"We're awesome! Let's pat ourselves on the back over and over again!"

Green??? Maybe I'll believe that TOV is "green" if those clowns ever learn how to time the traffic lights on Maple Avenue during rush hour. The amount of gasoline wasted as cars spend several minutes getting from one red light to the next must create a sizable "carbon footprint".

Now that we have reduced flurocarbons we are dealing with nitrous oxide (NOX) as the greatest culprit for destroying the ozone layer. How I wish the news articles would complete their story such as in this case telling us what the other fifty three percent of the questionnaire we failed.

Besides Maple Ave. traffic we have the stop signs at every corner creating excess exhaust. My vehicle had brakes and shocks installed by Koons at about 20,000 miles and at 38,000 miles I have been advised that I need shocks again. I expect I will need brakes again at the next inspection.

Dear Vienna Town Council,
Now that you've given yourselves pats on the back for the "green" award, do you think that you could actually do something about the home break-ins, auto break-ins and thefts on the south side of town?

Thanks!

I know I did not take off my halloween costume when this picture was taken, but I feel that you all know who I am, and besides, Maud told me to continue to sport the wig and makeup for another 5 or 6 weeks. And I ALWAYS do what she tells me to do.

Wow, office paper recycling - what a novel idea! So innovative! If that's all it takes to get a silver certification, then I'm sure they could get the gold if they did something that was actually significant - like using solar powered lighting at Town ballfields/parks or promoting alternatives to driving (e.g. having bike lanes or, dare I say, sidewalks).

Remember that Maud doesn't like these "green" initiatives:

http://www.historicvienna.com/2008/08/maud_says_go_brown_its_the_wav.html

The challenge:

http://gogreenva.org/?/challenge/participate/id/1/p/score

Seeman reminds me of my pet rock I had as a kid.

Not rock, chia pet. Sorry.

So, I totally don't get this Post

I, and many of my friends and fellow citizens are really proud of Vienna for earning this designation. We did well; we were congratulated, and we want to feel proud and happy as a result.

Where did we go wrong to feel pride in our Town?

BTW, Our Mayor looks GREAT! It's not a "Halloween Costume," a "Wig" or "Make -up". Mayor Jane looks professional, appropriate, "mayorial," and yes, ah-hem...somewhat glamourous!

Why be such a sour puss on everything, and why not give props when props are due?

This is fluff - how many towns win what seem to be easily attainable (e.g. "Tree City USA" or "All American City) awards? I can name dozens of towns with such awards Citizens are proud, but these are initiatives the town SHOULD be taking anyway. There are much larger and more important issues. Get congrulated for something really unique or more important best planning/renewal, safest city, most walkable city, etc. Not for recylcing your office paper and buying a couple of hybrids...

I wish I could be proud of Vienna, too. Unfortunately, that's pretty hard to do while there's so much crime in my neighborhood. And the crime is there because the Town Council refuses to even acknowledge that there is a problem, much less hold the Vienna Park Apartments and area boarding house owners responsible for overcrowding and renting to known criminals.

Hey "Proud of Vienna" did you ever attend one of the Council meetings where Seeman and Cole wore pajamas? Or were you proud when Seeman was caught lying in public? Or where you proud when she wanted to ban video cameras in violation of State law? Just like the turkey coming up on Thanksgiving, there is so much to be thankful for with the Seeman.

Dear Pitchin and Wish-

I understand. Still, it is important to stress the positive, so that people (your Council) see that you believe in their ability to lead the Town and to govern.

NO, they are by no means perfect. We are all growing, and all on a learning curve.

Still, more bees with honey, n'est pas?

If we had true and honest politicians in Vienna they would admit that the Town government is an uneccersay burden and the County is taxing the residents for services they do not have to provide. Give it up and establish Vienna on the same platform as Mclean. They are not lacking in services or control of their surroundings. They have everything including a County Police Station.

A Little Kindness,

You may be on a learning curve, but what about those others who have been on the council for years if not decades? I'm sorry, but they're well beyond any learning curve. You keep growing, but some of us want concrete and positive change, otherwise - what is the value added? Are you there to attend to ribbon cuttings, parades/festivals and receive awards or are you there to make a real difference? If not, do we even need town government as Wyltn suggests? How much of a curve do you need to know that we pay too much for our water, roads are clogged, we need better incentives for new businesses to locate here, sidewalks are needed around schools and churches, we need better planning for 123 and development/re-development there, crime/safety issues need to be addressed in SE, etc., etc. You're curve isn't that steep.

How many awards were produced for each Virginia locality? What a waste!

Also, isn't this a little like all kids getting a trophy just for showing up? Vienna hardly went above and beyond anything I would expect of a government entity these days.

When discussing the learning curve you need to look at the experience of some council members. George Lovelace has been there forever it seems. Jane Seeman, the wife of former councilman Roger Seeman I am sure discussed town affairs at the dinner table. She also had spent years attending meeting under the tutledge of Maud Robinson and has been the Mayor of Vienna for several terms. They have boards and commissions with members who have been there for probably twenty five years or more. And don't forget we do pay for town staff including a Town Manager. We don't need a learning curve we need common sense.

I lost sleep over the mispelling of tutelage.