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TextStory Ideas in Fairfax County Government
Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935, FAX 703-324-2010
Nov. 14, 2003
Story Ideas in Fairfax County Government
The Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs provides a summary of news briefs designed to inform the media about great story ideas in Fairfax County government. The following information gives the background on newsworthy stories as well as contact information. For additional questions on the Future Features service, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935.
And Then There Were Four
Where Does the Time Go
Quadruplets! “We wanted children and the doctors said there was less
than a two percent chance that all of the in vitro implants would be
successful,” said Sophia Grinnan, Fairfax County police officer, who with
her husband, Michael Grinnan, also a Fairfax County police officer, are
the parents of quadruplets – two boys and two girls. The Grinnan
quadruplets were born May 22. Learning to manage four babies is a big
task, and Mike and Sophie have had wonderful help of family, friends and
people at work. “Our parents have been incredible support as have our
friends and co-workers,” Sophie said. Mike is a police sergeant and works
his regular assignments with most time off spent helping care for the
children. Sophie, an MPO, works as a police public information officer
and plans to continue her career. When asked if they were looking forward
to the children playing sports, joining scouts, riding bicycles and doing
other things children do as they grow up, Sophie said, “Right now, we’re
looking forward to the time when they all sleep through the night and can
hold their own bottles!” For more information, call Mary Ann Jennings at
703-246-2253, TTY 711.
Fairfax County’s Urban Forestry Program Celebrates 30
Years
Promoting Compatibility Between the Developed and Natural
Communities
With the advent of the first national Earth Day in 1970, residents in
Fairfax County were becoming increasingly concerned about preserving
trees within the county’s newly built subdivisions and commercial sites.
At that time there were few local ordinance requirements for developers
to preserve existing trees or provide landscape plantings for new
developments. In 1973, as a result of these concerns, a group of
dedicated citizens came together to work with Fairfax County staff to
develop a Tree Preservation and Planting Ordinance, which at the time was
one of the first local ordinances in the nation to require the protection
and preservation of existing tree cover during the land development and
construction processes. The group also recommended the establishment of
the Office of the County Arborist to administer the new land development
requirements and the creation of a Tree Commission whose members would be
appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
For the past 30 years, the Office of the County Arborist, now known as
the Urban Forestry Division, has worked to ensure the vitality of the
county’s forest and preservation of the natural environment. The division
also leads the fight against gypsy moths and other forest pests and
assists in the efforts to battle the mosquitoes that carry West Nile
virus.
The county’s commitment to preserving trees has brought impressive
results. Although the county population has exceeded 1 million,
high-resolution satellite imagery reveals that in 2000 about 45 percent,
or 105,750 acres, of Fairfax County’s 235,000 acre landmass was covered
with trees. In 2002, Fairfax County received its 20th consecutive Tree
City USA Award, plus a second Tree City Growth Award for significant
improvements to its urban forestry program and local ordinance.
The Urban Forestry Division is part of the Fairfax County Department of
Public Works and Environmental Services. If you would like more
information about the division’s services and the Fairfax County Tree
Commission, please call 703-324-1770, TTY 711.
Private Room for Nursing
Mothers
All the Comforts of Home
The Mother’s Room is a private, secure room for county employees who are
nursing mothers. It is located in the Fairfax County Government Center,
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Fairfax County is the first
jurisdiction in this area to establish a room of this type. Mothers sign
up for a specific day and time and gain access by key. Breast pumps are
available in the room. Employees bring their own attachments or, if they
prefer, their own equipment. For more information, call Sharon Hackett at
703-324-5730, TTY 703-324-5706.
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