Village News April 7, 2024
Hello everyone. We are still looking for a Vice President and will be looking for a Treasurer. These are positions that need to be filled in order for the Civic Association to legally exist. There is barely any work needed for the Vice President and the Treasurer’s main task is doing the yearly audit ahead of the October meeting.
1. Safety
2. ‘Missing’ Civic Association sign
3. New house being built on Barnack
4. Solar Eclipse tomorrow, April 8
5. ECHO News
6. Congressional Art Competition
7. Tax Preparation Help
8. Disposing of lithium batteries
9. Annual May Meeting
10. Calendar
1 – An additional 30mph sign was recently placed on Rolling Rd southbound at Old Keene Mill Rd. This makes the northbound portion of this road 30mph. you could get a ticket if you speed up to 40 after passing the old 30mph sign near Kenwood.
2 – The sign on Rolling Road at Barnack has been removed ahead of the tree removal and utility work near there to prevent it possibly being damaged. West Village Pool had graciously agreed to store it for us and also offered to take it down. When the road work is complete, we will put it back near the old location.
3 – A few people have asked about the new house being built on Barnack and if it is ‘legal’. There was a construction plan submitted, reviewed, and approved by Fairfax County before it went to construction. The pre- and post-construction average heights on the plan were very close, so I was a little surprised by how much higher it is compared to the previous house.
4 – Please be aware of the solar eclipse on April 8 – 1:30-4:30PM. Warn your children about looking at it. Regular sunglasses will not help. I think most of the libraries ran out of ones they were giving away. It is easy to make a pinhole box to view the reflection with many websites showing what to do. You can get a lot of information about the eclipse at https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024
5 – From ECHO’s newsletter:
What ECHO Needs Right Now
ECHO’s Donation Door, 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, is open from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on weekdays and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Receipts are cheerfully provided. ECHO’s Clothing Department distributes diapers and wipes to client families who have infants. We also assist women with sanitary supplies. Donations of those items help ECHO very much. Our most-needed apparel right now includes boys' and girls’ sneakers, children’s spring and summer clothing, sizes 18 months and up; new underwear in boys' or men’s sizes; men’s spring and summer shirts in Small, Medium,and Large. The Housewares Department needs towels, comforters in all sizes, blenders, mixers, and irons.
Also, their building will be closed April 12 due to parking lot construction. It will open April 13.
6 – From the Franconia District newsletter:
Enter the Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation and our congressional districts.
The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students in the congressional district, with a limit of eight submissions per school. The overall winner of the district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.
Congressman Don Beyer: Entries are due by Friday, April 26th. More information.
Congressman Gerry Connolly: Entries are due by Monday, April 29th. More information.
7 – From the Franconia District newsletter:
Free Tax Preparation Help Available Until April 15
Get no-cost help filing your taxes until April 15th with AARP Tax-Aide volunteers. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year. They can help you prepare your federal and Virginia state tax returns; some locations can also assist you with District of Columbia and Maryland taxes. There are 11 locations, including Sherwood Library. Learn more.
8 – I received a notice form Republic Trash telling me that items containing lithium batteries cannot be placed in the regular trash or recycling bins. These types of batteries are found in a wide range of devices, including cell phones, power tools, laptops, tablets, children’s toys, scooters, electric toothbrushes and more. They need to be disposed of by other means. Any retail stores like Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware accept these items.
9 – The Annual May Meeting will be the second Thursday of the Month, May 9, ay 7:30PM. Location TBD.
10 – Calendar
April 8 – solar eclipse
April 9 – Eid al-Fitr
April 15 – Tax Day