February 12, 2025
We survived another storm. It looks like there will be another one next week.
1 – Recent Scams
2 – Teen Job Fair – March 8 – Registration Information
3 – ECHO News
4 – Upcoming Classes at the West Springfield Police Station
5 – Village West Pool – looking for lifeguards, open to Scout events
6 – Digital Residential Plats
7 – Calendar
1 – There are two scams going around that police are spreading the word about.
The first one is texts being sent stating that you went through a toll without paying the fee and has a link to click to pay it. Report the text as spam and delete it immediately. I received three over the last week saying I went through a FastTrack toll. I never heard of FastTrack. If you went through a toll and are not sure, go to the toll company’s website and check your account.
The second one is people are being sent an item from Amazon that they did not order. In the package is a sheet with an invoice and a QR code. Do not scan the code because it will take you to a page that looks like Amazon and will try to get account information from you. Go to the Amazon page on your own and check your order history. Ask friends and family if they sent you a gift. If you think you were scammed, contact the non-emergency police.
2 – The 9th Annual Teen Job Fair is Saturday, March 8 at West Springfield High School. Herer is some information from the Springfield District Supervisor:
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3 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
ECHO’s Most Needed Donations This Month
Food needs continue at a record level. Food Pantry volunteers are in constant motion as they assist clients and restock shelves with donated foods as well as staple items that ECHO must purchase when donations do not cover need. Foods currently in short supply are canned fruit or fruit cups, spaghetti sauce, canned meats and dried beans. Since the SNAP program (also known as food stamps) does not cover personal hygiene items, bath soap, deodorant, laundry detergent and shampoo are also needed. Donations of food can be brought to ECHO during our regular operating schedule or dropped off at collection receptacles in the Government Center Offices of the West Springfield, Braddock and Franconia Districts, or at Giant food stores at Saratoga, Huntsman Square, Springfield Plaza and Cardinal Forest.
Wow, It Has Been Cold Outside!
And, for some people, it has been cold inside too. Everything from leaky windows to keeping heating bills down has made the cold weather a true misery for many. ECHO’s clothing department is asking for adult-sized and child-sized winter coats, and child-sized gloves and scarves. Men’s sneakers in sizes 7 - 9 as well as children’s sneakers for boys or girls in sizes 1 -6 are also in high demand.
ECHO’s Housewares Department is hoping for donations of comforters as well as drinking glasses and towels, especially hand towels. Donations of items that are clean and in good repair are essential to ECHO’s mission of aiding those in our community who are struggling. Also essential to our mission is the time, talent and dedication of volunteers. ECHO has some openings for working with donations on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings and on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. There are a few openings for those who want to work directly with clients, and a couple of openings for people who would like to help supervise the Teen Program on 1 or 2 Wednesday evenings per month.
To find out more about volunteering, email volunteercoordinator@echo-inc.org. To donate clothing or household items, please bring them to our Donation Door at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road on weekdays between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, or between 7:00 and 9:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings. Receipts are happily provided.
Upcoming Dates to Note
February 1 - Saturday Opening
February 12 - Executive Cmte meets
February 17 - Closed for Presidents Day
February 24 - Bd of Dir Meeting
March 1 - Saturday Opening
March 17 -19 - Clothing Changeover to Spring/Summer
April - ECHO’s SPRING YARD SALE- more info in the next newsletter!
Congregational and Other Food Drives
February - Abiding Presence Lutheran
March - Prince of Peace Lutheran, Springfield Christian, Springfield United Methodist
For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click the links to our website:
Tips on Holding a Donation Drive
4 – here are upcoming classes/events at the West Springfield Police Station:
February 15: Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) and STOP THE BLEED
While we all hope it never happens, an active violence attack can take place anywhere in the world. The community needs to be prepared with how to respond, and we are here to help with that training. This hour and a half lecture, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 10:00AM-12:30PM, will help participants learn about attackers, disaster response, and how to prepare for and respond to being trapped in a building during an active violence event. We will review past events; the steps law enforcement will take to limit and assist casualties and be there to answer your questions. This training is open to anyone in the community, but some of the material may be disturbing.
We will also be presenting STOP THE BLEED training with this program. This training can be used anywhere to assist someone who has a severe bleeding emergency. We will show the participants how to utilize direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets.
This training will be held in person at the West Springfield District Station community room (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA). Due to the limited number of spots available, you must register for this class by contacting MPO Tony Capizzi at the West Springfield District Station at 703-277-2363 or Anthony.capizzi@fairfaxcounty.gov. We follow the Fairfax County Public School system for any weather-related cancellations.
February 25: Youth and Social Media
As your kids get older and start to ask for their own cell phone, there are some things to consider. When do you allow them to use their phones, are they allowed on social media, how will you monitor usage, and what are the potential impacts a cell phone can have on a child? We will discuss these topics, and others, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, beginning at 6:30PM
Please join us at the West Springfield District Station Community Room (6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA) for a presentation on Youth and Social Media. If you have any questions before the class, please contact MPO Tony Capizzi at 703-277-2363. You do not need to register for this presentation. We follow the Fairfax County Public School system for any weather-related cancellations.
5 – From the latest Village West Pool newsletter:
Hello everyone! Hope you are having a good winter. There may still be snow on the ground, but it's time to start getting ready for pool season!
Lifeguard job applications are available at https://forms.gle/szMAU8SCGvFa5ngC7 or through the link at the top of the pool's home page. We begin interviewing in late February and try to have things wrapped up by mid-March. These are competitive positions; every year we've had more applicants than available spots.
Scout projects are always welcome! We have been the grateful beneficiaries of several Eagle Scout projects in the past: the snack shack, the grill deck, the walkway to the snack shack, and the landscaping along the left side of the driveway were all Scout projects. Any Scouts looking for a project for this spring are welcome to contact us.
Landscaping honcho needed! Do you like selecting flowers and planning landscaping? Can you guide volunteers in watering, planting, pruning, and weeding? Then this is the volunteer gig for you! You don't need a degree in horticulture, just a love of gardening. I've mostly been the one doing this the past few years, but it's time for me to delegate to someone who loves this stuff and can take some time to research what types of plants will work best for us in some of the bare areas we'd like to fill in.
Stay tuned! In the next couple of weeks we'll be getting the website updated, and planning projects, work days, and activities. Watch this space!
6 – From the latest Springfield District newsletter:
Digital Residential Plats Available
Digital copies of Fairfax County residential plats and other property documents may now be downloaded from the Zoning Property File application at Zoning Property File Application (arcgis.com).
If you are unable to find a particular document through the application, you may request a copy at Plat Request (smartsheet.com). Documents available through this application are currently limited to those associated with residential single-family, detached dwellings. Documents related to townhouse, multifamily, and commercial development will be added in the future.
- For more information, please contact the Zoning Permits Section by phone at 703-222-1082 or by email at DPDzoningpermits@fairfaxcounty.gov.
7 – Calendar
2/14 – Valentine’s Day
2/17 – Presidents Day – Federal, State, and County Holiday
3/9 – Daylight Savings begins
3/17 – Saint Patrick’s Day
3/20 – Start of Spring