<sh>Job Fair for Evacuees of Hurricane Katrina
<bt>The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, a charter member of Fairfax Families Care, today announced the two organizations will co-host a job fair for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
The event will take place on Oct. 28 at the Tysons Corner Marriott, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The job fair will aid many of the 1,000 evacuees from the Gulf Coast region who have temporarily relocated to Northern Virginia.
Fairfax Families Care, a regional coalition of government, schools, PTAs, businesses, nonprofit and nongovernmental officials, was established to support those evacuated from their homes due to Hurricane Katrina and have relocated to Fairfax County.
This second phase of relief efforts is to provide evacuees with jobs, housing and schooling for nine months or more, while their home communities are being repaired; and to provide a means through which Fairfax County residents can provide tangible help.
Fairfax Families Care was established to give temporary relief to those displaced, including placing children in schools for the year and aiding those seeking housing and employment. The Fairfax County Chamber, in conjunction with the county’s Department of Family Services and the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board’s SkillSource, has been helping aiding job seekers since the middle of September.
To date, the Northern Virginia business community has offered nearly 400 jobs to those displaced and seeking employment.
<sh>Stream Cleanup
<bt> Fairfax Trails and Streams' fall cleanup of Pimmit Run will be held from 9 a.m. - noon Saturday Oct. 29. Cleanup sites are throughout the McLean area, for specific sites contact Molly de Marcellus at mollydemar@aol.com, call 703-883-0201 or contact Cathy Saunders at catheris@capaccess.org or call 703-534-4494.
<sh>14th Annual Halloween Spooktacular
<bt>On Monday, Oct. 31, Great Falls Friends will be hosting the annual "Halloween Spookctacular and Fall Festival" from 5:30-7:30p.m. in the Great Falls Village Centre. Children ages 6 and under may visit during the first hour, and children ages 6-10 may visit during the second hour. Older siblings are invited to chaperone. The Great Falls Newcomers will be creating a "Spook House" and Hill Signature Portraits will be taking Halloween pictures of the trick or treaters with the assistance of the Great Falls Optimist Club. Safety will be provided by the Fairfax County Police Dept. Reston District Station and the Great Falls Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad. They will be standing by to hand out candy, and the Great Falls Hose Company will bring their 1960 Peterpirson Fire Truck. If you would like more information, or to volunteer, please contact Mike Mullen at 703-759-1993.
<sh>DCWASA to Present Sewer Project
<bt>On Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m., the Great Falls Citizens Association urges the residents of Great Falls to come and hear about the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority's (DCWASA) plans to re-line a 1-mile section of the Potomac Interceptor that runs under Great Falls, as well as its plans to build an active odor control facility on an easement on Northern Virginia Park Authority property along the Potomac River.
<sh>McLean Police Sobriety Checkpoint Results
<bt>Fairfax County police officers from the McLean District Station conducted a sobriety checkpoint from 11p.m. - 2a.m. on Friday, Oct. 15. All motorists were stopped and drivers were checked to assure their abilities to drive had not been impaired by alcohol or drugs. Approximately 767 cars passed through the checkpoint which was conducted on Lee Highway at Merrilee Dr. in both the east and westbound directions. Two motorists were arrested for driving while intoxicated, two motorists were cited for driving on a suspended license, two were cited for no license possession and one was cited for no seat belt in use.
<sh>Veterans Day Memorial Service
<bt>On Friday, Nov. 11th at 12:30p.m., Friends of the Great Falls Memorial will hold a service in honor of our country's veterans of war. Dranesville District Supervisor Joan Dubios will attend, and Vietnam veteran Andrew Wilson will be the guest speaker. For more information, contact Bob Pattavina at 703-759-7727. Friends of the Great Falls Memorial is seeking new members. Please contact Janet Pattavina at 703-759-7727, or Sarah Hilgartner at 703-759-2617.
<sh>Police Issue Deer Advisory
<bt>The Fairfax County Police Dept. is advising citizens to be extra vigilant for deer while driving during Oct.-Dec. To avoid a dangerous and often costly collision with deer this fall, police offer the following driving tips: always wear your seat belt to reduce the possibility of injury in case of collision; drive cautiously and be especially attentive at dusk and dawn; should you spot a deer near the roadway, slow down, honk your horn and be ready for the animal to dart into the road; if a deer runs into the roadway, try to slow down or brake without swerving; if you cannot avoid hitting a deer, slow down, grasp the steering wheel with both hands and take your foot off the brake at the time of impact in order to force the deer under your car rather than over it. If you injure or kill a deer in a collision, please call the Fairfax County Police non-emergency line at 703-691-2131. In 2004, there were 136 reportable crashes between vehicles and deer in Fairfax County, with 13 resulting in injuries to people. However, the actual number of collisions is likely between 3-5000.
<sh>Award-Winning Local Artist Hangs First Solo Show
<bt>Long-time Great Falls resident, Jill Banks' first solo show, "Feast for the Eyes" at the Great Falls Library is on exhibit throughout November. The opening reception takes place Saturday, November 5 from 3-6 p.m. for the exhibit that features drawings plus 30 still life and figure paintings including her portrait "Alice with a Bad Case of Wanderlust" that won first prize at the Torpedo Factory for the July 2005 All-Media Membership Show out of 591 entries. Banks will conduct a portrait painting demonstration in the Great Falls Library Meeting Room on Saturday, November 12 from noon to 3 p.m. Since seats are limited, email jillbanks1@aol.com or call 703-448-3886 for that event. Call Jill Banks at 703-448-3886 or visit www.jillbanks.com.
<sh>County Seeks Input for Middle Potomac Watersheds Plan
<bt>On Tuesday, Nov. 1, Fairfax County will sponsor a watershed plan workshop for residents and businesses within the Middle Potomac watersheds, which include Pimmit Run, Scotts Run, Turkey Run, Dead Run and Bull Neck Run. The workshop will be held at Longfellow Middle School, 2000 Westmoreland Street, McLean, from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.
Fairfax County is seeking public input to review ideas proposed to protect and restore the watersheds of the Middle Potomac. There will be displays with information about the watersheds beginning at 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., attendees will sign up to participate in a discussion about their watershed, followed by a presentation about the watersheds’ problems and proposed solutions at 7:30 p.m. Attendees will then break into discussion groups to evaluate specific projects and provide feedback for the five watersheds.
A watershed is the land area that drains to a particular stream or water body. This first draft of the watershed plan provides the proposed strategy for managing land to reduce pollution, protect health and safety and provide opportunities for safe public enjoyment of the stream valleys. The Middle Potomac Watersheds Management Plan is part of a comprehensive county strategy to develop management plans for all of the county's 30 watersheds.
Visit the Fairfax County watersheds Web site at www.fairfaxcounty-watersheds.net. Click on "find a watershed" and choose any of the five Middle Potomac watersheds or call 703-324-5500, TTY 711.