MONDAY, 4/23: Richter to Be Honored as City Employee of the Year

Susan Richter, Senior Administrative Assistant for Housing and Human Services (HHS), has been named the 2011 City of Falls Church Employee of the Year. The Employee Review Board selected Richter for her leading role managing the Community Services Fund, administering the Fare Wheels program, supporting the Community Development Block Grant program, and monitoring inter-jurisdictional contracts.

“Sue Richter embodies the heart of Housing and Human Services: providing service to our City’s most vulnerable residents, such as homeless children and adults, low-income seniors, victims of domestic abuse, the deaf, and those needing free legal services,” said Nancy Vincent, Director of HHS.

A public reception in Richter’s honor is scheduled for Monday, April 23, at 6:45 p.m. at Cherry Hill Farmhouse (312 Park Ave.). The award will be presented to Richter that evening at the City Council meeting in City Hall (300 Park Ave.).

SATURDAY 4/28: Three for a Song at Creative Cauldron

On April 28 at 7:30 pm at Creative Cauldron, Three for a Song will perform in a concert titled “The Greatest Songs You Never Heard.” Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students/seniors and can be purchased in advance online at www.creativecauldron.org.  Creative Cauldron is located at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue.

Pianist extraordinaire Alex Hassan recreates the styles of the Golden Age of the Tin Pan Alley 20s and 30s, joined by sublime singers Doug Bowles and Karin Paludan for a concert of the “The Greatest Songs You’ve Never Heard.” It’s a show that’s been getting standing ovations at venues such as the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage “Jazz Club,” the Coolidge Auditorium (Library of Congress), and numerous private venues, since it debuted in late 2011. You’ll hear breathtaking melodies from stage and film, with clever lyrics, bounce rhythms, hot tempos. Songs are interspersed with amusing to jaw-dropping anecdotes about the songs and songwriters, with listeners left to wonder how these melodies didn’t become standards!

“Ped Plan” Proves Controversial, Shields Recommends Extending Review Period

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF

April 22, 2012 

In response to comments received at last Thursday’s town hall meeting, City Manager Wyatt Shields stated Friday afternoon that he would recommend the City Council extend the time for public review and comment on the Pedestrian, Bicycle and Traffic Calming Strategic Implementation Plan past May 29, the date originally scheduled for the plan’s adoption.

City Council members who attended Thursday’s session asked that a motion be prepared for their Monday night meeting to provide additional time for the plan to be modified to address the comments received. Shields said that the goal is to ensure the plan before the Council reflects residents’ priorities.

The city manager said that staff will address residents’ requests to preserve on-street parking on Lincoln Avenue and Hillwood Avenue , and other areas of Falls Church.  He added that the purpose of the public-input process is to improve the plan, and help the City to move forward as a community with safe and attractive streets.  

“The staff and volunteer committee members are to be commended for their important work on this plan,” Shields said.  “Citizens provided critical input at many junctures during the plan’s development and we will take the time necessary to get this right.”

The current “Ped Plan” draft is available at www.fallschurchva.gov/pedplan.  The website, which does not reflect the input received Thursday, will be updated by close of business Monday.