By Adrian Stantion, Virginia Hospital Center 

A Heartfelt Thanks … to our brethren within the Arlington public safety departments – Police, Fire/EMS, Sheriff and Emergency Management – that represent the true front line of emergency care.  The quick and decisive actions of these first responders have an enormous impact on our ability to save lives and perform medical miracles.  

Teamwork and speed are critical when dealing with medical emergencies, and we are thankful that Arlington has such capable and committed public safety personnel who not only perform their duties at an exceptional level, but go above and beyond to show they care. Sponsoring the Valor Awards affords us an opportunity to honor and recognize the selfless dedication embodied by these extraordinary first responders.  They represent our teammates in the field who are integral in our ability to provide exceptional care to our patients.   

On April 16, we honored these valiant men and women who work tirelessly to keep Arlington safe. We heard many testimonies of incredible strength, bravery and dedication.

Sergeant Kevin Pope received a Meritorious Service Award for his thirty-three years of service at the sheriff’s office, which is currently more years of service than any other full time employee with the sheriff’s office.

Lieutenant Heather Hurlock also received a Meritorious Service Award for her seventeen years of exceptional and overwhelming volunteerism and continuing community service in the Auxiliary Unit of the Criminal Investigations Division. As a Crime Prevention Specialist, Heather provides citizens with information concerning personal safety and the security of their property.  Some of her accomplishments include creating a website for Bicycle registration and a website of photographs of recovered bicycles, becoming a certified Child Safety Seat Technician, helping to ensure that all auxiliary officers meet minimum training standards. Since 1997 when she started in the Auxiliary Unit, she has volunteered over 30,000 hours! 

ECTs Rachel Moreno and Heather Horan were presented life-saving awards for their quick and life-saving guidance that helped a woman from perishing in a fire.

Deputy Andrew Woodrow received a life-saving award for his calm demeanor and swift actions that saved the life of a person who made a spontaneous decision that could have ended in tragedy.  These are just a few examples of the exemplified extraordinary heroic actions of Arlington County Public Safety personnel.  

From the entire team at Virginia Hospital Center, a heartfelt thanks to our first responder heroes in the Arlington County Police and Fire Departments, Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Management.

Sincerely,

The Staff at Virginia Hospital Center

In October 2014, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce will offer a unique opportunity to travel to China for 9 days to explore the lovely cities of Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. China is a combination of modern and ancient, of tradition and innovation, of peacefulness and high energy; A place unlike any other and a country that should be on your list of Top 5 Places to Visit. Made possible thanks to a partnership with Citslinc International, Inc., the China trip is truly a once in a lifetime experience. You will travel safely with your tour guide and group of fellow business colleagues and community members. 

From October 15-23, you will visit memorable sites, both ancient and modern, and enjoy a multitude of unforgettable experiences. On this 9 day, ALL INCLUSIVE trip, you can travel as a business professional, a regular tourist, or a little bit of both. Jasmine Gould, Director of Business Development, Strategic Consulting Partners, attended the trip in 2013 and she says in her follow-up blog post, “The itinerary was full of all the famous places to see, fabulous hotels, and one of the best tour companies in the country to show us around.” Your unforgettable trip to China doesn't have to be stressful. With this package, your travel and destinations are planned for you, so all you have to do is enjoy amazing sights and food.  

Barbara Nicastro, The Law Offices of Barbara E. Nicastro  attended the trip in 2010. She says in her recap, “While I’m no travel agent, I know what works and know a bargain when I see one. The China trip was spectacularly both.”  She adds, "From the time we left until we returned to Arlington, everything was taken care of for us. The transportation was great, the days were packed with activity, the experiences were highly varied, and I got to see how the Chinese live their daily lives.  The tour guides were highly knowledgeable and friendly. All I had to worry about was what to buy as gifts/souvenirs and whether I wanted something extra to drink or eat.“ 

For more information about the China Chamber Trip, attend the free information session on April 30.  

Prices start at $2,299 and include:

• Roundtrip international airfare
• Chinese domestic airfare
• 5 and 4 star hotel accommodations
• Deluxe tour bus
• English-speaking tour guide in each city
• 3 meals each day
• Fees for all tour attractions on the itinerary
• Airport taxes
• Airfuel surcharge

To view a gallery of photos from the 2013 trip, click here. To read about this amazing trip, check out this blog post by one of our members who went on last year's trip.

If you would like to attend a free information session, please register by clicking here or if you have any questions, please contact Cassie Bate at cbate@arlingtonchamber.org or call (703) 525-2400.

Did you know that 32% of Arlington residents volunteer? They teach adults to read, collect canned goods, advocate for seniors, beautify parks, coach youth sports, counsel entrepreneurs, mentor teens, lead advisory commissions, serve as first responders and enhance our community in so many ways. The time, expertise, and compassion contributed by these caring community members are critical to Arlington’s success. Each year during National Volunteer Week, April 6 – 12, Arlington County celebrates the countless ways that volunteers make a difference in our community, while encouraging others to seek out imaginative ways to get involved. 

Picture Your-self(ie) Volunteering! Do you, your family, faith community, friends, or coworkers serve our community? If so, we want you to snap a “selfie” (a photo of yourself) volunteering and share it on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to add hashtag #pictureyourselfievolunteering. Going on now, we’re sharing some of our favorites on Facebook and Twitter to create an online collage showing volunteers’ collective power to make a difference.

National Volunteer Week is a great time to start getting involved. If you would like to expand your network, organize a team-building activity, learn a new skill, or bolster your resume, visit the County’s Online Volunteer Connection to search from among hundreds of opportunities for one that suits your interests and availability.

Volunteer Arlington also offers resources to strengthen local volunteer programs. If you are a community organization that depends on volunteers and are looking for new ideas to build your organization’s volunteer capacity, mark your calendar for Engaging for Impact 2014: Best Practices for Volunteer Management Professionals. At this day-long training on July 30, attendees will learn the latest trends, issues, and strategies for creating a high-impact volunteer engagement program from leaders in the field. Learn more at www.nvava.org.

Volunteer Arlington Day, Tuesday, April 22 is another great opportunity to jump-start your involvement. Coordinated by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s Community Action Committee, Volunteer Arlington Day is a great way for businesses to participate in a hands-on project, and for nonprofits to benefit from the help of enthusiastic volunteers. Contact events@arlingtonchamber.org​ for more details and to register your project or volunteer group.

Also all volunteers are also invited to join the County’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on Tuesday, June 3. The event serves as a community thank you to our volunteers and provides an opportunity for attendees to mix, mingle and celebrate their service. Stay tuned for more details at www.arlingtonva.us/volunteer.

Volunteer Arlington, a program of Arlington County’s Department of Human Services, connects volunteers and organizations to meet community needs by promoting volunteerism, mobilizing volunteers, and building volunteer capacity.

Sunday, May 18, (12-5 p.m.) the Ballston Business Improvement District will host its 27th annual Taste of Arlington presented by Dittmar and benefitting the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). This one day event draws an average of 20,000 people each year who live in the greater Washington, D.C. area. The exciting and highly anticipated annual festival transforms Wilson Boulevard and neighboring streets into a family-friendly street festival with dining, music and entertainment for all ages. It’s a great opportunity for businesses to gain exposure to tens of thousands of consumers. For sponsorship information, click here.


This annual festival features the cuisine of more than 50 participating restaurants, an expanded Beer and Wine Garden, a 5k race benefitting Girls on the Run, World Pup tournament, live bands, rock climbing wall, and the FRESHFARM Markets Build-A-Bug pavilion. Make it a family-fun day with the Washington Capitals and Wizards games and face-painting. The event is also pet-friendly with the Ballston BarkPark dog area. See the event map for locations of all of the festivities.

Proceeds from Taste of Arlington will benefit The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), a community-based non-profit that provides supplemental groceries to Arlingtonians in need. With the help of our community, AFAC serves approximately 1,600 families each week, including elders, children, the unemployed and the under-employed. In 2013, the AFAC gleaned non-perishable food items from Taste of Arlington and $7,500 was contributed. A portion of each ticket sold this year will once again contribute to AFAC. Visit www.afac.org for more information.

Admission is free, but food tickets are required to “taste” or sample any of the participating restaurant’s dishes. Each taste or drink is 1 ticket. Purchase a book of tickets for $30 online at www.tasteofarlington.com before May 1st , or at Arlington Harris Teeter locations starting the week of April 23 at a discount. After May 1st the price will increase by $5/ticket book.

The location of the festival is held every year on Wilson Boulevard in front of Ballston Common Mall, spanning several blocks stretching on Wilson Boulevard from N. Glebe Road to N. Quincy Street and along N. Stuart Street to 9th Street. Parking is available all day at the Ballston Public Parking Garage adjacent to the Ballston Common Mall, and the event is located off the Ballston-MU Metro station (Orange line).