Superintendent Wants $3 Billion for FCPS
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INSIDE: McLean police commander preps for 2019 • Page 4 Enjoy FREE E-edition Access at www.sungazette.news our local newspaper keeps you connected 6 Opinion Yto the faces, places, information and 12 Real Estate Keep events that matter most to you. Now with 18 Sports print and online, we’ve made it easier than 4 9 ever to keep your fi nger on the pulse of what’s TYSONS PRIMARY 21 Classified In happening in the community. CHAMBER BATTLE 23 Public Safety LOOKS TO LOOMS 23 Crossword Touch NEW YEAR IN 31st 23 Local History Sun Gazette GREAT FALLS McLEAN OAKTON TYSONS VIENNA VOLUME 40 NO. 16 JANUARY 17-23, 2019 Superintendent Wants $3 Billion for FCPS 4.1% Boost in Funding Would Come Despite Projected Decline in Enrollment BRIAN TROMPETER would require an $84.4 million lion extra for employee compensa- hindered us in making sure that we Staff Writer transfer increase from the county tion, including a 1-percent cost- have the premier workforce,” he said. government. of-living bump for all employees, “Last year’s budget and this budget Fairfax County Public Schools About 86 percent of the budget 2.6-percent longevity (“step”) in- continue the emphasis of making Superintendent Scott Brabrand on would be used for instructional pro- creases for eligible workers and $5.1 sure the best and brightest come to Jan. 10 proposed a $3 billion oper- grams and nearly 90 percent of bud- million more for employees’ retire- Fairfax County and stay in Fairfax ating budget for fiscal 2020 that is getary expenses would be allotted ment programs. County.” $117.4 million (4.1 percent) more for employee salaries and benefits. “We have to recognize that bud- than the previous year’s total and Brabrand is asking for $80.1 mil- get cuts over the last few years have Continued on Page 17 Brabrand 3 DEFENDERS? NO PROBLEM! Surrounded by Yorktown defenders Zach McCoskrie, Ryan Van Kirk and Steven Lincoln, Langley High School’s Nick Gasparis seems unperturbedas he looks for a route to the basket in boys’ action last week. Langley fell to the Patriots. See coverage in Sports, a slideshow from the game at www.insidenova.com/sports/fairfax and a photo page at www.sungazette.news by clicking on “Recent Issues Fairfax 1-17-19.” PHOTO BY DEB KOLT ONLINE www.sungazette.news l On Facebook: sungazettenews l On Twitter: @sungazettenews @sungazettespts Local Postal Customer Postal Local Michael Appleton Plumbing Service Manager (4th Generation) appletoncampbell.com 703.754.3301 PERMIT NO. 605 605 NO. PERMIT Frederick, MD Frederick, PAID U.S. POSTAGE U.S. ECRWSS PRSRT STD PRSRT AC GreatFalls_StripAd.indd 1 12/7/18 2:00 PM Lounge in Vienna Could See Music Permit Pulled BRIAN TROMPETER Vienna Department of Public Works re- Staff Writer cently received a letter from representa- tives of the owner of the arson-damaged Things have been relatively quiet for Marco Polo Restaurant building that % the past several months at Bey Lounge in sought a demolition permit, but informa- Vienna, but a recent spate of noise viola- tion was missing, Planning and Zoning tions has prompted town officials to once Director Cindy Petkac told the Vienna APY* again consider revoking the site’s condi- Town Council Jan. 7. tional-use permit for live music. Council members on Dec. 10 last year Residents called town police Nov. 18 pressed Town Manager Mercury Payton 2.60 and Dec. 29 last year and Jan. 6 this year to send a letter to the site’s owner, Vi- to report loud music after midnight. Po- enna Vision LLC, informing them of the lice responded to another noise complaint building’s poor condition and the need to BIG NUMBER. last year on Nov. 29 at 10:50 p.m., which remediate it, or provide a plan to do so, qualified as a code violation because it within 30 days. was on a Thursday, when loud music must Fire destroyed the structure Oct. 14 cease by 10 p.m. last year and authorities have charged a BIG SAVINGS. Some of the cases may be consolidated, 14-year-old Vienna-area boy and 13-year- as the same police officer handled three of old Reston boy with arson and destruc- the four recent violations, said Town At- tion of property in the case. The building’s torney Steven Briglia. central section was destroyed and the site “If we’ve got an officer working mid- now is surrounded by chain-link fencing. nights, we’re not going to reschedule him Town officials are waiting to hear back unless it’s convenient for everybody to do from the property’s owners so demolition that,” Briglia said. can proceed, Petkac said. The Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals “We are waiting for that information on Nov. 18, 2015, issued the lounge an to come in so we can finish processing SPECIAL OFFER initial, one-year conditional-use permit and approve the [demolition] permit,” she for live entertainment. The BZA renewed said. ON A NEW ADJUSTABLE the permit for another year in Novem- If owners of the property do not move ber 2016, but required that the lounge forward with demolition, the town govern- MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT close at midnight from Sundays through ment has the right to demolish the build- Thursdays and at 2 a.m. on Fridays and ing and roughly regrade the site, then bill Saturdays. The BZA in November 2017 the expense as a lien against the property, Now for a limited time, we’re offering 2.60% APY* issued only a six-month renewal, with said Town Attorney Steven Briglia. The when you open a new adjustable money market further restrictions about audible noise at whole process might take until late March the site’s rear property line on Fridays and or early April to play out, he said. account with a new deposit of $250,000 or more.** Saturdays. Vienna Proclamations Raise Fears Because Vienna police had issued 10 of ‘Mission Creep’: The Vienna Town noise citations at Bey Lounge as of No- Council on Jan. 7 approved, if a tad ir- • Access to your money at any time vember 2017, town officials last spring ritably, approved a pair of proclamations • Unlimited deposits and ATM withdrawals asked the BZA to revoke the conditional- regarding social issues beyond its usual use permit for live music at the business, scope of duties. • Up to 6 additional transactions located at 303A Mill St., N.E. One proclamation, read by Council per statement cycle The lounge’s owner, Rawad Hasrouni, member Howard Springsteen, supported said he had addressed the town’s noise a National Day of Racial Healing. • Earn a higher interest rate than most concerns by installing $50,000 worth of “We understand and recognize that money market accounts sound-proofing and other improvements. there is a racial divide in our country The BZA on May 22 last year extended and we must all work earnestly to heal • Rate accurate as of 01/10/19 and subject to change the lounge’s permit permanently. the wounds created by racial, ethnic and Only live music, not amplified recorded religious bias and build an equitable and Learn more at sonabank.com music, is covered by the permit. just society so that all children can thrive,” or call us at 888.464.BANK (2265) Bey Lounge “went for some time with- part of the resolution read. out any violations, so I don’t know what’s The second proclamation, this time going on over there now, but it’s clearly read by Council member Linda Colbert, audible,” Briglia said, adding police of- honored Jan. 20 through 26 as School ficers have been able to hear music from Choice Week. behind the lounge in the residential area Citing how effective educational op- on Park Street, N.E. tions play a role in economic vitality and “Our thought was, as soon as the community vibrancy, the resolution stated [court] cases are done, we’ll present a mo- the town “recognizes the important role tion to revoke the conditional-use permit that an effective education plays in pre- to the Board of Zoning Appeals.,” he paring all students in the Town of Vienna said. to be successful adults.” BIG BELIEVERS IN YOU Council member Pasha Majdi said he Colbert supported the school-choice fully supported revoking the lounge’s per- resolution, saying education applied to *New accounts only. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. The advertised APY is effective 01/10/19 and subject to mit. programs at the community center and change thereafter. Earn 2.60% APY on balances of $250,000 and above. Transfers from existing accounts do not “This is not strike three, it’s strike 15,” elsewhere, not just the public schools. qualify. The minimum to open the Money Market is $50,000. Fees may reduce earnings. Offer is subject to change without notice and may be withdrawn at any time. **For accounts over $5,000,000 please he said. “I kind of looked at [the resolution] as contact your local Sonabank branch. Vienna Officials: More Data Needed for Macro Polo Demolition Permit: The Continued on Page 17 2 January 17, 2019 www.sungazette.news Vienna Artist of Year Brings Depth, Texture to Work BRIAN TROMPETER Skidmore executes her reliefs by wield- Staff Writer ing Japanese carving tools on pieces of linden or bass wood. She neither uses Vienna-area artist Dorothe “Doré” power tools, which interfere with her Skidmore uses her imagination and a va- sense of serenity, nor burnishes the final riety of hand tools to craft landscapes, products with sandpaper.