Upcoming Public Hearing on Plastic Bags for Yard Waste

On February 23^rd,the Board will hold a public hearing on whether to ban plastic bags for yard waste. While staff has begun a transition away from plastic bags, this will be the opportunity for the public to have its say by submitting written, telephonic, or video testimony. I remain opposed to the ban based on the input I have received from residents, the fiscal impact on residents, the inequitable impact of the ban on our older adults as well as residents living in heavily wooded areas, and unanswered questions including the impact on illegal dumping. You can weigh in by signing up to speak or by submitting video or written testimony here. 

In my newsletters from February and December last year, I shared what was concerning about the way this ban has been pushed forward – with little public outreach and ignoring our normal Board process- as well as the negative potential impacts of the ban including the inconvenience and increased cost for our residents to use paper bags, increases in illegal dumping, and hazards and debris in roadways when paper bags get wet. To gauge what the community thinks about this ban, my office conducted a survey with close to 1,400 responses last year and roughly 80 percent of respondents were not in favor of an outright ban. Many respondents who regularly use paper bags still want the option to be able to use plastic bags for yard waste when necessary. 

If you would like to share your thoughts on this ban, you can do so by signing up to speak at the public hearing or sharing written testimony with the entire Board here.

On Friday, the County plans to implement a system for residents to check where they are in the queue. This queue check system is something I have been advocating for the County to implement to bring more transparency to the process for residents. Last week I shared with you that our health department had administered 91 percent of all first doses received from the state. As of yesterday, the County health department had received a total of 111,950 (86,050 first doses, 25,900 second doses) and provided 84,463. My consistent ask is that this information is continuously shared and updated on the County website.  

County staff also continue to work on the following solutions to make the vaccine rollout smoother, including:

Recently, I have heard many of you inquire about the federal CVS vaccine program. The federal program is not coordinating with the County’s vaccine rollout. I encourage you to read this blog on the CVS program from the health department with information on that program and the one location in the Fairfax health district. I want to highlight this information in the blog: 

“CVS will receive its vaccine directly from the federal government, not from Fairfax County or the Virginia Department of Health. It will also use its own scheduling system that will not select people from Fairfax County’s existing waitlist.

If you have already registered to get a vaccine appointment from Fairfax County and are able to get one at CVS or from another provider first, please email ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov and let us know so you can be removed from the county’s waitlist.

If you are currently eligible to be vaccinated, you can sign up to schedule an appointment from CVS on its website. Appointments will begin on Friday, Feb. 12. Vaccine supplies are expected to be limited.”

For updates on Fairfax County health department vaccine rollout, you can view any new resources as well as FAQs on the County’s vaccine webpage.

If you are having issues with your registration or have questions related to the vaccine, you can call the vaccine hotline at 703-324-7404. The best times to call are in the evening or on the weekends, and wait times are better than earlier in the rollout. 

Construction on the first phase of the Rolling Road widening project has begun. This project will improve Rolling Road’s intersection with Old Keene Mill Road by adding a second left turn lane from northbound Rolling to westbound Old Keene Mill, adding a dedicated right turn lane from northbound Rolling to eastbound Old Keene Mill and improving the intersection’s alignment and upgrading the traffic signals. Construction will be complete by year’s end. Work on this phase of the project was initially delayed due to utility coordination.

This is phase one of the overall improvement project that will widen Rolling Road from two to four lanes between Viola St. and Old Keene Mill Road and includes the addition of a continuous walkway on one side of the road and a shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists on the other. Work also includes a new signal at Greeley Boulevard as well as improved access management throughout the corridor. The second phase is approved and fully funded; land acquisition is currently underway. Construction should start in early 2024. For more information, visit VDOT’s project website.

Other News & Information...

Wishing all our friends and neighbors a Happy Year of the Ox this Friday! Occurring every 12 years, those born in the year of the Ox are said to be diligent, persistent, and honest. Valued in agriculture, the Ox symbolizes positive characteristics.

Learn about the Capital One Hall facilities including the 1500-seat performance hall and The Vault - a 250-seat black box theatre, the user application for the second season, and the scheduling process.

The session will be presented online and is open only to Fairfax County-based non-profit arts organizations. ArtsFairfax encourages attendance. Registration is required to secure the link to the session.

Event Details: Thursday, February 25 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Registration is required for online link

RSVP by February 22, 2021

Link to registration: https://artsfairfax.org/capital-one-hall/

AARP and the Fairfax County Department of Health will host a vaccine information session on Saturday, February 20 at 10:00AM. Join AARP members in Fairfax County for an hourlong conversation about the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines with Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, MPH, Director of Health, Fairfax County Health Department.

Register at: https://aarp.cvent.com/FairfaxVaccineInfo or see

flyer below:

If you have a Library Staffer that you think deserves a special mention or recognition, please consider submitting their name for recognition for the Fairfax County Public Library Staff Excellence Award. Nominations are due February 14 and may be submitted here.

INOVA continues to need blood donations to make sure their inventories are stocked as we continue to combat the pandemic. To make a socially distant donation at a facility near you, please see this page here.

Cinnamon is a three-and-a-half years old Shepherd / Rhodesian Ridgeback mix who is a shy dog. Cinnamon gets along with other dogs but would do well as the only dog in the home. Cinnamon may require the assistance of a more experienced owner who can help build her confidence and have her adjust to her surroundings. She loves going on walks and is looking for a family that will provide her with a loving home where she feels safe and loved. To learn more about Cinnamon and set up a date for adoption, please see this page.