<sh>Public Information and Comment Meeting.
<bt>On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Fairfax County Park Authority is providing an opportunity for citizens to comment on proposed fee changes for 2006. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in Room 106/107 on the first floor in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. Citizens can comment via parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov or send their comments to: Attention Public Information Office/Fee Comments, Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 927, Fairfax, VA 22035-1118. Written comments will be accepted through Feb. 28.
Information regarding proposed fee changes can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/feehearing.htm. Copies of the fee proposal are also available for review at the Park Authority offices in the Herrity Building and at staffed park facilities, including all recreation centers, golf courses, nature centers and historic sites through Feb. 28.
Citizens who wish to speak at the meeting may pre-register at 703-324-8662. Registration is not required prior to speaking. To request a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations, call 703-324-8563 or 703-324-3988 TTY at least one week prior to the meeting.
<sh>Volunteer Service Award Nominations
<bt>Volunteer Fairfax is accepting nominations for its annual Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards. This year's theme is "Celebrating Community Heroes."
The awards honor citizens, families, organizations and corporations who give time and service to the community. The 2006 awards will recognize volunteers who served the community during 2005. Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors serve as honorary chairs for the program and will present the awards at a breakfast ceremony on April 20.
Nominations are accepted from individuals, community groups, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and businesses. Nomination forms are available at www.volunteerfairfax.org. The deadline is Feb. 17. Nominees must be residents of Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church, or the towns of Herndon or Vienna, and the service provided must benefit those in Fairfax County.
Judges evaluate the nominations based on: outstanding service in the arts and humanities, education or human services; impact on the organization or program for which volunteer service was given; benefit to the program's clients or recipients of service; creativity and enthusiasm; initiative and leadership; responsibility and dependability; scope of activities; and overall contribution to the Fairfax County community at large.
<sh>Deadline for Donation Requests
<bt>Friday, Feb. 3 is the deadline for nonprofit Vienna organizations to apply for donations of town funds in fiscal year 2006-07. Applications should be addressed to John H. Schoeberlein, Town Manager, Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center St., S., Vienna, VA 22180-5799.
All requests must include the following information: name of the organization and names and addresses of its principal officers; purpose of the organization and a description of its programs and activities; percentage of members or participants who live in town or who own or are employed by town businesses; organization budget showing all income and expenses for the year in which the donation will be used; amount of funding requested from the town; purpose for which the donation will be used; synopsis of the fund-raising activities being conducted during the current year; statement signed by the principal officer that membership or participation is open to all residents and business people in town without regard to race, national origin, religion or sex. For more information call the town manager's office at 703-255-6370.
<sh>Public Service Award Nominations
<bt>Leadership Fairfax Inc. (LFI) is seeking nominations for this year's Katherine K. Hanley Public Service Award. The purpose of the award is to grant recognition for outstanding accomplishments in the areas of public service employment or service on a public board, authority or commission for sustained contributions to the quality of life in the community. Nominations are due by Feb. 22.
LFI will present the award to the honoree at the annual Leadership Fairfax Board of Supervisors Breakfast on March 22. The award was established in 2004 to honor the public service legacy of Katherine K. Hanley, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 2003. Nomination forms are available on the Leadership Fairfax Web site at www.leadershipfairfax.org and should be sent to Leadership Fairfax Inc., 8230 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 350, Vienna, VA 22182.
<sh>Waters Field Makeover
<bt>Vienna Youth Inc. and the Greater Vienna Babe Ruth League have teamed up with the Town of Vienna to transform Waters Field from natural grass to synthetic turf. The field is receiving a state-of-the-art turf known as FieldTurf, which is designed to look like grass and play like grass without the wear and tear that grass takes. The field's drainage system will be able to handle even the worst downpour and be ready for play in an hour.
The project will continue through February, and the field will be ready for baseball in April.
<sh>Presidents' Day Schedule
<bt>Vienna Town Hall will be closed Monday, Feb. 20 for Presidents' Day. Trash will be picked up as usual that day for town residents on the Monday collection route.
<sh>FY 2005 Financial Report Available
<bt>The Town of Vienna's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2004-2005 is now available. Copies may be reviewed in the Finance Department at Town Hall and purchased for $5 each. The report summarizes the town's financial position and the results of operations of the various funds and account groups. It also includes the auditor's report for FY 2005, information on internal controls for managing and safeguarding funds, and selected financial and demographic information covering the last 10 fiscal years. For more information call the Finance Department at 703-255-6320.
<sh>Spring Co-Ed Softball Registration
<bt>Registration is underway for the Town of Vienna's adult co-ed softball league. The spring season begins April 23. Games will be played on Sunday mornings at Southside Park.
The registration fee of $400 per team includes 10 regular season double-header games, a post-season tournament, umpire fees, softballs and awards. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of 12 teams. For more infomation call Keith Fees at 703-255-6352 or e-mail fees@ci.vienna.va.us.
<sh>Business License Deadline
<bt>March 1 is the deadline for payment of the business, professional and occupational license (BPOL) tax. All businesses in the Town of Vienna, including home occupations, must renew their business licenses each year. The amount of the tax is based on gross receipts, and the rate varies according to the type of business. Those businesses with total annual gross receipts of $50,000 or less pay only the minimum license fee of $30 per year.
License tax forms will be mailed out in January, and forms are also available in the Finance Department at Town Hall and online at www.viennava.gov. For more information or assistance call 703-255-6321.
<sh>Competition to Host Film Festival
<bt>MHz Networks in Merrifield is searching for a young talent to host the fifth annual MHz Shortz Student Film Festival in May 2006. The competition is open to middle or high school students in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The deadline to enter is March 10.
The festival celebrates the imaginations of young filmmakers, as students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as teachers, compete for the Shortie award.
To enter the competition to host, students must submit the following: on DVD/R or mini-dv, a creative, two-minute presentation on why the MHz Shortz Awards are important; a one-page description of why the entrant would make the perfect host for the festival; a letter of reference from a teacher, principal, parent or other adult educator. Applications must be mailed by March 10 to: MHz Networks, c/o Shortie Awards Host, 8101A Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042.
For more information about the host competition, e-mail shortie@mhznetworks.org. For more about the film festival, visit www.mhznetworks.org/eat.
<sh>Amateur Photo Contest
<bt>Applications to enter the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department's annual Amateur Photography Contest and Exhibit will be available beginning Feb. 1 at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E.
Exhibit dates are Saturday and Sunday, March 18 and 19. Photos will be judged by local professional photographers and ribbons awarded in eight categories in black-and-white and color divisions. There will also be a separate contest section for students in grades 7-12.
The entry fee is $7 per person. Entries are limited to five photos per person and two per category. For more information, call 703-255-6360.