text: Metro Area 8 fc- - O '■ t 1 '"'l i. ™ BtaT <Ui|- r. ■*« ", —jr-c dßih AF JI i // J -^/ ■> ■Mbft F Ml JgMßjf - " jßPb The Tesla Coil is explained by John Atkinson at the Northern Virginia Science Fair. John, first prize winner in his class, is the third member of his family to win science fair honors.—Star Staff Photo. Boy Wizard Stuns Spectators, Not Himself, With 750,000 Volts . By DANA BULLEN Star Staff Writer An Arlington eighth grader g stunning spectators at the Northern Virginia Science Fair with a machine that shoots a crackling 750,000-volt spark across a gap to his little Anger The youth, John F. Atkinson, 1 ■3, is a student at Gunston; Junior High School. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Atkinson, of 5030 South Twenty- second street, and the third member of the family to win science fair honors. Two years ago his sister Betty, 18, made a "genuine machine that won the grand prize at the Northern Virginia Science Fair and was judged "most original” in national competition. The genuine machine was an electronic brain that could tell a couple what color hair and. Falls Church Council OKs $4 Million Budget An" operating budget for 1960*4 of $1.7 million and a capital budget of 62.4 million were approved On first reading by the Falls Church City Council last night after being presented by City Manager Lewis Z. Johnston. The capital budget includes a $980,000 bond proposal for schools and streets. Final budget action is slated for May 9. The proposed operating budget, $6242,511 higher than this year, carries no increase in the real estate tax rate of $2.84 per $100 of assessed value. However, Mr. Johnston has recommended that the personal property tax of $3.09 on household goods be scrapped. Instead, the personal property tax on public service corporations, machinery, and tools, cars, and business furniture would be raised from $3.09 to $4. The city manager has estimated the $39,037 received from household property would be covered from the higher tax on the other items. This plan is adopted Falls Church would become the first city in Virginia to take advantage of a 1958 General Assembly action permitting localities to drop the personal property tax. The proposed bond issue would include: Schools $550,000, with $425,000 for enlarging George Mason High School, and $125,000 for remodeling Madison School. Streets $200,000 for construction of Maple Avenue through the city and $72,000 for improvement of Little and Great Falls streets. Storm drains—$100,000. Improvement of Lincoln Avenue costing $78,000, the construction of additional recreation facilities costing $11,000, and water system improvements of about $1,200 million are planned with money already available. Councilman Charles J. Hedges won a 4-3 tentative council support for boosting the school bond figure to $875,000, of which $750,000 would be for George Mason. He stated that the larger amount would provide a high school class. Room wing and additional athletic and administrative facilities planned by the school board for 1961-2. Strong opposition to the higher school bond figure was registered by Councilman Charles C. Seymour. He said it could “jeopardize the entire bond issue.” A 5-2 vote is required for final approval of a bond ordinance. The major increases in the operation budget are $48,068 for the schools, $150,700 for a capital improvements fund and $44,000 for general government. THE EVENING STAR WASHINGTON, D.C. Tutt, March 29, 1990, eyes they should expect their offspring to have. Three years ago, sister Faye, 16, a Wakefield High School junior and a solo dancer with the Washington Ballet, won a prize with a solo oven that could turn water to steam or cook a frankfurter. Young John won this year's first prize at Wakefield High School in the eighth grade physics class with a Tesla coil, a machine that takes normal electrical current and multiplies the voltage many times while reducing the number of amperes. He said the noise of the crackling electricity "really draws a crowd." Onlookers gasp when the awesome looking spark leaps to his finger, the boy said. The fair ends tonight. Expenses. The provision of three additional policemen forms a substantial part of the latter figure. The city manager told reporters that no city department, including the schools, had been cut in the budget. He said, however, that only $3,500 had been recommended for the Fairfax County - Falls Church child guidance clinic instead of the $5,000 requested. Also a fire department request of $5,000 for a new ambulance was turned down. Falls Church Takes Annexation Off Shelf The Falls Church City Council voted unanimously last night "to reconsider" annexing parts of Fairfax County. Annexation plans were shelved by a 4-3 council vote last October. The cost was cited at the time as the major factor in turning down the plan. Falls Church originally had its type on nearly 6 square miles containing about 25,000 people and the lucrative Seven Corners shopping center. It is understood that only about half this area was under active consideration when the plan was dropped. City Manager Lewis Z. Johnston recommended to the council three weeks ago that the issue be opened again. He stated that the 2-square-mile city is in danger of being "squeezed" by its Arlington and Fairfax County neighbors. Since that time, a 21-member citizens committee appointed by the city council has met with the council informally to consider annexation. It is understood that more such sessions will be held. Indications are that April showers bring April roof leaks. Don't wait until damage is done. A professional trouble check can prevent costly major repairs. All offer: Gutters and downspouts cleaned for $12.50 with free roof check. All work guaranteed. For a FREE ROOF CHECK, call King 9-3700, Virginia Roofing Corp., 600 North Henry Street, Alexandria, Va. The youth explained that... The bolt is harmless because while it carries 750,000 volts, it contains only one milliam pere. "It's the amperes, not the volts, that can hurt you," John said. The Tesla coil, solar oven, and general machine were all built in Mr. Atkinson's basement laboratory. He is an electrical engineer with the Rural Electrification Administration. Mr. Atkinson said that he, like other scientifically inclined Northern Virginia parents, urges his children to tackle science fair projects. "Just a little over their heads," he said. "They really have to dig and learn principles that they normally wouldn't hear about until college," he said. Board of Trade Seeks Members Today and tomorrow will be "Join up" days for the Silver Spring Board of Trade, which is shooting for 600 members this year. Four teams of 12 board members each will call on all business and professional men and women in Silver Spring, Montgomery Hills, Woodmoor, Flower Avenue, and White Oak areas in the four-day drive. The board last year reached the 475-member mark. Co chairmen of the membership campaign this year are John R Graff and Robert A. Shaw. It is that the council will attempt to make a final decision on annexation before adoption of the city's operating and capital budgets May 9. In other action, the city manager announced the appointment of John Robert Patterson to succeed James W. Head as director of public utilities, effective May 1. The council rejected a proposal made earlier by the city manager that all department heads must live within the city limits. A resolution was also considered by the council to approve the proposal that all top local government officials "be readily available." Honor FHA Employe Nimrod F. Keys, 3800 Hamilton street, Hyattsville, has been presented a 25-year-old pin by Federal Housing Commissioner Julian H. Zimmerman. Mr. Keys, chief of the Washington Maintenance and Transportation Unit, is the second oldest employee in point of service at the FHA. Arlington Polls Parents Of Promising Students Some 2,800 Arlington parents are being summoned to confer with school authorities because their children have been so good. “It used to be that parents were called to school only when their sons or daughters were in trouble,” Supt. Ray Reid said yesterday. “But these parents are being called because their children are doing so well they are being recommended for intensified, accelerated, or advanced classes next year.” School supervisors want to talk to parents partially because enrollment by pupils in the advanced courses might mean some changes at home. One probably would be more homework. In the special English, foreign language, math and biggest chair ever at Curtis Bros. at Curtis Bros. at 21st Street. Attractive channel-back Occasional Chair in every popular traditional style. Rich hand-rubbed mahogany wood accented by brass nailhead trim. Luxurious matelasse fabric in your choice of Toast, Forest Green, Sage Green, Turquoise or Gold decorator colors. Why not buy TWO at Curtis Bros. No waiting—immediate free delivery! We Cordially Invite You To Browse Through Washington's Largest Furniture Display. FREE HOWE REG CONSULTATION S LARGEST FURNITURE DISPLAY. Open Daily PHILIP BROS. AMPLE JL jimLw B Saturday, 9 A.M. FREE PARKING NICHOLS AVE. at V ST. S.E. in ANACOSTIA 10 p.M. Phone LU. 4-4000 CHARGE ACCOUNTS INVITED science classes, material will be studied more rapidly or more profoundly. Last year, several leading universities awarded graduates of the accelerated Arlington program college credits for high school study. School officials would like to explain to parents this and other possible benefits of the special courses, which are optional. Some pupils have been reluctant to attempt them because they feared they would not receive as high grades as they would in regular classes. But this year Arlington intends to assign more weight to grades obtained in the more difficult courses. Dr. Reid said the 1,400 pupils recommended for advanced study have been carefully screened. WASHINGTON'S LARGEST FURNITURE DISPLAY Act Against Girl, American U. Asks In Campus Case The American University has asked Virginia juvenile authorities to take action against a 14-year-old girl whose all-night date at a fraternity house resulted in a university student's expulsion from school. The request was made yesterday in papers filed with Fairfax County Juvenile Court by Attorney A. Andrew Glengreco. Frank Deierbel, juvenile probation officer, said the legal papers asserted the girl's "habits, behavior, and associates are injurious to her welfare." Mr. Deierbel, who would not allow a reporter to see the formally filed request, said the case would be studied by probation officials before any action is taken. Mr. Deierbel explained that the court could make any one of several decisions in the case, including placing the girl on probation, making her a ward of the court, imposing a disciplinary fine or dismissing the action. Mr. Glengreco, asked for comment, said: "The responsibility of the school is not only to educate the student but that he also learns of a good moral standard." An American University senior, 22, was expelled from school for dating the girl. She allegedly had called his fraternity house and Asked him for a date, her father-complained to police that she had spent the night at the fraternity house. A second student, whose car was used, was suspended for the rest of the year. Social privileges of the fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, were revoked. No criminal charges were placed against the students involved. District police said the expelled senior admitted trying to have sexual relations with the girl but was unsuccessful. Do-Nothing Policy Laid to Lankford Walter L. Green said last night that Representative Lankford, Democrat of Maryland, has maintained a “hear-nothing, see-nothing and do nothing” policy on Federal aid to impacted areas. Mr. Green, a College Park attorney and real estate man, is opposing Mr. Lankford in the May 17 primary elections for the Democratic nomination to Congress from the 6th Southern Maryland district. Mr. Green addressed the Prince Georges County Democratic Club at the group’s headquarters near Forestville. Fairfax School Supper A supper will be held in the cafeteria of Fairfax High School from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday to buy uniforms for the school’s new 80-piece band. Tickets, $1 for children and $1.50 for adults, may be purchased from Arnold Jacobius, CR. 3-1692, or at the door. 