for the week of June 3-9, 2010

city

JUNE 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

5 First Half R

eal Estate Taxes D

ue

Farmers’

Market, 8 a.m.-n

oon

7 City Council Work Sessio

n, 7:30 p.m.

Planning Commission, 7:45 p.m.

8 Juvenile and Domestic Relations

C

ourt in Sessio

n

H

ousing Commissi

on, 7 p.m.

9 Solid Waste Collectio

n

General Distr

ict Court i

n Session

C

able Access Board, 7 p.m.

C

itizens A

dvisory Committe

e

on Transporta

tion, 7:30 p.m.

City Council A

ppointments

Committee, 7

:30 p.m.

The 2010 Atlantic hurri-cane season is underway and runs through Nov. 30. Do you know what to do if a storm approaches? Below is a check-list of important steps you can take to prepare.

Have a plan:• Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.

Identify an out-of-area person to call so all family members have a point of contact.

• Make a plan for your pets, because they are often not permitted in public shelters.

• Post emergency numbers by phones.

• Check your insurance policy now for hurricane and flood damage coverage. Once a hurricane watch is issued, insurance companies will not write new policies or make adjustments to current policies.

• Document your valuables by photographing/videotaping them. Keep records secure in a safety deposit box or waterproof unit.

Be Prepared This Hurricane Season

New Solid Waste Collection Carts to Roll Out

The City of Falls Church is upgrading its residential curbside solid waste collec-tion programs to make it easier and more convenient for customers and more cost effective for the City. The City’s new con-tractor, American Disposal Services, will deliver one trash cart and one recycling cart to each household in late summer/early fall. The carts are convenient to roll and allow residents to recycle more, keep contents dry, and reduce litter and vermin.

The Department of Environmental Services will be sending a letter or flyer to curbside collection customers detailing the new program and requesting input on the carts by Friday, June 18.

For more information about the carts, visit www.fallschurchva.gov or call the Solid Waste Hotline at 703-248-5160 (TTY 711).

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard Sign Up For Alert Falls Church

Get real-time updates and instructions on what to do and where to go during an emergency in Falls Church City, by registering for Alert Falls Church. You will receive alerts from the City via portable electronic devic-es and e-mail, only in the event of an emergency. Sign up for this free service at alert.fallschurchva.gov. You can also visit alert.fallschurchva.gov to update your profile, and add or delete devices from the emergency distribution list.

When a storm is approaching:• Secure all outside objects or bring them indoors.

• Fill vehicle fuel tanks and generators.

• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting.

• Fill bathtubs and any large container with water for washing, cleaning, and flushing toilets in case of service interruptions.

• Assemble a disaster kit with enough supplies to last at least three days per person. For a list of recommended supplies, visit www.fallschurchva.gov.

Know where to find accurate information:• Register to receive local emergency alerts at alert.fallschurchva.gov.

• Tune your battery-operated radio to 1680 AM, Falls Church City’s Emergency Broadcast System.

• Check the City’s Web site for updates on City operations.

Additional emergency preparedness tips are available at www.fallschurchva.gov.

Volunteers Sought for Pedestrian Bicycle And Traffic Calming Advisory Committee

The City of Falls Church is seeking citizen volunteers to serve on the Pedestrian Bicycle and Traffic Calming Advisory Committee to help with the creation of the Pedestrian, Bicycle and Traffic Calming Strategic Implementation Plan. This plan will include an inventory of every City street and will outline policies, design criteria, and specific improvements that will further enhance safety, comfort, and access for pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair uses, and transit riders.

The committee will review data, inform priorities, pro-vide feedback on recommendations, and coordinate public meeting strategies. The project timeline is approximately one year; the committee work will begin immediately follow-ing Council appointment of the members. Applicants should have experience with the bicycle and/or pedestrian network in the City.

Anyone interested should submit completed applications ( w w w. f a l l s c h u r c h v a . g o v / C o n t e n t / G o v e r n m e n t /BC/BCApplication.pdf) to the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@fallschurchva.gov. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 30.

For more information, contact Wendy Block-Sanford, Principal Planner/Transportation Planner, at 703-248-5041 (TTY 711) or wblocksanford@fallschurchva.gov.

Gray carts are for refuse, green for recycling.

Sign Up Your Child for Summer FunSummer vacation officially begins in two

weeks for Falls Church City Public School stu-dents – it’s not too late to sign them up for a sum-mer full of fun. The Recreation & Parks Division offers a variety of camps for youth of all ages:

• Summer Fun Playground Program

• Swim Lessons

• Preschool

• Dance, Art, Science, Cooking and Theater

• Adventure and Teen Excursion

• Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Flag Football, Golf, Cheer and Baseball

• Multi-sport

• Horseback Riding

The 2010 Summer Camp brochure is available at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) and online at www.fallschurchva.gov. Call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711) for more information.

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 WeekBrian Boyce and Nick Egan Ledo Pizza

School involvement: Donated food for several special events – wings for the Agnes Meyer/Support Staff of the Year reception; Italian bread for the Mary Ellen Henderson Pasta Dinner. Also worked with the George Mason High School Entrepreneurs Club to provide pizza to sell as an after-school fundraiser.

Why Brian and Nick are BIE partners: “Ledo Pizza has been a fixture in the community for many years, and we are always glad when schools ask us for help. We are pleased to donate items, and are also able to host in-store fund-raisers for school organizations.”

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

Calendar for June 3-10, 2010TestingNow – 6/4 DRA/QRI Posttest (MD/TJ)Now – 6/4 SOL (TJ/MEH/GM)6/8 – 11 Senior ExamsJune3 7:00 p.m. Rising 5th Grade Parent Tour (MEH) 7:30 p.m. Spring Band Concert (GM)

4 TBD Regional Final Mason (G Soccer) TBD Region B Final (B Soccer)

7 6:00 p.m. Spring Sports Night (GM) 7:00 p.m. Special Education Advisory Committee (TJ) 7:00 p.m. 5th, 6th and 7th Grade Chorus Concert (MEH)

8 TBD State Quarter Final (B/G Soccer) 6:30 p.m. School Board Work Session (City Hall) 8:00 p.m. Regular School Board Meeting (City Hall)

9 7:15 a.m. PWI (Parent Walk-in) – GM 7:00 p.m. 7th Grade Band & Jazz Band Concert (MEH) 7:30 p.m. PTSA (GM)

10 6:00 p.m. GM Chorus Concert (GM)

For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary(MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle

(GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office

Foundation FootnotesPlanning begins for 5th Annual Run for the Schools Plans for the 5th Annual 5K Race and 1 Mile Family Fun Run/Walk are underway. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, September 12th. Volunteers are needed to help organize the race/fun run, which features a certified 5K race course with a chip timing system and a post-race awards ceremony. To volunteer, please contact the Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) at (703) 538-3381.

The FCEF is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For more information, visit www.fcedf.org.

FCC-TV Spotlight: 2010 Memorial Day ParadeTune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch the 2010 Falls Church City Memorial Day Parade. This year’s parade features lively dancing, silly clowns, motorcycles, emergency vehicles and much, much more. Join Emcee Gary Reels as he calls the action during this enter-taining march through the streets of Falls Church.

The program airs on FCC-TV at the following times:

• Friday, June 4th at 12:00 p.m. • Saturday, June 5th at 3:00 p.m.

• Monday, June 7th at 12:00 p.m. • Tuesday, June 8th at 12:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, June 9th at 12:00 p.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.

FCCPS Honors Retirees

Special Ed Parent Involvement SurveyThe Virginia Department of Education would like

input from parents of special education students regarding parental involvement in their children’s special education program. For the first time, the survey is available online at www.fccps.org/specialed/.

Paper copies may be requested by calling the Falls Church City Public Schools special education office at (703) 248-5630. The survey will remain open until September 30, 2010.

Help Wanted: School Board AdvisorsAre you looking for a volunteer opportunity that allows

you to have an impact on the way the Falls Church City Public Schools conducts business? Citizen Advisory Committees provide input to the Falls Church City School Board on a wide variety of issues. The board is looking for a few good volun-teers to fill vacancies on the following committees:

Family Life Education Advisory Committee: advises the school board on family life education programs.

School Health Advisory Board: assists with devel-oping FCCPS health policies and helps evaluate school health education and health services programs.

To find out how to become involved with these or other committees, email the school board deputy clerk, Marty Gadell, at gadellm@fccps.org, call 703-248-5601 or visit www.fccps.org/board.

George Mason High School’s lacrosse mid-fielder, Gwen Edwards, is the Dulles District Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year following a vote of the district’s coaches last week. The Mustang’s girls coach, Courtney Gibbons, was also selected Coach of the Year.

In addition, defender Chelsea Wilkes, midfielder/defender, Abby Johansen, attacker Taylor Bottock, and goalie Meghan Powell were named to the All-Dulles District Girls’ Lacrosse First Team. Katrina Snyder, a defender was also named to the All-Dulles Second team.

The Mason girls varsity lacrosse team com-plete the entire regular season undefeated through 13 games. It’s only losses came in the district

finals against Broad Run High (11-15) and Monticello High in last week’s opening game of the AA Regionals.

Dulles Lax Player, Coach of the Year from GMHS

Gwen EdwardsPlayer of the Year

Courtney GibbonsCoach of the Year

FCCPS employees retiring at the end of the 2010 school year were recognized at a reception in their honor last week. They are (l to r) Jose Bedoya (GM – 15 years), Michele Feuerstein (Division – 14 years), Jean Lewis (TJ – 22 years), Janet Kremer (MD – 37 years), Dottie Salvatierra (TJ – 23 years), Kathy Poff (TJ-23 years), and Helen Albader (GM-13 years).