• Richmond Highway (Route 1) Task Force Begins Review
• At Drop-Off Centers, Trash and Recyclables Shouldn’t Mix
• Media General Cable Television Franchise Renewed
• Irving Birmingham Scholarship Aids Aspiring Engineers
• Hours for Construction Starts limited on Sundays and Holidays
• Fairfax County Citizens Handbook
• Full Parkway Funding in Place; Road More Than 85% Complete or Under Construction
• WATER QUALITY PROTECTION TIPS
• Safety Found in Numbers
• County Operates Audit Hotline
• Good Information on Fire Extiguishers, Smoke Detectors & Batteries

The group will act as a review committee for the 1998 Comprehensive Plan Nominations as part of the Mount Vernon and Lee Districts’ Special Study for Richmond Highway. The task force includes community members, a member from the Chamber of Commerce and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation appointed by the District Supervisors to study and make recommen-dations to them as well as to the Planning Commissioners from the two districts. The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan is a guide for future growth and development. The plan indicates policies and guidelines for land use, transportation, public facilities and other matters which will shape the future of Fairfax County.

The nominations are limited to the Richmond Highway area from Huntington Gateway to the Lorton Gateway. This task force will take into consideration the VDOT study for Richmond Highway (sponsored by the General Assembly) and the Revitalization Analysis for Richmond Highway prepared by Robert Charles Lesser & Co., reviewing each nomination submitted and comparing it with the studies, the current comprehensive plan language, the maps and the comprehensive policy plan. The task force will invite nominator(s) to give a brief presentation, listen to the comments made by land owners and other impacted property owners and seek the advice of the Fairfax County professional staff on each nomination. The committee will objectively evaluate each nomination based on the information they have and then make recommendations to the Mount Vernon and Lee Districts’ Planning Commissioners and Super-visors later this fall. Public hearings will be scheduled afterwards.

Copies of the nominations, the VDOT study and the revitalization analysis are available at the Supervisors’ offices, the Fairfax County pub-lic libraries and at the Maps and Publications counter in the County Government Center, 12000 Govern-ment Center Parkway, Fairfax. For further information, please contact Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland or Marcia Hanson, at 780-7518 or Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman or Jeff McKay at 971-6262.

1. Know What’s Trash and What’s Recyclable: In recycling, what’s con-sidered “trash” may surprise you. For example, plastic yogurt cups and margarine tubs are contaminants to plastics recycling and are often diffi-cult to detect since their coding (#1 or #2) and appearance are similar to the plastics being collected. These “look alikes” can be very damaging to the recycling process. But they have differences which can create huge problems during the remanufacturing process, creating inferior or unusable end products. To avoid this problem, please read posted recycling drop-off center signs carefully before you de-posit your recyclables and include only materials listed as “acceptable” into recycling containers.

2. “When In Doubt, Leave It Out!”: Residents who recycle glass in Fairfax County should know that our markets can accept only green, clear and brown glass bottles and jars. Drinking glasses and any type of glass cookware (e.g., pots and pans), dinnerware (e.g., dishes, bowls, plates, et cetera), flower vases/pots or ce-ramics are contaminants and should be discarded as trash. Inclusion of these items with glass containers has caused entire loads of glass to be rejected. This brings the recycling process to a grinding halt, forcing the entire load to be handled as trash. To prevent this problem, before you re-cycle materials, just follow this simple maxim: “When in doubt, leave it out!”

3. When Recycling, “More is Often Less”: The single most important step citizens can take is to ensure that the items they put at the curb or take to a recycling drop-off center are contaminant-free. It is better to place fewer correct materials in a recycling container than a greater quantity of incorrect materials. Remember, trash and recyclables should never mix.
For more information, call the Re-cycling InfoLine, 324-5052, select message #1, TTY 1-800-828-1120.

In February, the proposed agreement, based on input from citizens as well as community group surveys, was submitted to the Board of Supervisors. The Board then held a public hearing on the proposal on March 30. At that time, the Board granted a short-term extension of the franchise, allowing time to address questions raised at the public hearing.
Under the agreement, Media General Cable will:

•  Rebuild the cable system with improved technology that will dramatically improve picture quality and reliability to subscribers. The new system, based on fiber optic technology, will greatly reduce weather related signal interference. The majority of the lines that will be replaced are those that connect major distribution sites to the neighborhoods. Approximately 75 percent of these lines are aerial (attached to poles). An estimated 10 percent of the neighborhood/ yard cable will need to be replaced. During the first year of the upgrade, the system will be redesigned. After this, Media General Cable will be able to provide detailed con-struction plans for all areas of the County.

• Increase the cable system’s capacity to allow for greater subscriber choices and more programming packages, such as “ala carte” selections of programming that may be offered by the cable operator. Starting next spring, Media General Cable intends to begin making available advanced, digital cable converter boxes that will permit a wider array of options to subscriber.

• Be equipped for future digital and high definition television broadcasts as the television industry converts to these technologies, making available new, advanced cable con-verter boxes.

• Offer new capabilities such as high speed Internet access and other interactive services.

• Establish new consumer protection standards that address customer service complaints, such as missed appointments, failure to promptly respond, property restoration, and various other problems.

• Extend cable television service to lower density neighborhoods for a nominal fee. This will benefit citizens living in new developments and in more rural areas of the County.

•  Provide an all fiber institutional network for Fairfax County Public Schools and County government that could save up to $4 million annually on telephone and data circuits currently in use. A one-time construction cost of $11.2 million will be paid from cable franchise fees and grants.

• Provide support for community television programming by allocating channels and capital grants to public, educational, and government access programmers.

• Capital grants will be provided to the public access provider, Northern Virginia Community College, George Mason University and Fairfax County government to continue local programming of community interest.

• In a related action, the Board decided to adopt a technology and financial package, worth over $3 million annually, for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) that is one of the most generous in the country. The package consists of:

• Annual operational support equal to one percent of Media General’s annual gross revenues, or about $1.4 million; Cable related equipment sup-port of $250,000 annually; Connection of FCPS facilities to the County’s fiber institutional network (I-net) that allows high speed data, video and voice communications; and I-net equipment, maintenance, and other related support, equiva-lent to approximately one percent of Media General Cable’s annual gross revenues.

The scholarship was established by the nonprofit institute, which sponsors several engineering scholarships, to encourage young people to join the profession of engineering. The institute’s membership includes a wide range of architectural and engineering firms and civil engineering professionals in Northern Virginia.

The first recipient of the Birmingham scholarship was named this year, Erin Nicole Dryan of Robinson Secondary School.
To qualify for the scholarship, students need to have a well rounded background including community activities as well as scholarly pursuits. They must plan to enroll in George Mason University’s Urban Systems Engineering degree, which is part of the Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) Program. Minorities are encouraged to apply. Financial need is taken into consideration and assistance is available for those unable to pay enrollment fees. The application process is simple and stu-dents may obtain further information and an application by calling the CEIE office at 993-1675. Deadline for the 1999 scholarship award is April 1, 1999.

Irving Birmingham served in County government for 12 years fol-lowing a 20-year distinguished mili-tary career with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He saw active duty in Vietnam as an engineering company commander, for which he won a number of decorations, and served as an Executive Officer at Fort Belvoir. He was widely respected by the engineering community and by his fellow County employees.

Donations to the Birmingham scholarship are matched by the State and by an investment fund. Anyone wishing to donate to the scholarship may do so to the George Mason University Foundation/Urban Systems Engineering Institute Irving Birmingham Scholarship, George Mason University -- attn. Dr. Terry Ryan, 4400 University Drive, M54A6, Fairfax, VA 22030. Checks should be made out to USEI/GMUF and indicate they are for the Irving Birmingham Scholarship.

We hope you find the updated Handbook useful to you as a citizen and in your duties as association presidents.
The Citizens Handbook will continue to be updated in electronic form on the County’s Web site at www.co.fairfax.va.us.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 324-3187.

Construction of the Fairfax County Parkway is complete from Sunset Hills Road to the Rolling Road/ Franconia-Springfield Parkway interchange and from Fullerton Road, just west of the 1-95 Newington interchange, to Route 1. The full length of the Franconia-Springfield Parkway spur is complete from the Rolling Road/Fairfax County Parkway interchange to Beulah Street. The Route 7-to-Sunset Hills Road segments are either under construction or scheduled to be advertised for construction within the next 10 months.

Also at the Aug. 3 meeting, the Board approved a series of recommendations to the Virginia Department of Transportation regarding revised design of the Engineering Proving Grounds (EPG) segment of the Parkway, between Franconia-Springfield Parkway/Rolling Road and Fullerton Road. The Board recommended that the EPG segment be initially built as a six-lane facility. Further, the Board asked that the revised design establish a single, major directional access point for the EPG property that is grade separated. Future development proposals for the EPG property would have to conform to and use this access point. The Board indicated that the redesign should include the ultimate configuration of the Fullerton Road grade separated interchange.

Finally, the Board also requested that now that state bond funds have been approved for the project, construction of the EPG segment begin as quickly as possible once the initial redesign has been completed. Any delay in construction of this segment would adversely affect other projects receiving bond funds. For more information, call 324-1100.

USE SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZERS IN YOUR YARD
These prevent rapid loss of nitrogen, allowing it to be available to grass roots over a longer period. Ask for information at your local garden center/nursery.

LEAVE GRASS CLIPPINGS ON THE LAWN
This will return nutrients to the lawn and protect the grass from drying out in the summer heat. If clippings are too heavy, they will kill the grass; therefore, mow regularly, keep grass at an average height of 3 inches.

SELECT LANDSCAPE PLANTS WISELY
Select native species that will need little or no watering. Grow appropriate vegetation along streams to reduce stream bank erosion.

PREVENT ANIMAL WASTE (PETS AND LIVESTOCK) FROM WASHING DOWN STORM DRAINS OR INTO STREAMS
Walk pets with a scooper or pick up after them with plastic gloves/bags. Dispose of the waste in the regular trash. Keep animals (horses and cattle) out of streams.

PROTECT GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER
Properly dispose of unwanted engine oil, chemical and household hazardous fluids. The County refuse center on West Ox Road accepts these substances

SEPTIC SYSTEMS SHOULD BE GIVEN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PREVENT EROSION ON YOUR PROPERTY
Use a splash slab under gutters, create rain gardens to concentrate runoff and sheet flow of stormwater.

PROMOTE NATURAL RE VEGETATION 
Leave an unmowed buffer along stream banks, ponds and lakes. A preferred buffer width is 35 ft., but any width is an improvement and allows a vegetative buffer to become established.
 

• Be sure that shrubbery or long driveways do not obscure numbers.
• Use block letters rather than script lettering.
• While painting address numerals on curbs is a useful means of identifi-cation, your primary means of posting addresses should be on your home, because parked cars can block curb numbers.
• Make sure numbers are large enough and contrast sharply with their background.
• Illuminate numbers or find other ways to make them visible from the street at night, such as using reflective numbers.
• Be sure all numbers are posted at all times.
• If you live on a corner lot, be sure numbers are visible from the street named in your address.
• If you share a private pipestem driveway, be sure to post numbers at the front entrance of the home in addition to those posted at the driveway entrance. To order a private pipestem driveway sign or replacement, call 324-1515.

The hotline, available 24 hours a day, can be reached by calling 876-0526. Calls are answered by an op-erator trained and experienced in handling such hotline calls. The audit hotline was established at the direction of the Board of Supervisors. Citizen reports go directly to the Board’s Financial and Programs Audi-tor for assessment and investigation and are kept in strict confidence.

We recommend a 5-pound multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher that is rated for A, B, and C fires. Briefly explained, a Class A fire is ordinary combus-tibles (wood, paper, cloth, anything that leaves an ash), Class B fires are flammable liquids (gaso-line, kerosene, grease, including cooking grease) and Class C fires involve electricity (appliances, mo-tors, anything that has energized electricity). Before using a fire extinguisher, always be sure to get all occupants out of the house and notify the Fire Department by calling 911 before attempting extinguishment. There are some rules to follow when de-ciding whether to fight a fire:

• If the fire is larger than you (your body size), do not fight it.
• If the fire might cut off your escape route, don’t fight it.
• If you haven’t reviewed how to use your extinguisher beforehand, don’t fight it. The time to learn is
• not when you’re facing the fire.
• Remember, keep your extinguisher in an easily accessible place, not in a closet and not next to the stove.
• The best way to handle a fire is to prevent one from occurring. Practice fire-safe living, have a home escape plan, and test your smoke detector’s battery.

OPERATION FIRESAFE Provides Free Smoke Detectors
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and Radio Shack are pleased to announce a program called OPERATION FIRESAFE. Radio Shack has donated smoke detectors to the Fire and Rescue Department. These smoke detectors will be installed by firefighters in the homes of anyone who does not currently have a working smoke detector.

A working smoke detector gives early warning if a fire oc-curs. Fire spreads very quickly! Without early warning, it may be too late to escape. In an effort to assure that all citizens of Fairfax County have a working smoke detector in their home, we have formed a partnership to install these do-nated smoke de-tectors in the homes where they are needed.
Please help us! If you are in need of a smoke detec-tor, please call 246-3947 and leave the following information on the answering machine.
1. Your name
2. Your phone number and the best time of day to contact you When calling, please speak clearly and slowly. A firefighter will call you back and make ar-rangements to install your smoke detector. Your safety is a top priority with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. If you have any further questions, please contact your local fire station or the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Public Information and Life Safety Education Section at 246-3801 ; TTY385-4414.

Battery For Life
CHIRP. What does it mean when your smoke detector starts to “chirp?” It means the battery is dying and must be replaced immediately. Unfortunately, some people pull out the dying battery and try to remember to get a new one some day. Or they’re out of town when the bat-tery chirps to death, and they never know they’re in danger.

A dead battery is a real killer. Many people have lost their lives in home fires because of dead smoke detector batteries. Smoldering fires produce large quantities of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and fatal gas. If you’re asleep when the gas enters your room, you’ll probably never wake up. But your smoke detector never sleeps, unless it has a dead battery.
Make it a habit to test your smoke detector battery monthly. A good way to check your detector is to hold a lighted candle up to the smoke detector, blow out the candle and direct the smoke into the smoke detector. Make sure it sounds a warning. Another method is to push the test button with a broom handle. While you’re at it, add your smoke detector to your regular cleaning schedule. Remember to gently vacuum around the outside of the detector to remove dust and cobwebs every month.

Replace batteries at least once a year. Always change the battery as soon as it “chirps” or when your monthly test reveals a dead battery. Once a year - pick a date such as Christmas, a birthday or in the fall when you change your clock from daylight saving time replace the old battery with a fresh one. A fire death caused by the absence of an inexpensive battery is senseless. To prevent such a trag-edy, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department has initiated a “Battery for Life” program. Any citizen in Fairfax County may contact the Fire and Rescue Department to make an appointment to receive a free battery for every smoke detector in their home.

To receive your free batteries, just schedule an appointment with us for a Home Safety Check. We’ll send a firefighter to your home to help you identify fire hazards and make recommendations on home fire safety. Firefighters conducting the check  also explain proper procedures to routinely test and clean smoke de-tectors. In exchange for this impor-tant opportunity to discuss home safety, the firefighter will give you a free battery for each smoke detector in your home.
“Battery for Life” has a double meaning. Not only can a battery in your smoke detector save your life, but we are making a lifetime com-mitment to seeing that it does. Each time one of your batteries dies, call us and we’ll come back with a new one, FREE!

If you have any questions please call your local fire and rescue sta-tion or the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Public Information and Life Safety Education Section at 246-3801; TTY385-4419.

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