FRIDAY 5/25: A Festival of H.O.P.E.

Start Memorial Day Weekend with “A Festival of H.O.P.E.”  Friday, May 25th 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm in the Spectrum Park (Between Panera & Mad Fox)

Live music by Rand Walter, Lu and the Blues Crew, JKL (Jason Kutchma, Kiki Skotte, Lu Sevier), Simple Sound and Security Report!  Plus games, facepainting and fun for the whole family.  H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Procure an Education) is a George Mason HS Club that works with the Arlington Academy of HOPE in Uganda.  Stop in at a nearby restaurant for dinner.  You’ll learn about the mission of Arlington Academy of Hope, help raise funds for student tuition and have fun with family and friends.

According to event organizer Christina Holman, a GMHS junior, “The event will include family-oriented activities and promote community involvement as well as feature live music and present information about HOPE and our partner organization the Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH).”

This is the first time the park has been used for an outdoor event like this. Come and check it out!

Bulova Proposes Merger of Water Systems

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF

May 22, 2012

Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, has proposed that the City of Falls Church merge its water system with the County’s. 

Writing in response to recent comments by Vice Mayor Dave Snyder, Ms. Bulova states she believes such a merger would lower rates for residents of both jurisdictions.  However, she adds that if the City were to sell to its system to the “highest bidder,” rates for all its customers very well may increase substantially, as an investor-owned utility would have to charge higher rates to recover not only its purchase cost, but also the profit margin and tax obligattions that governmental utilities do not have.

Ms. Bulova also calls attention to a recent opinion by the Chief Counsel for the Army Corp of Engineers that the Washington Aqueduct, the provider of Falls Church’s water, is not permitted to sell water to a non-governmental entity.  The chairman adds that Virginia law does not permit the State Corporation Commission to authorize the operation of an investor-owned utility in the County without the approval of the Board of Supervisors.

The full text of the chairman’s letter is available here.