April 21, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Last summer the murder of George Floyd sparked outrage and numerous protests and rallies here in Hunter Mill District, as well as countywide and nationally (Including a few in which I participated; photo from last summer.) And so it was with great relief that there was accountability and justice on an individual level with yesterday's guilty verdicts. His death, as well as Breonna Taylor's and others, highlighted the need for systemic reforms to address racial inequity and Fairfax County has begun that long journey. George Floyd should still be alive, but his death can at least be the catalyst for reforms, policies and thoughtful discussion to ensure that all our residents, no matter race, religion or sexual orientation, are treated fairly and equally by our government. A joint statement from the county's Police Department and Chairman Jeff McKay can be found below.
 
Moving From Phase 1 to Phase 2
The county's Phase 1 vaccine distribution waitlist is now at zero, which is great news! Once those vaccines have been distributed, more appointments will become available for the Phase 2 vaccine distribution now underway. With the high demand, it may take a week or so to find available appointments, but everyone 16 and older can now directly schedule a vaccine through VaccineFinder.org. You may have also seen the news that a Community Vaccination Center (a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic) opened this week at the former Lord & Taylor store in Tysons. This site is part of a larger initiative to increase the number of high-throughput locations administering the vaccine across Virginia. The site is convenient to the Silver Line and several bus routes and will first handle Phase 1 vaccinations before being included on VaccineFinder for Phase 2 vaccinations. Learn more.
 
Bike and Pedestrian Safety
As your supervisor, as well as Chair of the Board of Supervisor's Transportation Committee, one of my priorities is to make our streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Last month I was happy to announce in this newsletter that the county is partnering with Smart City Works and Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) on the Pitch and Pilot: Fairfax County Innovation Challenge, a competition where teams and companies propose innovative solutions to address bicycle and pedestrian safety. This competition dovetails with Fairfax County’s Active Transportation Program that aims to improve quality of life and reduce reliance on cars through development of a connected multi-modal transportation system with sidewalks, trails and on-road bicycle routes. I spoke to Fox 5 DC about the competition in an interview that aired this morning and you can watch here. Learn more.
 
A reminder that if you have any questions or comments about the topics above or other issues, please contact my office at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov
 
Respectfully,
Walter
Today's COVID-19 Updates (April 21)
Contact Information
If you have questions about COVID-19, you can contact the Fairfax County Health Department:
  • Call 703-267-3511 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends)
  • Email ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (monitored 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays)

Vaccine Updates

Testing

Current Number of Cases in the Fairfax Health District
  • Daily reported case information for the Fairfax Health District: here and scroll down to get to ZIP Code data.
  • Daily reported case information throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia: here and ZIP Code data look for Data Download bar.

COVID-19 Case Information Chart (as of publication on April 21)
Earth Month 2021
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Celebrate Earth Month and Earth Day with the Fairfax County Park Authority:
  • City Nature Challenge: The Park Authority is taking part in this year’s international City Nature Challenge. FCPA will be part of a Washington Metro team in the global collaboration built around identifying things in nature. The Challenge begins on April 30 and runs through May 3. Residents can take participate in a neighborhood, a backyard or a park. Learn more
  • Celebrate the Planet with Earth Day Events through the Park Authority: The Park Authority is celebrating Earth Day on April 20-22, with the theme is “Together, We can Restore Our Earth.” Learn more.

Environmental Excellence Awards Call for Nominations Now Open
Each year, the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and county employees who:
  •  Advance or support the county's environmental goals and policy statements
  •  Dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities
  •  Demonstrate leadership as a role model for others
The 2021 Environmental Excellence Award nomination period is now open until June 1. Learn more.

For Students: Apply to Serve as Environmental Council Student Member
The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for its student member term running from July 2021 through June 2022. EQAC is comprised of one representative from each of nine magisterial districts, four at‑large members, and one student representative. Learn more.

A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
Many species of plants and animals call Fairfax County home. A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife helps readers identify common species found in typical neighborhoods, schoolyards, parks and other areas. Learn more.

Be informed
The county's Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is publishing a series that explores some of the most promising solutions to our most pressing environmental issues. The articles are below and you can also follow on Twitter and Facebook 
Early Voting Begins For June 8 Primary
Voting Begins For June 8 Democratic Primary
Early voting begins this Friday, April 23 for the June 8 Democratic primary in Virginia.
On this first day for early voting, voters can cast their ballot at the Fairfax County Government Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Starting Saturday, April 24, three locations will be open for early voting:

These three early voting sites will be open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until June 1 when longer hours will be offered. These same locations also will be open on Saturday, April 24, May 29 and June 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This is the first time that Fairfax County is making multiple locations available at the very start of early voting.

Any registered Fairfax County voter can vote early, and can cast their ballot at any early voting site. Learn more.
Board of Supervisors Budget Update
Budget Markup Gets Underway
This Friday, April 23 at 3 p.m., the Board of Supervisors' Budget Policy Committee will meet to discuss the markup (or changes) to the county executive's proposed FY 2022 Budget. Information on watching the meeting is here. Next Tuesday, April 27 is a full meeting of the Board of Supervisors to formally markup (make changes) to the proposed budget, as well as vote on Third Quarter Review of the current FY 2021 Budget. The meeting agenda and how to watch can be found here.

Joint Statement: FCPD and Chairman McKay
Transportation and Land Use
Town of Vienna Code Create Lunch and Learn Webinar, April 23 at Noon
The Town of Vienna is an unincorporated town located within Fairfax County (and Hunter Mill District). Learn about what that means when it comes to zoning and development within the town's limits. Friday's webinar begins at noon and will also include information on how the county's recently updated zoning code affects Vienna's code update. Learn more.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Meeting, April 26, 7 to 9 p.m.
To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, April 26, 7 to 9 p.m. The meeting will be hosted on the Webex platform. Details and the agenda will be found here. 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 listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code:129 309 3933. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. (Please note that each meeting has a unique link and call-in information). You will also be able to watch a live stream of the meeting on YouTube Live

Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) Meeting April 28
The next TAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, 8 to 10 a.m. The meeting will be 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 listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 129 652 8477. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. Watch recent TAC meetings here. The Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) meets quarterly on community transportation issues. For additional information or to be added to the HMD TAC email list contact:Shyamali.Hauth@fairfaxcounty.gov.
 
Wiehle Avenue Pedestrian Crossing Study Group Meeting, April 29, 7 p.m.
Wiehle Pedestrian Crossing Study Group virtual meeting is Thursday, April 29, 7 to 9 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 Access Code: 173 385 8066. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. To submit feedback, questions or comments, email WiehleCrossingStudyGroup@fairfaxcounty.gov.
FCPS Anti-Bias Town Hall
 Hunter Mill Anti-Bias Curriculum Virtual Town Hall on Sunday, April 25, 3 to 5 p.m.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Hunter Mill District School Board representative Melanie Meren is hosting a town hall on Sunday, April 25, 3 to 5 p.m. Parents, students, and community members are invited to share their input and discuss suggestions for how to update particular Virginia standards of learning to be anti-biased and antiracist.
Feedback will be collected to inform the work of the School Board, FCPS, and delivered to the Virginia Department of Education. Register and see more details here.
3 Things to Know Today
Order Your Tour de Hunter Mill T-shirt and Support a Vienna Bike Event
Vienna-based French Press Printing has designed a 2021 Tour de Hunter Mill T-shirt with 20 percent of each T-shirt purchased going to help fund a Town of Vienna biking event this fall. Learn more.

Planning Springtime Home Improvements?
Land Development Services is your source for building permits, including for new and replacement gas appliances/HVAC equipment, residential additions, sump pumps, interior alterations and more. Learn more about building permits and the county’s land development process.

2021 Farmers Markets Schedule
The Fairfax County Park Authority's Farmers Markets are back for the season. Some local markets are already underway, including in Herndon. The Reston Farmers Market begins May 1. Learn more.
Stay Informed and In Touch
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711