February 8 – 14, 2007
Virginia House OK’s Restoring Photo Red Lights
The City of Falls Church’s four photo red light intersections will have been “dark” for two years, but as of July 1, it is expected they will be fired up and nabbing violators, once again. That’s because the Virginia House of Delegates in Richmond voted 63-35 Monday to OK their restoration after House votes in the past two sessions allowed the policy to lapse and then did not renew. The Senate is expected to have little problem coming to an agreement on a final version of the new law with the House, and Gov. Tim Kaine is expected to sign such a measure. Falls Church City Councilman David Snyder, the City’s point person on transportation and safety matters, issued the following statement: “Our experience in the City of Falls Church, and countrywide experience, is that red light cameras dramatically improve safety and prevent many potentially lethal side impact car crashes. We have been careful to build in protections in our program to avoid unfair results. We are appreciative of, and strongly support, the legislature’s action to allow us to use them to protect our citizens.”
F.C. Homeless Shelter Benefit at State Theatre Feb. 22
“An Evening of Jazz, Auction and Social” to benefit the Falls Church Winter Emergency Homeless Shelter will be held Thursday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the State Theatre. All proceeds will go to the center. Tickets are $35. They can be purchased by mail to Jody Kane, 1100 Tuckahoe St., F.C. 22046. They can also be purchased at the door. Those wishing to donate to the auction can contact Stacy Hennessey at (703) 536-0453. Sponsors include AH White Construction Management, Don Beyer Volvo, Novus Construction, Stacy’s Coffee, Breakaway Graphics, Vantage Fitness, Z Pizza, the Falls Church News-Press and the State Theatre.
Hynes Announces She’ll Run for Arlington Board
No sooner had Arlington County Board member Paul Ferguson officially announced this week that he will not seek re-election this November in order to run for County Clerk than former Arlington School Board chair Mary Hynes jumped in with her formal announcement yesterday that she’ll make a bid for Ferguson’s board seat. Hynes concluded 12 years of service on the Arlington School Board in December, serving for the third time as chair. In 1994, she became the first popularly-elected member of the Arlington School Board since 1955, when the Virginia legislature repealed Arlington’s authority to elect school boards because the Arlington School Board had defied Virginia’s “massive resistance” to desegregation policy. The political musical chairs was precipitated by the announcement last week from David Bell that he would not seek another four-year term as the County Clerk. Hynes, a resident of Arlington since 1977, and her husband Patrick have five children, all graduates of Arlington Public Schools.
Special Ticket Deal for Synetic Theatre’s “Macbeth”
As the run of the Synetic Theatre’s creative, wordless dance version of “Macbeth” in Arlington’s Rosslyn Spectrum runs its course this month, two shows have been opened up for $20 tickets, each also including question-and-answer periods with the cast. The first date is tonight, Feb., 8, at 8 p.m. and the second is Sunday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. The $20 tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis by calling (703) 824-8060. The Spectrum is located at 1611 N. Kent St. in the center of Rosslyn.
Affordable Housing Group Acquires 90-Unit Property in Bailey’s
AHC, Inc., an affordable housing developer, acquired Sunset Park Apartments at 5710-5738 Seminary Road in the Bailey’s Crossroads section of Falls Church last week. The property consists of 90 units in five three-story garden apartment buildings. Renovations began this week and will take about a year. They include new roofs, windows, kitchens, baths, heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing, flooring and lights. All 90 Sunset Park apartments will remain affordable. AHC’s financial partners in the acquisition include Apollo Housing Capital, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Virginia Housing Development Authority and Wachovia Bank.
Equality Fairfax Happy Hour Set in F.C. Feb. 8
Equality Fairfax, the region’s largest advocacy organization promoting equal rights for lesbians and gays, will hold a social event in the City of Falls Church tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. It will be an informal open bar happy hour at Huong’s Restaurant, 502 W. Broad St. Leaders of the organization will be on hand to greet supporters and friends, and to discuss new initiatives.
