Tuesday was the first Board of Supervisors meeting of the year and the Board took the following actions:

Access the materials and view a recording of the meeting here.

One of the most popular suggestions received in our newsletter survey to date is to see more volunteer opportunities.

The County has a compiled list of available volunteer opportunities that can be accessed here.

Fairfax Pets on Wheels connects pets with residents of long-term care facilities in Fairfax County. Their all-volunteer program provides more than 3,000 hours of pet visits every year.

Do you have a loveable dog, cat or bunny that would enjoy putting a smile on someone's face? Become a volunteer and share the power of the human-animal bond!

For more information or to register as a volunteer, click here.

To apply, email your resume to Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov and indicate the BAC you are interested in.

The Fairfax County Police Department is collecting socks and underwear for children in need until Monday, February 6. Last year, community members donated over 3,300 pairs of socks and underwear.

A collection box is available 24/7 in the lobbies of the Sully District Police Station (4900 Stonecroft Blvd) and Fair Oaks Police Station (12300 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy). Items can also be mailed to FCPD c/o PFC Meg Hawkins, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151.

Please note that donations should be new items only.

Help fight hunger in our neighborhoods! Help support our local nonprofit food pantries as they work to provide assistance to individuals and families in need throughout our community. Access the list of most requested items here.

Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved the project scope for the development of Ruckstuhl Park at 2445 Idylwood Drive in Falls Church. The 7.2-acre site will include a picnic pavilion, open play area, fitness cluster, nature-themed playground, trail loop, and parking area.

Read more about the project here.

Where: Oakton Community Park

When: February 4, March 4. April 1, and May 6

Where: Difficult Run Stream Valley Park

When: March 11 from 10 am to 12 pm, register here.

March 18 from 10 am to 12 pm, register here.

Several Fairfax Connector service changes will go into effect on February 4, including a new route that provides weekday rush-hour service in the I-66 Express Lanes.

Read more about the service changes.

This study and outreach process will be meetings with a stakeholder group, including HOAs, faith communities, schools, and other groups to gain as much public input as possible. If your community is interested in being a part of this group, please have your community leadership contact Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov. While the stakeholder group will be limited with a goal of balancing geographic representation around Gallows, all meetings will be public with opportunities for comment.

A series of community meetings for proposed site-specific land use changes in Fairfax County will be hosted through early February, as part of the countywide Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process. The SSPA process allows anyone to propose a land use change to the Comprehensive Plan, Fairfax County’s guiding document for land use and development decisions.

The community engagement phase for the County's Parking Reimagined project has been extended! An additional community Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31 at 7 pm to share the recommended changes to the County's off-street parking and loading requirements.

We encourage you to learn more and share your thoughts by February 2.

Metro is developing a new five-year strategic transformation plan - Your Metro, the Way Forward - to meet the evolving needs of the region. Before Metro finalizes the plan, the Metro team needs to hear from you!

After reviewing the plan, please provide feedback by submitting a letter or completing the survey which is available in several languages. You can also participate in the hybrid public hearing on Thursday, February 9 at 6:30 pm.

Read more about Metro's strategic transformation plan here.

The Board of Supervisors adopted an update to the Comprehensive Plan for the West Falls Church Transit Station Area (TSA) on July 13, 2021 to better align with the County’s Transit Oriented Development Guidelines. The adopted plan encourages mixed-used development that includes residential, commercial, institutional, and retail uses.

A virtual community meeting about the FCGP-Metro Development rezoning application is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31 at 7 pm. The applicant will present the proposal and County staff will give an overview of their review process. The staff report has been published and can be accessed here.

On Sunday, March 26 at 4 pm, popular local historian Jim Lewis will present “Oakton in the Civil War” in the historic Oakton schoolhouse at Oakton Community Park. Register to attend "Oakton in the Civil War."

The Greater Oakton Community Association and the Vale Club have also invited Mr. Lewis to guide a bus tour of the historic landmarks in the area on April 15. More details about the program can be found here. This program will be a follow-on to last year’s tour, not a repeat, and will cover different parts of the area. Register for the bus tour.

Each year, Fairfax County Housing is required to submit a Moving to Work Plan, which includes community input and outlines the activities and initiatives to be undertaken in the given year. The Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Moving to Work Plan is currently available for public comment.

Residents wishing to submit comments may do so by email, mail, or by participating in an upcoming public hearing.

According to CDC data on COVID-19 variants, the newest omicron sub-variant continues to become more prevalent and makes up an estimated one-third of COVID-19 infections in the mid-Atlantic region. Learn more about XBB.1.5, the latest Omicron Sub-Variant, and see here steps you can take.

Know when to get tested and see your testing options here.

Staying up to date on vaccination is important. Updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children as young as 6 months. Stay up to date with your vaccines or find a vaccine near you.

Find more healthy hints here.