All Fairfax

Video: Tips for Calling Fairfax County 9-1-1

2012-05-25T10:24:00.000-04:00

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No Tax Rate Increase for Town of Herndon

2012-04-29T13:21:00.000-04:00

The Herndon Town Council has adopted an ordinance that calls for maintenance of the town’s real estate tax, meals tax and all other taxes and levies at their current levels, for the upcoming fiscal year. As per the approved ordinance, Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 real estate tax rates within the town will remain at $0.2650 per $100 of assessed value.

The average residential property value in the town is $289,913, resulting in an average real estate tax bill of $768.27.
The town’s meals tax remains at 2.5 percent for FY 2013, and the cigarette tax remains at 75 cents per pack.
All business, professional and occupational license taxes (BPOL) classifications and thresholds remain at their current amounts.
The motor vehicle license fee remains at $25 for private passenger and other vehicles weighing less than 4,000 lbs; and $32 for vehicles weighing more than 4,000 lbs.
The consumer utility tax, water and sewer rates and availability fees, and recycling fees remain unchanged, and there is no personal property tax in the town.

At its public hearing on April 24, the council deferred until May 8, a decision on fiscal planning, funds appropriation, establishment of a pay plan and reservation of ongoing and capital funding for FY 2013. The deferral is intended to give the council and staff time to analyze the impact that Fairfax County’s pending budget decisions, anticipated to be determined by the county’s Board of Supervisors on May 1, as well as changes to the Virginia Retirement System mandated by newly-instituted Virginia law, will have on the town’s budget.

A public hearing on these remaining issues is scheduled for May 8, 7pm, Ingram Council Chambers, 765 Lynn Street, Herndon. Citizens may also provide comment online at www.herndon-va.gov or send an email to budget@herndon-va.gov.

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Video: Wolf Trap

2012-04-28T09:49:00.002-04:00

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Water Safety Day Tomorrow to Prepare Families for Safe, Summer Fun

2012-04-27T14:40:00.006-04:00

National Water Safety Month is observed each May and this year Fairfax County Park Authority RECenters are kicking off the awareness month with Water Safety Day.

Tomorrow, from 1 to 3 p.m., all nine RECenters will offer water safety lessons. With trips to the beach and fun days splashing at water parks fast approaching, Water Safety Day is the perfect time to learn or relearn how to stay safe in the water.

Water safety tips for parents to know:

Always swim with a buddy.
Avoid water wings; wear a life jacket instead.
Keep young children within arms’ reach at all times.
Never drink water from pools, lakes, rivers, or oceans.
Teach kids to swim. It’s the best way to stay safe in the water.

Activities and prizes are included in the cost of admission. Call your local RECenter for site specific details. For a list of RECenters, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/wp-recenter.htm.

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Riverbend Park Amphibian Survey Today

2012-04-27T06:03:00.000-04:00

Visit Riverbend Park today, Friday, April 27, and assist park naturalists with a calling amphibian survey at the nature center from 7:30 until 9 p.m.

Learn how to identify frogs and toads by their calls. Participants must be at least seven years old.

The cost is $7 per person. You can register online or call 703-222-4664. For more information call the site at 703-759-9018.

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National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

2012-04-26T17:59:00.000-04:00

It's "National Severe Weather Preparedness Week" and FEMA, NOAA and Fairfax County's Office of Emergency Management is encouraging county residents to prepare for extreme weather.

“Know your risk, take action, and be a force of nature” by taking proactive preparedness measures and inspiring others to do the same during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week.

Learn more.

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There's an App to Report that to the Fairfax County Crime Solvers

2012-04-26T10:54:00.000-04:00

Fairfax County Crime Solvers has provided an anonymous tip line for the public to report crime since 1979. In 2008, Crime Solvers introduced secure text and email capabilities. And now, the crime fighting group announces a new smartphone app to further the public’s ability to report crimes anonymously!

The free app, TipSubmit, is the first app of its kind and works on both the iPhone and Android phones. It allows the public to anonymously submit tips to police through their local Crime Solvers program. This mobile app works with the existing TipSoft software already utilized by Fairfax County Crime Solvers for their text and email tips. However, the app offers even more because it has the ability to use GPS to auto-locate the nearest Crime Solvers program or law enforcement agency. Users may also manually select a location for their tip. Tipsters may include photos and videos with their tips.

In Virginia, tipsters and their information are protected under state law (15.2-1713.1) when their information is reported to a certified Crime Solvers program. For the tipster that fears retaliation, this state law is essential. It allows the tipster to communicate through a Crime Solvers program and still maintain their anonymity. As with the text and email capabilities, this app continues to promote that two-way communication, allowing real-time chat between the tipster and program.

Smart phone users are encouraged to download this free app and use it when you have information on a crime or a wanted person. For additional information on this new app, visit http://tipsoft.com/index.asp?P=TipSubmitMobile.

For crimes occurring in Fairfax County, tipsters may continue to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), e-mail tips at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).

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Earth Day/Arbor Day Events This Weekend

2012-04-25T12:06:00.000-04:00

Join Fairfax County this weekend for Earth Day/Arbor Day events.

Saturday, April 28 – Earth Day/Arbor Day Festival
The county’s annual Earth Day/Arbor Day Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax). This is a fun event for participants of all ages with games, activities, hikes, entertainment and exhibits all designed to highlight the value of our local environment. As part of this year’s celebration the county will be hosting secure document shredding opportunity, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Fairfax County Government Center. The county will accept up to five boxes of personal documents from each household for on-site shredding.

Sunday, April 29 – Electric Sunday
Electric Sunday will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax). Residents may recycle old televisions, computers and peripheral electronics – including speakers, printers, scanners, etc. – along with their unbroken fluorescent tubes and light bulbs.

Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/recycling or call the Recycling InfoLine at 703-324-5052 for more details.

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Fairfax County Police Encourage Residents to Be Smart on Trails & Paths

2012-04-24T10:44:00.009-04:00

Warm weather is here. People are venturing outdoors for leisurely walks, invigorating exercise and taking advantage of Fairfax County’s trails.

The Fairfax County Police Department encourages residents to be smart and take precautions when using trails, parks, paths and remote roadways in Fairfax County.

While Fairfax County has among the lowest number of violent crimes in the country, many outdoor crimes include indecent exposures, drug and narcotic offenses, trespassing, destruction of property and assault offenses.

The police have safety in mind and officers proactively patrol the county’s trails, roads and pathways every day, searching for suspicious activity. They are out on foot, in their police cars or riding bicycles through neighborhoods, local parks or shopping centers. Crime Prevention Officers also play a vital role by meeting with residents, merchants and shoppers; they share helpful personal safety tips and crime deterrence information.

You are encouraged to follow these essential safety tips:

Try not to go out alone; if you do, make sure someone knows where you will be and when you expect to return.
If possible, avoid using trails after dark.
Do not use headphones at a high volume; make sure you can hear what’s going on around you.
Always look ahead and see what or who is around you. (Also if exercising, watch out for potholes, gates and other trail users and obey traffic signals.)
Call 9-1-1 if you feel you are in imminent danger.
Carry your cell phone with you at all times and pre-program 9-1-1 into your phone.*
Call the non-emergency number if you see any suspicious activity.*
Suspicious activity is any person, noise, car or event that doesn’t feel right to you.
The non-emergency number in Fairfax County is: 703-691-2131. It might be beneficial to pre-program your local police department’s non-emergency number into your phone.
Always lock your car doors and if driving to a trail or park, leave your valuables at home! If you do bring them, lock them in the trunk but beware of someone watching you do this.
Valuables commonly stolen from parked vehicles include GPS units, laptop computers, blue tooth devices, CDs, purses/wallets.
Remove any empty bags or briefcases from your vehicle to allay criminals’ curiosities.
Clean the GPS suction cup circle from your windshield.

Do not hesitate to call the police. If you see something suspicious or are the victim of a crime (even if you are not hurt), the sooner you call the police, the more likely police can locate a suspect, individual or vehicle.

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I-495 Express Lane Construction

2012-04-23T12:40:00.009-04:00

Express Lane construction in and around Tyson's Corner I-495. (Photo by Trevor Wrayton, VDOT)

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Celebrate Fairfax Will Be Here Soon... Here's a Video Sneak Peek

2012-04-22T15:46:00.002-04:00

Celebrate Fairfax is June 8-10. For more information, visit www.celebratefairfax.com.

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Wakefield Skatepark Expansion

2012-04-21T12:43:00.005-04:00

The Fairfax County Park Authority recently broke ground on an expansion project at the Wakefield Skatepark. The $388,000 project will add 6,220 square feet of concrete skating area. The skatepark expansion at the popular Annandale facility is designed in the plaza style and does not include any large vertical ramps or bowls.

All features will be constructed of concrete with steel edges to replicate elements skaters would find in typical public spaces such as benches, stairs, curbs and ramps. Funding for the expansion project is provided through the 2008 Park Bond.

The expansion will be completed later this summer.

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Fairfax Connector Public Meetings Scheduled for Next Week

2012-04-20T11:31:00.000-04:00

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold two public meetings Monday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 24 to discuss proposed Fairfax Connector service changes and future bus service plans.

The meetings will provide information regarding the upcoming June changes, including schedule and routing adjustments to 16 existing routes as well as the creation of a new route from Tysons Corner to Dulles Airport. Additional discussion topics include future plans for 495 Express Lanes, Dulles Rail Phase I, Tysons circulator routes and south county service changes for the fall. The results of the Tysons Circulator Study will be discussed at the April 24 meeting only.

The meeting schedule is:

Monday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m.
North County Governmental Center: 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston
Community Room
Transit: Fairfax Connector routes RIBS 1 and RIBS 3
Tuesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church
Cafeteria
Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 401 and 402, Metrobus 1C

For information visit www.fairfaxconnector.com.

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Fairfax County Farmers Markets Open 2012 Season

2012-04-19T09:35:00.007-04:00

As in years past, the first week of May signals the opening of the Fairfax County Farmers Markets.

Wednesday, May 2, is the kick-off day with the McCutcheon/Mt. Vernon, Oak Marr and Wakefield markets all opening for the first time this season. The rest of the 11 markets sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority will be opening throughout the week and will remain open through November.

The Fairfax County Farmers Markets are a “producer-only”, locally grown, market system. All vendors come from within a 125-mile radius from Fairfax County and must grow or produce all products they sell at the market. The farmers markets offer shoppers the opportunity to ask questions and connect with farmers and producers whose food and plants they buy. Supporting local farmers helps preserve farmland while protecting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

In May, the markets are teeming with the early season harvest of strawberries, asparagus, spring onions, salad greens, radishes, Swiss chard and beets. Late season apples carefully kept in cold storage are as crisp as the day they were picked. If you want to start your own herb garden, potted herbs to include sage, lavender, oregano, thyme, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, chives, dill and basil are available. For the backyard gardeners there are pepper and tomato plants. Other annual flowers and hanging baskets round out the plant offerings. Perennial and annual plants and flowers are available throughout the market season.

Other fare at the farmers’ markets include artisan breads, cheeses, beef, pork, chicken, sausages, fresh farm eggs, salsas, hummus, jams, jellies, pickles, honey, pasta, pesto, goat cheese spreads, ice cream and fresh milk and milk products. New products added this year include hot sauce, kale chips and fresh-made mustards!

For a Produce Guide of harvest times go online at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/pdf/producechart.pdf.

For more information, including locations, directions and a list of vendors at each market go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets or contact the Community Horticulture Office at 703-642-0128.

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Braddock District Listening Forum Tonight at 7 p.m.

2012-04-19T07:48:00.003-04:00

Join in an open discussion about parks in your community with Fairfax County Park Authority Director John Dargle Jr., at tonight's Braddock District Listening Forum.

Be a part of the conversation at Wakefield Chapel tonight, Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. This is the perfect venue for sharing thoughts, suggestions and concerns.

Wakefield Chapel is located at 8415 Toll House Road in Annandale. For more information, call 703-324-8662.

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Town of Herndon FY2013 Budget

2012-04-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

Herndon Town Manager Arthur A. Anselene has proposed a FY 2013 budget of $46,116,950, a 1.9 percent increase over the adopted FY 2012 budget.

The complete budget is available online at www.herndon-va.gov and hard copies are available for review at the Herndon Municipal Center and Herndon Fortnightly Library.

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the budget next Tuesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in the Ingram Council Chambers, 765 Lynn Street. Residents may also submit comments about the budget online at www.herndon-va.gov or send an email to budget@herndon-va.gov .

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An Inside Look at a DWI Checkpoint

2012-04-16T13:35:00.011-04:00

The Fairfax County Police Department aggressively patrols the roadways for drunk and impaired drivers. Sobriety checkpoints are one of the tools that police use to make sure drivers are not consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel. Along with publicity and awareness, checkpoints have proven to be effective in the fight against drunk driving. Each week, hundreds of motorists pass through checkpoints and many are screened for alcohol use.

To learn more about Fairfax County Police Department sobriety checkpoints, contact the agency DWI Coordinator at 703-280-0570.

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Metro Rail Construction from Falls Church to Tysons Corner

2012-04-15T15:47:00.003-04:00

Photo by Trevor Wrayton, VDOT

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Fairfax County Animal Shelter Recognized for Animal Rescue and Programs

2012-04-15T10:32:00.007-04:00

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter recently received awards from the Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG) for two programs and a large-scale animal rescue in 2010 - 2011.

The Fairfax County Animal Services Division won the Council of Governments’ Animal Rescue Story of 2010-2011 award for a case that involved the rescue of more than 160 cats. These cats were found in a single family home in which animal control officers worked for several days to remove. Shelter staff and volunteers provided care and treatment for the cats throughout a five-month period to get many of the cats adopted or transferred to rescue organizations.

The shelter also received the Community Impact Award for its spay/neuter program which provides high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter for citizens’ animals and free trap, neuter and return (TNR) for feral cats. To date, more than 4,200 animals have been spayed or neutered with feral cats comprising nearly 45 percent of the total animals going to the low-cost clinic. The TNR program has resulted in nearly a 10 percent decrease in the intake of the offspring of feral cats requiring foster care, a 41 percent decrease in neonatal kitten intake and a 58 percent decrease in feral kitten intake into the foster program in 2010 versus 2011.

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This Week is National Public Safety Telecommunicator's Week

2012-04-14T08:28:00.004-04:00

This week, April 8-14, the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications (also known as the 9-1-1 Center) is celebrating Public Safety Telecommunications Week. In 1992, Congress established the second week in April as National Public Safety Telecommunicator's Week to bring recognition to the more than 200,000 men and women of 9-1-1 who everyday... as the First of the First Responders are instrumental in helping save countless lives and dispatching law enforcement, fire rescue and emergency medical services personnel.

Since DPSC was established in 2005, this week has honored the personnel of DPSC for the outstanding services they provide to the citizens of Fairfax County, the police department and fire-rescue department.

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Antiques and Trinkets Appraisal Show in Fairfax City Tomorrow

2012-04-13T11:22:00.008-04:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Green Acres Center, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, there will be an Antiques and Trinkets Appraisal Show sponsored by the City of Fairfax Young at Heart Senior Center.

The appraisal show features verbal appraisals only. Admission is $4 and includes 1 item; additional items are $2 each with a limit of two.

Call 703-273-6090 or 703-359-2487 for directions and information.

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Secure Shredding Event Tomorrow at Springfield District Government Center

2012-04-13T11:03:00.003-04:00

Fairfax County will host a secure document shredding event tomorrow, Saturday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to Noon at the Springfield District Government Center (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield).

Fairfax County residents may shred up to 5 boxes of personal documents per household at no charge. Please remove all paper from binders and remove binder clips, plastic page covers and binding. Information stored on film or computer disks will not be accepted – paper documents only. All documents will be securely shredded on-site by a private contractor and the shredded material will be taken to a local recycling facility for processing.

Complete details can be found on the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program’s web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/recycling, or by calling the Recycling InfoLine at 703-324-5052.

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Waples Mill Road Detour This Weekend for Road Work

2012-04-12T14:40:00.007-04:00

Waples Mill Road will be closed between Route 50 and Oakton Road from 9 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, April 13 until 9 p.m. Monday, April 16 while the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) replaces two metal pipes that were damaged last fall during Tropical Storm Lee.

Local traffic will have access to Waples Mill Road throughout the weekend via Route 50. Thru traffic will follow a posted detour using either Stringfellow Road or Jermantown Road.

Repairs include installing a concrete pipe and stone, replacing guardrail and stabilizing the slope.

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Swing Dance at the Sherwood Center in Fairfax City this Saturday Night

2012-04-12T09:16:00.013-04:00

Join your friends this Saturday, April 14, at the Sherwood Center, 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax for a night of Swing Dancing and music!

The evening starts with a drop-in beginner swing lesson from 7:30-8 p.m.; the dance is from 8-11 p.m. and features the Fabulettes, who will recreate the fun and frantic era of rock history. The cost is only $15 at door.

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New Public Works Superintendent for Town of Herndon

2012-04-11T22:32:00.000-04:00

Robert B. Boxer, director of Public Works for the Town of Herndon, yesterday announced the promotion of Charles T. Kemp to the post of superintendent of Public Works. Kemp had been serving as acting superintendent following the departure of long-time superintendent Sonny Lynch in July 2011.

According to a Herndon press release, Kemp has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining the town’s Department of Public Works in 1986 as an engineering technician. Since 1993, he has served as the department’s general services administrator.

In his new role, Kemp assumes responsibility for direction of the department’s field and emergency operations to include snow removal, refuse/recycling collection, infrastructure maintenance, and management of the department’s field operations staff.

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