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TextNews to Use Podcast Transcript: April 7, 2009
Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County News to Use podcast for April 8, 2009. Coming up, find out about how Fairfax County is celebrating National Library Week and Earth Day, and learn how you can help the environment in your own backyard by having your soil tested.
National Library Week begins on April 12, and Fairfax County Public
Libraries are joining in the fun. A special read-a-thon takes place
on Tuesday, April 14 at Tysons Corner Center from noon to 2 p.m.
Join Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth, Mr. Knick Knack, a
children’s book author and other special guests, including a firefighter
and police officer, as they read from their favorite picture books.
Attendees will enjoy a visit from a storybook character and fun
activities for all. Saturday, April 18 is “Library Appreciation
Day.” Residents are asked to stop by their nearest library branch to
express their appreciation for library services and staff. There will be
a special area at each branch and on the library’s Web site, where
library users can leave their comments. Library users can post comments
on their favorite services, the value of the library in the community and
any other thoughts.
The Fairfax County Park Authority, Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water
Conservation District have come together to ensure that county residents
have several opportunities to contribute to their local environment this
Earth Day. Through Saturday, April 25, several events have been
scheduled to clean-up local waterways and promote environmental education
and stewardship.
The 21st Annual Potomac River Watershed Clean-Up takes place
through Saturday, April 25. Site and reservation information can be
found at www.potomaccleanup.org, or call
the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District at (703)
324-1422. Saturday, April 19 is “Electric Sunday” when residents
can bring their old televisions, computers and other electronics to the
I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road in Fairfax, to be recycled at no
charge. More information is available online, or call (703)
324-5052. And finally, the county’s annual Earth Day and Arbor Day
Celebration takes place on Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Northern Virginia Community College - Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River
Turnpike, Annandale. There is no cost for admission, entertainment,
games or activities. Free parking is available in the student
parking lots. Call 703-324-5471, TTY 711 or go to www.cleanfairfaxcouncil.org
for more information.
You can also make a difference for the environment in your own backyard,
with soil testing. Needless fertilization is carried by spring
rains into our fresh water supply, from your backyard right into the
Chesapeake Bay. Phosphorus in fertilizer is a major contributor to excess
algae growth in the bay. This can seriously degrade prime oyster and fish
nesting sites. Enjoy crabs, oysters and Rockfish? We can all do our
part in ensuring that the harvests will be bountiful. Before you
fertilize, have your soil tested. You can pick up a soil test kit
at any Fairfax County Library. The kit has instructions explaining how to
gather and send your sample to the Virginia Tech soil testing laboratory.
You will receive a detailed analysis of your soil within two weeks, with
information on what your soil needs. The cost is $7.
For more information call the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District at 703-324-1460 or the Virginia Cooperative Extension at 703-324-5369.
That’s all for this News to Use podcast. Thanks for listening. For more
information about the topics in this podcast and for continuous news
updates, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news. You may also call 703-FAIRFAX,
that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. News to Use is
produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, government.
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