CITIZENS ASKED TO REPORT POTHOLES
As the winter snows continue to melt, county road repair crews are working to repair damage caused by harsh weather conditions. In a March 4 statement, county staff asked citizens to report locations of potholes on county streets by calling 703-228-6485.
Potholes on state roads and interstate highways must be repaired by crews from the Virginia Department of Transportation, which can be contacted at 1-888-383-8368.
The following are state roads and interstate highways that cannot be repaired by local road crews: Columbia Pike, Glebe Road, Lee Highway, Fairfax Drive between 10th Street and I-66, 10th Street between Route 50 and Fairfax Drive, Route 50, Old Dominion Drive, South Washington Boulevard, North Washington Boulevard from Glebe Road to Falls Church, Route 110, Route 1, I-66 and I-395.
ARLINGTON PLAYS WIN AWARDS
Arlington productions won two awards in the third annual WATCH awards ceremony Sunday night. Presented by the Washington Area Theater Community Honors organization, the WATCH awards are intended to honor community theater.
Three productions by The Arlington Players came up for a total of 14 nominations. But the only winner was David Rohde, tapped as winner for outstanding music direction for the Players’ production of “Jekyll and Hyde.”
Don Neal, nominated for lead actor for his performance as Willy Loman in The Arlington Players’ production of “Death of a Salesman,” didn’t win for his work with the Arlington company. Instead, Neal won the other category in which he was nominated, snaring an outstanding featured actor award for his performance as Benjamin Franklin in the Reston Community Players’ production of “1776.”
Arlington’s Dominion Stage netted two nominations, both for the same actor in the same category. In the end, Juan Rodriguez beat out himself and three competitors, winning the award for outstanding cameo in a musical, for his role as the Headwaiter in Dominion’s production of “She Loves Me.”
FIRE STATION RELOCATION TASK FORCE APPOINTED
At a Tuesday, Feb. 25, meeting, county board members appointed 18 citizens to the first citizen task force dedicated to the relocation of Fire Station 3, which currently houses the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department. Two more positions on the task force have yet to be filled.
The group consists of five representatives of the Cherrydale Citizens Association, one representative of the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department, two at-large members, one representative of the Emergency Medical Services Council and 11 representatives from various civic associations.
Efforts to relocate the fire station have dragged on for over a decade, leaving many Cherrydale residents disillusioned with county officials. In recent months county manager Ron Carlee and board chair Paul Ferguson have personally apologized to Cherrydale residents for delays and poor communication with residents.
The creation of the task force is the latest effort by county officials to regain citizen trust and to develop a solution to relocation arguments.
Cherrydale residents favor locations near the current station, on Lee Highway, but county officials have cited studies suggesting the county would be better served by a station located on Quincy Street.
Members of the task force are as follows: Ed Parks, Norman Tyler, Robert Deason, Scott Springston, Kevin O’Brien, Maureen Ross, Bill Piatt, Bill Harkins, Conrad Rehill, Peter Fallon, Dennis McDonald, Thomas Terrill, Helen DuVal, Joan Loepker Duncan, Lewis Bromberg, Sharon Rogers, Jack Sawicki and Polly Hanson.
<ro>Sheriff’s SOS Program Saves
<bt>Volunteers with the Sheriff’s SOS Program make daily calls to local senior citizens to check on their welfare. The calls usually just verify that everything is fine, but a routine call Tuesday, Feb. 25 proved to be a lifesaver, Sheriff’s department representatives reported.
An 84-year-old woman who has been enrolled in the SOS Program for two years failed to answer her phone when a volunteer placed two consecutive calls. The volunteer contacted the woman’s neighbor, who walked through the snow to check on her.
The neighbor found her lying on the floor, debilitated. The volunteer, still in phone contact, instructed the neighbor to hang up and call 911.
After an ambulance transported the woman to the hospital, the volunteer called her emergency contact, who is caring for the woman’s dog while she recovers.
Sheriff’s Department sources say the woman likely would have passed away if she had not received help when she did.
The SOS Program began almost four years ago and has saved several seniors from injury, pain and perhaps worse.
Sheriff’s Department officials encourage senior citizens living alone to enroll in the free program by calling 703-228-4460.