This Week in Arlington
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This Week in Arlington

<sh> Uyeda Named ‘Principal of the Year’

<bt>Abingdon Elementary School principal Joanne Uyeda has been named the school system’s 2006 “Principal of the Year.”

Before taking over the helm at Abingdon in 2001, Uyeda served as principal at Glebe Elementary School for a decade. Previously she worked as an assistant principal at Oakridge and Taylor elementary schools.

Under her leadership, Abingdon introduced the highly successful Project GIFT, which works in conjunction with the University of Virginia to increase student achievement and community engagement. For three quarters, students rotate through architecture, communications/journalism and a science lab. During the fourth quarter students are allowed to choose their favorite course.

To increase instructional time for students, Uyeda eliminated early release Wednesdays, and has placed an emphasis on improving students’ vocabularies.

“Uyeda has a keen sense of recognizing what people’s talents are and placing them in positions where they will be best utilized,” Kristy Nienstedt, library media assistant at Abingdon, said in a statement.

Uyeda will be honored at the Nov. 30 Arlington School Board meeting.

<sh>Israeli Puppies Up for Adoption

<bt>The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is placing 11 dogs up for adoption that were rescued this past summer from Israel during the war with Hezbollah.

A total of 40 dogs were brought to the region by the Alexandria-based Concern for Helping Animals in Israel. During the conflict the organization distributed more than 12 tons of food, hundreds of water bowls, vaccines, leashes and other supplies to evacuated residents in Israeli bomb shelters.

Nine of the 11 dogs at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington are estimated to be between four and six months old, while the other two puppies are at least a year old.

“They are surprisingly sweet and friendly considering what they have been through,” Rebecca Gall, adoptions manager for the organization, said in a statement.

The puppies are available for adoption by visiting the Welfare League on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from noon to 7 p.m., or on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The offices are located at 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive. Visit www.awla.org for more information.

<sh>Brink: No More Robo-Calls

<bt>Virginia State Delegate Bob Brink (D-48) announced last week that he will introduce legislation next year outlawing automated telephone campaign pitches, known as “robo-calls.”

The unsolicited phone messages have now become a way for campaigns to harass voters and spread misleading information about political opponents, Brink said.

“Many of us have had our family meals or leisure time interrupted by annoying pre-recorded campaign calls,” Brink said. “For some people, these have crossed over the line from mere nuisances to real threats to their wellbeing.”

During the campaign season voters in Virginia reported receiving calls purporting to give information about a candidate, with the message only disclosing at the end that it actually is a negative call paid for by the opposition party. Others have reported that they received the same pre-recorded call many times in a row.

The Federal “Do Not Call” law prohibits unsolicited calls to numbers that have been entered on a master list, but contains an exemption for political calls. Brink’s bill would be modeled on an Indiana law that places broad restrictions on automated calls, including political campaign messages, within that state.

<sh>Favola Named to State Health Board

<bt>Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has appointed Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola to a four-year term on the State Health Board.

The 13-member board provides leadership in health planning and policy development for Virginia and the state Department of Health, and advises the governor on health-related issues.

The board works to prevent and control chronic diseases; promote health; assure primary care, including access to dental care, for Virginian residents; and establish public/private health partnerships.

“This is an exciting opportunity to tackle the challenge of improving the health of Virginians,” Favola said. “I bring to the board a perspective shaped by both federal and local experiences in the area of disease prevention and health care delivery.”

<sh>Corrections

<bt>In last week's Arlington Connection, an event was incorrectly published under the wrong date. The Lyon Park Holiday Craft Fair and bake sale takes place on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lyon Park Community Center, 414 N. Filmore St., Arlington. Call 703-243-3823.

In last week's photo package about Day of the Dead, an instructor was misidentified. Her name should have read Monica Striok.