Our Mission
Dedicated to preserving and protecting the historic, low density,
semi-rural character of Great Falls and its natural resources.
Important News
From Fairfax County - alerts for threats from (i) at least five recent incidents of Mailbox Chemical Bombs in Great Falls, (ii) Copperhead Snakes, and (iii) Tree Parasites - See the notice in Current News and Activities
Current Weather forecast for Great Falls, VA
from the NOAA web site.
A major purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Virginia Department of Transportation's current plan to construct dual left-turn lanes at the intersection of Route 7 and Georgetown Pike.
GFCA RESOLUTION ON ROUTE 7 AND GEORGETOWN PIKE WIDENING ISSUES
The GFCA Resolution was distributed at the May 11 general membership meeting
and a copy may be read and saved by clicking HERE .
During peak morning and afternoon hours motorists should expect up to 15 minute delays. Route 123 will have two through traffic lanes and one merge lane in each direction.
According to VDOT, the closures are necessary to provide construction room to build the new I-495 north bridge piers and HOT lanes connections into Tysons Corner as part of the Capital Beltway High Occupancy Toll Lanes Project.
Upcoming GFCA Meetings
For meeting details, go to the respective Commitee Pages or to Coming Events.
July 20, 2010 — 7:30 p.m.
GFCA Executive Board Meeting — Executive Suites (All Committee Chairs & Others.)
August 17, 2010 — 7:30 p.m.
GFCA Executive Board Meeting — Executive Suites (All Committee Chairs & Others.)
September 21, 2010 — 7:30 p.m.
GFCA Executive Board Meeting — Location to be announced (All Committee Chairs & Others.)
October 19, 2010 — 7:30 p.m.
GFCA Executive Board Meeting — Location to be announced (All Committee Chairs & Others.)
November 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m.
GFCA Executive Board Meeting — Location to be announced (All Committee Chairs & Others.)
Current News and Activities
MAILBOX CHEMICAL BOMB AWARENESS & SAFETY BULLETIN
Fairfax County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Section is concerned that the Great Falls community is experiencing a rash of chemical bombs placed in mailboxes., at least five recent reported incidents, perhaps more. These chemical bombs include several components, when mixed together and sealed in a plastic bottle, create a reaction that releases gas. The gas causes the bottle to swell until it explodes. The explosions are powerful enough to damage mailboxes and cause potentially serious harm to persons.
Awareness — If you become aware of a plastic bottle inside a mailbox, or any oily residue in or on a mailbox, damage to a mailbox, materials protruding from a mailbox, hissing or other unusual sound or odors emanating from a plastic bottle, DO NOT DISTURB OR HANDLE the bottle or substance as they may explode when handled.
Safety Instructions — Leave the bottle where it was found. Keep persons aware from the mailbox or other area. Do not try to clean up or remove broken bottles. DIAL 911 to request police and/or fire department assistance. Instruct people in the immediate area of the bottle or substance to wash their hand and other exposed skin with soap and water.
Be aware of unusual activity in your neighborhood, such as strange vehicles or persons stopping at mailboxes, especially if late at night. Write down a description of such persons including age, gender, and general description and/or of vehicles, including make/model and license tags.
HOMEOWNERS SHOULD TREAT EMERALD ASH BORER NOW
Homeowners who wish to protect their ash trees from the emerald ash borer should take action in May through June, say county officials. Every ash tree is at risk from this insect.
Many healthy or infested ash trees can be treated with an insecticide available at many garden stores. Look for any insecticide that contains the chemical imidacloprid.
For trees with trunks greater than 15 inches in diameter, homeowners should seek treatment from a professional tree care firm. They can inject the chemicals directly into a tree's trunk which will last longer than other treatments available to the public.
If a tree has lost more than 50 percent of its leaves, insecticides most likely won't work, and there are no other treatment options.
Insecticides are most effectively applied in May through June because trees are more likely to absorb the chemicals as they revive in spring. It takes four to six weeks for the insecticide to be thoroughly distributed within the tree. Insecticides available to homeowners must be reapplied once a year, and professional treatments need to be repeated once every one to three years, depending on the insecticide used.
Two signs indicate that an ash tree may be infested with the emerald ash borer:
- Trees may have horizontal splits or fissures in their bark
- Trees may have small shoots or branches growing from the trunk, called epicormic shoots.
To prevent the spread of this insect, state and federal quarantines ban the transport of firewood. The quarantine includes Fairfax County and Great Falls.
Firewood may not be taken outside these areas or across state lines. However, firewood may be transported within the quarantined areas. Violating the quarantines can result in fines of up to $250,000.
For more information about the emerald ash borer, effective treatments or the trapping program, contact the Fairfax County Forest Pest Branch at 703-324-5304, TTY 711 or by e-mail.
COPPERHEAD SNAKE ALERT Fairfax Officials say there have been an unusually high number of copperhead snakes reported in Fairfax County. Copperheads are one of three types of venomous snake found in Virginia. Copperhead bites have been reported across Fairfax County in Riverbend Park, Reston and Clifton. Reports of snake bites and sightings typically don't peak until late summer or fall, when baby copperheads are hatching.
Officials advise people who are bitten to go immediately to the nearest hospital.
NEW GREAT FALLS COMMUNITY LIBRARY HOURS
| Great Falls Library Hours – as of July 1 | |||
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday |
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed |
||
Our Great Falls Citizens Association is negotiating with Fairfax County Park Authority for usage of the Old Forestville School House as a meeting place for up to 35 persons by non-profit organizations on Monday thru Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
To see the new hours for all of the Fairfax County libraries, go to
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/libraryhours07012010.htm
GFCA in the news
GFCA works with VDOT to improve traffic flow through the Village Center. As reported in the Great Falls Connection Newspaper.
GFCA succeeds in moving traffic calming project forward on Seneca Rd. & Georgetown Pike intersection - As reported in the Great Falls Connection Newspaper.
The Great Falls Citizens association has been honored by Fairfax County for achieving recognition from the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat. Please feel free take part in our heritage tree census. Click here to read the letter of appreciation from former Chairman Connolly adding our trees to the county's list!
Check the Community Calendar for the current list of meetings
Here are the 2010-2011 GFCA Officers & Board Members
Check the Fairfax County Recycling Calendar for upcoming special events!
Focus for 2009-2010 year
Environmental, land use and zoning efforts will remain a key role of our standing committees as will the completion of a Long Range Plan for Great Falls based on the input received from the 2020 Vision Survey. This will include support of the nominations made as part of the North County Area Plan Review of the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan – (a) Support of the Colvin Run Mill Historic Area master plan implementation; (b) Maintain Georgetown Pike as a Historic Byway; (c) Bury Utility and Telecom Lines; (d) Multi-use Community Center; (e) Possible Independent Living Community for Great Falls. Finally, we will reach out to all Great Falls organizations to build a platform for collaboration and support. Our Home Owners Associations and other Great Falls organizations have special purposes but all contribute to what makes Great Falls GREAT.
Mission of the GFCA
Dedicated to preserving and protecting the historic, low density, semi-rural character
of Great Falls and its natural resources.
Who are we? We are your neighbors. The Association was formed over 25 years ago by homeowners in Great Falls to preserve the low density, semi-rural character of our community, to promote development that is consistent with that character, to be a vehicle for citizen participation in community affairs, and to provide a forum for the discussion of community plans and activities.
Our monthly meetings are open to everyone and we encourage the widest possible expression of views on every issue. Under the overall direction of the Executive Committee, consisting of the elected officers and 12 at large members, the Association undertakes initiatives in various areas of community interest, responds to planning and development proposals, and works with state and county agencies and officials in areas affecting the quality of life in Great Falls. The officers and Executive Committee give generously of their time and energy to help protect and enhance the unique quality of life in our community
Click here to read the letter sent by GFCA to the Planning commission!
Our 2020 Vision project gathered feedback from our members and Great Falls to build a consensus about Great Falls as a community, and in 20 years, what should it look like? See our vision of it ...