Please join me on Monday, February 27 from 7-8:3PM for the third session of my Older Adults Roundtable series. This discussion will be focused on affordability and aging in Fairfax County. We will discuss the various affordable housing options and the accessibility of those options, tax relief benefits, challenges that are faced by older adults as they age in place, and resources that can be used when tackling those challenges. This event will be streamed live on Channel 16 and on my Facebook page. For any questions you may have, please call 703-560-6946 or email [email protected].

Volunteer Solutions connects people with meaningful opportunities to support older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers. There are a number of volunteer opportunities available for bilingual speakers, social visitors, grocery shoppers, and more.

Learn more about this volunteer opportunity and apply here.

Mosaic is still collecting donations for earthquake relief efforts in Türkiye until Sunday, February 26. Look for the blue and white boxes inside the Target lobby.

More details can be found here.

The Inova Blood Donor Services will be at Mosaic on Friday, March 10 from 10AM to 2PM.

The 2023 Youth Conservation Camp will be held in person on the campus of Virginia Tech from Sunday, July 9 through Saturday, July 15. This one-week program will focus on forestry, soil, aquatics, and wildlife to teach 9th-12th graders about the natural world. The application deadline is April 28.

Learn more and complete your application here.

The Educational Foundation of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annually offers four $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors or college freshmen for college study. The scholarships support studies related to natural resource conservation. Applications must arrive at the NVSWCD office by April 1.

Learn more and complete your application here.

Doodle for Google is an annual art contest open to students in grades K-12. Students are invited to create their own Google Doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google.com, and win some great scholarships and tech packages. The contest is open for entries until March 7, 11:59PM.

Learn more and submit your doodles here.

The Board of Supervisors authorized the exemption of all electrical, building, and sign permit fees for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) for a trial period of 18 months.

Eliminating the permit fees for EVCS encourages the use of electric vehicles, which is an important step toward the main vision of the Carbon-Free Fairfax initiative.

More information about permits for EVCS can be found here.

The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, in partnership with the Department of Economic Initiatives and Smart City Works, is hosting a Fairfax County Green Business Partners Forum on Friday, March 31. The Forum will showcase energy- and climate-success stories and provide opportunities to network with green business leaders throughout the County.

Learn more about the Forum and register here.

Yard waste is collected and processed for recycling only during the period of March 1 through December 24. Yard waste must be placed at the curb separately for collectionand it must be placed in compostable paper bags or rigid containers [No plastic bags]. Small quantities of yard waste should be tied in bundles weighing no more than 50 pounds. More than 4 bundles of tied yard waste should be scheduled for a Special Pickup.

During the period of December 25 through February 28 yard waste can be bagged and placed in trash carts. More information about changes to yard waste collection can be found here.

The best way to help the environment is to reduce waste and recycle when you can. Access the guide to manage your recyclables and trash here.

Get ready for spring and order mulch for your yard! 

The mulch sale is the PTSA’s primary fundraiser for its annual All Night Graduation Party, a safe, drug and alcohol-free event organized to allow the entire FCHS Senior Class the opportunity to celebrate together on the evening of their graduation. More information about the mulch sale is available here.

A traffic pattern change will be implemented on or about Tuesday morning, February 28, to open the roundabouts on the north and south ends of the redesigned I-66/Nutley Street (Route 243) Interchange. Read more about this traffic pattern change here.

The ramp from eastbound Dulles Toll Road/Airport Access Road (Route 267) to northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway) is scheduled to close during overnight hours beginning on or about this Friday night, February 24 through early morning, Monday, March 12. This ramp closure is necessary for crews to demolish the eastern section of the bridge from northbound I-495 to eastbound Dulles Toll Road/Airport Access Road. Following demolition, crews will build new bridges on northbound I-495 to the future express lanes and general-purpose lanes. Read more about the ramp closure here.

If you live in, work in, or visit Tysons, the county wants to hear from you! A Wayfinding & Signage Survey is available to gather information about how the public navigates Tysons and how wayfinding could improve the experience of getting around the area. Please take the brief survey and share it with your neighbors and friends in the area.

Survey responses will play an important role in informing the development of a Tysons-wide wayfinding strategy. The survey closes on Monday, March 6 at 11:59PM.

The construction activities are scheduled to begin on March 3. The overall construction schedule is anticipated to be six months following contractor mobilization.

Take the night off cooking! Join Falls Church HS PTSA for dinner at Panera Mosaic (8191 Strawberry Lane) on Tuesday, February 28 from 4PM to 8PM. Proceeds will go to support the All Night Grad Party for 2023 graduates! Please reference code FUND4U at checkout.

The Friends of Tysons Library is having their quarterly used book and media sale from March 2-5, 10AM to 5PM. There will be a large selection of books and media for all ages and interests! Most are priced $0.25 to $3.

Donations of books and media are appreciated. Volunteers are welcome and needed! For more information, email [email protected] or call 703-338-3307.  

Feel The Vision - A Reggae Music Journey is appearing live in Tysons Corner at Capital One Hall on March 10 at 6:30 PM. Buy your tickets today and get ready for an unforgettable show!

I am hosting a Budget Town Hall on March 16 at 5:30PM with School Board Member Karl Frisch, CFO Christina Jackson, FCPS Executive Director of Budget Services Alice Wigington, and the Providence District Council to discuss the proposed FY24 Budget and collect community feedback.

How to Watch:

Submit your questions and comments:

Enjoy the taste and sound of Latin America and the Caribbean at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101) on March 25 from 5-9 PM.

More information can be found here.

Mosaic District welcomes Spring with a two-day festival: Art Blooms at Mosaic. On April 2 and 3, from 11-6 PM, visitors and surrounding communities are invited to a weekend of fun-filled activities for the whole family while taking part in the nation’s favorite springtime celebrations.

My office will have a booth at Penny Lane Park. Hope to see you there!

Fitting In is a show about seeing new ways to belong, premiering March 31 - April 2. Through movement and live musical accompaniment provided by each of the actors, three performers will explore everyday objects and containers, in an attempt to find everything a home and demonstrate that the right place isn’t the most obvious place. Everyday objects will become extraordinary - creating a magical immersive world for the audience. For ages 2-5 and their families.

If you receive SNAP, you may also be eligible for Medicaid, TANF, Energy Assistance, Child Care Assistance, and more. Apply online or apply by phone at 1-833-5-CALL-VA (1-833-522-5582).