happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald
happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald
happy father's day 2008 - The Metro Herald
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AROUND THE REGION<br />
June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
METRO URGES BUS RIDERS TO SWITCH<br />
FROM CASH TO SMARTRIP®<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> wants more people to<br />
pay for their bus trips with<br />
SmarTrip® and has<br />
launched an advertising campaign<br />
that reminds passengers that paying<br />
their <strong>Metro</strong>bus fares with SmarTrip®<br />
saves 10¢ a ride, eliminates the search<br />
through purses and pockets for exact<br />
change and cuts boarding times on<br />
buses.<br />
“Join the Revolution,” one ad says.<br />
“Get to your seats faster. Be on your<br />
way sooner. Save 10¢ every time you<br />
ride <strong>Metro</strong>bus.” <strong>The</strong> advertisements<br />
aim to heighten bus riders’ awareness<br />
about SmarTrip®, tout the benefits of<br />
SmarTrip® and increase usage of the<br />
plastic, rechargeable farecard on<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>buses to speed the boarding<br />
process.<br />
<strong>The</strong> ad campaign includes three<br />
creative executions in both English<br />
and Spanish. <strong>The</strong>y are appearing on<br />
the exteriors and interiors of buses,<br />
bus stop information cases and<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>rail stations. In addition, radio<br />
ads in English and Spanish will run<br />
through the end of the month.<br />
To get information to passengers<br />
as they wait for buses, “SmarTrip®<br />
Street Teams” are targeting busy bus<br />
stops in Maryland, Virginia and the<br />
District of Columbia through June<br />
12, and handing out SmarTrip®<br />
brochures and a limited quantity of<br />
mints in a SmarTrip® tin.<br />
When <strong>Metro</strong> raised fares in January,<br />
the cost of bus fares paid by cash<br />
increased 10¢ to $1.35, but riders<br />
using SmarTrip® paid the same<br />
$1.25 fare. In addition, as part of the<br />
fare increase package approved by<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>’s Board of Directors last year,<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>bus plans to eliminate paper<br />
transfers in January 2009. Only riders<br />
who pay with SmarTrip® will be<br />
able to transfer from one <strong>Metro</strong>bus to<br />
another for free beginning next year.<br />
Currently, about 25 percent of<br />
trips on <strong>Metro</strong>bus and 65 percent of<br />
trips on <strong>Metro</strong>rail are made by customers<br />
using SmarTrip® cards.<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> first introduced the SmarTrip®<br />
card in 1999 as a fast and convenient<br />
way to pay for <strong>Metro</strong>rail fares. In<br />
2004, all <strong>Metro</strong>buses accepted Smar-<br />
Trip® as a form of payment.<br />
In addition to <strong>Metro</strong>rail and<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>bus, passengers can use Smar-<br />
Trip® to pay for travel on regional<br />
bus systems including ART, CUE,<br />
DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector,<br />
Loudoun County Transit, PRTC and<br />
the DC-Circulator, and for parking at<br />
<strong>Metro</strong> parking facilities. SmarTrip®<br />
can be purchased on <strong>Metro</strong>’s Web<br />
site, at <strong>Metro</strong> sales offices at <strong>Metro</strong><br />
Center, the Pentagon and <strong>Metro</strong><br />
headquarters, at the<br />
Northern, Western, Landover,<br />
Royal Street and Four Mile Run<br />
<strong>Metro</strong>bus divisions, from vending<br />
machines at <strong>Metro</strong>rail stations that<br />
have parking facilities, at regional<br />
transit stores and at select Giant<br />
stores.<br />
VIRGINIA AUTHOR RELEASES LATEST IN<br />
“POSSUM” CHILDREN SERIES<br />
Virginia author Jamey M. Long<br />
returns to the literary scene<br />
after previously releasing several<br />
books in the “Possum” series.<br />
Three new children’s books, all published<br />
by Tate Publishing & Enterprises,<br />
release nationwide this week.<br />
“A Possum’s Night on the Titanic”<br />
was written to help children discover<br />
the history and importance of the Titanic’s<br />
maiden voyage to New York<br />
during the night of April 14, 1912. A curious<br />
possum named Opie learns all<br />
about the “ship of dreams” as he explores<br />
the Titanic and meets some of the<br />
most famous people on board the ship.<br />
In “A Possum’s Pot of Gold,” Opie<br />
the possum chases a rainbow in search<br />
of the pot of gold and meets a mischievous<br />
leprechaun who teaches him<br />
truths that are much more valuable<br />
than any monetary gain. Opie learns<br />
the love, fun and trickery that the annual<br />
celebration can bring.<br />
“A Possum’s Happy Halloween”<br />
follows Opie as he bobs for apples<br />
with the boy and his friends, goes<br />
Trick-Or-Treating through the neighborhood<br />
and eats lots of candy on Halloween<br />
night.<br />
Long says his passion is to help<br />
children learn so their dreams can be<br />
made possible.<br />
<strong>The</strong> books are available at any<br />
bookstore nationwide or can be ordered<br />
through the publisher at orders@<br />
tatepublishing.com, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com,<br />
amazon.com or target.com.<br />
Tate Publishing also offers<br />
the eLIVE feature for these titles,<br />
meaning each printed copy contains a<br />
code to redeem a free audio download<br />
from their website, TatePublishing.<br />
com. eLIVE—Listen, Imagine, View,<br />
Entertain.<br />
Long is the author of A Possum’s<br />
Christmas Tale, A Possum’s Happy<br />
Easter, A Possum’s Happy Thanksgiving,<br />
A Possum’s Pot of Gold, A Possum’s<br />
Happy Halloween, and A Possum’s<br />
Happy Valentine’s Day. He<br />
earned a bachelor’s degree from George<br />
Mason University, an MBA from the<br />
University of Mary Washington and is<br />
currently employed at the University of<br />
Mary Washington, George Mason University<br />
and Northern Virginia Community<br />
College as an operations manager<br />
and adjunct instructor.<br />
DRIVER’S LICENSES ISSUED BEGINNING JULY 1 VALID FOR<br />
EIGHT YEARS COST REMAINS SAME, $4 PER YEAR<br />
Starting July 1, <strong>2008</strong>, driver’s licenses<br />
issued by the Virginia<br />
Department of Motor Vehicles<br />
(DMV) will be valid for eight years<br />
instead of five. However, the validity<br />
period for identification cards will remain<br />
the same, five years. <strong>The</strong> cost of<br />
a driver’s license, $4 per year, will<br />
not change. An eight-year driver’s license<br />
renewal will cost $32.<br />
“Reducing the frequency of customer<br />
visits to DMV is the goal of<br />
this new law that is cost-effective for<br />
both customers and Virginia,” said<br />
DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit. “<strong>The</strong><br />
legislation will lower DMV’s operational<br />
costs and produce a future savings<br />
for taxpayers.”<br />
Instead of visiting a DMV customer<br />
service center (CSC), eligible<br />
customers may renew driver’s licenses<br />
through the Internet (www.<br />
dmvNOW. com), telephone (1-888-<br />
Just as the official start of hurricane<br />
season began on Sun<strong>day</strong> the<br />
Montgomery County Department<br />
of Parks announced the completion of<br />
construction on the Lake Needwood<br />
Dam in Rock Creek Regional Park.<br />
“We are <strong>happy</strong> to welcome trail users<br />
back to the park this summer now that<br />
construction on the dam is complete,”<br />
said Department of Parks Rock Creek<br />
Regional Park Manager Jim Humerick.<br />
A portion of the park’s Westside<br />
Trail has been closed since last March<br />
as the Department of Parks began the<br />
first phase of the remedial measures<br />
program initiated for the dam following<br />
the significant storms of June 2006,<br />
which included having a specialty contractor<br />
install a grout curtain below the<br />
Fairfax County officials announced<br />
that the Burke VRE<br />
parking garage opened recently,<br />
offering 1,292 spaces for commuters.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are helpful hints for using the<br />
new garage:<br />
• <strong>The</strong> entrance is at the east end of<br />
the building, with the exit at the<br />
west end.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> station platform can be accessed<br />
through the garage’s second<br />
level.<br />
• Spaces for people with disabilities<br />
are on the first and second levels.<br />
Although the garage is now open,<br />
construction will continue on the two<br />
parking lots outside that will offer an<br />
additional 300 spaces. New sidewalks<br />
are still being installed, and the “kiss<br />
and ride” drop-off area is also under<br />
construction.<br />
Fri<strong>day</strong>, June 13, will be the last<br />
<strong>day</strong> of service for Fairfax County’s<br />
free shuttle bus service between the<br />
VRE station and the Burke Centre<br />
Library and Saint Mary’s Church.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se two sites provided commuters<br />
with additional parking while the<br />
garage was under construction.<br />
However, EZ Bus will continue to<br />
operate its north and south routes to the<br />
Burke Centre station. <strong>The</strong>se buses are<br />
337-4782) or mail. Customers must<br />
visit a DMV CSC every other renewal<br />
for a vision screening and new<br />
photograph. Other important changes<br />
regarding driver’s licenses and ID<br />
cards include:<br />
TEENS<br />
Driver’s licenses issued to 16- and<br />
17-year-olds will expire at age 20. State<br />
law says that anyone under 21, who is<br />
convicted of a moving violation, must<br />
take the written knowledge exam again<br />
when renewing their driver’s license.<br />
SEX OFFENDERS<br />
Convicted sex offenders are an exception<br />
to the new eight-year driver’s<br />
license validity period. <strong>The</strong>se customers<br />
must visit a CSC to renew their<br />
driver’s license at least every five years.<br />
PARKS DEPARTMENT COMPLETES<br />
NEEDWOOD DAM CONSTRUCTION<br />
Needwood Dam to reduce seepage<br />
through the dam’s rock foundation. Additional<br />
repairs included upgrades to<br />
the outlet control tower and the dam<br />
monitoring system. <strong>The</strong> last major<br />
phase of the project involved installation<br />
of a sand and gravel blanket drain<br />
on the downstream face of the dam to<br />
collect and control any residual seepage<br />
through the bedrock foundation.<br />
Now all phases are complete and as<br />
a result public access to Rock Creek<br />
Regional Park and its popular Lake<br />
Needwood is no longer restricted.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re will be some minor clean-up<br />
work and parking lot repairs in the<br />
coming weeks, but that work will be<br />
scheduled to minimize any disruptions<br />
for park users.<br />
FAIRFAX COUNTY OPENS<br />
BURKE VRE GARAGE<br />
free and subscriptions are no longer<br />
necessary. In the mornings, EZ Buses<br />
arrive at the station five to 10 minutes<br />
before VRE trains 324, 326, 328, 330<br />
and 332 depart. In the afternoon, EZ<br />
Buses leave the station five minutes<br />
after VRE trains 325, 327, 329, 331,<br />
333, 335 and 337 arrive.<br />
<strong>The</strong> county also recently completed<br />
two trails to allow pedestrian access to<br />
the garage. Residents from the adjacent<br />
Burke Shire Commons and Walnut<br />
Woods neighborhoods can now<br />
walk or bicycle to the garage.<br />
Fairfax County officials worked<br />
closely with the surrounding neighborhoods<br />
to develop a design consistent<br />
with the area. For example, the garage<br />
incorporates inlays of red brick, a common<br />
building material used throughout<br />
Burke. Two clocks were built into the<br />
main elevator tower to make the<br />
garage reflect Burke’s rural character.<br />
<strong>The</strong> stair and clock towers were designed<br />
to complement the Victorian architecture<br />
of the VRE station.<br />
Fairfax County’s Department of<br />
Public Works and Environmental Services<br />
was responsible for the overall<br />
project management and construction<br />
administration for the garage. <strong>The</strong> total<br />
cost of the project is approximately<br />
$28 million.<br />
COMMERCIAL DRIVERS<br />
Commercial driver’s licenses<br />
(CDL) will be valid for eight years<br />
beginning July 1. However, CDL<br />
holders with a HAZMAT endorsement<br />
must continue to follow federal<br />
guidelines and renew their HAZMAT<br />
endorsement every five years.<br />
LIMITED DURATION<br />
For customers with limited duration<br />
identification, their driver’s license<br />
or ID card will continue to be<br />
valid only for the amount of time they<br />
are legally authorized to be in the U.S.<br />
This new law also encourages customers<br />
to renew vehicle registrations<br />
(decals) online, over the phone or<br />
through the mail. Customers are urged<br />
to avoid renewing vehicle registrations<br />
at DMV customer service centers<br />
where a $5 fee will be added. Internet<br />
renewals are discounted by $1.<br />
“During recent rain events the dam<br />
has responded well,” added Humerick.<br />
“We routinely monitor levels at both<br />
lakes Needwood and Frank using a<br />
newly installed remote monitoring<br />
system.”<br />
In coming years, park visitors can<br />
expect expanded boating and fishing<br />
areas within Lake Needwood as the<br />
County Council recently approved<br />
$3.8 million for a much-needed project<br />
to dredge the lake. In December, the<br />
Montgomery County Planning Board<br />
approved preliminary engineering designs<br />
for the dredging project, which<br />
includes structural improvements to<br />
the lake’s existing forebay and upper<br />
portion of the main lake. Lake Needwood<br />
was regularly dredged until<br />
about 1990 when funding constraints<br />
discontinued regular dredging. Since<br />
that time, continued siltation has impacted<br />
the function of the forebay and<br />
limited boating and fishing within the<br />
main body of the lake. <strong>The</strong> timing of<br />
the dredging project will be coordinated<br />
with the completion of ICC construction<br />
in the area and is expected to<br />
occur over the winter of 2010, 2011.<br />
For more on recreational opportunities<br />
at Rock Creek Regional Park including<br />
boat rentals at Lake Needwood,<br />
visit www.MontgomeryParks.<br />
org.<br />
BLACK FACT<br />
On June 13, 1967,<br />
Thurgood Marshall,<br />
U.S. solicitor<br />
general, was<br />
named to the<br />
Supreme Court by<br />
President Johnson.<br />
He was confirmed<br />
by the Senate on<br />
August 30 and<br />
became the first<br />
black Supreme<br />
Court justice.<br />
THE METRO HERALD 5