April 9, 2026
A lot of information, so I will not say much here.
1 – Safety
2 – ECHO News
3 – Information about gas service lines
4 – Unattended vehicles
5 – Free Shredding Events April 18 and 25
6 – Hydrant flushing
7 – Annual Meeting – Thursday, May 14, 7:30PM at Village West Pool Pavillion
8 – Scams
9 – Calendar
1 – If your child has an electric bike, please be aware of its class and top speeds. They are separated into three classes with the top class with a top speed of 28mph while pedaling and 20 mph throttling. With these speeds, it can be dangerous on some of our streets if you are not being cautious. I saw a teenager wearing black riding an all-black e-bike that did not have any reflectors or a light around dusk. I barely noticed them, and they were going very fast. I heard accounts of teenagers in Burke riding on the street and weaving between cars. Please make them aware that a helmet will not do much to protect them if they are going at top speed and collide with a parked or moving vehicle.
Following up from my last newsletter, someone was arrested for sleeping in a vehicle. They were probably the same person checking car doors on several streets to see if they were unlocked that same night. A few neighbors reported someone checking windows on their houses as well. Please keep your house and vehicles secure to prevent someone from entering it.
2 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
April 11 is ECHO’s Spectacular Yard Sale! Don’t Miss It!
On the second Saturday in April, come to St. Bernadette’s gym, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, between 8:00 am and noon to find baskets, jewelry, kitchenware, fashion accessories, purses, home decorations, toys, electronics, and more. Proceeds of the sale support ECHO’s mission to assist people in need in our community. Plus, prices are very reasonable and searching for treasures is fun!
Do You Enjoy Working with Teens?
ECHO needs a few adults who enjoy the company of young people to volunteer with the Teen Program on one or two Wednesday evenings a month. A small group of community service-minded high schoolers volunteer on Wednesday evenings during the school year to help keep our donations organized. ECHO needs a few more adults to work with and supervise this great group of young people. The chair of the Teen Program will be happy to orient new volunteers.
In addition, there are a few volunteer openings on specific days for people who want to work directly with clients or those who want to work with donations. Want more info? Contact our Volunteer Coordinator through our website at www.echo-inc.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/.
Shred and Share Event for Documents and Electronics
You can help ECHO and get your sensitive documents shredded, and your old phones, computers and computer peripherals securely recycled for free at the same time. On Saturday, April 18, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm there will be a Shred and Share Event at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 8336 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield. Though it is not required, this is an opportunity to bring non-perishable food and personal hygiene products donations for ECHO’s Food Pantry.
ECHO Needs for Spring
The ECHO Housewares Department is grateful for the recent donations that have helped provide basic household items to our clients. Your generosity has allowed us to fulfill many immediate requests and better support families in need. Thank you!
ECHO’s most needed food and personal hygiene items at this time are dried beans, lentils, rice, canned fruit, Masa flour, boxed pasta, granulated sugar, toothbrushes, laundry detergent, shampoo and toilet paper.
ECHO is open to receive donations of household goods, clothing and non-perishable food from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as one Saturday morning a month which varies, but is noted on our website www.echo-inc.org. Receipts are cheerfully offered and volunteers are glad to help donors with boxes and bags. Look for the Donation Door sign on the west side of the building.
Please mark your calendar for the Postal Carriers’ Food Drive scheduled for May 9, when Burke and Springfield letter carriers will pick up bags of food donations left at mailboxes as they carry out normal mail delivery, and give those donations to ECHO. This drive is very important to ECHO’s ability to meet food needs during the summer months when many regular donors are on vacation, and few food drives are held.
Upcoming Dates to Note
April 10 - Set-up for Yard Sale
April 11- Yard Sale at St. Bernadette
April 18 - Saturday Opening
April 18 - Shred and Share Event, Kirkwood
May 2 - Saturday Opening
May 6 - Exec Committee meets
May 9 - Letter Carriers Food Drive
May 18 - Bd of Dir Meet
May 25 - Closed for Memorial Day
Congregational and Other Food Drives
April - Congregation Adat Reyim
May - Grace Christian Reformed
For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click any of the links below:
ECHO Food and Clothing Amazon Wish List
3 – A neighbor passed along this information to share regarding their experience with a gas line replacement:
You may be aware that Washington Gas is replacing the gas lines from the street to the houses that are between 6901 and 6911 Brisbane street.
I believe the state requires this work. It replaces old copper lines with new ones (apparently plastic.)
I already have already experienced this - concurrent with substantial foundation repair on my house, in September 2024 Washington Gas replaced the gas line, and, to improve emergency access moved the gas meter to the house exterior. To access the old line and install the new, it required digging a long trench from the street to my house
Washington Gas did a good job replacing the line and moving the meter, but did what I personally describe as a perfunctory job in restoring the lawn over the trench. The upshot was that I ended up using my substantial personal labor and money doing the restoration myself. (Turning over soil with a pitchfork, adding topsoil, fertilizer and straw, and watering).
With the benefit of hindsight (and my interpretation of advice from the State Corporation Commission telephone number), I recommend that my affected neighbors (1) photograph their lawn before and after the gas line replacement, and (2) work proactively on lawn repair with the replacement crew and as needed with Washington Gas headquarters.
I believe this goes well beyond general assurances from company personnel. If possible, find out which division and specific individual in Washington Gas is responsible, what the remediation schedule is. and exactly what the company will do or not do in the lawn repair process. For this, you may need to make multiple telephone calls to find the right person and get useful information.
4 – Please be aware that vehicles are considered unattended if left for 15 days without being moved at least 300 feet, unless parked within 500 feet of the property where the vehicle is registered. Also be aware that police may tow an inoperable vehicle after being left on road for 4 or more days. If you see either of these, you can call the non-emergency police at 703-691-2131 to report it. A neighbor brought to my attention a commercial vehicle parked in front of their house for several weeks. Please be considerate and park your vehicle in front of your home. If you have to park it in front of a neighbor’s house, please move it occasionally.
5 – From a few District Supervisor newsletters:
Your Right Move and ECHO will be hosting free paper shredding events on April 18th and 25th. ECHO’s free shredding event will be on April 18th, from 11 am until 2 pm in the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church parking lot (8336 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield) and Your Right Move’s free shredding event will be on April 25th, from 9 am to 12 pm in the Christ Church parking lot (7600 Ox Road).
There is a separate Community Shred Event and Food Drive on April 25, 12-2pm, to benefit ECHO by Ghen Property at 7011 Flax St in Springfield.
6 – Fairfax Water is currently performing their annual hydrant flushing that should go on until May. This is from the Franconia District Supervisor’s newsletter:
If you’ve spotted water running from hydrants lately, there’s no cause for concern -- Fairfax Water’s annual water main flushing is in full swing. Each spring, crews open hydrants across the system to move fresh water through the pipes and clear out naturally occurring sediment. It’s a quick, important process that helps keep our drinking water clean, safe, and high‑quality.
During flushing, you may briefly notice changes like slightly discolored water, a small amount of sediment, or a more noticeable chlorine taste or smell. These effects are normal and not harmful, and they typically pass quickly. If you’re sensitive to chlorine, keeping an open container of water in the refrigerator can help the taste dissipate.
If you have questions about this program or the work being conducted in your area, you may call the Fairfax Water dispatch operator at 703-698-5613, TTY 711. Learn more about the Water Main Flushing Program.
7 – The Annual Meeting will be Thursday, May 14, at 7:30pm in the pavilion (weather permitting) of the West Village Pool. If there is bad weather, we can cram in the pool house. Please let any new neighbors know about it that do not get this newsletter so they can meet their neighbors. There will be snacks and refreshments
8 – I saw on the local news there were reports of people going door to door in the County impersonating utility companies and pressuring people for immediate payments.
Virginia DMV recently announced that they will never text anyone regarding fees. This also goes for EZ-Pass and the Post Office. The IRS made a similar announcement because it is tax season.
This is from the Springfield District newsletter:
Fairfax County is partnering with AARP to host their 9th annual Scam Jam event to help people learn how to spot and stop the growing threats of scams. Get practical tools for recognizing red flags, talking with loved ones, reporting fraud, and beginning recovery. Whether you’re new to digital safety or already informed, Scam Jam will help you stay one step ahead. The event will be held on April 30th from 9 am to 1 pm at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax). For more information and to register for the event, please see here.
9 – Calendar
4/11 – ECHO Yard Sale – 8am to noon - St. Bernadette’s gym, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road
4/18 – Shredding Event – 11am to 2pm - Kirkwood Presbyterian Church parking lot (8336 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield)
4/25 – Shredding Event - 9 am to noon - Christ Church parking lot (7600 Ox Road)
4/25 – Shredding Event – noon to 2pm - 7011 Flax St, Springfield
4/30 – Scam Jam event – 9am to 1pm - Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway)
5/14 – Annual Meeting – 7:30pm to ? – Village West Pool Pavilion