April 20, 2022

Neighbors,

Thousands of volunteers in Hunter Mill District and our county spend countless hours every year providing valuable services that greatly enhance the lives of our residents. Tonight, two special volunteers will be honored by the Board of Supervisors and Volunteer Fairfax for being chosen as the 2022 Hunter Mill District Community Champions – the dynamic duo of Gloria Runyon and Sylvia Taylor (pictured left to right).

Gloria Runyon is a lifelong Vienna resident and a descendant of multiple families involved in the growth of the town of Vienna since the 1800s. She was formerly principal of the Lower School of the Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., and retired as director of diversity and inclusion of the entire school after 40 years of service. She is also a board member of Historic Vienna, Inc.

Sylvia Taylor is a long-time resident of the town of Vienna, a retired general music teacher of Louise Archer Elementary School, and a board member of Historic Vienna, Inc. She has written Louise Archer, the Educator and the School, which tells the history of Louise Reeves Archer, an outstanding African American principal and educational leader from 1922-1948 and Louise Archer School (built 1939), formerly named Vienna Colored School. It was renamed in honor of Mrs. Archer after her death in 1948.

Together, they have created riding and walking tours that highlight the history of African Americans in the Town of Vienna. The African American Historical Tour of Vienna was initially created in 2017 in celebration of the First Baptist Church of Vienna's 150th Anniversary. More recently, the tours were featured during the Town of Vienna's inaugural 2021 Liberty Amendments Month celebration. These tours are packed with information about 22 historical sites in the town of Vienna spanning the years from 1867 to 2006. I had the opportunity to take a tour with my staff last summer and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Through their work Gloria and Sylvia demonstrate not only the importance of history, but the need to steward it as well. Thank you and congratulations to Gloria and Sylvia!

Learn more about Volunteer Fairfax and volunteer opportunities for residents of all ages, families and groups.

Respectfully,

Walter

Register for the Fifth Annual Scam Jam taking place this Friday, April 22, 9 to 11:30 a.m. AARP Virginia and Fairfax County’s Silver Shield Task Force are working together to empower our residents to spot and avoid scams, and to provide support and guidance to victims and their families when fraud happens. The theme for this year's event is Personal Financial Fraud. You will be provided with reliable, up-to-date insights and be connected to information and resources so you can better protect yourself and loved ones. Learn more about this virtual event.

The Board of Supervisors' Budget Policy Committee is scheduled to meet this Friday, April 22 at 3 p.m. to discuss budget pre-markup. Markup is the process for the Board's changes to the county executive's proposed FY 2023 Budget. More information, including how to watch the meeting is here. A full meeting of the Board to discuss markup is Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. More information on that meeting is here.

VDOT Route 7 Corridor Improvements Updates

Get Route 7 Corridor project progress and lane closure information at connectroute7.org and click on News & Updates. Please note that work by Washington Gas is ongoing along the corridor. Click here for more information on the Washington Gas work. If you have any questions or concerns about the Route 7 project, contact VDOT at connectroute7@vdot.virginia.gov or call 833-777-7411.

Metro Riders’ Advisory Council (RAC) Seeking New Members; Apply by April 24

Metro’s Board of Directors is seeking candidates to serve on the RAC and provide input on service, fares, proposed changes and other initiatives. RAC advises the Board on Metro service and policies and includes a mix of riders that may use Metrorail, Metrobus or MetroAccess from across the region. Members must live within the Metro service area. Learn more.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Update

County staff review of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study is underway. To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the Task Force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The archive of meeting details and agendas is here. The video archive of all past task force meetings can be found on my YouTube page. If you have questions or would like to provide input, please email restonplantaskforce@fairfaxcounty.gov

Reston Planning & Zoning Virtual Meeting, Monday, May 16, 7:30 p.m. 

The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use code: 2341 731 4210. For information, contact Lisa Connors, 703-478-0283.

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Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting, Tuesday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.

The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use code: 2339 372 3062. For information, contact Paul Davis, 703-478-0283.

Arbor Day Celebration April 29

Vienna's Arbor Day celebration takes place Friday, April 29, 5 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Vienna parks and recreation staff will team up with local scouts to plant a tree in conjunction with the national observance, which celebrates the planting, upkeep and preservation of trees.

Drug Take Back Day April 30

Get rid of old, expired medications in your home safely by dropping them off at the Vienna Police Department on National Drug Take-Back Day on April 30. Residents can stop by 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and drop the medications in the collection box inside the Vienna Police Department temporary facility located at 301 Center St. South (formerly Faith Baptist Church).

Reston District CAC Meeting is April 27 at 7 p.m.

The Police Department's Reston Community Advisory Committee is in-person on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 pm. The meeting will take place in the community room at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive in Reston. Presentation will include updates on public safety in the community and a presentation by the Police Department's Gang Investigations Unit. For more information contact MPO Katy Defoe

Fairfax County Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 30

Residents are encouraged to participate in Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can dispose of your unused or expired medications at several locations throughout the county, including a drive through event at Reston Hospital. Learn more.

Grand Opening Ceremony for New Reston Fire and Rescue Station 25

We celebrated the grand opening of Reston's new Fire and Rescue Station 25 this past Saturday, April 16. There was a great turnout from the community at the station located at 1820 Wiehle Ave. And it was an honor to participate in the Hose Uncoupling - a fire service tradition similar to a ribbon cutting ceremony. Thank you Chief Butler and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for all you do for our community!

International Religious Freedom Discussion April 23 at Patrick Henry Library

The public is invited to a discussion with retired U.S. Ambassador Cynthia Akuetteh on the topic of promoting international religious freedom on Saturday, April 23 at the Patrick Henry Library in Vienna. Doors open at 3 p.m.; program begins at 3:30 p.m. The library is located at 101 Maple Avenue East in Vienna. The free event is co-sponsored by American Association of University Women--Vienna Area Branch, and Patrick Henry Library. Learn more.

Tonight, April 20 at 7 p.m.: Discussion on Youth Substance Abuse Trends

Join Fairfax County and FCPS for the first of three panel discussions on youth substance abuse trends in our community. Topics include

• Commonly Used Substances
• In-Depth Opioid Info
• How Parents Can Support Children
• Available Resources

Learn more.

Register for Tour de Hunter Mill and Hit the Road Saturday, May 14

The second annual Tour de Hunter Mill is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year, we will be starting at the Town of Vienna's Town Green with three routes that will take cyclists through scenic Hunter Mill District. Learn more.