August 29, 2024

Neighbors,

Women’s Equality Day was observed on Monday, commemorating the ratification of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote.

The struggle for voting rights took courage and persistence, and Fairfax County marks one of the important sites in the suffrage movement. Lucy Burns along with others were imprisoned in the former Occoquan Workhouse in Lorton. Their brutal treatment there helped to sway public opinion. (Although located outside Hunter Mill District, the Lucy Burns Museum at the Workhouse Arts Center and the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial at Occoquan Park are still worth a visit.)

It’s also especially important to honor the suffragists of color who faced both sexism and racism like Nellie May Quander who’s family has deep roots in Fairfax County. She was a Howard University graduate and first International President of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Quander marched in the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Parade with about 25 other Howard students in their caps and gowns. Of course, for African Americans like Quander, the fight continued until the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

As we reflect on the suffragists’ historic achievements, we must keep in mind that women today still face inequality in pay, education and well-being. To gain greater equality, we must understand the gaps and challenges that remain. This is why I, along with the Board of Supervisors, requested a report to look at both the successes and barriers facing women and girls in Fairfax County.

This effort builds upon the county’s social and racial equity policy called One Fairfax, and the Board of Supervisors’ even earlier creation of the Commission on Women in 1971.

There’s always more work to be done, but we should also celebrate the successes as we move forward towards a more equitable community.



Regards,

Walter

If you walk, run, bike, scooter or skateboard to commute, exercise or relax, take the ActiveFairfax survey. Help shape the future network of sidewalks, bike lanes, trails and streets, so they are safe, convenient and comfortable to get to the widest range of places on foot, bike or scooter.

Why it Matters: The county is creating a visionary transportation plan that puts a focus on pedestrians and bikers, not just drivers.

• The ActiveFairfax Transportation and Trail Network combines and updates the existing Countywide Trail Plan and Bicycle Master Plan.
• The long-term goal is for pedestrians and bicyclists to be accommodated on every street.
• Active transportation infrastructure serves people of all ages and abilities, improves traffic safety, reduces congestion, improves air quality and provides better and more equitable access to jobs and opportunities.

What’s Active Transportation: It’s defined as mainly human-powered travel including walking, biking, rolling (e.g. scooter, wheelchair, stroller), hiking, running and even horseback riding.

What’s New: The ActiveFairfax plan puts an emphasis on:

• Complete Streets: Designing streets so they are safe and comfortable for everyone who uses them, recognizing, for example, that pedestrians need light, shade, safer crossings and places to rest.
• Safe System Approach: Using multiple approaches to systemically prevent and minimize roadway injuries or deaths.
• Complete Networks: Creating a network where people can use multiple transportation options to get where they want to go, such as driving partway to their destination and then finishing their trip on foot.
• Planning for All Ages and Abilities: Focus on making sure the infrastructure is comfortable for everyone, like building wider sidewalks so people in wheelchairs or families pushing strollers can travel more easily.
• Context Sensitive Design: Looking where roads are located, such as in suburban or urban areas, as well as the traffic volumes, speed and number of lanes, recognizing that needs will vary based on the context.

How to Provide Input: Besides taking the online survey, you can also offer feedback through Dec. 20 by:

• Attending the scheduled virtual meetings or open houses, including on Thursday, September 12 at 6 p.m. at Dogwood Elementary School.
• Leaving a comment using the Interactive Network Map
• Calling 703-890-5898, project code 7268, to leave a recorded message with your comments.

I am so pleased that BeBe Nguyen was selected as the new Executive Director for the Reston Community Center, following a nationwide search. She offers deep connections to the community and a passion for service.

For those of you who don’t know her, Nguyen has worked at RCC for 17 years, most recently serving as deputy director. Learn more about her.

And, of course, I want to thank Leila Gordon for her leadership of RCC and untiring dedication to Reston for the past 16 years. She retires in December, and she will be deeply missed. I wish her all the best.

Reston Community Center is completing energy efficiency upgrades that will offset 260 metric tons of carbon dioxide generated by its current systems — that’s the equivalent of the energy used by 51 homes in a year.

Why it Matters: Fairfax County aims for its government operations to be carbon neutral by 2040, and energy use in buildings account for more than 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in the county.

• The county is systematically working to reduce energy use in its buildings when building or renovating them, as well as making deep energy reduction retrofits on existing buildings like RCC.
• As a result, the county’s overall greenhouse gas emissions from energy use — including electricity— is down more than 25% in FY 23.
• Total electricity use is down 7% from the prior fiscal year.
• As of earlier this year, the county’s energy performance projects—like RCC’s — have resulted in more than 900 tons of carbon emissions avoided.

What’s Happening: RCC’s upgrades include:

• Rooftop solar panels (which should be connected to Dominion’s electricity grid this week)
• Comprehensive LED lighting upgrades
• Hot water plant boilers and pumps replacement
• Modification and upgrades to the temperature controls system

Energy Use Dashboard: Review live energy use data for the county’s more than 500 buildings with this dashboard.

Renovations are still ongoing at the Reston Regional Library, but the library’s leadership tells me that the work should be completed soon.

The library closed on July 1 for the anticipated 10-week project. The critical renovations will ensure the library remains usable, safe and clean, including full ADA upgrades to the bathrooms and updated lighting.

Stay tuned for news about the library’s reopening date soon!

Watch this video to learn more about the renovations.

Fairfax County is experiencing a rise in pertussis, a very contagious respiratory virus more commonly called whooping cough.

Why it Matters: County health officials say there have been 44 cases reported to date — the highest number in a single year in more than a decade.

• This is four times as many cases than on average in past years.
• While the cases have mostly been among children, adults are at higher risk for a severe infection if they have moderate or severe asthma or a weakened immune system.

Get a Pertussis Booster: Adults should get a booster shot every 10 years. Two types of vaccines protect you from the virus: DTaP and Tdap which also protect you against diphtheria and tetanus.

New COVID Vaccines Available: The FDA recently approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines that target the Omicron variant KP.2. Everyone age 6 months and older should get the new vaccine that’s now available at many pharmacies and doctor’s offices. While the COVID summer surge may be waning in our region, the CDC reports “high” levels of the virus in Virginia wastewater.

Free COVID Test Kits: Once again, the federal government will offer free COVID tests. Every household may order up to four tests through COVIDTests.gov starting at the end of September.

Get rid of your old junk the environmentally friendly way at Vienna’s Quarterly Recycling Day on Saturday, September 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Town residents can drop off scrap metal, electronics and auto waste for recycling at the Northside Property Yard, 600 Mill St., NE. You may also drop off one-time use and rechargeable batteries for bulk recycling.  

Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Restoration Community Meeting

Attend a virtual meeting on Tuesday, September 3, at 5:30 p.m. to learn about the soon-to-begin Old Courthouse Spring Branch stream restoration at Ashgrove Park. Learn about project goals and what to expect during construction. To participate, email Kenneth Trinh for the meeting link.

Dog Daze Swim Event at the Water Mine

The Water Mine is hosting its annual dogs-only swim on Saturday, September 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This end-of-the-season celebration also features pet-related vendors and information about more fun opportunities for dogs. Registration required.

Reggae on the Lake Returns September 7

The third annual Reggae on the Lake returns to Lake Anne on Saturday September 7 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The free event features food, kid friendly activities and live music throughout the day, including headliners Israel Vibration & the Roots Radics Band. Reserve tickets.