Town of Herndon officials are exploring ways to expand the number and quality of cultural festivals in the town.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting on Sept. 5, council members considered the option of providing funding for community cultural festivals if applications meet specific qualifications.
“Often referred to in discussions with Town Council as ‘mini-festivals,’ the desire is to add to the town’s already robust community event opportunities, with focus placed on highlighting and celebrating the town’s culturally diverse community,” according to the policy statement.
In order to be eligible to town funds, the event must be held on public property, be free and open to all, and celebrate and reflect the cultural diverse of the Herndon community.
Funding requests are limited to $5,000 per event per fiscal year.
At the meeting, council members honed in on process improvements for the disbursement and approval process. Others struggled to reconcile how involved the town should be in cultural programming.
Council member Pradip Dhakal said that the town should consider being an active organizer, not just a passive donor for cultural events.
“Let’s own this a little bit,” Dhakal said.
Dhakal also said that some applicants may not have ironed out details of proposed events, especially if the town allows applications one year before the event takes place.
“A lot of organizations who are planning to host certain events may want to apply and at least get the funds approved so that we don’t run out of the funds,” Dhakal said.
Council member Keven LeBlanc also encouraged staff to hone in on the semantics of proposed requirements — including what qualifies as a public event and public property and what defines a cultural activity.
“Is a Herndon grad party culture?” said LeBlanc, adding Juneteeth events as another ambiguous example.
Others like council member Cesar del Aguila noted that the town should consider restructuring some events like Friday Night Live! and the weekly farmers market in downtown Herndon.
Mayor Sheila Olem also noted that pooling volunteers is challenging for festivals. Town manager Bill Ashton II emphasized that seeking overtime hours from staff or the police department is often challenging, especially if additional security is needed.
“We’re going to have a really hard conversation about this,” Ashton II said.
The funding mechanism is intended for to support events that happen in downtown, encourage nonprofits to host more cultural festivals and encourage events that celebrate the community’s cultural diversity.
The concept was first introduced as a council initiative in 2022. The fiscal year 2024 budget includes $70,000 in funds for cultural festivals.
Local police are searching for a man who reportedly threatened to kidnap a woman’s child if she did not give up her belongings in Reston.
The man approached the woman near the 11900 block of Barrell Cooper Court in Reston and attempted to snatch her backpack. The suspect threatened to take her child if she did not give up the backpack, police said.
The Fairfax County Police Department generated a composite sketch of the suspect, who was described as Hispanic, between 20 to 25 years of age, around 5’6’’, and with a thin build.
FCPD also released information about a second incident in Reston that they believe is linked.
In that incident on Aug. 9, two women were talked on a trail near the 12000 block of Greywing Square when two men approached them. The fiirst man pepper sprayed the women, stole their purses and ran. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, roughly 19 years old, with dark hair and facial hair on his chin.
A second composite sketch was released on Saturday (Sept. 9), which police believe is linked to the July incident. The second man was described as short, Hispanic and roughly 16 years of age. A composite sketch was not available for the second suspect.
“Detectives believe the composite sketches are the same suspect,” FCPD wrote in a statement.
Here’s how to contact FCPD to provide information.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have information about these incidents to call the Reston Police Station at 703-478-0904 and ask to speak with a detective. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web –Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
Hundreds of County Drivers Mistakenly Receive Tickets — Roughly 2,8000 people were wrongfully received speed camera tickets. The issue stems from flashing lights that were not working properly near Irving Middle School and London Towne Elementary School in July. [WTOP]
Alcorn Releaseds Mark-up Ahead of Vote on Comprehensive Plan — Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn has released a mark-up on the pending update to Reston’s comprehensive plan. A public hearing before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is slated for Tuesday. [Fairfax County Government]
Man Arrested After Argument Leads to Stabbing in City of Fairfax — “A 26-year-old man is facing charges after City of Fairfax police said he stabbed an acquaintance multiple times Thursday, Sept. 7. Officers said they responded to a CVS at 10090 Fairfax Boulevard for reports of a stabbing. An investigation revealed that the victim had been stabbed by an acquaintance after an argument. [WJLA]
Lorton Police Station, Animal Shelter to Open This Fall — “A Lorton police station and Fairfax County’s second animal shelter, both under construction since 2021, are expected to open this fall.” [WTOP]
FCPD Invites Young People to Join Public Safety Cadet Program — “The Fairfax County Police Department is putting out a call for young people aged 14-20 to join its public safety cadet program. Police told 7News the program teaches young people about law enforcement and the law itself. Young people spend time in a classroom learning, but also go out and do things like police ride-alongs, training, fundraising and community events.” [WJLA]
Young Fox Outfoxes Cat in Tudor Hall Neighborhood — “Early on Thursday morning, a young fox outfoxed Popeye, the feral cat living in the Tudor Hall neighborhood located just north of the Fairfax City border. The family of a Patch reporter has been leaving water, a bowl of food, and treats for Popeye every night for the last several years.” [Fairfax City Patch]
It’s Monday — There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am and after 2pm today, with patchy fog in the morning. Expect partly sunny conditions and a high near 85°F. Tonight, patchy fog may develop after 2am, and it will be partly cloudy with a low of around 67°F. [Weather.gov]
The Fairfax County Police Department’s drone unit has taken on new responsibilities and added a full-time drone program manager.
The drone unit now conducts more detailed work with the FCPD’s helicopter program, according to an FCPD news release. Among other tasks, the drone unit complements the helicopter program in crime scene and crash scene investigations, FCPD Second Lieutenant Brad Woehrlen wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
“Longer sustained operations illustrate how the drone program compliments the helicopter; the helicopter will go up initially and be able to more immediately provide input to the officers on the ground, and the drone team will take over to provide situational awareness to the officers and command,” Woehrlen wrote.
FCPD started using drones, also called unmanned aircraft systems, in 2019. Drones have since been involved with tasks including crime scene documentation, crash scene reconstruction and felonious suspect searches, per a public log of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) missions. The full list of permitted use cases for drones is outlined in a program manual.
“In a much longer term, as staffing improves, the vision will include a full-time team that is on the street with the equipment able to respond to calls as they come out,” Woehrlen wrote.
The drone program manager, the unit’s newest addition, trains pilots, works on airspace waivers and updates equipment and software, among other responsibilities.
“Because drones are classified as aircraft by the (Federal Aviation Administration) there is a significant amount of management required, which is part of the reason a full-time position was created,” Woehrlen wrote.
The police department’s use of drones is governed in part by the program manual. Among other policies, drones cannot fly beyond the visual line of sight of their operators and operators must “take all reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images of individuals and areas uninvolved with the mission,” per the manual.
“Reasonable precautions” can include only using the drone’s live transmission rather than recording footage during an operation, according to the manual Drones also cannot be used as weapons.
Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have raised concerns about the privacy implications of drone use by police departments.
Protecting community members’ privacy is “an utmost priority,” Woehrlen wrote. He cited the program manual, directives for the FCPD’s helicopter unit and an additional privacy training that he said drone pilots are required to pass before operating missions or investigations.
“We also currently use software that logs our flight tracking, including the camera angle, which provides oversight of pilot activity and a record for any allegations of inappropriate usage,” Woehrlen wrote.
Nearby, Arlington County public safety agencies are working to develop and put in place a UAS program, police spokeswoman Ashley Savage wrote in an email to FFXnow.
“The program is not yet operational and additional information will be shared with the public as we get closer to the program’s launch,” she wrote.
In Loudoun County, the sheriff’s department also uses drones, according to a police spokesperson.
The FAA issued rules for drone operators in 2016. According to a March 2020 report from the now-defunct Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College, more than 1,500 U.S. state and local public safety agencies have obtained drones.
The Town of Herndon is considering reductions in its parks and recreation fees in order to reduce financial barriers and encourage underserved youth and families to use the town’s facilities.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting on Sept. 5, the council discussed the proposal. If approved, the town would identify specific single and multi=family residents that could benefit from a reduced admission fee for the Herndon Community Center, which includes an indoor pool, gym, fitness room and racquetball courts.
Qualification would be determined by using several data sets that identify equity emphasis areas and historically disadvantaged communities. The town may also filter for areas below the median income, which is currently $117,741.
Town residents within these areas would receive discounts if they provide proof of address. Residents who provide proof of residency and documentation of need would also receive discounts. Non-residents living within the Herndon High School pyramid will also receive discounted non-resident rates with required documentation.
The town also wants to hire more staff — preferably bilingual staff — during peak hours.
“The department is seeking to hire (preferably bi-lingual) staff to maintain a presence within the center, develop a rapport with those using the facility, educate patrons on the availability and proper use of amenities, discourage unwelcome outside influences, and enforce expectations of behavior,” the Sept. 5 staff memo states.
Adults would pay $4 instead of $7 for daily passes and $40 instead of $63 for 10 visit passes. A 25 visit pass costs $90 instead of $140.
The idea came about after staff and the town manager met with Cornerstones, a local nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency, to create a reasonable and equitable fee schedule.
As part of the proposal, the town would also increase the hourly light fee from $4 to $5 per hour for the lit fields at Bready Park.
Two hemp businesses and a private citizen are challenging a Virginia law that instituted tougher limits on hemp products in Virginia in federal court, saying the new rules cause financial harm to hemp businesses and interfere in interstate commerce.
The law, which went into effect July 1, set the maximum amount of THC in hemp products at 0.3% concentration and 2 milligrams per package. This cutoff has made hundreds of products placed on shelves before July illegal and subject to fines if sold.
The lawsuit by hemp product retailer Northern Virginia Hemp and Agriculture, hemp customer Rose Lane and North Carolina-based hemp producer and distributor Franny’s Operations argues that if not halted, the law “will cause millions of dollars of irreparable harm” and “cause the Banned Products to be unavailable in the Commonwealth, exacerbating potential health problems to thousands of Virginians.”
The plaintiffs argue that the state’s definition of legal hemp conflicts with the federal definition — cannabis with less than 0.3% of specifically delta-9 THC content. Virginia’s law, in contrast, defines legal hemp products as those with less than 0.3% total THC content, which includes not just the most common delta-9, but also the milder delta-8 strain and all other natural and synthetic isomers combined.
The complaint says this puts state law in direct conflict with federal law, running afoul of the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.
Northern Virginia Hemp and Agriculture said the new law has caused the loss of 90% of its business because nearly all of the products it manufactured and sold prior to July 1 are now banned.
The sale of hemp products “has turned into people’s livelihoods,” said Travis Lane, owner of the business. “This [lawsuit] is just worth a try, you know, like it’s a 50-50 shot for us to win or lose.”
Lane said if the law is not halted, he will be forced to shut his doors before the end of the year. “I feel like it should definitely be regulated, but not regulated to the point where you’re shutting doors of good businesses,” he said.
Jason Amatucci, president of the Virginia Hemp Coalition, which helped find plaintiffs and fundraise for the suit, said Virginia’s stricter limits were supported and lobbied for by medical marijuana companies that saw the hemp industry as a competitive threat. He called it “a double standard” that marijuana is still illegal at the federal level while its use has been legalized in Virginia, but some federally legal hemp products are now banned in the state.
Lawmakers, however, have shown rising concern about the growth of a largely unregulated market in Virginia and associated sharp increases in the hospitalization of minors who have ingested hemp-derived products. Besides the THC limits they imposed, the new law includes packaging security and labeling requirements and imposes escalating fines for non-compliance.
Chloe Smith, a spokesperson for Attorney General Jason Miyares, declined to comment on the pending litigation but reiterated that Miyares “is dedicated to combating the rise of accidental THC poisonings in children, and is concerned about the rise of dangerous, counterfeit THC-infused products marketed towards our vulnerable youth.”
Amatucci, however, said he doesn’t think the law sufficiently targets child safety or counterfeit synthetic products.
“We need education for these things, and we also need smart laws that target exactly what we want to target, but to take a straight sword and cut the industry down like they did was irresponsible,” said Amatucci. “Whether we win the lawsuit or [are] coming back next session, we’re going to have to fix this.”
Complicating Virginia’s law is a carveout for hemp-based CBD products, written after complaints by caregivers of epileptic children who use CBD oil as an anti-seizure treatment, that sets a minimum 25:1 ratio of CBD to THC for products with more than 2 milligrams of THC.
Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, has pointed out that manufacturers will still be able to sell large amounts of THC provided they also include 25 times that amount of CBD. Visitors to NoVa Hemp’s website are greeted with a popup that reads, “All products in Virginia now come with an additional 25:1 ratio of CBD isolate added to the packaging. You will not be disappointed!”
“It’s just like more steps that we have to put into something that we don’t think needs to really happen,” said Lane. “It’s ridiculous.”
The plaintiffs are also challenging a provision of the law prohibiting hemp processors from selling industrial hemp to anyone inside or outside state lines if the seller has reason to believe it will be used in a substance that violates the state’s 0.3% THC limits.
On the federal level, marijuana remains illegal, but the 2018 farm bill removed hemp from a Schedule I controlled substances classification, a category that includes heroin. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services suggested the Drug Enforcement Agency change marijuana’s classification to a Schedule III drug.
The case will be heard on Sept. 29 by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema in Alexandria.
The preceding article was reported and first published by the Virginia Mercury
The demolition of several dilapidated residential structures and outbuildings at Lake Fairfax Park is set to begin in mid-September.
The structures are part of property the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) purchased in 2014 along Hunter Mill Road. Ben Boxer, a spokesperson for FCPA, told FFXnow that the structures will be removed as a result of numerous complaints from the community.
The work will wrap up later this fall. During the demolition period, residents should expect construction traffic when entering and exiting the park via Hunter Mill Road. Construction hours will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
For many years, the structures have remained vacant. Reports of trespassing and vandalism have also surfaced.
“As part of the master planning process, the buildings and accessory structures were analyzed and deemed not to have any historical or cultural significance and were cleared for removal,” Boxer wrote in a statement.
Currently, there are no immediate plans for the site. The Lake Fairfax Master Plan describes the site as a multi-purpose area, Boxer said.
“Currently there is no funding identified to proceed with additional development activities at this time,” he said.
Police Arrest Suspect Who Crashed Car into Home — “Officers responded to the 9300 block of Cumbria Valley Drive in Lorton for a man entering vehicles. Officers parked their cruisers and approached the area on foot. Officers found Nico Anthony Doublet inside a 2020 BMW X3. Doublet ignored the officers’ commands, backed the car out of the driveway and sped off at a high rate of speed. No FCPD officers were in their vehicles when they contacted him and did not pursue him.” [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fairfax County Public Schools Maintain Accreditation Status — “All 195 Fairfax County public schools are accredited, two with conditions, for accountability year 2023-24, according to data released by the Virginia Department of Education. Ninety-nine percent, or 193 out of 195 schools, attained “accredited” status and two schools attained ‘accredited with conditions’ status. No Fairfax County public school received a status of ‘accreditation denied.’” [FCPS]
Fall Book Sale Returns to Reston Regional Library — “The Friends of the Reston Regional Library will host their Big Fall Sale this September 20 through 24. One of our two largest sales of the year, this sale will feature more than 30,000 books in very gently used condition, from over 20 categories.” [Friends of the Reston Regional Library]
Grand Opening Set for North Hill Park in Alexandria — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for North Hill Park on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 9 a.m.” [Fairfax County Government]
Dog Daze Returns to Lake Fairfax Park This Weekend —Dogs get a chance for a final swim in the water tomorrow (Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the water min. The cost is $10 per dog. [Fairfax County Government]
Batting Cages Reopen at Braddock Park — “The batting cages, which were closed in 2022, have reopened with new pitching machines, netting and a suite of new bats and balls. The batting cages will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only through Oct. 29.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Friday — Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2pm, with areas of fog clearing by 8am. Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 92 and light south winds. Rainfall may be less than a tenth of an inch, but possibly higher in thunderstorms. On Friday night, anticipate a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 70. Winds will calm after midnight, and rainfall may reach between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts in thunderstorms. [Weather.gov]
A 29-year-old Fairfax resident has opened his own optometry office in Herndon’s Fox Mill Shopping Center.
Beyond Eyecare opened last month at 2539 John Milton Drive. Sami Khaldieh, who has lived in Fairfax sine 1996 and attended local schools like Franklin Middle School and Oakton High School. He received his Doctorate of Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
He worked for about a year and a half within two different companies before deciding to pursue his dream of opening a practice in his community, a spokesperson for the company told FFXnow.
Khaldieh says that his path to optometry was inevitable as a dry eye and high myopia patient. In his first eye exam, they found his prescription was -4.00. He had seen ten eye care practices in the area. His prescription has since grew to -14.00, and he suffers a subset of Dry Eye Syndrome.
That experience led him to pursue the career.
“My goal is to never let what happened to me happen to anyone else again. My ultimate passion is to make sure my community is receiving the consistent top-tier care that they deserve; that same care I wasn’t able to receive. At Beyond Eyecare, our mission is to go above and beyond the standard of care,” Khaldieh said.
The practice is open on Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After two days of excessive heat, rain is officially on the horizon.
Fairfax County and other neighboring jurisdictions are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.
The National Weather Service issued the watch around 1:15 p.m. It is in effect until 9 p.m. and includes much of eastern Pennsylvania and portions of New York State.
Forecasters say that scattered strong storms are likely later today in the immediate D.C. area.
“Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat. Isolated instances of considerable wind damage from severe thunderstorms are possible. Isolated instances of large hail are possible as well,” the National Weather Service said.
The second annual Reggae on the Lake festival returns to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday (Sept. 9).
The festival brings together reggae bands from around the country. It is headlined by Third World, a Grammy-nominated, Jamaica-based band that is currently completing its 50th anniversary world tour.
It’s the brainchild of Ramon Pardo, a Reston-based realtor who brought the idea to Reston after he contracted a well-known reggae band for his wedding last year in Jamaica.
His team at Terra Properties is hoping to raise $25,000 for research on Parkinson’s disease. The company’s nonprofit arm, Terra Gives Back, has partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“The event operates under a philanthropic model, channeling all profits to a charity each year, with this year’s proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. This alignment of entertainment and altruism elevates the festival from a mere celebration to an impactful community initiative,” Pardo said.
Entry is free — part of an effort to maintain the financial accessible of the festival, he said.
“With free general admission, the event is open to everyone, ensuring a diverse and inclusive crowd. VIP options offer an enhanced experience for those who choose it, but the essential joys of the festival are available to all,” he said.
At the event, raffle tickets for an all-expenses paid trip for a resort in Negril, Jamaica will be on sale for $50. All proceeds will go to the foundation.
The festival includes games, face painting, balloon art, crafts vendors, arts, food and live music. VIP tickets — which are sponsored by Lake Anne Coffee House & Wine Bar — will be available to go backstage and meet the bands in person.
Terry Baranski).
Former Israeli Combat Ven to Bring Second Thesis Gym to Vienna — Thesis gym operator Ori Perlman has inked a deal for a second fitness center in Vienna, buoyed by strong demand at the downtown D.C. location the former Israeli combat specialist-turned-fitness-specialist opened more than a year ago. [Washington Business Journal]
Adult Man Found with Life-threatening Injuries in Fairfax County — “Authorities are investigating an adult man found with life-threatening injuries in Fairfax County. There is a police presence at Stringfellow Rd. under Interstate 66 in Greenbriar. Authorities say Stringfellow Rd. will remain closed during this investigation. Exits ramps from Eastbound and Westbound Interstate 66 onto Stringfellow Rd. are closed.” [FOX 5]
Reston Farm Garden Market Kicks Off Fall Fest — “Reston Farm Garden Market is excited to announce our annual Fall Fest, which runs from September 23rd to October 29th, including a special session on October 9th for Columbus Day. Join us on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or on-site.” [Reston Farm Garden Market]
Auto Century Expands with Fairfax, Herndon Locations — “Celebrating nearly two decades of automotive service excellence, Auto Century is excited to unveil two new service centers in Fairfax and Herndon, Virginia.” [Digital Journal]
It’s Thursday — There is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with mostly sunny conditions and a high of 96°F. Light south wind will increase to 5-10 mph in the morning. Thursday night, a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, turning mostly cloudy, with a low of 71°F. Southwest wind of 5-8 mph will become light and variable after midnight. [Weather.gov]
Plans for Herndon’s first beer garden — Herndon Biergarten — are still brewing, although at a slower place than previously anticipated.
In November 2021, the Town of Herndon’s Historic District Review Board (HDRB) reviewed the company’s plan to demolish a two-story building at 771 Center Street to make way for the business.
According to Town of Herndon spokeswoman Anne Curtis, the town is currently awaiting the resubmission of the plan by the applicant. The site plan is currently in the town’s review process.
Curtis said that the resubmission was sought as a “standard part of a site plan application” in October.
“The various reviewers provided several comments regarding design elements that did not meet applicable standards. The applicant’s engineer and design team is working to revise the application at their discretion for resubmission and re-review,” Curtis wrote in a statement.
The owner of Herndon Biergarten indicated that an update would likely be available in a few weeks.
The plan reviewed by the HDRB in November included an open kitchen area, barn doors opening to the rooftop bar area and green house room, and two dining areas. At the time, the application was in its early staged.
The Herndon Biergarten is expected to host daily activities, games, events and beer festival. The Tysons location closed in 2018 due to property redevelopment.
Reston Now, a sister site of FFXnow, previously reported that the Herndon location was expected to open in the spring of 2021.
Major improvements on Van Buren Street are officially complete.
The Town of Herndon is set to celebrate the completion of the project at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday (Sept. 7) at Halley Smith Park.
The project kicked off in the spring of 2022. It cost $12.4 million, including $4.7 million for improvements to the Herndon Parkway intersection. Roughly $8 million was funded through federal, regional and local grants.
“The projects provide significant enhancement to these primary roads in the town, particularly necessary due to their proximity to the Herndon stop on Metrorail’s Silver Line,” according to the Town of Herndon.
The most significant improvements — two left turn lanes on west bound Herndon Parkway and a right-turn lane to eastbound Herndon Parkway — took place at Herndon Parkway’s intersection with Van Buren Street. a right-turn lane was also built on northbound Van Buren Street.
Upgrades include widening lanes to 15 feet to accommodate bike lanes, the addition of five-foot sidewalks with streetlights, improved pedestrian crosswalks with ADA signals, upgraded storm water management facilities and relocated overhead utility lines.
At Alabama Drive, crosswalks and traffic signals were also added, along with a turn lane for northbound Van Buren Street at Herndon Parkway.
The county is activating its heat plan for the second day in a row this week.
With a Heat Advisory in effect from noon to 7 p.m. today (Wednesday), the heat plan intended to offer cooling centers during normal operating hours. The centers will also provide supplies like bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and body wipes.
Heat index values of up to 107 degrees are expected.
Three emergency shelters for single adults will activate day and night overflow shelter capacity.
Here’s more from the National Weather Service:
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 911.
