in brief

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Recycle at the Post Office

Small electronics, such as cellphones, PDAs, digital cameras, MP3 players and inkjet cartridges, can be recycled through a U.S. Postal Service pilot program. Free postage-paid mailers are available at all post offices for mailing electronics to a company that reuses or recycles the equipment.

For information about this and Fairfax County recycling events, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes. Click on Recycling and Trash under subject areas.

Parking District Meeting

Maria Turner of the Fairfax County transportation department will discuss community parking, residential permit-parking districts and large community parking districts at a Braddock District Council public meeting Tuesday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Braddock Hall, 9002 Burke Lake Rd., Burke.

For information, call 703-425-9300.

Dyke Marsh Restoration

Dyke Marsh will be the subject of a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Huntley Meadows Park visitors center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria.

Katia Engelhardt, a scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, will discuss why she thinks Dyke Marsh should be restored.

For information, visit http://www.fodm.org.

McLean Day Festival, Run

McLean Day will kick off at 8 a.m. May 17 with an 8K fun run starting at the Lewinsville Senior Center, 1609 Great Falls St. Registration begins at 7 a.m.; the cost is $20.

The free festival, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Rd., will also feature carnival rides, games, entertainment, an international food court, the election of the McLean Community Center's governing board and a business expo.

Parking is limited near the park, and organizers recommend using the free shuttle service, which will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1545 Chain Bridge Rd.; McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Rd.; and the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. Parking will also be available at the Lewinsville Senior Center, and shuttle carts will run from the back of the building to the park.

For information about the 8K fun run, call 703-448-8336. For information about McLean Day, call 703-790-0123 or visit http://www.mcleancenter.org.

Property Yard Open House

Heavy equipment, hybrid trucks, tandem dump trucks and the city of Falls Church's biodiesel and green fleet will be on display at the sixth annual Falls Church Property Yard Open House from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17, 7100 Gordon Rd.

The free event at the offices of the Department of Environmental Services Operations Division will also feature children's activities, booths on recycling and erosion and sediment control, refreshments and door prizes.

For information, call 703-248-5081 or visit http://www.fallschurchva.gov.

Falls Church Civil War Day

A Civil War medical tent, drilling and firing demonstrations, tours of a Civil War-era farmhouse, period music and spy stories will be highlights of Civil War Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 17 at Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church.

For information about the free event, call 703-248-5171.

Annual Mum Sale

The Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society will sell a variety of mums during its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 17 at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Springs Rd., Alexandria.

For information, call 703-560-8776 or visit http://www.odcsmums.org.

Beltway HOV, Toll Lanes

Design plans for four HOV/bus/HOT (high occupancy toll) lanes on the Capital Beltway will be discussed at public meetings May 20 at Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Cultural Center, 8333 Little River Tpk., Annandale, and May 21 at Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church.

A brief presentation at 7 p.m. will be followed by public comments. Anyone interested in speaking for up to three minutes may register at the door.

Written comments will be accepted through June 5 by e-mail to meeting_comments@VDOT.virginia.gov or by mail to Roger Boothe, VDOT project manager, 6400 Commerce St., Springfield, Va. 22150.

Project information is available at VDOT's Northern Virginia District Office, 14685 Avion Pkwy., Chantilly, or VDOT's Project Office, 6400 Commerce St., Springfield, or by calling 877-495-8368.

Northern District Review

Fairfax County has begun a review of the comprehensive plan relating to the county's northern half and has published the 2008-2009 North County Area Plans Review Guide.

The guide provides information on the review process, which will focus on the Dranesville, Hunter Mill, Providence and Sully districts, and how the public can participate.

The guide is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz. Click on 2008-2009 North County Area Plans Review under Current Projects.

For information, call 703-324-1380.

Fort Belvoir Changes

Fairfax County's planning and zoning department has published an existing conditions report for study areas in the southeastern part of the county expected to be affected by the base realignment actions affecting Fort Belvoir.

The report is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz. Click on BRAC Area Plans Review (APR) under Current Projects.

For information, call 703-324-1380.

Tornado Recovery Team

A local team of emergency management and fire and rescue personnel spent three days in Suffolk, Va., assisting with recovery operations after the April 28 tornadoes that swept through the southeastern part of the state.

The team included Capt. John Ahrens of Fairfax City fire and rescue, Deputy Chief David McKernan of Fairfax County fire and rescue and Mike Wood, acting coordinator of the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management.