January 5, 2025
Happy New Year!
I was going to announce a winner of the House Decoration Contest, but I did not receive any votes. I waited until today in case there were any late entries, but I got zero.
1 – Winter Weather Information
2 – Trash collection
3 – ECHO Stuff the Bus Event Sat., 1/18, 10am-3pm
4 – Membership Renewal Drive ending this week
5 – Calendar
1 – Forecasts for the snowstorm are still changing, but it looks like we will get 3-15” of snow, with a 46% of getting 3-6” and a 47% chance of getting 6-10”. It looks like it will start later tonight and end late Monday night. Temperatures are expected to be below freezing through Tuesday afternoon, so roads and sidewalks will freeze and take a while to thaw. Please keep this in mind when walking outside or driving on the roads.
If the power, cabler, internet, etc., go out, please report it so our area can be a high-outage area so it will be repaired sooner. Do not assume someone else will do it because everyone is assuming someone else will report it and we will be in the dark. Here is contact information:
Dominion:
If your power goes out, please use your smartphone to go to https://dominionenergy.com and click "Report Outage or Emergency" to report your outage and see their progress on restoring service.
Please report any downed power lines through Dominion's interactive voice response system at 866-366-4357. Please stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them for your safety
For additional safety tips on what to do during a power outage, visit: https://www.dominionenergy.com/virginia/report-outage-or-emergency/outage-restoration-and-faqs.
NOVEC:
If your power goes out, please use your smartphone to go to https://www.novec.com/stormcenter and click "Report an Outage" to report your outage and to see their progress on restoring service.
Downed power lines should be immediately reported by contacting NOVEC at 703-335-0500.
Please stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them for your safety.
For additional information on power outages, visit: https://www.novec.com/stormcenter/frequently-asked-questions-during-outages.cfm
Washington Gas:
If you smell gas, or in the event of a natural gas emergency, leave the area immediately and call 9-1-1 and Washington Gas at 703-750-1400.
Verizon:
To report an outage, call: 1-800-837-4966
Cox:
To report an outage, call: 1-800-234-3993
Here is information about road conditions and downed trees:
Roads:
For current road conditions and hazards, visit: http://www.511virginia.org/, use the free mobile app, or call 511 from any phone in Virginia.
VDOT will track road plowing after 2 inches of snow. To see updates on which roads are plowed, visit: https://vdotplows.org
VDOT crews begin plowing when two inches of snow have fallen. Crews prioritize interstate highways, major roads, and main subdivision roads. After a storm ends, VDOT aims to have plowed one passable lane on all roads within the following time frames:
- 2-4" of snow: 24 hours
- 4-6" of snow: 48 hours
- 6" or more: 72 hours
To assist with plowing on your street, consider moving vehicles off the street before the storm.
Downed Trees:
Please report any downed trees you see by following the guidelines from the County website. If there is a downed tree in your neighborhood, below are resources on who to call for removal:
- On/Across Public Roads
Contact the Virginia Department of Transportation at 1-800-367-7623, TTY 711
- On County Parkland
Contact Fairfax County Park Authority at 703-324-8594, TTY 703-324-3988
- Posing Hazard to Public Areas
Contact Fairfax County Urban Forestry at 703-324-1770, TTY 703-324-1877
- Private Property
Removal is the property owner's responsibility.
Message from the Fairfax County Police Department
Winter weather can create hazardous conditions for travel and daily routines. The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) wants to ensure you stay safe and prepared during snow events by sharing important tips and resources to help you navigate the season safely.
1. Be Prepared Before the Storm Hits:
- Stock up on essential supplies, including food, water, medications, and blankets.
- Charge your mobile devices and keep flashlights and batteries handy.
2. Avoid Driving If Possible:
- Stay off the roads during heavy snowfall or icy conditions unless it’s necessary.
- If you must drive, ensure your vehicle is winter-ready with full fluids and an emergency kit.
3. Clear Snow Off Your Vehicle Completely:
- Before hitting the road, remove all snow and ice from your car, including the roof, windows, mirrors, and lights.
- Driving with snow-covered vehicles reduces visibility and poses hazards to others.
4. Increase Your Following Distance:
- On snowy or icy roads, increase your following distance from other vehicles.
- This extra space allows more time to react and stop safely.
5. Drive Cautiously and Slowly:
- Reduce your speed and avoid sudden movements or sharp turns.
- Use gentle braking and acceleration to maintain control of your vehicle.
6. Stay Informed:
- Monitor weather updates and road condition reports.
- Follow local emergency services and Fairfax County updates on social media for real-time information.
By staying prepared and practicing caution, we can all reduce risks during winter weather events.
You can also join FCPD on Neighbors by Ring. A place where you can connect with your neighbors, see what’s happening in your neighborhood, and share any available surveillance footage with the department.
For more ways to stay connected, please read FCPD's blog and follow them on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD
Also, use the West Springfield Village Facebook page to update the neighborhood about downed trees, icy roads/sidewalks, accidents in the area, and if you see paved or unpaved roads.
Finally, please look out for your neighbors that might not be able to shovel their driveway or sidewalk. If you can spend a little time to shovel part of their sidewalk, I am sure they will appreciate it. You can see if shoveling snow qualifies as a volunteer opportunity for your children, or use this as a teaching moment about compassion towards others.
Fairfax County Government is closed on Monday. Fairfax County Schools and offices are closed as well. OEM (Federal Government) has not decided about Monday.
2 – A neighbor asked me to remind people that you usually need to make arrangements with your trash provider to pick up larger items. Just leaving it out for a few weeks will not work and creates an eyesore.
If you are a new resident and are not sure of the trash schedule, you can go to the website of the company and look up the schedule if you enter your address. I have Republic, and they collect recycling on Monday, yard waste on Wednesday (in a bin or in paper bags – no plastic bags), and regular trash is on Thursday. The website will show adjustments due to holidays. They will be collecting Christmas trees on the next few Wednesdays.
The County is also collecting Christmas trees at the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex.
3 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
Huntsman Giant
7501 Huntsman Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22153
Your donation to Stuff the Bus at this Giant location will benefit ECHO.
Saturday, January 18
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Most Requested Items
If you plan to donate to the Stuff the Bus food drive at this location, please consider giving items from this list.
Because the average size of a family seeking food assistance is four people, the sizes indicated are preferred
to reduce food spoilage. Additionally, donating items that are high fiber, low sugar and low sodium not only feed
hungry people but also contribute to their overall health and wellness.
- Protein Items (e.g. canned chicken/tuna, Spam,
chili, salmon, sardines)
- Honey and Fruit Preserves
- Masa Flour
- Rice (bag)
- Dried beans (1 lb., garbanzo, kidney, pinto)
- Lentils
- Pasta (boxed)
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Cooking Oil
- Tea and Instant Coffee
- Pancake Mix and Syrup
- Cereal
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Sugar
- Lemon or Lime Juice
For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/FfxStufftheBus
For more information on Stuff the Bus, inclement weather arrangements or to request this information in an alternate format, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov , and search “Stuff the Bus,” or call 703-222-9764, TTY 711.
This Giant is off of FFX County Pkwy, and about a 10-minute drive. If you bring your kids, I will warn you that there is a comic book store in the shopping center with a lot of cool toys.
4 - As always, it is $10 to renew your membership. If you are paying online, add a dollar. If you are paying by cash or check, do not add a dollar. You can drop off payments in the box in front of my house (6919 Vancouver Rd) to save a stamp. Just lift the lid on top of the box and drop it in the slot. You can also mail it to:
CAWSV
PO Box 2204
Springfield, VA 22152
If you want to pay online via PayPal, here are the links for renewing:
· Renew for 1 year - $11 (FY25)
· Renew for 2 years - $21 (FY25-26)
· Renew for 3 years - $31 (FY25-27)
Thanks for those that asked for their membership status before renewing. There have only been three people who have added a year even though they are current. This is a much lower number compared to last year. You can reply to this email to find out. Please ask anyone else living in your place if they have renewed or will renew, to let them know you will renew to avoid double-renewing. Thanks.
5 – Calendar
1/6 – Fairfax County Schools and Government closed.
1/9 – Federal Holiday for President Carter’s Funeral
1/20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Inauguration Day – Federal, State, and Fairfax County Holiday