<sh>Nutley Gets Schooled
<bt>The Hunter’s Branch office complex at the corner of Nutley Street and Lee Highway will soon be home to a small college campus. The Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5 authorized the owners of the property, Hunters Branch Partners, to use a portion of the existing buildings for classroom space.
The two, 12-story buildings, which total about 400,000 square feet, will not get any bigger. Previously, they were permitted to house a health club and deli, in addition to the office uses, now up to 30,000 square feet of space can be used by colleges or universities.
According to board documents, the University of Southwestern Missouri wants to be a tenant and use about 1,000 square feet. The university plans "to offer highly specialized classes associated with strategic defense," states the statement of justification prepared by the property owner’s attorney.
<sh>Pond Identified in Behl Case
Last week, the Taylor Behl Taskforce issued pictures of a pond and asked for the public's help in locating the pond. According to a release from the Virginia State Police, the pond has been identified. It is located in an area adjacent to Mathews County, where the body of Taylor Behl, a 17-year-old Vienna resident, was found in early October. Due to the gag order issued by the court, no further details were given.
<sh>Big Tree on Vale
<bt>A 148-foot cell tower disguised to look like a tree will soon rise from the grounds of the Dominion Christian School on Vale Road. The board approved the request of Invisible Tower, LLC to build the tree/tower during its Dec. 5 meeting.
In addition to the cell tower, the board approved an enrollment increase at the school from 99 to 135 students, increased its hours of operation, now 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., and the number of school employees from 12 to 17.
The Whole World Fellowship and Church at Northern Virginia, which also uses facilities on the 18-acre parcel, will also increase the number of its employees from three to seven.
<sh>Vienna Man Sentenced for Fraud
<bt>A Vienna man who was the chief financial officer of L90 Inc., an Internet advertising firm now known as MaxWorldwide Inc., was sentenced on Dec. 5 to 18 months in federal prison and nine months of home confinement for conspiring to commit securities fraud, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California. At the time of the offenses, L90 was based in Santa Monica and Marina del Rey, Calif.
Thomas A. Sebastian, 39, pleaded guilty in March 2004 to the conspiracy charge, admitting that from July 1999 through March 2002 he participated in a scheme to generate fraudulent revenues for L90 by advertising barter transactions with other Internet companies in order to meet securities analysts' revenue estimates, said the release. The Attorney's Office went on to say L90, through its subsidiary, webMillion.com, engaged in a series of advertising barter transactions with other Inernet companies, swapped checks with those companies for the purported value of the bartered advertising, and fraudulently recorded those amounts as revenue without disclosing that they resulted from barter transactions. L90 often inserted a sham third party into the check swap.
Sebastian made false representations to L90's auditor and on the company's Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q, as well as on quarterly conference calls with analysts and investors.
The release also mentioned that, as part of an earlier settlement of a civil suit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sebastian paid more than $400,000 in disgorgement and penalties, and submitted to an order barring him from serving as an officer or director of a public company.
<sh>Fairfax Hospital Gets Taller
<bt>The Claude Moore Health Education Center, on the Grounds of Fairfax Hospital, will be able to add a fifth floor. The Board of Supervisors approved a 14-foot increase in the height of the building bringing it to 69 feet.
In addition, the board approved adding 576 square feet to Ronald McDonald House, construction of a pedestrian plaza and the addition of an eighth cooling tower, to be located on an extension of the roof of the mechanical building.
The hospital will also initiate a program designed to reduce by 15 percent the number of car trips to and from the site during rush hour. "We thought it was appropriate that they … help mitigate traffic," said Supervisor Linda Smyth (D-Providence).
<sh>Nominations Sought for Business Award
<bt>Vienna's Town/Business Liaison Committee has created a community service award to recognize town businesses that demonstrate a commitment to the community through cooperation and sharing. Award-winning contributions may be personal, in-kind or financial and may benefit town residents, other businesses, nonprofit organizations, the town government or the community at large. Only in-town Vienna businesses are eligible, and nominations must be received by Jan. 30.
To nominate a business or individual business owner, the following information should be submitted: the name, address and phone number of the nominee, as well as a description of the contribution/action to be considered and why, in 200 words or less. Send nominations to:
Town/Business Liaison Committee, c/o Julie Mirvis
Vienna Town Hall
127 S. Center St.
Vienna, VA 22180
Nominations marked "TBLC Award" may also be faxed to 703-255-5729 or e-mailed to mirvis@ci.vienna.va.us.
<sh>Vienna Holiday Schedule
<bt>Vienna Town Hall will close at noon on Friday, Dec. 23 and will be closed all day on Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.
There will be no trash collection Dec. 26 or Jan. 2. Both trash pickup and curbside recycling for residents on the Monday/Thursday collection route will be made Dec. 29 and Jan. 5.
<sh>Vienna Police helping Santa
<bt>The Vienna Police Department is participating in "Santa's Ride for Children" to benefit children who are hospitalized or in need. The ride is sponsored by the Fairfax County Police Department's Motor Squad and also includes participants from the County Sheriff's Department and the Virginia State Police. Vienna residents can support this program by bringing donations of new toys, games, books, and other gifts to the Vienna Police Department, 215 Center St., S., no later than Tuesday, Dec. 13. Cash donations are also welcome. Around 8 a.m. Dec. 14, Santa is scheduled to arrive escorted by his squad of motorcycle elves, to pick up the donations.
<sh>Robbery in Oakton
A 52-year-old Falls Church-area man was robbed in the Oakton area, according to police reports. On Thursday, Dec. 1 around 10:30 p.m., the employee of an area restaurant drove to the BB&T bank in the 2900 block of Chain Bridge Road to make a night drop deposit, said police. When he got out of his car he was approached by two males with handguns. The suspects demanded the money, took it and fled on foot, police said. The victim was not injured. The suspects were described as white males both wearing dark pants and dark jackets. The first suspect was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 210 pounds. The second suspect was approximately 6 feet tall, weighing around 210 pounds.
<sh>Free Mulch Available
<bt>The Public Works Department is taking orders through Feb. 28 for mulch to be delivered free of charge to town residents beginning in mid-January. To place an order, call 703-255-6388 and leave a name, address, daytime phone number, type of mulch desired (wood or leaf) and the number of loads to be delivered. One load is estimated to be about the size of a Volkswagon Beetle, or 2 to 2.5 cubic yards. Half loads are available on request.
All deliveries are based on availability of mulch. Deliveries will only be placed in the driveway at the end closest to the house. Once mulch is delivered, it becomes the property of the homeowner, and the Town will not remove any excess mulch ordered. Residents may pick up mulch themselves in any amount beween 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from Jan. 2 through March 30. The mulch is stored off Beulah Road near Glyndon Park. Look for the sign, "Free Leaf Mulch & Wood Mulch."
<sh>Vienna Police Help Santa
<bt>Again this year, the Vienna Police Department is participating in "Santa's Ride for Children" to benefit children who are hospitalized or in need. Vienna residents can support this program by bringing donations of new toys, games, books and other gifts to the Vienna Police Department, 215 Center St. S. by Dec. 13. Cash donations are also welcome. Shortly after 8 a.m. Dec. 14, Santa is scheduled to arrive in Vienna, escorted by his squad of motorcycle elves, to pick up the donations.
<sh>Dog License Renewal
<bt>All town dog licenses must be renewed by Jan. 31. Dog tags are available at Town Hall, by mail and online. The fee is $10 for a fertile dog and $5 for an infertile dog. A current rabies vaccination certificate is required to obtain a license, and a spay/neuter/infertile certificate is required for a reduced-price license. Call 703-255-6323 for information.
Dogs trained and serving as guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs for the deaf or hearing impaired and service dogs for the mobility impaired must be licensed but are exempt from the license tax. Cats must be inoculated against rabies but are not required to be licensed.
<sh>Teen Center Concert
<bt>A concert night for Vienna-area high school students, featuring live local bands, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, beginning at 7 p.m. at Club Phoenix Teen Center, located in the Vienna Community Center at 120 Cherry St., S.E. Admission is $5 per person.
Students interested in booking a concert at Club Phoenix should call Brandy Mullen at 703-255-5721.
<sh>Dining Skills Class
<bt>Dining Skills for Adults will be presented Jan. 5 and 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Learn about table manners, silverware selection, American and Continental eating styles, duties of hosts and guests, and other do's and don'ts.
The cost is $40 for Town of Vienna residents and $50 for out-of-town participants, plus a $10 materials fee. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
<sh>'TotalTennis' at the Community Center
<bt>Get fit and have fun this winter with "TotalTennis" at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. TotalTennis combines expert tennis instruction with total body strength training and cardiovascular fitness. Classes will be held on Saturdays, beginning Jan. 7, from 8:40 to 9:40 a.m. for beginners and 9:50 to 10:50 a.m. for intermediate/advanced players.
The cost for eight classes is $139 for Town of Vienna residents and $149 for out-of-town participants. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation department at 703-255-6360.