Dear Neighbor,
Happy Spring, Providence District!
In Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, we designated April 2022 as Child Abuse Awareness Month, accepted grant funding for the continuation of operation for the Relay shuttle service, and amended the zoning ordinance to establish regulations on running bamboo. I also presented Board Matters to recognize the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's 60th Anniversary, and requested a partial waver of special permit fees for a temporary roller and ice skating rink at the Mosaic District.
It was reported that the crime rate in the community has spiked. Many unlocked vehicles have been getting broken into, and parts have been taken. There have also been cars stolen whose owners have left keys inside. Please make sure to lock your car doors and take your keys with you!
Lastly, for those interested in helping the citizens of Ukraine, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) kicked off a donation drive yesterday, collecting coats, gloves, socks and blankets. Providence Community Center is a drop off location as well as many others in Fairfax County. Please see list of all other locations participating in this donation drive below.
You can find the Providence District updates below in this newsletter:
- COVID-19 Updates
- Board Meeting Highlights
- Clothing Donations for Ukrainian Refugees
- Tax Relief Workshops
- FCPL's Staff Excellence Awards & Schedule Modification
- Transportation Updates
- Crime Prevention Resources
- Providence District Budget Town Hall
- Neighborhood and Community Services is Hiring
- Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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Closing Two COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
Two public COVID-19 vaccination sites located in Northern Virginia shopping malls are scheduled to close this week.
The Virginia Department of Health’s Community Vaccination Center, in the former Lord & Taylor store in Tysons Corner, will close at 4pm on Friday, March 25, after providing roughly 58,000 doses of vaccine since its opening in October 2021.
The Springfield Town Center vaccination site which has been critical in helping to close the equity gap by providing thousands of vaccinations to individuals through a public-private partnership with Fairfax County Health Department’s High Risk Communities Task Force, Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers and Safeway Pharmacy. This site will close on Sunday, March 27 at 4pm.
Vaccinations will still be available in Fairfax County including at the Fairfax County Government Center and Hyland South County Center, which will remain open and available for walk-in, free vaccinations. The Health Department is also continuing its outreach and collaborative work, with multiple community partners, to provide vaccinations clinics at sites across the county, including houses of worship, schools, businesses and special events.
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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The Board designated April 2022 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and urges all residents to wear blue on April 1, Virginia's Wear Blue Day, plant a pinwheel garden to show support, and find ways to support families and help keep all children in our community safe.
- Board Matters:
- Partial Waver of Special Permit Fees - Temporary Roller and Ice Skating Rink at the Mosaic District
- Joint with Chairman McKay, Supervisors Alcorn, Foust, Gross, Herrity, Lusk, Smith, Storck, and Walkinshaw - Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's 60th Anniversary
- The Board will hold public hearings on April 12 at 4pm, April 13 at 3pm, and April 14 at 3pm to amend the current appropriation level in the FY 2022 revised budget plan. The FY 2022 Third Quarter Review includes proposed adjustments and can be accessed here.
- The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has accepted grant funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in the amount of $260,000 for the Connected Autonomous Vehicle Shuttle Program (CAV) demonstration project. Funding will be used to continue the operation of the Relay shuttle service which operates Monday through Thursday, 10am to 2pm. If you have not already ridden it, I encourage you to utilize this free electric shuttle service that runs from the Dunn Loring Metro Station to the Mosaic District.
- FCDOT Director will enter into an agreement with the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) to allow the Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project to continue to advance as quickly as possible. This project is planned as a high performing BRT service that connects the Mark Center in the City of Alexandria to Tysons via Falls Church, Seven Corners, and Bailey's Crossroads).
- The Board voted to amend the zoning ordinance to establish regulations on running bamboo. This ordinance allows for a civil penalty of $50 for the first violation and $200 for each subsequent violation. For a case to be opened, a resident must first report a potential violation to the Department of Code Compliance. This new ordinance will take effect on January 1, 2023.
To access the full Board Package and watch the meeting on demand, click here. |
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Clothing Donations for Ukrainian Refugees |
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According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than three million residents of Ukraine have fled their country due to the Russian invasion. More than two million have arrived in neighboring Poland.
In the past, the residents and businesses of Northern Virginia have been extraordinarily generous to those people in need. In 2013 the region donated nearly 14 tons of blankets and coats to Syrian refugees who fled to Turkey as the result of violence in their home country.
The need today is just as great.
This campaign kicked off yesterday and we are asking for donations, please, of new/gently-used coats, new blankets, new pairs of sweat socks/heavy socks, and new pairs of gloves no later than April 15 as the items must then be boxed and secured for shipping. Please bring your donations to the Providence Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive. For more information and a list of donation locations, please click here.
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Older adults and people with disabilities may qualify for tax relief, including Real Estate Tax, and Personal Property (car) Tax. Qualified taxpayers also may be eligible for tax relief for renters. The deadline to renew tax relief applications is May 2, 2022. The deadline for first-time applicants and certain hardship cases is December 31.
In addition, I will be hosting tax relief workshops at my office where staff from the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) will be available to assist with filling out the 2022 tax relief application form, as well as answering questions. Because of the detrimental effect of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations, the in-person workshops are limited to appointment only.
When: March 31 and April 1, 9:30am to 12:30pm
Where: 3001 Vaden Drive, 2nd Floor, Fairfax, VA 22031
Schedule an appointment: Call 703-324-2550
More information can be found here.
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FCPL's Staff Excellence Awards & Schedule Modification |
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The Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Board of Trustees recently honored several staff members with its annual Staff Excellence Awards.
Library users nominated their favorite staff members last month, and a board committee selected winners from nearly 150 nominations recognizing staff members from 12 branches and FCPL’s administrative services.
Congratulations to our winners in the Providence District!
- Christine Jones, branch manager at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library
- Elaine McRey, librarian at City of Fairfax Regional Library
- Shazia Shehryar, page manager at Oakton Library
- Maree Watkins, librarian at City of Fairfax Regionall Library
Thank you for all that you do!
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Effective through April 1, all regional and community Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) branches will be closed every Sunday and Monday. These branches will open with their regularly scheduled hours Tuesday through Saturday. To view a system map, listing of regional and community branches and their hours, please go here.
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495 NEXT Project Reaches Financial Close, Kicking Off Final Project Design and Construction
Financial close for the 495 NEXT project was reached on February 28 with Transurban securing financing for the $660 million project, allowing VDOT to issue a formal notice to proceed to Transurban and the project's design-build contractor, Lane Construction, for final engineering design and construction. On March 14, Governor Youngkin, along with Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller, state and local officials, and project partners, attended a groundbreaking ceremony to officially kick off construction.
As project activities increase over the coming months, the 495 NEXT project team will continue to engage with the public and surrounding stakeholders, providing opportunities to review the project's design refinements and sharing advance notice of construction plans and activities. Crews will continue to conduct early exploratory field activities such as surveying, and will begin to mobilize for full construction activities which are planned to start this summer.
To read more about the project and current and upcoming field work, please visit here. |
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The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) continuously evaluates bus service on Fairfax Connector and is conducting a second round of outreach on the ten-year Transit Strategic Plan (TSP). We want to hear from Fairfax County residents at two upcoming, online community input meetings and through an online survey. The TSP is a county-wide review of bus service and a plan for future service. FCDOT encourages residents to engage and share their ideas and concerns for the future of the Fairfax Connector bus system.
The TSP incorporates outreach results from short-term, sub-area studies that are being conducted in:
Upcoming Online Community Input Meetings and Survey Information
To join by phone: 571-429-5982 and enter access code: 758376280#
Public Meeting #2:Thursday, March 31, 7-9 p.m., Meeting Link
To join by phone: 571-429-5982 and enter access code: 567787236#
Public comments will be accepted until April 15, 2022.
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Crime Prevention Resources |
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Lock It or Lose It
There has been a crime spike in the Fair Oaks District. Unlocked vehicles are being entered and cars and personal items are being stolen. The Fair Oaks District Police Station are even seeing keys and key fobs left inside with the door unlocked.
Camera footage verifies that thieves are only targeting unlocked vehicles. More bad news is some insurance companies will not even cover the theft of the vehicle if the keys are left inside!
Please take an extra moment and make sure your vehicle is locked. When you are getting out of the vehicle, after dinner, before heading to bed, make it a routine and lock your doors.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) does not want anyone to approach those who are engaged in these activities, but we do want you to be a good neighbor by calling the police. We need your help in preventing crime.
Call 911 if you see a crime being committed or someone is in immediate danger. Call the non-emergency number, 703-691-2131, if you see something suspicious or if a crime has already been committed.
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Suspicious Auto Repair
The Fair Oaks District Police Station continues to see thefts of auto parts like wheels, tires and catalytic converters. The removal of these parts from cars takes considerable amount of planning and equipment. Targeted areas are parked cars in residential areas, including apartment complexes during the overnight hours. If you see something that looks out of the ordinary especially around parked cars, call the police.
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I was joined by School Board member Karl Frisch, Chief Financial Officer, Christina Jackson, FCPS Director of Budget Services, Alice Wigington, and Jeremy Hancock, Providence District Council President.
If you have additional input or questions, please feel free to email them to to [email protected] and we'll be sure to address them.
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Neighborhood & Community Services are Hiring! |
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The Providence Community Center is currently hiring activity facilitators. If you have any questions, 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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Congressman Connolly's Women's Roundtable Event
Since March is Women’s History Month, Congressman Connolly will be hosting a Women’s Health Roundtable on Friday, March 25 at 3pm. This roundtable will provide opportunities to discuss maternal health, reproductive health, and inequities in the healthcare space. It's critical that attention and awareness about disparities that women, and especially women of color, experience when it comes to health and access to care is better addressed. Highlights will include federal, state, and local action to tackle these disparities in women’s health and get insight from attendees that help shape policies and legislation.
Register in advance for this meeting:
Submit questions for the panel of speakers:
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Police vs. Fire Charity Ice Hockey Game
Join the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) on Friday, March 25 at SkateQuest, 1800 Michael Faraday Court in Reston, for a hockey team face off. This game is being played to raise awareness and funds for Blue and Red H.E.L.P. These organizations support mental health and suicide prevention for first responders. The puck drops at 6 p.m. Admission to the game is free.
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Police Chief Davis' message |
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Fire Chief Butler's message |
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Grocery Shoppers Needed
Do you drive your own car? You can help get groceries for an isolated older person or person with disabilities. Drivers are needed to take them, or to go the grocery store on their behalf. Alternatively, you can also help someone set up an online grocery store delivery/pick-up order, and do the pick-up if necessary. There are various options to make a big difference! Volunteers do NOT pay for groceries. The timeframe is flexible, approximately two hours/every other week.
To begin the registration process, click here and select "Sign Up" then "New Volunteer." If you have any questions about volunteer opportunities or the registration process, please feel free to contact: [email protected]
Please note that proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required.
Minimum age: 18
More information can be found here.
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NV Rides Volunteer Drivers for Senior Program
Do you want to help your community, but you think you don’t have enough time to make a meaningful contribution? Stop. Right. There. There are neighbors you can help right now. They are older adults isolated in their homes because they can no longer drive. You can help them right now by becoming a volunteer driver. A volunteer driver is driven by compassion. All you need is a car and a few hours of spare time to make miles of impact. To become a volunteer click here.
More information about this program can be found here.
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Volunteer Market Manager
Fairfax County Farmers Market is recruiting volunteers who are enthusiastic about local food and community health to help manage one of their 10 markets in Fairfax County.
The locations for these markets are Annandale, Burke, Kingstowne, Lorton, Mt. Vernon, McLean, Oak Marr and Wakefield.
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Virginia Chamber Orchestra (VCO) and William & Mary Symphony Orchestra (WMSO) in Concert
The William & Mary Symphony Orchestra, whose past tours included Paris and the Kennedy Center, will join the VCO for Dvorak’s cheerful Symphony No. 8, inspired by Bohemian folk melodies.
Violinist Benny Netzer, winner of the Symphony’s Concerto Competition, will be featured in the Allegro moderato from Wieniawski’s popular and romantic Violin Concerto in D minor.
The WMSO will perform the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and the VCO will perform "Quiet City" by the beloved American composer Aaron Copland
When: Saturday, March 26 at 8pm
Where: Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, VA
Tickets can be purchased here.
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Shop Local at the PARC
Who's ready to Shop Local? This weekend, come and shop at the Shop Local Market at the PARC from 12 pm - 5 pm on Saturday, March 26th. We hope to see you there!
Location: The PARC at Tysons-
8508 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
For more information, click here. |
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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Save the Date! Saturday, April 30 is National Drug Take Back Day! Safely dispose of your unused or expired medications at any of the FCPD Stations between 10am and 2pm. For a full list of Police stations, visit here.
Fair Oaks District Station – 12300 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax
Mason District Station – 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale
McLean District Station – 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean
This initiative, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), educates our community about the potential for abuse of prescription medications while providing a safe, convenient, and responsible means for disposing unused and expired medication.
For more information about the Drug Take Back Initiative, visit here.
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Art Blooms at Mosaic
Mark your calendars! Mosaic is in full bloom for National Cherry Blossom Festival with a two-day 'Art Blooms at Mosaic' festival on April 2 and 3 from 11am to 6pm featuring:
For more information, please visit here. |
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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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