April 2, 2025

Neighbors,

On Saturday, I joined a community celebration for the pending transition of the old Patrick Henry Library to a new and improved branch at the same location on Maple Avenue in Vienna.

The future Vienna-Carter Library is a joint project between Fairfax County and the Town of Vienna, and it was a pleasure to be with members of the Carter family, Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert, Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees, staff and residents to celebrate the past and future of this important community facility in the heart of Vienna.

First opened at its current location in 1971, Patrick Henry is one of the busiest branches in the county’s library system. It’s circulated more than 25 million items, and it’s estimated that 12 million people have visited the library since its opening with nearly 170,000 people who have attended programs there during the past two decades.

After 54 wonderful years, however, the time has come for a new and improved library. The Vienna-Carter Library will be a state-of-the-art facility with 19,000 square feet that includes a 209-space parking structure on the existing site. This four-level garage will provide 125 spaces for library customers and staff, plus an additional 84 public spaces arranged by the Town of Vienna. This green project aims to achieve a 50% energy reduction over current standards. The project’s net-zero energy design — the first such building in Vienna — will use all electrical systems and equipment, and the building includes geothermal heating and cooling.

With a new library comes a new name. Last year, the library board decided to rename the new facility after the Carter family. Lillian and William McKinley Carter, prominent African American citizens, were instrumental in procuring a county library branch to serve everyone in Vienna. Before their efforts, the existing private Vienna library had a “whites only” policy. Thanks to the Carter’s leadership, the integrated Patrick Henry Library first opened in the Vienna Shopping Center in 1962.

Patrick Henry will close in mid- to late May, but starting this summer, you’ll be able to use a temporary library at the Cedar Park Shopping Center. At this location, you will be able to browse a small collection of books, pick up holds, return books, access public wi-fi (although no public computers will be available), and enjoy some limited programing such as story times.

It’s anticipated that construction will begin on the Vienna-Carter Library later this summer, and the building is expected to open in the summer of 2027. I can’t wait!



Regards,

Walter

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In This Edition

• Register for the 5th Annual Tour de Hunter Mill
• RELAC Plans to Provide Cooling This Summer
• New Homeless Shelter Capacity Provided at Fair Ridge and Embry Rucker
• VDOT Repaving Meeting April 8
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

Register for the 5th Annual Tour de Hunter Mill 

Are you ready to pedal the scenic trails and bike-friendly avenues in the Hunter Mill District? Saddle up for the 5th annual Tour de Hunter Mill. It’s a community bike ride for people of all ages and abilities, including families and kids. You can enjoy either a short route (11 miles) or long route (25 miles). New for this year, we’re offering team registrations for the first time. Come experience the best of Hunter Mill District on two wheels and make memories with your friends, family or teammates.

As the temperatures begin to heat up, there’s news for the roughly 600 residences and businesses at Lake Anne that get air-conditioning from the Reston/Lake Anne Air Conditioning Corporation (RELAC).

In December, 2023 RELAC — a private utility — informed its customers that it planned stop operating, an announcement which started a series of events that are too long to list here. Ultimately RELAC services continued through 2024. Most recently RELAC reported that it may have found a new company to operate the system this summer. This news comes after SpringRELAC — the operator that sprang up to save the system early in 2024, and did so through last summer — announced last week that it wouldn’t operate RELAC this season.

RELAC owner and President Mark Waddell stated in email sent to customers on Monday:

“We are speaking with David McAfee the President of Innovative Mechanical Systems, Inc. Dave’s company operated the RELAC system last year so he understands the system.

Innovative Mechanical Systems is interested in owning and operating the utility. There is

still time to get everything up and running before the 2^nd consecutive 80 degree day in May.

As Dave and I continue our talks about this transfer he has offered to pay for Lamont Wilson to start filling up the system which is the first step. And I have agreed to let that happen.”

If you are a RELAC customer and haven’t received any communications from RELAC, please email Mark Waddell to learn more.

This month the county is opening a new shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Called the Fair Ridge Shelter, the building is the former Extended Stay America hotel at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive near the intersection of West Ox Road and Route 50.

The Board of Supervisors purchased the property with $14.7 million in federal funds, and the new shelter will offer 85 beds for families. As of yesterday, 10 families moved out of the Embry Rucker Shelter to relocate to Fair Ridge. As a result, this opened up 46 new beds for individuals at the Embry Rucker Shelter which were filled starting last night.

While this clearly does not fully meet the need, it is a major step forward in providing shelter capacity to individuals in the northern half of Fairfax County who need it. As the county faces a very challenging budget — with $60 million in budget cuts for FY 2026 under active consideration — I’m also proud that we are making this investment in new shelter services to help people who are experiencing homelessness.

Fairfax County and VDOT will hold a virtual public information meeting on Tuesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. to discuss planned and proposed paving, stripping and crosswalk projects in Hunter Mill District. (This is a joint meeting with the Braddock and Providence Districts.) Share your feedback during the meeting, and you’ll have an opportunity to provide comments afterwards too.

As I noted in my newsletter last month, every year, VDOT repaves roads across the county starting in the spring, and this work may also include limited bike lane, shoulder and crosswalk improvements with signs and markings. The county’s Department of Transportation reviews VDOT’s draft paving plan to identify opportunities for these kinds of potential improvements.

View this online map to see the roads planned for repaving.

What's News in Vienna

Usher in the spring season with a little spring cleaning. Join volunteers for Vienna’s first Town Cleanup Day of the year, Saturday, April 5 at 9 a.m. on the Vienna Town Green. Groups will be assigned to different locations in town that need attention (supplies will be provided). Preregistration by email is recommended but not required.

🎉 Celebrate Reston (formerly Founder’s Day) on April 5 at Lake Anne Plaza will offer community performances, a book fair, vendors, exhibits and family-friendly activities.

🚙 Visit The Boro in Tysons for coffee and a car show at their April 6 Sandlot Cars &

Coffee event.

🐦 Take a bird walk at Bright Pond on April 6 in an event sponsored by RA and the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance.

👩🏽‍💼 Participate in a virtual 50+ Employment Expo on April 10.

📽️ Watch “Barnum,” a film of this musical’s live production in 1986, at RCC on April 11.

😄 Watch Northern Virginia’s top improv troupes perform on April 7 at RCC Hunters Woods. 

🌎 Participate in Clean Fairfax’s Earth Daze on Saturday, April 12 at Aslin Beer Company with sustainability workshops, food, and of course, beer.

🎭 Watch the play “Paper Dreams” at 1^st Stage Theatre on April 18-19, sponsored by The Tysons Community Alliance.

🎸 Listen to The Band, a Bob Dylan tribute group, and the Capital Wind Symphony Chamber perform “Mr. Tambourine Man” on April 11 at Capital One Hall.

📽️ Watch a free screening of Disney’s movie “Up!” at Window Plaza at Reston Town Center on April 19, and the first 50 guests will get a free blanket.

🍃 Attend Vienna’s Green Expo on April 24 to get guidance on native plants and green landscaping, interact with live birds of prey and learn from experts on sustainable practices.