Nick Berry (left) and Dwan Starks (right) with the newborn baby they helped deliver. | |
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Meet Community Champions - EMTs Nick Berry, Dwan Starks and Penn Daw Fire Station 11
On January 13 at about 8 p.m., Mount Vernon District resident Stephanie Goldstein was expecting her second baby when she went into labor in her home. When Ms. Goldstein realized the baby was coming faster than she anticipated, she and her partner called 911. The Penn Daw Fire Station 11 EMT Unit responded quickly and EMTs Nick Berry and Dwan Starks helped deliver the baby only minutes later in their home. Mr. Berry and Mr. Starks then rode in the ambulance with the family to Virginia Hospital Center where Ms. Goldstein had planned to deliver her baby. Ms. Goldstein said, "We are incredibly grateful for the entire team that showed up on the evening of the 13th. I can’t imagine what would have happened if they hadn't made it to our house so quickly. I told Nick that it was so special to know that perfect strangers are always looking out for us and are willing to risk their own lives for the sake of ours."
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Thank you to EMTs Nick Berry and Dwan Starks and the whole Penn Daw Fire Station 11 team for the inspiring work they do in our community and for going above and beyond for our residents. | |
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Lorton Lidl Grand Opening
Wednesday, July 26, 7:40 a.m.
9001 White Spruce Way, Lorton
I am pleased to announce that Lidl located in Liberty Market will be opening their doors on Wednesday, July 26 at 8 a.m. The first 100 customers in line before the store opens, will receive a special gift card ranging from $5 to $100 each. Shoppers can also sample Lidl’s award-winning assortment and take advantage of special giveaways. Opening remarks for the grand opening will take place at 7:40 a.m.
Lidl is proud to partner with the Lorton Community Action Center to provide food to community members in need. Throughout the entire grand opening weekend, Lidl will donate $1 to the food bank for every new myLidl member who signs up and sets the new store as their home store.
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Community Information & Events | |
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Seasonal Wave of Canine Upper Respiratory Infections
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS) is currently experiencing a seasonal wave of canine upper respiratory infections (URIs), commonly known as kennel cough. Most of the affected dogs are showing only mild, cold-like symptoms and FCAS is following the infectious disease protocols, as well as consulting with their veterinarians daily on treatment and operation adjustments to ensure the best possible outcome for the dogs at the shelter.
What can you do?
Community members can help by adopting, fostering if they do not have another dog in the home or postponing the surrender of pets. Dogs with mild symptoms will continue to be available for adoption and FCAS is implementing various measures to inform shelter visitors about the presence of URIs, as well as considerations with respect to fostering and adoption. This fall the new County Animal Shelter - Lorton Campus will be opening and will allow more space to accommodate animals. Watch for news about the grand opening this fall! Learn more.
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Chief's Spotlight
This week’s Chief’s Spotlight highlights a traffic stop conducted by Mount Vernon District’s Neighborhood Patrol Unit. Thanks to some astute police work, two firearms with extended magazines were recovered.
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Lorton Visioning Study Survey
Fairfax County is working with the community to develop the Lorton Vision 2040 Study. New policies developed during this process will guide development character and transportation strategies in Lorton for decades to come and we want to hear from you! The Lorton Vision reflects years of public input calling for the creation of more vibrant places in the community to gather, live, shop and recreate. It also identifies transportation improvements that will make it more convenient to walk, bike, use transit and rely less on cars for every trip. Do you want a town center? More shopping? Better restaurants? More open space? Tell us what you think!
A Community Open House was held on Saturday, July 15, at the Lorton Community Center Library to present and discuss the Lorton Vision. If you couldn’t attend, please review the materials from the Open House. A public survey is also available to provide feedback on the Exhibit Boards and Lorton Vision. The survey and comment period will close on August 4. Learn more.
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Annie E. Harper Historical Marker Unveiling
Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m.
Fordson Road across from St. John Baptist Church, 7730 Fordson Road
Bethlehem Baptist Church and the New Gum Springs Civic Association are hosting a Virginia historical highway marker unveiling for Annie E. Harper. Parking is available in the St. John Baptist Church parking lot and at Bethlehem Baptist Church, which is a short walk to the unveiling site. This historical highway marker is to recognize Annie E. Harper, who was instrumental in eliminating the poll tax - Harper vs. Virginia Board of Elections. Ms. Harper not only lived in Gum Springs (7735 Fordson Road), but was also a member and deaconess at Bethlehem Baptist Church. After the unveiling, there will be a reception in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Fellowship Hall where there will be several informational stations on various poll tax and election issues.
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The Winning Formula: Internships and Research in College Admissions
Sunday, July 23, 7 p.m.
Virtual
Join the Potentia Robotics team and CollegeRamp to learn from Harvard and Berkeley MET students on how they leveraged competitive internships and award-winning research in high school to go from experience to acceptance. Hear about how internal admissions work at colleges like Harvard, and how you can work on building internship and research experience to unlock future success! Register.
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How Fairfax County Police Found $37K in Stolen Goods in a Hotel Room
The week of July 7, FCPD shared a video on social media from an organized retail shoplifting arrest that occurred in the Franconia Police District. Detectives charged the two men with a new law targeting organized retail shoplifters. Captain Lieb spoke to News 4 about this case and how the June retail theft crime prevention efforts are making a difference across the County. Through these efforts, we are making arrests and letting criminals know that crime doesn't pay in Fairfax County. Watch the News4 interview.
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Summer Safety Tips for Families
No one ever wants to think that accidents or injuries could happen to their children. Taking some simple precautions can minimize risks and help your family have a safe, healthy and fun summer. Check out these tips the Department of Family Services’ Parenting Education Programs have compiled from national safety experts. Learn more.
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Get Your Child's Immunizations Up to Date
The Health Department has updated the childhood immunization webpage and are urging parents and caregivers to make appointments NOW for their child’s back to school vaccinations. Additional clinic locations will be added as they become available. To learn more, here are two additional videos that were posted as part of the Stay Well Nova campaign:
Get Your Child Vaccinated
Summer Moves Fast
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Fairfax County Parks Are No Place for Kite Fighting
The Fairfax County Park Authority has prohibited kite fighting at Parks, citing increasing reports of harm to wildlife, vegetation, maintenance equipment and the inherent risks to public safety. Individuals observed to be kite fighting will be asked to stop. Individuals who refuse or repeatedly violate this rule may potentially be banned from park use. Learn more.
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Tax Incentives for Energy Use Upgrades
As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to go solar. There are many reasons to convert your home to solar energy, such as:
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Reducing your monthly electric bill
- Avoiding rising energy costs
- Increasing your home’s value, and
- Benefiting the environment by reducing your environmental impact
Thanks to the power of solar group purchasing programs such as Solarize VA and Capital Area Solar Switch, it can be easier and less expensive for homeowners to make the switch. These programs offer free assessments and access to qualified solar professionals that take the guesswork out of going solar. Additionally, you can take advantage of federal tax credits and incentives offered by Fairfax County and the federal government. Currently, the permit fee for solar applications is being waived, solar panels receive zoning flexibility, there is a local tax exemption for installation of solar equipment and there are federal solar tax credits.
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Extreme Heat and Climate Change Webinar
Climate change has been linked to more frequent and intense heat waves, which can have serious health consequences for individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly and young children. To raise awareness of these dangers, Fairfax County’s Department of Emergency Management and Security (DEMS) and the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) recently offered a free joint webinar about extreme heat and climate change. Watch the Youtube Recorded Livestream. During the webinar, Allison Homer with OEEC discussed the impacts of climate change on extreme heat events and provided tips on how to boost your resilience to these events. The County has several resources, including cooling centers, for residents. Learn more.
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Deck Details Boot Camps
Back by popular demand! Fairfax County Land Development Services (LDS) will offer three additional Deck Details Boot Camps this summer. These sessions are conducted in person, and a recording will be made available in August. All sessions will be in room 106 of the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway. Please register for the session you are interested in attending:
The sessions will walk contractors and homeowners through the Typical Deck Details, a document that serves as a pre-approved architectural plan for building decks in Fairfax County. Use of the County’s Typical Deck Details expedites the permitting process.
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Disrupt Aging: Changing the Conversation
Wednesday, July 26, 3 - 4:20 p.m.
Zoom
Join a conversation on the important ways that aging is changing. We’re entering a new era of aging, as AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins laid out in her book “Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age.” People are living and working longer than ever before. At the same time, societal perceptions of aging have not kept pace with these shifts in longevity. This conversation about aging will offer a better understanding of how our lifespans are changing and help attendees learn how to embrace opportunities and create equity for all generations. Register.
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Mount Vernon RECenter Updates
This major renovation and addition project is anticipated to be complete in early 2025. Learn more about the project.
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The start of excavation for the future fitness area. | |
This is a large stockpile of soil which has been imported to the site for use as construction fill under the expanded portion of the building. Due to poor existing soils, it is necessary to excavate several feet of in situ soil and replace it with quality fill material. | |
Progress on the future entrance which will realign with the lower tier of the main parking lot. | |
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Laurel Hill Central Green Restrooms Photo Update
The new restrooms at Laurel Hill are anticipated to open later this year. Learn more.
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