GUM SPRINGS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
Volume 4, Issue 4
MAY 2013
Community Meeting on May 14th
Reminder that the monthly community meeting will be
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held on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Community Center.
Thanks to Bryan and Ursula Birch
Bryan and Ursula once again led the way for the
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annual clean up of Little Hunting Creek on April 6 .
Thank you for a job well done!
Proposed Community Center
Expansion
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During the April 9 community meeting, Fairfax County
staff “quickly” briefed the community about a proposal
to expand the Community Center for HeadStart. Gum
Springs currently houses two locations for HeadStart—
one in the Gum Springs Community Center and one in
Gum Springs Glen, the senior housing apartments.
Although the highest demand for service is Annandale,
Falls Church, Baileys Crossroads and Reston, Fairfax
County staff selected the Gum Springs Community
Center for the “retrofit” because it was more convenient
for Fairfax County. However, the end result is that it
will displace current programs and activities for the
Gum Springs community. HeadStart currently has the
predominant space in the building to include the
basement space that once was used for community
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Community meeting on May 14th
1
Thanks to Bryan and Ursula Birch
2
Proposed Community Center Expansion
2
New Cub Scout Pack is Looking for Young Boys
2
Fordson Place Construction Underway
2
Gum Springs Community Day
2
Save-the-Date(s)
Gum Springs Community Center
8100 Fordson Road
703-360-6088
Community Meetings
The Civic Association is the voice for the Gum Springs
community. You should support your community
organization if you live, work or worship in the Gum
Springs community. Community meetings are held the
second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the
Gum Springs Community Center. No meetings are held
during July and August. The next Civic Association
meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.
Dues are $5 per person. Your dues are used solely for
community purposes to a community newsletter, flyers,
membership dues in the MVCCA, fees to maintain our
501(c)(4) tax exempt status with the IRS and
registration fees with the Commonwealth of Virginia
State Corporation.
We also use the funds to support special programs and
activities for community residents.
If you would like to support the Civic Association by
making a monetary, make your check or money order
payable to NGSCA and mail to: NGSCA; P.O. Box
6112; Alexandria, VA 22306 or bring to a meeting.
The Civic Association is here for the community it
serves!
GUM SPRINGS COMMUNITY Newsletter page 1
If you would like to purchase ad space, send info to:
recreational youth activities and planned use for its
teen center. The community was informed that it was
not useable space. However, Fairfax County later
converted the space for HeadStart office use. What’s
important to note is that this proposed retrofit was
presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
so that it would not go through the normal public
hearing process for community residents to voice their
opinion. Nor did HeadStaff staff, to include AnneMarie Twohie, Director, Office for Children, reach out
to the Gum Springs community for their comments or
to inform them about this proposed retrofit. The Gum
Springs community fully supports HeadStart since
Gum Springs housed the first HeadStart in Fairfax
County during 1965 and continues to do so. However,
Fairfax County should not expect one small community
to continue to take on the weight for servicing a vast
majority of Fairfax County’s needs for social services.
For more information about the community’s
opposition to HeadStart’s retrofit proposal that would
result in the taking of additional space from the
community, the community letter to Mount Vernon
Supervisor Hyland is posted on the community
website: www.gumspringscivicassociation.com.
New Cub Scout Pack in Gum
Springs is looking for Young Boys
The Civic Association is looking for boys rising in
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grades 1 through 5 by June 1 for its new Cub Scout
Pack. Boys may sign up during Community Day on
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June 15 or online on the community website. We will
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also host an Open House with BSA on June 20 at
7:00 p.m. at the Community Center. In addition, we are
in need of a Cub Master and Den Leaders. You too
may attend the Open House and sign up during
Community Day or online.
Fordson Place construction
underway
By now you’ve seen a lot of construction activity at the
intersection of Fordson Road and Richmond Highway.
This will be the newest strip mall along Richmond
Highway called Fordson Place. It is also at a main
entrance to the Gum Springs community. So far, it will
house Verizon, a vitamin store, a pizza store
(Paisano’s) and coffee house (Caribou Coffee).
Gum Springs Community Day
Gum Springs Community Day will be held on
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Saturday, June 15 in the Martin Luther King Jr.
Community Park (8115 Fordson Road) in the Gum
Springs community. It will be a family fun filled day of
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January 21
, which is also
publicCASIO,
inauguration
activities,
entertainment
andthe
music.
a steelday
for
Obama.
panPresident
drum band,
will return to provide easy listening
and dancing music. CASIO provided the music during
The Civic Association will be hosting its annual
last year’s Community Day. Fairfax County Sheriff
candlelight vigil with a special dance performance by
Office will be providing children identification and
the Unity Cultural Group in honor of Dr. Martin Luther
finger printing services. There will be a vendor fair
King, Jr. on January 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the entrance
and a doggy fashion show. Confirmed vendors as of
of the Martin Luther King Park, which is the community
March—list will be updated for Community Day:
park in Gum Springs at the end of Fordson Road
across
from theJ’Adore
Gum Springs
Community
Center.
Accessories:
Diva; Paparazzi
and
Thirty-To
keep
One you warm, hot apple cider will be served!
Cosmetics: MaryKay and Style Envy by Sherdina
MLK
Pool no longer on the
Fragrance: For Every Home and Scentsy
chopping block
Jewelry: CorseCrafts; Lucky Girl; Origami Owl;
The Fairfax County Park Authority (PA) voted on
Stellar Silver;th and Tracy Lynn
December 5 to remove the MLK pool from any future
Specialty:
Ami Ami
Creations;
Audrey
Dittmann will
cuts
permanently.
The
Gum Springs
community
(TOTO
Audrey);
GSCC
Advisory
Board;
and of
SBusing
Moon
no
longer
be faced
with this
annual
dilemma
Senior
Citizens
the
MLK
pool asClub
a sacrificial lamb. All nature centers
were included in the decision package as well.
Food: Paulie’s Italian Ice; GSYAA; and DNCS
Health Care: Bethlehem Baptist Church; Doctors
Boy
Scouts of America
Express; INOVA Mount Vernon; and Mt. Calvary BC
Officials from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will be
Community/Public Services: Fairfax
County Park
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guest speakers at the January 8 community meeting.
Authority; Fairfax County Sheriff; Fairfax NAACP;
The BSA will outline what is required for the Civic
Adolescent & Family Growth; and Bethlehem BC.
Association to sponsor a pack and/or troop along with
the types of support provided by the BSA.
Save-the-Date(s)
BSA is one of the nation's largest and most prominent
June 11, 2013youth
– Civic
Associationorganizations.
meeting – lastThe
values-based
development
meeting
until
September
10,
2013.
BSA provides a program for young people that builds
character,
trains– them
the responsibilities
of
June 15, 2013
Gum in
Springs
Community Day
participating citizenship, and develops personal
September 10, 2013 – Civic Association meeting
fitness.
To hear more about being a boy or cub scout, attend
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the
January 8the
community
meeting and
bring a
Support
Gum Springs
Community
potential boy orand
cub scout
to
learn
more.
its Newsletter!
Farewell
to HomeGoods
Attend monthly
community meetings!
HomeGoods will be closing its store in the Mt. Vernon
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Pay Center
your on
dues!
Crossroads Shopping
January 19 after not
reaching a fair equitable lease agreement with its
landlord. According to HomeGoods management, this
GUM SPRINGS COMMUNITY Newsletter page 2
store drew 95% of its customers from the Kingstowne
store, has been very profitable and regrets leaving an
area that has been extremely supportive of the store.