Dear Residents,
I hope this finds you well, and enjoying the beautiful fall weather!
At Tuesday's meeting, the Board voted to adopt a Collective Bargaining Ordinance that would permit collective bargaining for County employees. We heard from over 60 County employees and residents during our public hearing, and voted on a final decision this week. This does not include FCPS employees. The Board also authorized staff to advertise a public hearing on November 9 to consider 64 alternative plans prepared by the 2021 Redistricting Advisory Committee and members of the public.
With the beautiful weather, we can also look forward to exciting events to enjoy in the coming days: Friday/Saturday is the next Tysons Block Party at the PARC (8508 Leesburg Pike), the Virginia Chamber Orchestra's debut at Capital One Hall, VCO: An Evening in Italy (capitalonehall.com), and on Monday, I will help kick off the Healthy Together Fairfax Virtual Summit. Looking ahead, October 30th brings the return of the Providence Community Day with a haunted house, music, games, food, a cake walk, and more. If you'd like to attend or volunteer, more info is below. Very importantly, I plan to Vote Early at the Providence Community Center, which begins today from 12PM-7PM, through October 30th.
Lastly, I wanted to share updates and plans on the preparation for the anticipated Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses and vaccinations for children ages 5-11.
You can find the following Providence District updates below in this newsletter:
- Early Voting
- COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
- Board Meeting Highlights
- James Lee Historical Marker Unveiling Video
- Confederate Names Task Force
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Inova Blood Donations
- Transportation Updates
- Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
With gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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Early Voting at the Providence Community Center
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Another 13 early voting sites will open beginning TODAY, Thursday, October 21 through Saturday, October 30, including the Providence Community Center at 3001 Vaden Drive. This location will be open on weekdays from 12PM to 7PM and some weekends, including October 23, 24, and 30, from 9AM to 5PM.
COVID protocols at satellites will be the current CDC and County Health Guidelines. Absentee voters who choose to vote in person at a satellite office should bring and surrender the ballot they received by mail.
For a full list of early voting sites and hours, please go here.
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Supervisor Palchik receiving her COVID-19 Vaccine Booster at the
Tysons Community Vaccination Center
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Booster Dose Updates
The FDA is expected to make an announcement today regarding authorization of a booster shot of the Moderna vaccine for people 65 and older and for people at higher risk of COVID-19, and an extra shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people 18 and older. We are also expecting their guidance on allowing the mixing and matching of COVID-19 booster doses among the three U.S. manufacturers — Pfizer, Moderna and J&J. Vaccine experts convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to take up the FDA decisions and make their own recommendations today.
If you have not received your COVID-19 Vaccine or the booster, I strongly encourage you to do so. The Tysons Community Vaccination Center (7950 Tysons Corner Center) is open from 10AM to 7:30PM, Monday through Saturday. There are plenty of open appointments, and walk-ins are also welcome.
Vaccination Opportunities for Children, Ages 5-11
The other pending issue at the FDA is authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, which could happen this month or early November. If authorized, children ages 5-11 will receive two 10-microgram doses, which is 1/3 of the amount given to those 12 years old and older. Despite the lower dose, vaccinated 5-11-year-olds produce similar antibody levels as adults who received the higher dose. Vaccine doses are expected to be given 21 days apart.
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Polio Awareness: Since 1988, cases of polio have dropped by 99.9 percent and the world stands at the threshold of eradicating the disease. The Board proclaimed October 24 as Polio Awareness Day to provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the continuing efforts toward a polio-free world and honor the tireless contributions of those on the frontlines in the fight to eradicate polio.
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Cornerstones 50th Anniversary: Formerly known as Reston Interfaith, Cornerstones celebrated its 50th anniversary in September. The Board welcomed Cornerstones and and thanked them for becoming a crucial human services provider and advocate for our neighbors in need.
- Board Matters:
- Recognizing Bob Bermingham - with Chairman McKay
- First Baptist Church of Merrifield's 151st Anniversary - with Chairman McKay
- Plant NOVA Trees Campaign - with Supervisors Gross and Storck
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Collective Bargaining: The Board previously held a public hearing on October 5 on a Collective Bargaining ordinance that would permit collective bargaining for County employees. This does not include FCPS employees. In a historic moment, at Tuesday's meeting, we voted 9-1 to adopt a Collective Bargaining ordinance that will permit collective bargaining for County employees for the first time in 44 years. This ordinance, crafted through a rigorous public input process, will ensure our hardworking County employees always have a seat at the table over the most important issues affecting their lives. A strong Collective Bargaining ordinance will allow Fairfax County to attract top talent, to ensure excellent services to all residents, and to stay competitive around the region.
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Redistricting Public Hearing: The Board authorized advertisement of a public hearing on November 9 at 3PM on the 64 alternative plans prepared by the 2021 Redistricting Advisory Committee and members of the public. To see the full redistricting schedule, please go here. To review the proposed redistricting maps, please go here.
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Westpark Drive Rezoning: The Board held a public hearing on RZ 2020-PR-008 (Westpark Corporate Center, L.L.C.) and RZ 2020-PR-009 (TMG 8400 Westpark Drive, L.P.) and heard from three individuals. We voted to defer decision to November 9 at 3:30PM and the record will remain open for additional testimonies.
To review the full Board Package, please go here.
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James Lee Historical Marker Unveiling
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I was honored and humbled to be a part of the unveiling ceremony for the James Lee Elementary School Historical Marker on October 2nd.
James Lee Elementary School, which opened in 1949 as a segregated school, and operated until desegregation finally arrived in Fairfax County in 1966, was the first modern school for African Americans in Fairfax County. From that first day on, it has served a special place in the hearts of our Fairfax community members, and in particular our African American community. Hearing the words from former students of the School and from the descendants of James Edward Lee was a powerful reminder of our history.
While the original building lives on in our James Lee Community Center, a Historical Marker will canonize the sacred contribution of the James Lee Elementary School to Fairfax County’s history and its continued impact on our present.
Watch the 16 Around Fairfax: James Lee School Historical Marker video.
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Confederate Names Task Force
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The Fairfax County Confederate Names Task Force wants to hear from county residents on whether Lee (Route 29) and Lee-Jackson Memorial (Route 50) highways should get new names. Residents will find a countywide mailer in their mailbox this month to encourage feedback on this issue.
Share your thoughts on this topic with the task force through Friday, November 12, in the following ways:
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Taking a survey online. Printed copies are available at Fairfax County Public Libraries and Supervisor district offices.
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Emailing comments to DOTConfederateNamesTaskForce@fairfaxcounty.gov.
- Mailing comments to Fairfax County Department of Transportation, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033.
- Calling Fairfax County Department of Transportation at 703-877-5600.
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Attending a listening session to share your thoughts on this topic. Please go here to see the full schedule.
Thursday, October 28, 7-8:30PM
- Providence Community Center, 3001 Vaden Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031
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Public Transit Access: Metrobus Route 2B
Saturday, October 30, 10-11:30AM
The task force will review feedback from the online survey, community listening sessions and submitted comments before making a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors in December.
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
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Domestic violence is a community issue. Let’s work together to help reduce domestic violence by maintaining healthy and respectful relationships, educating others about the dangers of domestic violence and by calling for help if you suspect someone is being abused.
While every relationship is different, the commonality within all abusive relationships is the varying ways abusers gain power and control over the survivor or victim. No one deserves to experience abuse of any kind. If you are worried about your safety or the safety of someone you care about, reach out to the Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services 24-Hour Hotline 703-360-7273.
Show your support for survivors and victims of domestic violence by joining in National Day of Action Today, October 21 for #PurpleOut by wearing purple, posting a selfie and showing your commitment to promoting healthy relationships.
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Inova in Urgent Need for Blood Donations
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Local blood supplies have reached critically low levels, creating a potential crisis with hospitals operating at maximum capacity, Inova Health Systems reports. The dangers of this imbalance between supply and demand became painfully clear last week, when the nonprofit health care system drained its Type B supplies and had to switch to Type O blood in order to stabilize one patient, according to an Inova spokesperson, who described the current need for blood donors as “urgent.”
Inova is seeking donors of all blood types, but it is especially in need of Type B and O blood. As of Thursday, October 14, Inova was completely out of both B-negative and AB-negative blood, with just 10 of the 90 B-positive units needed in stock, according to its red blood cell inventory.
For those interested in donating, Inova has three brick-and-mortar donor centers in Centreville, Annandale, and Sterling, along with bloodmobiles that travel throughout the region. Community organizations can also volunteer to host blood drives.
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I-495 SOUTHBOUND LANE CLOSURES NEXT TWO WEEKENDS IN TYSONS
Beginning last weekend and during the next two weekends, weather permitting, the left lane of the southbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Outer Loop) general purpose lanes will be closed along the three bridges over the Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) from 10PM Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays for bridge joint work.
During the weekends of October 15-18, October 22-25 and October 29-November 1, the two left lanes of the southbound I-495 general purpose lanes are scheduled to be closed overnight as follows:
- 11PM Fridays to 7AM Saturdays
- 11PM Saturdays to 7AM Sundays
- 11PM Sundays to 5AM Mondays
At least two lanes of the southbound I-495 general purpose lanes will remain open at all times each weekend. Also remaining open each weekend will be the southbound I-495 general purpose lanes ramp to the westbound Dulles Toll Road (Exit 45A), and the southbound I-495 ramp to eastbound Route 267 (Exit 45B). View this release online.
GALLOWS RD SOUTH SHIFTS TO NEW ALIGNMENT AT I-66 ON OR ABOUT OCT. 21; DEDMOLITION OF OLD GALLOWS RD BRIDGE PLANNED TO BEGIN OCT. 23
Southbound Gallows Rd. travel lanes will shift to a new Gallows Rd. bridge over I-66 during the daytime hours on or about Thursday, October 21. Pedestrian access across I-66 will shift to the sidewalk on the east side of Gallows Rd., with detours using the crosswalks at Cottage St. and Avenir Pl./Bellforest Dr.
Following this traffic shift, the current Gallows Rd. Bridge over I-66 will be demolished to allow for construction of the second portion of the new bridge. Demolition of the current bridge is anticipated to begin on or about Saturday, October 23, and is anticipated to require approximately 45 nights of demolition activity.
Northbound Gallows Rd. traffic shifted to the new bridge on October 14. Additional information and updates about demolition work and traffic closures will be provided on the project website.
What Neighbors Should Expect:
- Demolition work will begin on or about Saturday, October 23, with removal of the concrete bridge deck using jackhammers, saw cutters, and hoe rams, followed by removal of steel bridge beams.
- Work will begin on the span over the Dunn Loring Metrorail Station, and will progress northward toward the span over I-66 West.
- Most of the bridge is directly over I-66 or the Dunn Loring Metrorail Station and will need to be demolished during overnight hours when multiple lanes can be closed on I-66 and the Metrorail Station and tracks can be closed to safely accommodate this work.
- Demolition activities will occur during daytime hours when feasible to minimize impacts to the nearby communities.
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For updates on demolition progress visit transform66.org/gallowsroad.
What Drivers Should Expect:
Saturday, October 23, through Monday, October 25
I-66 West from I-495 to Gallows Road
- Three lanes will be closed Saturday night from 10PM to 6AM; Sunday night from 9PM to 5AM; and Monday night from 10PM to 5AM
- All lanes will reopen by 5AM daily (6AM Sunday).
Ramp from I-495 South to I-66 West
- The ramp will be reduced to one lane Saturday night from 10PM to 6AM; Sunday night from 9PM to 5AM; and Monday night from 10PM to 5AM
- All lanes will reopen by 5AM daily (6AM Sunday).
Ramp from 495 Express Lanes North to I-66 West
- The ramp will be closed Saturday night from 10PM to 6AM; Sunday night from 9PM to 5AM; and Monday night from 10PM to 5AM
- Overhead variable message boards will direct traffic to alternate routes.
- The ramp will reopen by 5AM daily (6AM Sunday).
Tuesday, October 26, through Thursday, October 28
I-66 East from Cedar Lane to Gallows Road
- Three lanes will be closed from 10PM to 5AM each night.
- All lanes will reopen by 5AM
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Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
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Tysons Block Party at The PARC
I am excited to invite you to this month's Tysons Block Party at The PARC! Celebrate Fairfax is bringing a Festival favorite to this 2-day event - the Silent Disco!
Friday, October 22, will start at 4PM with local brews and lawn games, and then at 7PM we turn up the tunes “silently” and dance to our hearts content.
Saturday, October 23, afternoon is full of family Fall activities - pumpkin painting, balloon twisting, wiggle cars, and local makers. Then we change the mood and switch back to dance party central at 7PM! More info to come, make sure you are following Celebrate Fairfax on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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Healthy Together Fairfax Virtual Summit
Please join me as I kick off the Healthy Together Fairfax Virtual Summit 2021 on Monday, October 25 at noon. This will bring together community organizations and individuals wishing to promote healthy environments and active living. This event, from October 25-28, is comprised of four 90-minute sessions, each focusing on one of the four wellness tracks, is free and held virtually on zoom. Zoom links will be sent to you in a follow-up email. To see the schedule and register, click here.
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National Drug Take Back Day
Safely dispose of your unused or expired medications at any of the locations below between 10AM and 2PM on Saturday, October 23. To find a collection site near you, click here. For more information about the Drug Take Back Initiative, click here
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Food For Others
Food For Others is seeking volunteers to fight food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exasperated hardships for thousands of families across what is one of the affluent regions in the United States. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact RSVP Volunteer Specialist, Shannon White, at swhite@volunteerfairfax.org to help join the battle against food insecurity. For more information you may visit here.
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Providence Community Center's Community Day and Haunted House
Providence Community Center is looking for volunteers to help out with their Community Day and Haunted House that will be on Saturday, October 30, from 11AM-3PM. Anyone 13 and older is welcome to sign up to be a volunteer and can do so here.
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Fair Housing Public Forum
Fairfax County invites you to attend a community forum to participate in the Regional Fair Housing Plan and provide input on housing issues important to you and your community. The meeting will be held on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 28, 6:30PM-8PM. It is FREE and open to the public via zoom. To register please go here.
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Learn to Ride Cycling Class in Tysons
Never learned to ride a bike or need a refresher? Tysons Partnership has teamed up with Washington Area Bicyclist Association to provide expert instruction on all the basics to send you safely off on two wheels. Join their “Learn to Ride” class (for adults 18+) on Sunday, October 24, 10AM-1PM at the MITRE campus parking lot (7525 Colshire Dr, Tysons, VA 22102). For more details and to register, go here.
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Virginia Chamber Orchestra: An Evening in Italy
Celebrating 50 years of professional performances, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra makes its debut in Tysons at Capital One Hall on Saturday, October 23 joined by stellar pianist Brian Ganz as guest artist. In his first appearance since being awarded an International Conducting Competition Prize in Atlanta, conductor David Grandis and VCO musicians will take you on a tour of the Mediterranean in this light and refreshing chamber concert. Enjoy Mendelssohn’s "Italian" Symphony, Rossini’s Overture to the Italian Girl in Algiers, and Fauré’s Pavane. For more details and to buy tickets, go here.
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National Make a Difference Day at the Oakton Community Park
October 23 is National Make a Difference Day and the Greater Oakton Community Association is gathering to make a difference at the Oakton Community Park. You are invited to join plant daffodil bulbs and remove non-native invasive species. For more details and to register, go here.
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello.
Office Phone: (703) 560-6946
Email us HERE if you would like events included in our newsletter or you would like a member of our team to join your HOA meeting.
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