September 17, 2021
Dear Residents,

Tuesday was our first Board of Supervisors' Meeting back from the August recess. I was proud to present proclamations to designate September 2021 as Hunger Action Month, and September 15-October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. I also presented a joint Board Matter with Chairman McKay requesting information on funding for Public Access to Water and Sewer Services.

Early Voting begins today for the November 2021 General & Special Elections at three locations. More early voting sites will be available daily beginning October 21.

Hope to see you at tonight's Tysons Block Party at 8505 Leesburg Pike, 4pm-8pm, with live entertainment from Chaz Gardiner, local brews from Settle Down Easy Brewery, delicious food, and more!

You can find the following Providence District updates below in this newsletter:
  • Highlights from Board of Supervisors' Meeting
  • In-Person Early Voting Starts Today
  • Redistricting
  • Integrating Police and Community (iPAC)
  • Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's 59th Annual Recognition Ceremony
  • Active and Thriving Community Grants
  • Planning Commission Annual Report
  • Fairfax Water Survey
  • Transportation Updates
  • Upcoming Events

With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
Final Board Meeting before Fall
Tuesday, September 14th was the first Board Meeting since our August recess. See the Meeting Highlights below:

  • Hunger Awareness: 86,716 Fairfax residents are experiencing food insecurity. The Board proclaimed September 2021 as Hunger Action Month to raise awareness and create opportunities for residents to help end food insecurity in Fairfax.

  • Hispanic Heritage: The Board proclaimed Sept 15 – Oct 15 2021 as Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual celebration of the rich history, culture, and diversity of the Latinx and Hispanic communities.


  • Plastic Bag Tax: After a public hearing, the Board voted 9-1 in favor of establishing a five cent tax on disposable plastic bags beginning January 1, 2022. This fee will apply to disposable plastic bags provided to customers at grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores. The revenue collected will be allocated toward environmental cleanup programs, pollution, and litter mitigation programs, and educational on environmental waste reduction. Read more about the tax HERE.

 
Access the Full Board Package HERE.
In-Person Early Voting
Early voting starts today, Sept. 17 for the November 2021 General & Special elections. Any registered voter may cast their ballot at any of the three early voting sites today or on Saturday, Sept. 18. More early voting sites will be available daily beginning Oct. 21st through Oct. 30th.

For more details on hours & locations, please visit this website.
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process to draw new electoral boundaries. It makes sure election districts have roughly an equal number of people. Redistricting is required by law, and it takes place every 10 years after the Census.

Fairfax County will draw new electoral districts that will apply to both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board. Redistricting does not change school boundaries. The county also will not draw new election districts for lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. The state’s Virginia Redistricting Commission is currently redrawing these electoral maps.

How you can participate:
  • Members of the public may submit proposed maps now through Sunday, September 19 at 11:59pm.
  • You may provide comment at any RAC committee meeting, which has several public meetings through September 28.
  • You can provide comment on any map that is submitted to the Board of Supervisors after the work of the committee is complete. This will take place after October 19. You may also share your comment at the Board's public hearing on November 9. More to come on this.
Integrating Police and Community (iPAC)
The Integrating Police and Community (iPAC) initiative is designed to increase one-on-one collaboration and engagement between police officers, residents, visitors and business owners in Fairfax County. The goal of the fundamental program is to build upon the Fairfax County Police Department’s already strong connection with the community by providing discretionary time and space for conversation and problem solving.  

This “Know Us Before You Need Us” approach further aims to develop greater police legitimacy and trust between officers and the people we serve.

Watch the video from Chief Kevin Davis outlining the initiative: 
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's 59th Annual Recognition Ceremony
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (LCNV) serves nearly 1,500 beginning-level English language and literacy adult learners. LCNV's programs provide general English language instruction, targeted literacy skill development, and language for career–specific pathways through classroom, small group and tutorial instruction.

I was proud and honored to share my story and my mom's story with my heroes at the LCNV. I have always been inspired by these brave English Language Learners and their kids, and I'm hoping I can encourage future generations of local leaders.
Active and Thriving Community Grants
The Active and Thriving Community Grants Program, funded through the Federal American Rescue Plan Act, will assist small businesses and nonprofit organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 to remain in business and retain employees. The program will also help vulnerable residents by supporting programs and services that provide a social safety net and promote positive childhood environments. The total amount available for the grant program is $10 million.

Applications are accepted through the Active and Thriving Community Grant Portal through 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2021.

Learn more and apply HERE.
Planning Commission Annual Report

The Fairfax County Planning Commission has posted its Annual Report of Activities for FY 2021. You may access the report HERE.
Fairfax Water Survey
Fairfax Water is reviewing its customer service practices to ensure that we support customers and the community effectively.

As part of this effort, they want to hear about the issues that matter most and your experiences with Fairfax Water. Your input is important as we consider opportunities to improve customer service. Your responses are anonymous. 

Please complete the survey by Thursday, September 30.
Transportation Updates
I-66 Updates

Gallows Road Construction Update Meeting – Monday, October 4, 7 p.m.
Traffic will shift to the new Gallows Road Bridge span on approximately October 8, followed by nighttime demolition of the old bridge structure beginning in mid-October. This is due to work over I-66 and at the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metrorail Station. The Transform 66 Project team will hold a virtual construction update meeting on these upcoming activities on Monday, October 4, at 7 p.m. Questions and answers will follow the presentation.

Join the online meeting through Webex by clicking here. To join by phone, dial 1-866-692-4530 and use access code: 161 555 0343. For more information about the project, go here.

Additional materials related to the meeting will be posted to this section closer to the meeting date. A recording of the online meeting will be posted to the webpage the day after the event.

Ramps at RT 50 and I-66 to be closed through Saturday night, Sept. 18.
  • The ramp from RT 50 East to I-66 East will be closed from midnight until 5 a.m. through Saturday night, Sept. 18 due to continued demolition of old bridges. Traffic will be directed farther east, then to the left to make a U-turn at the traffic signal at Waples Mill Road and follow signs to I-66 East. 
  • The ramp from RT 50 West to I-66 West will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Saturday night, Sept. 18. Traffic will be directed to continue farther west, exit to West Ox Road South, stay to the right to Route 50 East, then follow signs to I-66 West. 
 
Drivers traveling in the RT 50/I-66 areas should expect delays and consider using alternate routes. For updates on demolition progress visit outside.transform66.org/route50.


ActiveFairfax deadline for submission of comments is Sept. 19, 2021.
 
Share your feedback, comments or questions about the vision and planning for the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan which will include the Bicycle Master Plan and the Countywide Trails Plan! To add your recommendations and observations, use the form here.


Virtual Public Information Meeting for I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a Virtual Public Information Meeting on September 29, 2021, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to present the latest updates and information related to the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project. The 495 NEXT project involves extending Virginia’s 495 Express Lanes by approximately three miles from the Dulles Toll Road interchange to the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchange in the vicinity of the American Legion Bridge.
 
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will participate in this meeting to provide an update on their New American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-70 Traffic Relief Plan, with a focus on proposed project improvements in Virginia near the George Washington Memorial Parkway and across the American Legion Bridge into Maryland. Information on this project can be found here.

Join the meeting online through WebEx by clicking this here. To join by phone, dial +1-517-466-2023 and use access code: 1613318294##. For more details on the project, go here.
Upcoming Events
Tysons Block Party

Join us tonight, Sept. 17 from 4pm to 8pm and enjoy local brews from Settle Down Easy Brewing, puffy tacos from Zainy's Flying Grill, delicious street grub from Hangry Panda, and live performance from Caz Gardiner Music!

This is a family-friendly event with lawn games and activities for the kids. The name of the new community event venue will also be announced that evening. Hope to see you there!
Welcome Back to Providence

As some of you may know, my office and the Providence Community Center have been hosting weekly Food Truck Friday events over the summer. We have transitioned to once a month for Fall.

This month, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the reopening of the Providence Community Center. We hope you can join us on Friday. Sept. 24 from 4pm to 6pm. We will have lawn games, prizes, and free popcorn!

Please reach out to Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov if you have any questions.
Mosaic Fall Festival

Mosaic is proud to host The Mosaic Fall Festival. Enjoy live music, over 40 vendors, Caboose beer garden, wine garden and more! This is a weekend-long FREE event on September 25 & 26 from 11am to 6pm.

For more details on performances and events on the Fall Festival stage, please visit this website.
Hidden History of Justice Park

The Hidden History of Justice Park event on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 1pm to 4pm will highlight the black history behind Justice Park.

Mr. Edwin Henderson will share with attendees about the black families who had homesteads on this land and the process of how this land became Justice Park.
18th KORUS Festival

For two decades, the Korean American Association of Washington Metropolitan Area (also known as KAGW) regularly brought together the Korean American community in the local area to celebrate the strong bonds between the Republic of Korea and the United States, which explains the origin of the name, “KOR-US.”

This year, they are expanding this free public event to recognize the breadth of diversity in our region by partnering with other nonprofit organizations, such as Celebrate Fairfax and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s KORUS Festival is scheduled over the weekend of September 18-19 from 10am to 9pm in front of Bloomingdale’s at the Tysons Corner Center shopping mall. For more event details, please visit this website.
James Lee Historical Marker Unveiling

Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services invites you to join Fairfax County Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik and the James Lee Community Center Advisory Council for a Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony for the James Lee Elementary School on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 11am.

Parking: This event takes place outdoors at the James Lee Community Center. Ample parking is available in the lot.

COVID-19 Precautions: Please wear a face covering or mask while on site and keep a six-foot distance from others. Thank you for your cooperation!
Fall Fest at the Boro

Join us for an apple picking-inspired celebration to get in the seasonal spirit. With games, crafts, seasonal beverages, doughnut decorating, a scavenger hunt and more, it is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family!

  • WHEN: September 25th, 12pm-4pm
  • WHERE: The Boro Tysons
  • This event is FREE and fun for all ages
Contact Us
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Office Phone: (703) 560-6946
 
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