The Vienna Town Council voted to support Safe Routes To School travel plans for Cunningham Park and Vienna Elementary Schools at its meeting Monday night, an important step in those schools' pursuit of state funding for sidewalk projects in the community.

Both schools have spent months developing school travel plans, which identify sidewalk and road improvements and other strategies to promote safe travel to their schools.

The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Safe Routes to School Program gives grants each year for such programs. It "made money available on short notice" this year, said Dennis Johnson, an engineer with the town. 

"It's a two-part process. The first part is to have a travel plan developed by the school," Johnson said. "Once it's approved by VDOT, the town can apply to implement projects that are in the plan. This [vote] is the first step."

Monday's vote of support will allow the town manager or mayor to execute request forms and recommend specific projects on these lists to Town Council for implementation as funding becomes available.

"[This would allows us to]  mesh their plan with our existing sidewalk plan and identifies that we may have an additional source of funding," Town Manager John Schoeberlein said.

NEWS

The Silver Line's first four metrorail stations may make it easier for those in the greater Washington area to access Tysons Corner without cars, but residents just outside the area's urban boundaries said at a meeting last night that there aren't clear plans for how they would access the area safely on foot and bike themselves. The meeting, at Westbriar Elementary School, was part of the Tysons Metrorail Station Access Management Study, created by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2009 to develop a multi-modal access plan to the new stations, none of which will include parking. Residents asked officials for more of a voice in transit planning, and for parking management.

The Vienna Town Green, Sarah Mercer Park and the 500 block of John Marshall Drive are the three latest additions to the official Town Of Vienna Map.Town Council approved the additions at its Monday meeting, part of a map review process Vienna must do every five years.The last map was approved in 2006.

The Vienna Town Council will vote to adopt new regulations for home building height and residential handicapped ramps at its April 4 meeting.

Though legislative boundaries still need to be drawn, Brian Schoeneman has declared his candidacy for the House of Delegates. Currently, Schoeneman (R) is challenging Del. Mark Keam (D-35th District), but the General Assembly will meet in April to redraw district lines, which may leave Schoeneman or Keam in a different district.

More than 100 readers responded to a piece that looked at student reactions to the community conversations about drugs at Madison High School.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has vetoed Senate Bill 966, which would force local school districts to provide 150 minutes of physical education per week for all students in elementary and middle school by the year 2014. The state mandate, which passed in the General Assembly in February, was strongly opposed by local school districts, including Fairfax County and teachers concerned about the financial impact of its implementation.Fairfax County Public Schools currently offer at least 60 minutes of physical education a week, says Elizabeth Payne, FCPS Physical Education Coordinator.

Why does your water smell funny? From March 21 through May 2 the Washington Aqueduct will temporarily switch from using chloramine to chlorine to disinfect the drinking water as part of routine maintenance. The Washington Aqueduct serves Vienna, the District of Columbia, Arlington County and Falls Church.

The Fairfax County Police Academy graduated 38 cadets on Friday. More than 120 people a month apply to join the ranks of the county’s police department, said spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell.

PatchCasts:

Monday March 21: PatchCast: Ashburn Redistricting, Vienna Veteran Turns 90 and Woodbridge Condos Fire

Tuesday March 22: Dog Park Proposal for Prince William, Thomas Jefferson Wins Tennis Match, Manassas Boys and Girls Cub Celebrate

Wednesday March 23:Charges Expected In Rt. 1 Fatal Wreck, Corpse Found in Dumpster, Centreville Flutist Competes in Wisconsin

Thursday March 24: Police Search For Assault Suspect, Man Hit Crossing Street, Police ID Corpse As Female

Friday March 25: Residents Protest Gerrymandering, Using Bee Nests to Study Climate, Student's Parody Big Hit on YouTube

COMMUNITY/ARTS

When Nate Chambers walks into the Starbucks on Maple Avenue., those that recognize him don't ask how he's doing, at first. They ask about his horse. The lifelong Vienna resident, 23, is now one of the top amateur equestrian competitors in the country and has his eyes set on the 2012 Olympics.

The Vienna community lost two beloved members with the recent deaths of Gregory Battle, a longtime cashier at Giant supermarket, and William Porter, a handyman at the Kilmer Center school for children with special needs.

Re-enactors from the 28th Mass. gathered on the steps of the Freeman Store to mimic an 1864 shot of Union Soldiers spilling out of the then-infirmary.  Local photographer T.R. Cook set up shop on Church Street to capture the scene, as Vienna Police blocked traffic and a crowd -- including bikers, walkers and church-goers from the Vienna Presbyterian Church -- gathered to watch.

This week's moms talk was about choosing a pre-school for your child. Parents weighed in on what to consider when choosing a preschool, and offered up suggestions and resources. Join in the conversation.

Long-time Vienna resident Vernon Sadowksi celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by family and friends last week. The World War II veteran and lead bombardier has a distinguished flying cross. In the last 50 years, three generations of Sadowskis have lived on—or a stone’s throw from—Massie Drive. 

Vienna Pedaler Tim Fricker engaged readers with a piece about cycling rules on the road, prompting a lively discussion about etiquette and safety.

Just in time for spring, Tasty Tidbits gives a tasty, easy salad that’s filling and features seafood.

David Lindley — a virtuoso of the lap guitar and masterful on the fiddle, banjo and lap steel — brings his eclectic world music to Jammin' Java on Sunday night for a sold-out show. Lindley was recently nominated for Live Performance Album of the Year for the 10th annual Independent Music Awards, which fans are allowed to vote on until July 11th on the IMA website.

This week's Whiz Kids: five girl scouts who received Gold Awards.

SCHOOLS/SPORTS

As the Mad Warbots prepared for a regional competition, Vienna Patch caught their work on video to learn more about the competition and what it takes to build a successful robot.  Click on the video player to watch.

After winning big at a state-wide event,  marketing students at George Marshall and James Madison High Schools are preparing to face international competition. The teams will compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference to be held April 30 to May 4 in Orlando, Fla.

Sandy Stuban said her family is "still overwhelmed with grief" two months after her 15-year-old son's death. A former W.T. Woodson High School student, Nick Stuban killed himself shortly after going through the Fairfax County Public School's disciplinary process. His mother asked FCPS Superintendent Jack Dale to reform the discipline process and put more immediate fixes in place during a radio show on Wednesday afternoon.

 Marshall and Madison softball both posted big wins on Friday night. Read about the games and other teams' results in The Scoreboard, a new roundup of high school sports. If you have game results or highlights you'd like to submit to the scoreboard, e-mail erica.hendry at patch.com. (Pictures welcome, too!)