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PAGE 12 | FEBRUARY 4 – 10, 2021
A Penny for Your Thoughts
News of Greater Falls Church By Supervisor Penny Gross
Wildlife abounds in our urban area — not just squirrels and chipmunks, but deer, foxes, opossums, raccoons and, I am told, the occasional coyote. A snowy day like last Sunday demonstrates that abundance, as the unblemished snow highlights the paw and hoof prints of our four-footed neighbors. The atmosphere may be hushed by the gently falling flakes, but the tracks show lots of relatively unseen activity. Mother Nature paints those pictures rarely in our area, so the beauty of a fresh snowfall is to be treasured, even as it affects schedules and traffic. Older areas like Mason District, among the first to have residential and commercial neighborhoods constructed decades ago, are pursuing revitalization opportunities, to bring new investment and vibrancy. Urban Design Guidelines were updated for the Bailey’s Crossroads/ Seven Corners area previously, and now the Annandale Urban Design Guidelines are undergoing the same process. New design topics such as public art and complete street sections are being added, to be consistent with other districts. You can review the draft Volume 11: District Design Guidelines for Annandale, watch an educational video, and submit your comments at fcrevite.org/annandale/ design-guidelines. Comments may be submitted until Feb. 25. A virtual presentation is planned for Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Visit the website for more details. Another aspect of an older area is the many longtime residents who have called Mason District home for 30, 40 years or more. They helped build our community, not by physical structures, but by their personal attributes, which they shared with us in many different ways. Sadly, Mason District lost two great friends last week, with the passing of former Park Authority Board member Frank Vajda, and renowned Sephardic musician Flory Jagoda. Frank Vajda represented Mason District on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board for 16 years, retiring in 2017 when he and his wife, Judie, decided it was time to downsize from their large
home in the Camelot neighborhood. Like many Mason District residents, Frank had a 30-year career as an Air Force officer, and then continued his public service in many volunteer capacities. He was Magister (or president) of the Court of Camelot in the early 1990s, and was a stalwart Neighborhood Watch coordinator (Camelot has the oldest continuing serving Neighborhood Watch in the nation). Frank also ran Camelot’s annual candle/luminaria sale, which raised thousands of dollars for Children’s Hospital for many years. In 2016, Frank was named a Knight of Camelot by his civic association; that honorary action gave him the title of “Sir.” I also selected Frank to be Mason District’s “Lord Fairfax” in 2011, so he had several titles to choose from, in addition to his military rank of Colonel. Frank loved our parks, and was instrumental in obtaining additional parkland, such as Hogge Park and Monch Farm Park. He also was a wonderful co-host of the “Spotlight by Starlight” concerts at Mason District Park, and was an avid supporter of the Park Authority’s garden plot program. Frank’s legacy is one of service and friendship, and he will be sorely missed. Flory Jagoda, who was 97, escaped Bosnia during World War II, and devoted her new life in America to keeping alive the rich musical heritage and culture of her native Sephardic Judaism. Her efforts were recognized by the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Flory was small in stature, but her musical talent and flair were huge. I remember seeing her perform in costume at a Lake Barcroft event. Flory probably was in her late 70s by then, but her energy and passion captivated us all. What a great lady! Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
CRIME REPORT Week of January 25 – 31, 2021
Larceny from Building- 6600 blk Wilson Blvd, January 25, between 3 and 4 PM, items of value were taken from a shopping cart while the owner was intentionally distracted. Fraud- 400 blk S Maple Ave, January 26, an incident of fraud was reported. Assault - 100 blk W Broad St, January 26, 3:45 PM, an irate customer threw a candy bar at an
employee. Credit Card Theft, Failure to Return Bailed Vehicle- 100 blk Hillwood Ave, December 29, a stolen credit card was used to rent a vehicle which remains missing. Destruction of Property- 100 blk Park Ave, January 28, 4:20 PM, an interior door was damaged by a known individual, who left the premises. Larceny- Shoplifting-100 blk W Broad St. January 28, 5:05
PM, items of value were taken. Suspect described as a black male, with a black face mask and brown leather jacket. Drunk in Public-100 blk Hillwood Ave, January 28, 7:49 PM, a male, 60, of no fixed address, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Driving Under the Influence-1000 blk Hillwood ave, January 29, 10:01 PM, a male, 34, of Bailey’s Crossroads, VA, was arrested for driving under the influence. Driving Under the Influence-200 blk S Washington Street, January 30, 10:31 PM, a male 25, of Alexandria VA, was arrested for driving under the influence.
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
Sentator Dick Saslaw’s
Richmond Report February is Black History Month. From Barbara Johns to President Obama, there are many individuals who readily come to mind who have been trailblazers and influential leaders in their professions and in the social sphere. I salute the Black legislators whom I have served with over the years in the Commonwealth. Based on constituent outreach, the rollout and distribution of the vaccine is front and center on people’s minds. For the record, we are nearing 800,000 vaccinated Virginians with about 8 percent having had the requisite two doses. In Fairfax County there is a waiting list with 100,000 eligible people trying to schedule an appointment. The priorities in Phase 1b continue to be first responders, essential workers, teachers, and individuals that are responsible for providing government services. Rebuilding the economy, getting people back to work, and reopening schools are the prizes we are keeping our eyes on for administering the vaccine. We need to focus on ramping up production and bolstering the “shots in arms” effort that includes hospitals, medical providers, health districts and large-scale organized vaccination events. After a slow start, Covid-19 vaccinations in the Commonwealth have seen a marked turnaround. Virginia is fifth in the nation in the number of vaccine doses administered per day, despite being the 12th largest state. More than 84 percent of our first doses have been put in arms. That is more than triple the daily vaccinations we were doing three weeks ago. Highlights of the war on Covid-19 include the announcement that Johnson and Johnson is seeking FDA approval for its one shot vaccine. At the same time, President Biden is taking steps to get additional doses delivered to the states as quickly as production permits. Back here in the Commonwealth, we are receiving a 16 percent increase in our share of the vaccine. I am asking you to be patient and do your part to curb the spread of this pandemic. The legislative session is operating at warp speed and we are now at Crossover, the time for each chamber to finish work on its own bills and take up the others. The days are extremely long and intense. Policy change should be deliberative and driven by facts. It actually does require a thoughtful deep dive to prevent unintended consequence.
I am the chief patron of the “G3” bill (SB1405) working its way through the Senate. “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” is a pathway for Virginians to retool for the future. Climbing out of the depths of this economic downturn caused by the pandemic, we need a skilled workforce to rightfully reclaim our place in the global economy. This is timely and appropriate legislation. Funding for this investment has been proposed in the budget. Legalizing recreational use of marijuana has been front and center during the General Assembly. SB1406 addresses simple possession, criminal penalties, as well as expungement. The bill has been in full committee, subcommittee, and worked on daily among legislators to get it to its best place. I have no doubt when it gets to the floor of the Senate, there will be a lengthy debate. I have followed this initiative closely and plan to vote for final passage once due diligence is completed. A bill to abolish the death penalty is also before legislators. This is a complex issue with advocates on both sides making compelling arguments. The questions that have divided Virginians rest with humanity from this ultimate punishment, whether it is a deterrent, as well as how to address the most heinous offenses resulting in the death of a victim. I have voted for passage of SB1165. Criminal Justice Reform continues with debate on many related issues. I believe until we can incentivize and retain the best in public safety, we have a bigger problem. To that end I’ve submitted budget amendments. The Senate will deliver its amended budget on Sunday. The Senate took an action to censure one of its members, Amanda Chase, for conduct unbecoming an elected official. Make no mistake about it, the action we took came after much reflection and debate. In her short career, Ms. Chase has a long history of what could easily be deemed behavior unbecoming an elected official. In a dramatic address to the Senate, she was unapologetic and inappropriately attacked many others in the room. SR91 passed mostly along party lines, 24 -9. Six members elected NOT to vote on the matter. Sine Die is scheduled for Feb. 11. Stay tuned as the details for completed legislative business continues to evolve.
