Firefighters Offer Safety Checks
Firefighters will resume their Safety In Our Community (SIOC) and Wellness In Our Community (WIOC) safety and wellness program Saturday afternoon, March 21, throughout Fairfax County.
They will be in neighborhoods checking and installing smoke alarms, providing seasonal fire and life safety tips, and offering escape plans for families on this first day of spring. Firefighters will leave behind a door hanger with seasonal and wellness safety tips for those not at home.
To request the installation of a smoke alarm, or a visual smoke alarm for the deaf and hard of hearing, at no cost, call 703-246-3801, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr.
The smoke alarms are being provided by a federal grant sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security.
Amazing Farm Fun Arrives
Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m. marks the grand opening of Ticonderoga Farm’s Amazing Farm Fun located on 1,000 acres of undeveloped land in the heart of South Riding on the border of Fairfax County and Loudoun County.
The farm has been transformed with a 750-foot pedal kart track, hay rides, Totland pee-wee kart track, two 40x60 foot bouncy
pillows, sliding hills, cow train, panda bamboo maze, Goat City, pony rides and an aviary.
Hog Wild BBQ will be providing customers with hot of the grill, BBQ options with award-winning side dishes and desserts. Additionally, a partnership with Domino’s pizza allows customers another fresh, kid-friendly, made-to-order option. Funnel cake, root beer floats, cotton candy and fried Oreos will temp all ages.
Berg pedal karts, local artisans and crafters, a partnership with Melissa & Doug children’s toys, produce, honey, jams & jellies and farm fresh eggs add an eclectic assortment of products in the fully enclosed Farm Market. A portion of the proceeds will be donated from the Farm Market to The National Botanic Garden’s future educational programming.
Hours of operation (beginning March 21) are: Monday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunts will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 21-22, March 28- 29, April 4-5. There will be three3 age categories for all egg hunts.
Litzenberger’s Campaign Kickoff
Sully District Planning Commissioner John Litzenberger has filed
to run for Sully District Supervisor. He’s served on the Fairfax County
Planning Commission for the past eight years and will hold a Campaign
Kickoff rally Tuesday, March 24, from 6-8 p.m., at the Winery at Bull Run,
15950 Lee Hwy. in Centreville.
Free Carseat Inspections
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, March 26, from 5 - 8:30 p.m, 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.
Learn about Police Department
Throughout the year, the Fairfax County Police Department will host a series of lectures as part of its 75th anniversary.
- April 20 – Public Safety Communications – Call taking, Dispatching, and Technology, 2 p.m. at MPSTOC community room
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-safety-communications-call-taking-dispatching-and-technology-tickets-15373766349
May 22 – The Police Canine (K-9) Team, 1 p.m. at OSB https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fcpd-canine-k-9-team-tickets-15373824523
May 25 - The Development of the FCPD Badge, noon at the Massey Building A Level small conference room https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-development-of-the-fcpd-badge-tickets-15373875676
June 11 – 2002 Washington area Sniper Task Force Investigation, 10 a.m. at the Massey Building A Level conference room https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002-washington-area-sniper-task-force-investigation-tickets-15373977982
July 23 – The Departments growth in relation to the county’s development, 11 a.m. at the Criminal Justice Academy https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-departments-growth-in-relation-to-the-countys-development-tickets-15374059225
Aug. 10 – SWAT – Tools, Tactics, and Technology, 11 a.m. at the West Springfield District community room https://www.eventbrite.com/e/swat-tools-tactics-and-technology-tickets-15374108372
Sept. 16 – Helicopter Division, 10 a.m. at the Criminal Justice Academy https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fcpd-helicopter-division-tickets-15374129435
Oct. 2 – Early days of Diversity, 11 a.m. at the Massey Building A Level conference room https://www.eventbrite.com/e/early-days-of-diversity-tickets-15374156516
Nov. 4 – Criminal Justice Academy, 11 a.m. at the Criminal Justice Academy https://www.eventbrite.com/e/criminal-justice-academy-tickets-15374248792
Dec. 14 – Crisis Negotiations Team, 11 a.m. at the Criminal Justice Academy https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fcpd-crisis-negotiations-team-tickets-15374274870
Food Donations for WFCM
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ food pantry needs donations of canned fruit (all types), fruit juices, cooking oil, sugar, canned meats (tuna, chicken), hot cereals, pasta sauce, flour, canned or dry beans, and small bottles dish soap. Also needed are toiletries, which WFCM clients cannot purchase with food stamps. Especially needed are shampoo and solid deodorant.
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.