Dear Neighbor,
These last two weeks, I've had the pleasure of participating in many different roundtables. On Friday, July 22nd, I was honored to join Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, IEA Director Marvin Figueroa, SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Senator Jeremy McPike, and Delegate Mark Keam at CrisisLink for a roundtable where we discussed Virginia’s work transitioning to the 988 Lifeline and learned how Health and Human Services can best support behavioral health and crisis services across the Commonwealth. Hope has a number, 988.
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988 Roundtable with our Federal, State, and local partners. |
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On Thursday, July 28th, I had the opportunity to join Karol Escalante, the County's Director of Immigrant Community Affairs, for Charlas Comunitarias where I shared all the details of the newly-added Global Music & Dance to the Summer Entertainment Series in the Providence District. You can watch the recording on YouTube.
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I also had the pleasure of hosting the first in our series of Older Adult Roundtables on the evening of July 28th. We had an informative and productive discussion about caregiving and the resources available for our older adults. You can watch the roundtable on Channel 16, and below you can find the resources we shared.
On Monday, August 1st, I joined Senator Mark Warner's roundtable with our Latin American community. I had the opportunity to share concerns and continue to advocate for issues critical to us such as affordable housing, transportation, immigration reform, and education. Fairfax County’s diversity means, we must never abandon our quest to ensure everyone has a voice and receives support to enjoy a healthy, happier lifestyle.
In a county as diverse as Fairfax, we must continue to ensure a voice and support for ALL community members.
The last Fam-mingle Friday event of the summer will be on Friday, August 12th from 4pm to 6pm at the Providence Community Center. Come out and join us to take a look at the many services and programs that the Providence Community Center has to offer and enjoy a yummy ice cream treat from Inside Scoop.
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You can read about the following Providence District updates:
- Health and Human Services Updates
- Board Meeting Highlights
- Back-to-School Backpack Donations
- Providence Spotlight
- Transportation and Land Use Updates
- Fairfax Area Caregiver Support Resource Page
- ArtsFairfax Exhibit at Tysons Corner
- Get to Know Your Local Government Survey
- Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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Health and Human Services Updates |
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New COVID-19 Vaccine Available for Adults: Adults now have another vaccine option to protect themselves against serious illness due to COVID-19. On July 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine. The following week, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended Novavax for those 18 years of age and older who have not received a dose of any other COVID-19 brand vaccine.
Novavax is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart. Following recommendation from the Virginia Department of Health, it is anticipated that the Fairfax County Health Department COVID-19 vaccine sites will begin offering Novavax sometime in August.
Baby Vaccine Data Now on COVID-19 Dashboard: With the addition of children 6 months - 4 years of age now eligible for vaccine, the Fairfax County Health Department had added this age group to the COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard. More than 1 million Fairfax Health District residents 6 months of age and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. And nearly 2.5 million doses have been given in the Health District since the vaccines became available.
Walk-in Service for Baby COVID-19 Vaccine: Parents who still need to get their infants and toddlers vaccinated against COVID-19 can visit one of two COVID-19 vaccination sites in Fairfax County. Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available at the following locations:
Parents may also check with their child’s pediatrician’s office. Some pharmacies (and grocery stores with pharmacies) may offer one, or both, vaccines for children as well. However, current Virginia law limits the ages of children to whom pharmacists can administer vaccine to those 3 years old and older, so you should call first to check availability and the age groups that could be vaccinated in pharmacies based on the provider available.
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At this time, the FCHD continues to provide monkeypox vaccinations for individuals who have a known exposure to a confirmed case and is now providing screening to other individuals to assess risk. If you believe you have or were exposed to the Monkeypox virus, please call 703-267-3511 or email [email protected] to conduct a screening with a public health staff member. The Health Department has received a small amount of vaccine from VDH. Further updates will be provided on FCHD's website as additional vaccine supplies become available.
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2022 Innovative Practice Gold Awardee |
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) has been selected as a 2022 Innovative Practice Gold Awardee by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for outstanding efforts in using Community Health Workers to improve isolation and quarantine adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic. FCHD's program was selected, after a rigorous peer-evaluation process by NACCHO’s Workgroup members, because “it reflected effective community partnerships and collaboration as well as remarkable adaptability, resilience, and innovation.” This recognition demonstrates the highest level of program innovation to meet the needs of community members during the pandemic and our health department is one of four (out of the nearly 3,000 local health departments in the country) awarded this prestigious honor. You can find more information on the FCHD website here.
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Home Repair Program
The Home Repair for the Elderly Program can provide labor and up to $1,000 in material costs to perform basic repairs for qualified home owners - for FREE! Learn more here.
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2022 ARPA Nonprofit Sustainability Grants Applications |
Fairfax County developed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Nonprofit Sustainability Grant program to assists nonprofits experiencing negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic to provide one-time funding assistance of up to $75,000 (depending on the organization size) who provide critical safety net services – including housing and financial stability.
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The Board recognized Jeff Platenberg on his retirement. |
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At Tuesday's meeting, the Board recognized former Fairfax County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Platenberg on his retirement.
Board Matters:
The Board approved the following Administrative and Action items:
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“Watch for Children” signs as part of the Residential Traffic Administration Program on Kingsbridge Drive and Blake Lane.
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“$200 Additional Fine for Speeding” signs as part of the Residential Traffic Administration Program on Blake Lane.
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An authorization to advertise a public hearing to consider adopting an ordinance to establish the Lee Landing Community Parking District.
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An authorization for the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority to provide funding in the amount of $33,306,290 to finance the development of Somos at McLean Metro.
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Back-to-School Backpack Donations |
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Help Second Story provide filled backpacks to students this year! You may drop off your donations at the Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive) until Friday, August 12th.
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Elisa Meara
Elisa Meara is Founder and President of Native Plant Landscape Design Corp., a garden design firm focusing exclusively on the design and installation of sustainable, environmentally friendly gardens using native plants. Under Elisa’s leadership, the company has become a major force in garden design and environmental protection in Fairfax County.
The recipient of several prestigious environmental awards, Elisa has been at the forefront of efforts in the county to protect pollinators and to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the installation of gardens that help avoid harmful storm water run-off. She has been a frequent speaker at area garden clubs.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Elisa became a U.S. citizen more than 20 years ago. Her two adult children were born in our area, and Elisa has lived in Providence District since returning from Europe 11 years ago. Elisa is a graduate of the Inchbald School of Design in London; she also lived in the Azores islands of Portugal and in Rome, Italy.
Selected by Supervisor Palchik, Elisa represents Providence District on the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Commission. Elisa is proud to serve on the commission – she sees it as an opportunity to help protect the beautiful environment of our region.
Thank you, Elisa, for all that you do in our community, and Fairfax County at large!
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Transportation and Land Use Updates |
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Fare-Free September
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passengers will ride free during September and between certain stations in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia during October. The decision to suspend fares will make VRE a more attractive and viable option for Metrorail riders during the closure of Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport, slated to begin September 10th, and those returning to work post-Labor Day.
Fare-free rides in September will be systemwide. In October they will be limited to travel between the six VRE stations most impacted by the Blue Line station closures – Backlick Road on the Manassas Line, Franconia-Springfield on the Fredericksburg Line, and Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Union Station on both lines.
Parking is free at most VRE stations, and WMATA is considering free parking at the Franconia Springfield parking garage for the duration of that station’s closure. VRE welcomes full-size bicycles on all trains, eliminating the first-mile last-mile conundrum for many commuters. For more information, click here.
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More Trains, Shorter Waits for Blue, Orange and Silver Line Customers |
As of August 1st, Blue, Orange and Silver line trains will arrive every 15 minutes on weekdays, matching service on the Green and Yellow lines. For most customers, the wait for a train will be no longer than 5-8 minutes, as most stations are served by at least two if not all three lines.
In September, Metro expects to expand the service improvements on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines to weekends providing the same level of service, every 15 minutes, on Saturdays and Sundays. This will give workers and visitors or others attending events and activities throughout the region an even more convenient way to get around – all at the weekend fare of just $2 one-way anywhere you travel.
In addition, Metro has restored more 6000-series railcars, increasing the overall number of cars available for service. Repairs to the coupler – which connects railcars – have been completed on most of the 6000-series fleet. To get more information, click here.
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Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process Update |
On July 19th, the Board of Supervisors approved changes to the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process, which allows anyone to propose site-specific land use changes in Fairfax County. The adopted changes include new submission criteria, a Planning Commission workshop during the screening phase and enhanced community engagement. The revised SSPA process will be implemented in the next cycle, which kicks off this October. The submission form, process guide, and other resources will be posted to the website. Visit the SSPA website for the latest details on the upcoming cycle and the detailed report on all the adopted changes to the SSPA process.
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Fairfax Area Caregiver Support Resource Page |
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ArtsFairfax Exhibit at Tysons Corner |
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A Call for Artists: From now through the end of the calendar year, Macerich and ArtsFairfax invite artists, artists teams, and arts organizations based in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church to activate select retail storefronts and open spaces in the shopping center with visual art. The goals for this initiative are to create unique and interactive art environments, echo Tysons Corner Center as a contemporary and creative destination, and most importantly, to showcase the talents of local artists and arts organizations.
Current Installation: Beginning this month, visitors to Tysons Corner can view a public announcement about the partnership and a banner of ArtsFairfax Artist Spotlights, a collection of images and information about 30 independent artists and nonprofit organizations from throughout Fairfax County.
Each temporary art exhibition will be installed for a minimum of 8 weeks. Artists/teams/organizations may apply more than once. Macerich decides selections. All fees and project costs will be negotiated between Macerich and the artist/team/organization. More information on the ArtsFairfax website.
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Get to Know Your Local Government Survey |
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In an joint effort with Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, I am excited to announce that I will be hosting a "Know Your Local Government" Program in the coming months. This is a program that is designed to allow members of the Providence Community to learn about the wide variety of work that local government does here in Fairfax County. These workshops will be geared towards all ages and any level of expertise! So whether you are a local government expert or new to the entire process, this workshop is for you!
In order to design a program that best fits the interests of our community, we are asking you to fill out a survey, offered in 7 different languages, that will ask you about which topics within local government you are most interested in learning more about. Please take a minute to fill out this short survey so we can get insight as to what our community is most interested in learning about.
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities |
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The last Fam-mingle Friday will be taking place Friday, August 12th from 4-6pm. Come out and see all the services and programs that Providence Community Center has to offer while enjoying Bingo, Sensory activities, table tennis, music, ice cream and more! This event is free for all ages and a great way to meet others who live in the community.
For more information, email
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Friday Sensations at the Providence Community Center is back!
Registration for classes will open Monday, August 22nd. Please call the front desk at 703-865-0520 to register. Spots fill up quick!
As a reminder, please bring socks with you for each appointment.
Please see flyer for class times or call: 703-865-0520 for more information.
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National Farmers Market Week |
Fairfax County Farmers Markets will join farmers markets across the nation in celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 7-13. which will highlight the role of farmers markets in supporting healthy communities, stimulating local economies and supporting local farmers. The mission of the Fairfax County Farmers Markets is to provide residents access to locally grown products and create market opportunities for area farmers and food producers. Join us as we celebrate the contributions of our local farmers and food producers to the Fairfax County community!
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Volunteer with GrandInvolve
Would you like to have a unique and interesting volunteer experience while making a difference in a school, classroom, family, or in one child’s life? Join GrandInvolve, a nonprofit program that facilitates volunteer opportunities in 25 of Fairfax County’s Title I Elementary Schools!
GrandInvolve is currently recruiting adult volunteers who are interested to provide classroom assistance with math, reading, and other simple educational tasks that the teacher requests. For a rewarding experience with flexible hours and various responsibilities, consider volunteering with GrandInvolve for this coming school year.
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FCPD CrossFit Challenge For Special Olympics Virginia |
Can YOU Beat the Chief?
On Saturday, August 20th, beginning 9am, FCPD will be at CrossFit Fairfax to support Special Olympics Virginia. 60 teams of 3 will compete at a CrossFit challenge. Let's see who can beat the Fairfax County Police Chief’s Team!
Up for the challenge? The workout can be scaled or modified to any fitness level, so sign up quickly before the spots are gone! Participants will receive event t-shirts and other fun items from our event sponsors. 100% of the proceeds will support Special Olympics Virginia.
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Tysons Library Friends Quarterly Book Sale |
Where:
- Tysons Pimmit Regional Library 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043
When:
Half Price or $10 per bag sale
More hours are offered for this sale in an attempt to limit crowds, but masks are still preferred. Large selection of books and media for all ages and interests.
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello. Please feel free to email us with events you would like to be included in my newsletter.
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