Aerial Spraying Program Criticized and Eventual Death of Many Trees County Targets in the Older Sections of the County

Page 22 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper April 25, 2013 Aerial Spraying Program Criticized and eventual death of many trees County targets in the older sections of the county. canker worm However, some Mount Vernon area residents and non-profit en- Photos by Photos moth. vironmental advocates expressed concern about the potential im- By Gerald A. Fill pact on humans, pets, wild birds, The Gazette and all insects and the timing and Louise Krafft cost benefit of the program. Some espite concerns voiced by raised the issue of the priority; residents and the should it have been approved by D the Board of Supervisors (it was Audubon Society, Fairfax County conducted aerial and by unanimous vote) ahead of /The Gazette ground spraying on Monday, April other programs suffering from 22, using the pesticide Bacillus budget cuts, and whether the thuringienisis (Bt) to kill the can- county staff consulted sufficiently ker worm moth in six areas of the with locally affected residents. Mount Vernon Magisterial District, County urban forest coordinator Asher Ager, Henry Wild and Quinn Bloom smooth out the piles of mulch just including the Hollin Hall and Paul Troy Shaw, responding to ques- added to the front garden at Hollin Meadows. Spring Parkway area in the Fort tions about the adequacy of infor- Hunt neighborhood. mation outreach, said, “This past Hollin Meadows Celebrates Earth Day Spraying was also conducted in February and March we conducted other areas of southeastern Fairfax Mount Vernon area informational hearings, including at Sherwood irl Scouts held a used book sale and Woods and Vines offered a variety of spring plants County. Some 1,965 acres were Hall library and in the Tauxemont also added the last few boxes of this for sale. Students and volunteers took turns dis- scheduled to be sprayed overall. neighborhood. We also sent out a season’s cookies on the table at the tributing mulch to all the planting beds in the Surveys conducted by the county G letter to residents, and businesses annual Earth Day celebration at multiple school gardens. Bricks for a border in last year indicated that the canker in the affected area describing the Hollin Meadows Math and Science Focus School the back garden were available for painting in worm moth has dramatically program and asking whether or on Saturday, April 20. The events started with the courtyard and work progressed on the build- grown in numbers and, if not con- the Run/walk the Dig It Dash at 9 a.m. Holly ing of an outdoor classroom in the back garden. trolled, will cause the defoliation See County, Page 6 Fredona Gartlan Dies A life dedicated to helping the needy. By Gerald A. Fill The Gazette Javier Johnson, Johnny Brown, redona Manderfield Lawrence Mercado, Jonathan Portillo Gartlan, a longtime advo- and Bryan Balanta fill wheelbarrows Hollin Meadows principal Jon Gates F cate for those suffering with mulch for the schoolyard and greets Del. Scott Surovell in the class- from mental illness, died April 22, classroom garden at Hollin Meadows. room garden. 2013 at her home in Mason Neck. She was 85 and had suffered in recent years from Alzheimer’s Dis- ease. The cause of death was an apparent heart attack. She was the wife of the late state See Fredone, Page 6 Fredona Gartlan 4/26/13 Requested in home in Requested material. Time-sensitive Postmaster: Megan Huck and Anna and Mia Attention Permit #482 Permit Penkiunas start painting a few more Volunteers continue work on the con- VA Alexandria, PAID bricks. struction of the outdoor classroom. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ April 25 - May 1, 2013 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ April 25 - May 1, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] This drawing illustrates the layout of Woodlawn School after renovation. The area outlined by the heavy black lines is the current footprint of the oldest buildings in the complex. The plan calls for their demolition, however the schools staff is revisit- ing that matter. Drawing from Fairfax County Public Schools Woodlawn School: History Lessons in New Classrooms tion to continue on schedule,” McKay said Residents ask school system to save part of building. on Monday. Cluster 4 Superintendent Deborah Tyler By Michael K. Bohn has agreed conceptually with the need for The Gazette a compromise. “We decided to ask the ar- chitects to look again at the plans,” said he planned renovation of Tyler, “and see if they can keep as many of Woodlawn Elementary School the historic features as possible.” T has become a topic of discus- The current facility is an amalgam of sion between Fairfax County structures built during the past 75 years. Public Schools staff members and local Classrooms date from 1938, 1947, 1952, elected officials. At the heart of the discus- 1956, 1968 and 1987. They are stitched sion is the school system’s proposed reno- together with hallways, all crowded with vations to the school. Those plans call for students and staff. A visitor can see the Photo by Photo demolition of the original school structure, changes in materials and design by walk- which opened in 1938 in the Engleside ing from one end to the other, much like an neighborhood near Route 1. That facet of archeologist looking back through the lay- the plan may change soon. Michael K. Bohn ers of an old city. The demolition plans caught the attention of Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay IN MARCH, school administrators and fa- and state Del. Scott Surovell. McKay, who cilities managers were pursuing approved attended the school as a child, has since plans to renovate the school, which had proposed a compromise that would preserve scored poorly in a 2008 facility assessment two of the original classrooms and the old survey. Those plans called for the razing of front entrance as a separate structure. “This The building that faces Highland Lane is the original 1938 part of the the 1938 and 1947 structures and building would preserve a part of our community’s facility. Multiple officials have recommended saving a portion of the history, but still allow the planned renova- structure for history’s sake. See TryingTo Save, Page 7 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ April 25 - May 1, 2013 ❖ 3 People Carwash Fundraiser West Potomac High School Girls Varsity Softball team held a carwash fundraiser, Saturday, April 13, at the Aldersgate Church parking lot. The participants included (back row, from left) Lee Harrington (assistant coach); Taylor York; Jayne Orleans; Maddy Bolger; Hannah Graham; Olivia Manous; Annabelle Miller; Maddie Miller; Serina Davenport; Craig Maniglia (head coach), and (front row, from left) Sydney Maniglia; Hayden Maniglia(Mascot); Megan Jackson; Hannah O’Neil; Kate Gre- gory; Nikki Minnis and Raven Williams; T. Bolger. The caption last week incorrectly identified the team’s sport. 4 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ April 25 - May 1, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com People Photo by Photo Renée Ruggles /The Gazette Ringmaster Brian Wild introduces each of It just isn’t a circus, without a trained the Circus Acts to the audience at St. elephant. St. Aidan’s elephant is named Aidan’s on April 19. Grant. Kindergarten Circus at St. Aidan’s Brave animal tamers Sophia and Charlie watch over the lions and tigers on parade for the excited audience. The lions and tigers were Matthew, Kelly, Henry and Ian. One of three tightrope Every circus needs clowns. Julia, John, and Nora were walkers performing in the the fun clown trio. circus. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ April 25 - May 1, 2013 ❖ 5 News Where Should Farmers Market Be? the vendors. Three potential locations vying to be location of 30-year-old market. “It could be great, and very helpful to us,” said Naresh Bhatt, manager of Dishes of By Michael Lee Pope be very happy with unless there’s an aw- spaces and the increase of vehicles enter- India at Belle View Shopping Center. “We The Gazette fully good reason or people support it,” said ing and exiting the library parking lot along could definitely buy local produce and use Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland. with the numerous pedestrians in the park- it in the restaurant.” n the world of real estate, agents will “Presently, I’m not convinced that is the ing lot, accidents have become the norm,” The shopping center parking lot has been Itell you it’s all about “location, location, case.” explained the Consumers Affairs report to used in the past for community use such as location.” That’s why a debate is unfold- Hyland pointed out that the decision rests the committee. “Actual incidents are more selling Christmas trees and wreaths. Sup- ing behind the scenes in Mount Vernon in the hands of the Fairfax County Park frequent than previously thought.” porters say the spot offers great visibility about the proper venue for the Mount Authority, which has the final say as to for the market because it’s along two major Vernon Farmers Market. whether or not the market moves. Last THE MARKET DATES back about 30 roads, Fort Hunt Road and Belle View Bou- Some say the market should stay at the month, the Mount Vernon Council of Citi- years, boasting a successful mix of local levard. It has ample parking because it’s one Sherwood Regional Library. Others say it zens Associations approved a resolution to growers from the region. Now the future of of the largest lots in the area. And it would should move to the Mount Vernon RECenter move the farmers market from the the market has been called into question, bring potential customers for other busi- on Belle View Boulevard.

Load more