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The August Newsletter is Here!
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TONIGHT: National Night Out
Tuesday, August 2nd, 6:00pm-9:00pm
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National Night Out Richmond Highway
National Night Out is an a
nnual neighborhood-based crime and drug prevention event in neighborhoods throughout the Richmond Highway Corridor. The events begin at 6:00pm and end at 9:00pm, and are opportunities to show neighborhood spirit and
strengthen partnerships with local police.
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Yelp Blues Got You Down? Improve Your Online Ratings and Deal with Trolls!
THIS Thursday, August 4th
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Please join SFDC for the fifth installment of our Business Roundtable Speaker Series, "Yelp Blues Got You Down? Improve your Online Ratings and Deal with Trolls!"
Are you tired of dealing with poor online reviews, despite running a great business? Are you constantly managing "trolls" on your social media accounts? Is there a customer with a personal ax to grind? Did you first hear about certain ratings platforms because you received a poor review?!
For a small business, a poor online review can hurt your bottom line and drive away customers. But strong reviews can be an enormous boost!
Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate trolling and improve your internet presence, and that's where our next guest speaker, Kelsey Owen, of the Better Business Bureau, comes in! Kelsey is the Better Business Bureau's Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Washington DC Metro Region. She brings first hand experience and knowledge in improving and managing a business' online interactions with customers and ratings.
THIS Thursday, August 4th
8:30am-10:00am
Holiday Inn Express (
map)
6055 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22303
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Kelsey Owen |
Kelsey Owen is director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Better Business Bureau serving Metro Washington DC and Eastern PA (BBB) where she manages the BBB's stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and traditional and digital media. Kelsey joined the local Metro Washington DC BBB from the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national and international programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation.
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Take the SFDC Communications Survey
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We have received a lot of insightful and thoughtful commentary, so we'll run the survey one last time.
Help us improve our communications, please take the brief SFDC communications survey (less than 2 minutes)!
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Back to School Weekend
Sales Tax Holiday!
Friday, August 5th to Sunday, August 7th
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Back to School Sales Tax Holiday
This year's sales tax holiday is Friday, August 5th
at 12:01 a.m. and ends on Sunday, August 7th at 11:59 p.m.
From the Virginia Department of Taxation: "During the sales tax holiday period, consumers can purchase qualifying
school supplies, clothing, footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax. This includes qualifying items purchased online, by mail or over the phone."
In addition to the specific items exempted, retailers may also choose to offer other items "tax-free" by paying the sales tax themselves during the holiday.
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Metro SafeTrack Surge 8 is scheduled to begin August 20th and end September 5th, expect continuous single tracking between the Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street Metro Stations.
Fairfax County has provided alternative transportation options during SafeTrack. Click here to read more.
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FREE School Physicals for Uninsured Children
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Free School Physicals for uninsured children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade only and new to Fairfax County on
Saturday, August 13th, 8:00am-12:00pm at the South County Government Center.
To schedule an appointment call: (703) 698-2550
South County Health Department
8350 Richmond Highway
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United Community Ministries: Helping Kids Succeed Campaign is Open!
Donate by August 5th so Mount Vernon Kids can be ready for school
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Donate by August 5th so our Mount Vernon Kids can be Ready for School!
UCM's goal is t
o outfit 800 area students with backpacks and supplies. They
rely on support from our community to make sure they'll have the tools to succeed. Click here to view a flyer.
A $40.00 donation will outfit an area child with a backpack and basic school supplies.
Click here to contribute.
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Take a Tour with Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services!
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Good Shepherd Staff
Good Shepherd Housing and Family services is offering tours of their properties along Richmond Highway. This is an outstanding opportunity to view Good Shepherd's work first hand and how critical they are to quality of life along the Richmond Highway Corridor. Details and sign-up information below.
Saturday, August 6th, 2016, 11:00am-12:30pm, GSH Office, 8305 Richmond Hwy, Suite 17B, Alexandria, VA 22309. Click here to sign-up.
Wednesday, August 17th, 2016, 7:00pm-8:30pm, GSH Office, 8305 Richmond Hwy, Suite 17B, Alexandria, VA 22309.
Click here to sign-up
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Thursday, August 25th, 2016, 10:00am-11:30am, GSH Office, 8305 Richmond Hwy, Suite 17B, Alexandria, VA 22309.
Click here to sign-up
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Congratulations, Huntley Meadows!
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The Wetland Restoration Project at Huntley Meadows Park will be receiving the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials
Environmental/Conservation Award!
The award will be presented at their summer meeting in Long Beach, California! Congratulations!
See below for more information on the Wetlands Restoration Project at Huntley Meadows:
"The central wetland at Huntley Meadows Park has been slowly but steadily filling in with silt and debris, which reduces water depth and wildlife habitat. To restore the wetland to its 1980s condition, and provide long-term habitat for a community of locally rare plants and animals, the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Huntley Meadows Park community have decided to engage in wetland restoration. The 5 primary aspects of the project are: 1) an earthen berm to hold back water, 2) a water control structure to manage water levels, 3) expanding the wetland into the surrounding forest, 4) five deeper habitat pools to provide year-round wildlife habitat, 5) numerous brush shelters and logs to provide additional wildlife habitat. Construction started in April 2013 and was completed by March 2014. Total cost of design, permitting and construction was 3 million dollars. This was funded by park bonds and grants, and managed by Fairfax County Park Authority staff. Park staff and volunteers are now responsible for monitoring, management and maintenance of the restored wetland."
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"Mount Vernon: What To Do with Former School Building?
County studying original Mount Vernon High School's 10.6 acre building site and 30 acres of athletic fields."
The ever vigilant Jerry Fill has an excellent article on the future of the Old Mount Vernon High School,
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NOVA's Adult Career Pathways Program will be holding College Access Workshops on the following dates for the month of August 2016:
August 3, 2016, 6:00PM-8:30PM
NOVA's Pitney Bowes, 6th FL, Lab C
7630 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
August 9, 2016, 11:00AM-1:30PM
NOVA's Alexandria Campus AA377
5000 Dawes Ave Alexandria, VA 22311-5097
August 17, 2016, 6PM-8:30PM
Arlington Central Library
1015 North Quincy Street Arlington, VA 22201
To RSVP, please email [email protected] or call (703) 425-5245
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Brewfest at the Workhouse Arts Center
Saturday, August 13th, 10:00am-6:00pm
9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079
Click here for a map
In partnership with Celebrate Fairfax, Visit Fairfax, and Fairfax County Government, the Workhouse is presenting its inaugural BrewFest. The event will feature nearly 100 craft brews by 30 breweries. We are excited to highlight many of our local brewers. The day will feature a dozen bands performing on three stages, numerous food trucks, lawn games, and of course, our artists will be in their galleries, which will be open for you to explore.
Workhouse Arts Center Website |
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Cricket Crawl
August 26th, 8:30pm-9:30pm
Join us for a fun and an informational training on Wednesday, August 17th, 7:30pm to 9:00pm, as we prepare for the 4th annual DC/Baltimore Cricket Crawl. Learn how and why cicadas, crickets and katydids sing their summer songs and learn to identify the calls of 8 common species. This citizen science work will help scientists map the insects' distribution in our region.
Then, join other FODM volunteers on Friday, August 26th, 8:30pm to 9:30pm or survey your own backyard! The training is free and will be in the Mount Vernon area near Dyke Marsh.
Please RSVP at
[email protected]
and we will send further information. At the training, we will provide information on the locations of the August 26 Cricket Crawl.
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Good Shepherd Housing Fundraiser at Chipotle
August 29th, 2016, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Chipotle Mexican Grill
6670 Richmond Highway,
Alexandria, VA 22306
Click here for an event flyer.
Bring in this flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you're supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services.
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LDACO Website
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Lee District Association of Citizens' Organizations and the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens' Association
No meetings in August
Click here for the latest copy of "The Record," the MVCCA Newsletter
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