Having trouble viewing this email? View as Webpage

May 2025

Dear Christine,

While I do my best to keep this newsletter focused on "Good News," I would be remiss not to mention the heartbreaking loss that our community has experienced in the past week. It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Gerry was a fierce advocate, visionary leader and friend. From his early days on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to his years of leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, Gerry dedicated his life to the people of Northern Virginia. His passing leaves a deep void in our community and in the hearts of those who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Gerry liked to call me "Danny", he was always the quintessential Irishman.

Though his congressional district included only a small portion of the Mount Vernon District, every year he made it a priority to attend our Annual Town Meeting in person. He always arrived with critical federal updates, heartfelt reflections, and, of course, a case of his favorite New England Moxie soda! These meetings mattered to him, and he made sure we knew it. His presence, time and again, showed how much he valued transparency, accessibility and a genuine connection with the people he served.

It is difficult to fully capture the scope of Gerry’s contributions to our community. Something we always connected on was the protection and preservation of our environment and business-friendly County. When he served as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, he led efforts to preserve over 1,500 acres of parkland and championed the vision that at least 10% of the County’s land should be dedicated to parks and open space. Gerry is recognized as the “father” of the 41-mile Cross County Trail, which helps to connect all of us in the County, and he helped create the County’s first 20-year environmental plan. He also championed ideas like off-leash dog parks, got rid of the property tax stickers and secured critical funding for long-awaited projects such as the South County Middle School. Our County is stronger, greener and more united because of Gerry’s vision and service. 

I extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, and we are so grateful for the incredible legacy he leaves behind. We will miss his laughter, wisdom, passion and most of all, his presence. Thank you, Gerry, for always showing up, for everyone.

We also tragically lost two community members due to the storm that severely impacted our District on Friday, May 16. Dr. Marla Holden and Juliana Kai Russell were struck by falling trees on the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) and at Frye Road and Pole Road. Dr. Holden was the Director of Project Management at George Washington's Mount Vernon, where she worked in historic preservation, and Juliana was a teacher at Edison High School. Please continue to keep all those impacted by these heartbreaking tragedies in your thoughts and prayers.

The storm also brought major damage to our streets and homes, including 15 trees that fell on the GWMP and dozens more that were severely damaged. Thank you to everyone for your patience when the GWMP was closed and thank you to our first responders for your quick work to get our community back up and running. As we recover and reflect on the storm’s impact, our collective responsibility and the need to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness is more important than ever.

Respectfully yours in public service,

Dan Storck

Supervisor, Mount Vernon District

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Healthy 4 You

Small Business Showcase

Yafa Mediterranean Grille

A flavorful new addition has arrived in Lorton! Yafa Mediterranean Grille (9033 White Spruce Way) is serving up fast casual middle eastern cuisine in Liberty Market, with flame-grilled kebabs, warm house-baked pita, fresh salads and creamy hummus made from scratch. This family-owned spot brings generations-old recipes to life. Stop by Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. or Sundays from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Coming soon, try out brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

If you have a local business you would like to see featured here, please email mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov and tell us about it.

Community Information & Events

Early In-Person Voting and What You Need to Know for the June 17 Democratic Primaries

Early in-person voting is happening now at our Mount Vernon Governmental Center and starting on June 7 at the Lorton Community Center for the June 17 Democratic Primaries. In-person voting and ballot drop box times are:

• Available until June 14
• Weekdays: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturdays June 7 and 14: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Closed on Memorial Day

Learn more.

ArtsFairfax Artist Call: Lorton Police Station & Animal Shelter Sculpture

ArtsFairfax, in partnership with our office, is seeking an artist or artist team to design, fabricate and install a permanent sculpture at the Lorton Police Station and Animal Shelter that will signal the site’s offering of hospitality, safety and community engagement. This location offers visibility and a unique opportunity to create impactful public art that will represent a point of pride at a high traffic Fairfax County facility. Learn more.

Countywide Strategic Plan Launches New Environment & Energy Dashboard 

The Environment & Energy dashboard is the seventh dashboard now published to support the implementation of the Fairfax Countywide Strategic Plan. The dashboard presents information about promoting air, water and land quality and supporting sound environmental policy and practices as indicators. Learn more.

National Public Works Week: May 18-24

National Public Works Week (NPWW) is an annual event recognized in the Public Works industry during the third week in May. This year’s NPWW theme is “People, Purpose, Presence”. According to APWA, these signify the “…three cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve in their communities every day.” Learn more.

Get Clued in to the FCPS and Safe Routes to School Puzzle Hunt

FCPS and Safe Routes to School return with an engaging activity to help get families outside this summer. The Fairfax County Puzzle Hunt, which begins Sunday, June 1, will offer online puzzles that lead to a location in Fairfax County and additional clues toward the final puzzle. Participants who submit the final answer will be entered into a chance to win a prize. Learn more.

Nature Thursdays

Thursday, June 5 , 10:30 a.m. 

Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck

Strap on your explorer boots and join Gunston Hall for Nature Thursdays in June! Your preschool-aged ecologists will join Gunston Educators for a themed storytime and a guided nature hike to traverse the woods and waterways on the grounds of Gunston Hall. Exciting exploratory activities will help preschoolers gain essential skills including preschool readiness, respect for our environment, gross and fine motor refinement, self expression and more! Each monthly session will explore a different theme related to exploring the natural world around us, June's theme is Summer! Learn more.

FCPD Welcomes Graduates from Session 88

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is proud to announce the graduation of Session 88. This group of newly sworn officers brings a diverse range of knowledge, skills and life experiences that will enrich the department and the community. Session 88 consists of 38 Officers, 29 of whom will serve as Fairfax County Police Officers. Among them, 27 are college graduates, including one recruit who holds a Master of Business Administration. Three were college athletes, having played baseball, lacrosse and soccer. Additionally, our new officers bring a rich diversity of linguistic skills, speaking a total of 8 different languages: Arabic, Spanish, Hindi, Pashtu, Urdu, Punjabi, Yoruba and Krio. Learn more.

The Future of Work Institute

Friday, June 6

WISH Center, 7950 Audubon Ave, Alexandria

Job seekers, employers and community partners are invited to attend the FREE Future of Work Institute! The event will include in-person workshops with food, child care and transportation. Spanish Interpretation will be provided. Choose from three sessions:

• Morning Session for Job Seekers
• Afternoon Session for Job Seekers
• All-Day Session for Partners

Registration closes on May 30!

I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study Public Hearing

Monday, June 9, 6-8 p.m.

West Potomac High School Cafeteria, 6500 Quander Road

Learn about and provide comments on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) recommended preferred alternative for the I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study by attending a public hearing. VDOT is conducting an Environmental Assessment evaluating the potential extension of the express lanes system on the southern section of the Capital Beltway (I-495) by 11 miles from the Springfield Interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495), across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, to the MD 210 Interchange in Prince George’s County. There will be a total of four hearings and the same presentation and information will be provided at each. Individual questions will be addressed during the open house portion of the hearing, but not during the formal comment session following the presentation.

• Individuals providing comments will be asked to limit their remarks to no more than three minutes.
• Organizations will be asked to select one individual to speak for the group.
• All attendees will have the opportunity to provide their comments to the court reporter or submit a written comment form.

Learn more.

Six More Things to Know

1. Revolutionary War 250: 2025 Symposium
2. Police Civilian Review Panel Meeting - June 5
3. Exceptional Design Award Submissions: Now Accepted Through June 17
4. County Cybersecurity Leader Secures Top 25 Nationwide Listing
5. Hands Only CPR Can Save Lives
6. What’s new at farmers markets in the Mount Vernon District!

MVD Project Updates

Mount Vernon Rec Center Updates

The Mount Vernon Rec Center renovation and expansion project is almost ready to open to the public in early June! While the construction team and Park Authority finish up the final touches to make sure it is ready for you, check out all the amazing upgraded features and services the center will have, here. While the center is set to open in early June, the pool will not open until late summer due to unforeseen construction issues. Follow @fairfaxparks on FB and Instagram for project updates, or take a closer look at rec center progress here.

While the pool may be delayed, there's still plenty of summer fun to dive into. I am pleased to share that the George Washington Rec Center will keep its extended hours through the summer. And starting this weekend, the Martin Luther King, Jr. pool will open to the public and is FREE to all County residents with proof of residency. This pool features two slides and a children's wading pool. The pool will open Memorial Day Weekend and be open on Saturdays and Sundays only until Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) dismiss for the summer on June 11. The pool will be closed on Tuesdays during the summer break and return to weekends only once FCPS resumes classes in the fall. The last weekend the pool will be open is Labor Day weekend.

Ice Rink

Climbing Wall

Fitness Center

The Commons Mount Vernon Project Updates

The Commons Mount Vernon renovation and adaptive reuse project is continuing on schedule with an anticipated completion of Winter 2026. This month, construction crews continue to make steady progress on both the interior and exterior. Interior demolition and selective roof removal are ongoing throughout the buildings, along with the continued restoration of the historic steel windows. Crews will advance plumbing and installing sanitary piping in the crawl space and multiple building sections and new ductwork is being installed. On the exterior, site work includes utility installation, curb and gutter construction and the start of asphalt paving preparation for the southern parking lot. Foundations for the new Welcome Center are also underway. For additional work being done this month, the construction update can be viewed here.

Mount Vernon District Office | 703-780-7518

MTVernon@fairfaxcounty.gov | FairfaxCounty.gov/MountVernon

STAY CONNECTED