When the power outage hit our home in Potomac Hills on June 29, we ran around frantically throwing everything we could into the car in search of an air conditioned hotel without thinking about what we really needed. If we only had a list of essentials that we would need, oh how life would have been so much simpler. Communication was difficult, if not impossible, as we tried to figure out where to go and how to get there. And we were hampered as we tried to prepare for any contingency plan. There will be other outages and emergencies that will require fast action from every resident in McLean…

  Fairfax County has created a blog to give citizens emergency information. Here are the hightlights: Fairfax County Cooling Centers The following RECenters will be open for those without power and others seeking relief from the heat: Lee District RECenter, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia, Virginia, 703-922-9841, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mount Vernon RECenter, 2017 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria, Virginia, 703-768-3224, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oak Marr RECenter, 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton, Va., 703-281-6501, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. South Run RECenter, 7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield, Virginia, 703-866-0566, 7:…

With temperatures expected to climb to the middle and upper 90s—and heat index values that could reach 105—the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday for McLean and across Fairfax County. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity puts those who are outdoors for an extended period of time, as well as groups like children and the sick, disabled or elderly, at risk for heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, the advisory says. Here are signs of heat exhaustion? Complaints of Light Headedness/Dizziness Altered Mental Status/ “…

The Fairfax County Fire Department asked that we share these cooking tips with the neighbors, in the wake of the death of an elderly McLean resident. Carroll Adams, 91, died from injuries he suffered while cooking in his Old Meadow Road apartment Thursday night. • Never leave cooking unattended. Remember, the kitchen iswhere most home fires begin. • Turn pot handles away from the edge of the stove so they won’tbe bumped or pulled over. • Wear short, tight-fitting, or rolled-up sleeves when cooking toavoid catching your clothes on fire. • If your clothes catch on fire, do not run! Stop moving…

Fairfax County sends along these tips when you need to make an emergency call for police or fire help. Just click to view the video.

Fairfax County send along this reminder:  If you use a paid tax preparer to file your return this year, the IRS urges you to choose that preparer wisely. Even if a return is prepared by someone else, the taxpayer is legally responsible for what’s on it. So, it’s very important to choose your tax preparer carefully.This year, the IRS wants to remind taxpayers to use a preparer who will sign the returns they prepare and enter their required Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).Here are ten tips to keep in mind when choosing a tax return preparer:1. Check the preparer’s qualifications. New …

Fairfax County reminder: You might be one of the thousands that will receive suspicious emails, phone calls, faxes, or notices claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS.)  Don’t be fooled! These scammers are hoping to trick you into revealing personal and financial information. The IRS only contacts taxpayers the old fashioned way: By letter. Here are tips from the IRS to protect yourself and your bank account from Phishing Scams: Phishing (as in “fishing for information” and “hooking” victims) is a scam where Internet fraudsters send e-mail messages to trick unsuspecting victims …

The McLean High School auditorium was filled to near-capacity Thursday night for a presentation on healthy teen relationships and dating.  The forum, "What's Love Got to do With It?" was sponsored by the Safe Community Coalition, in partnership with the McLean High School PTSA, Langley High School PTSA, The Madeira School, and Thomas Jefferson High School PTSA. Those attending the community forum represented a cross-section of individuals whose lives have been or could be affected by teen dating issues.  The audience was filled with teens and older students, parents, grandparents, and mental …

Fairfax County Police urge residents to designate a sober driver as they make their Super Bowl party plans In 2011, officers arrested 39 persons for driving under the influence of alcohol over Super Bowl weekend. Statistics show that there were eight alcohol-related crashes that weekend as well. According to national data, in 2009 half of all fatal crashes on Super Bowl Sunday involved alcohol. The Fairfax County Police Department will be patrolling the roadways across the county in an effort to deter impaired driving. If motorists see unsafe driving behaviors, they are urged to contact the …

The next time is snows more than 2 inches you can track VDOT snowplows on your computer. The Virginia Department of Transportation is currently testing the online tool, Governor Bob McDonnell announced Wednesday in a press release. Once it snows at least two inches, residents can find out the status of plowing in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William county neighborhoods here.  Users can monitor whether crews have started plowing a particular “snow map” region on the county grid. Northern Virginia streets are divided into 600 snow maps, so while street-by-street progress is not shown, residents…

Fairfax County government sends along this reminder to the neighbors: All dogs four months of age or older must be licensed. Licenses are good for one year and must be purchased by January 31st. License Fees: The fee to purchase a dog license is $10, for all dogs. License tags are issued free of charge to the owners of dogs trained and serving as a guide dog for a blind person, a hearing dog for a deaf person, or a service dog for a mobility-impaired person. License tags may be purchased by mail, on-line or in person, as follows: By Mail: Send a completed copy of the Dog License Application, …

Fairfax County shared these tips for parents looking to join a gym that offers child care. Now is the time of year when the number of people buying health club memberships skyrockets. If you’re a parent, one criteria you may use to decide which gym to join is whether or not it offers on-site child care. When considering a gym’s child care service, it's good to make sure: 1. Adult-to-child ratios ensure your child is safely supervised. 2. Caregivers have passed criminal background checks and are certified in first aid and pediatric CPR; 3. The child care area is a clean, safe, comfortable …

McLean Patch had a too close encounter of the scary kind with a deer Saturday evening. A large deer came bounding out of the woods at dusk along a wooden stretch of Old Dominion Drive,. We were driving slowly (thank the Lord). The deer and McLean Patch passed within inches of each other. We were shaking the rest of the way home. Therefore we want to share with the neighbors these tips from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries: Be EXTRA cautious while commuting at dawn and dusk. Go slow and be attentive. Though most vehicle-deer collisions aren't fatal, they can cause a lot of …

Christmas trees that a week ago were  dazzling centers of family delight are already being kicked to the curb. Now your Christmas tree can begin its second life. Christmas trees less than eight feet tall will be collected and recycled at no additional cost during the first two weeks in January. Removing decorations allows trees to be recycled by grinding them into mulch, according to Fairfax County. When placing your tree at the curb, the county asks that you please remove tree stands, ornaments, tinsel, lights and tree toppers. For trees larger than eight feet tall , please contact your …

Memories of fun holidays spent with mother or father, son or daughter, or dear friend who have died return this time of year. Especially if it's the first year of the lost.  For neighbors dealing with grief during the holidays, Capital Caring, a Falls Church-based hospice provider and bereavement support organization, has 10 suggestions for easing the pain.  The organization also provides free bereavement counseling for hospice families for up to 13-months. 1.       Make time to experience your grief and allow yourself to accept that the holidays may evoke sorrow as well as joy. 2.       …

Becky York of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County sent along these reminders of teens, drinking and the holiday. It’s the holiday season when family and friends gather to celebrate together. It’s also a time when many teens find the opportunity and access to experiment and use alcohol and other drugs. Many teens report that they obtain the alcohol they drink from their parents, friends’ parents, siblings, or older friends, with or without permission. Parents are still the strongest influencers in their children’s lives. Among 10-18 year olds, 65 percent cite their parents as …

The Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Office sends along these tips for returning those Christmas presents that weren't the right size, the right color, the right gift. Remember: State law requires that a retail merchant disclose all conditions, charges, or fees relating to the return of goods for refund, exchange or credit. A merchant’s failure to disclose its return policy can be a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (VCPA). Refunds and Exchanges Checklist Know the seller’s return policy and timeline. Return policies vary, so confirm before purchasing. Common return policies …

The Fairfax County Office of Consumer Affairs sends along these tips on how to buy and how to use gift cards. Also, who to call if you have a problem. Buying a Gift Card Know what type of card you want: Retail gift cards can be used only at a specific business or restaurant. Bank gift cards can be used at any location that accepts cards from that bank network.    Buy directly from a business or bank. Avoid online auction or classified ad sites, where the cards may have been stolen or counterfeited. Be cautious about buying gift cards from a business in financial trouble; a company in …

The heat is back so Fairfax County Animal Control Officers can again look forward to dozens of reports of animals locked in hot cars in parking lots. Their advice: Leave your beloved  pets at home on hot days. When the National Weather Service issues heat alerts, they trigger the potentially dangerous combination of heat and humidity  each day. This may mean life-threatening conditions for animals left in vehicles or other unsuitable environments; even for short time periods. The county animal control  officers urge pet owners to: Never leave pets in a parked car. On a warm day, temperatures …