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Dear Neighbor,

This past Monday, I had the privilege of joining neighbors, community leaders, and the Adams family at the Great Falls Grange for the dedication of the newly named John J. Adams Memorial Bridge. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize John’s work and the lasting impact his efforts had on preserving Georgetown Pike. John played a central role in protecting the land that became Scotts Run Park and later helped secure Georgetown Pike’s designation as Virginia’s first Scenic and Historic Byway. His commitment to safeguarding the character of this corridor shaped the Great Falls and McLean we know today, and it was an honor to help recognize that legacy.

The dedication brought together many people who knew John well— including former Supervisor John Foust and Delegate Rip Sullivan. Fun fact: Delegate Sullivan actually went to high school with one of John’s daughters, so this moment was meaningful on both a community and a personal level. Above all, it was a pleasure to stand with the Adams family as we officially named the bridge over Difficult Run in John’s memory. 

On the topic of Great Falls, I want to invite you to our upcoming Town Hall on Wednesday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Great Falls Library, co‑hosted with the Great Falls Citizens Association. It’s a great chance to connect, and I hope you can make it. 

And as we head into the weekend, I’ll be around the Dranesville District—including a stop at the McLean Community Center for "Napoleon Dynamite" Live! A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries. If you’re there, I hope you’ll say hello (and that you’ll vote for Pedro!). 

All the best,

Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If this email was forwarded to you, consider subscribing to receive Dranesville District news and updates.

Make sure you’re following us on Social Media for daily and real-time updates:

Jimmy in the Community

Herndon Harbor House Residents Meeting

Friday Night Live

Rosie's Walk for Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Awareness

Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Library Book Sale

NextStop Theatre "Once"

Herndon Community Picnic

Maplewood HOA Annual Meeting

Fathers are vital in the upbringing of their children. Their impact is immeasurable. June is Fatherhood Awareness Month, and Fairfax County is taking this opportunity to celebrate fathers. Visit this webpage for information about upcoming Fatherhood Awareness Month events this June.

CPR & AED Awareness Week

Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals in the United States. Most occur in homes or public settings where immediate medical help is unavailable.

Yet only about 40% of cardiac arrest victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before emergency medical services arrive. Use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) is even lower, hovering just over 10%.

In an emergency, every second counts. During cardiac arrest — when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs — a victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10% for every minute without immediate CPR or defibrillation.

National CPR and AED Awareness Week (June 1–7) is a critical reminder: learning these lifesaving skills empowers anyone — at any age — to be the difference between life and death. For more information, including training opportunities, please visit CPR & AED Awareness Week.

The Department of Land Development Services (LDS) is making it faster and easier for businesses to invest in Fairfax County. LDS streamlined its Commercial Fast Track program, reducing permitting for eligible projects from 13 business days to two-three business days.

The goal is simple: help businesses move their projects forward without long delays. This is following the success of the department’s Residential Fast Track program, which recently helped residents see a reduced review time from five businesses days to one.

Learn more about improvements to the commercial fast track program and how this benefits the community here.

If you’ve noticed more electric bikes along our trails, neighborhoods, and at Capital Bikeshare stations, you’re not imagining it.

E‑bikes have become one of the most popular ways to get around our County. These battery‑assisted bicycles make it easier to climb hills, carry groceries, and take longer or more frequent trips without breaking a sweat. E‑bikes can also replace short car trips, the ones that often cause the most congestion. That’s good for the environment.

Of course, more people on e-bikes, regular bikes, or simply walking can make navigating our streets a little more challenging. For tips and rules, check out this article.

FCDOT's Active Transportation program publishes a monthly newsletter with events, safety features, transportation plans, projects and more. Read the May edition here and subscribe by visiting this webpage

America is celebrating its 250th birthday this year and Fairfax County offers plenty of ways to join the festivities. With activities and programs defined for residents of all ages, these events remind us how much of our nation’s history took place right here in our own backyard and allow us to memorialize the people, places, and moments that helped define Fairfax County today. Visit this webpage for more information.

FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE), with support from the ACE Foundation and private donors, is offering $1,000 scholarships for Skilled Trade Apprenticeship courses in Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC. The scholarship application window runs from June 15, 2026, through August 15, 2026, with awards applied directly toward tuition for approved FCPS ACE trade courses. The initiative reflects FCPS ACE’s continued investment in workforce development and expanding access to career training in high-demand industries. For more information and to apply, visit FCPS ACE Trades Apprenticeship Scholarship.

Cooling Assistance is a program designed to help keep vulnerable Fairfax County residents cool during the summer months. To be eligible, at least one household member must be: 60 or older, 5 or younger, or disabled according to Social Security, Medicaid or 100% Veteran’s Administration. 

Applications for Cooling Assistance will be accepted from June 15 - August 15, 2026. For more information, please visit this webpage.

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority is accepting waitlist applications for Project-Based Voucher units located at The Exchange at Spring Hill Station through Sunday, June 7, 2026. The Exchange at Spring Hill Station is currently under construction. The property has a limited number of Project-Based Voucher units. Applications for other affordable rentals at The Exchange at Spring Hill Station will become available in the forthcoming months. For more information, please visit this webpage.

The McLean District Station Police is partnering with SHARE of McLean to help increase donations during the months of June through September. This time of the year is especially challenging for families who don't have the resources of free/reduced meal programs in school. Your generosity can make a real difference in the lives of these children, families, and others.

The McLean District Station (1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean) is one of the collection points for non-perishable donations. There will be a donation box in the lobby where you can drop off items from June 1 - September 30. You can also bring donations to SHARE of McLean, located in the back of the McLean Baptist Church (1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean). The main entrance to SHARE is located at door #8 behind the Church. Please consider giving what you can.

Tomorrow: McLean Art Society Gallery Reception

Join the McLean Art Society as they welcome summer with “Water Stories,” a special exhibit on view June 3–28 at the McLean Art Gallery. Alongside “Water Stories,” visitors can explore the June gallery exhibition featuring more than 200 original works by local artists. The show includes paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, and mixed media, as well as drawing, photography, sculpture, and works in wood, glass, ceramics, and jewelry.

Celebrate the opening of the exhibition at their Opening Reception on Friday. Enjoy an evening of art, conversation, live music, wine, and light refreshments while meeting the artists behind the work. RSVP for free here.

Friday, June 5

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

McLean Art Gallery

6224 Old Dominion Drive

McLean

Head to downtown Herndon for Friday Night Live! — a free outdoor concert series featuring great live music and fun for all ages. Bring your friends, family, and a lawn chair and enjoy the perfect way to start your weekend.

Note that there is a special early start this week. Food, beer, and wine will be available on site. Concessions will open at 5:30 p.m. The opening act, Hijynx, starts at approximately 6:00 p.m. and the headliner, LauraLea & Tripp Fabulous, starts at approximately 8:00 p.m. Visit this webpage for more information about the bands and the summer 2026 lineup.

Friday, June 5

6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Herndon Town Green

777 Lynn Street

Herndon

Something broken at home? Found a hole in a much loved clothing item? Frustrated with your computer or phone? Repair Café can help - join for repairs and snacks.

Once a month, a group of volunteer repair experts bring their tools and knowledge to a library in Northern Virginia to provide repairs and advice for a variety of things. Some of the services they can provide are: 

• Sewing repairs,
• Small appliance repairs (i.e. lighting fixtures, cookware),
• Technology and computer help,
• Toy repairs,
• Jewelry repair,
• And more.

Childcare for children under 8 will be available. For any questions, please contact anicski@proton.me. Visit this webpage for more information.

Saturday, June 6

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Great Falls Library Conference and Meeting Rooms

9830 Georgetown Pike

Great Falls

Come for sunshine, fun, and colors! Join the Herndon Fortnightly Library on the Town Green. The story time will begin at 11:00 a.m. and chalk will be available to decorate the sidewalk. Enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes for the whole family at this interactive Storytime. All ages are welcome. Visit this webpage for more information.

Saturday, June 6

11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Herndon Town Green

777 Lynn Street

Herndon

Established by the American Hiking Society in 1993, National Trails Day is an annual event to celebrate trails with friends and loved ones, encourage stewardship of community hiking paths and raise awareness for trail preservation. 

In honor of National Trails Day, the Park Authority will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a trail improvement project at Brookfield Park. The project created approximately 1,400 linear feet of new natural surface trail enhancing accessibility, recreational opportunities, and connectivity for the surround community to the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail and Accotink Stream Valley Park. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to take part in a guided trail bike ride led by Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts, offering an opportunity to experience the new trail firsthand and learn more about local biking opportunities.

Visit National Trails Day for more event details.

Saturday, June 6

1:00 p.m.

Brookfield Park

7417 Floyd Avenue

Springfield

June 6: Monroe Street Studio Art Exhibition Open House

Join the Monroe Street Studio for their annual art exhibition open house this upcoming Saturday, June 6.

Monroe Street Studio is a unique, professional, and educational Art Studio based in Herndon, Virginia. Founder and Owner Yana Farmer is a professionally trained art teacher who created this art studio to share her passion for art with others. Monroe Street Studio welcomes students of all ages and skills to learn, create, and celebrate art in a personal and welcoming environment.

Saturday, June 6

3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monroe Street Studio

761A Monroe Street

Herndon

Pack up the family, a blanket, lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner or grab takeout at a local restaurant! Everyone is invited to gather at the gazebo on the Village Centre Green for a laid-back evening of good music and good times with your neighbors. 

Led by legendary keyboardist Bruce Katz, this acclaimed band blends blues, soul, jazz, and jam-band improvisation into a powerhouse live experience. Katz’s Hammond organ mastery and dynamic performances have earned him recognition as one of the premier keyboard players in modern blues.

Please note that dogs are not allowed at the Village Centre Green and no alcohol is permitted on the green.

Sunday, June 7

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Village Centre Green

754-C Walker Road

Great Falls

Celebrate voices of pride and progress with NoVa Prism Center by creating your own zine. This workshop series teaches the ins and outs of creating independent literature and art magazines, from the history of zine culture to exploring today's tools and techniques as you make your own one-page zine. This hands-on workshop includes all supplies, materials, and plenty of examples to inspire you. This program is intended for adults. Visit this webpage to register.

Tuesday, June 9

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library Meeting Room 2

7584 Leesburg Pike

Falls Church

How can we best use our income, savings, and investments to build wealth? How can we protect against common risks? What strategies can we use to avoid unnecessary taxes? In this session you'll learn the basics of building a solid financial plan for your family from financial advisor Eudora Zhang. For more details about the presenter and to register, visit this webpage.

Saturday, June 13

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dolley Madison Library Meeting Rooms 1 & 2

1244 Oak Ridge Avenue

McLean

Students across Fairfax County are invited to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month by participating in the Fairfax County Public Library's art contest! Youth are invited to draw inspiration from their families or their communities to portray the colorful, diverse County we share. Students will choose one of the following prompts for their art: 

• This is my family’s journey.  
• My cultural treasure box.  
• Home means...  
• Many cultures, one community.  

Artwork is accepted in any format but needs to be scanned or photographed and submitted via the online form by June 15. One submission per student. No AI art will be considered. Three winners will be selected per category: kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-6th grade, and 7th-12th grade. Winners will receive a prize and have their art displayed in an exhibit. Visit Where We Belong Art Contest for more information.

Herndon’s Tuesday night summer tradition is back for its second season!

Visit Town Hall Square for an evening of live music, lawn games, and community fun in the heart of downtown Herndon. Each week features talented local artists performing in a relaxed outdoor setting perfect for families, friends, and summer evenings spent together.

Bring your lawn chairs, gather your crew, and enjoy a casual night filled with music, connection, and community spirit. 

Tuesday, June 16

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Town Hall Square

730 Elden Street

Herndon

Free concerts are back at the McLean Central Park amphitheater! Grab your family and friends and enjoy live music every Thursday evening from June 18 to July 30 at 7 p.m.

Celebrate Juneteenth with an electrifying performance that will have you on the edge of your seat, er, blanket! The Pack Drumline’s renowned blend of southern show style drumming with intense upbeat choreography creates a production that is both powerful and awe-inspiring.

For more information, including inclement weather cancellations, please visit this webpage.

Thursday, June 18

7:00 p.m.

McLean Central Park Amphitheater

1468 Dolley Madison Boulevard

McLean

Learn, honor, and celebrate Juneteenth and Herndon's early African American community. Explore the vital roles of school and church in the Oak Grove community — and discover how those traditions of connection and resilience continue to shape our community today. For more information, please visit Juneteenth | Town of Herndon, VA.

Friday, June 19

10:30 a.m.

Town Hall Green

730 Elden Street

Herndon

VDOT: 495 NEXT Updates

Final Construction Activities on New Georgetown Pike Bridge

Following the traffic shift to the Georgetown Pike Bridge over I-495, crews will construct the bridge’s center median, a new sidewalk on the north side of the bridge, and the new I-495 bicycle and pedestrian shared-use trail on the south side of the bridge. Final bridge work will include paving and installation of lane markings, permanent traffic and pedestrian signals, and roadway signs. This work will require periodic day and nighttime lane closures on the bridge. All work on the new bridge is anticipated to be completed by late spring.

Once work is complete, the new Georgetown Pike Bridge will consist of six travel lanes (three lanes eastbound and three lanes westbound) for drivers, as well as improved access and connections for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Remaining Project Construction

Beyond work on and near the Georgetown Pike Bridge, final work to complete the 495 NEXT project includes:

• Constructing a 25-spot parking lot at the southeast corner of the Georgetown Pike Bridge and I-495 interchange, adjacent to Balls Hill Road and across from Cooper Middle School, for visitors to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and users of the new shared-use trail.
• Completing the shared-use trail, which will extend from Lewinsville Road to Live Oak Drive.
• Final paving along Balls Hill Road and Georgetown Pike, and rehabilitation of the existing I-495 overpasses that connect I-495 with the George Washington Memorial Parkway. 
• Revegetation throughout the project corridor.

You can read the latest 495 NEXT newsletter here.

Lane Closures & Traffic Changes Report for the upcoming week will be posted tomorrow at the 495 NEXT Lane Closures webpage. Sign up to get updates and alerts here.

Check out the 495 NEXT interactive map, project background, and more information by visiting 495NEXT.org. If you have any questions or concerns about the 495 NEXT project, please feel free to contact the project team at 495NorthernExtension@vdot.virginia.gov or 703-592-6430.

Travelers should stay informed and prepared by:

• Checking VA 511 by using 511virginia.org or via the mobile 511Virginia app
• Following VDOT on social media at:
• X (formerly Twitter): @VaDOTNOVA and @VaDOT
• Facebook: VDOT NOVA District
• Nextdoor: Virginia Department of Transportation
• Signing up for construction updates and alerts
• Calling the Construction Information Lane at 703-592-6430

The National Park Service has reached substantial completion of the north parkway rehabilitation project on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Some finishing work will continue into spring 2026 during off-peak travel hours. Motorists can expect travel impacts once crews begin rehabilitation efforts on the Route 123 Interchange bridge. Visit this webpage for more information.

Learn More & Stay Connected:

• To opt in to receive email updates about traffic, meeting notices and information about major milestones, please click here.
• To contact the project team, please e-mail the National Park Service.
• View recordings of informational public meetings on the public meeting webpage.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dranesville

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