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Sun Gazette
VOLUME 81 NO. 38 AUGUST 11-17, 2016
ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935
‘iCan Bike’
A Group Effort Helps to Build Independence
The tennis courts at Kenmore Middle School were alive last Friday with the whirring of rubber tires – representing success for the students participating in the annual “iCan Bike” training program hosted by the Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation. The weeklong effort, held in conjunction with the national non-profit iCan Shine and a host of volunteers, brought together students with varying intellectual or physical challenges and taught them the fundamentals of bicycles. Starting out on Monday, when many of the participants are skittish at the mere thought of being on two wheels, the program moved them through different stages. Early on in the week, they rode specialized bikes designed not to tip over, and had supporters (many of them student volunteers from across the county) serving as spotters and ensuring they didn’t fall. As they gained confidence and learned the tricks of balance, turning and braking, participants progressed to regular bikes, and by Friday, many had moved from the gym outside to a makeshift course on the tennis courts. The goal was not simply to teach participants (ages 8 and older) the skills of bike-riding, but also to instill confidence in them. The county government began participating in what was then known as the “Lose the Training Wheels” initiative in 2009. Although local participation was scrapped for a year due Joseph Van Story was among those who, by the end of a week’s worth of training, was to budget cuts, it later was resurrected and has able to ride a bicycle as part of the “iCan Bike” initiative, held Aug. 1-5 at Kenmore become a summer recreation staple ever since. Middle School.
SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer
Not since the decision to scrap the Columbia Pike streetcar was announced in November 2014 has there been such a repudiation of a staff proposal as the July decision by County Board members not to support the move of Fire Station #8, as had been sought by the county manager and fire-department leaders. Will the split leave any lasting scars? County Manager Mark Schwartz, in public comments, says no. “Even though we had a disagreement on some items . . . there actually was some uniformity on some important issues,” the county manager said after board members voted to keep the station where it is. He pointed to agreement on the need to increase staffing in the fire department and looking at alternate staffing options, including changing work hours, to address response times. Schwartz’s comments came after County Board member Christian Dorsey said staff shouldn’t take the board’s decision to override their advice personally. He said the staff recommendation to move the station was “a perfectly reasonable and appropriate” one. “I think it just didn’t include a wider perspective,” said Dorsey, who joined Continued on Page 18
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Fire-Station Vote Leaves Scars; Will They Heal?