Westbound I-66 Closures Scheduled
All westbound lanes of Interstate 66 will close intermittently between midnight Thursday, Dec. 11 and 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, for the installation of two gantries between the Fairfax County Parkway and Route 28. Each closure will last up to 30 minutes.
Message signs will be posted in advance of the work so that motorists can use alternate routes. The closures will occur between Fairfax County Parkway and Route 28, with each lasting no more than 30 minutes.
The closures are part of the Virginia Department of Transportation's ongoing effort to install 36 new gantries as part of the I-66 Active Traffic Management System. The first gantry went up in mid-November on I-66 East just before Route 28.
The traffic system is scheduled to begin operating between Route 29 in Centreville and the Capital Beltway in early 2015. Visit www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/i-66_atms.asp.
Signal Timing Change
Beginning Monday, Dec. 8, motorists will notice a change in signal timing on northbound Route 28 at New Braddock Road during the morning rush hours, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The change will allow Route 28 traffic to be served twice within one signal cycle. The purpose is to reduce backups and the space between vehicles caused by heavy right turn traffic from northbound Route 28 to New Braddock Road. The signal timing change should allow more vehicles to go through the intersection on northbound Route 28.
Free Carseat Inspections
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, Dec. 18, from 5 p.m. to dusk, at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed.
Because of time constraints, only the first 35 vehicles arriving on each date will be inspected. That way, inspectors may have enough time to properly instruct the caregiver on the correct use of the child seat. (The inspection may be cancelled in the event of inclement weather). Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times.
Food Donations for WFCM
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ food pantry urgently needs donations of canned vegetables (except for green beans), canned pasta and pasta sauces, canned tomatoes, canned fruit, peanut butter, canned and dry beans, and granola bars. Also needed are toiletries, which WFCM clients cannot purchase with food stamps. Especially needed are shampoo, diapers sizes 4 and 5, deodorant, toothpaste and toilet paper.
Bring all items to WFCM’S food pantry, weekdays, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at 13888 Metrotech Drive, near Papa John’s Pizza and Kumon Learning Center, in Chantilly’s Sully Place Shopping Center. A volunteer stocker/bagger is needed Wednesdays, 4-6 p.m. Contact Annette Bosley at 703-988-9656, ext. 110, or abosley@wfcmva.org.
How to Hire CLRC Workers
The Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC) serves businesses and homeowners needing help with just about any home remodeling or maintenance project. And local residents who’d like to hire a worker from the CLRC may do so easily. Either call 703-543-6272 or go to www.centrevilleLRC.org and click on the “How to Hire” link. Tell what kind of work is required, how many workers are needed and when.
The CLRC will match the needs to its registered workers’ skills and set up the job. The price for work will be negotiated. After the job is completed, employers are encouraged to provide the CLRC with feedback to ensure that the work was done well and to their satisfaction and to make sure the workers are fairly paid.
Meals on Wheels Volunteers
Fairfax County needs Meals on Wheels drivers in Chantilly and group Meals on Wheels coordinators in both Chantilly and Fairfax. Contact Volunteer Solutions at 703-324-5406, TTY 711, VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/volunteer-solutions.htm.
Long-Term Care Advocates
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteer advocates for residents in assisted living and nursing facilities. Training is provided in March. Call 703-324-5861, TTY 711 or email Lisa.Callahan@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Give Caregivers a Break
Fairfax County needs Respite Care volunteers throughout the county to give family caregivers of a frail older adult a well-deserved break. Volunteers visit and oversee the safety of the older adult for a few hours each month. Volunteers are matched with families in or near their own neighborhoods. Support and training is provided. Contact Kristin Martin at 703-324-7577, TTY 711, or Kristin.Martin@fairfaxcounty.gov.
How to Help the CLRC
The Centreville Labor Resource Center (CLRC) needs volunteers to lead vocational training workshops to increase the workers’ job skills. A Wednesday morning ESOL instructor is also needed; contact Molly Maddra at coordinator@centrevilleLRC.org for more information.
In addition, contributions to CLRC may be made at www.centrevilleimmigrationforum.org. The organization is supported totally by grants and donations; it receives no government funding.
Drive Seniors to Appointments
Fairfax County needs volunteers to drive older adults to medical appointments and wellness programs. Call 703-324-5406, TTY 711, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and link to Volunteer Solutions or email VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Personal Trainer Is Needed
The Sully Senior Center, at 5690 Sully Road in Centreville, needs a certified personal trainer – preferably, one with experience working with older adults – for one hour, two days a week. For these and other volunteer opportunities, call 703-324-5406 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer Solutions.
Women’s Self Defense Program
The Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation is partnering with the Fairfax County Police Department to offer the Women’s Self Defense Training program. It’s based on the SAFE program formerly provided by the Police Department, but now being taught by C&J Security Corp.
The program is a two-day class that will meet on consecutive Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15-9:30 p.m. It’s currently offered free and all class materials are included. Program funding is provided through the Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation.
The course is offered to females, age 13 and older. A female guardian must accompany girls 13-18. No men other than the instructors are permitted to be present during a class. For more information, call 703-246-7806, e-mail WSD@fairfaxfoundation.org or go to www.fairfaxfoundation.org.
Police, Fire Games Help Needed
The 2015 World Police and Fire Games will need upwards of 3,000 people to take on a variety of roles across the National Capital Region. These include welcoming visitors, transporting athletes, joining the medical team, assisting sports coordinators, helping out behind the scenes on the technology team. Visit http://fairfax2015.com/volunteer.