October 8, 2023
Hello everyone. If you have information you want me to share in the newsletter, please give it to me a few weeks ahead to be sure it is included. The newsletter goes out about every other week, so giving me something a few days before it happens drastically reduces the odds that it will not be included. Sorry.
- Neighborhood Safety
- Membership Drive
- RVES Haunted House and Fun Fair – Saturday, October 21
- Annual Meeting – Thursday, October 12, 7:30PM
- I am not a good source of information
- Directory Distribution
- Engagement Meetings for Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults
- ECHO News
- Calendar
1 – If you have children riding their bicycles in the community, please buy helmets for them. If you bought helmets for them, please make sure they wear them. Also, make sure they know to stop at an intersection to look for oncoming traffic if they are going to turn onto that street. As I was on Barnack earlier today, I approached Wythe and saw two children – blonde girl and brunette boy – on Wythe slowing down at Barnack. The girl was only looking to the north as I was approaching to the south as she crept to the corner. I slowed down because I was not sure if she was going to stop, turn onto the sidewalk, or turn left or right onto Barnack. As I got to the intersection, I stopped because the girl turned left without looking in my direction at all. The boy had stopped and then fell over when he saw me stopped as the girl crossed the street. The girl was oblivious to all of this until the boy yelled out to her when she then pulled over and stopped to look back.
I never get up to 25mph on Barnack because of potential situations exactly like this. I cannot say the same of many neighbors when I see them whiz by me when I am walking at night.
2 – I was pleased to see so many people drop off cash or a check into the drop box. There have been several PayPal payments and checks mailed to the PO Box. If you are not sure if you have paid, please send an email to president@westspringfieldvillage.org and ask. If you have someone else that could renew, coordinate with them to send a payment. It is better to see two payments instead of no payments. If you are not sure if your information is updated, please so do with our Google Form at https://forms.gle/yf6dkx5wRFrvuHdm9 . If you want to pay online via PayPal, here are the links for renewing:
· Renew for 1 year - $11 (FY24)
· Renew for 2 years - $21 (FY24 & FY25)
· Renew for 3 years - $31 (FY24, FY24 & FY26)
You can also mail a check to PO Box 2024, Springfield, VA 2252. Make checks out to ‘CAWSV’. It is $10 a year, up to three years
You can also drop off a check or cash at the drop box at 6919 Vancouver Rd.
3 – Rolling Valley Elementary School Haunted House and Fun Fair – Saturday, October 21, 4:30-8:30PM
This is from the RVES PTA:
RVES HAUNTED HOUSE & FUN FAIR
Saturday, October 21; 4:30-8:30pm; Rolling Valley Elementary School: The RVES PTA is thrilled to once again host the Haunted House & Fun Fair! This longstanding community tradition is one of our biggest fundraisers, and you don't want to miss it! Purchase your tickets online in advance and receive a discount: https://rvespta.ptboard.com/formvw?store=4145&form=5
4 - The Annual Meeting is this Thursday, October 12, at 7:30PM at 6802 Landor Lane. Along with the Vice President position being available, the Membership Chair for the Executive Council will be open. If you are interested in either position, please let me know. If you will not be able to attend the meeting, please give me any information to pass along to the attendees ahead of the voting. There will be some snacks and refreshments.
5 – I appreciate the notion that I am a fountain of knowledge. My wife can attest that I am almost as dumb as I look. I have lived here barely over two years, so I do not know much about what had happened or what will be going on in our community. I recently got a voicemail from someone – the name and number were garbled in the message so I could not respond – asking about the next Inova blood drive. I did not know the answer or a quick way to find it. If you have not joined the Facebook group, that is a good way to ask to ask people in our community about things like that. I know we have a NextDoor thing which I have not joined yet. It might be a useful source of information as well. Unless it is something specific to the Civic Association, I doubt I will have an answer. Unfortunately, I also do not have the time to look for one. Sorry.
6 – I think all of the Directories have been distributed on all of the streets. If you renewed last year and have not received one, please let me know. A few streets had volunteers distribute to parts of them, so I hope I did not leave any gaps.
I will start the process for next year’s directories earlier than I did this year. There was an unexpected delay form the printer which I will also account for.
7 - In late October, County staff will be hosting an informational meeting as well as two engagement meetings to solicit feedback from residents on the programming and utilization of the Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults temporary location. Your feedback is very important as we move into the next planning step for the senior center, so I encourage you to mark your calendars and attend the meetings. See the meeting details in the graphic below. If you are unable to attend, you can still submit feedback by emailing my office at springfieldbos@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Virtual Information Session:
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 12:30PM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2336778277
Engagement Meetings:
Friday, October 20, 2023 at 1PM
Pohick Regional Library
6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, VA 22015
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:30PM
Sangster Elementary School
7420 Reservation Drive, Springfield, VA 22153
After a several year search for a suitable temporary location, County staff have been able to secure a temporary location for the Burke-Springfield Center for Active Adults at the site of the former Dress Barn at Huntsman Square. It took quite a while to come to an agreement with Giant, the neighboring business, on the terms of the design of the space. We are now in the process of creating the plans for design and buildout of the temporary location to make sure the location meets County standards and the needs of senior center and community programming.
While this is a temporary site, it is critically important for our seniors and community to have a consistent space to utilize until the permanent location is finalized. The process of finding a space suitable for developing a permanent Springfield Community Resource Center has been ongoing for years. The permanent facility is slated for the Fall 2026 bond after being delayed for multiple reasons, including the pandemic. In the meantime, I worked with staff to find a temporary facility that can serve the ongoing needs of our seniors and community while we get the funding approved by the voters and find the best location for the permanent facility. More details to come on both the temporary and permanent facilities.
8 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
Help ECHO with your feet!
For thirty-one years, residents of Burke and Springfield have participated in a community walk to raise awareness about local and global hunger and to raise money for projects to address those issues through Church World Service (CWS). A significant portion of the funds raised by our local CROP Walk supports ECHO’s work. The next CROP Walk takes place Sunday, November 5, beginning at 2:00 pm at Burke Presbyterian Church. More information on the route, registering to walk, supporting other walkers with online donations, plus links to descriptions of CWS projects can be found at www.burkecropwalk.org. Help ECHO by registering, donating and joining friends and neighbors for the CROP Walk.
Yippee, the Yard Sale!
ECHO’s popular semi-annual Yard Sale will be held Saturday, October 28 from 8:00 am to noon at the gym of St. Bernadette’s school, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Come join the hunt for treasures among the rows and rows of kitchen items, home decorations, fashion accessories, electronics, jewelry and much more. Prices are great! Proceeds benefit ECHO.
Scouting for Food is Vital to ECHO
Local Scout troops work hard each year to help ECHO make sure that no one in our community suffers from hunger. This year, Scouting for Food will be held on November 4. Local Boy Scout troops will collect bags of non-perishable foods from residents’ front steps, porches or driveways and deliver it to ECHO. This drive is one of the largest sources of food for ECHO each year and we count on its success. Please watch for information in your area and participate if you are able.
ECHO’s Current Needs for Fall
The most urgently needed supplies at this time are: bagged rice, honey, canned meat, spaghetti sauce, toothpaste, shampoo.
ECHO’s Clothing Room needs adult winter outerwear. If you are getting new warm clothing this season, please consider bringing your clean, used outerwear to ECHO. Men’s and women’s winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves are needed now as we prepare for a change in the weather. ECHO’s Clothing Room always needs donations of new socks and underwear since we do not accept or distribute used underwear.
ECHO’s Donation Door is open on weekdays from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00 to 9:00.
Upcoming Dates to Note
October 9 - Closed for Columbus Day
October 14- Saturday Opening
October 14 - Springfield United Methodist Food Drive, 1:00 -3:00 pm
October 28 - Fall Yard Sale at St. Bernadette’s Gym, 8:00 am - noon
November 4 - Boy Scout Food Drive
November 5 - Annual CROP Walk, Burke Presbyt. 2:00 pm
November 8 -Exec Cmte meets
November 10 - Closed for Veterans Day
November 18 - Saturday Opening
November 18-19- Deadline for delivery of Thanksgiving meals
November 20 - Bd of Dir Meeting
November 23 - Closed in the evening
November 24 - 25 - Closed for Thanksgiving
For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click the links to our website:
Tips on Holding a Donation Drive
9 – Calendar
10/8 – Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Fairfax County Government will be open if you want to vote early or pay your property tax a little late
10/21 – RVES Haunted House and Fun Fair – 4:30-8:30PM
10/31 – Halloween – it is always done on this day. It is never early, and there are no rain delays
11/5 – Daylight Saving Time Ends – you clock falls back an hour
11/7 – Election Day – it is a Fairfax County Holiday
11/10 – Veterans Day Holiday observed
11/11 – Veterans Day Holiday