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June 18, 2025

Neighbors,

This past Saturday, I participated in the Juneteenth celebration and Liberty Amendments Month kick-off parade organized by the First Baptist Church of Vienna.

The festivities took place in advance of the actual holiday which is tomorrow June 19. For those who may not know, Juneteenth is often called America’s “second Independence Day.”

It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce the freedom of enslaved people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

Today, this holiday is a celebration of African American history, culture, resiliency and achievement.

Here are a few events, activities and resources to help you participate in this important holiday:

• Take a tour of the Frying Pan Baptist Meeting House to learn about the history of the free and enslaved African American congregants and community.
• Commemorate emancipation with tours of Sully Historic Site, as well as enjoy storytellers, history interpreters, food, family friendly activities and free health screenings.
• Explore “Lives Bound Together,” a new exhibit about the lives of enslaved people at Mount Vernon, that opens Thursday.
• Check out this Juneteenth book list or this African American history and culture reading list from the Fairfax County Library.
• Eat at a Black-owned restaurant in Fairfax County including Big Buns, Matchbox and Makers Union in Reston or Pie Gourmet in Vienna. (Or try some of these restaurants in Alexandria and D.C.)

Regards,

Walter

• In the Community
• Reston Town Center North Community Meeting
• Hunter Mill Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting
• School Board Community Advisory Committee Members Sought
• Metro Restores Automatic Train Operations
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

I had a wonderful time at the community cookout and appreciation day at the Crescent Apartments this past weekend. This event brought together residents for food, fun and community. County agencies were also on hand to provide information and services, including the county’s CareVan.

Thanks to county staffer Rob Walker for organizing this event, and he and his daughter graciously donated books for the little libraries at the apartments that my office helped fund (see photo above).

I also recently visited Inova’s new and expanded community clinic at 365 Herndon Parkway, just north of the Herndon Police Station (and just outside the Hunter Mill District). The clinic is already serving patients who are uninsured or qualify for Medicaid, FAMIS, or Inova’s Financial Assistance Program. Through this one-stop location, patients can receive comprehensive primary care services.

The new clinic complements Inova’s existing services in Reston, including the Reston/Herndon ER on Baron Cameron Avenue and their GoHealth Urgent Care at North Point.  

Reston Town Center North

Community Meeting June 23

Attend a community meeting on June 23 at 6:30 p.m. for an update by Inova and Fairfax County staff on the joint rezoning for Reston Town Center North.

This event is your opportunity to:



• Get an overview of the rezoning application
• Ask questions
• Learn about the next steps and timeline in the process

The meeting will be held at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston (across from the Reston Regional Library).

For more information, email my office or call 703-478-0283.

Join me for the Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Committee’s meeting on Wednesday, July 2 at 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive which is located across the street from Reston Regional Library).

Get updates on transportation projects in the district and ask questions. Fairfax County transportation and VDOT staff will provide presentations on projects that include:

• Soapstone Connector that will extend this road from Sunrise Valley Drive to Sunset Hills Road over the Dulles Toll Road
• Town Center Parkway underpass beneath the Dulles Toll Road
• Pedestrian and bicycle improvements, including the cycle track along Sunrise Valley Drive

Established as an informal advisory group, the committee typically meets every four months (usually virtually) on transportation projects in the Hunter Mill District.

For more information or questions about the meeting or committee, email Shyamali Hauth or call 703-478-0283.

Hunter Mill District School Board Member Melanie Meren seeks residents to serve as her appointees on the following School Board Community Advisory Committees:

• Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACEAC)
• Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD)
• Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC)
• School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)

Apply by noon this Friday, June 20. (To confirm that you live in the Hunter Mill District, please look up your address on this webpage.) Appointment qualifications and length of service on some committees are mandated by Virginia Code, as noted in each committee’s description.

For more information, email Melanie Meren or call 571-423-1082.

Attend the Copa Tysons Soccer Fest on Saturday, June 21 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Ken Lawrence Park (located in the Providence District and named after the late Providence District Planning Commissioner Ken Lawrence). This free, family friendly event will feature:



• Fun soccer skill stations and instruction
• 4v4 Small-Sided, Adult, Co-ed Soccer Tournament
• International cuisine from local food trucks
• Live DJ, face painting, bubble soccer and inflatables
• Photo opportunities with Washington Spirit’s mascot PK the Eagle.

You’ll also meet soccer legend Jaime Moreno, the Bolivian World Cup National Team player — and one of the greatest DC United players of all-time. Get a photo and autograph.

While the festival is free and open to all ages, registration is highly encouraged.

Metro expanded automatic train operations to the Silver, Blue and Orange lines this past Sunday, returning computer-automated service to the entire rail system for the first time since 2009. With the resumption of automated operations, Metro will also return to the original speed of the system, up to 75 mph. Several outer portions of the Silver, Blue, and Orange lines will see speed increases from 55 mph to 65 or 75 mph in some stretches. As a result, the transit system will reduce end-to-end travel times on these three subway lines by about 3 minutes starting this Sunday.

Unrelated to this development, starting July 1 I will change my service status on the WMATA Board of Directors from an alternate to a voting director. So you may be seeing more metro-related stories in this newsletter starting this summer.

What's News in Vienna

Join Me at the Liberty Amendments Month Naturalization Ceremony

It’s always inspiring to attend Vienna’s annual naturalization ceremony that will be held this Saturday, June 21 at 5 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Join me and others as 15 people become U.S. citizens. There will be live music and entertainment beginning at 3:30 p.m. Mayor Linda Colbert and others will make remarks.

Southside Park Habitat Restoration June 23

Volunteer to help remove invasive plants at Southside Park on Monday, June 23 at 10 a.m. Meet at the Ware-Walker entrance. Advanced sign-ups are appreciated but not required. For more information and to sign up, email Jeremy Edwards or call 571-722-7005.

🏌️ Take a swing at Perch Putt an 18-hole mini-golf course located 11 stories up on Capital One Plaza.

🎵 Listen to the Mystic Warriors perform their blend of ancient Andean music with contemporary jazz, Latin and pop sounds on June 18 at Lake Anne Plaza. 

🎨 Help paint a community mural capturing the history of Vienna on June 18-29.

🎶 Listen to swing band King Teddy perform at Halley Rise on June 19.

🎨 Learn the art of gold-leaf painting at this June 19 workshop at Caboose Commons.

👨🏽‍👩🏽‍👧🏽‍👦🏽 Enjoy the longest day of the year with family friendly activities during Reston Community Center’s Play All Day VA on June 20.

🥁 Enjoy internationally recognized quartet The Marshall Keys Group perform on June 20 at Reston Town Square Park.

🎸 Blues legend Buddy Guy returns to Wolf Trap on June 21.

☕ Join the LGBTQ+ Pride Month Coffee and Conversation at Ted's Bulletin on June 21.

📚  Listen to author Elizabeth Chur present her nonfiction guide “The Joy of Talking Politics with Strangers: How to Save Democracy, One Conversation at a Time” at Scrawl Books on June 22.

🦋 Learn about Monarch butterflies and look for the plants they need to survive on June 22 at Walker Nature Center.

🧑🏼‍🎤 Listen to the Shenandoah Conservatory’s ClarVoice Trio perform romantic and inspiring works on June 22 at Reston Town Square Park.

✈️ Get ready for your summer travels by signing up for TSA Precheck at this pop-up enrollment event at Reston Town Center from June 23-26.

📚 Author and former CIA analyst Christina Hillsberg will talk about her book “Agents of Change” featuring the women who transformed the CIA on June 24 at Bards Alley.

😅 Get in shape with a free trampoline fitness class on June 24 at Reston Metro Plaza.

🎼 Listen to favorite tunes from musicals during Broadway in the Park at Wolf Trap on June 28.

🎆 Watch the fireworks at Lake Fairfax Park on June 29.

🎹 Listen to Grammy-winning jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall perform at Wolf Trap on July 3.



Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax.