HistoricVienna.com took this comment on as the challenge of the week. We found our inner-George Lovelace and took a tour of Vienna.

A few from HistoricVienna.com reader:

Next week's challenge is for you: how many "For Lease" signs do you spy in Vienna?

HistoricVienna.com is now going to the Inn for a celebratory beer.

Folks, let's all make the right choices together.

"For 45 years I've watched things develop in the worst possible way. I can't imagine people wanting that, or more of that," said Clark Tyler, who heads the Tysons Land Use Task Force, which has led the effort and plans to offer county officials detailed proposals in September.

"At some point you say, 'Enough already!' " Tyler said. "Those are the only choices: Do it the way it's always been done -- suburban sprawl, piecemeal approvals -- or you can agree to an overall plan that is going to transform the place into something more livable and enjoyable."

HistoricVienna.com must attend so we can see the one thing George has accomplished this year.

Cathy Hudgins, you keep on investigating this town. You know there are more things Fairfax County can discover.

Another town resident tried to start a warm fuzzy blog two years ago which fizzled out quickly since blogs work when the topics are controversial and the debate is heated.

Perhaps, if Mother Maud would let us have a television station, debates could take place in a more personal atmosphere with face to face discussion. Different types of programs could arise that would address many topics in town. But, to this day, not one member of Town Council believes we should have a cable television station.

Who in Northern Virginia is allowed to have a community channel?

Town of Herndon
http://www.hctv.org/

Reston
http://www.rctv28.com/index.htm

Falls Church
http://www.fcctv.net/

Fairfax County
http://www.fcac.org/

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Would you be mine
Could you be mine

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood
A neighborly day for a beauty
Would you be mine
Could you be mine

I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together we might as well say
Would you be mine, could you be mine
Won't you be my neighbor
Won't you please, won't you please
Please won't you be my neighbor

Thank you, Mr. Rogers, we could not have said it any better.

Jaimea Espinal of Vienna

Police Arrest Man in Vienna Attack
Sun July 27, 2008 - VIENNA, Va.

Police have arrested a Vienna man who allegedly stabbed an area restaurant worker.

Police say they received a call about 2:45 a.m. Saturday from an employee of Vienna Inn on Maple Avenue, reporting he had been assaulted. Officials found the 38-year-old man bleeding and took him to a local hospital, where he was in intensive care.

Police say 21-year-old Jaimea Espinal of Vienna has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding in the incident. Espinal allegedly stabbed the victim at the Maple Avenue Restaurant before making a quick getaway.

Those familiar with the area say they are shocked by the attack. "[Vienna] is generally a very safe community, so you don't hear a lot about anything like this happening," said former Vienna resident, Kevin Stratton.

Saturday morning was different.

The owner of the Virginia restaurant was at the hospital this morning and spoke with ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter, Phil Stewart. "He's a great guy, a friendly guy, harmless, so we don't know," said Marty Volk, owner of the Vienna Inn. "We're waiting for the answers too."

Police say the the motive for the stabbing, and whether it happened inside or out, is unclear. But what they do know is the victim frequently works nights, cleaning up after closing time. Volk said, "He's coming in and out of the building several times."

Evidence was found both inside the restaurant and out in the parking lot.

"Everybody who works at the Vienna Inn is probably considered family on some level, so to have somebody get hurt...our hearts go out to them," said Vienna resident, Pat McCloskey.

The victim worked at the establishment for 14 years. He is described as an Hispanic male. He is a husband and father. He underwent surgery Saturday morning at Fairfax hospital and is expected to be OK. "Now that we've seen him; we're happy," said Volk. "Not happy that it happened, but we're happy that he's doing well. It could have been worse."
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If anyone out there wants to know what is in the report, you must read it. There are no Cliffs Notes. HistoricVienna.com is growing weary of posters who refuse to read the report and just want the quick sound bites spoon-fed to them.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE MAPLE AVENUE VISION REPORT (Can we make this any easier?).

Water rates debated

Vienna - Oakton
By Monty Tayloe
Source: Fairfax County Times
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 2008

Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth have called for the Town of Vienna and the City of Falls Church to be investigated by the Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission over municipal water rates. Fairfax County residents that receive Vienna water pay a rate of $112.88 – a few dollars more than Town of Vienna residents -- while Fairfax County residents receiving water from Fairfax Water are paying $47.05.

"The discrepancy in water rates leading to the apparently unequal treatment of Fairfax County's residents is of serious concern to the county," reads the supervisors' board matter on the issue. Hudgins particularly attacks Falls Church for funneling water fees into its general fund. "Those Fairfax County residents who purchase water from [Falls Church] are effectively subsidizing [Falls Church's] property tax rate," Hudgins said.

According to Vienna Town Manager John Schoberlein, Vienna also transfers funds from water customers into its general fund. Town Councilwoman Edyth Kelleher said that the council will be studying Vienna's water issue this fall.

"This isn't something you can decide overnight," Kelleher said.

As they describe below, the opportunities are boundless. We are only limited by the visions of Maud Robinson and Jane Seeman. Do you think they are actively working with Hekemian? Do you think they have even met with them? I am sure they are just hiding their heads in the sand because they really do not have a vision or even understand how to create one.

Vienna Virginia Redevelopment

Spanning 2.8 acres, the Vienna Virginia Redevelopment is a thoughtfully crafted village-style mixed-use project that will embrace the charm, history and vitality of Vienna, Virginia. Boundless opportunities exist for this high-traffic location in an affluent Northern Virginia neighborhood.

The Town, using as little common sense as possible, made a very, very, very, very, very, very STUPID decision when they they decided against burying the power lines with their lame Church Street/Maple Avenue beautification projects in the 1990s. They put us through traffic hell for years, killed a few businesses along the way and we still get to look at those ugly, aging power lines.

If a vote was put up to the people, who would have chosen the town green over burying power lines? If you want to visit a city who gets it right, just drive down Route 7 in the City of Falls Church on any day: bike trail bridge, buried power lines, and beautiful new mixed-use buildings.