According to the Virginia Department of Health, the number of fatal overdoses in the state caused by opioids rose for the fifth straight year. In 2017, an estimated 1,227 people died from overdoses involving prescription medications and illicit opioids (a 114% increase over 2012).

The opioid crisis is also affecting our local community. In 2016, there were more than 100 drug-related deaths in Fairfax County, 80 of which were caused by opioid overdoses - more than any other jurisdiction in the state.

Fairfax County has  created an Opioid Taskforce, which is working to develop a county-wide plan with strategies and resources related to:

• Education and Awareness
• Drug Storage, Disposal, and Monitoring
• Treatment
• Enforcement and Criminal Justice
• Data and Monitoring

• If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 9-1-1. Our Fire and Rescue personnel carry medication that can prevent death from an opioid overdose.
• Call our Fairfax Detoxification Center at 703-502-7000; available 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
  • The center includes a mobile team called Detox Diversion that is available between 3 p.m. and 1 a.m. daily. They respond to police and community requests to intervene at the scene of a potential arrest to instead refer the individual to detoxification services.
• Call our Community Services Board during business hours at 703-383-8500. Our staff can help you find appropriate treatment and recovery resources.
• Youth and adults can also come in person, without a prior appointment, to Entry & Referral Services at the CSB's Merrifield Center, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to be screened for services. Youth walk-in evaluations are offered during these times and also until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. 

In this multiyear project, there will be many areas of construction, but here's where you'll see the first signs of activity this spring:

Improvements to I-66 Outside the Beltway are scheduled to be completed by 2022. More information. 

Parks are powered by people, especially during the busy summer season. Each year the Fairfax County Park Authority hires more than 500 seasonal employees including lifeguards, camp counselors, camp directors, RecPAC staff, maintenance workers, security workers, cashiers and supervisors. Seasonal job opportunities are available at water parks, lakefront parks, RECenters, golf courses, community centers and more. Working for the Park Authority is a great way for many residents, including high school and college students, to gain valuable work experience, build a resume and start a career. Visit  fairfaxcounty.gov/hr/non-merit-summer-hires for a complete list of available positions. 

More information:

Did you know the Fairfax County Park Authority operates 11 farmers markets across the county? These markets provide residents access to locally grown foods and help support our local food producers.  Our markets are strictly  producer-only,  meaning that all of our farmers and producers may only sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch. We encourage our vendors to use local ingredients in the creation of their products as much as possible. Our farmers and producers all come from within a 125 mile radius of Fairfax County. I hope you'll stop by a farmers market near you for some ripe produce, freshly baked goods and delicious snacks!

Grass height in Fairfax County is regulated by  Chapter 119 - Grass or Lawn Area  of the Fairfax County Code. Grass may not be taller than 12 inches in height on any developed residential lots (vacant or occupied) that are one-half acre (21,780 sq ft) or less.  The Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance accepts complaints related to excessive grass height from mid-April through mid-October. For additional information please visit  fairfaxcounty.gov/code/grass-heights .

Reporting a streetlight outage is easier than ever and helps keeps pedestrians visible and safe.  Streetlights along public roadways in Fairfax County are typically maintained by Dominion Energy or the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC). The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) operates the streetlights along interstates and at major interchanges.  You may contact any of these providers directly to report outages or issues. When reporting an outage to Dominion Energy or NOVEC, you will need to have the location of the pole and the pole number . 

To report an outage you can also use Fairfax County's Streetlight Reporting Map. Here's how it works: 

1.  Enter address or intersection near the streetlight, then click search. If you are on your mobile device, you can click the "Find My Location" button to go to your phone's GPS location.

2.  Use the map to find the malfunctioning streetlight. You may need to zoom in or out to see the nearby street lights.

3.  Move your finger or mouse over the streetlight and tap/click the "Click here to report a problem with this street light" link in the pop up.

4.  Complete and submit the form to report the issue.

You will see a message confirming your report has been sent to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Streetlight staff will forward the report to the appropriate utility provider for their repair.  If you need additional information or assistance, please email the  Department of Public Works  or call  703-324-5111.

Lord Fairfax, a descendant of the namesake of Fairfax County and a member of the UK's House of Lords, will lead a charity motorcycle ride in Fairfax County this September. The ride will benefit four charities and will have multiple ride options. The longest ride will circumnavigate the approximate 5.3 million acres of the original Northern Neck  Proprietary (also known as Fairfax Land Grant). That includes all the land between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers from the Chesapeake Bay to the Fairfax Stone in West Virginia!

The Fairfax Chapter of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) will have the lead role in planning and executing the Ride. It is one of the largest HOG chapters with over 800 members. The Ride is open to all varieties of motorcycle. The group is also planning a car rally for family and friends of riders.

The Lord Fairfax Charity Ride will start from the Patriot Harley store on Fairfax Boulevard in the City of Fairfax on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at approximately 8am. Three Ride options are available: