Braddock District Document Shredding Event Set for June 22 in Burke

Burke residents can recycle boxes of old documents for free.

Burke residents looking to get rid of old documents will have an opportunity to dispose of them at an upcoming document shredding event in Burke. The shredding event date for the Braddock District is June 22 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Kings Park Library, located at 9002 Burke Lake Road in nearby Burke. According to the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, residents are allowed to bring five medium-sized boxes of personal or sensitive papers per household. All paper must be removed from binders and paper clips and rubber bands must be removed as well. Credit cards, film, junk mail, magazines and CDs are not allowed. The service is free for Fairfax County residents. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/intro-programs.htm …

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Children's Book Week Begins Monday

The annual celebration of books for children is from May 13-19. Learn how you can celebrate here in Burke.

Get your library card ready: May 13 marks the beginning of Children's Book Week, an annual celebration of books and reading for young people. According to Book Week Online, the Children’s Book Council, a national non-profit trade association for children's book publishers, established Children’s Book Week in 1919 with the intention to spread awareness about the importance of children's and young adult literature. The week is celebrated every year across the country in libraries, museums, bookstores, schools and more with readings, author appearances and other events. How to Celebrate Children's Book Week in Burke You can celebrate Children's Book Week by visiting one of the three Fairfax County Public Library branches here in Burke: Burke …

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Upcoming Used Book Sales at Burke Libraries

Both the Kings Park Library and Burke Centre Library are hosting sales this month.

The Burke Centre Library, located at 5935 Freds Oak Rd., and Kings Park Library, located at 9000 Burke Lake Rd., are both hosting used book sales this month. The Kings Park sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library, starts Thursday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will continue on Friday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The sale’s final day will be Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to the Fairfax County Public Library news release of book sales,  most hardbacks will be $2 with paperbacks and children’s books for 50 cents to $1. Burke Centre’s sale begins Wednesday, May 8 with a preview sale from 3-6 p.m. for Friends members only. The sale opens to the public on Thursday, May 9 from 1-9 p.m. Additional sale …

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Local Author Recounts Search for Father

"Who's Your Daddy, Baby" is a fictionalized account of the author's search for her father.

A Fairfax Station woman has written “Who’s Your Daddy, Baby,” a fictionalized account of her search for her biological father. “I really wrote it to try and help other people going through a similar situation,” said Lisa Pell, who recently discussed the book at Kings Park Library. “It’s a fun novel, but it’s not fluff. It’s medical history and family history." Pell started writing as a journalist for the student newspaper at George Mason University 35 years ago. She has also worked at regional publications, television stations and radio stations. She didn’t start writing for fun, however, until the early 2000s. She began writing a trilogy, but that was soon set aside when another idea for a novel came up. She began undergoing in-vitro …

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Weekend Planner

Weekend Planner: Nature Programs, Wine Tasting and Theater

Friday, March 9 through Sunday, March 11, 2012.

Making plans for the weekend?  Patch has got you covered with our list of local events that is sure to have something for everyone.   A Well-Stocked Cellar: Dinner and Wine Tasting at Mount Vernon  Local Library Book Sales Library Events for Kids Tea Ceremony and Tasting Making House Storybooks: Activity for Kids Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet “Battle at the Capitol” Cheer and Dance Competition Nature Programs Vienna Boys Choir

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Meetings This Week in the Braddock District

Meetings of interest to Braddock District residents March 5 - 8, 2012.

Park Authority 101: March 5, 7:30 p.m. at Braddock Hall. Tony Vellucci, Braddock District representative to the Park Authority, will present a primer on the Fairfax County Park Authority. During the one-hour session, Vellucci will discuss the role of the Park Authority and their relationship with the Board of Supervisors. There also will be a discussion about park issues in the Braddock District. This class is targeted towards civic association and homeowner association (HOA) leadership, but is open to anyone. Please RSVP to Lindsey.Smith2@fairfaxcounty.gov West Springfield Police Citizens Advisory Committee: March 6, 7:30 - 9 p.m. at West Springfield District Police Station. This month's guest speaker is Fairfax County Police Chief Dave …

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Cookin' Up Green Eggs and Ham

March 2 marks Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America Day.

Each year on March 2, the National Education Association honors Dr. Seuss' birthday with Read Across America Day. The national program spotlights the importance of reading, and encourages everyone to take time today -- and everyday -- to read with a child. Chris Bartholomew, Page manager at Kings Park Library, and Nancy Klein, Youth Services manager at Burke Centre Library, joined The Cat in the Hat to produce this special Read Across America Day video greeting. *Quote from the NEA's Read Across America Day webpage.

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Residents Propose Off-Leash Dog Park in Burke

A public hearing is scheduled for Monday on the first off-leash dog park in the Braddock District area of Fairfax County.

Burke-area dog lovers have been working for more than two years to bring an off-leash dog park to the Braddock District, and a public hearing next week could bring the idea closer to reality. “An off-leash dog area allows dogs to socialize and run without being intrusive and be a problem,” said Russ Rosen, who is a member of Braddock Dogs, a group formed to promote creating an off-leash, fenced-in dog park. “It gives them an opportunity to get some exercise and be around other dogs and let people who like dogs to meet in another area.” The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Kings Park Library to discuss the idea and take input on a draft of the Monticello Park master plan. The master …

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Ben Glass

7:54 am on Saturday, February 25, 2012

The dog park at South Run is terrific. It would be nice to have more of them   more ›

Spring Comes No Matter What the Groundhog Does

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning. So what does that mean, and why?

Folklore has it that winter will continue for six more weeks if a groundhog sees his shadow on February 2. To many, that seems counterintuitive. If the sun is out to cast a shadow, shouldn't that mean warmer weather is near? But the tradition means that the groundhog is frightened by his shadow and retreats into his den to hibernate another six weeks. Groundhog Day originated in Europe centuries ago, and is based on the ancient belief that the emergence of a hibernating creature forecast the imminent arrival of spring. When Germans settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th century, they brought the custom with them. In Europe different animals were used, including badgers and bears. Groundhogs were plentiful in Pennsylvania, so that’s the animal…

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Weekend Planner

Artwork, Music and a Walk in the Woods

Friday, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 8

How will you spend the first weekend of the New Year?  Patch found a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for you to enjoy Friday through Sunday. “I DO! I DO!”  The Patents and Trademarks of Steve Jobs – Art and Technology that Changed the World  Alexandria Farmers Markets  Advent Calendar Closing Celebration and Silent Auction  Local Library Book Sales  Storytelling Festival  ArtNotes presents “Shade Parade”  Winter Ranger Hike  United States Marine Band Concert

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