In this issue…
What Happened to Shredding Events in 2023? What’s Next? - My office has received many emails and calls about the cancellation of this year’s free County hosted shred events because of perceived equity issues, the County’s new zero waste policies and workforce shortages. The Celebrate Fairfax’s annual Fairfax Fair appears to have met a similar fate. Due to high demand for shredding and entertainment events, my office is partnering with our community partners to host three free shred events for our residents and an expanded summer concert series. Details below.
Bike to Work Day Pit Stop at WSGC (5/19)– My office will be hosting a Bike to Work Day pit stop on May 19th from 6-9am at the West Springfield Government Center. Registration is free and open to anyone – teleworkers included. The first 50 people who register for the West Springfield Government Center pit stop and stop by will receive a free T-shirt. In addition, anyone who comes on a bike can fuel up for the workday with a free Chick-fil-a breakfast sandwich! More details and the link to sign up below.
Teen Job Fairs – My 2023 Teen Job Fairs Series ended in March with a great turnout at Chantilly High School, following two great fairs at West Springfield High School and South County High School. The fairs connected over 1,500 students from all over the county with over 100 businesses offering opportunities ranging from full-time positions to seasonal positions, to volunteer opportunities. I was glad to see a number of new and returning local employers including the Fairfax County Park Authority, all branches of the United States military, Paisanos, Merrifield Garden Center, and many more. If you did not have a chance to attend one of the fairs, you can still find materials from the fair online. See more details below.
Other News and Information
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Cox 2023 Education Heroes Grants Deadline (April 10th)
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Car Seat Saturday (April 15th)
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CRASE Training @ West Springfield District Station (April 25th)
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Wine, Whiskers, & Wags (May 5th)
- Shepherd Center Executive Director Position Open
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What Happened to Shredding Events in 2023? What’s Next?
My office has received many emails and calls about the cancellation of this year’s free County hosted shred events because of perceived equity issues, the County’s new zero waste policies and workforce shortages. The Celebrate Fairfax annual Fairfax Fair appears to have met a similar fate.
Due to high demand for shredding events, my office is partnering with Marion Homes to host a shredding event at Rolling Valley Park & Ride on June 3 rd from 10am to 1pm and another with Crime Solvers on June 24 th from 9AM to 12PM at the same location. In addition, ECHO will be hosting a free shred event on April 15th from 11am to 2pm at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. In past years, there was at least one County-facilitated free shredding event in each Supervisor district per calendar year, allowing residents to shred sensitive materials like tax documents and financial records. In January, when I asked staff about why the shred events were discontinued this year, these are some of the reasons I received:
1. Shredding events require lots of staff time. SWMP is understaffed and taking on additional workload to meet state and Board of Supervisors directions.
2. An equity assessment of the existing program identified concerns that past shredding event locations were not equitably distributed across the County and thus did not meet the Board's One Fairfax policy. Staff are pausing the program to reassess.
3. Shredding events as they were previously implemented are contrary to the County's waste reduction and sustainability goals.
I am particularly concerned about the trend of eliminating County services that are available to all our residents, like shred events and the Celebrate Fairfax Fair, because they are perceived as less conveniently located for some residents. While taxes have been increasing at unsustainable rates (50 percent over the last 10 years) it is alarming that the County continues to raise taxes while eliminating some of the services that our county residents have come to expect over the years.
I have been working with community partners like Crime Solvers, Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, ECHO, Marion Homes, and Kathy Pester, Realtor, and Kirkwood to provide access to free shredding for Springfield District residents.
More information on the shred events will be in future newsletters and on my web site but they are planned for:
- April 15 – 11AM to 2PM – Kirkwood Presbyterian Church – Hosted by ECHO with Kathy Pester, Realtor, and Kirkwood, free but non-perishable food item donations for ECHO are encouraged!
- June 3 – 10AM to 1PM – Rolling Valley Park and Ride – Cohosted by Supervisor Herrity and Marian Homes, free but contributions to Marian Homes appreciated.
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June 24 – 9AM to 12PM – Rolling Valley Park and Ride - Cohosted by Supervisor Herrity and Crime Solvers, free but contributions to Crime Solvers appreciated.
Working with our community and business sponsors, I am also expanding my summer concert series and will again be hosting kids events before some of the concerts. These will not make up for the loss of the Celebrate Fairfax Fair but will provide residents an opportunity for live music and kids events.
Bike to Work Day – My office will be hosting a Bike to Work Day pit stop on May 19th from 6-9am at the West Springfield Government Center. Registration is free and open to anyone – teleworkers included. The first 50 people who register for the West Springfield Government Center pit stop and stop by will receive a free T-shirt. In addition, anyone who comes on a bike can fuel up for the workday with a free Chick-fil-a breakfast sandwich!
I encourage you to plan to start out your workday or school day on May 19th with this fun and healthy activity. For more information on this regional event and to register for my pit stop, visit here.
Teen Job Fairs – My 2023 Teen Job Fairs Series ended in March with a great turnout at Chantilly High School, following two great fairs at West Springfield High School and South County High School. The fairs connected over 1,500 students from all over the county with over 100 businesses offering opportunities ranging from full-time positions to seasonal positions, to volunteer opportunities. I was glad to see a number of new and returning local employers including the Fairfax County Park Authority, all branches of the United States military, Paisanos, Merrifield Garden Center, and many more.
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The Teen Job Fairs are some of my favorite events to put on each year as they have provided thousands of teenagers the invaluable opportunity to find their first job, while also helping our local businesses fulfill their staffing needs with talented students. This year, numerous students walked away with a job, scheduled interviews, and introductions to employers. |
Students at the fairs also had the opportunity to attend interview training and resume building workshops hosted by various local organizations. Workshop hosts included Casey Whitmarsh with StateFarm, Monica Jackson with Jackson Child Care, Dale Rumberger with the South County Federation, and Anthony Amos with the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce.
If you did not have a chance to attend one of the fairs, you can still access the list of businesses who participated in the fair as well as workshop materials on the Fairfax County Teen Job Fair website.
A very special thank you to my cosponsors this year: Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), School Board Member Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield), Connection Newspapers, South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, South County Federation, Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and the Chantilly High School STEM Academy.
I hope you will join me for next year’s series!
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Other News and Information
Cox Virginia’s 2023 Education Heroes Grants Deadline on April 10th
Nominations are now open for Cox Virginia’s 2023 Education Heroes grants. Core to Cox’s mission is their commitment to build a better future for the next generation. This grant program is one way they demonstrate that commitment. Here’s what you need to know:
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K-12 public or private school teachers from schools within Cox’s Virginia service area are eligible (unless they already won in 2022!)
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Ten outstanding educators will be awarded $1,000 each for classroom expenses—supplies, field trips, technology, etc.
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Nominations close April 10, 2023. You can nominate a worthy teacher in your community by visiting this link.
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Cox employees volunteer their time to select winners, who will be announced during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.
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Car Seat Saturday on April 15th at West Springfield Police Station
Come by the West Springfield Police Station at 6140 Rolling Road in Springfield to get your car seat inspected on Saturday, April 15, 2023, between 10:00AM and 1:00PM. No appointment is necessary. Car seats will be inspected on a first come, first served basis. When you arrive, come into the lobby and you will be given further directions.
Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself so the inspection can be performed. The seat will be properly re-installed if necessary, and you will learn how to install the seat properly in the future. Any questions please reach out to MPO Tony Capizzi at 703-277-2363 or [email protected] .
All car seat inspections/installations will be conducted by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician.
The FCPD also has car seat inspections, by appointment, every Tuesday from 5:00PM-8:00PM. Please call the station at 703-644-7377 and press zero to make an appointment on those days.
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CRASE Training on April 25th at West Springfield District Station
While we all hope it never happens, an active violence event can take place anywhere in the world. The community needs to be prepared with how to respond, and our officers are here to help with that training. This hour and a half lecture, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 6:30PM-8:00PM, will help participants learn about attackers, disaster response, and how to prepare for and respond to being trapped in a building during an active violence event. They will review past events; the steps law enforcement will take to assist and limit casualties and be there to answer your questions. This training is open to anyone in the community, but some of the material may be disturbing.
This training will be held in the West Springfield District Station community room (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA). If you have any questions about the training, feel free to contact MPO Tony Capizzi at the West Springfield District Station at 703-277-2363.
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Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FFCAS) Hosts Annual Wine, Whiskers, and Wags Gala on May 5th
The Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FFCAS) is a nonprofit fundraising partner of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter to support our pets and four-legged friends in need. They have phenomenal programs that include emergency medical care and procedures, dental care, intake parasite prevention, adoption care packages, and even the provision of small housing units. As a dog owner and animal lover, I am a proud supporter of this exceptional organization and have supported various matters that have come before the Board to help our shelter pets and have attended many of their fundraising events over the years.
One of their biggest events coming up is their Wine, Whiskers, and Wags Gala on May 5th from 7PM to 10PM at Westfields Golf & Country Club. This event will include a performance from a comedian, dinner, a live auction, and more! Proceeds will go to support pets at the shelter. For more information on attending and being a sponsor, please see here.
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Opening for Executive Director Position with the Shepherd Center!
Founded in 2006, the Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting independent and purposeful living and aging-in-place for mature adults. The Executive Director’s position is an opportunity to provide leadership with enthusiasm, skill, and proven ability. The Director reports to a 15-person Board of Directors to implement the organization’s strategic goals and serve as the point person for community engagement. Responsibilities and qualifications include the following:
Primary Responsibilities
- Administer and manage overall operations of SCFB, including staff supervision and evaluation.
- Carry out the mission, strategies and policies of SCFB.
- Lead, support and collaborate with staff, program managers, committees and volunteers to deliver our services and programs effectively and with accountability.
- Support and expand fundraising opportunities together with a volunteer committee.
- Research and apply for applicable grant funding.
- Maintain official records and documents and ensure compliance with governmental regulations.
- Work with Finance Committee to prepare the annual budget.
- Support the Board of Directors and the Council of Representatives in activities and planning.
- Represent SCFB to the community at-large, including community and faith groups, county officials, individuals, corporations, agencies and foundations.
Required Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in management and administration of programs, personnel, and fiscal accountability.
- Excellence in administration with the ability to manage staff, develop volunteer teams, and implement programs.
- Strong organizational skills to manage multiple, time-sensitive priorities and leverage limited resources.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and computer literacy.
For more information and to apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to Carol McGarry, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]
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Email
Office
(703) 451-8873
Website
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Free Summer Concert Series @ Burke Lake Park |
Every Wednesday 7pm
June 28th- August 16th
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Randy Thompson Band
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
The Nighthawks
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
SoHo Down
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Speidel, Goodrich, Goggin & Lille
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
The Skip Castro Band
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
The English Channel
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
The Road Ducks
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
The Colin Thompson Band
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Riptide
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If you're looking to adopt a smart, wiggly, fun pup, then Barbara may be the girl for you! She is an active side kick who's always ready to accompany you on whatever adventure you're about to tackle. Barbara came to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter as a stray and has been adopted out once before. She was returned due to being high energy, strong, and mouthy. We recommend working with a trainer to use positive reinforcement training methods. Barbara is super food motivated, so that should help her along the way with training. If you would like to meet Barbara, click here to arrange a visit.
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