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July 23, 2007
"Town Concerned for Injured Spectators" Comments (7)
From the Town of Vienna website:
Town of Vienna officials have expressed their concern for those injured at the Town's July 4th fireworks display. "We are all deeply distressed that what has always been an enjoyable family event ended so disastrously, and we are keeping the injured spectators and their families in our prayers," said Mayor Jane Seeman. "In the weeks and months ahead, the Town Council will be reviewing our July 4th fireworks program with the County Fire Marshal's Office and studying all options concerning its future."
July 20, 2007
Vienna Fireworks Follow-up Comments (2)
Following up on the Vienna fireworks disaster:
1. 2004 Request for Proposal (PDF)
2. 2004 Shaefer Proposal (PDF)
The 2004 information is provided as 2007 has yet to be secured. Page 2 of the RFP, if that has continued to be policy until current day, opens Vienna wide to responsibility.
3. 2003-2007 Purchase Orders for fireworks (PDF)
July 12, 2007
Town of Vienna Fireworks Disaster Update Comments (12)
It has been a week. Is there any news? Status of the injured? Culpability? Or is everyone involved just waiting for the announcement of lawsuits? The lack of news is odd.
UPDATE: Today's Washington Post Article.
July 10, 2007
Vienna's Special Pickup Program Encourages Pollution Comments (3)
From contributor "Town Green":
The Town of Vienna stopped picking up white goods... stoves, refrigerators, washers, etc. Why? Because they wanted to eliminate the expense of recycling these items. Fair enough... push that recycling expense onto someone else, particularly the vendor making the new white good sale. But what about other electrics... electronics that plug in like computers and televisions that we all replace on a regular basis? Why does the Town pickup these items and throw them into a landfill when there are options to recycle these? Many electronics manufacturers conduct their own recycling programs because they understand the terrible pollution impact their business is having on our natural environment. Why doesn't the Vienna Town Council understand this? The Town's special pickup program should either recycle electronics or stop collecting them and require residents to recycle these items through local recyclers. It's time for the garden club to stop living in the last century! Please recycle your electronics, Vienna.
July 09, 2007
Even More Cameras, But Not On Town Council Comments (4)
We noted last week that the Vienna Town Council has no problem video taping everyone at the Vienna Community Center with $50,000 worth of cameras. The hypocrisy is that they refuse to tape their own public meetings. Now this from the Connection:
"It has been two years since a camera caught a negligent motorist running a red light at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Glydon Road in Vienna. Fairfax County resident Mike Stollenwerk wishes it would stay that way. "People will get used to the government monitoring them and think that’s normal," said Stollenwerk, founder of the Fairfax County Privacy Council. "It’s a slippery slope." Stollenwerk may be disappointed with the Virginia General Assembly’s decision to allow red-light cameras back into the commonwealth but several local governments are expressing interest in the program. Officials in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Town of Vienna said they are looking into requirements and the fiscal impact of installing red-light cameras."
July 06, 2007
Apocalypse Vienna Comments (2)
No Video Cameras of Council Meetings, But At Least They Can Now Track You As You Vote. Awesome! Comments (13)
From the Sun Gazette:
The Vienna Town Council on July 2 awarded a $43,732 contract to Security and Energy Technologies Corp. (SETEC) of Chantilly for 21 video surveillance cameras at the site. The community center's seven current cameras, installed in 1998, have outlived their useful life and are beginning to fail mechanically, said Craig Griffin, the town's information technology administrator. The new cameras, in addition to their greater numbers and being posted in more places inside and outside the facility, will allow community center staff members and town police to view live and recorded images taken at the site. The system can store images for up to two weeks.
Maud and Jane have already tried to ban the video taping of THEIR public meetings, but at least they can now track US with $50,000 dollars of security cameras when we go vote. So what is the reason again Vienna is the only community in the area with their leadership refusing to video tape themselves?
July 04, 2007
NEWS: Fireworks Injuries at Waters Field Comments (97)
Tonight a fireworks mishap at Waters Field in Vienna sent 8 people to the hospital. Watch video. Also Dave Statter report from WUSA 9.
Most alarming quote from the tragedy: "There was so much blood he [attending EMT} thought someone had died."
A recent comment from contributor "Town Green":
"As I see it, the Town has annually organized a fireworks event that does not establish a safe setback beyond the distance these rockets can travel. It has always been unsafe, risky, and scary. The current setback assumes that a rocket will never error and travel horizontally. This is clearly an unsafe assumption that puts the viewing public at risk of serious injury and death. This year they closed most of the fire station parking lot, encouraging many to move in closer. I believe the Town is directly responsible and liable for the public safety at this event, and that Waters Field (now made of plastic and rubber) is not a safe venue for a fireworks display of this size. The primary difficulty at Waters Field is that a safe and proper setback distance conflicts with the surrounding trees, poles, buildings, and streets. Also, dogs, toddlers, and definitely infants should not be taken up close to fireworks shows since they don't seem to like it... too much shock and awe."
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue tend to victim of mishap during fireworks display in Vienna, Virginia.
Source: CBS USA9
July 03, 2007
Vienna Gets Response from Fairfax County Over May Elections; Cole Gets Testy Comments (9)
Vienna Town Attorney Steve Briglia recently sent a letter to the County regarding Vienna's May Elections. Laurie Cole at last night's Town Council meeting was none too happy with the County's response (PDF) to Briglia's letter and requested that Briglia write another letter. Video of Cole complaining to follow. It's now July and the May elections are still "boiling". Why is that?
June 30, 2007
Follow Along As Vienna Investigates Itself Comments (4)
Vienna announced an investigation of their May 07 elections recently. Here is the start of that: page 1 and page 2.
June 23, 2007
Vienna Raises Water, Sewer Rates; Highest Around Comments (6)
From the Connection and Scott J. Krischke:
Over the course of the last 23 years, Vienna resident and planning commission member George Creed has watched his quarterly water bill triple, and after a 5-1 council decision at a June 4 public hearing, he’ll watch that rate rise just a little higher next year. Vienna’s Town Council voted in favor of a staff recommendation to raise water and sewer service rates for town residents by 15 and five percent, respectively, for the coming fiscal year, beginning July 1. The rate increase will cause an annual combined rise for the average Vienna resident will be $59.28 as a result of that raise, according to town documents. The move made Town of Vienna residents the highest payers for water in the region, and the second-highest for sewer services, according to data collected from several regional agencies.
Continue reading "Vienna Raises Water, Sewer Rates; Highest Around" »
