Venus, Another Space Shuttle Comes and Goes to Sterling, Sheriff's Meeting, Metro Makes Us An Offer We Must Refuse!
VENUS and Space Shuttle In Sterling
Yes, it is raining and we need it. But when the sky clears, the planet Venus will be high in the southwestern Sterling sky just after sunset and throught the night all month. And, yes, that was another space shuttle arriving at the Air and Space Museum last week. All of Sterling got to see it land.
Sterling Community Meeting With Sheriff Big Success
We promoted it. And the Meeting last week was very well attended - over 60 people, more young people. Very good overview of the operations. Sheriff Chapman spoke and answered questions. Captain Gabrielli spoke too His criminal investigations person gave summary of cases. Staff member Fred and Commish Syska went. Congratulations to everyone involved.
Washington Post Disappointed with Board of Supervisors Over Rail To Loudoun
A really superior and elitist editorial board is upset that "when Metro officials appeared before the board in Loudoun the other day, they got a grilling from supervisors -- by turns distrustful, aggressive and confused----who seemed to think that the Silver Line's costs were understated and the benefits uncertain." (see Dulles Rail Could go off the tracks, Editorial Board, WP)
Current Metro Proposal Is Effectively Null and Void
In my opinion, the board members were really polite in response to the assertion heard for the first time that it "does not matter what Loudoun County does with a board vote as they will have to pay $4 million to $7 million in operating funds" for the Dulles Airport station according to the Metro board members present. My comment on the record: this is quite a disaster-- for Metro.
Supervisors must always consider every cost and benefit before voting on a proposal. For the "applicant" coming to the board for their first visit to actually tell us of a new major cost no matter what decision we reach is to challenge the entire process. The Metro staff felt it was necessary to disclose these "guaranteed costs to Loudoun".
It is my opinion: No application is presented to a board of supervisors in which the board can not be allowed to exercise due dilligence to our sworn duty. In effect a non-negotiable demand to pay "either way" is a disqualification of the proposal. Metro gave Loudoun an offer it can not refuse. There can be only one response to that.
This just in: Revised Loudoun Study: Metro Investment Myth
Loudoun County's Revised "RCLCO" (Robert Charles Lesser) study was just released and should put to rest any notion that Metro to Loudoun can be called an investment. Regardless of the crystal-clear facts, there are plenty of headlines promising $300 million in revenue. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet reminded us that,
"Capital costs and operating costs were not reflected"
Translation: Loudoun can bring in $300 million if we spend $1.2 billion (or much more). Check out these other great myth busting quotes taken from Hemstreet's summary.
"Nonetheless, RCLCO has not found any credible evidence to indicate that the extension of rail transit brings new development to an entire region."
The study shows taxpayers pay $4 for every $1 in "economic benefit". Hemstreet's summary is posted at .
http://www.loudoun.gov/documents/45/2218/2012RCLCO%20Market%20and%20Fiscal%20Impact%20Analysis_201204131544249109.pdf
Sterling Sheriff's Station to Hold Second Annual Open House May 19
Sterling Sheriff's substation will hold its second annual open-house on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 11AM to 3PM.
Sterling residents will meet Sheriff Mike Chapman and the new commander of the Sterling Station, Captain Alan Gabrielli, and other members of the Sterling Station staff, take a guided tour of the facility, and view Loudoun County Sheriff's Office displays. Light refreshments will be provided.
In addition, this year several area high schools will be participating in the open house. Park View High School, Band Department will have a portion of their band playing music throughout the event. Dominion High School will have their Step-Team perform and Potomac Falls, Art Department will have several students on hand for face painting.
The Sterling Sheriff's Substation is located at 46620 East Frederick Drive in Sterling (adjacent to Rolling Ridge Elementary School). Along with Sterlingfest and the Knights of Columbus parade, this is fast becoming a spectacular and historic annual event.
Sheriff Investigates Home Invasion Style Robbery at Home on Gladstone Drive in Sterling
The Sheriff's Office is investigating a reported home invasion style robbery that occurred late Thursday night in the Mirror Ridge section north of route 7 in Sterling.
>>>>To read the rest of this report please click on this link
Continued
Around 11:55PM four unknown suspects entered a residence in the 21000 block of Gladstone Drive through an unlocked basement door. All four suspects were wearing dark hoodies and had their faces covered. Two suspects brandished firearms while the two others carried baseball bats. The suspects demanded cash from a 32-year-old Sterling man.
The suspects fled with a small amount of cash. The victim was not injured during the robbery.
Deputies responded to the scene after they were called by the victim's roommates. The roommates were upstairs at the time of the robbery. A perimeter was established in the area and a search was conducted with the assistance of a canine unit. No suspects were located.
The case remains under investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division. If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to call Investigator C. Cunningham at 703-777-0475.
If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, they are asked to call Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.
A Long Time Ago In a Place called Sterling....
A devoted defender of Sterling values for many years looked me in the eye and asked last night: "Why do certain PEC environmentalists and liberals support expensive rail to Loudoun when it will mean millions in tax dollars being diverted from education and essential services like deputies and fire and rescue?"
With the proposal for the $4 billion Metro rail to Loudoun and its gigantic $30 million a year payout each year looming on the horizon by a possible vote on June 4 by the Board of Supervisors, I referred "defender" to the historic struggle for Sterling.
>>>>>To read the rest of this commentary, click here
Continued
It was a startling revelation to me that some long time Sterling Americans seem to have forgotten about the threat to Sterling from elitists in Leesburg and Western Loudoun!
Some have left Sterling, many others have grown comfortable with the new improvements here and been busy. And then there's new people that have arrived.
All the while, the social engineers who seek the ruin of Sterling have never stopped their designs on "redeveloping" ( destroying ) Sterling. Usually it is just neglect, disrespect or condemnation of traditional Stelring values. I am referring to outright planned destruction here. Now. And in the past.
MANY BATTLES
SOME VICTORIES
STILL MORE COMING
The fight to preserve Sterling is a broad front with many battles before I came to Sterling over the years. It definitely was raging when I first came in as early as 1977 and when I permanently moved here in 1998. I devoted my time to fighting arrogant liberals who never tire from proposing tax increases by opposing the proposed Meals Tax. At the Meatball Rebellion at the now closed That's Amore Restaurant, I raised a meatball to the sky and said "Long live the Meatball Rebellion, we shall go forth and defeat the Meals Tax."
When the smoke settled, Sterling piled up 77 per cent of the vote against the proposed Meals Tax.
Even with more than 2/3rds of Sterling and 2/3rds of Loudoun voting three times against it, this tax has been proposed four times now including just months ago with an endorsement of it by the current Board and then a reversal a few days later.
There are devoted tax raisers in Leesburg, Richmond and Washington and even though the Meals Tax was defeated three (3) times at the ballot box, some elected officials seek Richmond to give them the power to impose the Meals Tax without a referendum.
This is an example of elite thinking. The reasoning goes that liberals know better and that this tax is "harmless".
I believe putting a 4 per cent tax on top of the small Chic Fila or other Sterling Restaurant meal is wrong.
Another similar battle is "revitalization and renwal" versus "redevelopment." One would assume these words in planning documents seem neutral enough.
But the term "redevelopment" is the sword of density packing that hangs over our collective heads in Eastern Loudoun that I have opposed. I have voted against proposed developments that do not plan for education, fire, rescue and transportation needs.
"Revitalization" is the path for repair, restoration and renewal.
"Redevelopment" is the path for bulldozing, starting over again and destroying the past.
These dense developments ASSUME a social design or government bias towards making taxpayers pay for all social engineering.
Its a constant pressure, spelled out in specific printed language, to bulldoze established older neighborhoods like Sterling and large sections of Eastern Loudoun. Successive boards have imposed "plans" for dense 24 residential units all around the edges of Sterling and then later approving actual zoning applications for high density developments.
Taxpayer funded mass transit is part of the social engineering design. Density and traffic increases until you have no choice but to ride metro.
All the while Western Loudoun comprising two thirds of the land area of Loudoun County is one house per 50 acres -- which we in the East pay for their fire, rescue and education services.
More soon in the continuing history of "A Long Time Ago In a Place called Sterling...."
This just in: Revised Loudoun Study: Metro Investment Myth
Loudoun County's Revised "RCLCO" (Robert Charles Lesser) study was just released and should put to rest any notion that Metro to Loudoun can be called an investment. Regardless of the crystal-clear facts, there are plenty of headlines promising $300 million in revenue. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet reminded us that,
"Capital costs and operating costs were not reflected"
>>> See rest of "This just in" by clicking at the link
Continued
Translation: Loudoun can bring in $300 million if we spend $1.2 billion (or much more). Check out these other great myth busting quotes taken from Hemstreet's summary.
"Nonetheless, RCLCO has not found any credible evidence to indicate that the extension of rail transit brings new development to an entire region."
The 210 page study shows taxpayers pay $4 for every $1 in "economic benefit". Hemstreet's summary and the entire 210 page report is posted at .
http://www.loudoun.gov/documents/45/2218/2012RCLCO%20Market%20and%20Fiscal%20Impact%20Analysis_201204131544249109.pdf
***ATTENTION SILENT AUCTION LOVERS!****
On Sat 5/19, in conjunction with Loudoun MADD's 3rd Annual Walk Like MADD 5K, there will be a Silent Auction for both event participants and other interested parties. The event is being held at the football field at Dominion HS in Sterling and the Auction will run from 9am - 11:30am - at Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive,Sterling VA 20165 at
Go to www.walklikemadd.org, click on Sterling VA to register for the 2012 Walk
>>>Teen Job Fair-- On for Saturday May 12
"The 4th annual Teen Job Fair" is on for Saturday May 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Claude Moore Recreation Center just off Cascades Parkway in the Sterling District.
Its a big event with 500 teen age applicants and 30 companies involved including Chick Fila, Loudoun Parks and Rec., Loudoun Youth Initiative, Wachovia and more. Loudoun 's School Board, Government and Chamber of Commerce and Dulles Town Center always promote the Teen Job Fair. Chairman York is alerting thousands. Thanks to all of you.
Teens 14 to 18 are welcome. Volunteers are needed and you can write me if you can help by setting up and handing out programs or cookies or hiring teens on behalf of your company.
20 companies have confirmed--- Will your company, or your teen, be there
Loudoun Bible Reading Marathon
Please join us on Saturday April 28th at 12 noon for the Opening Ceremony event on the steps of the Loudoun County Courthouse. The BRM will continue for six days and five nights, and will have 100 participants.
Devotion To Children's 3rd Annual Event
Come join us for Devotion To Children's 3rd Annual Mother's Day 4-Miler!
Date: Sunday, May 13th 2012 from 7:00am - 10:00am Location: Browns Chapel Park (11300 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, VA 20190) For sponsorship opportunities please contact Rosemary Lauer (703)609-3381