Read the Latest
ENDEAVOR News Magazine
The ENDEAVOR News Magazine is the Chamber's quarterly online publication and the must read magazine in Annandale. Acquaint yourself with local businesses, community history, revitalization efforts, and issues that concern Annandale: The Crossroads of Northern Virginia TM.
Strong Programs Support NOVA Students
All of our families and businesses have weathered quite a storm over the past two years. The Northern Virginia Community College is no exception. But, we have bounced back and are better than ever with strong programs that support our students.
After shifting to teleworking for employees and remote instruction for students in March 2020 following Governor Northam’s declaration of a State of Emergency to combat the pandemic, NOVA gradually transitioned back to full on-campus operations starting in the Fall 2021 Semester.
Enrollment at public two-year colleges nationwide has fallen an average of 10 percent from pre-pandemic levels as students have delayed their higher education aspirations to enter the workforce to help their families in an economy that has improved from the downturn that initially accompanied the pandemic.
NOVA’s enrollments have not fallen as steeply and much of this success is due to two programs initiated by the General Assembly for all Virginia community colleges. The first is known as FastForward, a program created in 2016 that provides funding for short-term noncredit workforce training programs that lead to an industry credential or certification in a high-demand field.
The program pays for two-thirds of a student’s educational costs, including tuition, books, and supplies. Students pay the remaining third of the costs and are expected to obtain the credential identified for their program.
Eligible programs align with high-demand fields set by the state. NOVA offers 17 approved programs in information technology, allied health, skilled trades, and business.
Over 3,238 students have completed FastForward approved programs at NOVA since its implementation in 2016 and the credential completion rate has nearly doubled from 37% in 2016 to 64% in 2020.
As the economy has improved since the pandemic began, enrollment in FastForward courses has skyrocketed with a 236% increase in total enrollment in fiscal year 2021 over fiscal year 2020.
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Storms are Coming: What is Your Battle Plan?
VDOT requests that before a storm, residents put all cars in their driveway, leaving the street clear for plowing, especially on cul-de-sacs. If that is not possible, park on the odd number side of the street.
The Virginia Department of Transportation’s neighborhood plowing website and plow-tracking program will again be among tools the agency will use this winter in northern Virginia. Residents are encouraged to continue using vdotplows.org to monitor the status of plowing in Northern Virginia neighborhoods. Once it snows more than two inches, residents can enter their address and a color-coded snow map shows whether plowing is underway, completed or not yet started in their neighborhood.
The county offers advice at their snow website fairfaxcounty.gov/snow on the following topics:
- VDOT Snow Removal Information (and plow tracker)
- Weather Forecast and Expected Snowfall (updated daily)
- Who Maintains Roads/Sidewalks
- 8 Places to Consider Shoveling Snow
- Tips for Creating a Neighborhood Snow Removal Plan
- The Trick to Properly Shovel Your Driveway for When Snow Plows Pass
- Snow Shoveling Safety
BEWARE: When recent rain or snow melt comes into contact with freezing temperatures, black ice can form — and you might not even see it. And while black ice is more prevalent at night, it can often stick around for the morning commute. Use extreme caution when driving or walking.
Hotline to VDOT Plowing Central:
1-800-367-7623 or novaifo@vdot.virginia.gov
Local VDOT: 703-383-8368
Supervisor Penny Gross: 703-256-7717
Supervisor James Walkinshaw: 703-425-4044
Power Outages
Dominion: Report a power outage online here or call 1-866-366-4357
Utilities:
Verizon: 1-800-837-4966
Cox: 703-378-8422
Washington Gas Emergency: 844-927-4427
Roof Repairs and Replacement: WISA
Business Preparedness Checklist
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Annandale Real Estate:
Water, Water Everywhere...
DID YOU KNOW? Having been a full-time Realtor for many years I have gleaned much information, some of which I will share here:
Any time you make a claim on your home insurance policy your agent typically files a report with the CLUE, which remains on the record. This can have negative ramifications for you in the future so best to discuss with your insurance agent. Best to remember that insurance is more for catastrophic events Filing too many claims (especially small ones that might best be handled out of your own funds) can run-up your home insurance premiums, or even cause a policy cancellation upon renewal.
Example: I recently called my Erie Ins. rep as a client has a minor water issue that is mysterious, has a $1000 deductible, and had filed a claim. I asked my rep what the ramifications are, which you can actually find online. Filing a claim can actually impact the cost of insurance on a future buyer, or impact you on a future purchase. This may result when the insurance company believes your claims are or excessive. I simply suggested to my client that he call his rep to ask about the ramifications.
¨ When a claim is being remediated you have the option to have your own contractor do the work and not the company recommended by the insurance company. Lately, I have seen too many negative stories on Next Door about such matters. I’ve also had conversations with homeowners about shoddy work. On one of my buyer transactions I even had to become very involved to obtain satisfaction from the renovation company on behalf of my client.
Example: In a discussion, which actually precipitated my writing this article, remediation for basement water damage had been completed, but upon closer inspection it was discovered water was still in the basement, mold developed and the homeowner developed pneumonia. More extensive remediation then had to be performed. Long story, short, the company that did the first repair had insurance but it didn't cover this situation. So, now her insurance company is suing on their behalf.
It’s not a good idea to treat water that is flooding into your basement with an interior fix or simply an interior fix. Start outside where the water originates. Always address the proper grading making sure the earth is graded away from the house and downward. Even the slightest downgrade will keep the water running away from the foundation and basement and not toward it. Then look at the downspouts, add extensions to move water away from the foundation, and even bury them making certain they eventually sunlight much further down the yard. Check that your gutters are cleaned and not overflowing like a waterfall directly over the foundation. If water accumulates in abundance, install a drain. Often, simply digging down a foot or two and filling with gravel can eliminate many problems. A more extensive drain system can also be designed by a professional if needed.
Prevent Water Disasters
Prepare in Advance to Protect Your Property
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Latest News from the Social Security
Board of Trustees
Combined Trust Funds Projected Depletion One Year Sooner Than Last Year
The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2034, one year earlier than projected last year, with 78 percent of benefits payable at that time.
The OASI Trust Fund is projected to become depleted in 2033, one year sooner than last year’s estimate, with 76 percent of benefits payable at that time. The DI Trust Fund is estimated to become depleted in 2057, eight years earlier than last year’s estimate, with 91 percent of benefits still payable.
In the 2021 Annual Report to Congress, the Trustees announced:
- The asset reserves of the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds increased by $11 billion in 2020 to a total of $2.908 trillion.
- The total annual cost of the program is projected to exceed total annual income, for the first time since 1982, in 2021 and remain higher throughout the 75-year projection period. As a result, asset reserves are expected to decline during 2021. Social Security’s cost has exceeded its non-interest income since 2010.
The year when the combined trust fund reserves are projected to become depleted, if Congress does not act before then, is 2034 – one year earlier than last year’s projection. At that time, there would be sufficient income coming in to pay 78 percent of scheduled benefits.
“The Trustees’ projections in this year’s report include the best estimates of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Social Security program,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “The pandemic and its economic impact have had an effect on Social Security’s Trust Funds, and the future course of the pandemic is still uncertain. Yet, Social Security will continue to play a critical role in the lives of 65 million beneficiaries and 176 million workers and their families during 2021.”
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UnCovered:
The Bomb that Did Not Burst in Air
As Americans battled the British in the War of 1812, militiamen stationed near what is now Fort Belvoir caught a lucky break when one bomb did not perform as expected.
This 13-inch mortar shell was found at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories Pontoon Basin at Fort Belvoir in October 1959. Sometime between September 3 and 5 of 1814, the Royal Navy bomb vessel Aetna or Meteor likely fired this 194-pound bomb at an American gun battery that had been erected at a small building known as the White House, located at the Belvoir manor ruins.
This hollow bomb was filled with 10 to 15 pounds of gunpowder and plugged with a fuse. The fuse should have burned for 27 seconds before the bomb exploded, projecting two-inch-thick shrapnel at its target. Fortunately for the Americans at Belvoir, this bomb did not burst. The diffused bomb is now preserved with many other artifacts associated with the British attack in September of 1814.
Just a month earlier, Royal Navy commander Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane had begun assembling a large task force off the Maryland coast and assigned Rear Admiral George Cockburn to strike Washington in an effort to demoralize Americans and suppress local resistance. Admiral Cockburn ordered Captain James Gordon’s squadron to sail up the Potomac to Washington to destroy fortifications along the river. On August 24, British soldiers and marines defeated Americans at Bladensburg, Maryland. They entered Washington that evening and set fire to the Presidential Mansion, the U.S. Capitol, and other government buildings. The British left Washington the next day and occupied Alexandria.
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What a Difference a Century Makes: 1922
US Population:106,021,537
Howard Carter examining the innermost coffin of Tutankhamun.
The tomb of young pharaoh Tutankhamun is located on November 4th in the Valley of the Kings, near Thebes, Egypt. It is renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities that it contained. Howard Carter, under the patronage of Lord Carnovan discovered it underneath the remains of workmen's huts built during the Ramesside Period.
Public Figures
President: Warren G. Harding
Vice President: Calvin Coolidge
Virginia Governor: Westmoreland Davis
Chief Justice Supreme Court: William Howard Taft
Speaker of the House: Frederick H. Gillett (R-Massachusetts)
Senate Majority Leader: Henry Cabot Lodge (R-Massachusetts)
VA Senators: Claude A. Swanson & Carter Glass
BORN: Josephine Cecilia Leonard, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Ava Gardner, Kurt Vonnegut, Pierre Cardin
DIED: Ernest Shackleton, Nellie Bly, John Butler Yates, Alexander Graham Bell, Michael Collins, John Wanamaker
HISTORICAL EVENTS
- The last hunted California grizzly bear is shot in Tulare County, California. The California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus) is an extinct population or subspecies of the brown bear, generally known together with other North American brown bear populations as the grizzly bear. Two years later in 1924, what was thought to be a grizzly was spotted in Sequoia National Park for the last time and thereafter, grizzlies were never seen again in California.
- American women accessorized their outfits with an Egyptian motif. When French avant-garde artwork became a topic of conversation, jewelry began mirroring abstract art movements such as cubism, art deco, and surrealism. Women altered their facial features with cosmetics to imitate movie stars. Some completely plucked their eyebrows and redrew them in dark eyebrow pencil. They even wore thick black eyeliner to take on a sensuous look popularized by movie stars Theda Bara and Pola Negri.
Knickerbocker Storm: Snowfall from the biggest-ever recorded snowstorm in Washington, D.C., causes the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre to collapse, killing 98.
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VIEW ON NATURE: Coming Home
Illustration of the extinct elk subspecies Cervus canadensis canadensis John James Audubon, from the collection of the Brooklyn Museum titled,
“American Elk”, circa 1845.
The haunting, echoing sound started as a low-pitched bellow that swelled into a high-pitched scream…an unmistakable trumpeting I will never forget!
I knew I was close to what I had come to see, a wild bull elk in “the rut” calling for mates and warding off competitors. But what may surprise you is I wasn’t in the western US but in southwest Virginia witnessing a ritual of days past in the Commonwealth.
Elk are indeed native to Virginia. Explorers in the late 1600s described abundant elk herds, particularly in the New River and Shenandoah Valleys. Eastern elk were previously found throughout the eastern North America but by the late 1800s were wiped out by over-hunting and farming. The last of Virginia's original elk herd was killed in 1855 in Clarke County, VA, and the subspecies was declared extinct across its native continental range in 1880.
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Meet the Artisan: Sharon Eppler
Fiber Artist
I LOVE making beautiful things! I have been a crafter my entire life and have always been inspired by flowers, which come in so many sizes, shapes and colors. Although roses are my favorite, I find splendor in every flower inhabiting my garden, tending each with equal care and appreciation.
Photographing these floral beauties became a side business bringing the beauty and peace of nature into many customers work and home spaces.
My mother taught me to knit when I was a child but that didn’t stick with me and I learned again as an adult. A few years ago, I began adding beads to my knitting, which opened up an exciting world of color and texture with infinite possibilities. From there, it was an easy step to working with wire, beads and stones creating beautiful accessories and jewelry!
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Business Insurance
Insurance Audits are a Pain Point for Businesses
Business insurance policies are written on the basis of an estimate of the coverages needed to ensure that the business’ risks are covered. Insurance companies have the option to audit a company to be sure they are insuring the business correctly and for the right price; this option is built into all business policies. Insurance audits are often one of the biggest pain points for business owners.
If a policy is being audited, the business will be notified by mail or email. The audit itself can be completed in multiple ways. It can be done by a phone call, filling out at form online, via mail or by a visit from an auditor. The audit usually happens about thirty days after a policy expires.
Even if the policy is canceled, the business is obligated by contract to still complete the audit. If an audit is not competed, the insurance company may increase the renewal sales or payroll insurance costs based on their experience, or they may cancel the policy outright. If a business fails to complete the audit, even if that company opts not to renew a policy, the insurance company will notify the state of any noncompliance. This may cause any future policy to be cancelled regardless of insurance carrier, and the state may impose fines, too.
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The Golden Years
Bring Treasured Memories to an Older Adult
Togetherness can be fun for older adults with their families, and or friends, even if they have physical or cognitive limitations. It is all about spending time together, feeling included and enjoying the good company. Simply being able to join each other’s company brings joy and helps older adults, and those they are with have a special, meaningful season of treasured memories.
12 Activities to Share with Your Senior Adult Loved One or Friend
- ¨ Decorate picture frames for the season
- ¨ Ask about the olden days, and listen to their stories
- ¨ Play simple Card games, board games or charades
- ¨ Listen and move to favorite songs
- ¨ Ask about favorite trips taken around the world and listen to their memories
- ¨ Watch a Holiday Classic Movie with favorite snacks and a blanket
- ¨ Have a sing-along with songs of the season, favorite hymns, or campfire songs
- ¨ Help them decorate and write cards to friends or family
- ¨ Cook a “family favorite” meal together
- ¨ Cook favorite Cookie recipes that bring back memories
- ¨ Drive around to favorite sites that warm the heart
- ¨ Go to the ice cream store
- ¨ Bring treasured memories to an older adult relative or friend, and feed their soul, and yours!
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GREEN SPRING GARDENS
GARDEN PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
Saturday, February 5 - Washington Gardener Seed Exchange
12:30-4:30 p.m. (Adult) Washington Gardener Magazine is co-hosting the annual seed exchange at Green Spring Gardens with lectures, a face-to-face seed swap and more. Bring your extra seeds to swap and leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice. $15 for verified Friends of Green Spring members (use code C1E.C9DL) and Washington Gardener subscribers; $20 for guests (use code C1E.I01D). Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.
Saturday, February 19 - Virtual EcoSavvy Symposium: Restoring Urban Forests
8:30am-12:30 p.m. (Adult) Help restore our urban forest, one yard at a time. This program will help you understand the ecological imperative to preserve and grow our tree canopy. Learn what you can do to help improve the issue of tree canopy decline throughout the region, and learn steps you can apply in your community and in your own yard to reverse this disturbing trend. A Zoom link will be emailed before the event. $58 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. Code 5UA.Y17N.
PARENT AND CHILD PROGRAMS
Saturday, January 29 -Garden Artists: Fleeting Masterpieces
10-11 a.m. (5-Adult) Explore the temporary art of Andy Goldsworthy, and utilize rocks, leaves, branches, and even ice to create your own fleeting nature masterpiece. All attendees, including parents, must register to control group size. $8 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.
Saturday, February 12 - Family Fun: Forcing Flowers
10-11 a.m. (7-Adult) Flowers in winter? You bet! Discover the science behind blooms, and how to coax them out, even in winter. Create an early bouquet including pussy willow and forsythia branches to bloom indoors. All attendees, including parents, must register to control group size. $12 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. .
Saturday, February 26 - Garden Artists: Fleeting Masterpieces
1-2 p.m. (5-Adult) Explore the temporary art of Andy Goldsworthy, and utilize rocks, leaves, branches, and even ice to create your own fleeting nature masterpiece. All attendees, including parents, must register to control group size. $8 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.
Saturday, February 19 - Family Fun: Polyhouse Planters
11am-12 p.m. (7-Adult) Can't wait until April to plant? Come to our warm and toasty polyhouses! Explore these amazing tools our gardeners use to grow seeds all year round. Plant your own seed tray to come back and collect in Spring. All attendees, including parents, must register to control group size. $10 per person. Register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173.
Winter Programs
HISTORIC GREEN SPRING TEA PROGRAMS
A traditional English afternoon tea served in the 1784 Historic House follows each program. Full tea includes finger sandwiches, pastries, scone, cream, and jam. Programs are by reservation only. Call (703) 941-7987, TTY (703) 324-3988.
Sunday, January 30 - Royal Records
1-3 p.m. (Adult) This year marks the platinum anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, making her the world’s longest-reigning queen. Enjoy fascinating and entertaining stories about superlative sovereigns as we reveal more royal record holders: the oldest, youngest, most married, least popular, most fashion-conscious, most villainous…and more.
Sunday, February 13 - History of the Kiss
1-3 p.m. (Adult) A kiss can express many things: love, attraction, respect, friendship, and sacrament. Hear about kissing’s origin and meaning as we explore kisses in art, famous kisses in history, and iconic kisses of the silver screen. Discover that the meaning and etiquette of kissing varies wildly across cultures.
Sunday, February 27 - Sniffing Out History
1-3 p.m. (Adult) Smells are like historical artifacts. Join us for an olfactory journey through the ages, exploring aromas from the past and the significant role of scent in human history. Learn how some museums use technology to recreate smells from bygone eras, from ancient perfumes to Viking toilets.
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ENERGY SENSE
Lower Your Energy Bill with These Tips
Between traveling, decorating, and hosting, the holidays can be an expensive time of year for many of us, but there are plenty of ways to save money on your energy bill this holiday season. Virginia Energy Sense has some easy ways to maximize holiday fun while lowering your energy bill.
Stretch Your Budget in the Kitchen
Everyone loves home-cooked holiday meals, but your kitchen can be one of your home’s costliest energy drains. The good news is that there are many ways you can cut down on your energy use without cutting out any of your favorite dishes.
A slow cooker uses half the energy of a conventional oven and can sometimes be used in its place. If you do need the oven, resist the urge to open the oven door while dishes are cooking. Opening an oven releases heat and causes your meal to cook slower — and the longer it takes to cook, the longer the oven stays on.
And if you’re on cleanup duty, wait until your dishwasher is completely full before running it; this will decrease the number of loads you run and save you power.
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Fairfax County Reports Drop in total Crime for 2021
Overall crime in Fairfax County fell by 9.6 percent driven by reductions in burglaries, robberies, domestic assaults, auto theft and larcenies from automobiles
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) saw reductions in most major crime categories in 2021, fueled by a focus on community partnership and data-driven policing. The reductions came in many categories to include robbery, burglary, auto theft and malicious wounding. Following the national trend, Homicide was a rare category that saw an increase in 2021. This numerical increase of 6 homicide victims is driven by an unusually high number of indoor domestic violence incidents involving adult children killing parents and other family members. FCPD recorded 21 murders in 2021, compared to 15 in 2020. The Major Crimes Bureau solved a total of 399 cases of violent crime, including 16 of the 21 murders. Our homicide detectives continue to pursue leads for the unsolved cases. Our clearance rate is 76.2 percent in 2021, which exceeds the national average rate of 61.4 percent of homicide closures.
“The national rise in violence touched every major urban center in 2021, including Fairfax County,” said Chief of Police Kevin Davis. “Despite this, we remain one of the safest jurisdictions of our size in the country because our patrol officers, detectives and professional staff work tirelessly for our victims and their families. As we look ahead, FCPD will continue to engage with our community on the important work of public safety.”
2021 CRIME HIGHLIGHTS
- Overall crime fell by 9.6 percent in 2021, compared to 2020
- The drop in crime resulted in 3,187 fewer victims, compared to 2020
- Robbery fell by 1 percent in 2021, compared to 2020.
- Domestic Assaults fell by 4 percent in 2021, compared to 2020.
- Burglary fell by 11 percent in 2021, compared to 2020.
- Auto theft fell by 8 percent in 2021, compared to 2020.
- Larcenies from automobiles fell by 17 percent in 2021, compared to 2020.
Newly Launched Community Initiative (iPAC) Shows Initial Progress
In the fall, FCPD started a community engagement program called iPAC (Integrating Police and Community) that requires patrol officers to spend a minimum of 30 minutes on foot patrol per shift. The goal of these foot patrols is to interact with residents and business owners in areas where dispatchers receive the highest call volume. The iPAC initiative is different, as officers are not responding to a call for service. Thus, the non-enforcement community engagement is meant to generate more natural conversations about public safety. Police officers know these interactions build greater police legitimacy and strengthen trust. In addition to iPAC being a daily responsibility for patrol officers, FCPD commanders are also required to perform 30 minutes of weekly iPAC engagement. Since the launch, FCPD has recorded hundreds of community interactions.
The department also launched a community feedback measurement tool, which uses a survey linked to a QR code. Community members are asked for their input on the quality of service provided by the department and the professionalism of our police officers during an interaction.
Modernizing Policies and Procedures that Focus on 21st Century Policing
FCPD updated several pertinent policies in 2021 to further align the department with national best practices; improve officer and community safety and ensure our commitment to transparency. The most significant revision included a modification to the traffic pursuit policy, which now focuses on apprehending offenders who pose the greatest risk to our community and doing so with an eye on safety.
We are also in the process of updating our public information policy for the release of digital evidence from critical incidents. This includes a maximum 30-day release policy for body camera and in-vehicle camera footage following critical incidents involving police. Although still moving through the final approval process, Chief Davis has already begun to implement the expectation of a 30-day release for body camera footage for these critical incidents. The hiring of Dr. Noah Fritz as Director of our newly created Office of Data Analytics and Strategic Initiatives postures the FCPD to make stronger evidence-based decisions consistent with industry and community expectations.
As we enter year two of implicit bias and procedural justice training for our entire sworn and professional staff, our commitment to equity and inclusion continues under our Equity Officer, Lieutenant Fred Chambers. We are adding our profession’s gold standard use of force training, ICAT (Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics) and peer intervention training, ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) in 2022 as well. Our police officers and community benefit exponentially when training remains a constant focus.
Recruiting the Next Generation of Fairfax County Police Officers
In response to staffing shortages fueled by rising attrition and a national decline in police applicants, the FCPD recruitment team has bolstered efforts to attract the next generation of officers to Fairfax County. Hiring initiatives include enhanced social media advertising, more in-person recruiting events, a Communities of Trust partnership and a dedicated and revamped website JoinFCPD.org. FCPD also signed the 30×30 Pledge, which sets a goal of increasing female recruits to 30 percent by the year 2030. Roughly 16.5 percent of FCPD’s current police officers are female. This exceeds the national average of 12 percent. The Department is committed to improving all aspects of diversity.
Scams and Scam Alert from 703-324-1000
It
is estimated that people will be spending about 730 billion dollars. Scammers will try and steal not only money, but also the gifts you are purchasing for family and friends.
Here are the top 10 scams expected.
- Sham order confirmations.
- Bogus shipping notices.
- Shady email scams.
- Cloned websites.
- Disappearing packages.
- Fake charities, and they are endless and shameless!
- Unreal relatives in distress.
- Sob stories on social media.
- Phony classified ad listings.
- Intercepted data.
Now that you have a list of possible scams, here is what to do and what not to do to prevent them. These tips should be followed all year long as more people are shopping online. This information is from AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
What to Do
- Do hover your mouse over the link without clicking and you can view the URL. Click through only if you’re certain it’s a legitimate site.
- Do pay by credit card. That way you can dispute charges and limit the damage if it turns out you were scammed.
- Do research unfamiliar retail, travel and charity sites online. Search for their names with terms like “scam,” “complaints” or “reviews,” and look them up on evaluation and information sites.
- Do look for return and refund policies when shopping on an unfamiliar or suspicious site, and make sure they are clear.
- Do carefully examine gift cards at the point of purchase. Signs of tampering could mean a thief has accessed the card’s PIN code and can drain its value as soon as someone buys and loads it.
What Not to Do
- Don’t conduct financial transactions on a site unless the URL begins with “https://” or there’s a padlock or unbroken key icon in the address bar or at the bottom of the browser window. These indicate a secure connection.
- Don’t buy anything online while using a public Wi-Fi network. It might not be secure.
- Don’t make a purchase or donation if a website or caller seeks payment by wire transfer, gift card or prepaid card. These are like forking over cash.
Vaccinations for Children 5-11 Years & Boosters for All Adults Now Available
- COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. Over 200 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have been safely administered in the United States and many million more around the world. Independent scientific advisory committees to both FDA and CDC have concluded that the benefits of vaccinating children 5-11 years old far outweigh the rare side effects that occur.
- Vaccinations are important because COVID-19 is affecting children. Since late-August, children have experienced the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in our community. While children are less likely to get serious disease than adults, some have been hospitalized, and, like adults, some suffer symptoms that can last for months. Children with asymptomatic infections can spread the virus to other household members.
- Vaccinations help keep kids in school and activities. Vaccination will help your child stay in school and reduce the risk of disrupting their learning. Vaccinated children without symptoms do not need to quarantine and can remain at school even if they are exposed. Bottom line: employees can work and not be distracted or have to take time off to be with a sick or quarantined child.
There are multiple opportunities to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Fairfax Health District. Most sites will be providing vaccine by appointment only. These include:
- Pediatricians and Family Medicine Providers: call your doctor to make an appointment.
- Pharmacies, grocery stores, and urgent care facilities: visit www.vaccines.gov (www.vacunas.gov) to search for a vaccine appointment.
- Health Department Vaccination Centers: visit the website to make an appointment, or call 703-324-7404 if you need assistance.
- Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, 22035
- Mount Vernon District Office (Gerry Hyland Government Center), 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, 22309
- Tysons Community Vaccination Center, 7950 Tysons Corner Center, Tysons: visit here to make an appointment or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 711). Appointment assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages.
- Inova Children Vaccination Clinic: visit here to make an appointment for their weekend clinics at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, 8100 Innovation Park Drive, Fairfax.
When looking for an appointment, be sure to search for Pfizer pediatric vaccine since it is the only vaccine currently available for use in children 5-11 years old. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or another adult at all community vaccination sites.
Meet the Artisan: Jeanette Bieber
Pottery with a Flair
Jeanette Bieber is a new member of Artisans United. While working as an accountant, Jeanette never gave up her love for art. She has worked in painting including sumi-e, knitting, needlepoint, sewing, embroidery and other handcrafts. When she discovered pottery, she found her passion. “Pottery for me is a wonderful way to express my creative abilities. The technical skills and use of color in glazing a piece of pottery is very satisfying.” Although she is primarily a functional potter, Jeanette has branched out into some decorative work as well. Her pieces include fish vases, pumpkins for Halloween, gnomes and Christmas ornaments for the holiday season.
Pottery is a process that is time consuming and exacting. It includes three stages. The first stage includes creating the piece either by wheel throwing or hand building. Hand building can include the use of templates, molds or other devices to create a shape or object. After the piece is created it needs to dry to what is known as a leather hard consistency.
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WISA Solutions
Is Your Home in Need of a Makeover? 
Exterior Improvements include Roofing & Siding
The Chamber would like to introduce Waris Mojaddidi and WISA Solutions, his family run business to the Annandale Community. Waris was born and raised in Springfield attending West Springfield High School. He went onto Coastal Carolina University playing Division 1 Soccer and graduating with a Business Management Degree in 2010. A year later he and his father drew together a business plan and opened WISA Solutions.
WISA is a full service home improvement company that specializes in mid to major interior design build renovations (kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions) along with roof, siding and gutter replacement. They can make your home renovations easier by hiring one contractor to take care of your many needs.
Need more space? Have your basement renovated into a home theatre, home office, playroom, and study space.
Need a new roof? WISA can provide an accurate view of your roof with drone technology and then show you a range of roofing materials including the longest wearing materials on the market today.
Want to reduce your home insurance premiums? Replacing your roof, especially before the harsh winds and heavy winter storms, may be the single best home investment you can make.
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All of our families and businesses have weathered quite a storm over the past two years. The Northern Virginia Community College is no exception. But, we have bounced back and are better than ever with strong programs that support our students.
The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2034, one year earlier than projected last year, with 78 percent of benefits payable at that time. 
As Americans battled the British in the War of 1812, militiamen stationed near what is now Fort Belvoir caught a lucky break when one bomb did not perform as expected.
Business insurance policies are written on the basis of an estimate of the coverages needed to ensure that the business’ risks are covered. Insurance companies have the option to audit a company to be sure they are insuring the business correctly and for the right price; this option is built into all business policies. Insurance audits are often one of the biggest pain points for business owners.
GARDEN PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
Jeanette Bieber is a new member of Artisans United. While working as an accountant, Jeanette never gave up her love for art. She has worked in painting including sumi-e, knitting, needlepoint, sewing, embroidery and other handcrafts. When she discovered pottery, she found her passion. “Pottery for me is a wonderful way to express my creative abilities. The technical skills and use of color in glazing a piece of pottery is very satisfying.” Although she is primarily a functional potter, Jeanette has branched out into some decorative work as well. Her pieces include fish vases, pumpkins for Halloween, gnomes and Christmas ornaments for the holiday season.
Trust Properties was founded in 1994 and is committed to providing a broad range of Commercial Real Estate Services throughout the Greater Washington Metropolitan area. Staffed by knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated career professionals, Trust Properties takes pride in delivering impeccable levels of service and exceptional results to their clients and customers.
