Dear Neighbor,
Happy Spring, Providence District! Well wishes to those who are celebrating Ramadan, Passover today, and Easter on Sunday. I'm looking forward to baby Sivan's first Passover Seder tonight!
During Tuesday's Board meeting, the Board proclaimed the week of April 11-15 as "Community Development Week" to highlight the impact of federal housing funds have in Fairfax County. I also presented Board Matters to support Mental Health Awareness Month, to Expedite Processing for Mosaic Elementary School's Renovation, and to support our local breweries and small manufacturers. You can read more about Tuesday's Board meeting highlights below.
Lastly, I would like to invite you to Providence's Earth Day celebration at the Providence Community Center on Friday, April 22nd. Join us for a nature clean up and educational walk, followed by food truck fun and more!
You can find the Providence District updates below in this newsletter:
- Board Meeting Highlights and Budget Public Hearings
- Earth Day Celebration at Providence Community Center
- COVID-19 Updates
- Transportation Updates
- Smart Cities 2022 Challenge
- Public Engagement with Resilient Fairfax
- Code Compliance Corner
- Neighborhood and Community Services is Hiring
- Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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Board Meeting Highlights and Budget Public Hearings |
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The Board proclaimed the week of April 11-15 as “Community Development Week” as a means of highlighting the impact that federal housing funds have in Fairfax County – from acquiring, developing, rehabilitating, and preserving affordable housing opportunities to providing supportive services to our areas most vulnerable neighbors. To learn more and for additional examples of how federal housing funds contribute to thousands of our neighbors, visit here.
- Board Matters:
- Mental Health Awareness Month and Youth Mental Health Awareness Month
- Request by the Fairfax County School Board to Authorize Concurrent and Expedited Processing of the Site Plan for Mosaic Elementary School
- Joint with Chairman McKay, and Supervisors Smith, Storck, and Walkinshaw - FY 2023 Consideration Item: Adjustment to Machinery & Tools Tax
- The Board held a public hearing on the FY 2023 Effective Tax Rate Increase and deferred decision and will keep the record open for additional testimonies until the FY 2023 Budget Markup on April 26.
- The Board held public hearings over the course of three evenings on the County Executive’s Proposed FY 2023 Advertised Budget Plan, the Advertised Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2023-2027 (CIP) (With Future Fiscal Years to 2032) and the Current Appropriation in the FY 2022 Revised Budget Plan. I want to thank each and every one who have shared their written, video, or in-person testimony with us. The record will remain open for written testimony until April 26. As a reminder, below are some important dates to note regarding the budget timeline:
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April 26: Board of Supervisors marks up the FY 2023 Budget where the tax rate will be set
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May 5: School Board holds public hearing on FY 2023 Budget
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May 10: Board of Supervisors adopts FY 2023 Budget
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May 26: School Board adopts FY 2023 Approved Budget
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July 1: FY 2023 Budget Year begins
To access the full Board Package and watch the meeting on demand, click here.
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Earth Day Celebration at Providence Community Center |
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Earth Day Walk & Talk
Join us for a walking tour of East Blake Lane Park on April 22nd at 1pm where we will have the opportunity to learn about the foliage and the natural resources in our community. Just as important as learning about our parks, we will also be learning how to properly maintain them by picking up litter. I hope you can join us and we'll see you at the Providence Community Center. Momos N More Food Truck will be on site from 1-5pm.
For questions or more information, call my office at (703) 560-6046 or email us at [email protected]. |
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Some Individuals Eligible for Second COVID-19 Booster
The FDA authorized, and the CDC recommended, a second booster dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for three groups of individuals:
- Persons who are aged 50 years and older.
- Persons who are aged 18-49 years who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose.
- Persons aged 12 years and older whose immune system is moderately or severely impaired based on disease or medications they are taking.
Individuals in these groups may choose to receive the second booster if at least four months have passed since their first booster dose. Those eligible for a second booster are encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of COVID-19 and to decide whether to receive a second booster dose. Second booster doses are now available from pharmacies, healthcare providers, as well as at the Fairfax County Government Center and the Hyland South County Center. Find a location here.
Individuals who are not included in one of the groups approved for a second COVID-19 vaccine booster and who are up to date on their vaccination, having received the primary vaccine series and one booster, if eligible, remain well protected from severe disease without a second booster.
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Vaccinations and Tests Remain Free
Federal dollars that reimburse funds covering COVID-19 vaccinations and testing for individuals who are uninsured concluded the first week of April. While Congress may consider extending funding, free testing for the uninsured ended in March, and free vaccinations ended on April 5, for this same group.
At this time, the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will continue to provide vaccinations for all at no charge at county-operated clinics, including pop-up clinics, held throughout the community. The Health Department will continue to work with the state to determine the future impact on these programs. Some pharmacies may continue to provide tests at no charge, but residents are suggested to call in advance to check.
More information can be found here.
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At Home COVID-19 Tests
Have you ordered your additional free COVID-19 tests yet? You can get another round of four free at-home COVID tests from the federal government by going to COVIDtests.gov. At-home testing is an easy way to ensure you're staying healthy and safe.
Order additional tests here.
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2022 Providence, Hunter Mill and Dranesville Districts Paving and Restriping
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold a virtual public meeting on proposed paving and restriping changes in the Providence, Dranesville and Hunter Mill Districts on Monday, April 18th, at 7pm
Community members will have the opportunity to learn about VDOT's repaving program, proposed striping changes and provide feedback.
You may provide comments and feedback until May 2nd. For more information, click here. |
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New Ramp from Route 123 (Chain Bridge Rd) South to I-66 West to Open on or about Tuesday, April 19
The new permanent ramp from Route 123 (Chain Bridge Rd) South to I-66 West is planned to open during the early morning hours on or about Tuesday, April 19. The current temporary left turn and connector ramp from Route 123 South to I-66 West will close as part of this work.
All work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled to Tuesday night, April 19, if inclement conditions occur. Read more here.
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Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold a virtual community input meeting on Wednesday, April 20th at 7pm on Fairfax Connector proposed service changes for October 2022. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about the proposed changes, ask questions and provide comments at the meeting. Please provide feedback on the proposed changes via an online survey, email, mail and by phone through May 6th.
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Join the online meeting; A recording of this meeting will be posted here on Friday, April 22.
- Join the meeting by phone at: 571-429-5982; Access Code: 976713255#
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Take the online survey (English);(Español) - Survey opens on April 20th and closes May 6th.
To learn more about the proposed changes, click here. |
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Joint Spring Transportation Meeting (Commonwealth's SYIP FY 23-FY28)
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will conduct a public meeting in our area to give the community the opportunity to provide comments on transportation projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2023-2028 Six-Year Improvement Program (FY23-28 SYIP). These projects and programs, which include highway, rail, and public transportation initiatives, represent important improvements to address safety, congestion and preservation of Virginia’s transportation network.
The public meeting for the community in our region will be held on Wednesday, May 4th at the VDOT Northern Virginia (NOVA) District Office, located at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. The open house will begin at 5:30pm, followed by a listening session at 7pm. The public is invited to share feedback on transportation projects that have been recommended for funding through participation by submitting comments through the online form, by email ( for roads and highways; for transit and rail) or posted mail by May 23rd.
For more information, click here. |
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Smart Cities 2022 Challenge |
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Do you have a solution to make our region smarter, more livable, resilient, and sustainable for all our residents?
If the answer is YES, you are invited to join the Smart Cities 2022 Challenge. We are looking for individuals or teams to come together over a six-week period, from May 2 – June 16 to create innovative solution in the areas of transportation, health, water, and carbon neutrality, and we are especially excited to see solutions from underrepresented founders.
Cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded, including pilot project opportunities, participation in the Smart City Works accelerator, membership in Refraction, and Amazon Web Services credits. Prizes, including a chance to pilot a project with Fairfax County, will be awarded based on innovation, equity and inclusivity, practicality of application and regional impact, as outlined in the judging criteria.
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Public Engagement with Resilient Fairfax |
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Fairfax County is embarking on a formal effort to address climate adaptation and resilience. Resilient Fairfax encompasses the development of a comprehensive Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan for the county and the community as well as the implementation of strategies to reduce risk to county residents, businesses, and infrastructure. The plan will be created with input from a Community Advisory Group and an Infrastructure Advisory Group, but it will also draw on community and public input through a series of public meetings and surveys. The next open public comment period will be May 16th to June 15th. We will make sure to share additional details as they become available.
On this page you will find information about upcoming opportunities to engage with the planning process, and information on past public engagement opportunities. If you have questions about Resilient Fairfax or how best to get involved, please email [email protected].
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The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) will start receiving and investigating grass complaints on Friday, April 15th. DCC accepts excessive grass height complaints by telephone or on-line at this link.
DCC will stop taking grass complaints on October 15th.
For more information, click here. |
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Neighborhood & Community Services are Hiring! |
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Join the Providence team
The Providence Community Center is currently hiring activity facilitators. Please send your resume to [email protected] & [email protected]. If you have any questions about the position, you can call the Providence Community Center at (703)-865-0520.
For more information about NCS and what they do, click here. |
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Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities |
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DMV Connect
DMV Connect will be at the Fairfax County Government Center in the South Atrium on the 1st Floor on April 20th & 21st. This event is by appointment only. Residents can schedule an appointment online here.
Available services include:
- Driver's licenses and ID cards
- Titles and registrations *
- License plates
- Driver transcripts
- Disabled parking placards or plates
- Address changes
- E-ZPass transponders
- Hunting and fishing licenses
*DMV Connect can process title transactions but cannot print titles. Titles processed by DMV Connect will be mailed to customers.
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Come Learn History in the Historic Oakton Schoolhouse!
Learn about the roots of the place you call home. Explore the rich history of Fairfax County Public Schools from its founding in 1870 to 1945 through rare photographs, maps, and other illustrations, all presented in an original one-room schoolhouse.
On April 24th, from 4-5pm, the Greater Oakton Community Association will host a presentation, "Fairfax County Public Schools: A Visual History (1870-1945)," by Jeff Clark of the Office of Communications at Fairfax County Public Schools.
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Iranian American Community Center Pars Place
Talk on healthy habits, workouts, and routines to help us live longer, and lead a more energetic life. This Young Professionals Social Hour on Wednesday, April 20th from 7-8:30pm is a great opportunity to learn and expand your professional network with the Iranian-American Young professionals of DMV. Register for this event here.
Iranian American Bar Association's Free Legal Advice & Referral Clinic
The clinic on Saturday, April 23rd from 10am-1pm provides individuals, who do not have their own lawyers, an opportunity to discuss with volunteer attorneys, civil and criminal legal problems including immigration, family, and criminal matters. If a brief service is not enough to resolve your problem, clinic volunteers may be able to refer you to or provide you with information about a legal service provider appropriately suited to handle your case. Register here.
Moments & Memories Art Reception & Artist Talk
This exhibition on Sunday, April 24th from 5-7pm will provide a dialogue between Iranian-American artists in the diaspora, and those living in Iran. While diaspora artists have searched their memories in the past, artists in the homeland are expressing obstacles faced in their everyday life.
Location for all events: Pars Place 2236-C Gallows Rd Vienna, VA 22182
For more information, click here.
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Fair Housing Month Webinar
In Honor of Fair Housing Month, the Fairfax County Office of Human Rights & Equity Programs in collaboration with the Equal Rights Center (ERC), Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® (NVAR) is pleased to invite residents and others to register for a FREE fair housing webinar on Wednesday, April 27th from 9:30-11:30am.
Title: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Barriers and Bridges to Fair Housing.
Topics: Housing Discrimination Based on Source of Funds, Disability (Reasonable Accommodations), and Legal Updates-Fair Housing Laws.
Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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PAW-Vidence Pals
Woof Woof! You are cordially invited to attend our first Paw-vidence event. We love having our communities come to our center, but let’s not forget about our furry friends.
Please see attached flyer for more information.
Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof (We hope to see you!)
Wednesday, April 27th from 5-6pm
3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax VA, 22031
For more information you can call the community center at 703-895-0520.
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Traveling Players
Spring Classes
Summer Camps
For more information, click here.
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Document Shredding Event
The document shredding service is open to residents of Fairfax County, Clifton, Herndon, the Town of Vienna, and the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church only. Businesses, including home-based businesses, are not invited to participate.
Shredding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. All participants must be in line by 11am to be served. Please be aware, however, that when the shredding trucks are full, the event will end.
When: July 30th, 7-11am
Where: Kilmer Middle School, 8100 Wolf Trap Road
There is a four (4) box limit, based on standard banker/copy box size (12.5” W x 15.5” L x 10.5” H). If you bring documents in plastic bags, please do not tie them. All boxes, plastic/paper bags, or other containers will be returned to you after emptying.
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Notary Services
My office is now offering free notary services Monday-Friday by appointment only. Please call 703-560-6946 or email my office at [email protected] to make an appointment prior to coming in.
Remember to bring a valid government issued ID that has both your picture and signature on it!
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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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