Village News, 8/5/21

Dear Village Neighbor / Friend,

1. CAWSV Membership Drive – Now we’re in it; the membership drive, that is. We’ll do it all without knocking on your door or calling your phone. In past years, Block Captains went door-to-door to conduct the drive, but the number of BCs required quickly overwhelmed our dwindling volunteer pool. Our twenty-year, high-water mark was reached the first or second year we conducted the drive by email and mail. So – we know it is doable, with your help.

Why join you ask? Shoot, I can’t think of any reason to not join an all-volunteer organization that:

  • Provides representation of our majority position at District, County and State. The then RVES PTA (Deb Staron) and I travelled to Richmond to convince the Virginia Transportation Secretary about the need for a traffic light at Barnack and Rolling Road. If Deb and I represented just her family and/or mine – we still would not have that light. And we represented the village position in county hearings to get the cell phone tower at the VW Pool. Not saying we (CAWSV) did much, but our cell phones actually can be used in our homes. Thanks Eileen Gallagher!
  • Offers a professional website and a free Village Facebook Group.
  • Sends out weekly enews to those who provide their email address.
  • Prepares and delivers a quality Community Directory to CAWSV members.
  • Conducts an annual community yard sale at no additional cost to participants.
  • Conducts an annual community cleanup for CAWSV members at no additional cost.
  • Contracts for maintenance of Rolling Road Median.
  • Hosts or cohosts with the Village West Pool several social events (during “normal” years).

All of that and still our dues for Membership Year 2022 (10/1/2021 – 9/30/2022) are just $10.00 per household whether you rent or own. Let me know if you need the membership form, but you can email me (john.t.cooley@verizon.net) to provide your name(s), street address, phone number(s), email address(es) and what of that you want listed in our next directory.

Using PayPal to pay your dues is more convenient for the CAWSV but, it will cost you an extra $1.00 to cover their transaction costs. Click “Here” to use PayPal. Or use your online banking service or snail mail to dispatch $10.00 payment, payable to “CAWSV”, P.O. Box 2204, Springfield, VA 22152.

Once you have paid – we will email you a thank you receipt and then you’ll not receive any more of these weekly reminders. We will ask that you help us with the drive by informing your neighbors about our CAWSV.

2. Emergency Alert System – The Edmonton Court gang formed a text message group for a more rapid way of getting the word out about a potential danger to families and/or properties. Email proved to be too slow in a recent incident for neighbors to check on their children and to tighten their security. So, we gathered cell phone numbers of Edmonton Court neighbors who want to be part of this alert group and then tested the alert group so that each could generate an emergency text if/when necessary. This might be something you and your immediate neighbors want to consider. No, the sky is not falling. But I would like to tell my neighbors “Heads Up!” if/when necessary.

3. National Night Out – Thanks to Jen Guernsey and the Village West Pool for hosting the NNO with Ice Cream Sundaes last Tuesday evening. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. West Springfield District Police Officer Marshall is seen here on the ice cream sundae serving line and then below showing his police cruiser. Good to see folks again.

4. Calendar:

  • 7 August - Free Children’s Entertainment at Burke Lake Amphitheater featuring Ray Owen (Children’s Songs). See below.
  • 11 August – Free Concert at Burke Lake Park featuring Practically Einstein (Vintage Rock). See below.
  • 23 August – First Day of School
  • 6 September – Labor Day (FCPS student holiday 9/03 through 9/06)
  • 14 October – Village Meeting, 7:30 PM, vote to Ratify FY21 Audit Report, vote to pass a FY22 Budget Proposal with markups if/as needed and vote to elect new Board of Directors.

5. Village West Pool - Join the pool for August and get an extra week free! The pool is open through Labor Day, September 6. For more information and rates, go to www.villagewestpool.com and click on the Membership Info tab (or choose Membership Info from the menu if you're viewing on a phone).

6. ECHO Needs Donations - of school supplies, non-perishable food, personal hygiene items and clothing. The full list of requested supplies is on ECHO’s website, echo-inc.org. They also need volunteers to serve as Family Counsellors. Training will be provided. Recruits will be paired with experienced counsellors. To find out more about this important opportunity, email Volunteercoordinator@echo-inc.org.

7. Free Summer Concert Series – Wednesdays at 7:00 PM at Burke Lake Park (see remaining schedule below). 2 Silos Beer and Peterson’s Ice Cream will be for sale. A food truck may also be there. 

Local student talent will perform opening acts. Come early to get settled with your picnic blanket, food, drinks, and enjoy the whole show! For last minute weather cancellations, call 703/324-7469 one hour before the schedule start of the event.

August:

  • 11 - Practically Einstein (Vintage Rock)
  • 18 - The Colin Thompson Band (Blues Rock)
  • 25 - Artist to be determined

Visit Springfield Nights | Park Authority (fairfaxcounty.gov) for more information and to find other summer concerts at Fairfax County Parks.

And there are also Free Children’s Entertainments on Saturdays starting at 10:00 AM at the Burke Lake Amphitheater. Here’s that schedule:

  • 7 August: Ray Owen (Children’s Songs)
  • 14 August - Blue Sky Puppet Theater (Puppets)

8. Covid-19 – Due to the spread of the Delta variant, Fairfax County is now recommending that everyone, including individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19, wear a mask in public indoor settings. Click here Vaccines.gov - Find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you to find who has which vaccine and to schedule an appointment to include those 12+ years of age.

9. Recommendations:

a. Baby Cakes – by Jennifer Orr (Barnack Drive) – Suzanne McCormick highly recommends Jennifer’s exquisite, personalized, hand-crafted cakes with unique flowers. 541/326-5495. I will add “delicious” to that list.

b. Dane Electric -– Liz & Olin Greene just had some recessed lighting done by Dane Electric. They're a small, local, family-run business Liz & Olin say that they could not be more pleased with their work. Quote was very reasonable. Told them they’d start work at 7:30 AM and were in front of the Greene’s home at 7:29 AM. They were very courteous and professional. Liz said that one of the Dane brothers did their job and did great work. Liz thinks they left their basement cleaner than it was when they started. The Greene family 100% recommend them for any electrical work that you need done!

10. Happy Birthdays!  Katrina V. Cooley and also to the U.S. Coast Guard (Revenue Cutter Service) – 4 August 1790.

Loving this cooler weather! Stay safe good people!

John Cooley
CAWSV

 

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