December 2008 Archives
December 31, 2008
Guess What? The People Who Run Vienna Ain't Happy People Comments (5)
Positive ideas are not what Vienna leaders want.
What do Vienna leaders want? Fantasy Island is their choice. Maud's fictionalized Mayberry. This might be their best propaganda yet. You want to laugh, cry and cuss these fools out all at the same time. Consider this fine piece of la la la writing from the Maud Machine:
"The Town of Vienna and the Town/Business Liaison Committee are delighted to introduce the new “Vienna Retail Guide,” companion to the popular “Vienna Dining and Lodging Guide.” This new Guide features more than 200 useful, fun and innovative Shops and retail outlets that are located within the Town of Vienna. As you probably know, CNN and Money Magazine recently voted Vienna as one of the top five places to live in America. We couldn’t agree more! Vienna is a wonderful place to live, work, Shop and play. Much has been done over the past decade to enhance the “walkability” of Vienna, making it more pedestrian-friendly. This is ideal both for those who want to stroll leisurely among shops and restaurants, and for those in a hurry who want to get several errands done at once. Either way, this Guide will make your Shopping experience more enjoyable and productive. Keep a copy in your car, purse or shopping bag as a handy reminder of how much we have to offer, or bookmark this online version. We hope you enjoy using this Guide to discover the treasure trove of businesses that make Vienna so unique and wonderful."
Who in Vienna believes any of that garbage? Dishonest and rotten to the core are Vienna politicians. If you spend all of your time saying everything is "perfect", it is not surprising that nothing in Vienna changes. To pen the above text you must have no shame.
December 30, 2008
Economic Development For Dummies Comments (1)
Can the Town of Vienna government be renamed to Town of Mental Rejects?
December 23, 2008
"Historic" Demolition Today Comments (3)
One of Maud's so-called historic houses is being leveled on Walnut Lane right now. Nice preservation effort! The verdict? There never was any historic preservation effort in Vienna. It was a big political con. And for all of you historic nutbags in Vienna, how much money was wasted over the years by the government to prop up this nonsensical historic scheme? A ton. First the Moorefield house was toasted. Now this house on Walnut. What actually is "historic" in Vienna? The only thing we can think of? Maud herself.
December 18, 2008
Seriously, Who Can You Believe? Comments (5)
Greg Hembree on September 9, 2008 in an article by Donna Manz, The Connection:
Hembree says Trader Joe’s grocery stores have approached the Town, as had a major national drug store chain. "We’re always looking for good quality businesses to make a home in Vienna."http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=319289&paper=73&cat=104
Greg Hembree on November 25, 2008 in another article by Manz:
"They’re going with bigger stores with gas stations, like the one on Nutley," said Hembree.Walgreen’s bought the Safeway property and is taking over the location there. Trader Joe’s did not approach the Town about that property, nor did Safeway consider building up. Negotiations for the property sale were between Safeway and Walgreen’s, town officials said.
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=322698&paper=73&cat=104
Does this mean that Hembree is only answering that Trader Joe's did not approach the Town about the Safeway location? Did TJ approach the Town about the That's Amore location? Or, did TJ never approach the town?
Is this lying or shotty reporting or both?
December 17, 2008
Vienna Government: Dirt Under the Nails Comments (7)
The Town of Vienna pays their Town Clerk and assorted members of the Zoning Department for up to two days of their work week to transcribe Town meetings to an "edited" form (not verbatim). What does this mean? What is the point?
When the Town of Vienna has a meeting they make an audio tape of the meeting. At that point it would seem like the sensible thing to do would be to dump the tape to the internet so everyone can hear and simply make that tape the official minutes of the meeting. Does the Town do that? No. The Town, as mentioned, uses their staff time, spending thousands upon thousands of excess and wasteful dollars, to transcribe meeting tapes (town staff listening and typing) to an edited down form of what actually happened in the meeting. Make sense? Of course not. Why do they do this?
The Town refuses to make the verbatim minutes of their meetings the official minutes since this gives Maud and Jane an after the fact opportunity to "edit" what actually happened. They can sanitize away anything they don't like and create an artificial record. Is this dirty, unethical and corrupt? Yes. Is it the core of Seeman and Robinson's cookbook to hold onto power? You bet.
The Vienna Way
December 16, 2008
Mayor's Response to Emails Around Town Comments (23)
Dear Ms. XXXXXX,
Thank you so much for emailing me with questions about the petition that is making its rounds in Vienna . There is NO truth to the rumor that the Town denied Trader Joe's from locating in Vienna. We welcome any business that meets the Town's zoning codes and ordinances.
I appreciate you taking the time to check out this rumor and please let your friends know that they can call, email or write me with their comments, questions and concerns,
The other rumor is that the Town denied Safeway numerous requests to expand and so left Vienna . Safeway never came to the Town with any expansion requests. I asked Safeway management if there was anything the Town could do to keep them here. It was a corporate decision to go with larger, one-stop shopping stores.
Thank you,
M. Jane Seeman
Mayor
Town of Vienna
703-255-6310
mayor@viennava.gov
Get What You Pay for in Vienna? Comments (5)
From a reader, Vienna Guy:
Is it true that the Mayor only pulls in $6,000 per year? I was going over the Legislative budget and came across this figure, as well as the $5,000 per year salary for counsel members. Does this suggest that you get what you pay for? I don't understand the motivation for anyone to put any effort into this position for that level of compensation - even if it is for the good of the community. The title of Mayor should be a full-time job.
December 11, 2008
Online Petition for Trader Joe's Comments (18)
HistoricVienna.com has heard much disappointment regarding the lack of Trader Joe's in Vienna.
Would you be willing to sign a petition expressing your opinion?
December 09, 2008
Another Tragedy in the Vienna Area Comments (0)
ABC 7 News - Three Bodies Discovered in Vienna Home Tue December 09, 2008VIENNA, Va. - Three bodies have been discovered by police in a home in Vienna, near the Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.
Officer Don Gotthardt says preliminary evidence indicates there was a domestic conflict in the home, and three people were shot.
The victims have been described as a man and a woman in their 80s, who have lived in the neighborhood for years, and their son, who is in his 50s. The shooting is believed to have occurred Tuesday morning.
Investigators believe the deaths to be a murder-suicide, but the specifics remain unclear; police have not made public who they believe to have been the shooter or what the dynamics of the situation were.
Gotthardt says Fairfax County police responded to a call about a dead person in a home in the 9600 block of Cinnamon Creek Drive about 9:20 a.m. Investigators believe a family member discovered the bodies and called police.
December 04, 2008
Town of Vienna: We Stand Up to Illegal Living Areas Comments (14)
The real crisis in Vienna is not illegal immigrants - it is illegal living areas! And, the Planning Commission is ready to put the gloves on and fight back! FINALLY! You go!
Vienna Officials Mull Rules Changes for Carports by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Vienna Town Council members have set a public hearing for Jan. 5 to discuss a proposed ordinance amendment that would change the required yard setbacks for unenclosed carports. The proposal also would allow enclosed one-story garages to be built on the existing footprints of unenclosed carports.
The Vienna Planning Commission voted 9-0 on Nov. 12 to recommend the council reject the ordinance change. Commissioners were worried that the enclosed garages would be converted into illegal living areas, said Vienna Planning and Zoning Director Greg Hembree.
But Vienna resident Sidney Skjei, who lives at 603 Creek Crossing Road, N.E., told the council that homeowners often want to enclose their carports for worthwhile reasons, including security. Obtaining such variances from the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals is a difficult process, he said.
December 01, 2008
Does Maud Know Hippies Are Coming to Town? Comments (12)
Vienna Facility Aims to Be Grass-Roots Center for Artists, Musicians
by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer
Friday, November 28, 2008
Husband-and-wife team Thor Berglie and Jennifer Crawford soon will open The Soundry, a shared space for artists and musicians, at a former autobody repair shop in Vienna. (Photo by Brian Trompeter)Brace yourselves: Vienna is about to get artistically edgy.
The town’s art scene will take a leap forward in December when Fairfax husband-and-wife team Jennifer Crawford and Thor Berglie open The Soundry.
The facility will offer shared work areas for artists and musicians who wish to develop their craft, learn from each other, sell their artworks and take classes.
“We wanted to give our local artists a space to create and expose [their works] to the public,” Crawford said. “They don’t have that opportunity working out of their basement.”
The business is located at 316 Dominion Road, N.E., in a 4,700-square-foot space formerly occupied by Ray’s Auto Body.
The venture’s name derives from “sound,” owing to the couple’s initial idea to cater to musicians, and “foundry,” which implies a crucible where things are created. Its logo, a stylized pink skull crossed with paintbrush and drum stick, looks as if it came from a heavy-metal band.
Crawford used to run a pet-sitting business and Berglie still works as a computer-software engineer.
The couple came up with their art-studio idea two-and-a-half years ago and have spent the interim refining their business plan and finding the right location.
“One day, I happened to bring my bass with me to work, and was walking down the hall and people said, ‘Hey, I play an instrument, too,’” Berglie said. “You would never know, because all these software people are locked in their offices all day.”
The couple started letting musicians borrow their basement so they could practice without disturbing their neighbors. They then thought that other artists - such as oil painters working in rooms with poor ventilation - might have similar problems finding suitable work spaces.
“The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton also offer studio spaces, but are juried institutions catering to more experienced artists,” she said.
“This is very grass-roots. We’re not juried. Anybody is welcome. We don’t care if you’re naturally gifted or not, as long as this is what you want to do, you’re welcome here,” Crawford said.
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