Fire Marshal continues presence at Vista Gardens

Tuesday afternoon, March 10th Fire Marshal and Fairfax County continue presence at Vista Gardens, ensuring basic safety and health requirements are met. Fr. Tuck Grinnell, Pastoral Council President Scott Engdahl, and Culmore resident Oscar Ramirez met with the Fire Department officials and invited them to the March 25th meeting of tenants to be held here at Saint Anthony of Padua in the cafeteria at 7:30 pm.

VOICE Action on the Fairfax County Budget

On Sunday afternoon, March 8th V.O.I.C.E. (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) member congregations from Fairfax County held a public action at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Alexandria (Fairfax County). Saint Anthony of Padua had approximately 40 leaders led by Fr. Tuck Grinnell along with Fr. Heintz and Fr. Augustine. While all nine current members of the Board of Supervisors were invited, only four supervisors came or responded in writing.

The action was in support of V.O.I.C.E.'s three initial priorities:

1. To maintain the Penny for Affordable Housing Fund already in existence so that the county can preserve critically needed rental housing in these difficult economic times.

2. To fund $50,000 in the FY 2010 budget for Fairfax's share of a full-time dentist at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, increasing by 30% the number of people who can see a dentist for important preventative and restorative dental care.

3. To keep adult ESOL funding at its current level.

V.O.I.C.E. asked and received the commitment of Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins to these three V.O.I.C.E. priorities. Letters sent by Supervisor Penny Gross (Mason District) and Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland (Mt. Vernon District) also supported these priorities.

However, the Supervisors noted that this is going to be a hard fought budget process so citizen support will be critical to securing these three priorities. To show this support, Fr. Grinnell is encouraging Saint Anthony of Padua parishioners to consider these priorities and express their support by signing a Support Card. These are available in the Parish Office daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and during the Parish Mission in the Church lobby.

Follow-up on Vista Gardens V.O.I.C.E. Public Action

News Channel 8 covered the Fairfax County response on Friday, March 6th to the V.O.I.C.E. Public Action held just last Wednesday. To see the video, go the the News Channel 8 web link below:

http://cfc.news8.net/videoondemand.cfm?id=35199

Saint Anthony Gives V.O.I.C.E. to Vista Gardens Residents

On Wednesday evening, March 4th Saint Anthony of Padua and Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (V.O.I.C.E.) hosted a Public Action in the cafeteria to bring attention to the conditions in the Vista Gardens apartments in Culmore. While the tenants pay market rates ($1,200 to $1,400 per month), the lack of maintenance of the property raises real concerns about safety and health as well as general liveablity.


After residents described and showed a presentation on the situation at Vista Gardens, Fr. Tuck Grinnell asked Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross for the County's action in four specific areas: committing to ask the Fire Marshal to conduct a safety inspection; work with V.O.I.C.E., the tenants, and the parish/community to address the health and liveablity issues; host a meeting with the owners of the apartments; and conduct a walk-through on May 10th (Mothers Day) to see the improvements that have been made in the complex.


Tenants were also asked to commit to being part of a tenant team, raising awareness around tenants' rights and responsibilities, participating in the Culmore Clean-up Day on May 2nd, and to participating in the Mothers Day walk-through with Supervisor Gross. Parish and community members were asked to assist the Saint Anthony of Padua V.O.I.C.E. team to organize and train the tenants, participate in the Culmore Clean-up, and participate in the Mothers Day walk-through.

(photos by Julia Pugarelli)