Donate Blood, Save Lives
Total Framing, at 9528 Main St. in Fairfax, will hold its second annual blood drive in honor of Owen Wicks (the son of a Clifton Elementary alumnus) and Ryan Dillon (whose father was a former Clifton Elementary P.E. teacher). Both lost their battles with Osteosarcoma earlier this year, but this blood drive is to honor their memories and help others battling cancer and other diseases and conditions requiring transfusions.
The drive is set for Saturday, Nov. 24, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Inova Bloodmobile will be in the parking lot of the turnpike Shopping Center in Fairfax. To register, visit www.inova.org/donateblood, click on “schedule a donation,” then click on “donate blood” and use sponsor code 7848. Or contact Terri Price at 703-426-0660 or terri@totalframing.biz.
A photo ID is required, and all donors will receive a goodie bag full of surprises. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Since blood donations drop dramatically during the holidays, the need is critical during this time of year.
Helping Keep Children Safe
City of Fairfax police, in conjunction with the Optimist Club of Fairfax, will be offering Safe Assured identification kits for children on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at police headquarters at 3730 Old Lee Highway.
Parents will receive a full-color photo ID and a mini-CD containing digital fingerprints, a digital photo, video showing movement and mannerisms, a general physical description, vital personal information and a family code word. Private information is encrypted and accessible only by law-enforcement personnel.
Missing-persons posters can be created and printed directly from the CD in English, Spanish and French. The Safe Assured ID kits can also be used as a valuable aid for adults with special needs. The kits are free and an appointment is necessary. Call Sgt. Joe Johnson at 703-385-7966 for further information and to make appointments.
Shop; Help Military Families
A Salute the Military craft boutique and family funfest will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the GMU field house at Ox Road and University Drive in Fairfax. Admission is $3/person, $8/family; children under 10 are free. There’ll be more than 100 vendors, plus a scavenger hunt, crafts and games for children. Santa will be there from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Proceeds support military charities.
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, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road in Fairfax. For more information, call 703-324-5052.
First Bike Sharing System Implemented at GMU
GMU recently implemented a bike sharing system at four "stations" around campus. Patriot Bikeshare uses bikes from viaCycle. The bikes are parked at designated bike racks using an attached cable locking system. To use the system, people may either pay a one-time $3 fee to check out a bike for 12 hours or a subscription fee of $6/month available to GMU students, faculty or staff. Guests may also use the system. The first two hours of use are free.
New Bicycle Staff Person
Fairfax County DOT recently hired a new bicycle (and pedestrian) staff person, Vanessa Aguayo, to work in the County bike program. She has an engineering background, plus a great deal of private-sector experience in designing bike and pedestrian projects, as well as traffic calming.