<sh>Great Falls General Management Plan Meeting
<bt>The National Park Service will hold a public meeting on Saturday, September 17 from 1-3pm at the Great Falls Park Visitor Center to solicit comments on a draft of the General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (DGMP/EIS). This draft plan and statement evaluates two alternatives for the park. The entire plan can be reviewed and downloaded from http://parkplanning.nps.gov/. A limited number of printed copies of both documents are available from the National Park Service, and a copy of either document can be requested by calling 703-289-2500.
<sh>Police Looking for Tire Slashing Culprits
<bt>On Monday morning, September 12 at 1 a.m., police were called to Kingsley Commons at the corner of Monticello Drive and Roberts Street in McLean. Two white males dressed in blue jeans and t-shirts were seen puncturing the tires of parked vehicles. The officers identified over 30 vehicles with slashed tires. Anyone with information on this crime should call the Fairfax County Police Tip Line at 866-411-TIPS, or the McLean Police Department at 703-846-0886.
<sh>Dranesville Zoning Ordinance Meeting
<bt>Residents of the Dranesville District are invited to participate in a public information meeting and work session with county planning staff on proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that address current yard setback requirements, building heights, minimum lot widths, fence heights and deck screening. The meeting will be held on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at McLean Government Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean.
Based on citizen comment and feedback, a number of these amendments could go forward to a formal public hearing before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors in the spring of 2006.
Four Zoning Ordinance amendments were previously proposed by county planning staff in 2004 after a decision by the Virginia Supreme Court to reaffirm that current law permits a variance to be issued only in the event that strict adherence to the Zoning Ordinance regulations would otherwise restrict all reasonable use of a property. Absent such hardship, a variance may not be granted. The Board of Supervisors has stated that it may be appropriate to allow for more flexibility, providing an opportunity for a case-by-case evaluation in the future.
<sh>McLean World Series Champions Parade
<bt>The McLean community is invited to participate in a parade on Saturday, Sept. 17 celebrating the achievements of the McLean Softball All Star team which recently became the 2005 Little League World Series Softball Champions. The parade will begin at Dolley Madison Boulevard and Chain Bridge Road, proceeding south on Chain Bridge to Elm Street. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. and is anticipated to run for approximately 30 minutes, concluding near the intersection of Elm Street and Beverly Road. Supervisor Joan DuBois, Del. Vince F. Callahan and Sen. Janet Howell will join local schools and community groups who will participate in this event.
On Aug. 18 the McLean 11-12-year-old girls softball All Star team beat a highly regarded team from Orange, Conn., to become the first Virginia team to ever win this title.
Congratulatory signs have been posted throughout the area including Tysons Corner Center to recognize this accomplishment. Safeway Inc., has donated special corsages for the girls to wear during the parade. The McLean Chamber of Commerce will fly balloons and local merchants will place congratulatory signs in storefronts lining the parade route. The team will also be making appearances at professional sporting events and will appear before the Board of Supervisors and the General Assembly and be personally congratulated by the president of the United States.
<sh>Arbor Day Foundation Tree Giveaway
<bt>Ten free trees will be given to each person from Virginia who joins the National Arbor Day Foundation during the month of September, as part of the nonprofit foundation's Trees for America campaign. The 10 trees are the American redbud, white pine, sugar maple, white flowering dogwood, pin oak, red maple, birch, silver maple, red oak and Colorado blue spruce.
They will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting, between Oct. 15 and Dec. 10, with enclosed planting instructions. The six-to-12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Members also receive a subscription to the foundation's bimonthly publication, Arbor Day, and "The Tree Book," which has information about tree planting and care. Send $10 membership contribution to Ten Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Sept. 30, or join online at arborday.org.