Fairfax Dispatches: A Camel and 160 Cats

Around Fairfax County, Patch sites published stories about a camel at Mount Vernon, plans for bike paths through and around Tysons Corner and the Annandale cat hoarders, among others.

A cold snap hit the region this week calling to mind the severe weather that plagued the area last year. The falling temperatures make one mindful of various health and safety issues that could arise as a result. This week several Patch sites provided readers with hints on how to care for themselves, their food and their pets.

The phase of Fairfax County's Bicycle Master Plan that will outline a strategy for creating and connecting bike paths through and around Tysons Corner will be completed by mid-February. The plan for Tysons includes on- and off-road paths that will connect new Tysons streets and developments to McLean, the Town of Vienna, the City of Falls Church, the neighborhoods of Dunn Loring and Pimmit Hills and the W&OD Trail. 

Our country's founding father was known for keeping exotic animals on his farm at Mount Vernon. Keeping up with tradition, Aladdin the camel is residing at the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens during this holiday season.

The two Annandale women who kept more than 160 cats in their Annandale home, Eleanor Kaufer and Paula Burns, pled guilty at their court date on Thursday, Dec. 9. to the unfit petition issued to them by the Fairfax County Animal Control. They were additionally charged with cruelty to animals and having unsanitary conditions and will return to court on Feb. 10, 2011 for those charges. Meanwhile, the animal shelter is still seeking donations for the cats.  

Mount Vernonites attended the Council of Citizens' Associations Planning and Zoning Board meeting Monday night to hear about a Costco proposed in vacant retail space on Route 1 that was formerly occupied by the Mount Vernon Multiplex. Citizens had an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions to the attorney and project manager after the presentation.


West Potomac parents questioned principal Cliff Hardison and FCPS school board member Dan Storck about the county's push to eliminate honors classes where there is an AP or IB equivalent at a West Potomac PTSA meeting Monday night and then again at a town hall meeting Tuesday morning.

Residents got a closer look at what a future Tysons may bring at a county-sponsored open house Monday night at George C. Marshall High School. Among the applications displayed were CityLine's plans for a 340,000 square foot office building, which would go up near the intersection of Dolley Madison Boulevard and Colshire Drive, and The Georgelas Group's 18-building town center, at Spring Hill Road and Route 7, near the future Tysons West metro station. 

Dominion Power's EnergyShare program provided volunteer services and grant money to Reston Interfaith and other organizations across Northern Virginia on Thursday at Four Seasons townhomes in Herndon. More than 40 Dominion volunteers worked with Reston Interfaith to make weatherization improvements to 11 of the organization's transitional homes located in Herndon, as well as the Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston.