<sh>Vienna Awaits Water Results
<bt>The Town of Vienna is awaiting results from a second round of tests to determine whether lead is in the water at Vienna Elementary and Cedar Lane Elementary.
Because of recent scares of lead in the water in Washington, D.C., the Town of Vienna was one of several local jurisdictions that had agreed to test for lead in school water systems.
A first test was conducted last week for all town schools, and a second test for two elementary schools took place this past weekend. Since Vienna Elementary and Cedar Lane Elementary are two of Vienna's oldest schools, they were retested to ensure each school's water quality. However, water in Vienna has continued to receive favorable remarks in past water quality reports, said public works director Dennis W. King.
"For requirements, we are below mandated levels for all schools," King said.
The Town checks its water for lead and copper contamination every three years, like the City of Fairfax. Due to nonexistent or negligible levels, testing occurs in three-year intervals, in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
Vienna receives its water through the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County. There are also two wells in the town. All sources blend into the town's water system.
For more information and to view the 2002 Water Quality Report, go to the Public Works Department page on the Town's Web site, www.ci.vienna.va.us. Citizens may also call 703-255-6381.
<sh>Nottoway Park Master Planning Process to Continue
<bt>The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is drafting another master plan revision for Nottoway Park, due to citizen concerns about a proposed maintenance facility at the park's site.
The public hearing for this master plan revision has yet to be determined, but could be soon, said FCPA public information officer Judy Pedersen.
According to FCPA's Web site, the two biggest concerns of citizens were the size of a proposed maintenance facility at Nottoway and the cutting down of trees to accommodate that facility. Two other issues that had arisen were comments for additional soccer fields as well as support for accommodating the Moorefield House at Nottoway.
These issues were among those expressed by the more than 200 citizens who attended an open house sponsored by FCPA to discuss two master plan revisions. At the Feb. 5 open house, FCPA presented the revisions, both of which included a maintenance facility, among other park improvements. Out of the 130 feedback forms FCPA received, 12 supported the first option, 13 supported the second option, and 31 forms indicted neither option was favorable.
Should a master plan revision without the proposed maintenance facility pass, FCPA may move Area 7 park operations from Nottoway to another site, thus making Nottoway a non-staffed park.
For more information, go to www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/nottowayopenhouse.htm.
<pc>File photo
V0317-154
<cl>Vienna mayor M. Jane Seeman
<sh>Vienna Mayor Explains Why She's Running
<bt>As reported in the March 10-16 edition of The Vienna Connection, two Town Council incumbents, a former Councilman and Vienna's mayor are seeking another term on Vienna's Town Council for the next two years.
In an interview, Vienna mayor Jane Seeman explained that she is seeking another term because she would like to see several issues and projects come to fruition.
"I think there's some unfinished business I wanted to see done," said Seeman, listing green space, the construction of the Town Center Park, and the completion of the vision process for Maple Avenue. "Everything seemed to be moving along in a nice way."
Seeman has served on the Vienna Town Council since December 1996, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy. She was elected to the Town Council in the subsequent election in May 1997. Since May 2000, she has served as the town's mayor.
"Vienna is just such a wonderful place. It's a joy to be the mayor and work for the people, because you see things getting done," Seeman said. "I just want to make the town a better place to live for all kinds of people always."
Information on the other three candidates for Town Council can be found in last week's article, "Familiar Faces on Vienna's May Ballot," on The Connection Newspapers' Web site, www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The election will take place on Tuesday, May 4, at the Vienna Community Center.
<sh>Historic Vienna, Inc. Spring Meeting Slated
<bt>Historic Vienna, Inc. (HVI) will host its spring membership meeting on Tuesday, March 23 in the council chambers of Town Hall, 127 Center St., S. At the 7:30 p.m. meeting, the HVI will present Sylvia Taylor, local historian and former music teacher at Flint Hill and Louise Archer Elementaries, with the 2004 Heritage Preservation Award. Taylor had compiled research on Louise Archer, the school’s founding principal.
evening’s speaker will be Bradley E. Gernand, author of “A Village Goes to War: Falls Church During the Civil War.” The membership meeting is free and open to the public. For more information visit to www.historicviennainc.org or call 703-938-5187.
<sh>Environmental Workshop for Providence District
<bt>The fifth annual Providence District Workshop offers a chance for citizens to learn more about opportunities for environmental stewardship. Dr. Dudley Rochester, a clean air advocate, will be a workshop presenter, and the Potomac River Greenway Coalition, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and various Fairfax County agencies will also participate. Past presenters have included the International Dark Skies Association, the Virginia Native Plan Society, Fairfax County wildlife biologist Earl Hodnett, the National Wildlife Federation, the Eco-Stewards Alliance and the Fairfax County and Northern Virginia Regional Park Authorities.
The workshop takes place Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Luther Jackson Middle School. To register, call Tania Hossain-Almaraz in Supervisor Linda Smyth’s (D-Providence) office at 703-560-6946.
<sh>Hudgins Hosts Community Meeting
<bt>Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) is hosting three community meetings on the Fairfax County FY ‘05 budget. In Vienna, the meeting takes place Wednesday, March 24, at 7 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. Constituents are encouraged to contact the Hunter Mill District Office at 703-478-0283 with questions.
<sh>Police Officers Wanted
<bt>The Town of Vienna's next written examination for the position of police officer takes place on Saturday, March 27, at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the exam begins promptly at 9. No preregistration or advance preparation is required; candidates are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 50 individuals in attendance.
The minimum eligibility requirements for police officer are a high school diploma or GED, 21 years old by date of hire, U.S. citizen, valid driver's license with excellent record, non-smoker, a drug-free background, able to work 12-hour rotating shifts, and excellent physical condition.
For more information, call the Department of Administrative Services at 703-255-6350, or visit the Town Web site at www.ci.vienna.us.
<sh>Church Street Meeting
<bt>The Vienna Transportation Commission will discuss the Church Street corridor at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 30, at 8 p.m., at Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center St. S. The Commission is seeking input on what the problems are and possible solutions to make Church Street safer for pedestrians and vehicles.
To provide input, the public is invited to attend the meeting, or send comments to the Town via e-mail at pio@ci.vienna. va.us, or write to Transportation Safety Commission, c/o Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center St. S., Vienna, VA 22180-5799.
<sh>Tax Relief Deadline April 1
<bt>Both the Town of Vienna and Fairfax County offer real estate tax relief for low-income homeowners who are 65 years old and over, or permanently and totally disabled. To qualify, the following requirements must be met:
Total household income of $52,000 or less. This amount excludes $6,500 of income of relatives, other than the spouse, who reside in the household. Also excluded is $7,500 of any income received by a disabled homeowner. One hundred percent tax relief is given for total combined income of $40,000 or less, 50 percent tax relief between $40,001 and $46,000, and 25 percent tax relief between $46,001 and $52,000.
Total combined assets of no more than $190,000. This amount excludes the value of the residence, up to one acre of land, and household furnishings.
Disabled persons applying for the first time must show evidence of disability.
In addition to real estate tax relief, Fairfax County provides rental grants and relief from personal property tax for one automobile per household. The Town of Vienna provides all relief recipients one free auto decal.
Both Town and county applications must be filed. Applications for 2003 for all programs are due April 1. This date may be extended to Dec. 31 of the year following the year the application was due for first-time filers or if hardship conditions exist that, through no fault of the applicant, prohibit applying by April 1.
For more information and to obtain Town application forms, call 703-255-6325. For county applications, call 703-222-8234.