Woodson Band Receives Flag of Honor
On May 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the W.T. Woodson High School auditorium at 9525 Main Street in Fairfax the Woodson Band will receive the Sudler Flag of Honor. This award is an International Award recognizing High School Concert Bands of Outstanding Music Excellence. This award is given annually by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to the top high school band programs in the United States, Canada, and Japan. The award has been in existence since 1983 and in that time, only 68 bands have received this award. Melinda McKenzie Hall is only the second woman band director to receive this award in its 29-year history.
Pet Adoption
A Forever Home Rescue Foundation (www.aforeverhome.org) is having a huge adoption event on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in conjunction with
Farrish Subaru's Grand Opening. There will be a lot of dogs and puppies available for adoptions as well as food, drinks and fun at 10407 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Recycle During Electric Sunday
Residents may recycle old TVs, computers, peripheral electronic devices – such as keyboards, speakers, printers and scanners, as well as household hazardous wastes – including fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, for free, during Fairfax County’s "Electric Sunday" events. The next one is slated for Sunday, May 20, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the I-66 transfer station at 4618 West Ox Road in Fairfax. For more information, call 703-324-5052.
‘Click It or Ticket’
From May 21-June 3, City of Fairfax police will focus on enforcing seat-belt use, as well as all traffic laws, during the 2012 national Click It or Ticket campaign. Motorists found to be in violation of the requirement to buckle up will be subject to citations carrying a $25 fine. According to statewide statistics, while Virginia’s seat-belt use rate increased to 81.8 percent in 2011, 306 of the reported 765 traffic fatalities were unrestrained at the time of the crash.
Older Cats Need Homes, Too
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is hosting a special adoption event featuring senior cats. Shelter officials say they’ll be "Rockin’ n’ Adopt’n with the oldies but goodies" during the event. Adoptions will take place Thursday-Friday, May 17-18, from noon-6:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the shelter at 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax.
Special adoption fees for cats, 5 years and older, will be $15 – half the normal fee. These cats will receive a free spay or neuter and will be current on all vaccinations.
Adopters will receive a Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter gift bag with a cat bed, food, scratching box and cat toys. Anyone adopting a cat, 7 years or older, will also receive a free full panel of blood work on that cat (provided by the shelter’s contract veterinarian) to provide basic health information about the feline.
"Senior cats make great pets," says Karen Diviney, shelter director. "They’re often overlooked in animal shelters, but [can be] wonderful additions to a family." For more information, call the shelter at 703-830-1100 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov and click on "animals."
Roadside Mowing Underway
VDOT mowing crews are out working along roadsides in Northern Virginia, so VDOT is reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones where crews are mowing grass, pruning trees, cutting brush and removing litter.
Much of this work is done slowly, so motorists are asked to watch for posted signs, slow-moving trucks and crews along roadsides and in medians. Drivers should also slow down in these areas and move into the opposite lane, where possible, when approaching the work zone. These courtesies allow VDOT crews space to work while helping keep both them and motorists safe.