Saturday, May 4, 2013
This sign made headlines on Patch this week.
This sign at a Fairfax County park has generated quite a bit of buzz from Fairfax County residents this week. Here's what Patch Facebook fans had to say about the sign: "The only way you can understand the message is if you're already drunk." "Someone must have had 1 too many!" "Don't Drink and Write!" What's wrong with this sign? Tell us in the comments below. (Editor's note: Fairfax County was quick to fix the recycled sign after reading about it on Patch.)
Monday, April 15, 2013
The body of an adult male was found in a vehicle in the park by a park employee. The man's death has been ruled as a suicide.
The body of an adult male was found in Burke Lake Park located at 7315 Ox Rd., Sunday night in an apparent suicide. According to Officer Eddy Azcarate with the Fairfax County Police Department's Public Information Office, police responded to a call at 9:14 p.m. on Sunday after a park employee discovered the body. The employee was doing an after hours check around the park and found a running vehicle in the parking lot where the body was found. There were no signs of foul play at the scene, Azcarate said, and the Virginia Office of the Medical Examiner has yet to release an official cause and manner of death. Police are not releasing the man's name in accordance with their policies. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
John Dargle cited personal reasons for leaving the Park Authority; search for a new leader will take anywhere from six to nine months.
John Dargle has resigned from his position as director of the Fairfax County Park Authority. The resignation was announced in a release from parks officials Monday. In an email to Patch, Park Authority Board Chairman Bill Bouie wrote Dargle resigned to “pursue some other personal interests.” “The Park Authority Board wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” Bouie wrote. The Board will conduct a national search for a Dargle’s successor. Bouie said the search would likely take anywhere from six to nine months. Cindy Messigner, the authority's deputy director and chief financial officer, will serve as acting director until a successor is found. Messinger has worked in the Park Authority for more than 30 years. Parks face a $200,000 …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The second annual community race will be Saturday, April 27.
The Fairfax County Park Authority and runners from Burke and the Northern Virginia area gearing up for the second annual Healthy Strides Community 5K and 10K races in Burke Lake Park on Saturday, April 27. According to information on the Park Authority's Healthy Strides website, the 10K course will run through Burke Lake Park on paved and unpaved trails around lake and through park and the 5K course will run through Burke Lake Park on paved road. The 5K course is stroller and wheelchair accessible. The 10K begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8:15 a.m. Participants are not required to run to join the race and are encouraged to walk, if preferred, and bring friends and family along. To register, interested participants can sign up at www.…
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Cortina is an information technology executive.
Mary Cortina has been named as an at-large member of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. Cortina is an information technology executive and community volunteer. She was appointed to the Park Authority Board by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. Her term begins immediately and runs through December 2015. Cortina served as the e-commerce director for Amtrak from 1999 to 2002, providing strategic vision for all of Amtrak's online initiatives and the daily management of the Amtrak.com website. She was on the senior leadership team for the National Wildlife Federation in Vienna and served the organization for nearly 10 years. Cortina, a George Mason University graduate and Annandale resident, has her bachelor's…
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Volunteers are needed at Hidden Pond Nature Center and Lake Accotink Park.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is looking for volunteers to help with watershed clean-up this year at several sites in the county. Volunteers are needed at Hidden Pond Nature Center and Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, April 6. Additionally, the Park Authority is participating in the Potomac Watershed Cleanup from 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, March 16 and April 6. It’s recommended that all volunteers wear old clothes, boots, and gloves to help. The Park Authority will provide the trash bags. A press release from the Park Authority states individuals, students, families, scouts, and other community groups are invited to volunteer. “This is a great community service project and counts toward school-required public service,” the release …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Hard copies of the plan are available for download and review.
The Fairfax County Park Authority has released preliminary plans for the Pohick Stream Valley-Liberty Bell Trail project for public review and download. According to a news release, the Pohick Stream Valley-Liberty Bell Trail project will connect the new Burke VRE Trail and Burke Lake Road with the sidewalk and bicycle lane on Burke Road to the Rolling Road VRE station. The Fairfax County Park Authority hosted a ribbon-cutting for the new trail in June 2012. The release further states that a new pedestrian and bicycle asphalt trail is planned to run within Pohick Stream Valley Park parallel to Pohick Creek. The goal of the new trail is to make the “area suitable for use by a variety of trail users, while also significantly improving …
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Gift shops and pro shops will have specials on Friday, Nov. 23 for those who need to shop for holiday gifts.
The big box stores won’t be the only shops offering Black Friday deals this week. Several Fairfax County parks will offer special sales on Friday, Nov. 23. The Burke Lake Golf Course is offering 25 percent off all pro shop merchandise and a free cup of coffee on Friday. Frying Pan Farm Park Country Store in Herndon will also offer 20 percent off select merchandise from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shoppers can take 20 percent off all gift shop items from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Sully Historic Site in Chantilly. Over in Falls Church, the Jefferson Golf Course is also offering 25 percent off on all sports apparel at and free coffee as well. The release also states that the Laurel Hill Golf Club Pro Shop in Lorton is offering 20 percent savings …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Fairfax Master Naturalists are seeking others interested in nature to join their volunteer corps.
The Fairfax Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists is accepting applications for Virginia Master Naturalist training to become part of its volunteer corps. “We have wonderful nature areas and it’s important to preserve them as Fairfax County grows,” said Master Naturalist Marilyn Schroeder, who is a dedicated volunteer with the Fairfax County Park Authority. Those who are interested in preserving natural resources, love being outside, are curious about nature and want to make a difference in their community should consider becoming part of this dedicated volunteer corps, she said. Master Naturalists provide basic training in natural resource topics and perform stewardship, citizen science, and education service projects at parks and …
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Park officials worry that more reductions could close facilities.
The Fairfax County Park Authority has had to tighten the belt on funds since FY 2009, and FY 2014 could likely be no different. The county’s budgetary outlook for the next few years is grim, prompting County Executive Ed Long’s request for agencies to identify potential cuts that would reduce their FY 2014 General Fund needs by 5 percent. Per the request of park officials, the Board unanimously approved Tuesday an audit of the Authority’s general fund services in order to find cuts that won’t dramatically affect the operation and maintenance of the county’s 420 public parks. But according to a letter from the Park Authority, that won’t be easy. As it stands, 82 percent of the Authority’s General Fund appropriation covers personnel, an area…
Mary H
12:59 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
someone was drinking that alohol on the job ... twits!!! more ›