Village News - July 16, 2026

July 16, 2026

 

 1 – Safety

 2 – National Night Out – Tuesday, August 4, 6-8PM, Village West Pool

 3 – CAWSV Day at the Pool – Tuesday, July 28

 4 – E-bike information

 5 – Question from neighbor about the Fresenius Dialysis Center

 6 – ECHO News

 7 – Air Quality Warning for Friday, July 17

 8 – Lock It or Lose It

 9 – Calendar

 

 

1 – Another request to drive responsibly in a residential neighborhood. I have seen near-misses from vehicles driving in the middle of the street with a trash truck and a school bus. I also saw a black Lexus on Barnack blatantly run the red light at Rolling Rd.

With the higher temperatures, please bring water when walking your dog and encourage them to walk on the grass. Even with 85-degree temperatures, a sidewalk can get up to 125-degrees due to the sun, and asphalt can get up to 135-degrees. A good test is the seven-second rule by placing the back of your hand on the sidewalk and see if you can leave it for at least seven seconds to see if it is not too hot for your dog.

 

 

2 – National Night Out will be Tuesday, August 4, from 4-6pm at Village West Pool. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. We host an ice cream social for the neighborhood, and local law enforcement stops by to say hi and interact with the community. Coloring and crafts for the kids, too!. CAWSV will be providing ice cream, and the pool will provide toppings. There will be a non-dairy option.

 

 

3 - CAWSV Day at the Pool - Tuesday, July 28 (rain date: Thursday, July 30). As a benefit of your Civic Association membership, CAWSV members are invited to enjoy a day at Village West Pool at no charge. Just come anytime during regular pool hours (11 AM - 8 PM) and give your name at the front desk. You can bring a friend for the guest pass fee of $5. Village West is also offering CAWSV members an end-of-season special: starting July 28, any 30-day membership you purchase will be good through the end of the season (Labor Day, September 7) - so you get up to 41 days for the price of 30. Questions? Contact the pool president, Jen Guernsey, at villagewestpool@gmail.com.

 

 

4 – From a recent Fairfax County Police newsletter:

Know Before You Ride: E-Bike and Recreation Safety

 

By FCPD Public Affairs Bureau on June 26, 2026

 

Fairfax County, VA – As e-bikes, scooters, motorized skateboards, and other recreational ride-on devices continue to grow in popularity, the Fairfax County Police Department is reminding riders and parents to understand the laws, safety requirements, and responsibilities that come with using them.     Not all electric-powered devices are the same. While Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes are generally permitted on roads and in areas where bicycles are allowed, riders should be aware that some parks, trails, and shared-use paths may have additional restrictions. E-dirt bikes and mini-bikes may be subject to additional requirements and may not be legal for operation on public roads, sidewalks, or trails.   Know the Difference   Legal E-Bikes: Have operable pedals and a seat. Have an electric motor of 750 watts or less. Are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as bicycles under Virginia law. Do not require a driver’s license or registration. E-Dirt Bikes and Mini-Bikes: Do not meet Virginia’s definition of an electric power-assisted bicycle. Typically, do not have operable pedals and often exceed the 750-watt limit for e-bikes. Are generally treated as motor vehicles rather than bicycles under Virginia law. Are not permitted on public roads, sidewalks, or trails unless they meet applicable registration, equipment, and legal requirements. Here are some important safety tips to help keep everyone safe:   For Riders   Wear a helmet. A properly fitted helmet can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury. In Fairfax County, riders under the age of 15 are required to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, including an e-bike. Riders should also ensure they are wearing the appropriate helmet for the device they are operating.   Know where you can ride. Before using an e-bike, scooter, skateboard, or other device, understand where it can legally be operated. Rules may vary for roads, trails, sidewalks, and private property.   Follow the rules of the road. Ride with traffic, obey traffic signs and signals, stop for pedestrians, and use hand signals when turning or stopping. Bicyclists and motorists share the same rights and responsibilities on our roadways.   Check your equipment before every ride. Inspect brakes, tires, lights, and reflectors before heading out.   Yield to pedestrians. When riding on sidewalks, trails, or in crosswalks where permitted, always yield to pedestrians and provide an audible signal before passing.   For Parents   Understand what your child is riding. Different devices have different requirements and restrictions. Just because a device is sold online or in a store does not mean it is legal for use on public roads or trails.   Know the age requirements. Virginia law prohibits anyone younger than 14 years old from operating a Class 3 e-bike, motorized skateboard, scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device unless under the immediate supervision of a person who is at least 18 years old. There is no minimum age requirement for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes.   Set clear expectations. Ensure children wear appropriate safety equipment, understand traffic laws, and know where they are permitted to ride.   For Drivers   Stay alert in neighborhoods and school zones. Watch for bicyclists, e-bike riders, scooter users, and pedestrians crossing roadways.   Avoid distractions. Virginia is a hands-free state. Staying focused behind the wheel helps protect everyone sharing the roadway.   Whether you’re riding a bicycle, e-bike, scooter, or other recreational device, safety starts with understanding the law and making responsible choices. By wearing proper safety equipment, following traffic laws, and knowing where your device can be used, we can all help keep Fairfax County’s roads, trails, and neighborhoods safe.

 

 

5 – A neighbor has asked if anyone has experience in going to any Fresenius Dialysis center. They can contact Louise Calise by email - LC6802@hotmail.com - or calling 703-307-7211.

 

 

6 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:

ECHO’s Backpack Program Kicks Off

School is out for summer and that means it's time for ECHO to start packing backpacks full of supplies for next year!  We will pack 1,400 backpacks this summer and we need your help to provide all the brand new supplies to fill them.  We have done this for many years and find that we are most successful when we use a very specific list of items.  A partial list is included below. The full list can be found on our website, echo-inc.org/donate. Click on "Seasonal Programs” and scroll down to find the list of needed school supplies. If you prefer to shop online and have your donations delivered directly to ECHO, you can find our Amazon Wishlist at echo-inc.org/donate, click on “Donate Goods” then click on “Amazon Wishlist.”  We DO NOT currently need white glue or wide rule spiral notebooks.  We DO NEED high school size backpacks, Ticonderoga #2 yellow pencils, mechanical pencils, pink pearl erasers, college rule ONLY SPIRAL notebooks, college rule loose leaf paper, plastic pencil boxes, DRY ERASE thin tip markers, 3 x 5 lined index cards and more things on the list.

Share Fresh Food for ECHO at the Kingstowne Farmers Market

The Nourish Your Neighbor program at the Kingstowne Farmers Market, 5870 Kingstowne Towne Center, Alexandria, on July 31, August 28, September 25, and October 23, will allow shoppers to donate purchases of fresh produce that will be given to ECHO’s Food Pantry.  Just look for Nourish Your Neighbor bins!

ECHO’s Summer Needs

ECHO’s Food Pantry hopes donors will remember that when children are out of school for summer, there is extra pressure on families who are experiencing financial hardship.  Children do not have the same access to free and reduced price meals that are provided at school.  They play outside, use more energy and get hungrier, as those of us who have growing youngsters know.  In the past, ECHO was able to meet food requests with donated, non-perishable foods and some purchases of frozen and refrigerated foods.  Now, in addition to donated food items, ECHO is purchasing about 40% of the food we distribute to meet what we believe is basic need in our community.  This is not a local situation.  Food banks and feeding organizations everywhere speak of the strain.  ECHO will continue to combat hunger in our community.  We ask our donors to continue to help us.  

Currently, the Food Pantry needs Masa flour, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, granulated sugar, cereal, spaghetti sauce, pasta, adult toothbrushes, shampoo, bath soap, and laundry detergent. 

ECHO's clothing department will be transitioning back to fall and winter clothes in late August, so please hold onto your cold-weather items until then. Year-round, we always appreciate donations of NEW socks and underwear for men, women, boys and girls. We do not distribute any used socks or underwear. We also have a high demand for new or very gently used athletic shoes in all sizes for boys and girls. For men, we especially need shoes in sizes 7-9.

The Housewares Department is currently out of bathmats, and is low on medium size pots, king and queen size comforters.

Volunteer Opportunities

While ECHO has a few vacancies for direct client-involvement positions and for donation management positions for people interested in a weekly commitment for a 3-hour morning shift or a 2-hour evening shift, we are particularly interested in developing a team of people to work with teen volunteers.  ECHO opens a limited number of slots for teens on Wednesday evenings during the school year to accomplish a variety of hands-on tasks.  We need adults to coordinate with ECHO program managers to understand the tasks in order to explain them to the teens and supervise their efforts.  The work is important to ECHO, and it is important, we believe, in conveying to young people the scope of what it takes to help people in need in a community.  This work also allows teens to earn service hours that are often required for their classes or honor societies.  

We need four or five- or more -people who also believe that allowing young people to participate in community service is important, and who could give two and a half hours a couple of Wednesday evenings a month to demonstrate that.  Couples, or friends, or club members are welcome to join this effort together.  In fact, it might be more fun that way.  If you want to find out more, contact our Volunteer Coordinator through our website at www.echo-inc.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/. 

Upcoming Dates to Note

August 1 - Saturday Opening

August 17-19 Change to Fall/Winter Clothing

Congregational and Other Food Drives 

July - First Baptist Springfield, Westwood Baptist

 

For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click any of the links below:

How to Get Help from ECHO

Donate Money

Find Us on Instagram

Find Us on Facebook 

ECHO Food and Clothing Amazon Wish List

 

 

7 – Due to wildfires in Canada, the smoke will reduce the air quality in our area starting late tonight through at least tomorrow. The forecasted air quality is 165 with the unhealthy range being 151-200. With this rating, everyone may experience health effects and should limit their outdoor activity; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

 

 

8 – From a recent Fairfax County Police newsletter:

Lock It or Lose It: 10 Tips to Help Prevent Vehicle Break-Ins and Theft

 

By FCPD Public Affairs Bureau on July 15, 2026

 

Fairfax County, VA – FCPD continues its commitment to helping community members reduce the risk of auto theft and other crimes of opportunity. While vehicle theft can happen anywhere, taking a few simple precautions can significantly lower your chances of becoming a victim. Here are 10 safety tips every driver should follow:   Lock It Every Time: It may seem like common sense, but many vehicle thefts occur because doors were left unlocked. Even if you’re just stepping away for a minute, lock your vehicle every time. Park in Safe, Well-Lit Areas: Avoid dark or secluded parking spots that give thieves cover. At night, park under streetlights or near building entrances. If you have access to a garage, use it. Invest in a Car Alarm or Immobilizer: A visible or audible alarm system can deter thieves. Immobilizers make it much harder for a vehicle to be started without the correct key. Use a Steering Wheel Lock: It’s a simple, affordable tool that acts as a strong visual deterrent and adds another layer of protection. Hide Your Valuables: Never leave valuables in plain sight. Place electronics, bags, and other items in the trunk or glove compartment, or take them with you. Don’t Leave Keys in the Vehicle: Avoid leaving your keys inside your car, even for a quick stop. This includes leaving your vehicle running and unattended. Consider a GPS Tracker: A GPS tracking device can help law enforcement recover your vehicle more quickly if it is stolen. Many newer vehicles have built-in tracking features. Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings, especially in unfamiliar areas. If you notice suspicious activity, report it to the police. Keep Detailed Records: Write down your vehicle’s VIN, make, model, color, and license plate number. Having this information readily available is critical if your vehicle is stolen. Stay Informed: Keep up with local crime trends and safety information. Awareness is the first step in prevention. Vehicle theft is often a crime of opportunity. By following these proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your risk. FCPD remains committed to providing our community with crime prevention resources and safety information.

 

 

9 – Calendar

7/28 – CAWSV Day at Village West Pool (rain date 7/30)

8/4 – National Night Out – 6-8pm at Village West Pool