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Supply Our Students Gives Loaded Packs
by Floyd Harrison 8/05-
Provision is being made for some young school students who may not be able to afford the expensive supplies needed to begin a new school year. Backpacks are being manufactured right here in Lorton by the American Sewing Guild with donated fabric at Attic Treasures & Sew Easy Sewing School in Occoquan. They will be distributed in our area stuffed with basic needs by ‘Supply Our Students’ a project of the George Mason University Theatre group.
The backpacks are way cool and far more interesting than standard issue boring store bought ones. Being made of donated fabric, they are fashioned as masculine and feminine and of simple rugged design.
The GMU Theatre group can only accept donations in kind, that is material for the bags or school supplies to go in them. However financial support can be accepted by check made out to ASG in the Attic Treasures store in Occoquan.
The American Sewing Guild is a national organization with many chapters across the country. It was formed to “advance sewing as and art and life skill.” It is both educational and recreational with a side benefit being an exchange of help on personal projects. Individual chapters usually have some charitable project going on.
Thread Tails, the local ASG chapter, was formed in September of 2001. As a group they have gators and cool-ties for U.S. troops in Afganistan and Iraq. They have also made cemo caps (do-rags). This time the project is back packs for local school children. Their regular meetings are the first Monday of the month at Byrd library in Springfield.
Four members gathered to sew the bags. Twenty six bags were completed in one four hour session last month. The participating members are President Mary-Ann Duff, Julie Witham, Judie Zedeck, and the proprietor of Attic Treasures, Judie (call her Jude) Brunig. More back-packs will be completed this month.
For more information about how to participate in this project or about the Thread Tails call Sew Easy Sewing School at 703-490-1536 or drop by the Attic Treasures store (the awning says Treasure Hunt) at 204 Washington Street, Occoquan, VA 22125 open Tuesday-Through Saturday ‘til 5. That’s Occoquan Road until it gets downtown.
Sewing Group Makes Comfort for Iraq Vets
Seven ladies met last month at Attic Treasures in Occoquan to make “Sew Much Comfort” for U.S. Veterans of the Iraqi War recovering at Walter Reed. These sewers were mostly members of the local chapter of the American Sewing Guild as well as the owner of the sewing dealership and school.
A small industry was going on one whole Sunday making “boxer shorts” with adaptive velcro leg openings to accommodate orthopedic fix a tors which would preclude normal leisure wear. The fix a tors serve as casts holding broken bodies together as the men convalesce. The custom “rip-away” clothing allows more freedom than hospital gowns which have gaps. With their custom shorts the soldiers are decent to leave the ward.
One lady would cut brightly patterned cloth into the components of the shorts. Another would serge the seams. Others, working upstairs would sew in velcro and elastic. They made a party of the production and left with the satisfaction that they had accomplished something generous and good which would be appreciated. There seems to be a bit of humor in the language of this story but, it’s a serious need. In their own way, the ladies are serving their country.
The group regularly does charitable projects and they invite others to join them for the fun and learning experience.
For more information about how to participate in this project call Sew Easy Sewing School at 703-490-1536 or drop by the Attic Treasures store (the awning says Treasure Hunt) at 204 Washington Street, Occoquan, VA 22125 open Tuesday-Through Saturday ‘til 5.
Northern Virginia Community College Signs Two New Articulation Agreements
On August 15, Northern Virginia Community College entered into new transfer articulation agreements with Longwood University and Strayer University. These articulation agreements outline the terms of transfer for students completing associate degree programs at NVCC and define the way courses and programs transfer to four-year institutions.
Delegates from each school were on hand to witness the signings. The Longwood agreement was signed by NVCC President Robert G. Templin, Jr. and Longwood University President Patricia Cormier. The Strayer agreement was signed by Templin and Strayer University President J. Chris Toe.
In addition to facilitating the transfer process, both these new agreements guarantee admission to NVCC graduates who complete an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree (and meet certain grade point average requirements) and will fulfill all of their lower division general education requirements, essentially allowing them to enter the four-year institution as a junior. Strayer’s agreement also includes a provision which guarantees admission to NVCC graduates of Associate in Applied Arts or Associate in Applied Science degree programs, and waives the application fee.
NVCC currently has formal transfer articulation agreements in place with more than 30 four-year institutions across the country. The addition of these two new agreements broadens the choices for NVCC students looking to transfer to four-year schools in central Virginia and in the metro Washington, D.C. area. These new agreements with Longwood and Strayer are beneficial because they address the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students who may have different educational goals.
“Increasingly NOVA is being seen by the region as the pathway to the baccalaureate and eventually to higher paying jobs,” said Templin. “These agreements are part of the ongoing strategic plan of the College, where NOVA serves as the gateway to the American dream.”
For more information, please contact NVCC Associate Vice President for Academic Services Sharon Robertson at (703) 323-3087.
Registration is going on now for second session classes, which begin on October 19. Apply for admission online at www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect.
Fairfax County Approves Increases
in Statutory TaxiCab Fares
The Board of Supervisors has adopted a request from the Fairfax County taxicab industry to raise rates. Beginning Wednesday, July 20, the drop, distance and waiting time rates charged by Fairfax County taxicabs will increase. The rate of an average fare for an 11-mile trip will go up by 11.3 percent. The following changes will be implemented:
• The initial drop charge will change from $2.25 for the first one-quarter mile to $2.75 for the first one-fifth mile.
• The succeeding mileage charge will change from $1.60 per mile to $1.75 per mile (the increment charge changes from 40 cents per one-quarter mile to 35 cents per one-fifth mile).
• The waiting time charge will change from $18 per hour to $21 per hour (the increment charge changes from 40 cents per 80 seconds to 35 cents per 60 seconds).
The rate increases support the rising costs of providing quality taxicab services, the cost of living for taxicab drivers and rising gasoline prices. The increases also will help in recruiting and retaining qualified, experienced drivers.
The last permanent taxicab fare increase in Fairfax County was approved in February 2001. At that time, the board approved an increase of 7.2 percent on an average fare. The rise in fares was justified on the basis of increases in the cost of living and in gasoline prices.
On July 12, 2004, in response to rapidly increasing prices of gasoline, the board approved an emergency 50-cent gas surcharge. This surcharge on taxicab rates was in effect from July 19, 2004, until Dec. 31, 2004. During the period of the surcharge, gas prices averaged from $1.81 to $2.01 per gallon.
For more information, visit the Consumer Protection Division Web page at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer.htm or call the Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection at 703-222-8435, TTY 711.