June 14, 2026
1 – Safety
2 – Village West Pool information
3 – ECHO news
4 – Summer Reading Adventure
5 – Spotted Lantern Flies
6 – Summer Concert Series at Burke Lake Park
7 – Calendar
1 – there has been talk in the region about e-bikes and scooters causing issues with cars. If you or your family members own one, please make sure you are aware of the laws regarding what you own and what is required when using it. Also, warn those who use it of the dangers of riding it on the street – especially when automobiles are involved. There was a serious accident in the County a few weeks ago in the Springfield District with an electric bike and a vehicle. There are no details of who was at fault, but [ep[;e need to be aware of the additional dangers when riding a motorized bike or scooter.
Please let your children, people visiting, and yourself to not treat our streets like one-way roads and driving in the middle of the street. This is an invitation for an accident. Stay on your side of the street as long as you can and move closer to the center when approaching parked vehicles. This will minimize potential head-on collisions with on-coming traffic that might be doing the same as you by always staying in the middle of the road and then veering to your side. If this means you need to slow down in order to safely drive in and out of the subdivision, so be it. I saw a few close calls with vehicles and school buses the last few weeks that could have easily been avoided if people had stayed on their side of the road approaching curves and hills instead of driving in the middle.
2 – From Village West Pool:
FIND SUMMER FUN RIGHT HERE AT VILLAGE WEST POOL!
- Friendly + welcoming community
- Convenient location in the heart of the neighborhood
- New member discount
- Reasonable rates and no bond
- Seasonal + monthly memberships
- Vikings swim team for kids / teens up to age 18 with morning + evening practice options
- Learn to swim program for ages 4+
To join or renew your membership, visit: villagewestpool.com
Click the "Swim Team" tab for swim team details and registration.
Please contact villagewestpool@gmail.com with any questions!
3 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
The cost of living is on nearly everyone’s mind. We have to stay aware that the effect is even harder on people in our community who have already been impacted by job loss, health problems and family separation. With the help of a generous, caring community, ECHO has stepped up and stepped in to ease the burdens of our neighbors in need for 57 years. We count on our community for donations. Please know that you can count on ECHO too.
ECHO Summer Clothing Needs
It's finally feeling like summer, and ECHO can use clothing donations suitable for the area's warm weather. We are especially in need of short-sleeved shirts for men, particularly small and medium sizes, and men's shoes in sizes 7, 8, and 9. For kids, we always need athletic shoes to keep up with growing feet. ECHO treats our neighbors who come to us for clothing assistance with respect, just the way all of us would like to be treated if we found ourselves in need of help. So, donors, please bring clothing that is clean and free of rips, making sure that zippers zip and all the buttons are there. We only accept NEW socks and underwear because that is what we give. That’s what we’d all want to receive.
Because of ECHO’s limited storage space, we hope our donors will keep their fall and winter clothes to bring to us in late August or afterward.
Food, Household Goods and People Needed at ECHO
If you happen to be replacing any toasters, vacuum cleaners or coffee makers with updated models and wonder what to do with your older, but still- working models, ECHO would LOVE to have them. We have requests regularly for these small appliances that make people’s lives easier or just more pleasant. Our Housewares Department also needs king and queen size comforters,
ECHO currently has a few volunteer openings. We need some people interested in working with clothing donations or housewares on Monday or Wednesday or Thursday mornings or Tuesday evenings. We especially need a Spanish speaking person who is interested in working directly with clients to determine their needs and is available on Tuesday evenings. Those interested in finding out more about volunteering at ECHO should contact our Volunteer Coordinator through our website at www.echo-inc.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/.
Summer is full of joy and relaxation for many, but it is an anxious time for ECHO’s Food program. Donations are lower in summer. Few institutions hold food collection drives. Often, need increases. Please continue to think of those among us who don’t have enough to feed their families properly. You don’t even need to bring a whole bag of food to our building or use expensive gasoline for a single trip. Here is a list of sites where you can drop off two or three items as you shop or drive nearby these places on other errands:
- Franconia Gov Center Lobby 7130 Silver Lake Blvd, Alexandria (open 24 hrs)
- West Springfield Gov Center Lobby 6140 Rolling Rd (open 24 hrs)
- Braddock District Gov Center Lobby 9002 Burke Lake Rd, weekdays 9am-5 pm
- Giant Food at Huntsman Square
- Giant Food in Saratoga
- Giant Food in Springfield Plaza
- Giant Food at Cardinal Forest
If you want to donate clothing or household goods, you will need to bring those to ECHO. We are open to receive donations from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as one Saturday morning a month which varies, but is noted on our website www.echo-inc.org. Receipts are cheerfully offered and volunteers are glad to help donors with boxes and bags. Look for the Donation Door sign on the west side of the building.
Upcoming Dates to Note
June 6 - Saturday Opening
June 19 - Closed for Juneteenth holiday
July 3 and 4 - Closed for Independence Day
July 11 - Saturday Opening
July 15 - Exec Comm Meeting
Congregational and Other Food Drives
June - St. Mark’s Lutheran, Westwood Baptist
July - First Baptist Springfield, Westwood Baptist
For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click any of the links below:
ECHO Food and Clothing Amazon Wish List
4 – From the Franconia District Newsletter:
This summer, journey back in time to the land of the dinosaurs and uncover the wonders a good book can hold with Fairfax County Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Adventure. This year’s theme – Unearth A Story – is all about dinosaurs, paleontology and archaeology. It encourages readers to “dig into” books, explore the past and uncover hidden histories, all with the help of their local libraries. Running from June 17 to August 19, readers of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in the adventure. Learn more.
5 – From the Braddock District newsletter:
You may have noticed that the elusive and invasive Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) has been making its return to Northern Virginia. In order to help you start preparing, here are some tips on what to do if you see a Spotted Lanternfly.
Reporting
If you come across an infestation of Spotted Lanternflies, it is recommended that you report your findings through the mobile app iNaturalist.
Management Options
If you find egg masses, smash all the eggs completely, or scrape them into a small container or baggy of soapy water or alcohol that you can empty into the trash or bury later
If you find nymphs or adults, smash them, or vacuum them up with a shop vac to be smashed later.
If they are largely feeding on a particular tree, you can put a circle trap or a sticky band on it if you want. Using sticky bands is not largely recommended however, because a myriad of spiders, native insects and even small frogs, lizards, and birds can become stuck despite protective netting and wire mesh guards.
For more information on how to build a Circle Trap, you can visit this article from Penn State Researchers that gives you a step-by-step guide: How to Build a Spotted Lanternfly Circle Trap
In order to prevent future Spotted Lanternfly infestations, it is recommended that you remove the tree-of-heaven if possible. They attract SLF resulting in heavy infestations with a messy build-up of honeydew underneath. Destroy any SLF life stages on them.
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Services has a detailed Management Plan and prevention tips on their website, which we have linked here: Spotted Lanternfly | Public Works and Environmental Services
I have read that spraying the nymphs, they are small black bugs with white spots that jump quickly with a solution of ¼ of dish soap per quart of water will coat their breathing airways and kill them.
6 – From the Springfield District Newsletter:
In partnership with the Fairfax County Park Foundation, I’m excited to announce my 8th annual Free Concerts in the Park Series this summer at Springfield District’s nationally ranked Burke Lake Park! Mark your calendars for 7PM every Wednesday night from June 24th to August 19th at Burke Lake Park for an incredible line-up of bands, food trucks, 2 Silos beer, and Ice Cream. The atmosphere is informal, so bring a picnic blanket, lawn chairs, and relax with friends and family. See the full concert and food trucks line-up below.
June 24th
The Road Ducks
Food Trucks: BABU-JI, Cousins Maine Lobster and Ello Gelato
July 1st
ChumpChange
Food Trucks: Ned's New England Deck, Paisanos and Bruster's of Alexandria Ice Cream
July 8th
The Magic Trio
Food Trucks: Roaming Coyote, Paisanos and Ello Gelato
July 15th
SoHo Down
Food Trucks: Kaziville (hot dogs), Cousins Maine Lobster Paisanos and Bruster's of Alexandria
July 22nd
JunkFood Band
Food Trucks: Roaming Coyote, Paisanos and Ello Gelato
July 29th
The Skip Castro Band
Food Trucks: Kaziville (hot dogs), Ned's New England Deck and Bruster's of Alexandria
August 5th
The English Channel
Food Trucks: BABU-JI, Cousins Maine Lobster and Ello Gelato
August 12th
The Randy Thompson Band
Food Trucks: BABU-JI, Roaming Coyote and Bruster's of Alexandria
August 19th
The Soul Shakers
Food Trucks: Kaziville (hot dogs), Ned's New England Deck and Bruster's of Alexandria
Many thanks to our sponsors including: Transurban, Dominion Energy, NOVEC, National Endowment for the Arts, Sheehy, Interstate, West Springfield Car Care, Great American Restaurants, Pulte Homes, Wegmans, Hello Garage, and Virginia commission for the Arts. This 9-show concert series is free because of their generous contributions. I look forward to seeing you this summer!
7 – Calendar
6/19 – Juneteenth Holiday – Federal, State, and County
6/21 – Father’s Day, Summer Solstice
6/27 – Paper shredding event – 9am to noon – Rolling Valley Park and Ride – Old Keene Mill Rd – donations accepted for Crime Solvers
7/3 – July 4 Holiday observed – Federal, State, and County
7/4 Holiday – actual Fourth of July Holiday