for the week of March 18-24, 2010

city

MARCH 2010Questions or Comments?City of Falls Church, Harry E. Wells Building300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046703-248-5003 (TTY 711)The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5003 (TTY 711).

www.fallschurchva.gov - The official site for City of Falls Church news

18 City Council Budget W

ork Session, 7:30 p.m.

Environmental Services Council, 7:30 p.m.

20 Farmers’ M

arket, 9 a.m.-n

oon

B

udget Town Hall, 10 a.m.

22 Yard Waste, Bundled Brush

and Special Collections

C

ity Meals Tax Due

(C

ommissioner of the Revenue)

City Council, 7

:30 p.m.

23 Juvenile and Domestic Relations

C

ourt in Session

24 General Distric

t Court i

n Session

25 City Council Budget W

ork Session, 7:30 p.m.

27 Farmers’ M

arket, 9 a.m.-n

oon

City Manager Wyatt Shields will hold a Town Hall meet-ing this Saturday, March 20 to discuss his proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010-June 20, 2011). City residents and taxpayers are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions. The meeting gets underway at 10 a.m. in the Community Center.

Copies of the proposed budget and Capital Improvements Program are available on the City Web site, www.fallschurchva.gov, and at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave.

FY11 Budget Schedule

March 20: Budget Town Hall

March 22: 1st Public Hearing

April 10: Budget Town Hall

April 12: 2nd Public Hearing

April 26: 3rd Public Hearing and FY 11 Budget Adoption

View the complete schedule, including work sessions and meeting locations and times, at www.fallschurchva.gov.

E-mail Budget CommentsSend general government budget suggestions to

budget@fallschurchva.gov. Correspondence submitted to this e-mail will be reviewed by the City and considered for the FY11 Budget.

Find Us on FacebookBecome a fan of the City of

Falls Church on Facebook and get up-to-date City government information. Get the link at www.fallschurchva.gov.

Budget Town Hall This Saturday

Beautify Your Yard With a Free Street Tree

City residents, would you like to add value to your property with a free tree? The Neighborhood Tree Program (NTP) has two upcoming planting events on March 20 and April 10 at which volunteers will plant trees. If you would like a tree planted in your yard please contact the City Arborist at 703-248-5183 (TTY 711) or jedwards@fallschurchva.gov.

The tree will be planted in the City’s right-of-way or within 15 feet of the street. There are many types of trees from which to choose.

Volunteer with the Neighborhood Tree ProgramThe NTP works to reduce summer temperatures and storm

water runoff, improve air quality, beautify neighborhoods and increase property values by 20 percent in the community. This is accomplished by the simple act of planting trees!

The NTP was initiated by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society in 2000 and continues to be run by citi-zen volunteers working in partnership with the Urban Forestry Division. Volunteers raise money to purchase trees and then plant them in the City right-of-way in residential neighbor-hoods. To see one example of past NTP efforts, take a walk down Randolph Street and enjoy all the fringe trees.

To volunteer for the NTP, call Seth Heminway at 703-536-3049 or e-mail heminway.seth@gmail.com.

Free Rape Aggression Defense Class for Women

The Police Department is offering a free Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) pro-gram of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women, 12 years of age and older. The course is offered in four, three-hour sessions. Classes will be held at St. James School (830 W. Broad St.) on April 5, 7, 12, and 14, from 6-9 p.m. Participants are required to attend all four sessions.

The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that addresses awareness, prevention, risk reduction, risk avoid-ance, and the basics of hands-on self-defense training. R.A.D. is not a martial arts program. Nationally certified R.A.D. instructors from the City Police Department teach the course.

The registration deadline is March 27. For more information and to register, e-mail ksdempsey@verizon.net or call 703-248-5061.

Spring into Fun at the Community Center

Registration for spring break camps is underway. Camps are open to youths, age 3 to 18, and include dance, multi-sport, basketball, acting, science, golf, fencing, science workshops and robotics! There’s also a week of fun trips just for middle school students. Outings include trips for swimming, horseback riding, ice skating and visiting Dave and Busters and Central Park Fun Land. Camps run from March 29-April 2.

For the first time, there will be a Super Spring Camp offered for students who are on break the week of April 5-9. This camp will include arts and crafts, sports and games.

View the full listing of camps in the 2010 Winter Spring Brochure online at www.fallschurchva.gov.

Celtic Music Concert at Cherry Hill Farmhouse Saturday, March 27

Enjoy a lively evening of Irish music at Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., on Saturday, March 27 at 8 p.m. Musicians from the band Poirt o’Call will perform on banjo, mandolin, fiddle, flute, concertina, and guitar in the intimate atmosphere of the Farmhouse parlor. Tickets are available in advance at the Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., for $12; and at the door for $14. For more informa-tion, call 703-248-5171 (TTY 711).

Register for the W&OD Trail 5KSaturday, March 27

Attention runners – the City of Falls Church invites you to lace up your running shoes for the W&OD Trail 5K, on Saturday, March 27 at 4 p.m. The race starts and finishes at the Masonic Lodge, located at 411 Little Falls St. Register online at www.mc-coop.org/wod. For more information, contact Roger Neighborgall at 703-819-7047 or racedirector@att.net.

Scho

ols

School content published in The Schools Focus is written and edited by the Falls Church City Public Schools. For more information, visit www.fccps.org - the official site for Falls Church City Public Schools news.

BIE Partner of the WeekDave HutchinsonRobeks

School involvement: Serves on BIE Advisory Committee; participated in MEHMS Career Fair, Field Day, student council fundraiser and behavior incentive program; participated in TJ Get Fit program and GMHS Athletic Boosters fundraisers.

Why Dave is a BIE partner: “The schools in Falls Church are a key ingredient in the community. By supporting the schools we are giving back to our customers – the teachers, students and families of Falls Church. Robeks is committed to supporting the community’s healthy and active lifestyles.”

For more information about sharing your expertise through the BIE Partnership, visit www.fccps.org or contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

Calendar for March 18-23, 2010Testing3/18 – 4/9 WIDA Access for ELLs (All Schools)3/23 3:15 p.m. National Spanish Exam (GM)March18 7:45 a.m. BIE Partnership Council (GM) 5:00 p.m. Stuart High @ Mason (Softball) 6:00 p.m. Mason @ Loudoun Co. (Baseball) 7:30 p.m. Brentsville District @ Mason (B Soccer) 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Potomac Falls (G Soccer)19 7:30 p.m. Potomac Falls @ Mason (B Lacrosse) 7:30 p.m. Mason @ Potomac Falls (G Lacrosse)20 10:00 a.m. Boys JV Soccer Team Carwash (GM) 10:00 a.m. Town Hall Meeting (Community Center)22 School Spring Pictures (TJ) 4:00 p.m. Stonewall Jackson @ Mason (B Tennis) 4:00 p.m. Mason @ Stonewall Jackson (G Tennis) 5:00 p.m. Dominion @ Mason (Baseball) 6:00 p.m. Mason @ Heritage High (G Lacrosse) 6:30 p.m. Mason @ T. C. Williams (Softball) 7:00 p.m. Band Boosters (GM) 7:30 p.m. 1st Public Hearing on City Budget (City Hall) 7:30 p.m. Dominion @ Mason (B Soccer)23 5:30 p.m. Wakefield @ Mason (Softball) 7:30 p.m. 1st Grade Musical (GM) 7:30 p.m. Family Life Education Advisory Committee (MEH) 6:30 p.m. School Board Work Session (City Hall) 7:30 p.m. Loudoun Valley @ Mason (G Soccer) 8:15 p.m. Regular School Board Meeting (City Hall)For more calendar information, visit www.fccps.org/calendar.

(MD) Mt. Daniel School (TJ) Thomas Jefferson Elementary(MEH) Mary Ellen Henderson Middle

(GM) George Mason High (CO) Central Office

Foundation FootnotesDine out day on March 25th The Original Pancake House will host its annual fundraiser for the Falls Church Education Foundation on Thursday, March 25th from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A por-tion of the restaurant’s proceeds throughout the day will benefit the foundation.

The Original Pancake House is located in the Broadale Village Shopping Center at 370 West Broad Street in Falls Church.

The Falls Church Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For more information, visit www.fcedf.org or contact Donna Englander at (703) 538-3381.

FCC-TV Spotlight: Spanish for EducatorsTune in to Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) to watch Spanish for Educators. Aimed toward teachers and school staff, SFE is a great way for anyone to learn basic Spanish language skills. Spanish for Educators airs on FCC-TV at the following times:

• Mondays at 3:00 p.m. (Level 1) • Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. (Level 2)

• Fridays at 3:00 p.m. (Level 1) • Sundays at 3:00 p.m. (Level 2)

You can now see FCC-TV programming live at www.fcctv.net anywhere in the world! FCC-TV also airs in the greater Falls Church area on Cox Channel 12, Verizon Channel 35 and RCN Channel 2.

Robeks owner Dave Hutchinson is the Falls Church City Public Schools 2010 Business in Education (BIE) Partner of the Year.

School board chairman Ron Peppe announced the award during the recent Falls Church Chamber of Commerce Gala. Hutchinson was recognized for participating in the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Career Fair, volun-teering as a member of the BIE Advisory Committee and supporting fitness and healthy lifestyle programs in all schools.

In the nomination letter, middle school teacher Megan Atkinson commend-ed Hutchinson for his role in the school’s field day. “Serving up 600+ smoothies is no small task, but Dave and the Robeks crew had smiles on their faces the whole day,” Atkinson wrote.

The BIE Partnership is the bridge between the Falls Church City Public Schools and the area business community. For more information about partici-pating as a BIE Partner, contact Marybeth Connelly at connellym@fccps.org.

Hutchinson Named BIE Partner of the Year

Mason Musicians Win Top District Honors

School and business leaders present Robeks owner Dave Hutchinson with the 2010 BIE Partner of the Year award. Pictured are (from left), Sally Cole, Falls Church Chamber of Commerce; Marybeth Connelly, FCCPS BIE Coordinator; Nathan Greiner, TJ teacher; Dave Hutchinson; Julie Huber, TJ teacher; Lois Berlin, Superintendent; Rory Dippold, MEH teacher.

The George Mason Symphonic and Concert bands are receiving the highest accolades for their recent performances in the District X band competition. Both groups received superior ratings, the top prize of the festival and marked the first time the symphonic band received the high score in the most difficult category, Grade VI. The event was the first competition appearance for the GMHS concert band.

Mustang Athletics Mulch Sale in Final WeekThe 17th annual George Mason High School

Athletic Boosters Mulch Sale is underway.Top-quality shredded hardwood mulch comes

in 3 cubic ft. bags at $5 per bag. All proceeds will benefit the George Mason athletic program.

Delivery is free in Falls Church City and sur-rounding neighborhoods. The deadline for orders is March 26th for delivery on April 10th.

For more information and to download an application, visit www.fccps.org/mulch.

Summer Day Camp RegistrationRegistration is now open for 2010 FCCPS Summer Day Camps.Camps will be held weekly from June 21st – August 27th, except

July 5th, from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson for children entering grades 1-4, and at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle for children entering grades 5-8.

Children participate in a wide variety of activities and interest area “camps.” In addition, the children are offered recreational and board games, art projects, theater arts, literacy and service learning activities. The children have opportunities to swim, attend a field trip and visit with at least one special guest at each school once each week.

Parents may register their campers for only the weekly sessions they need. But hurry, as each weekly session could reach capacity quickly and without notice.

To register visit www.fccps.org/daycare or for more informa-tion call (703) 248-5683.

Spring Break Registration Ends MondayThe deadline for spring break registration for the Falls Church City

Public Schools Elementary Day Care and Middle School After School Activities Program is Monday, March 22nd.

The programs will be offered from March 29th – April 2nd from 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. each day. If enrollment is not sufficient to keep all centers open, the programs may be consolidated at Thomas Jefferson Elementary.

Registration forms are available at www.fccps.org/asap. Additional fees apply.