunk in Public, 6757 Wilson Blvd (Eden Center), Nov 11.  A 23 year old Vienna man was arrested for Smoking in a Non-Smoking Area and for being Drunk in Public.

Liquor Law Violations, 1053B W Broad St (Enkhee Trade), Nov 12.  The business owner, a 36 year old Williamsburg man, was issued a summons for Possession of Alcohol Without a License.

Liquor Law Violations, 800 blk N Roosevelt St, Nov 12.  A 17 year-old juvenile of the City of Falls Church was issued a citation for Underage Possession of Alcohol.

Drunk in Public, 917 W Broad St (El Zunzal), Nov 13.  A 24 year old Vienna man was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Blood or Breath Test, 900 blk of W Broad St, Nov 13.  A 29 year old Hyattsville, MD man was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Refusal to Submit to Blood or Breath Test.

Larceny – Theft from Building, 600 blk Jackson St, between 3 p.m. on Nov 12 and 2 p.m. on Nov 13.  Unknown suspect(s) took a bicycle that had been left unsecured on a front lawn.

Drunk in Public, 110 W Broad St, Nov 13.  A 26 year old man of no fixed address was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

Drunk in Public, 132 W Broad St , Nov 13.  A 27 year old Fairfax man was arrested for being Drunk in Public.

City Attains Highest Recycling Rate in Virginia

By CITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

November 16, 2011

The City of Falls Church holds the highest recycling rate in Virginia, according to the Virginia Annual Recycling Rate Report issued recently by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.  For calendar year 2010, 60.4% of the City’s total waste stream was recycled compared to the statewide rate of 40.5%.

The report compares recycling rates of 324 Virginia cities, counties, towns, and solid waste planning areas.  The 8,075 tons of materials recycled in Falls Church in 2010 included paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals, yard debris and leaves.

While Falls Church’s recycling rate is highest in the state, the City has a more ambitious goal.   The City of Falls Church Solid Waste Management Plan, a 20-year plan adopted by the City Council in June 2004, sets a recycling rate goal of 65%.

Environmental experts note there are many reasons to recycle:

-       Recycling reduces dependency on raw materials like oil, ore and wood.

-       Recycled products are generally far less energy consuming to produce than the equivalent product made from virgin materials.

-       Diverting recyclable items from the waste stream to the recycling stream saves taxpayer money by keeping disposal costs down while preserving valuable landfill space.

For more information contact Kathy Allan, Environmental Programs Specialist, 703-248-5176 or kallan@fallschurchva.gov or visit the Recycle page at the City’s website.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s annual recycling report is available here.

FRIDAY 11/18: Military History Forum

Guest speaker will be Mrs. Charlene Schiff, topic:” The Holocaust: A Personal Story of Survival.”

No charge. 10 a.m. – noon, Falls Church Community Center, 221 Little Falls Street. 703-248-5020.  The Forum meets every other Friday, same time, same place.

Council Defers Action on Plan to Reduce Number of Wards,
Stormwater Survey Coming to Homeowners

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

November 14, 2011

The Falls Church City Council moved this evening to defer final action on an ordinance to reduce the number of voting wards.  Members voted, 5-0 (Ms. Barry and Mr. Peppe absent), to take up the matter again on December 12.

The proposal, which passed first reading on September 26, calls for eliminating the Scout House (Ward Three) and the American Legion Hall (Ward Five) as polling places and consolidating voters into three wards.  Both facilities would be retained as emergency polling places.

In his remarks to the Council, City Registrar David Bjerke reviewed the efforts of the Electoral Board to inform residents of the plan.  He said that the response from voters had been overwhelmingly positive.  “We had expected to hear a lot more pushback against the change,” he said.

Bjerke said the revisions will provide more equal access for all voters to a ballot, as well as essential emergency management service and faster service overall.  Regarding concerns that Thomas Jefferson School (Ward One) would be overcrowded, the registrar said that the Electoral Board has called on the School Board to close the school on Election Day, as is the practice in Arlington and Fairfax.

The plan would shift Winter Hill residents, including many senior citizens, from Thomas Jefferson to the Community Center (Ward Four).  Bjerke said that the Board would consider using crossing guards to help assist those voters crossing Broad Street.

Councilwoman Robin Gardner said that she understood the need for consolidation of wards, but expressed concerns about parking at Thomas Jefferson.  She also opposed closing the school on Election Day and pointed out that the school’s renovation would coincide with the November 2012 election.

Noting that the plan’s implementation also coincided with the change of the municipal election date and redistricting, Gardner questioned whether the timing was right.  “I just don’t know if it [the consolidation] needs to be right now,” she said.

Mayor Nader Baroukh, who like Gardner voted against the plan in September, felt that the electoral officials needed to discuss the plan further with the School Board.  “My concern is how the parking is going to work around the construction site,” said Baroukh.

Vice Mayor Dave Snyder called the current voting process at Thomas Jefferson less than optimal.  “Adding additional voters runs the risk of creating more issues with safety and difficulty in parking.  It just doesn’t look to me that it’s functioning that well,” he said.  Snyder added that he thought the Legion Hall was still a good polling place and questioned why the officials recommended moving to three sites instead of four.

Faced with these concerns and with only five members present the Council opted to defer.  It will address the issue again during its December 5 work session.

A map showing the current configuration of wards is available here.   A map of the three ward plan is available here.

Stormwater Survey -  City Manager Wyatt Shields advised that a survey is being mailed to all single family and townhome owners.    The response will enable the City to determine where and to what extent flooding has occurred and to align its resources accordingly.  Surveys can be returned by mail or online through the City’s website.

Other Business -  The Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing revisions to the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Handbook.  The Handbook has been shortened and now presents a clearer and succinct presentation of the process.

With Ms. Gardner dissenting, the Council approved first reading of an ordinance to amend the FY 2012 budgets (revenue and expenditures) for City Funds by adding $1,890,000 to the General Fund $3,350,000 to the Water Fund, and $546,205 to the Capital Project Fund.

The Council approved a consent item authorizing the city manager to to purchase up to $200,000 in technology solutions from CDW Government under a National Joint Powers Alliance Contract.

Closed Session -  At the end of the public meeting the Council began a 24 minute closed session concerning the post office lot and water litigation issues.

Video -  Footage of the public session is available at the City website.  Links to all pertinent documents are included.

MEH Robotic Teams Conquer Regional, Move to State Tourney

By STAN FENDLEY
FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF

November 14, 2011

Two teams from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School have qualified for the Virginia State Championships of the “FIRST” Lego League Robotics Tournament.  The two teams are the “Plantain Pirates” and the “Bacteria Busters,” which qualified by placing among the top four spots at a regional competition at the Smithsonian Institute on Saturday.  

FIRST is an organization whose mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills.  FIRST, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the prolific New Hampshire inventor who has developed products ranging from the insulin pump to  the Segway personal transportation system. Some 250,000 students have participated in the organization’s competitions. Read more

Falls Church City Library Receives Top National Honors

By CITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

November 14, 2011
   
For the fourth year in a row, the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in the City of Falls Church has been named one of the best public libraries in the U.S. by the Library Journal.  The City library is one of only 262 top libraries out of 7,513 public libraries in the country to receive “star” ratings in a rating system similar to that used in the Michelin Guide.  The City library received four stars out of five (up from three stars the first two years of the award) and is one of only three libraries in the state to be chosen this year.

The public library national rating system rates libraries with expenditures of $10,000 or more that serve populations of at least 1,000.  Ratings are based on four per-capita service indicators:  library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet computer uses.

For more information about the Star Library program visit the Library Journal website.  For  more information about the Mary Styles Public Library, visit its website or call 703-248-5035.

Click Read More to access links.

Perfectly Stuffed: A White Wine for Turkey Day

By Christianna Sargent
November 11, 2011
Special to Falls Church Times

Thanksgiving presents a truly American festive meal, laden with starch, spice, sugar, and the inevitable turkey roast—the ultimate tryptophan rush.  Splashes of burnt orange, crimson red, pecan brown, and pine green decorate the table and mirror the fall foliage outdoors. This time of year sets the mood for cozy afternoons indoors where warm, winter light floods bay windows, and a glimpse outside reveals a picturesque setting of falling, painted leaves. The brisk chill in the air only prepares the heart further for comfort food served up hot and the ever-charming glass of wine.

Thanksgiving will always be my favorite family holiday, and not just because of the food and the fact that no presents are needed; but, mainly because Thanksgiving is a true wine meal. The wine choices, though, are limitless and daunting at some levels, especially for folks who are just looking to adorn the table with some good tasting juice and leave the vino contemplation for the snobs. So rather than name off all the usual culprits that you see listed in every food magazine and wine editorial,  I’m going to say the opposite: stay away from Sauvignon Blanc, don’t bother with Cabernet Sauvignon, skip the Italians, forget the Pinots, Malbecs and Zinfandels save for another day. Keep it simple this year, and explore the broad, stylistic wine selection from one small region, the Loire Valley. I promise you, it offers all the stuffing you need and more…

This majestic region sits farther up the Loire Valley just south of Paris and can be compared to other renowned places of beauty such as Venice, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Grand Canyon! Otherwise known as the Garden of France, this region between the cities of Angers and Tours stretches along a slow-churning river flanked by 300 chateaux, vineyards, and gardens, and was named a UNESCO world heritage site. This beautiful region is home to the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes.

The Chenin Blanc grape is what we shall focus on for the Thanksgiving meal. Yes, I say, even if it is just a white wine. Chenin is especially versatile and comes in many different forms from dry to sweet, sparkling, rosé, and decades-old (possibly longer-lived than Riesling). In other words, red-wine drinking fans, this will be the perfect wine to indulge in during the meal, and after turn to your reds as you sit back in Turkey Lovers Lane swooning in a food coma. This chameleon of a grape pairs so perfectly at the Thanksgiving feast, and sadly, it is so unfamiliar to Americans. It is the Old World’s answer to California Chardonnay, but on a much eloquent, refined scale. No big oak-bombs represent this category. Rather, the wine itself is highly extracted (like Chardonnay) and highly acidic (unlike Chardonnay), making it a great food pair. Plus, it is susceptible to the famous “noble rot” that glorifies the vineyards of Sauternes (the honey-like, age-worthy dessert wine from Bordeaux). You can spend as little or as much as you like on it, and Loire Chenin Blanc can even be found at your local grocer. While you are out label-hunting for Thanksgiving, have a quick chat with the wine retailer you frequent, ask for Vouvray, Savennieres, Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume, or Bonnezeaux (listed in relative order of increasing price). None of these are easy to pronounce, so Google it! Or rely on your handy Iphone or Droid apps to peruse the wine cellar jargon. Either way, it’s simple to go to the French section and spot one of these names, even if you just point and don’t utter.

You will not regret the aromatic qualities of a good Chenin Blanc: ripe Georgia peach topped with whipped cream, quince paste and succulent apricot, Fuji apple and Bosc pear. Top this with a touch of marzipan cake framed by toasted nuts, and you have a mouth-watering Chenin Blanc just full-bodied enough to match with your roasted fall vegetables, seasoned turkey, and sweet potato casserole.

Just so you won’t get lost in the French aisle, I will list a few of my favorites you can spot around town:

Bernard Fouquet Domaine des Aubuisiers Cuvée de Silex Vouvray, Loire France $18 (at Weygandt Wines in Cleveland Park)

Domaine de Baumard Savennières, Loire France $18 (Whole Foods and Red, White & Bleu)

Domaine Jo Pithon Coteaux du Layon, Loire France $22 (MacArthurs)

Domaine Jo Pithon Quarts de Chaume, Loire France $100 (MacArthurs)

Chateau de Fesles Bonnezeaux, Loire France $70 (Schneiders)

Christianna Sargent
Certified Sommelier
Advanced Certificate–
Wine & Spirits Education Trust
Association of Italian Sommeliers
French Wine Scholar
talesofasommelier.blogspot.com

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