COUNTY OFFICIALS URGE RESIDENTS TO GO ‘PLASTIC FREE’ IN JULY: The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is challenging local residents to avoid buying products made of and packaged in plastic throughout July.
In part because of confusing trash and recycling guidelines, 70 percent of plastic products bought by consumers end up in the trash, either to be incinerated or dumped in a landfill.
Another 20 percent becomes litter that pollutes the environment and less than 10 percent goes into the recycling bin for repurposing, officials said.
If you cannot easily avoid products made of and packaged in plastic, consider declining the single-use plastic straws, cups and utensils when ordering takeout food this month. Single-use plastic is essentially throw-away plastic, so county officials recommend residents use their own reusable utensils instead.
Among their tips:
• Store and heat food in ceramic or glass containers. All plastic containers are made of chemicals, some of which can leach into food, especially when heated.
• Trying drinking water from a reusable and refillable water bottle. Disposable plastic bottles account for 14 percent of all plastic waste that ends up in local waterways. Such bottles potentially can shed hundreds of thousands of tiny plastic particles that pass into people’s bodies and can harm their long-term health.
For more information on the negative impacts of plastic and to learn about healthier and more environmentally sustainable alternatives, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/plastic.
‘SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK’ SERIES KICKS INTO GEAR: The McLean Community Center’s “Summer Concerts in the Park” series kicks into high gear with four events on successive Sundays in July at 4 p.m. at Lewinsville Park.
Upcoming performances include the Gordon Sterling Trio (soul/rock), July 7; Lil’ Maceo (funky jazz), July 14; the Billy Coulter Trio (roots rock/power pop), July 21; and Justin Trawick (urban folk rock), July 28.
For information, see the Website at www.mcleancenter.org.
VFW POST 8469 PRESENTS HONORS: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Blue and Gray Post 8469 presented three awards at a public-servant recognition ceremony at the Post’s home in Fairfax.
Two of the awardees were previous winners at the post level, and have since received honors from VFW’s Department of Virginia.
Fairfax County Public Servant awardees were:
• Dispatcher: Public Safety Communicator (PSC) John Ihling, who is employed with the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications.
• Explosive Ordinance and Disposal Technician (EODT): Master Police Officer Brian Storm, a member of the Fairfax County Police Department EOD/Bomb Squad.
Ken Wiseman, Past State Commander/District 10 Commander and VFW National Council of Administration member, presented award certificates and plaques to the awardees and delivered remarks to ceremony attendees. James “Mac” McCarl, VFW Post 8469 Post Commander, gave post “challenge” coins to the awardees and, in his remarks, stated that connecting with the community and recognizing public servants is an important part of the VFW mission and Post 8469 in particular.
A special award was presented to Maddy White, deputy director of outreach for U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-11th), who was seriously injured by an act of violence committed by a person while she was at her place of employment facilitating public engagement.
With the initiative of VFW Post 8469 and the help of Wiseman, a VFW Commander-in-Chief Certificate of Appreciation was secured for White.
Wiseman bestowed the certificate, a national award, which stated: “Embodying the principle that access to government is fundamental to democracy, Maddy White displayed remarkable valor in the line of duty.”
