Rafael Orellano delighted in discussing the Fairfax County Police Department's drone team's wor
Supervisor Dan Storck’s Summer Palooza was aptly named for sure. Meteorologists predicted that on June 6, temperatures would exceed 90 degrees and “feel like” 95. By 3 p.m., around 3,000 Mount Vernonites had sweated through a hot, summer afternoon at the Mount Vernon Government Center.
And palooza it was, from goats to drones, from sewage vacuum trucks to a seven-seater Lexus, from legal advice to packing services, from Lions Club devotees to police swat teams, from hot dogs to samosas, 50 vendors in all.
Food lines persisted for free lunches from the South County Church and restaurants like Della J’s, Haymi’s Barbeque, Honeygrow and Dishes of India. Kids squealed from the inflatable bounce house.
Local Services, Sites
Many local groups touted their services, like the Mount Vernon-area Lions Club chartered in 1999 which offers vision and hearing screenings, for example. People from the English Empowerment Center described their free and low-cost English classes offered at 12 sites, including the Lorton Community Center and Rising Hope Mission Church. Mathnasium helps kids keep up on their math skills over the summer. Ron Chase, President of the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum, informed festival-goers about the museum and
neighborhood, the oldest African American community in the county, founded in 1833.
Environmental causes rippled throughout. Quiet Clean Northern Virginia advocated banning gas-powered leaf blowers. From the Friends of Accotink Creek’s tent a stuffed frog dangled bearing a sign, “Give me a break.” He appeared to be strangling from a discarded plastic bag caught around his neck.
Jan Kamide with Fairfax Tree Stewards urged folks to protect and plant trees. Her group identifies “tree deserts” and helps people plant trees at minimal costs.
As for animals, kids of all ages delighted in petting the very docile goats from Herndon’s Frying Pan Park. Youngsters colored birds at the Friends of Dyke Marsh station.
Alexandria’s Dogtopia promoted their doggie day care and boarding in air-conditioned quarters, playrooms and spa services, like ear cleaning and teeth brushing.
Even the two employees of Pohanka Automotive Group, founded in 1919, boasted about the company’s devotion to animals, while showing off a Lexus TX 350, a luxury car with a price tag of $60,000 to $80,000. Their cause: Paws of Honor. Pohanka has sponsored 23 retired military and police dogs
Artsy youngsters painted at the tables of Arts Fairfax and Mount Vernon Art and Culture, where colorful bottle cap art jumped out in the sun. Raving about the new bottle cap mural at Hollin Meadows Elementary School, Cathy Hoseck said that students at Bucknell Elementary and West Potomac High School will make murals next year.
County Agencies There Too
County services were front and center too. Aspiring young motorists could climb up into the recycling truck driver’s seat. Staffers from the county’s wastewater agency showed off their sewage vacuum truck with an imposing pipe and hose to scoop up, well, poop. And on that topic, Gulshank Gupta from Fairfax County Wastewater Management cheerfully reminded visitors to only flush the four p’s: pee, poo, paper (toilet) and puke.
The Fairfax County Police drone tent was a popular stop where Rafael Orellano explained that drones dock on top of buildings, ready to launch at all times. Noting that “airspace in Fairfax County is a nightmare” because of many restricted zones, he said that the drone team takes on missing people, search and rescue missions and “hot pursuits” of people on foot. “We watch the guy run and hide in the trash can,” he said. For vehicle hot pursuits, officers use helicopters.
Members of the county police swat teams said they handle “high risk” calls, like acts of violence, active shooters and hostages.
Supervisor Storck presented a certificate to Shirley Short, whom he lauded as a “volunteer extraordinaire.” A retired firefighter, Short started volunteering for the late Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland 20 years ago and is a familiar face in the supervisor’s office still. “She gives her heart to every project and has a ‘can-do’ spirit,” Storck commended.
Commenting on the festival, Elaine Kolish, a local, said, “It’s great for the community to come together and learn about many subjects.”
The Highway Legends blasted a steady, robust soundtrack of tunes by Bruce Springsteen and others from the stage.
Across the street at Walt Whitman Middle School, an alert osprey on the nest atop the ballfield’s light pole vigilantly watched all the goings-on while probably awaiting a fish delivery from his or her mate.