CRC Potentially Closing
Due to Fairfax County cutbacks, funds to Lorton Community Action Center for support of the Community Resource Center have been lost in the amount of $140,000 dollars for the coming year according to Lions liason Marvin Miller.
LCAC is already strained trying to support three times as many families during the last year of economic turn down with less funds. It appears that the Community Resource Center will have to be closed. This will mean the loss of support for the community’s young people and the job of the center’s director Katrina Hamlet who provided guidance for the young students.
The LCAC Board is meeting tonight May 17 to decide whether to keep the CRC open according to President Steve Rorke.
The Mason Neck Lions Club had worked in partnership with the LCRC Youth Center for the past 10 years. The Lions sponsored volunteer community service projects in the Lorton area for the LCRC youth. Numerous community service projects were completed: such as; Graffiti Removal; Park Cleanup; Storm Drain Marking and Education; Stream Cleanup; and Tree Planting. Such projects are designed to instill a stewardship for the environment and support for their community among the youngsters.
Lion Joe Chudzik, responsible for these programs questions whether there is any other feasible approach to reach the youth in Lorton.
Meteorite Hits Lorton Doctors
A meteorite blasted through the roof and ceiling of a Lorton doctors office Monday evening January 18 sounding like a small explosion and filling an exam room with debris, dempling the cement floor through carpet which impact shattered the rock.
The tennis ball sized space rock weighed 308 grams or about two thirds of a pound with all of the pieces assembled. It was of grey composition with an almost black scorched slightly glazed fusion crust classified as a condrite.
The doctors office was the Williamburg Square Family Practice at 9500 Richmond Highway of Dr. Marc Gallini and Dr. Frank Ciampi.
It was quiet, a little after 5:30 pm Dr. Ciampi was doing charts when, suddenly, bang. Dr. Ciampi said it was so loud that he thought a book case had toppled and went to look. He found debris scattered from the exam room out into the hallway. Inside the exam room near where he would sit with patients was a hole in the ceiling and a dent in the floor. It looked and sounded like a small explosion.
No one expected a meteorite and it took them a while to realize what had really happened. A late cancellation meant that there was no one in the exam room. The roof has been repaired. The exam room is cleaned and the object was given up to the Smithsonian Museum for confirmation. Now there’s only the memory and the dent in the floor.
Companions to the extra terrestrial visitor may be found within a couple of miles of the location so Lorton neighbors should all walk their open spaces and look for more black rocks which traveling at 230mph would either plant themselves in the moist ground or make an obvious dent in pavement with a scatter pattern. Avoid Meteorite hunters which will come from across the country trying to profit from any pieces found. If you find a meteorite on your property, it’s yours. Please call your Lorton Valley Star at 571-274-7389.
Such an event is rarely reported. This is only the fourth reported hit in Virginia in over a hundred years however many more probably fall on open space unnoticed. Update: A search of the web indicates that the Lorton Meteorite twilight fireball was apparently seen in a few states where it is reported that the office is dentists.
Lions Supporting Haiti Earthquake Relief
Mason Neck Lions Club reports that Lions Clubs International Foundation is responding to the Haiti earthquake. Mason Neck Lions Club is our link to the Haitian Earthquake Crises. Lions were already in Haiti and a couple were killed in the quake but they are working on relief. Lion Clubs International Foundation has already appropriated over $3,000,000. (updated figure) The Mason Neck Lions Club has sent and extra $300 and there is no accounting for what individual members may send.
“I ask that you help support LCIF disaster relief efforts in Haiti by making a contribution.” said All Brandel, Chair of LCIF. “A designated fund, "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief", has been established for donations for this disaster.”
U.S. donors can Contribute to the LCIF Haiti Earthquake Fund in several ways:
• Mail a check payable to LCIF. Send the check to LCIF, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA, Attn.: Donor Services. FOR: Haiti Earthquake Relief
• Make a credit card donation with a MasterCard, Visa or American Express by calling LCIF at 630-571-5466, ext. 517 or 581. Call between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST.
• Donate online at www.lcif.org/donate. Select Disaster and include "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief" in the comments section.
For the most up-to-date information about Lions Club International Foundations ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, please visit www.lcif.org. Contact Mason Neck Lions Club at www.valions.org/mason. See list of Lorton Charities at http://lorton.net/Charities/Catalog.html
Robbery, Gunston Plaza
Gunston Plaza, 7700 Block: Police were called to a robbery in the 7700 block of Gunston Plaza on Tuesday, December 29. An employee of the Domino's Pizza located at 7772 Gunston Plaza walked to a nearby bank around 2 a.m. to deposit money. As the 26-year-old man arrived at the night deposit box, a second man approached and demanded the money. The suspect produced a knife, grabbed the deposit bags, and fled on foot. The victim was not injured.
Lorton To Have New Shopping Center With Wegman's
Plans are approved for construction of Hilltop Village Center, a new mixed use shopping center at Beulah Street and Telegraph Road with a Wegman’s within about three years.
This will be an integrated, mixed-use, pedestrian friendly development promoting retail and employment opportunities with office space and two banks. Piney Run Active Adult Community will be developed nearby all within walking distance of a Hilltop Golf Club.
Construction of A new baseball field will be complimented by an adult soccer field, practice field, tot lot, and pavillion will follow the opening of the grocery store.
Motorists Welcome New North Bound Lane
By Mike Salmon,
Virginia Megaprojects community outreach specialist
Lorton motorists had a welcome surprise in late December, when Virginia Department of Transportation crews opened a fourth lane on I-95 north from the Route 1 on-ramp to the Fairfax County Parkway. This spring, crews will concentrate their road-widening efforts on the southbound side, which is scheduled to be completed in 2010.
In addition, all I-95 widening work on the bridge over the Occoquan River is now above the waterline and ahead of schedule. Caps were placed on the pillars in October, and the first steel beam to support the additional lane will be placed in January. The I-95 widening project is estimated to be completed by late 2011.
Another project underway in Fairfax County project is the final link of the Fairfax County Parkway through Fort Belvoir’s Engineer Proving Ground, just west of I-95. This two-mile stretch of the parkway, from Rolling Road to Fullerton Road, is one of the Base Realignment and Closure Act related projects. It is anticipated to accommodate increased traffic expected at Fort Belvoir with 14,000 new jobs coming to the base in the near future. VDOT is funding the project and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) began construction in spring 2008.
A major part of this project is an overpass that will raise the parkway over Fullerton Road, just west of I-95. In early November, the Fullerton Road intersection with the parkway was closed to allow crews to build this overpass. The detour, which includes the closing of I-95 south Exit 166B, will be in place until fall 2010.
When the first two phases of this four-phase Fairfax County Parkway project are complete in late 2010, Lorton motorists will have a direct route from Rt.1 and Telegraph Road across Rt.95 through the Engineer Proving Ground to the Fairfax Parkway North. In addition, FHWA is building one ramp from I-95 to the Engineer Proving Ground. This will provide additional access points for some 8,500 employees that will be working in this area of Fort Belvoir.
The other phases include an interchange in the Hooes Road area, and another at Boudinot Drive. These interchanges are being funded by the American Restoration and Recovery Act, known as “stimulus funds.” Construction of these last two phases will be completed in early 2011.
New Charity Catalog For Lorton
There is America’s Charities listing and the metro area’s Catalogue for Philanthropy but now there is Lorton’s own Charity Catalog at http://lorton.net/Charities/Catalog.html
The purpose, as with all Lorton Valley Star Communications publications is to maintain and strengthen resources in greater Lorton. Even Charities here spend here. We advocate, that residents, save gas and live green, participate in Lorton, Trade in Lorton, Give in Lorton and Volunteer in Lorton. All other listings invite our resources out of the local economy. Charity begins at home.
This Charities Catalog is on a new web site titled Lorton Virginia Usa at: http://lorton.net/
This site will hold all of the permanent information about greater Lorton, some of which was previously on http://LortonValleyStar.com
which will now only have current dated information which can age and get pushed off the page. This is to be easier for readers to find.
So, enjoy the fruits of long winter storm days and test out the new site and new page. It’s just a start. The only qualification for listing is that the charity organization operates in and serves Lorton. Suggestions for additional organizations are welcome.
Lorton Loses Citizen to Fatal Crash
Franconia District Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred around 4:50 a.m. Thursday, December 24. The victim, Robert D. Nolen, 22, of 9220 Lee Massey Drive, Lorton was a front seat passenger in a 2009 Chevy Malibu that was traveling westbound on the Franconia-Springfield Parkway near Frontier Drive. Police believe the driver was traveling in excess of the posted speed limit when he struck a snow bank on the shoulder of the road, vaulted over a jersey barrier, struck a dump truck and came to rest on the driver's side. The victim was ejected and died on the scene of the crash.
The driver of the crash was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Police charged the driver, Christopher T. Figueroa, 23, of Newark, New Jersey, with involuntary manslaughter. Police believe that alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.
Crash Reconstruction Detectives responded to the scene and are continuing to investigate the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org <http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org/> or text "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Honoring Suffragette’s Workhouse
Sentence
by Floyd Harrison, Publisher
On a pleasant sunny Sunday, Fall, November 15, ninety-one years since the nineteenth amendment was ratified, The Daughters of the American Revolution National Society and the Workhouse artists gathered for a ceremony to dedicate a brass marker honoring the Suffragists.
The ceremony presented by DAR, complete with color guard in the tent on the courtyard at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, remembered the deadly torture at the D.C. Corrections Workhouse, currently the Lorton Arts Workhouse center. Sharon Mason, Executive director of the Lorton Arts Foundation, accepted the marker.
Suffragettes is the name given to the women, members of the National Woman’s Party founded by Alice Paul, who demonstrated at the White House for woman’s suffrage, basically the right to vote. As time went on and tensions escalated, a group were arrested for ‘unlawful assembly’ and brought to the D.C. Correctional Facility, the equivalent of D.C.’s state pen, Occoquan facility in Lorton. The actual buildings that housed them were located on the grounds of what is today the Fairfax County Griffen Water plant across Ox Road from today’s Workhouse Art Center. They were brought over and tortured in the Workhouse cell block building W-2 where the marker is fixed.
Daughters of the American Revolution are ladies who trace their lineage back in American History and represent woman’s rights and the struggle for equality to this very day. A Woman’s Suffrage Museum is planned for the site and a temporary museum is located in Building W-9. Though it’s not happy history, the lesson is important and the result has been beneficial to the country.
Book marks were given out as momentos of the occasion of the dedication of the marker. Keys represent freedom from unjust incarceration. The program contains acknowledgements, the text of the marker, and the American Creed. The prison finally closed December 2005.
Detour For Parkway Link
Starting in late October, VDOT will close a portion of Fullerton Road for construction of an overpass that will carry the Fairfax County Parkway 7100 over Fullerton Road to connect the final part of the Parkway to Lorton.
The isolated end of Fullerton Road will be for local traffic only. Motorists on South bound Backlick Road will use Boudinot Drive to access the Fullerton Industrial Park. Motorists heading northbound on the parkway will have follow a detour lane to Fullerton Road where they can take Boudinot Drive to turn left back to Backlick Road and Springfield or continue on Fullerton to Rolling Road. Motorists on Fullerton will also use Boudinot Drive to get to North bound Backlick.
The buildings that were straight in the path of the parkway have been removed and the land is cleared to connect through the old Engineer Proving Grounds to The Parkway at Rolling Road.
The detour will be in place for about a year. See Marked areal photo.
Lorton Road Project
The Lorton Road project involves the widening of the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane roadway with median, shared use path and on-road bike lanes. The project limit for Lorton Road is from Route 123 to Silverbrook Road; the project limit Furnace Road is from Route 123 to Lorton Road. The intermediate design is complete and plans are ready for presentation to the community. For more information, call 703-877-5740.
SFCC Life without Limits 10K Run
The first Life Without Limits 10K run was run by two hundred thirty four runners on a course beginning and terminating at South County Secondary School in Lorton sponsored primarily by the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce www.southfairfaxchamber.org for benefit of United Cerebral Palsy of Washington DC and Northern Virginia.
The according to Chamber officials the oldest runner was Robert Gurtler, 74, of The Plains. The youngest runners were Allyson Robinson, 12, Lorton, and Madison Grehawick, 12, Springfield.
David Bach Consort from Maryland played. Top prizes awarded were Redskins tickets, Newton running shoes ($175 value) to top overall winners, and gift certificates to upscale restaurants.
Many Lorton businesses gave significant financial support, supplied food for the event or provided gift certificates for prizes. Caribou Coffee provided coffee for the event and Krispy Kreme gave donated donuts. Food was great, Pane-e-Vino prepared brunch items, Subway sandwiches were served, Uber Italian Ice along with an abundance of fruit. Dominion VA Power made a very generous donation.
The overall winners were Edi Turco, Arlington, 34:44 among the men and of the ladies Samantha Cole, Arlington, 40:25. Stephen Ketcham, was the fastest man in Lorton, at 34:59 and Allyson Robinson, 12, was the fastest girl in Lorton, at 53:12 with her sister Kelly right behind her running for a girl who didn’t show up.
Participants came from as far as California, Georgia, and New York to participate. The complete list of winners will be on our web site http://lortonvalleystar.com.
Kilt Store Growing, Has Moving Sale
The Kilted Nation store has moved into the heart of Old Town Alexandria. The new location will be 115 S. Union St., Alexandria, 22314.
Alexandria is a known center for Scottish and Irish events in the Washington DC area. This new location is a half block off of King Street on S. Union St. This is just one block away from the Potomac River and a short walk or trolley ride from the King Street Metro stop. It’s very close to the Waterfront Park where the Irish Festival is held the first weekend of August.
Don’t know what a Kilt is? The male skirted garment originated in the Scottish highlands. It’s now regalia of the Queen’s First Regiment and seen on bagpipe bands. Casual Kilts are the global male fashion wave. Try one on at the Kilted Nation. See Advertisement Page 10.
Lorton Resident Plans Charity Walk Across U.S
John Goff of Lorton, will be walking from New York City to Los Angeles in an effort to raise money for a non-profit organization called ‘Charity: Water’, whose goal it is to bring clean water solutions to Africa and India. My journey will take me eight to nine months and will span more than 3,500 miles and across 13 states. Visit his website at www.iwalkforh2o.com to read more about John’s Walk for Water or e-mail aacwip@gmail.com.
Local Weekend Farmers' Markets
The Lorton Farmers' Market meets every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. in the VRE parking lot at Lorton Station until mid November. Select fresh, local produce and goods from the vendors. Contact Anna Braum at 703-642-0128.
The new Farmers’ Market has opened in Historic Occoquan. The market will be every Saturday, through November 21, except for craft show weekends, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (was noon) at the east end of Mill Street municipal lot. Vendors offer fresh locally grown produce, meats, baked goods, etc. Support our farmers – Buy locally and enjoy the quaint setting of Historic Occoquan.
The Dale City Farmers' Market is held on Sundays, 8:00am to 1:00pm, now through November 22nd. Sponsored by Sharron Baucom – Dale City Recreation Center and the Prince William County Park Authority, This market has a wide variety of locally grown vegetables, fruit, plants, as well as baked goods, salsa, meats, sorbet, honey, roasted nuts, roasted coffee beans, soaps & lotions.
The Dale City Farmer’s Market is located in the commuter lot on Dale Boulevard, behind the Center Plaza Shopping Center in Dale City. The location is handicapped-accessible. For more information about the Dale City Farmer’s Market, call Betty Finney at Sharron Baucom – Dale City Recreation Center at (703) 670-7112, ext 227.
Measles Vaccine Required by VA
The recent exposures to measles in the Washington, DC metropolitan area highlight the importance of reviewing immunization records and getting vaccinated against the measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases as appropriate. It is especially important for infants and toddlers in our community to receive their immunizations on time.
Parents are encouraged to review immunization requirements and to visit their physicians or a county clinic before the last minute rush just before school begins.
• State law requires students to be excluded from school if they have not complied with immunization requirements. Parents who are registering children for kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools must have up-to-date shot records.
• Students entering 6th grade are required to have a Tdap booster shot. Students who do not meet the requirement by the first day of school will be excluded. Fairfax County Public Schools tracks compliance for this state requirement.
For information about immunizations requirements and clinic locations and hours visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/HD or call (703) 246-2411.
NVCC Reaches Baby Boomers
Move over 18-year-old high school students. There’s a new student on campus, and she might be your mom. A new survey by the Plus 50 Initiative at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) finds that community colleges are reaching out to students over the age of 50 and planning to expand programs for them.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) participated in the survey, and the results were not surprising. Eighty-four percent of the 204 community colleges participating in the survey reported that their institutions offer programs for students over the age of 50. Ninety-three percent of these colleges perceive a demand for this type of programming – predominantly from people age 50 and up in their community, but from business and community organizations as well.
Many community colleges reported that they plan to expand their offerings for plus 50 students. Seventy percent of colleges offering enrichment courses for Plus 50 students said that they plan to expand their offerings. Half of the 14 percent that do not currently have enrichment offerings for baby boomers plan to add them in the future.
At NOVA, our Plus 50 program will focus on the baby boomer generation in areas of workforce training, career development, personal enrichment and volunteering. More specifically, our workshops and courses will address:
• Challenges and difficulties one may be feeling in their personal and professional life and how to effectively manage stress.
• Making second career choices and upgrading workplace skills.
• Multigenerational workplace issues: boomers, generation X and GenNext
• Dealing with personal journeys and discoveries aimed at participants who are at a crossroads in their life or simply wondering what’s next in life for them.
• Facing retirement living and the complexities of choosing, living and working in a retirement community.
Cover special education concerns, health concerns and concerns at home with other siblings and present coping strategies.
NOVA will be hosting a Plus 50 Ageless Learning Resource Symposium on Tuesday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our Alexandria Campus, 3001 N. Beauregard St. for anyone interested in networking and learning more about our program and course offerings.
For more information about NOVA’s Plus 50 program, please go to http://www.nvcc.edu/alexandria/plus50/ or call Keith Wynn at (703) 845-6326.
For an executive summary and a full report detailing the survey’s results, please go to http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu.
Schmidt “To Go the Extra Mile” for People with Disabilities
Lorton, a student at Virginia Tech, majoring in Building Construction, will be meeting 90 other Pi Kappa Phi’s from universities across the country and embarking on a 64 day “Journey of Hope.” The Journey of Hope is a 3,900 mile cross-country cycling trek that raises funds and awareness on behalf of people with disabilities.
The team members are all members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and are joining forces to pave the road for a better understanding of people with disabilities. From the west coast to Washington, D.C., the Journey of Hope team will be cycling from city to city, bringing the message Push America in a unique and inspiring way.
Matt and the rest of the Journey of Hope 2009 team will be making dozens of presentations in communities across the nation, helping others to understand the issues facing those with disabilities. After cycling and average of 75 miles each day, the team will take part in many special events, often meeting with those for whom they’re riding.
The Journey of Hope is a project of Push America, which was founded by Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity in 1977 with the mission to build leaders of tomorrow by serving people with disabilities today. Its members have raised more than $8 million for Push America since its establishment.
In addition to raising awareness, the Journey of Hope will raise more than $400,000 for future projects and programs of Push America. Matt is committed to raising a minimum of $5,000 on behalf of Push America and people with disabilities.
Anyone interested in “Going the Extra Mile” by making a tax-deductible donation to Push America on behalf of Matt Schmidt should contact him at <mattschmidt@vt.edu>, or learn more information about Matt and his ride at https://secure.pushamerica.org/events
/profile.cfm?rID=1158971&ridecode=joh2009
Day of The Horse Celebration
The National Day of the Horse was cause for celebration enjoyed by horses and people who love them at Meadowood Stable. This was the second such event here since the day, December 13, was declared by the Untied States Senate.
It was a frigid morning in the stable but the atmosphere was warm. Hot coffee, hot chocolate, donuts and friendships were shared and enjoyed. Of course it was just fine for the horses and riders who enjoyed their warming performances. After all, if you’re sitting on 1200 pounds of horse flesh that is working you’ll be glad it isn’t a warm day.
The observance was filled with demonstrations of horse breeds and riding disciplines including Jumping, Dressage, Endurance, and Driving. The event calls attention to the beautiful Arabian horse, Re-trained race horses, Mustangs and the Gaited Kentucky Mt. Horse. The latter, almost anyone would recognize as a strikingly pretty animal. Simple Changes gave a demonstration of Therapeutic Riding.
It was given a patriotic opening and shared with a local Girl Scouts Brownie troop 2480 from the Fort Belvoir service unit 53-5 who thereby met their requirements for the equestrian badges.
According to the proclamation, S.Res.452ATS, The National Day of the Horse is recognition of the importance of horses to the security, economy, recreation, and heritage of the United States. The resolution states that the horse is an important part of the culture of the United States and includes the Congressional Horse Caucus estimate that the horse industry contributes much more than $100,000,000,000 each year to the economy. It makes the point that because of increasing pressure from modern society, wild and domestic horses rely on humans for adequate food, water, and shelter.
In our downturned economy, just when everything else needs rescuing, the greater Lorton community is reminded about the bigger animals which may escape notice. Horses are intelligent and have real personalities. They love attention, willingly learn, and have definite attitudes. They, just like us, need a little kindness and understanding. It’s spooky what those huge heads seem to understand. They quietly observe us just as keenly as our dogs do.
Anyway, the equine residents seemed to understand that the day was about them. Only excited whinnies where heard and they cooperated marvelously. And the doggies played and even the resident stable cat observed the celebratory gathering.
Meadowood Planning, Be Heard
Citizens are invited to participate in the Land Use Plan for Meadowood Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on Mason Neck, Lorton. The Bureau of Land Management is developing the Southeastern States Resource Management Plan.
Do you have any thoughts or recommendations about land use at Meadowood? BLM will be accepting input and comments through the following methods:
Mail to: Bureau of Land Management, Jackson Field Office, 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404; Jackson, Mississippi 39206
Or Visit the BLM Website at:
http://www.blm.gov/es/st/en/fo/southeastern_states.html
For more information, call the BLM Jackson Field Office at 601-977-5400
You might try out the new trails and comment on those. You might feel that the tick infestation on Meadowood West needs to be controlled. You might suggest additional activity accommodations. Or you might advocate no hard paved trails or mosquito control in the swampy area of Thompson Creek. This is your opportunity to direct the goals for years to come.
Furnace Road Construction
Furnace road lanes will be narrowed at the I95 overpass until Spring. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph in the 500 foot section to accommodate construction of additional piers for widening to the bridge for the I95 Fourth Lane project.
Motorists are advised to slow down and abide by this speed limit to safely pass through the work zone as the travel lanes will be narrowed to 9.5 feet.
The project, which will widen I-95 from the Fairfax County Parkway Route 7100 at Newington to Gordon Blvd. Route 123 in Woodbridge is expected to be completed by 2011.
Officer Stecco Found
Divers located Second Lieutenant Frank Stecco at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. He was found in Pohick Bay approximately 100 feet from the point at which he was reportedly last seen. Boats, dogs and divers were actively searching when the discovery was made. The murky waters and the contours and make-up of the bottom of the bay made this a particularly difficult search. The use of technology aided in searching potential areas where Lt. Stecco may have been. Divers turned to meticulous hand-by-hand searches within a grid pattern. Divers likened this search to dropping a quarter on a football field and attempting to find it by hand. Colonel David Rohrer, Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, confirmed the recovery saying, “My heart goes out to Frank’s family; my heart goes out to his police family; and my heart goes out to the community Frank worked in and loved.” Chief Rohrer called Lt. Stecco a highly decorated member of the department. Lt. Stecco was transported with full honors to include a motorcycle escort to the Medical Examiners Office. Lt. Stecco was a volunteer role player in a police helicopter water rescue exercise at Pohick Bay Regional Park when he disappeared in the bay at 2:47 p.m. on October 21, 2008. Extensive air, ground and water search and rescue efforts began immediately and continued through the recovery today. Federal, state, and regional public safety and military agencies helped sustain the search, contributing sophisticated detection equipment, expertise, boats, helicopters, specially trained dogs and supplies.
Lt. Stecco joined the Fairfax County Police Department in 1989 and served 11 of his 19 years assigned to the Mount Vernon District station. His bold, proactive style of policing earned the respect and admiration of his peers and supervisors and helped distinguish him as a courageous and selfless officer. He was awarded a Silver Medal of Valor in 1994, a Bronze Medal of Valor in 1997, and a Certificate of Valor in 2000 by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce for acts of bravery above and beyond the call of duty.
Fueled by his passion and dedication for serving the children and teenagers of the county, Lt. Stecco opted to leave the Mount Vernon district and join the Department’s Youth Services Division just one month prior to his untimely death.
He leaves behind his wife, their three children, and his mother.
The Fairfax County Police Department announces that a memorial fund has been established at the Fairfax County Federal Credit Union in memory of 2Lt. Frank Stecco, who passed away during a training exercise at Pohick Bay Regional Park. Anyone wishing to donate may do so at any branch of the Fairfax County Federal Credit Union or send to:
Fairfax County Federal Credit Union
Frank J. Stecco Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 1300
Fairfax, VA 22038-1300
Messages of condolence may be sent to FCPD-2252@FairfaxCounty.gov or mailed to: Mount Vernon District Police Station, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306
Pleasure Riding Comes To Lorton
Horse riders can register before October is out for a pleasure ride at Laurel Hill Equestrian Center to benefit construction of a top-notch public equestrian riding facility there with rings, barns, trails and riding programs there. The ride on the site of the old D.C. Correctional Facility Dairy, organized by the Northern Virginia Coalition of Equestrian Organizations is to be held, rain or shine, on the morning of November 8.
The judged ride course includes twelve obstacles over rolling grass terrain through trees and crossing streams. Registration opens at 7:00 am and the first rider will set out at 8:00 am.
Visit http://nvceo.tripod.com/ge.html for registration information and forms available in .pdf format.
Significant progress is being made toward development of new features at Laurel Hill Park. The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation signed an agreement to cooperate with the non-profit group Fairfax 4 Horses to develop plans for a new Equestrian Center at the former Dairy Farm site. F4H is currently conducting a fund raising campaign and providing their expertise in the facility planning efforts.
Fairfax 4 Horses is working to ensure that all Fairfax County residents have access to affordable public riding lessons at county park facilities within a reasonable distance oaf where they live. Current focus is raising funds to build a barn and indoor arena at Laurel Hill Park in Lorton. For more information on Fairfax4Horses, visit www.fairfax4horses.org. This event benefits Fairfax 4 Horses “Laurel Hill Public Equestrian Center Fund”, a 501c3 Tax Deductible organization. Find out more by visiting http://fairfax4horses.org/
Another Tax Whammy…
County Claims Power To Create
Community Taxing Authorities
Supervisor McKay moved adoption of the Ordinance to permit the County to assume the power to consider petitions for the creation of community development authorities. Supervisor Gross and Supervisor Hudgins jointly seconded the motion and it carried by unanimous vote, Supervisor Bulova, Supervisor Foust, Supervisor Frey, Supervisor Gross, Supervisor Herrity, Board Summary -58- September 8, 2008
Supervisor Hudgins, Supervisor Hyland,
Barbara A. Byron, Director, Office of Community Revitalization and Reinvestment, presented the staff report.
Chairman Connolly noted that without this action, the Board did not have the authority to accept a petition and act on it. Ms. Byron stated that letters of support had been received from the Community Revitalization and Reinvestment Advisory Group (CRRAG) and G-7 which is representative of the seven revitalization districts and areas in the County. She added that several representatives of CRRAG were present and Chairman Connolly asked that they stand and be recognized.
Discussion ensued concerning the taxation authority of the CDAs with input from James V. McGettrick, Assistant County Attorney. Chairman Connolly noted the Supreme Court ruling on HB 3202 and Supervisor Foust asked unanimous consent that the Board direct the County Attorney to provide guidance on taxation authority. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The public hearing included testimony by one speaker, The action was in referencne to specific revitalization districts but nothing was said that precludes any neighborhood from falling under a local taxing authority.
A CDA is a flexible tool that can address a broad range of infrastructure needs, as well as services, and can cover varied areas such as a single shopping mall, a mixed-use development or a downtown redevelopment area. A petition to the Board of Supervisors to establish a CDA must come from a majority (51 percent) of landowners within a proposed area; the CDA is then governed by board appointees. Either land area or assessed value can be used to determine the 51 percent. A CDA can be funded through special taxes or special assessments negotiated with the owners of property within the district.
Petitions for a CDA will be evaluated against “16 Principles for Public Investment in Support of Commercial Redevelopment,” which were adopted by the Board of Supervisors on July 21 to advance revitalization and reinvestment opportunities within the county. The board will hold a public hearing on any petition submitted to establish a CDA.
The 16 principles were developed by Fairfax County in collaboration with the Community Revitalization and Reinvestment Advisory Group. The advisory group was established by the Board of Supervisors in March 2007; its membership includes community, business and county government representatives. The principles respond to the county’s changing development climate. By 2030, Fairfax County is projected to add 245,000 jobs and 290,000 new residents.
The 16 principles are available at http://www.fcrevit.org/
Laurel Hill Project Advisory Meetings to Discuss Master Planning Efforts
The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning and the Laurel Hill Project Advisory Committee announce two upcoming meetings related to the Master Planning effort for the Laurel Hill Adaptive Reuse Area, a part of the former D.C. Correctional Facility site Lorton
The first meeting, Wednesday September 10, 2008, will be a presentation of findings by Fairfax County’s master planning consultant, the Alexander Company. These findings, and an opportunity for public questions and comments, will take place during the Laurel Hill Project Advisory Committee meeting, 7:00 p.m. at the Laurel Hill Community Association Clubhouse, 8380 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton, Virginia 22079.
The second meeting, Monday September 29, 2008, will be a presentation of the Draft Master Plan for the Laurel Hill Adaptive Reuse Area, and will also take place during a Laurel Hill Project Advisory Committee meeting. This meeting will take place at the Lorton Station Elementary School cafeteria, 7:30 p.m., 9298 Lewis Chapel Road, Lorton, Virginia 22079. The public will also have an opportunity to ask questions and comment on the Master Plan.
For more detail on Laurel Hill and the master planning process please see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/laurelhill/master_plan.htm
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