June 2016 - Greenbriar Community
Transcription
June 2016 - Greenbriar Community
New Law Protects Trash Collection Drivers ‒ page 12. Volume 47 Number 8 June 2016 Woman’s Club Members Win State Awards GFWC Western Fairfax County Woman’s Club members Angela Glascock and Rosanna Hoverman won awards for their arts and crafts entries at the GFWC Virginia Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia, in early May. The arts and crafts contest starts at the club level each year. WFCWC held its contest at our February 2016 meeting. All first place winners in each crafts category at the club level were then judged at the district level during the GFWC Virginia Northern District spring meeting in Fredericksburg on March 19. After Angela and Rosanna placed first in their respective categories at the district level, their entries then went on to the state level. Angela won not only first place for her jeweled necklace in the jewelry category but also a Best of Show award. Rosanna won third place for her quilt. In other club news, WFCWC immediate past president Marion Brown was elected to serve as treasurer of Northern District for the 2016-2018 administration. WFCWC installed its new officers for the 2016-2017 club year at its May 16 meeting: Mary Jane Hasselkus, president; Karen Johnston, vice president; Margaret Bulas, treasurer; and Barbara Levermann, secretary. WFCWC is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, a unifying force bringing together local women’s clubs, with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With 100,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement, and working toward world peace and understanding. For more information, please visit www.GFWC.org. WFCWC meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month from September through May at the Cale Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Road. Guests are always welcome! For more information about WFCWC, please visit our Web site at www.wfcwc.org or call Mary Jane Hasselkus at 703-378-4250. GFWC Virginia arts & crafts winners Angela Glascock (left) and Rosanna Hoverman (right) with WFCWC arts & crafts chair Eileen Chambers (center). Barbara Kiker (far left), former GFWC Virginia Northern District president, installed the new WFCWC officers at the club’s May meeting: (left to right) Mary Jane Hasselkus, president; former club treasurer Vicki Gaboury standing in for newly elected treasurer Margaret Bulas; Barbara Levermann, secretary; and Karen Johnston, vice president. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Chantilly Library Events...................................17 Classified Ads....................................................20 CCC Calendar....................................................20 GCA News...........................................................2 Garden Club......................................................15 Greenbriar Garden.............................................20 Kids Korner................................................. 10-11 Norma’s Nook.....................................................6 Point of View.......................................................5 ECRWSS GREENBRIAR RESIDENT CHANTILLY, VA 20151 Greenbriar Flyer 4615 Stringfellow Road Chantilly, VA 20151 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FAIRFAX, VA PERMIT NO 912 Page 2 greenbriar greenbriar flyer Web site: egreenbriar.org Ads, articles and digital photographs may be submitted to greenbriarflyer@hotmail.com. Editor-in-Chief Asst. Editor Lee Conley Barbara Levermann Editor, Kids Korner Erica DeMille Operations Manager Lee Conley Layout Editor Lee Conley Production Editor Barbara Burdette Business Manager Dannette Wolfe Ad Manager Lee Conley Classified Ads Editor Copy Editor Copy Coordinator Editorial Writer Sports Writer Cooking Editor Gardening Editor CCC Calendar Writers Jean Hnarakis Lee Conley Jerry Chambers Angela Glascock Colin Barthel Rosanna Hoverman Charlotte Simson Chad Smillie Erica DeMille, Angela Glascock Rosanna & Bruce Hoverman, Norma Pace, Nancy Yenke Proofreaders Donna Chong, Barbara Levermann Quality Control Barbara Levermann Circulation Dannette Wolfe (External) Barbara Burdette (Internal) Meri Aanstoos (Schools) Printed by Silver Communications Circulation 4,175 Due to the limitations of a volunteer staff, the Flyer cannot cover every community event. Greenbriar residents and organizations are invited to submit material, which will be edited and printed as space allows. Opinions expressed in published articles do not necessarily represent the editorial opinions of the Flyer. Subscriptions to the Greenbriar Flyer are available for $15 per year to cover postage. Please send a check with name and mailing address of recipient to: Greenbriar Flyer 4615 Stringfellow Road Chantilly, VA 20151 June 2016 GCA News Volume 47 Number 8 June 2016 The Greenbriar Flyer, an official publication of the Greenbriar Civic Association, is a nonprofit organization, published monthly and distributed free to all residents of the Greenbriar subdivision of Fairfax County. Inquiries should be addressed to: 4615 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151. flyer by Vince Krevinas GCA President GCA News My submission of this column seems to be at the height of the monsoon season in the area. Amazingly, residents have managed to keep their lawns in reasonable condition given the extreme circumstances. I’m sure, as is inevitable over the years, we’ll be complaining of the endless drought come middle to late summer. All you can do is prepare for the worst and hope it gets better soon. It’s been a busy spring for GCA with the following updates: Middle Ridge Drive Repaving/Bike Lanes. The Bicycle Program Coordinator with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and a representative of VDOT addressed the GCA board at the May meeting to propose installing bike lanes on Middle Ridge Drive in conjunction with the repaving of the road. VDOT has approved repaving the entire length of the road as part of the spring repaving schedule. The county feels it would be most cost effective and efficient to add the bike lanes during the repaving process. The bike lanes would not affect the curb-parked cars or the normal flow of traffic. As mentioned earlier, the paving of Majestic Lane will be from Meadow Hill Lane to Route 50. We have no hard dates available yet on when the work will begin. However, VDOT will notify homeowners well ahead of time prior to the actual work. Greenbriar Commons Park Improvement Update. We had a second meeting with Fairfax County Park Authority staff recently to formalize locations for the additional benches and picnic tables. In the aftermath of the meeting, FCPA made a revision, whereby one of the benches we asked to be added to the playground area must meet ADA requirements. A financial benefit to GCA is that FCPA has agreed to fund one of the original four requested benches and make it handicap accessible. The final steps are underway with a hopedfor completion date and install sometime before winter. Kudos to FCPA for their great support of GCA in working with us to make this happen. Vandalism in the Community. Residents of the Plaza Lane area expressed concerns about vandalism near the pedestrian pathway to the rear of the shopping center by Total Wine. The “marking” or “tagging” of fences, or any property for that matter, will not be tolerated and violators are subject to full enforcement of the law. In the aftermath of the recent incidents, residents banded together to identify the culprits and come up with meaningful approaches to address this conduct. They cleaned up the graffiti, and they are considering installing motion-sensor lights to shine on the walkway area. Please report incidents of this kind immediately to both the Fair Oaks police station and to the GCA. Plaza Lane Access Update. Shopping center management notified me via email on April 29 that they “don’t have any updates as to our plans. This time of year is extremely busy trying to get the shopping centers in better shape from the winter season. Once it winds down a bit in a few weeks, I will revisit with my manager and get some real ideas down as to what we can do.” GCA will keep in touch to see that this necessary improvement does happen. Clarification on Use of Storage Pods. During the typically heavy spring and summer seasons, many homeowners in the process of buying or selling a home will rent a temporary portable storage container (also known as a “pod”) for their possessions. It’s important to understand a few key points prior to renting a storage pod. First, you cannot “park” a pod on a state-maintained road. VDOT enforces this regulation, which applies to most major roads, such as Middle Ridge Drive in the Greenbriar community. Homeowners must place the pods on their property, and the pods must not obstruct the street, a sidewalk or a trail. According to Fairfax County code compliance, pods may be used only for 30 consecutive days over a six-month period on residential lots of less than 36,000 square feet. Extended placement may be allowed in the event of a major calamity, such as a house fire, plumbing breakdown, etc., but the homeowner must obtain a Temporary Special Permit. Exceptions are also made for a home on a lot with more than 36,000 square feet. Check with Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-324-1300 prior to ordering a storage pod or download a copy of the regulations at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoning/portablestoragebrochure.pdf. Upon the outcome of the June 7 elections, GCA will be transitioning to a new leadership. I will have my final thoughts in the next edition of the Flyer. I am proud and honored to have served and contributed to the betterment of the Greenbriar community. “Think like a man of action. Act like a man of thought.” Vince Krevinas 703-818-1225 (Home) 703-268-8081 (Cell) vincek4@juno.com June 2016 greenbriar Greenbriar Civic Association Board Meeting Minutes April 5, 2016 President Vince Krevinas called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. The board approved the minutes of the March 1, 2016, meeting as written and distributed. The board accepted the March financial report as presented by Treasurer Jacqueline Marquez-Downie. Jacqueline confirmed that she is sending the monthly bank statements and a copy of the check register to Vice President Joe Dettor for his review each month. As of March 31, 2016, we had a balance of $131,086.49 in our accounts. Vince called on Dr. Katherine Edwards, Wildlife Management Specialist in the Animal Services Division of the Fairfax County Police Department, to provide an overview of the county’s deer management program and respond to any questions about the program. Dr. Edwards provided handouts covering program regulations; archer selection, qualifications and operating procedures; and statistics on deer density surveys, archery harvest totals from September 12, 2015, through February 20, 2016, park comparison totals, and deervehicle collisions. She noted that six archers harvested ten deer in the Greenbriar section of Rocky Run Stream Valley during that period. Some of the goals of the deer management program include reducing the deer population to a sustainable level to maintain healthy herds and prevent damage to our ecosystem, reducing the number of deer-vehicle collisions, and limiting the spread of Lyme disease-carrying ticks to new areas. Dr. Edwards noted that a healthy ecosystem can support 15 to 20 deer per square mile without damage to the environment; camera surveys conducted in August 2015 indicated that we have 51 deer per square mile in our area. She also noted that VDOT collected 40 carcasses from deer-vehicle collisions associated with Stringfellow Road from 2012 through 2015. District 1A Representative Brandon Gotwalt noted that he had heard a few complaints from residents about seeing gut piles in the woods and smelling foul odors in the park. Dr. Edwards said that the archers are required to cover gut piles with leaves to hide them from view, but coyotes and foxes sometimes uncover the gut piles and move them around. Also, gut piles typically do not smell. The odor results from an entire carcass decaying, possibly by an injured or sick deer that died in the woods. Residents should call the police non-emergency number to notify the police of any decay odors. Dr. Edwards said that the wildlife management team intends to include Rocky Run Stream Valley in next year’s program. Resident L. Keys asked if the area between Greenbriar Pool and Stringfellow Road could be excluded from the program. She said there were three days last winter when residents could not walk in that part of the park because of the number of archers in the area. Residents Bob Barlett, John Dingus and Patrick Murphy expressed their support of the program. Vince asked if the board had any further changes to the final draft of the proposed revision of the GCA Bylaws, which Secretary Barbara Levermann had sent to the board via email. With no further changes, Brandon moved that the board approve the final draft. The motion was seconded and approved, and the proposed revision will be presented to the membership in the May issue of the Greenbriar Flyer for consideration at the June 7 Annual Membership Meeting. Vince said he had met with Troy Miller, the Fairfax County Park Authority park specialist responsible for Greenbriar Commons Park, and resident Shawna Burciaga concerning the potential improvements to the park discussed at our March meeting. After reviewing potential costs, District 2B Representative Tina Campbell moved that we commit up to $6,000 of GCA funds to cover the cost of installation of four additional park benches and two additional picnic tables in Greenbriar Commons Park. The motion was seconded and approved. Vince asked for volunteers to serve on the GCA Citizen of the Year committee to review potential nominations. Brandon, Barbara and District 4B Representative Debbie Legieza volunteered. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m. flyer Page 3 Attention GCA Members NEW TO GREENBRIAR? The Annual Membership Meeting of the Greenbriar Civic Association will be held at the Cale Community Center on Tuesday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. Please mark your calendar and attend the meeting to: The Greenbriar Civic Association would like to welcome you to Greenbriar by presenting you with a welcome kit. To obtain your kit, call Janet Goodgion at 703-968-7384. Elect the 2016-2017 GCA board of directors Vote on the revision of the GCA Bylaws Thank-a-Neighbor — Greenbriar Gratitudes Honor the 2016 Greenbriar Citizen of the Year Is there someone you would like to thank for a kind or noteworthy act? Submit your gratitude with the name of the person(s), Greenbriar street name and a description of the act along with your name, address and phone number. Please contact GCA president Vince Krevinas at 703-818-1225 or at vincek4@juno.com if you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or wish to place other items on the agenda for consideration. GCA Calendar of Events Contact: Sandy Williams 703-378-6984 Date & Time Event & Location Contact GCA Annual Meeting Cale Community Center 4615 Stringfellow Road Pres. Vince Krevinas 703-818-1225 Concert in the Park Patrick Wray, Guitarist & Vocalist Greenbriar Commons Park Point Pleasant Drive (next to Greenbriar Pool) Sandy Williams 703-378-6984 Tuesday, June 7 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11 7 - 8:30 p.m. RAIN DATE: June 12 For Calendar of Events updates: Visit Greenbriar Web site at www.egreenbriar.org. GREENBRIAR CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. Box 220239 Chantilly, VA 20153-0239 2015–2016 GCA BOARD President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Vince Krevinas Joe Dettor Jacqueline Marquez-Downie Barbara Levermann 703-818-1225 703-631-9719 703-919-8976 703-631-7830 District 1 Representatives: District 2 Representatives: A. Brandon Gotwalt B. Jim Rybicki C. John Ware A. Sandy Williams B. Tina Campbell C. Dennis Bell District 3 Representatives: District 4 Representatives: A. Chris Howland B. Joe Marr C. Mike Frizell A. Brian Jarvis B. Debbie Legieza C. Reggie West 703-581-7751 703-378-7809 703-378-8551 703-802-6774 703-862-7500 703-830-2348 GCA Committees and Activities Community Events Welcome Kits Community Center Rentals Greenbriar Community Center Chair Greenbriar Flyer Sandy Williams Janet Goodgion Chad Smillie Vince Krevinas Leona (Lee) Conley 703-378-6984 703-815-4463 703-928-4428 757-335-1203 703-502-0849 703-263-0783 703-378-6984 703-968-7384 703-378-6911 703-818-1225 greenbriarflyer@hotmail.com Page 4 greenbriar Meals Tax May Be on the Ballot in November Should we have a meals tax in Fairfax County? On June 7, the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on placing that question on the November 8 election ballot. If the Board approves the referendum, then you will be able to vote yes or no on a meals tax in our county on Election Day. How Much Revenue Would a Meals Tax Raise? The Department of Management and Budget estimates that a four percent meals tax would generate $96 million in revenue in the first year it was implemented. This estimate is based on the 2015 calendar year for taxable sales of food and drinks. Why Have a Meals Tax? A meals tax would diversify the county’s tax revenue base. A four percent tax is equivalent to more than four cents on the current (FY 2016) real estate tax rate. When the real estate tax increases, it affects all property-owning residents, regardless of their ability to pay. If voters approve a meals tax, it would apply to tourists, commuters and travelers, as well as residents who choose to dine out. For example, it’s estimated that tourists would generate $22.8 million in one year. Where Would the Meals Tax Money Go? • Fairfax County Public Schools: 70 percent. The School Board would determine how to allocate the revenue. • County Government: 30 percent for services, capital improvements (fire/police stations, libraries, schools) and property tax relief. What’s the Meals Tax in Other Counties and Cities? According to the Dillon Rule, counties in Virginia, including ours, can establish a meals tax only if voters approve a referendum (learn more about the Dillon Rule at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/about/dillon-rule.htm). Examples of our neighbor jurisdictions that have a meals tax in place include: • Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax City: four percent • Herndon: Two-and-a-half percent • Vienna: three percent Find more information at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ mealstax. flyer June 2016 Local Economic News: Active Home Listings Increase, Homes Sold Decrease. The latest economic indicators report is out, and you can see what’s up and what’s down in our local economy. This month’s report has a mixed bag of news for our local economy. These monthly reports also serve as one of the tools used by our budget staff and the Board of Supervisors to make decisions on the county’s budget. The upcoming Fiscal Year 2017 Budget was adopted by the Board last month and becomes effective on July 1, 2016. What’s Up • Sales tax receipts are up 2.8 percent for the first nine months of the fiscal year, which began July 2015. • The number of active listings of homes for sale in the county increased 15.4 percent in March from a year ago. What’s Down • In March, the average sales price of all homes sold in Fairfax County increased just 0.1 percent compared to the average sales price in March 2015. • The number of homes sold in Fairfax County in March decreased 0.7 percent from a year earlier. • On average, homes that sold in Fairfax County in March were on the market for 69 days — five days longer than the 64-day average in March 2015. Employment Update • In March, the Northern Virginia region experienced job growth at an annual rate of 3.1 percent. • As of March 2016, total (non-farm) employment in Northern Virginia was 1,417,400, a gain of 42,400 jobs since March 2015, the largest year-over-year gain since early 2011. Specific employment information for Fairfax County is reported on a delayed basis and is currently available only through the third quarter of 2015. Read the full report at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ economic/indicat/2016/2016_04.pdf. How to Find the Freshest Fruits and Veggies When You Need Them If you have a recipe crying out for strawberries, kale, beets or Swiss chard, there’s an easy way to find the freshest produce to use. Try out the Fairfax County farmers markets’ product search tool at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/ product-search.htm. Just type in the name of the product you need, and a list will pop up that displays where you can find it at the county’s 11 farmers markets. If you’ve been to a market in the past and have a favorite farmer or vendor you want to find, go to https://www.managemymarket.com/Uploads/OrgFiles/337/Product_List___2016. pdf. The list will show you what each of the market vendors sell and where you can find them. Fairfax County farmers markets are open from May to mid-December at locations throughout the county. The markets are producer-only, which means all of the farmers and producers who participate may sell only what they raise on their farms or make from scratch. All come from within a 125-mile radius of Fairfax County. For a detailed list of vendors, market hours and locations, visit: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmersmarkets/. Summer is for creating fun memories. . . while learning life skills! Summer Camp 6/27 - 7/1 Our licensed summer program for children ages 5-12, is designed to provide on enrichment through o g ram PS r p r u of FC Tr y o 44 exciting field t day s r r a: fi ak fo the e r b 40 er trips, 9 fun-filled MP-$ hy Su m m A C -DAY photograp extracurricular IAL 1 SPEC animation & l NE 24 Dig ita activities and Y, JU A D I FR 5:45 daily academic 8:15ce s! d spa reinforcement. Lim ite Travel through Latin America Geography, language & culture 7/5 - 7/8 Who wants to be a star? Create your own You Tube channel! 7/11 - 7/15 Lights, Camera, Action Children’s theater focus 7/18 - 7/22 More Lights, Camera, Action Musical theater focus 7/25 - 7/29 Singing For Fun! Singing techniques & ensembles 8/1 - 8/5 Campolopy Art, creativity & critical thinking 8/8 - 8/12 4200 Technology Circle, Suite B Amazing Anatomy Learn about the human body’s systems Chantilly 8/15 - 8/19 Time For Take-Off! Aviation & aerospace engineering positiveally.com virginia@positiveally.com Full-day camp: 8:15 a.m.-5:45 p.m. 703-640-8015 Half-day camp: 8:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m. 8/22 - 8/27 Elementary Economics Fun activities while learning about money and markets. June 2016 greenbriar flyer Page 5 Fairfax County School Board Directs Superintendent to Draft Pre-Labor Day Start Calendar for 2017-18 Year The Fairfax County School Board has directed Superintendent Karen K. Garza to draft a calendar for the 201718 school year that begins one week earlier — prior to Labor Day. Due to this action, the 2017-18 school year will begin on Monday, August 28, 2017. This change is being made to provide more instructional time before winter break, enhanced flexibility to help students and school staff members meet college application deadlines, and to end the school year earlier in June. To help families and employees adjust, the board is providing direction 15 months prior to the change going into effect. Input from employee, parent and community stakeholders will be considered when developing the final 2017-18 calendar for School Board consideration in late fall. The School Board approved the 2016-17 school year calendar on December 3, 2015; the first day of the 2016-17 school year will be September 6. School Year Calendar 2016-17 2016 September 6 School Begins October 7 Student Holiday October 10 Columbus Day Holiday – Student Holiday November 4 First Grading Period Ends *+ Students Released Two Hours Early November 7-8 Student Holiday November 23 Students Released Two Hours Early November 24 Thanksgiving Break December 19-January 2 Winter Break 2017 January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday Holiday – Student Holiday January 20 Inauguration Day – Student Holiday February 3 Second Grading Period Ends*+ Students Released Two Hours Early February 6 Student Holiday February 20 George Washington’s Birthday – Presidents’ Day Holiday – Student Holiday March 24 Student Holiday April 7 Third Grading Period Ends *+ Students Released Two Hours Early April 10-14 Spring Break April 17 Student Holiday May 26 Students Released Two Hours Early May 29 Memorial Day Holiday – Student Holiday June 15 Graduation on or after this date June 23 Last Day of School *+N Students Released Two Hours Early Legend * Schools are open. + Report cards are provided to parents at the end of each grading period and at the end of the school year. N Early release on the last official day of school. Next Greenbriar Flyer Deadline June 10, 2016, 7 P.M. When It Rains ... by Angela D. Glascock, Editorial Writer Normally, I enjoy a nice spring rain, but this year it’s been a bit much. As I write this, Greenbriar has experienced a record-setting number of days of rainfall. According to WUSA9.com, the last time we had this much measurable rainfall was “10 consecutive days set from July 17-July 26 in 1938 and again from August 12-August 21 way back in 1873.” Currently, we are at fifteen days in a row of precipitation. I’m starting to feel like I live in Seattle. This rain is great for gardens and lawns but, as many of us know, when it rains a lot around here, the yards of Greenbriar get super soggy; marshy, even. Right now, there is a grassy pond in the strip of yard between our house and our neighbor’s house. Every time I walk over to my neighbor’s house, I forget it’s there (because it’s not always there) and I end up with wet shoes. “That’ll teach me to ignore the sidewalk,” I think. But the sidewalk has a giant puddle on it, too. So then I think, “Perhaps I should wear my rain boots.” I’m always telling my kids to dress for the weather. I should take my own advice. The puddle in our yard and on the sidewalks will be there well after the rain has ended. Argh. Why does Greenbriar tend to get so boggy? Do we have a high water table? In the corner of our backyard, the grass is always bright green and it never dries out, even when we have a drought or I forget to water the grass for a while. I suspect there is a spring back there. Speaking of springs, I’ve heard two different reasons as to why Greenbriar homes don’t have basements. One is that there are too many aformentioned springs around; the other is that the builders, Levitt & Sons, didn’t want to spend money to build basements. Whatever the reason is, when it’s wet in Greenbriar, it’s extraordinarily wet. Another Greenbriar quirk is that there are air ducts in the concrete pad. From what I understand, all Greenbriar houses have air ducts running through the concrete pad. These ducts often have a tendency to get standing water in them when we have a lot of rain or snowmelt. They do in my house, anyway, and in several of my friends’ houses. When this happens, it’s time to get out the shop-vac to suck all the water out of the ducts. While doing this in the past, I’ve become convinced that all Greenbriar ducts are interconnected and I am drawing water from everyone’s ducts in the neighborhood because how is there that much water in our ducts? This is a temporary solution to a long-term issue. It would make sense to install ducts in the ceiling and block the floor ducts, as many in the neighborhood have done. Currently, I have the vents covered, and my husband shut off the air downstairs. We don’t need it; downstairs, it’s cool in the summer, and we have a pellet stove for winter. It’s the upstairs that suffers from temperature inconsistency. But never mind that for now. All this rain is great for our flora and fauna to be sure. And on rainy days, when you can stay in and curl up with a book or on the couch with your family for movie night, it is lovely. And the soggy lawns and flooded ducts aren’t that bad. It’s the mosquitoes I’m worried about. Mosquitos, to me, are usually just an annoyance. It’s the Lyme disease-carrying ticks that are concerning. But now, some breeds of mosquito are threatening to spread to the U.S.; a virus I had never heard of until this year. You know what I’m talking about — it’s the Zika virus. The name doesn’t sound very scary, almost like the crystal-clear beer that was popular in the late 90s, but the findings the Centers for Disease Control have released are scary, especially for pregnant women and their fetuses. Rain equals more mosquitos because mosquito eggs hatch when they are wet. Discourage mosquito populations by eliminating standing water around your house ... including that grassy pond between your house and your neighbor’s house, because I know ours aren’t the only yards with that particular problem. The Centers for Disease Control Web site (cdc.gov) and FairfaxCounty.gov have a lot of helpful information about the Zika virus and how to keep away mosquitoes (and ticks!). The Virginia Department of Health Web page at vdh.virginia.gov is a good resource, as well. It looks like the sun is coming out, Greenbriar, so I’m going to go and enjoy it while skirting all the puddles, because I still don’t have sense enough to put on my rain boots. Page 6 greenbriar A Recipe for Dad on Father’s Day Father’s Day ... words that conjure up images of our dads. Some images cause us to smile/laugh or form pictures in our brain of times spent doing activities with him. Other pictures form in our brains of the gifts we gave him. I remember buying my dad ties, socks, fishing lures, duck decoys, a duck caller or wading boots for him to walk out into the ocean and fish. My dad loved outdoor activities, and he could be found in a boat, a duck blind on a river, shooting skeet with one of his shot guns, or camping out on a river bank to catch fish, clean them right on the river bank and fry the filets on a camp fire with one of Mom’s cast iron frying pans. When work was over on Fridays, my dad would get ready to spend Saturdays fishing, hunting or some other sport that took place outdoors. Often, he and his hunting pals would spend the night in their cars or vans or sleep in the truck’s flat bed, on the ground in a sleeping bag, or in a cabin one of his friends owned. He would ask Mom and me if we wanted Celebrate Father’s Day at the Sully Antique Car Show Take dad for a stroll down memory lane this Father’s Day with a visit to the Antique Car Show at Sully Historic Site. Relive a time when chrome was king and V-8 engines ruled the land. Sully’s 43rd annual car show is slated for Sunday, June 19, 2016, from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The Fairfax County Park Authority and the George Washington Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America are co-sponsoring the show, which will feature more than 400 antique and classic cars. Buy the car of your dreams at the Car Corral or browse the Flea Market with more than 50 vendors to find the perfect accessory, craft or antique to make Father’s Day memorable. You can also treat dad to a delicious lunch and enjoy toe-tapping music by Jumpin’ Jupiter and The Andrew Acosta Band. While you’re strolling the grounds, see our photo exhibit of the evolution of the automobile and take time to cool off while touring the first floor of the 1794 home of Northern Virginia’s flyer to come along on one of his adventures outdoors. We usually said, “Thanks but no thanks.” Dad did not mind the frequent mosquito/gnat bites, a tick here or there, or a snake slithering on the ground ... not my mom’s or my idea of having fun outdoors. Mom and I liked spending time in a motel or hotel near the river or ocean. Today, I have these memories of my dad, and I miss him. Whenever I’m driving and see a camper, I think about him and all the fun he had. The one thing I could do for Dad on father’s day was to cook for him. He liked homemade cooking best, and going out to eat was not on his “to do list.” He would often cook when he returned from one of his outdoor adventures. He would cook ducks, birds, fish stews or shrimp dinners. Mom’s freezer was always filled with quail, venison, fish or other seafood he caught. He liked to say, “I caught these fish (shrimp or crabs). Look at all the money I’ve saved on our grocery bill, Irene!” Mom would laugh and say, “Did you add the cost of the boats, motors, shot guns, fishing gear, and outdoor clothes to your grocery bill?” It was a running joke in our home as to how much he saved by hunting, fishing or shrimping in Shem Creek in Charleston, South Carolina; this was in the 50s when things were not as pricey as they are today. Since its Father’s Day, I thought I would share a recipe you might like to prepare for your dad. I wish I had had this recipe to make for my dad on that special day in June, because my dad loved to eat at home and he had a sweet tooth. You will need a cast iron skillet to cook this pancake. I don’t advise using any other skillet because you will be placing the skillet in the oven to bake the pancake. First step is to preheat your oven to 425oF. June 2016 Pancake mixture: ¼ cup sugar 3 eggs 1½ cups milk ¾ cups flour ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla or strawberry flavoring or Grand Marnier … your choice! In a large mixing bowl, add sugar, eggs, milk, flour, salt and your choice of flavoring. Mix. When the temp in the oven reaches 425 degrees, place ¼ cup of butter or margarine into your skillet and place the skillet in the oven. Heat for 3-5 minutes, until the butter/margarine melts and the skillet is very hot. Carefully open the oven door, slide out the rack with the skillet on it, and pour the pancake mixture into the skillet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the pancake puffs up, rises above the rim of the skillet and browns on top. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and let it rest for 5-9 minutes. Use an oven mitt to remove the pancake from the skillet with a metal turner and place the pancake on a wooden board or large round plate. With a pizza cutter, cut the pancake into four to six wedges Serve with the sweetened strawberries and Cool Whip, whipped cream or sour cream on top. Bon appétit! Enjoy your dad. Happy Father’s Day … Strawberry Puff Pancakes Strawberry topping: 3 cups fresh strawberries cut into bite-size pieces ¼ cup sugar 4 tablespoons water Add sugar and water to berries. Stir and set aside. first congressman, Richard Bland Lee. The tour is included in the price of admission. At the end of the day, trophies and plaques will be awarded in several categories. Bratton’s Antique Auto Parts, George’sAutomotive Restorations, J. C. Taylor Insurance and Snyder’s Antique Auto Parts have generously sponsored these awards. Car show tickets — $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for children — will be sold at the gates. Sully Historic Site is located at 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, call 703-437-1794 or visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully-historic-site/. Parks Count Survey: More Maintenance, Open Space Needs Assessment Final Report Released Fix what you have, and step up the maintenance — because parks are more important than they’ve ever been. That’s the message from the public, stakeholders and a consultant team working on the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Parks Count Needs Assessment Study. The study began in 2014 and just recently concluded, producing recommendations for capital investments in the park system based on a body of data that the Park Authority will continue using for years to come. The Parks Count Final Report is now complete and available on the project Web site Parks Count! Better Parks for Better Living. The report compiles information gathered and analyzed during the two-year process, including: • • • • • • RECenter facility assessment findings Natural and cultural cost assessment findings A summary of need survey results Need analysis and service level recommendations Consultant recommendations for future planning Capital improvement framework to guide investments for the next ten years In presentations to the Park Authority Board and the public at an April open house, the PROS Consulting team described how survey results, public input and research all support turning a closer eye to investing in existing park system infrastructure, addressing deferred maintenance, and strategically meeting customer needs. Several of the findings echo staff observations and mirror recent initiatives undertaken by FCPA, including an economic impact study and a renewed focus on prioritizing deferred maintenance. The Final Report provides these insights and more. For more information, please visit Parks Count online at Parks Count! Better Parks for Better Living, send a note to Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov or contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662. June 2016 greenbriar flyer Page 7 Fairfax County, Hardwood Floors, Completely Updated Fairfax County, Gated Community Brand New in Chantilly!! Customizable Thinking About Downsizing?! Does Main Level Living Sound Appealing? Main level and single level homes are hard to find…and, these types of homes with updated amenities are even harder to find. What is important to you?! ! ! Room for family, grandchildren, guests! ! Open ßoor plan, hardwood ßoors! ! Latest kitchens and appliances! ! Minimal yard work, snow removal! ! Gated and/or 55+ community! ! Everything on one main level! Traffic Alert Near Greenbriar Pool: Swim Team to Host NVSL All-Star Relays The Greenbriar Dolphins will be hosting the NVSL All-Star Relays on July 20, 2016. The swim meet will take place from 4-8 p.m. The neighborhood will experience a higher volume of traffic than usual and will have many cars parked on side streets near the pool. There will be police presence that day to help with traffic flow and control. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our pool to the rest of the county! Please feel free to stop by and cheer on the Dolphins! A loft or second level ! ! or Condos with Elevators & Garage parking! ! Lots of amenities..New construction! ! Near shopping centers, Doctor ofÞces! ! Close to family! ! I have helped many families Þnd these types of homes. I can help you too!! ! Call or send me an e-mail - Let’s talk..! Dale Strawser 571-221-3684 DaleStrawser@Gmail.com! ! www.ForSaleByDale.com Remax Premier 13135 Lee Jackson Hwy Fairfax Va. 22033! 703-802-2850! No. Va. Native, Greenbriar Resident, Military Veteran, THERMAL WINDOWS, ROOFING & VINYL SIDING Second Generation Home Improvement Company Energy Star rated to qualify for tax break! Double hung • Sliders • Bay • Patio Doors Cover all exterior trim • Garage Doors SEAMLESS GUTTERS & REPAIRS Windows with lifetime warranty Call Cecil Hanger for a FREE estimate End your painting problems by using Super Polymer Vinyl Siding. References for over 35 years in Greenbriar & Brookfield (703) 754-1544 info@sidingandwindowsva.com www.sidingandwindowsva.com Bonded • Licensed • Insured Page 8 greenbriar FCPS Football Players Seeing Significant Reductions in Concussions and Other Injuries Data released recently on concussion and injury prevention programs used in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) athletic programs since 2013 show the education-based approach toward athletics adopted by the school district is making a big difference in the number of injuries and concussions reported by student athletes. The data clearly show that our student athletes are benefitting from this partnership with USA Football and that FCPS is seeing significant returns,” said Bill Curran, director of student activities and athletics programs. “Players are spending more time on the field and in the classroom as we have seen the number of concussions and total injuries drop during this three-year period.” FCPS reports that concussions have declined more than 43 percent since its adoption of USA Football’s Heads Up FootballTM program and that injuries have declined nearly 24 percent. USA Football’s Heads Up FootballTM program is supported and endorsed by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and National Federation of State High School Associations as well as the Virginia High School League. “We have always taken a cautious approach to injuries, defined as anything that would cause the student to miss a day of practice,” explained Curran. “Heads Up FootballTM is part of a proactive approach to injury prevention, and it’s rewarding to see that our efforts are having a positive impact.” Since 2013, FCPS football coaches have been using Heads Up FootballTM, a program that reinforces tackling fundamentals designed to reduce helmet contact, incorporates Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concussion recognition and response protocols, proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting, as well as exertional heat injury preparedness and hydration and sudden cardiac arrest protocols. FCPS was the first high school program in the U.S. to adopt Heads Up FootballTM. The fundamentals of the Heads Up Football program have been expanded to other sports, most notably boys and girls lacrosse, which have seen their student concussion rates fall from 36 to 33 percent and their student injuries drop 16 percent, as well as cheerleading. Curran says the plan is to continue providing similar opportunities for other sports to participate in the process. Moving? Full service Real Estate services Greenbriar resident Professional Market Analysis for your home Free Moving Kit Full Service Moving -estimate from JK Moving Services Additional savings on your move when you List your home with Dennis Dennis Bell - Realtor, Relocation Consultant Berkshire Hathaway HS PenFed Realty - 703-691-7653 3050 Chain Bridge Rd., suite 105, Fairfax, VA 22030 BuySellBell @gmail.com flyer June 2016 The Greenbriar Civic Association presents Patrick Wray Vocalist & Acoustic Guitarist Concert in the Park Saturday, June 11, 7 p.m. (rain date June 12) Acoustic covers from the 1960s through today: America, the Beatles, Jimmy Buffett, Blind Faith, Coldplay, U2, The Fray, Simon & Garfunkel, Indigo Girls, Passenger, Plain White Ts, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Imagine Dragons, David Bowie, Joe Cocker, Kenny Loggins, John Lennon, the Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, Fall Out Boy, the Cranberries, Elton John, Chris Isaak, Supertramp, Radiohead, Bread, the Eagles, Billy Joel. R.E.M., Don McLean, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Jason Mraz, Snow Patrol, Train, etc. Greenbriar Commons Park Point Pleasant Drive (next to the pool) Bring a chair or blanket and bug spray. Free soft drinks, pretzels and ice cream! Contact: Sandy Williams, Events Coordinator, 703-378-6984 June 2016 greenbriar flyer Page 9 The Greenbriar Real Estate Specialist Joe Dettor Cell – 571-283-5412 jdettor@kw.com www.ilovegreenbriar.com I have been a resident of Greenbriar for over 22 years. My kids have attended Greenbriar East Elementary, Rocky Run Middle, and Chantilly High School. I am a full time realtor who is very responsive and works hard for my clients. You should allow an expert on the neighborhood to help you sell or buy a home in Greenbriar. Proven Results!! #1 Team in Greenbriar. Reliable, Responsive, Results ! Ask me about the Greenbriar Listing special! I live here – I work here See you around the neighborhood Keller Williams Fairfax Gateway - 12700 Fair Lakes Circle, Ste 120, Fairfax VA 22033 – Office – 703-222-3300 Each office is independently owned and operated Greenbriar Flyer policy requires name, address and phone number on all items (including classified ads) submitted for publication. If requested, this information will not be printed — it is needed for our records and in case additional information is required. KIMBRELL LANDSCAPE & CONSTRUCTION 703-963-0960 • Patios • Walkways • Retaining Walls • Drainage • Landscaping & Plantings All Work Guaranteed Licensed & Insured • Great References Page 10 greenbriar flyer June 2016 Greenbriar K Flag Day Fun Facts In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, an Act of Congress established National Flag Day. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. Biking Tips There are seven stripes on the American flag. 1) Wear a helmet You can find the original Star-Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. 3) Wear bright clothing “The Star-Spangled Banner” officially became the United States’ national anthem in 1931. 6) Don’t ride on the handlebar Before the War of 1812, the American flag used to identify ships and forts. New stars are added to the flag on the Fourth of July following the admission of new states to the Union. Only the president, state governors and the mayor of Washington, DC, have the authority to order American flags to be flown at half-staff. There are six American flags on the moon. 2) No loose clothing 4) No headphones 5) Follow traffic rules 7) Stay alert 8) Know the meaning of street signs No running! Do not swim alone! No pushing! Use the bathroom … not the pool! No diving in the shallow end! No rough play! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AT THE POOL! June 2016 greenbriar flyer Page 11 Kids’ Korner Color the above picture and give to your father with the card on the right.. Fill in the blank spaces above, cut out carefully and give to your father for Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, 2016. Page 12 greenbriar flyer Slow Down! New Law Protects Trash Collection Workers Trash collection is the fifth most dangerous job in the country. And there’s a new law in Virginia you may not be familiar with that aims to protect trash collection staff. The “Slow Down to Get Around” law — which carries a penalty of up to $250 — says drivers must reduce their speed to at least 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit and pass at least two feet to the left of any stationary vehicle that is collecting trash or recycling. Motorists are asked to be aware of the new law and to exercise caution when they are approaching or driving near a waste or recycling vehicle. A 2014 Harris poll found that although most Americans encounter garbage trucks on the road each week, only one-third of people slow down near them, while nearly 40 percent are actually tempted to speed around them. The survey also found that most Americans believe that police officers and firefighters have deadlier jobs, despite the fact that waste and recycling collectors have higher fatality rates than these other public service professions (Bureau of Labor Statistics data). On July 15, 2015, House Bill 1649 was signed into law, bringing a new level of safety to Virginia’s waste and recycling industry workers. Virginia has joined eight other states that have enacted Slow Down to Get Around legislation: Alabama, New Law continued on page 15. Helping Keep Fellow Greenbriar Residents Healthy for the Past 17 Years Richard Weiss, D.C. | Jason Fecko, D.C. Chantilly: (703) 378-8633 | Braemar: (703) 365-8333 Web: www.Back2BackVA.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/Back2BackHealth June 2016 June 2016 greenbriar flyer Farris Electrical Services, Inc. www.farriselectrical.com Residential & Commercial Installations & Repairs Mike Farris 703-988-9222 PO Box 220006 Chantilly, VA 20153 email: mike@farriselectrical.com Page 13 Page 14 greenbriar flyer IT’S OUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY GREENBRIAR BATHROOM SALE! POWDER ROOMS FROM $6230! FULL BATHS FROM $9450! SLOTS ARE FILLING QUICKLY, SO CALL 703-577-1129 Enhancing value through quality renovation. GREENBRIAR NATIVE GREENBRIAR EXPERIENCE LICENSED INSURED WWW.MBFREMODEL.COM JEFFERSON MODEL GUEST BATH ——— June 2016 Police Caution Parents About Trending “Abduction Scam” Since April, our Fairfax County Police Department and law enforcement officials from around the region have responded to several reports of a trending abduction scam for money (with three attempts in Fairfax). This scam utilizes fear as a catalyst. Here’s how it works: • A parent gets a phone call during a school day and hears a child crying or a child stating they have been kidnapped. • Then, a stranger gets on the phone, tells the parent their child has been abducted and demands ransom for the child’s return. • The scammer tells the victim to wire the money to a specific location. Instinctively, many parents will do whatever it takes to get their children home to safety. Parents may not think about calling their child’s school to verify they are safe and where they’re supposed to be until it’s too late and realize they have just been swindled. These scammers will try to keep you on the phone so you cannot call police or anyone else. They keep your mind distracted and frazzled for fear of your child’s safety. Police encourage any parent who receives a ransom call about their child being abducted to call their child’s school (or the location where they are supposed to be) immediately to verify their safety. Tips from the FBI For criminals, the success of any type of virtual kidnapping depends on speed and fear. They know they have only a short time to exact a ransom payment before the victims and their families unravel the scam or authorities become involved. To avoid becoming a victim, the FBI advises to look for these possible indicators: • Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone, insisting you remain on the line. • Calls do not come from the victim’s phone. • Callers try to prevent you from contacting the “kidnapped” victim. • Multiple successive phone calls. • Incoming calls made from an outside area code. • Demands for ransom money to be paid via wire transfer, not in person; ransom demands may drop quickly. Financial scams are prevalent in today’s technological and connected society. Some other recent scams include the “IRS” demanding money or local courts claiming you missed jury duty, so you must pay a “fine.” Scammers target unsuspecting victims through phone calls, emails and face-to-face. They prey upon your emotions from excitement and joy to fear and intimidation and the types and styles of ruses are countless. The common thread is that all scammers hope to catch you offguard and keep you off-balance so you act without thinking and don’t realize what’s happened until your money is already gone. LAWN MOWING $25 Weekly service Weekly service entails: mowing, trimming and edging Marc’s Lawn care Inc. 571-422-3195 Dependable, Attentive & Courteous LEAF Raking $13 per compiled bag Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. They add new twists to old schemes and pressure people to make important decisions on the spot. One thing that never changes: they follow the headlines — and the money. Stay a step ahead with the latest info and practical tips from the nation’s consumer protection agency. Browse FTC scam alerts by topic or by most recent at https://www.consumer.ftc. gov/scam-alerts. Next Greenbriar Flyer Deadline June 10, 2016, 7 P.M. June 2016 New Law continued from page 12 Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin. “Fairfax County applauds Virginia’s lawmakers for enacting Slow Down to Get Around,” says John Kellas, deputy director for the county’s Solid Waste Management Program. “This law will save lives, prevent worker injuries, and make the roads in our community safer. We hope that the media and our public safety partners will spread the word to ensure all motorists are aware of and observing the new law.” See more at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news2/slowdown-new-driving-law-protects-trash-collection-workers. greenbriar flyer Page 15 Greenbriar Garden Club We are a group of gardeners — or would-be gardeners — who enjoy learning more about our hobby, sharing garden tips and techniques, exchanging plants from our gardens, resolving garden problems, and getting to know our neighbors. If you enjoy gardening — or want to know more about this rewarding hobby — please join us for one of our upcoming programs: June 27 — Edible Landscaping: Mix it Up, presented by Master Gardener Bonnie Knoke with the VCE Master Gardeners program at Green Spring Gardens July 25 — Garden Renovations & Makeovers August 22 — Water Wise Gardening September 26 — Plant and Seed Exchange October 24 — Winter Beauty All are welcome to join us for these free programs! We meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Cale Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, on the fourth Monday of the month from March through November. For more information, please email linda99roses@gmail.com. Page 16 greenbriar flyer June 2016 GBW and RRMS Teams Advance to National Finals in eCYBERMISSION Competition Two local teams will compete among 20 national finalists in the 14th annual eCYBERMISSION competition. This Web-based science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition — sponsored by the U.S. Army and administered by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) — is designed to cultivate student interest in STEM by encouraging students in grades six through nine to develop solutions to real-world problems in their local communities. Teams from Greenbriar West Elementary School and Rocky Run Middle School were selected from a competitive group of 60 regional finalists by a panel of judges consisting of U.S. Army STEM professionals. Pandanet, the team from Greenbriar West Elementary School, is comprised of four sixth graders: Aarav Bajaj, Siddharth Krishnan, Aryan Kumawat and Siddharth Tibrewala. Team Pandanet’s journey began by working with team advisor Meera Krishnan to advocate the Healthy Hands Movement, bringing RSI awareness amidst the youth by performing hand stretch exercises during the course of a school day. The team of three eighth grade students from Rocky Run Middle School and one private school — Manu Bulusu, Raghav Kannan, Rishabh Misra and Vejju Revanth — developed a device to detect ambient heat. After a neighbor’s house caught fire due to a stove that had been left on, the Rocky Run team brainstormed a way to develop a detection device that would alert residents of ambient heat. Their device uses a Raspberry Pi computer that they programmed to detect high temperatures and generate a warning via email to homeowners. Student teams submitted their projects through the eCYBERMISSION Web site for evaluation and scoring by a panel of volunteer virtual judges. State winners received $1,000 per student in U.S. EE Savings Bonds. As state winners, the GBW and RRMS teams were among 60 teams from 4,381 teams that submitted projects this year that moved on to the regional finals. The teams advanced to national finalist status after a live, four-minute presentation on their projects and an in-depth question and answer session. The regional judges looked at how well the teams effectively identified problems in their communities and used STEM to develop solutions. As a national finalist team, each team member will receive an additional $2,000 in U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds and an all-expenses-paid trip to eCYBERMISSION’s National Judging and Educational Event (NJ&EE) in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area June 20-24 to compete for the first-place national award in their grade. The NJ&EE is a weeklong event providing educational opportunities and team-building exercises for the students. This year’s event features a live-streamed national showcase and awards luncheon, a tour of Washington, D.C., and a STEM Challenge featuring demonstrations and hands-on activities. “The U.S. Army is pleased with the amazing pool of talent displayed nationally from the national finalists in this year’s eCYBERMISSION competition,” said Louie R. Lopez, AEOP Cooperative Agreement Manager. “Congratulations to all of the visionary and hardworking national finalist teams. I look forward to meeting each team at the National Judging and Educational Event.” “These outstanding students recognized challenges that exist in their local communities and explored ways to solve them,” said Dr. David Evans, NSTA Executive Director. “We applaud the teams on their innovative projects. Their work is impressive.” About AEOP: The Army Educational Outreach Program is comprised of Army-sponsored research, education, competitions, internships and practical experiences designed to engage and guide students as well as teachers in STEM. The AEOP consortium is made up of nine organizations, including NSTA, representing all individual programs and consortium-wide efforts. The idea of the consortium is to exceed the individual work of existing programs by joining forces. The Army is committed to increasing the STEM talent pool to ensure our national security and global competitiveness. About NSTA: The Arlington, Virginia-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education. The photo above shows the Greenbriar West team and school administrators. Left to right: Ms. Personius, Mr. Wiseman, GBW Pandanet team members — Siddharth Tibrewala, Aryan Kumawat, Aarav Bajaj, Siddharth Krishnan — Ms. Krejcar, Ms. Cleveland. No photo was available for the Rocky Run Middle School team. Visit our Web page www.egreenbriar.org for community information and archived copies of the Greenbriar Flyer (in color). Greenbriar Garden from page 20. continued A way to add organic material to a vegetable garden is to plant leguminous cover crops in the autumn when all the vegetable plants have been removed; when tilled into the soil in the spring, they add nitrogen. Drainage is another gardening issue that must be addressed. Planting a willow tree or moisture-loving plants is rarely the answer. If you choose to landscape an area where poor drainage exists, you must either redirect the water, fill in the wet areas, or construct raised beds. Swales are effective at moving rain runoff; rain gardens are both beneficial and attractive. Be aware of where your down spouts are directed and make changes if they spill into shrub and flowerbeds. French drains are extremely useful when water can’t be directed at a surface level. Often, professional help can save you money, especially with difficult problems. Once you have chosen and planted “the right plant in the right place,” it is rewarding to watch it flourish. For more information, check out these Web sites: • To find your Hardiness Zone, go to http:// planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ and type in your zip code. • “Improving Clay Soils” by Keith Baldwin, Kitchen Gardener issue 26, at www.finegardening.com/ improving-clay-soils. June 2016 greenbriar flyer Page 17 Chantilly Regional Library Maker Minds. Bring your creativity to learn and explore with a different hands-on project each month. For students in grades 3-6. Thursday, June 2, 4:30 p.m. welcome. Contact Jennifer.DeAngelis@jccnv.org of the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia for more information. Thursday, June 2, 10:30 a.m. Registration required unless otherwise noted. Call 703-5023883, visit the library or log on to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ library/events up to two weeks before the event to register. Arrange for sign language interpreters, listening systems or real-time captioning when you register. Master Gardeners. A neighborhood plant clinic. Master Gardeners provide horticultural tips, information, techniques and advice to home gardeners. Adults. No registration required. Saturdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25, 10:30 a.m. Rhythmaya. Indian dance and music for the whole family. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the George Mason Regional Library. All Ages. Please sign up each child and adult separately. Monday, June 27, 2:30 p.m. Mystery Book Club. Mystery book discussion group. “Saints of the Shadow Bible” by Ian Rankin. Adults. No registration required. Wednesday, June 1, 7 p.m. Small Wonders. Rhymes, songs, stories and activities for you and your baby. Build an early literacy foundation for your child while enjoying your time together. Ages 12-23 months with caregiver. Monday, June 27, 11:30 a.m. 4000 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly Mon.-Thurs. 10-9, Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5 Please Note: The library parking lot will be closed on Saturday, June 18, for Touch-a-Truck Day (see below). If you’ve visiting the library that day, please park in the Chantilly High School parking lot across the street. April’s Musical Storytime. Join Ms. April for a sing-along storytime event as she brings books to life through song. You’ll have fun singing, reading books, dancing, playing instruments and supporting early literacy together as a family. All ages. Monday, June 13, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, June 28, 10:30 a.m. Basic Internet and Microsoft Office Tutoring. Get one-onone help with computers, basic Microsoft Office applications and navigating the Internet. Call or visit the library to schedule an appointment. Adults. Book a Librarian. Reserve a free 30-minute session with a professional librarian for personalized research help. Call or visit the library to request an appointment. All ages. Book and Magazine Sales. Visit the hall for our ongoing sale of used books, magazines, DVDs and VHS tapes. Bouncin’ Babies. Rhymes, songs, stories and activities for you and your baby. Build an early literacy foundation for your child while enjoying your time together. Birth-11months with caregiver. Monday, June 27, 10:30 a.m. Chantilly Book Discussion Group. “The Story Keeper” by Kate Morton. Adults. No registration required. Wednesday, June 8, 7:30 p.m. eBook Office Hours. Call or stop by the library to schedule an appointment and get your eBook questions answered. Please bring your tablet or eReader and library card. Adults. English Conversation Group. Practice your English with other students. Adults. Thursdays, June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 7 p.m.; Tuesdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10:30 a.m. ESL Book Club. Adults learning English meet to discuss a short story. Ask for title. Thursdays, June 2 and 16, 8 p.m. Friday Flicks. Grab your favorite snack and join us for a favorite teen movie. Ask for title. Ages 13-18. Friday, June 24, 2:30 p.m. Health and Wellbeing: Skin Care. Learn the different factors that cause the skin to wrinkle faster, how to slow down the development of wrinkles and how to protect your skin. NOVA ScriptsCentral presents this health education program. Adults. Thursday, June 9, 7 p.m. Kaleidoscope Storytime: An Adaptive Storytime. Family sensory storytime focusing on the strengths and adapting to children on the autism spectrum and with other developmental challenges. Stories, songs and movement in a welcoming atmosphere. All ages. Saturday, June 11, 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, June 22, 3 p.m. LEGO Mania. Come show off your LEGO building skills. You bring your creativity, and we provide the LEGOs. For children in grades K-2. Saturday, June 4, 12:30 p.m. LGBTQA+ Book Club. A book discussion group focusing on LGBTQA+ themes. Ask for title. For students in grades 9-12. Tuesday, June 14, 3:30 p.m. Magic and Mayhem. A sci-fi/fantasy book discussion group for children in grades 6-8. Ask for title. Tuesday, June 21, 4:30 p.m. One-on-One English Conversation Practice. Practice your English with an ESL volunteer. Register in person only. Call library for details. Adults. Parenting by Dr. Rene. Join Dr. Rene Hackney, a leading parenting and child development specialist, as she offers a learning workshop on “Learning Disabilities and Special Education.” Dr. Rene is dedicated to helping parents raise happy, successful children from birth through 10 years of age and to helping make families stronger. Parenting by Dr. Rene is a yearlong monthly series. Topics change each month. Adults. Wednesday, June 20, 7 p.m. Peaceful Paws. Dakota, a gentle giant Bernese Mountain dog, is an ideal reading buddy for any child. Children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental challenges may especially enjoy sitting with Dakota. She is a perfect companion. Bring your own book or choose one we provide. Call or sign up online for a 15-minute session. All ages. Saturday, June 25, 10:30 a.m. PJ Library Book Buddies Storytime. All moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers and children who love books are welcome to join us for stories and fun that relate to Jewish culture, traditions and holidays. Enjoy movement and crafts, along with stories. Ages 2½-5 with caregiver. Siblings Storytime for Three to Fives. Early literacy program with stories and activities. Ages 3-5 with caregiver. Thursdays, June 2, 9 and 30, 2 p.m. Take a Giant Leap. Join Rainbow Puppets for a musical celebration of the wonders of flight from the Wright Brothers to Mars voyages of the future. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Chantilly Regional Library. All Ages. Wednesday, June 29, 10:30 a.m. Teen Advisory Board Meeting. A meeting of the Chantilly Regional Library Teen Advisory Board. For students in grades 7-12. Saturday, June 25, 12 noon. Touch-a-Truck Day. Climb, explore and learn about your favorite cars and trucks on wheels! Join us for a fun-filled educational public safety event. A variety of vehicles will be on display for children of all ages to explore and ask questions of their operators and handlers All ages. No registration required. Saturday, June 18, 1-4 p.m. Writers of Chantilly. Share your work, give and receive feedback in a supportive setting. Adults. No registration required. Mondays, June 6 and 20, 6:45 p.m. HEALTH & WELLBEING Six Health Education Programs NOVA ScriptsCentral at Chantilly Regional Library May, June and September – December 2016 2nd Thursday of the Month at 7pm DIET AND HEART DISEASE 7pm on May 12: Learn about dietary and lifestyle factors you can apply to your life to help prevent heart disease. SKIN CARE 7pm on June 9: Learn the different factors that cause the skin to wrinkle faster, how to slow down the development of wrinkles and protect your skin. No Class in July or August MENTAL HEALTH 7pm on September 8: Mental health is a very important aspect in wellbeing. Learn how to balance your life and deal with stress. GENERAL NUTRITION 7pm on October 13: A course on the foundations of nutrition and a healthy diet. If you have questions on diet and nutrition, bring them to this class! IMMUNIZATION 7pm on November 10: Learn about the history and importance of immunization and the myths surrounding vaccinations. LEARNING ABOUT CANCER 7pm on December 8: An overview of the disease of cancer; causes, prevention and treatment. Chantilly Regional Library 4000 Stringfellow Rd Chantilly, VA 20151 Registration Information Call 703-502-3883 or Online www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library Page 18 greenbriar flyer June 2016 Moving? RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL Full service Real Estate services Greenbriar resident Professional Market Analysis for your home 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE • CUSTOM DESIGN • STONE WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • BRICK & FLAGSTONE • EXPOSED AGGREGATE • REFERENCES AVAILABLE • DRIVEWAYS • SIDEWALKS • POOL DECKS • STEPS • PATIOS • LICENSED & INSURED • REPAIR & RESURFACING Call: • “WE DO THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.” • VERY AFFORDABLE RATES • CAR PORTS • GARAGES WRIGHTS CONCRETE (703) 615-2159 OR (703) 753-4550 Free Moving Kit Full Service Moving -estimate from JK Moving Services Additional savings on your move when you List your home with Dennis www.wrightsconcrete.net Family Owned & Operated Deal Directly With The Owner GROUP DISCOUNTS • BUILDERS DISCOUNTS Free Estimates Cheerfully Given 1-31032AVSB 13 Apr 2009 at 3:21:54 EDT Dennis Bell - Realtor, Relocation Consultant Berkshire Hathaway HS PenFed Realty - 703-691-7653 Greenbriar 3050 Chain Bridge Rd., suite 105, Fairfax, VA 22030 BuySellBell A N I M A L Corresponding Listing Information: @gmail.com Wright's Concrete Call 703-615-2159 The Chantilly Library and the Sully District Police Station present... Touch Saturday, JuneIf18th, 2016 1-4 P.M.a you require A Award-winning care for your best friend 13035C Lee Jackson Memorial Highway Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Your pet will receive the best medical care we can provide in a low stress, pet-friendly environment. Expect lots of individual attention, an emphasis on preventive please contact your sales representative orhealth call care, and an attention to details! change, Yellow Book Customer Service at 1-800-929-3556. 4000 Stringfellow Road Chantilly, Virginia Dr. Candy Olson DUPLICATE PROOF Live music, child ♥ 30-minute appointments every day ♥ Microchips (permanent ID your pet can’t lose) SIGNATURE: __________________________ fingerprinting ♥ Now open most Saturdays ♥ Safe, very closely monitored anesthesia and MORE! ♥ Same-Day Sick Pet Appointments ♥ In-House Laboratory (fast results for your pet) and cars! Please Note: Print quality may vary from final product. Truck Forget toy trucks H O S P I TA L Kids can get a close-up look at the real thing! Climb, explore and learn about your favorite cars and trucks on wheels! Questions? Please call 703-814-7051 or email FCPDSULCPO@Fairfaxcounty.gov Free parking will be available at Chantilly HS across the street from library This document is available in an alternate format upon request. Please call the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-814-7000 TTY 711. Allow seven working days for preparation of the material. DO YOU KNOW ... Publication of the Greenbriar Flyer, which comes free to you 10 months each year, is made possible by our advertisers? While we do not endorse any advertiser’s services, we encourage you to keep them in mind when you are shopping for a particular service. Send inquiries regarding layout advertising to greenbriarflyer@hotmail. com. A signed contract is required. Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM –7:00 PM; some Saturdays 8:00 AM-2:00 PM www.GAHPets.com (703) 378-8813 June 2016 greenbriar flyer CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIED AD RULES: 1. All non-business ads (For Sale, Garage Sales, Wanted, etc.) are free to Greenbriar residents. 2. All business type ads (Products & Services, For Rent, Child Care Providers, etc.) cost $5 each for both residents and nonresidents. Fee must be submitted with ad. 3. Ads are limited to 5 lines, longer ads will be edited to fit. 4. Instead of submitting monthly ads and payment, advertisers may pay for classified ads in advance. 5. The deadline for classified ads is the second Friday of each month (first Friday in November). 6. Your name, home address and phone number must be included with the ad for our records. 7. Non-business ads by Greenbriar residents may be e-mailed to: greenbriarflyer@hotmail.com. All other ads must be dropped off at the Flyer drop box or mailed to: Greenbriar Flyer, 4615 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151. 8. All classified ads are free to the volunteers of the Greenbriar Flyer. EDITOR’S NOTE: Please be advised, the Flyer does not personally endorse anyone’s classified ad. Page 19 of windows: vinyl, fiberglass, composite and wood. Very competitive prices. Call 571-484-6514 for a free estimate. A BETTER CLEANING SERVICE – Serving the community for 20 years. Licensed, bonded and insured. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, move in/out. Washington Check Book rated and BBB member. For a free estimate, call 703-802-3439. LAWN MOWING – Every two weeks, $30 for each mow. Please call Garcia at 703-400-4260 to schedule your mowing. CHILD CARE OPENING – Twenty-three years experienced provider with state license; CPR, MAT and First Aid trained. Loving home, Mother Goose Time preschool curriculum, USDA food program, big yard and lots of activities. Call Helen for an interview at 703-818-0017. WANTED POOL MEMBERSHIP PRODUCTS & SERVICES FOR RENT – Greenbriar pool membership for 2016 season. Firsttime renters only. $450 payable to owner, $100 processing fee payable to Greenbriar Pool Club. Includes guest passes. Call 703378-7310 or Nanci at 571-722-2021. TEEN IBD SUPPORT GROUP – If you have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or other related condition, join a new support group. May be better suited for teens (12-18); however, It Takes Guts strives to be as inclusive as possible. Email gotgutscommunity@gmail.com for an invitation to join us. FOR RENT – Greenbriar Pool membership for 2016 season. Must be first-time Greenbriar pool renters. $400 maintenance fee (prorated if after opening date), plus $100 processing fee. Call 703378-6387. FOR RENT – Greenbriar Pool membership for first-time renters. $400, plus $100 processing fee. Call or text 202-420-1148. FOR RENT – 2016 Greenbriar Pool membership, first-time renters only. $400 payable to owner, $100 processing fee payable to pool. Application available at Greenbriar.org. Please contact caldrich15@verizon.net. FOR RENT – Greenbriar Pool membership. For first-time renters only. $450, plus $100 processing fee. Please call or text 703-3048276 or email jclburk@aol.com. FOR SALE LEATHER JACKET – Harley Davidson, full-length, black leather duster with liner. X-large, like new. Originally purchased for $400+, will sell for $100. Call 703-968-2693. LITTER GENIE – Cat litter disposal container. Comes with two bags and a scoop, $5. Call 703-802-2143. PET WATER BOWL – Pet Mate Deluxe Fresh Flow recirculating water system with filter. Encourages pets to drink more water. Great for cats or small dogs. Excellent condition, black, $15. Call 703-802-2143. ELECTRONIC DRUM SET – Roland TD-8 V-drum set with owner’s manual. Excellent condition, $750. Call 703-378-1831. IT MEGALITE SUITCASE – Brand new, still with tags. Expandable with easy glider spinner wheels and 10-year warranty. Dimensions are 31.1” H x 19.7” W x 11.6” D with 2” expansion, including wheels and handles. Weighs only 6.5 lbs, color purple, $55. Call 703-802-6725. HOOVER FLOORMATE – This hard floor cleaner vacuums, washes and dries. Model #FH40010B. Excellent condition, $95. Call 703-802-6725. JOANNE’S PET CARE – Loving care for your pets in your home and mid-day dog walks. Many references. Reduced rates for Greenbriar residents. Licensed and insured. Please call Joanne Woodward at 703-434-9162 or email jowoodward@gmail.com WALK/RIDE SHARE – My son will be a 1st grader at Greenbriar West in September. We are looking for a family to share the job of walking/driving to and from school next year. Please email ivan.levin@cox.net if you are interested. VACATION RENTALS OUTER BANKS, KDH – Three separate weeks for rent from July 17-August 7. Completely furnished, oceanfront condo. Sleeps 6-8. Pools, tennis, children’s activities. $1,800-$2,200 per week. Call 703-378-7796. MYRTLE BEACH RESORT – One-week vacation rental at Seawatch Plantation in Myrtle Beach. Week of June 18. Oceanfront, 2 bedrooms, sleeps 8, $1,500. Call 703-378-7831. TUTORING – At tutoring “Your child’s success is my success!” 35 years teaching experience. MS in Reading, all subject areas K-6 and ESOL. Call Sandra Levy at 703-378-8089 or 703-5988780. Or email levy.sandran@gmail.com. ROOFING/SIDING/GUTTERS – Repairs or replacement, gutter cleaning, roof certifications for buyers and sellers. Reasonable rates. Quick response. Meadows Roof Inspection Services. Call Birk Meadows at 703-876-4808. HOUSECLEANING – Weekly, bi-weekly, every three weeks, monthly, periodically, move in/out. I am licensed, bonded and insured. I am a Greenbriar resident with good references. I have 25 years of experience and low rates. Please call Maria Barreda at 703-378-4059 or 703-856-2512. PIANO LESSONS – Learn to play the piano at Rebecca’s Piano Studio in Greenbriar. Ages 7 to adult. Call Miss Becky at 703307-4967 or email beckydixius@aol.com for more information. DISCOUNT SERVICES 24.COM – Provides 20+ yrs. exp. Services include HVAC, plumbing, electrical, recessed lights, painting, installation of doors, framing, custom trim, tile, caulking and more. $75 per hour for minimum of 3 hours (does not include HVAC). Licensed & insured. Call 703-439-7986. MOBILE AUTO REPAIR – Expert level. Mechanic with 25 years’ experience repairs vehicles at your home. Able to perform many repairs of a shop but with considerable savings. Fully insured, certified. Please call 703-395-4954 or email greenbriarmechanic@gmail.com. JENKINS TREE SERVICE – Topping, trimming, mulching, edging, fertilizing and tree removal. Insured, bonded and licensed. Free estimates and reasonable rates. Call 703-830-2654 or 540-422-9721. BOSTON RED SOX JACKET – The genuine article! Great for winter, never worn, $20. Men’s Reebok walking sneakers, navy/ white/silver, never worn, size 9, $5. Call Mark at 703-817-9864. PRESSURE WASHING/PAINTING/HANDYMAN SERVICE – Over 17 years experience pressure washing, sealing & staining decks, fences, concrete; pressure washing siding; interior & exterior house painting; general handyman services. Licensed & insured. Please call 703-378-8645 for a free estimate. 1940s JUKE BOX – Best offer over $700. TV rolling table, $25. Jessica Howard off-the-shoulder green evening/prom dress. Worn once, size 12-14, $50. Sealy double mattress, good condition, $25. Blue canvas exercise/posture chair, $25. Call 703-378-7796. HOME IMPROVEMENT SVCS – Gutters, roofing, Energy Star windows, doors, additions and decks. Windows & doors are rated with long warranties for material and labor. All choices Next Greenbriar Flyer Deadline June 10, 2016, 7 P.M. Page 20 greenbriar flyer June 2016 Cale Community Center June 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Rent the C al e Community Center 1 Wednesday 2 Thursday Friday 3 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanj ali 5:00 PM -6:45 PM Nr ityanjali Saturday 4 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Rented 6:30 PM - 11:00 P M R ented rentgcc@cox.net 30% to 40% Dis count for GCA Mem ber s 8:45 AM -12:45 PM Pleasant Valley Preschool 5 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM New Hope Fellowship Chur ch 6 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Bando M ar tial Arts 7 13 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM New Hope Fellowship Chur ch 14 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Bando M ar tial Arts 19 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM New Hope Fellowship Chur ch 2:00 PM -7:00 PM Rented 26 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanj ali 9 10 1:00 PM - 11:00 P M R ented 15 16 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanj ali 17 7:00 PM W oman's Club 21 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Bando M ar tial Arts 27 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM New Hope Fellowship Chur ch 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Bando M ar tial Arts 1:00 PM -5:30 PM Rented 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Greenbr iar Garden Club 1:30 PM Bridge Group 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Rented 18 5:00 PM - 11:00 P M R ented 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanjali 20 11 6:00 PM - 11:00 P M R ented 1:30 PM Bridge Group 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Little Einstein 6:00 PM -10:30 PM Rented 8 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanjali 7:30 PM GCA 2:30 PM -8:00 PM Rented 12 1:30 PM Bridge Group 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM Rented 6:30 PM - 11:00 P M R ented 22 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanj ali 23 24 25 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM Rented 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanjali 28 29 1:30 PM Bridge Group 30 5:00 PM -7:00 PM Nr ityanj ali The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy. — Henry Ward Beecher The Late-spring Garden by Charlotte Simson When planting a garden, you can choose which plants you like and decide where they will grow. This is one of the joys and satisfactions of gardening. What some people forget is that Mother Nature is really in charge; it is important to work with what you have so your plants will grow and flourish on the site you have chosen. Some of the conditions of a garden site cannot be changed. The first issue to consider is underground wiring, pipes, etc. Always call Miss Utility at 811 before digging and planting in a new area. Next is your climate; this includes humidity, temperature extremes and averages, rainfall, etc. Knowing your plant hardiness zone is important to determine which plants will grow and winter over in your yard. You must also know the amount of sun or shade that is available. Full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight. Shade is less than three hours of full sunlight. Shade can be the result of overhead trees or structures, such as a building, fence, etc. When planting under trees, you must always consider the existing tree roots and whether digging in this area will affect the health of the trees. Also, large, established trees usually absorb most of the natural rainfall and soil nutrients. New plants will need to be maintained (watered, fertilized) until the new plant is established and able to support itself; this may take more than a year or two. A sloping area can be a problem; if the slope is steep, it can be very dry on top and hold moisture at the base. It can also be prone to erosion if you remove the present vegetation. Slopes facing south or west can be very hot in summer, while a northfacing slope can have frost pockets at the base during winter or early spring. Wind is also an issue; it is very drying, especially for evergreens subjected to northerly winds in winter. Plants will need some protection. Space is an important requirement that is often overlooked or ignored. Please do not put a plant in a site that it will outgrow; that is unfair both to the plant and to you or another owner a number of years from now. One garden condition you can easily change is the soil pH, which indicates how acidic or alkaline your soil is. This is done with water by measuring the activity of hydronium ions in the soil that ranges from -1 to 14: a pH of 7 is considered neutral; 7 is considered acid; and over 7 is alkaline. The pH of the soil determines the ability of plants to absorb nutrients from the soil. A pH measuring 6-7 is ideal for most plants, and the microorganisms in the soil allow plant roots to absorb nutrients, such as nitrogen. pH varies from region to region. The soil in Northern Virginia is naturally acid due to the types of products that decompose (trees, grass, etc.), as well as rainfall that washes calcium out of the soil. For this reason, soil alkalinity is generally not a problem unless lime is applied annually to turf without the occasional soil test. Some acid-loving plants are azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and mountain laurel. A few alkaline-loving plants are lavender, lilac and boxwood. Soil testing kits are available at most libraries, through Master Gardeners Plant Clinics, the Fairfax County Extension Office and at many garden centers. We have many types of soil in our area, but clay soil is the most difficult issue for many homeowners. It holds water during rainy spells and becomes sticky, compacted and difficult to work with; when it dries out, it resembles bricks or concrete. The good news is that clay soils are relatively fertile, but clay particles are the smallest of all other types of soil (such as sandy, silt, loam, etc.) and are bound side by side in “planes” that are stacked one on top of the other and held together by electrochemical forces. It has tiny pores and poor aeration, and it erodes easily. This soil texture cannot be changed easily. But you can improve the soil texture and build a healthy soil by turning it into a looser, more crumbly consistency. Healthy soil is stable; it is friable (crumbles easily), has many pores, and is full of aggregates (decomposed rocks) and organic matter with numerous soil organisms. There are two strategies to building good soil from clay. First, don’t add sand; this only makes a bad problem worse! Also, gypsum has not been shown to substantially improve clay soil tilth. Organic material in the form of compost is the best choice. It adds nutrients and improves soil structure by increasing the pore size of the soil where air, water and nutrients are stored. When planting an area that contains grass or numerous plants, this strategy is advised. You can add compost and organic matter every year; over time, it will increase the soil’s organic carbon and humic matter content. Humus remains in the soil after the microbes break down the organic matter. The color of soil is not determined by organic matter in the soil but by temperature and rainfall. When planting one or only a few trees, shrubs or perennials, replace one-fourth to one-third of the existing clay soil with compost or other organic material. Mulch your plants by using organic mulch, such as chopped leaves, wood chips, double shredded hardwood, pine needles or compost. Any of these help to increase the organic matter in the soil. Organic mulch prevents soil erosion, aids in water penetration to the soil, and helps soil retain moisture and moderate temperature. As it decomposes, it improves the soil structure. Two to three inches of mulch is recommended. More is not only wasteful but can also cause problems. Keep mulch at least two inches away from trunks, branches and stems. Greenbriar Garden continued on page 16.
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