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TextStory Ideas in Fairfax County Government
Fairfax County 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
April 16, 2004
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 information provided gives the background on several newsworthy stories as well as the contact information for key personnel to provide more information, interviews, etc. For additional questions on the Future Features service, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935.
Protecting Public Health in Fairfax County
National Medical Laboratory Week, April 18 - 24, brings attention to the
vital role that the Fairfax County Health Department's laboratory plays
in preventing communicable disease and protecting the health of county
residents. The county's laboratory is a behind-the-scenes success story
made possible by the efforts of 22 county employees. Its staff includes
highly trained chemists, biologists, microbiologists and medical
laboratory technologists who perform and interpret more than a
quarter-million medical and environmental laboratory tests each year
using high-tech equipment and instrumentation.
Facts about the capabilities of the county laboratory include:
- During outbreak investigations, the county's laboratory can detect hundreds of different pathogens.
- Fairfax County has the only health department lab in Virginia with an automatedlaboratory information system that includes bar-coding.
- The county's laboratory performed 228,000 tests last year; that averages out to nearly 1,000 lab tests on a work day.
-
Communicable disease tests
each year:
- 10,000 syphilis tests
- 7,000 gonorrhea cultures
- 7,000 chlamydia tests
- 6,000 HIV tests
- 5,000 tuberculosis tests
- 2,500 hepatitis tests
-
Environmental tests each
year:
- 5,000 water bacteria tests
- 4,000 water chemistry tests
- 3,200 air pollution tests
- 1,400 dairy tests
- 700 rabies tests
-
Substance abuse screening each year:
- 150,000 urine drug screens for county agencies
For more information, call Kimberly Cordero, Fairfax County Health Department, 703-246-3265, TTY 703-591-6435.
James Lee Community Center Reopens
The James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, will
reopen as a state-of-the-art facility for use by Fairfax County residents
on Saturday, May 22, at 1 p.m. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Chairman Gerald E. Connolly and Providence District Supervisor Linda Q.
Smyth will dedicate the building at the ribbon cutting ceremony and
community celebration. Following the ceremony, residents may enjoy
activities until 5 p.m. at the center that include children's games, live
entertainment, refreshments and tours of the facility.
The center was closed in 2001 for renovations and now includes the 240-seat James Lee Playhouse, two gymnasiums, a kitchen, and meeting rooms for community activities and events. Once the center opens, the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services will offer a variety of activities and programs for everyone that will include a senior center, teen center, after-school programs, day care, competitive team sports, activities for individuals with disabilities, and a computer clubhouse opening later this year. The Literacy Council and a branch of the Fairfax County Park Authority will be located in the community center. For more information, call Patricia McClenic, Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services, 703-324-5641, TTY 703-222-9693.
In Addition …
A Teen Job Seminar sponsored by the Fairfax County Department of
Community and Recreation Services will be held on Tuesday, April 20, at
the Reston Teen Center, 12196 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, 7 - 8 p.m. The
seminar is free to youth in grades seven through 12 who are Fairfax
County residents, and is geared toward finding places to work and writing
a resume. For more information and to register to attend, call Sarah
Harmon, Reston Teen Center, 703-326-7040, TTY 711.
Fairfax County government employees will have the opportunity to share public service with their children at the fourth annual Bring Our Children to Work Day, Thursday, April 22, 9 a.m., at the Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Agencies will present demonstrations that include a helicopter landing and police dog workout in addition to interactive exhibits and displays. For more information, call Cathy Maynard, County Executive's Office, 703-324-3239, TTY 711.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Alcohol and Drug
Services will sponsor the fifth annual Tim Harmon 5K Run/Walk on
Saturday, June 26, 8:30 a.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center,
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. For more information or to
register, call Peggy Cook, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board,
703-934-8756, TTY 711.
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