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Community Champions

Meet Mount Vernon District 2022

Lady Fairfax Maria Severa Pangelinan

Maria Severa Pangelinan is a stalwart leader and constant smiling face as the Volunteer Fire Chief at Lorton Station #19. Maria has been volunteering since March of 2019 and was named Chief in May of 2021. She was instrumental in supporting the Lorton firefighting team through the recent extensive construction process of a new station. Among other responsibilities, Maria helped coordinate the many transitions to open a new station, organized community activities at the grand opening, and played an important part in keeping up morale along the way. Maria has earned a fair share of awards such as the 2022 Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Operational Officer of the Year, the 2021 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce 2021 Volunteer Provider of the Year Award. Maria is a graduate of South County High School and a recent George Mason University graduate where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology. Her next steps are to continue volunteering at the Fire Station and apply to Physicians Assistant school next year. When Maria isn’t volunteering, she works full time as an EMT-B interfacility transport technician. Maria always knew she wanted to volunteer with the fire department and give back to the community. Her passion to help others and ease people’s minds during difficult times is something we need more of in our community. Thank you, Maria, for your service and we all know you have a very bright future! 

Lord Fairfax Jeff Gauger

Jeff Gauger is a tireless volunteer, and by tireless, I mean he bikes to work most days from Mount Vernon to the District of Columbia! Jeff’s passion for biking has led him to be our most outstanding volunteer for the Annual Tour de Mount Vernon Community Bike Ride year after year. He helps chart the route (which changes every year), rides it to ensure it works, completely manages the volunteers, helps coordinate rider partners, participates in weekly planning meetings and then rides the entire ride as the ride sweep, making sure no one is left behind! Not only that, but he is always happy to help wherever asked, has a smile on his face and offers great suggestions. Jeff also volunteers as the Vice-President of the Board for the Fairfax Alliance for Better Biking (FABB), on trail projects for the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail and on the inaugural Tour de Hunter Mill. He works to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety through his advocacy for local trails in our region, representing FABB on the Capital Trail Coalition of Northern Virginia, and by volunteering to do pedestrian counts for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT). Thank you for all you do to advance pedestrian and bike safety, and better trails in our communities, Jeff!

Ribbon Cuttings and Grand Openings

New Glass Recycling Purple Bin at Saratoga Park & Ride

To celebrate America Recycles Day, a new Purple Bin is now in at the Saratoga Park & Ride. I was joined by Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity to officially open this new site. We are thrilled to see this new bin in the Mount Vernon District to make recycling glass more accessible for everyone. Find the closest Purple Bin near you...

7/11 Grand Re-Opening in Lorton

It was wonderful to have Team MVD participate in the Grand Re-Opening of the Lorton 7/11 on Silverbrook Road on November 16. Thank you to store owner Devinder Singh and his family for a warm reception, for living in and providing jobs in the Mount Vernon District!

Beauty Shots

I was very pleased to attend the Little Hunting Creek Preserve Grand Opening on November 5. The preserve has two new benches, three new wood duck nesting boxes, new signage and a lot less trash and invasive vines than it used to. The celebration recognized the improvements and thanked the volunteers whose efforts made them possible. The site was once co-owned by 18 Stratford Landing families, one of which being the late, Marilyn Shoaff, who donated the 1.8 acre wetland parcel to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust back around 2002. This site has been a work in progress for about 20 years and seeing all the hard work to make this area shine is something to celebrate. Thank you to all the Friends of Little Hunting Creek volunteers for all you do preserve our parks and to beautify our community!

Photos: Philip Bogdan

Community Information & Events

A History of McDonald's Restaurants in Fairfax County

Tuesday, November 29, 7 - 9 p.m.

Wesley Hall at Aldersgate United Methodist Church

The Mount Vernon Regional Historical Society will hold their annual meeting about "A History of McDonald's Restaurants in Fairfax County" featuring speaker Mr. Chris Barbuschak, archivist/historian of the Virginia Room in the Fairfax City Regional Library. The 1st and most profitable McDonald's was located in our neighborhood, Hybla Valley. The public is invited to learn more about how this chain of restaurants became successful in our local community.

Veterans Family Caregivers: Exploring Unique Challenges and Resources

Friday, November 18, 2 - 3 p.m.

Zoom

Register here...

The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging is pleased to announce its new Panel Conversation for Family Caregivers of Older Adults and/or Adults with Disabilities. Veteran caregivers play a critical role in supporting the health and wellbeing of returning wounded warriors. The panel discussion, will explore the unique challenges caregivers face and information about different resources available to help in their journeys. 

Victim Services Gift Card Drive

In 2022, the Victim Services Division worked over 350 cases involving child victims and witnesses of domestic and sexual violence, as well as children who lost a loved one to homicide. Many of these children will not get to celebrate the holidays this year due to the financial burden that comes with being a victim of crime.

Now through Friday, December 16, donate a gift card for child victims (both young and teenagers) to places like Giant, Amazon, Safeway, Walmart, TJ Maxx, Target, Kohl’s, local restaurants and clothing stores. Gift cards will allow parents/guardians to be active participants in purchasing gifts for each child and practical needed items that they would normally go without. Drop off or mail gift cards to:

Saly Fayez, Director

Victim Services Division

12099 Government Center Pkwy

Fairfax, VA 22035

Join Us!

RSVP here...

Mount Vernon District Office | 703-780-7518

MTVernon@fairfaxcounty.gov | FairfaxCounty.gov/MountVernon

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