Virginia Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Episcopal Appeal

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church announced yesterday that the Supreme Court of Virginia has agreed to hear the appeal of the diocese in defense of its claim on church properties currently occupied by members of breakaway congregations, such as the Nigerian Anglican Bishop-led Falls Church Anglican group currently occupying the historic site of The Falls Church downtown in the City of Falls Church.

The court notified the attorneys for the diocese that it has granted the petition for appeal “on all assignments of error,” meaning that it will review every issue raised for appeal without oral argument. The diocese and Episcopal Church’s defense team in the appeal will be led by renowned scholar A. E. Dick Howard, Esq., professor of law at the University of Virginia and the executive director of the Commission on Constitutional Revision, which revised the constitution of Virginia.

League of Women Voters Host Candidates’ Forum Wednesday

Falls Church members of the League of Women Voters are combining with their Fairfax County counterparts to host a candidates’ forum featuring contenders for the 53rd State Assembly District in the Arts Room at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., next Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. The candidates are incumbent Democrat Jim Scott and his Republican challenger Christopher Merola. The public is invited to attend free of charge. The F.C. League will also host an informational luncheon program on strategies for managing the H1N1 flu on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at noon at the Bear Rock Café, 2200 N. Westmoreland St., featuring Dr. Lois Berlin, superintendent of the Falls Church City Schools, and Dr. Claire Oifalogio, an official with the Arlington County Department of Public Health.

F.C.’s Webb Addresses National Equality Rally in D.C.

Falls Church City Councilman Lawrence Webb joined a number of openly-gay elected public officials among the speakers at the National Equality Day march and rally in the District on Sunday. Webb recounted his experience in comments to the Tuesday night meeting of the Falls Church City Council. Elected in May 2008, Webb is the first openly-gay African-American elected official in the history of Virginia.

F.C. Council Meetings Now Live on the Internet

Beginning with its business meeting this Tuesday, live video feeds of the Falls Church City Council’s meetings are now available on the City’s web site in real time. The system providing the service is called Granicus Video Streaming. Both live and archived Council meetings can be viewed for free by the public at www.fallschurchva.gov. All regular Council meetings and work sessions will also be archived on the site. The Granicus technology also breaks meetings into agenda categories which can be identified and viewed separate from other agenda items at the meetings. The City’s School Board and Planning Commission meetings will continue to be aired on the Falls Church Cable TV system, along with Council meetings. The San Francisco-based Granicus provides web streaming and meeting archives for over 500 government clients in the U.S. and Canada.

F.C., Village Group Install 8 New ‘Entering F.C.’ Signs

At eight secondary-road entrances to the City of Falls Church, signs notifying motorists they’re entering the City have been posted in a joint project of the City and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society. They’re similar in design but smaller than the four signs that have been posted on Routes 7 and 29 years ago.