Fireworks Safety

Fireworks are an American tradition. They can provide hours of wholesome,
family entertainment, but must be used by adults carefully and
safely. To insure the safety of both the audience and those lighting the
fireworks, Fairfax County Police Department recommend the following fireworks safety guidelines:

1. Never let children handle fireworks; only adults should handle and light the
fireworks.
2. Do not use alcohol while lighting or handling fireworks.
3. Follow the laws; use common sense.
4. Use fireworks on a hard, flat surface.
5. Use in a clear, open area away from buildings, vehicles, and shrubbery.
6. Keep clear of the fireworks.
7. Use care in handling and lighting the fireworks.
8. Light one firework item at a time.
9. Don't use malfunctioning or "Dud"- items.
10. Have an accessible fire extinguisher or a supply of water close by.
11. Be cautious of lighting any fireworks during strong wind conditions.
12. Never use the fireworks as a weapon by pointing them or throwing them at another person or property.
13. Store fireworks in a cool, dry place and dispose of them properly.
14. Use fireworks outdoors; never use fireworks indoors.
15. Purchase fireworks only from reliable, licensed dealers.
16. Safety glasses are recommended for those lighting the fireworks and for those who are in close proximity to the fireworks.
17. Be considerate of pets and animals that may be frightened by the fireworks
18. Do not transport fireworks on airplanes.

Be aware that it is easier than ever to purchase fireworks via the Internet which could result in purchases that may be illegal in the state of VA or may be of poor quality.

Any firework which explodes, emits a flame or sparks higher than 12 feet, or performs as a projectile is prohibited by the Fairfax County Fire Prevention Code. A permit is required for the sale of all fireworks, and these permits are only valid from June 1 to July 15 of each year.
Many fireworks are not available in Northern Virginia because they are illegal. Firecrackers, cherry bombs, and skyrockets are just a few examples of fireworks which may be purchased in other areas, but are illegal here. Since even the possession of unapproved fireworks is prohibited in Fairfax County, such fireworks will be confiscated and the person possessing them can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. This carries a maximum penalty of a $2,500 fine and/or up to one-year in jail.

For more on fireworks safety please visit the National Council on Fireworks Safety at http://www.fireworksafety.com/choose.htm

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!

PIZZA PARTY - Keeping Greenwood Kids Stay Safe

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 10th for a free presentation from the Fairfax County Police on Children Safety. Fun safety activities for children of all ages!


The event will take place at 7pm at the Governmental Center on Franconia Road in the Helen Wilson Room.


Come enjoy pizza and hear one of our local police officers explain what we can do to make sure our kids stay safe. The program will include a special discussion of the predator stranger who approaches a child and the reaction of the child to that situation in a way that is not only informative but FUN. We’ll also talk about street safety and special issues affecting our neighborhood. Important information for the whole family!


Please RSVP to greenwoodpizzanight@yahoo.com

Children under 16 must be accompanied by his/her parent/guardian.

SPECIAL ATTENTION KINGSTOWNE COMMUNITIES

ATTENTION NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND COMMUNITY GROUPS

Late last night our detectives were in your area doing detective type work....some of them on foot. The detectives noted that MANY garage doors were left open, especially in the townhouse communities.

Please ask your friends and neighbors to close their garage doors, lock their doors and windows and close and lock their car doors. Please leave a front and back porch light on.

Lastly.....please continue to report ALL suspicious behavior (911 or 703-691-2131) as the situation dictates.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jim

MPO Jim Nida
Crime Prevention Office
Franconia District Station
Fairfax County Police Department

Donation Drive Pick Up

The families will be collecting the generous donations this weekend at the Government Center on Friday, May 18 from 6:30pm - 9pm in the Helen Wilson room of the Government Center on Franconia Road by the 7-11.

If you have a truck or a large car, we need help transport the boxes to the Government Center. Please contact the Greenwood NWC if you have the means to help on Friday.

Thank you.

Fun Safety for Kids

Kids can have fun and learn about safety at the same time. Parents, visit http://sparky.org/index.html with your kids for fun games to play on line and download.

May is National Bike Safety Month!

Do you wear a helmet when you ride your bike? If your answer is "Yes," you’re the best. On the other hand, if you said "No," don’t put a foot on that bike pedal until you have a helmet on your head. Bike helmets are cool!Now that you are nicely equipped with a way-cool helmet, follow my ever-popular "Top Ten Bike Safety Rules" and you’ll be on the road to safe biking.

For you older kids, or "tweens" (kids 8-12 years old), make sure you’re wearing your helmets too! No matter how old you are make sure you put that helmet on. I make sure to wear one every time I ride my bike –and everyone knows what an old dog I am.

Sparky's Top Ten Bike Safety Rules:
10. Never ride at dusk or at night.

9. Use the correct hand signals when turning to let drivers know what you’re planning to do.

8. Walk, don’t ride your bike across the street.

7. Cross only at the street corner, not mid-block.

6. When entering a sidewalk, path or driveway, stop completely. Look left, right, and left again.

5. When riding on the street, obey all traffic signals and laws.

4. Ride with the traffic flow, not against it.

3. Always stop at stop signs and stop lights.

2. Make sure to choose a safe area to ride your bike, like parks or bike paths.

1. Sparky’s #1 bike safety rule is…ALWAYS WEAR YOUR BIKE HELMET.Remember, younger kids should ride on sidewalks or safe areas only. Older kids can ride in the street after they learn the rules of the road. Don’t forget to get permission to ride your bike from a grown-up first!

Kitchen Fire Safety

Fires seem to be top of mind lately - we got this very educational clip and wanted to share with our neighbors.

Notice to Greenwood Residents

The Fairfax County Fire Investigations Division of the Office of the Fire Marshall is currently investigating the cause and the Fairfax County (and other counties) response to the catastrophic fire our neighbors suffered on April 23rd. Many Greenwood residents observed the fire before the arrival or immediately coincidental with the arrival of County Emergency Response Units. If you have ANY observations about the response to this emergency, either praising or criticizing noteworthy fire fighting efforts, you are asked to immediately provide a statement to the Fire Marshal.

**Your observations can help our neighbors as they file claims with their insurers or serve to improve future response to such emergencies.**

Mail statements to:
Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Prevention Division
Fire Investigations Branch
4100 Chain Bridge Road, 4th Floor
Fairfax, VA 22030

Email statements should be directed to: fireweb@fairfaxcounty.gov?Subject=Fire

Fire Marshall Telephone for Information: (ph) 703-246-4741; (fax) 703-293-9476

Questions: Call Mike Waters 410-562-4616

Another Successful Drive

Many thanks to everyone who helped with the drive on Saturday - we helped raise more clothing, money and toys for the families. We know they still have long way to go before life is back to some normalcy. Our best wishes are with them.

We just heard that Mary Kay and Chris found a new place to rent while their place is being rebuilt - Right here in Greenwood on Dakine Circle! We are thrilled they will be coming home to Greenwood.

Below is a note from William and Scott Pfaltzgraff to all the neighbors and friends of Greenwood. Looks like the toys were a hit!

Possible Attempted Child Abduction on Demme Place

On Sunday, April 22 a man in a grey Lincoln Continental with temporary Ohio plates was catcalling a 12 year old girl and gesturing for her to come over to the car. The young girl ran home, he followed her to her home. He then left to pick up another man from a home on Demme Place and returned to the young girls’ home. The two men began gesturing to the young girl, by this time the mother had called the police. While on the phone the young girls’ grandmother approached the car. The car peeled out spinning wheels loud enough for the dispatcher hear. The police eventually caught the driver of the car, the second man was aided by the woman who lives on Demme Place and escaped the police. The driver was arrested for Drunk in Public and Reckless Driving. According to the police, the man could not be charged with any crimes associated with trying to lure the young girl to the car.

The police also mentioned that this home was a ‘known’ home to the police for drug use and domestic violence. Once records are made public, the home and names can be posted on the website.

Parents need to be aware of this potential danger in Greenwood. Who is to say the man would have taken the child if she did approach the car, but no intentions are honorable when a strange man calls a child over to a car.

The NWC is hearing many comments about children of all ages without parental supervision, while it is not possible to watch children all the time and children do need levels of freedom, it is important to discuss child safety and what to do in potentially dangerous situations.

The NWC is working on a safety presentation for the neighborhood children and their parents. Please check back for more information on the date and details as they develop.

Possible Gang Activity at Springfield Forest Park (between Demme Cir. & Levi Ct.)

At approximately 6:45 PM on Saturday, April 28, 2007 three cars of Hispanic youths (4 in each car) drove up and went into Springfield Forest Park.

One individual had a bat and another had a ball. These two individuals started to play ball while the remaining 10 youths (late teens, early 20s) went north of the playground equipment on the path where a fight broke out.

The person who witnessed this take place immediately called 911 and provided descriptions of the cars and suspects. The cars were in a maroon Nissan Maxima - Virginia Tags, a Tan/Gold Honda - Virginia Tags, and Black BMW - Virginia Tags.

Unfortunately no police responded to the 911 call. After talking to an officer about the incident I was informed that it was most likely a gang initiation, he was very surprised to hear officers did not respond.

Most likely because the call was reported as a fight it may not have been taken as seriously as gang activity. Usually the dispatcher will be able to make the connection but, as was the case on Saturday, not always.

This post is two fold – not only to alert neighbors of the potential gang activity taking place in our development – but to also let you know when calling 911 if there is the slightest possibility it is gang related, report as such. Do not make false reports if you know it is not the case, but when in doubt and it is a possibility, you should suggest it could be gang related.

Mail Missing?

We have received some comments about checks in the mail never showing up and missing magazines. Some calls have been made to the Post Office, but seem to be dismissed as one time events. Please report any issues with as much detail as possible to greenwoodnwc.com and ask around when talking to your neighbors. Unless we can present a larger problem, this situation will continue.

Update for donations

The list of information needed has been updated & a recap is posted below. We received lots of clothes for the families, it was suggested by one of the volunteers to request jackets for all season. When Pat Pfaltzgraff was speaking with Fox news it was overheard that his kids are very into sports and they lost a lot of their soccer, T Ball and Baseball equipment as well as the boys bicycles. One neighbor suggested gift certificates to Sports Authority.

Saturday, May 5th
9:00am – 1:00pm at the Greenwood pool
6621 Debra Lu Way (off Seatrend)

· Clothes/Jackets/Shoes – see the list below of sizes
· Checks – can be made out to Greenwood Homeowners Association
(In memo section write 'Greenwood Fire')
· Gift Cards – to Wal-Mart, Target, grocery store or Sports Authority
· Children's toys the two boys ages 5 & 6 lost all their toys, bikes and sports equipment (soccer, T-Ball and Baseball - anything sports related

Children/Teens Clothing
- Boys (kids) – Kids tops and bottoms 5 & 7; PJ's 8; underwear 8; socks 11-1
- Boy (Teen) – Men’s Small
- Girls (Teens) – 7 Jr. Petite, 6 & 7 Woman’s
Children/Teens Shoes
- Boys (kids) – boys are OK on shoes
- Boy (Teen) – 10/10½
- Girls (Teens) – sizes 6, 7, 7½ & 8

Adults
- Men: Tops – Large, XL and Dbl XL; Pants – 40x29, 34x30, 36x36; Shoes – 8.5, 10.5 4EE Wide, 11
- Adults Women: Tops – Small to Large; Pants – Sizes 8 (petite & reg) – 12; PJ's - M-L Shoes – 7, 7½, 8, 8½

Amanda Pfaltzgraff stopped by last night and was overwhelmed with the toys and clothing donated for her two sons. She said one of the toys donated was something very similar to what they lost and the boys will be thrilled!

More on the Drive

So many people came to the drive yesterday and it was very appreciated. We had a family who used to live in Greenwood over 2 years ago contact the NWC to volunteer. We sure did need the help, some people who dropped off donations stayed on to help sort and organize the donations which was very helpful. it is not possible to write about all the people who came by and helped, but the spirit of the children wanting to contribute was very moving. One little girl begged her mother to donate her clothes and then stayed on to help fold clothes.

John wanted so much to contribute he went home and came back with his entire coin collection, donating over $27!

Kyra is not even a Greenwood resident - she found out about the donation drive from her friends facebook page online. She took many flyers and said she doing her best to get the information out about next Saturday's drive.

Keep spreading the word and fingers crossed, next Saturday will be just as busy as this Saturday - if not more.

Today's Donation Drive

THANK YOU all for coming out for today's donation drive for the families on Dakine. Over 100 people came out and were very generous donating money, belongings and time. We had a huge turnout of Greenwood neighbors and many people came from other neighborhoods as well. Over $4,000 dollars raised and over 20 boxes of clothing, shoes, toys and more!

Over the past week organizing the drive with the families, their strength and outlook in the face of this terrible event has been moving. In light of everything that has happened to them, they are positive, thankful that everyone is safe and they are very moved by all the support of the community.

Pat Pfaltzgraff (6398), Mary Kay & Chris (6396), and The Siddiqui family (6394) came to the drive to offer thanks and many friends and neighbors were happy to see them. With all the commotion of the past week it was good to spend some time getting to know them better. Mary Kay & Chris are engaged and were planning their wedding in July, for a moment they discussed postponing the wedding. But when they found their wedding bands in the rubble that was once their home, they took it as a sign to go forward with the big day. The Phaltzgraff's were at their son's T-Ball practice when the fire started so luckily their two little boys didn't have to experience the trauma of the fire. Pat is with the military and was stationed here while working on his graduate degree at George Washington and lost almost an entire year of work on his Thesis in the fire! Yet as Pat said, the loss of their beloved 9 year old dog, BB, puts the loss of 'things' into perspective. Frahana Siddiqui's son was kinda hoping that his school work could have been lost in the fire too, but luckily for his mom, most school work was saved.

WTOP & Washington Post radio and Fox Channel 5 both came out to interview Pat and Mary Kay & Chris to share their stories and report on the drive. Keep spreading the word about next Saturday!
With Fox News - Big thanks to our neighbor Jodi Duke for getting Fox News out to interview and report on the drive. Her sister Jennifer is a reporter for Fox News.

With WTOP

Greenwood Pool - Address and Map

Greenwood Pool (click for map)
6621 Debra Lu Way, Springfield, VA
(703) 922-9401

Saturday, April 28th and Saturday, May 5th
9:00am – 1:00pm at the Greenwood Pool

Check Donations for Dakine

If you cannot make it to the donation drive and would like to contribute to the families, you may send a check.

Make check payable to 'Greenwood Homeowners Association'

Please be sure to write 'Greenwood Fire' in the memo section of the check.

Mail checks to:
Cardinal Management Group, Inc.
Attn: Charyl Ferguson/Greenwood Fire
4330 Prince William Parkway, Suite 201
Woodbridge, Virginia 22192

Dakine Donation Drive

Many Greenwood neighbors have asked how they can help the families whose homes and possessions were lost in the fire on Monday, April 23rd. The Greenwood NWC will be holding a donation drive to help collect items needed.

Saturday, April 28th

and Saturday, May 5th
9:00am – 1:00pm at the Greenwood pool (see address above)

Clothing, shoes, and money are the items most needed at this time.

(you will receive a receipt of your donation for your records)

· Clothes/Shoes – see the list below of sizes
· Checks – can be made out to Greenwood Homeowners Association
(In memo section write 'Greenwood Fire')
· Gift Cards – to Wal-Mart, Target, or grocery store

· Children's toys the two boys ages 5 & 6 lost all their toys, bikes and sports equipment

Children/teens - Clothing
Boys (kids) – Kids tops and bottoms 5 & 7; PJ's 8; underwear 8 ; socks 11-1
Boy (Teen) – Men’s Small
Girls (Teens) – 7 Jr. Petite, 6 & 7 Woman’s

Children/teens - Shoes
Boys (kids) – boys are OK on shoes
Boy (Teen) – 10/10½
Girls (Teens) – sizes 6, 7, 7½ & 8

Clothing - Adults
Men*: Tops – Large, XL and Dbl XL
Pants – 40x29, 34x30, 36x36
Shoes – 8.5, 10.5 4EE Wide, 11 (no information on one man)

Shoes - Adults
Women: Tops – Small to Large
Pants – Sizes 8 (petite & reg) – 12

PJ's - M-L
Shoes – 7, 7½, 8, 8½

*Please check back for updates on sizes as they come in. We do not have size information for one home at this time.

The NWC would like to thank all the neighbors for their help in organizing the drive - distributing flyers, making the signs, and volunteering your time.

The families have expressed many thanks to everyone to for their time and donations.

Fire on Dakine

Our hearts go out to the Greenwood families who lost their homes last night. News reports have stated the fire started at about 6:40 Monday evening. Officials say at least 12 adults and six children were displaced. Thankfully no one was injured.

We cannot confirm how the fire started, but reports are that it was a knocked over grill. Also heard, but not confirmed, a dog was lost in the fire.

Cardinal Management has received many requests from neighbors on what they can do to help the families affected by the fire. Shirley is leaving tomorrow for a conference and is physically unable to set up anything this week. The NWC is currently trying to organize a drop off at the pool parking lot this Saturday for donations. We need volunteers to help organize, determine what donations are needed, and is available on Saturday. Please send an email to greenwoodnwc@gmail.com if you can help.

The following link has information on how to prevent fires and fire safety - http://www.firesafetytips.com/ Please take the time to review this information and discuss with your family.

The BOD will discuss a fund for donations next week at their meeting.

Saturday, April 21st

Don't forget the Annual Open Space Cleanup this weekend.

Beginning at 8:30am at the pool parking lot.

Come out, meet your neighbors, and help keep Greenwood clean.

Free donuts and coffee will be available and in addition participants will receive a lovely small spring plant for their yard.

Speeding and Illegal driving on Seatrend

There has been feedback to the NWC that there is an increase of people speeding on Seatrend. In addition, one neighbor sent an email to alert us that a woman in a silver car with Michigan plates was not only speeding but illegally passed on Seatrend.

Especially during the summer months there are lots of children playing outside as well as an increase in the number of animals around the area. Please keep in mind that the speed limit is 25 miles per hour and drive accordingly. Please alert visitors to be courteous as well.

According to Officer Nida it is generally considered to be reckless driving to pass in a residential neighborhood and to call the non-emergency number 703-691-2131 if you see this kind of activity. The patrol police respond very quickly to such calls.

Another option is to contact the Fairfax County Police’s “Operation Road Shark” office to report offenders. Contact: Officer Robert Barton Fairfax County Police Department 3911 Woodburn Annandale, VA 22003 Phone: (703)280-0561.