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November 01, 2008
Fiscal Toll? Comments (2)
It's not the stabbings we mind, it's how much money the stabbings cost us, eh?
Vienna's Polychrones Settles in as Head of Virginia Municipal League by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer (Created: Saturday, November 1, 2008 6:19 AM EDT)As the new president of the Virginia Municipal League (VML), Vienna Town Council member Michael Polychrones said he wants to help local governments weather state budget cuts, squarely address the thorny issue of illegal immigration and improve VML's rapport with General Assembly members.
“We're not being heard like we should be. Before this gets any worse, we should change the conversation with our state legislators,” said Polychrones, adding that Vienna's relationship with its General Assembly members is solid.
Polychrones, 48, was installed as VML president during the group's 103rd annual conference, held in Norfolk from Oct. 19 through 21.
Polychrones will chair a 13-member executive committee, which sets policy for the non-profit, nonpartisan statewide group. VML's membership includes 12 counties, 156 towns and all 39 cities in Virginia.
During a speech at the conference, Polychrones suggested forming an organization of past VML presidents to advise the executive committee on some matters.
“Who better to advise the league than those individuals who came before me?” he asked. “You gain the advantage of that experience.”
Polychrones also would like to commission a survey of league members, perhaps conducted by George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis, to determine illegal immigration's fiscal toll on local governments.
“How do we know what federal assistance to ask for unless we know what we're facing?” he asked. “This is a federal problem, but the feds have left us a huge and blind unfunded mandate to deal with because of their lack of enforcement.”
Other Polychrones priorities include protecting state public-safety and road-maintenance financing for localities.
Polychrones also plans to continue VML's Go Green Virginia environmental program, which was initiated last year by then-president Jay Fisette, a member of the Arlington County Board.
Polychrones, the son of Vienna Town Clerk Carol Orndorff, lives with his wife, Patti, in southwest Vienna. He is a program manager for the American Bankers Insurance Association in Washington, D.C.
A legislative aide for former Del. Richard Fisher from 1990 to 1995, Polychrones served on the Vienna Transportation Safety Commission during this period and later served on the Vienna Planning Commission.
Polychrones joined the nonpartisan Vienna Town Council in 1996 and left in 2003 to run as a Republican for the House of Delegates, a bid that failed. He was elected to the council again in 2004 and has served ever since.
Polychrones is the third Vienna official to serve as VML president. The late Mayor Charles Robinson held that post from 1983 to 1984 and former Town Manager C. Clay Harrell served in that role from 1974 to 1975.
Fisette said Polychrones' local-government experience and many years of work on VML's executive committee have prepared him well for the group's presidency.
“I think he will be a strong spokesperson on behalf of local governments in Richmond,” Fisette said. “In the contexts of budget cuts and revenue shortfalls that the state is experiencing, we'll need that voice.”
Fisette advised Polychrones to rely on his executive committee and take advantage of VML's talented staff.
Fisette and Polychrones both said that for all the current talk of Northern Virginia versus the “real Virginia,” VML members from around the state tend to be united on most issues affecting local government.
“I don't get the feeling that it's ‘us and them,'” Polychrones said. “We're all kind of in this together.”
October 13, 2008
THIS SH&T IS RIDICULOUS. Comments (20)
Man Stabbed at Vienna Restaurant
POSTED: 4:50 pm EDT October 12, 2008
VIENNA, Va. -- A man was arrested and charged after another man was stabbed at a Vienna restaurant, police said.
Officers found a man with cuts to his hand and wrist when they arrived at El Punto Restaurant on Cedar Lane Saturday night, police said. He was taken to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Police found 26-year-old Alexis Lopez-Canacas, who has no fixed address, not far from the restaurant. He has been charged with malicious wounding.
September 13, 2008
Me Love You Long Time. Comments (4)
Suspicious Event 08-9004
200 Block Cedar Lane, SE
September 8, 2008 10:42 p.m.
A female known to officers was observed acting suspiciously near the Cedar Lane Shopping Center. After conducting surveillance, she was interviewed by MPO Evans and PFC Shaver. The woman stated that she engages in sexual acts multiple times during the day with random males. The acts are committed in one of the nearby apartments. The woman was advised by Vienna Park Apartments management and the police not to return or she would be charged with trespassing.
From the town's own report: http://www.viennava.gov/Town_Departments/vpd_highlights/09-12-2008.pdf
June 23, 2008
Nothing Says "Bring on Summer" Like a Knife Wielding Drunk at the Cedar Lane Shopping Center Comments (13)
Town of Vienna Police Report 6/23/08
Disorderly Event
900 Block Hillcrest Drive, SW
June 20 7:08 p.m.
An individual was outside cursing and being disorderly to neighbors. In the course of their investigation, officers determined that the same subject was in another incident outside of Vienna. The subject was arrested by Fairfax County Police after they secured a warrant for the previous event.
Drunk in Public
200 Block Cedar Lane
June 21 2:21 a.m.
An intoxicated individual was observed approaching a group of men wielding a knife. Vienna Police intervened and the man was arrested and charged with being Drunk in Public.
Arrested: Marvin Robelo Reyes- Martinez, 24, of Cedar Lane in Vienna.
Credit Card Fraud
300 Block Maple Avenue, East
June 22 7:50 p.m.
A wallet was found by a citizen. After investigating, officers determined that the credit cards had been used fraudulently.
Reckless Driving- Cruiser Struck
300 Block Maple Avenue, East
June 22 7:50 p.m.
An individual was driving aggressively and threatening other drivers. He was located and during the stop, he attempted to leave and ran into a Vienna Police cruiser. Minor damage sustained.
Charged with reckless Driving: Jamal D. Afifi, 22, of Spring Ridge Road in Vienna.
Destruction of Property
500 Block Lawyers Road, NW
Between June 14 and 22
Unknown object broke glass out of a door. A neighbor reported hearing gun shots but nothing further substantiated that claim.
May 18, 2008
Cedar Lane Back in the News Comments (22)
This letter (PDF) was sent to Jane Seeman by Judicial Watch.
"Keep up the good work Jane!"
April 09, 2008
Who Still Shops at Cedar Lane Shopping Center? Who Takes the Gamble? Comments (54)
We were sent this video today by Vienna Citizens Group:
Who still gets out of their car and shops here? Do parents actually take small children into the McDonalds and drug store in Cedar Lane shopping center? Not in the last 30 years has this type of activity been tolerated. Would it be tolerated if they congregated in the parking lot next to Maud's house?
