<sh>Apartments Move On
<bt>The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a plan to redevelop a Merrifield apartment building during their Oct. 6 meeting.
The building is on Gallows Road, across from the Dunn Loring - Merrifield Metro station. The building owners, Dunn Loring Metro Apartment Partnership, plan to remove the existing three-story apartment building, which has 17 units. In its place, they plan to construct a four-story, 30-unit building including two affordable dwelling units.
During the Planning Commission public hearing on July 14, Commissioner Ken Lawrence (Providence) expressed concern that the applicant was trying to fit too much building onto too little space.
A series of changes were made over the past few months have satisfied Lawrence's concerns. "With these changes, I believe that the application is now acceptable," Lawrence said.
The plan is scheduled for a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 17. To register to speak at the hearing, call 703-324-3151.
<sh>Leaf Collection Begins
<bt>The leaf collection for South Vienna will be Oct. 24-27, Nov. 7-16 and Nov. 28-Dec. 10. The collection for North Vienna will go from Oct. 28-Nov. 4, Nov. 17-26, Dec. 12-24. Department of Public Works crews using leaf vacuum machines will collect leaves that residents have raked to the curbside. All leaves must be at the curbside prior to the first scheduled collection day for each pass through town. Once a street has been covered, crews will not double back. To have leaves picked up on other days, they must be bagged and placed at the curbside for pickup with regular trash. Up to 20 bags of leaves will be picked up on any single refuse collection day throughout the year. Residents are reminded to rake leaves just to the curbside, not into the street. Also, residents may wish to move vehicles off the street on leaf collection days to avoid dust from the leaf vacuums when the weather is dry. Because of leaf collection, no orders for special trash pickups will be taken in October, November and December. For more information about leaf collection, call the Vienna Public Works Department at 703-255-6381.
<sh>Golf Clinic Offered
<bt>Golf pro Dottie Pepper will run a golf clinic at the First Annual Women's Center Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, Oct. 24 at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna. Funds from the event will be used to support the Center's services. The event is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering, e-mail Blythe Wallgren at bwallgren@thewomenscenter.org. Volunteers will staff the registration, refreshment and prize tables, as well as to serve as hostesses. Individuals are also needed on the front nine and on the back nine. Come join the fun.
<sh>Hurricane Victims' Support Group
<bt>The Women's Center of Vienna is forming a support group to aid victims, as well as family and friends of victims, who have been directly affected by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This support group will be free.
In the weeks following the devastation, center therapists have been seeing individual clients who have relocated from the New Orleans/Mississippi region due to the hurricanes. It is the center's goal to provide support, hope and counseling to those who have experienced the devastation of the hurricane and are also making a transition in a new area
Friends and relatives who are housing or helping victims are also encouraged to be a part of this support group. For more information contact Jane Depopolo, support group coordinator, at 703-281-2657, ext. 307. The Women's Center is located at 133 Park St. N.E. Vienna.